PAWNEE COUNTY —On Aug. 1, the Kansas Court of Appeals issued a 33 page memorandum opinion upholding the felony convictions and sentence of Justin W. Hammond, 41 of Larned, according to a statement from Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

In March of 2023, a Pawnee County Jury found Hammond Guilty of four counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberty with a Child, to wit: sexual intercourse with a child 14 or 15 years of age, and one count of Indecent Liberties with a Child, to wit: lewd fondling of child 14 or 15 years of age, following a five-day trial.

The crimes were alleged to have occurred in Pawnee County between July 8, 2018, and December 15, 2018. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation following a referral by the Pawnee County Sheriff.

At the sentencing held June 30, 2023, Judge Bruce Gatterman denied a defense request for probation and sentenced Hammond on the primary offense to the standard sentence of 59 months with an additional 37 month consecutive sentence on the additional counts for a total sentence of 96 months in the department of corrections. Hammond is also subject to lifetime post-release supervision and lifetime offender registration as a sex offender.

Hammond is currently incarcerated at the Lansing Correctional Facility.

On May 20, 2025, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals heard appellate oral arguments. On appeal, the defendant argued the District Court errored when it failed to grant a mistrial when an alternate juror was released on the fourth day of the jury trial due to a family emergency. The defendant also argued that the District Court errored when it failed to grant probation and by sentencing him to lifetime post-release supervision.

Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett presented the State’s case at trial. The Kansas Solicitor General’s Office represented the State on Appeal. Hammond was represented by Jonathon McConnell of Wichita, Kansas at trial and Jonathan Laurans of Kansas City on Appeal.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688158843330.png" alt="Hammond from his arrest in Pawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Hammond from his arrest in Pawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>PAWNEE COUNTY —On Aug. 1, the Kansas Court of Appeals issued a 33 page memorandum opinion upholding the felony convictions and sentence of Justin W. Hammond, 41 of Larned, according to a statement from Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.In March of 2023, a Pawnee County Jury found Hammond Guilty of four counts of Aggravated Indecent Liberty with a Child, to wit: sexual intercourse with a child 14 or 15 years of age, and one count of Indecent Liberties with a Child, to wit: lewd fondling of child 14 or 15 years of age, following a five-day trial.The crimes were alleged to have occurred in Pawnee County between July 8, 2018, and December 15, 2018. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation following a referral by the Pawnee County Sheriff.At the sentencing held June 30, 2023, Judge Bruce Gatterman denied a defense request for probation and sentenced Hammond on the primary offense to the standard sentence of 59 months with an additional 37 month consecutive sentence on the additional counts for a total sentence of 96 months in the department of corrections. Hammond is also subject to lifetime post-release supervision and lifetime offender registration as a sex offender.Hammond is currently incarcerated at the Lansing Correctional Facility.On May 20, 2025, a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals heard appellate oral arguments. On appeal, the defendant argued the District Court errored when it failed to grant a mistrial when an alternate juror was released on the fourth day of the jury trial due to a family emergency. The defendant also argued that the District Court errored when it failed to grant probation and by sentencing him to lifetime post-release supervision.Pawnee County Attorney Douglas McNett presented the State’s case at trial. The Kansas Solicitor General’s Office represented the State on Appeal. Hammond was represented by Jonathon McConnell of Wichita, Kansas at trial and Jonathan Laurans of Kansas City on Appeal.

Court upholds conviction and sentence of Kan. child sex offender

SALINE COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a home and barn in rural Saline County.

On Monday, Rural Fire District 5 responded to report of the fire at 3008 N. Gypsum Valley, according to the Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. A neighbor called to report the house and barn were on fire.

The barn was owned by 67-year old Billy Jeffrey. He was not present when the fire happened.&nbsp; There were no injuries reported. Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754406887419.jpeg" alt="Barn completely consumed after fire on 3008 N Gypsum Valley; photo&nbsp; Saline County Sheriff's Office." />
 <figcaption>Barn completely consumed after fire on 3008 N Gypsum Valley; photo&nbsp; Saline County Sheriff's Office.</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed a home and barn in rural Saline County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754408117778.png" alt="Photo Saline Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Saline Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday, Rural Fire District 5 responded to report of the fire at 3008 N. Gypsum Valley, according to the Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan. A neighbor called to report the house and barn were on fire.The barn was owned by 67-year old Billy Jeffrey. He was not present when the fire happened.&nbsp; There were no injuries reported. Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

Home, barn destroyed in rural Kansas fire

HORRY COUNTY, So. Carolina—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident have identified the victim as 26-year-old Dezhon Overton of Kansas City, Kansas, according to the Horry County South Carolina Coroner's office.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a call for service related to a leaving the scene of a traffic collision with injuries at 21st Avenue South and Kings Highway, according to a statement from Myrtle Beach Police. 

First responders determined that two pedestrians were struck by the vehicle and the suspect vehicle had fled. The victims including Overton&nbsp; were immediately transported to Grand Strand Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. Overton was pronounced deceased a short time later. He was on vacation at the time of the incident, according to police.

The Myrtle Beach Police Real Time Crime Unit along with assisting units had already started investigating which led them to the location of the suspect vehicle. The driver of the vehicle has been arrested.&nbsp;

HORRY COUNTY, So. Carolina—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident have identified the victim as 26-year-old Dezhon Overton of Kansas City, Kansas, according to the Horry County South Carolina Coroner's office.Just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a call for service related to a leaving the scene of a traffic collision with injuries at 21st Avenue South and Kings Highway, according to a statement from Myrtle Beach Police. First responders determined that two pedestrians were struck by the vehicle and the suspect vehicle had fled. The victims including Overton&nbsp; were immediately transported to Grand Strand Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. Overton was pronounced deceased a short time later. He was on vacation at the time of the incident, according to police.The Myrtle Beach Police Real Time Crime Unit along with assisting units had already started investigating which led them to the location of the suspect vehicle. The driver of the vehicle has been arrested.&nbsp;

Police: Kansas man on vacation dies after hit-and-run incident

Leader of UnidosUS decries the humanitarian and economic damage of Trump administration’s immigration raids. ‘This is about our civil rights being destroyed’

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">Mary Sanchez</a>&nbsp;

The economic power of the Latino population in the United States is as massive as it is misunderstood.

Latinos contribute more than&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/us-latino-gdp-skyrockets-to-record-37-trillion-dollars" target="_blank">$3.7 trillion</a>&nbsp;annually to the economy, more than the gross domestic product of all but four countries in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldometers.info/gdp/gdp-by-country/" target="_blank">the world</a>.

Latinos are the nation’s largest minority group with 64 million people.

The vast majority, eight out of 10, are U.S. citizens.

By 2030, one out of every three people entering the workforce will be Latino.

But acknowledgement of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">those facts</a>&nbsp;is lacking,&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/publications/analyzing-inclusion-of-latino-contributions-in-us-history-curricula-for-high-school/" target="_blank">studies show</a>, especially among policymakers and politicians.

The vacuum leaves space for false narratives to flourish.

One example for the leader of the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization is the Trump administration’s inaccurate labeling of Latinos as criminals and outsiders who don’t contribute to the nation.

“If we’re going to have an economy that really moves the country forward and sustains all of us, it has to include the Latino community from a demographics perspective,” said Janet Murguía.

Murguía, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, is president and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">UnidosUS,</a>&nbsp;which is holding its annual conference in Kansas City Aug. 4-7.

The conference opens days after nearly a dozen people were taken from their jobs at two Kansas El Toro Loco Mexican Bar and Grill locations in morning raids by Homeland Security Investigations, a unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The detentions of the employees were filmed and witnessed by community members and sparked a protest later in the day.

Videos show the employees as they were being taken from the restaurants in handcuffs and with chains around their waists. Food was left cooking at the Lenexa location and a handwritten note “Closed” was taped to the front door, which was left unlocked.

Murguía is critical of some tactics that Homeland Security is using in its efforts to meet the administration’s goal of removing 3,000 undocumented immigrants daily.

Increasingly, she said, what’s happening is unlawful and unconstitutional.

“This is not about immigration,” Murguía said. “It’s about civil rights.”

Negative narratives about Latinos that are unsubstantiated by data are being used to justify the actions, including some actions that shred due process, she said.

UnidosUS is the umbrella organization for more than 300 affiliates spread across virtually every state. Three are in the Greater Kansas City area:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elcentroinc.com/" target="_blank">El Centro</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://guadalupecenters.org/" target="_blank">Guadalupe Centers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://mattierhodes.org/" target="_blank">Mattie Rhodes Center</a>.

The nearly 60-year-old organization’s current strategy is three-pronged — to protect, defend and advance the Latino community.

Murguía served in former President Bill Clinton’s administration and also once served as an executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas.

She said abuse of power and government overreach in immigration enforcement must be challenged.

“We intend to do everything we can to provide the advocacy to push back against this and demand accountability in the courts and through the administration and in Congress,” Murguia said.

Partnerships with&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/press-releases/national-latino-and-civil-rights-groups-denounce-federal-overreach-in-los-angeles-raids/" target="_blank">other civil rights organizations</a>&nbsp;will be key, she said, noting deep connections with the leadership of the National Urban League, the National Action Network and the Legal Defense Fund.

“This is about our civil rights being destroyed,” she said. “Partners and allies can be really critically important in communicating that to the broader public and understanding that we’re all threatened in this country when actions happen.”

‘There is no American agenda without a Latino agenda’&nbsp;

UnidosUS is linking with some of the leading researchers in the nation.

Documenting the social and economic impact of mass deportation will be crucial.

<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/03/kansas-man-deported-after-visiting-grandfathers-grave-in-mexico/" target="_blank">Some immigrant families are of mixed status</a>, with at least one family member who might be undocumented and others who are not.

Approximately&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/233150241700500101" target="_blank">6.6 million American citizens</a>, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fwd.us/news/mixed-status-families-1/" target="_blank">5.5 million U.S. children</a>&nbsp;— over 8% of all children in the U.S. — live in a household with at least one undocumented family member.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/233150241700500101" target="_blank">2017 study</a>&nbsp;predicted that removing one family member from every mixed-status household through deportation would drop the median income of those households by nearly 50%.

The report was written with data compiled by the Center for Migration Studies of New York and published by the Journal on Migration and Human Security.

“Removing undocumented residents from mixed-status households would reduce median household income from $41,300 to $22,000, a drop of $19,300, or 47%, which would plunge millions of US families into poverty,” the report noted.

The ramifications on homeownership, businesses and taxes paid could be dramatic.

If the U.S. removed all of its undocumented residents, “gross domestic product (GDP) would be reduced by 1.4% in the first year, and cumulative GDP would be reduced by $4.7 trillion over 10 years,” the report said.

Updated data will be key to track not only the outcomes of current immigration policy but also the Trump administration’s recently approved budget bill. UnidosUS called it&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/press-releases/unidosus-statement-on-us-house-passage-of-harmful-federal-budget-bill/" target="_blank">“a stunning betrayal to working families, vulnerable communities and the American electorate who entrusted them with their votes”</a>&nbsp;due to its cuts to health programs and food assistance.

Studies can also inform&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/events/understanding-systemic-racism-and-resulting-inequity-in-latino-communities/" target="_blank">a wide range of initiatives</a>&nbsp;that have long been the focus of UnidosUS: homeownership, educational attainment, health, voting rights and political empowerment.

Data to support policy, based on understanding Latino history

UnidosUS has partnered with the&nbsp;<a href="https://latino.ucla.edu/about/" target="_blank">Latino Politics &amp; Policy Institute</a>) at the University of California Los Angeles.

The institute’s motto is “there is no American agenda without a Latino agenda,” a statement that underscores the relevance of Latinos historically, by population, economic output and future projections as a young demographic.

Latinos are contributing nearly $4 trillion annually to the economy, said Rodrigo Domínguez-Villegas, director of research at the UCLA institute.

Yet Latinos hold only 12% of the nation’s household wealth while comprising nearly 20% of the population, he said.

“There’s a disconnect that reveals a system where Latino labor and entrepreneurship are fueling economic growth in the country, but the wealth that’s generated through Latino labor and entrepreneurship is held elsewhere,” he said.

Domínguez-Villegas is leading a project to find out why.

In a partnership with UnidosUS, the institute is completing an analysis of how public policy has shaped Latino wealth.

The economic mobility study will be released in October.

“We are telling the story of Latino communities across the country and what Latinos contribute, and also how Latinos struggle because of systemic and historical disadvantages,” he said.

Mattie Rhodes, one of the Kansas City-based UnidosUS affiliates, will release the Hispanic/Latino Equity Index for the Kansas City area’s Latino population during the convention on Aug. 4.

The report was developed with the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Center for Economic Information and the Urban League of Greater Kansas City.

It will highlight disparities in economic opportunity, health, education, social justice and civic engagement.

Similar local reports can be aided by another initiative at the UCLA institute, the&nbsp;<a href="https://latinodatahub.org/" target="_blank">Latino Data Hub.</a>

It’s an interactive platform to analyze conditions affecting Latinos nationwide, drawing from the 2023 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census.

An updated hub was released in mid-July. And tutorials on how to use the hub are ongoing.

“We have tried to build it in a way that is as intuitive as possible,” said Domínguez-Villegas, who will be attending the UnidosUs conference. “Our target audiences are, of course, policymakers, but also community-based organizations and the media.”

Information can be broken down nationally, by state or county and soon, by congressional districts.

Built into the platform are 130 indicators, with filters for people to search for detailed information such as homeownership, health care access and educational attainment. The information can be searched in English or Spanish.

The Latino Data Hub grew out of the COVID pandemic, when Latino communities were disproportionately impacted in terms of hospitalizations and deaths.

Policymakers were surprised and slow to react, said Domínguez-Villegas, because they hadn’t understood Latino health disparities and access to health care that predated the pandemic.

“Policymakers were like, ‘Oh, we didn’t have this data, so we didn’t understand really, how to incorporate that into the response,’” said Domínguez-Villegas.

Researchers, he said, vowed “never again.”

Strong data can help tell the stories of Latinos and build understanding of past struggles that have led to current inequities, while also addressing the demographic’s contributions. The goal is a more nuanced telling of the nation’s extremely diverse Latino communities.

Previous work between UnidosUS and the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy found deep gaps in the inclusion of Latinos in U.S. history curriculum.

The lack of accurate information undercuts awareness.

The buying power of the Hispanic market can be shown in telling stories of entrepreneurship and those who find prosperity by catering to the demographic, in all of its vast diversity.

A prime local example is the success of the El Mercado Fresco supermarkets, which began catering primarily to the Latino immigrant communities in northeast Kansas City about a decade ago.

The company’s ninth store opened July 17 in a former Big Lots at 7533 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas.

Hundreds of people, many of them Latino, gathered in the parking lot for the ribbon cutting and then formed a long line, patiently waiting to file into the store to shop as a mariachi band serenaded.

Carlos Gomez, president/CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, helped with the honors.

Gomez said the El Mercado groceries are successful, in part, because of the owner’s respectful relationship with the Latino community, giving back philanthropically and through hiring.

The owner, Eddie Musallet, said he sources products through a wide range of vendors to cater to the culinary preferences of many ethnicities, including Asian and African people.

Musallet said he’s conscientious of people’s budgets and tries to use local farmers for some products.

Packages of 30 eggs, locally sourced, were marked $6.99 at the State Avenue opening.

Soon, a group of leaders gathered outside the store, chatting as friends found one another&nbsp; in the crowd.

David Carranza, economic development director for the city of Grandview, Missouri, said that Latinos know how to “make something from nothing,” guided by entrepreneurial efforts and often working not only one, but two jobs.

Murguia echoed the sentiments of local leadership in her resolve to advocate and organize through current political and policy challenges.

Latinos, she said, are known for optimism and resilience, holding a deep belief in the promise of the nation and its ability to allow people to carve out their American Dream.

“If you fundamentally believe that about this country, you’re not going to give up, even in the most daunting times,” Murguia said. “We’re leaning into every bit of resilience and optimism in this moment.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/04/mass-deportation-latino-civil-rights-kansas-city-unidosus/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754330127440.png" alt="Kansas state Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat, addressed a crowd that gathered outside the Lenexa El Toro Loco Mexican Bar and Grill on July 30 after some of the employees were arrested earlier in the day by agents with Homeland Security (Mary Sanchez/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption>Kansas state Rep. Susan Ruiz, a Democrat, addressed a crowd that gathered outside the Lenexa El Toro Loco Mexican Bar and Grill on July 30 after some of the employees were arrested earlier in the day by agents with Homeland Security (Mary Sanchez/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Leader of UnidosUS decries the humanitarian and economic damage of Trump administration’s immigration raids. ‘This is about our civil rights being destroyed’</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">Mary Sanchez</a>&nbsp;The economic power of the Latino population in the United States is as massive as it is misunderstood.Latinos contribute more than&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/us-latino-gdp-skyrockets-to-record-37-trillion-dollars" target="_blank">$3.7 trillion</a>&nbsp;annually to the economy, more than the gross domestic product of all but four countries in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.worldometers.info/gdp/gdp-by-country/" target="_blank">the world</a>.Latinos are the nation’s largest minority group with 64 million people.The vast majority, eight out of 10, are U.S. citizens.By 2030, one out of every three people entering the workforce will be Latino.But acknowledgement of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">those facts</a>&nbsp;is lacking,&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/publications/analyzing-inclusion-of-latino-contributions-in-us-history-curricula-for-high-school/" target="_blank">studies show</a>, especially among policymakers and politicians.The vacuum leaves space for false narratives to flourish.One example for the leader of the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization is the Trump administration’s inaccurate labeling of Latinos as criminals and outsiders who don’t contribute to the nation.“If we’re going to have an economy that really moves the country forward and sustains all of us, it has to include the Latino community from a demographics perspective,” said Janet Murguía.Murguía, a native of Kansas City, Kansas, is president and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">UnidosUS,</a>&nbsp;which is holding its annual conference in Kansas City Aug. 4-7.The conference opens days after nearly a dozen people were taken from their jobs at two Kansas El Toro Loco Mexican Bar and Grill locations in morning raids by Homeland Security Investigations, a unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.The detentions of the employees were filmed and witnessed by community members and sparked a protest later in the day.Videos show the employees as they were being taken from the restaurants in handcuffs and with chains around their waists. Food was left cooking at the Lenexa location and a handwritten note “Closed” was taped to the front door, which was left unlocked.Murguía is critical of some tactics that Homeland Security is using in its efforts to meet the administration’s goal of removing 3,000 undocumented immigrants daily.Increasingly, she said, what’s happening is unlawful and unconstitutional.“This is not about immigration,” Murguía said. “It’s about civil rights.”Negative narratives about Latinos that are unsubstantiated by data are being used to justify the actions, including some actions that shred due process, she said.UnidosUS is the umbrella organization for more than 300 affiliates spread across virtually every state. Three are in the Greater Kansas City area:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.elcentroinc.com/" target="_blank">El Centro</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://guadalupecenters.org/" target="_blank">Guadalupe Centers</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://mattierhodes.org/" target="_blank">Mattie Rhodes Center</a>.The nearly 60-year-old organization’s current strategy is three-pronged — to protect, defend and advance the Latino community.Murguía served in former President Bill Clinton’s administration and also once served as an executive vice chancellor at the University of Kansas.She said abuse of power and government overreach in immigration enforcement must be challenged.“We intend to do everything we can to provide the advocacy to push back against this and demand accountability in the courts and through the administration and in Congress,” Murguia said.Partnerships with&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/press-releases/national-latino-and-civil-rights-groups-denounce-federal-overreach-in-los-angeles-raids/" target="_blank">other civil rights organizations</a>&nbsp;will be key, she said, noting deep connections with the leadership of the National Urban League, the National Action Network and the Legal Defense Fund.“This is about our civil rights being destroyed,” she said. “Partners and allies can be really critically important in communicating that to the broader public and understanding that we’re all threatened in this country when actions happen.”<h2>‘There is no American agenda without a Latino agenda’&nbsp;</h2>UnidosUS is linking with some of the leading researchers in the nation.Documenting the social and economic impact of mass deportation will be crucial.<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/03/kansas-man-deported-after-visiting-grandfathers-grave-in-mexico/" target="_blank">Some immigrant families are of mixed status</a>, with at least one family member who might be undocumented and others who are not.Approximately&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/233150241700500101" target="_blank">6.6 million American citizens</a>, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fwd.us/news/mixed-status-families-1/" target="_blank">5.5 million U.S. children</a>&nbsp;— over 8% of all children in the U.S. — live in a household with at least one undocumented family member.A&nbsp;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/233150241700500101" target="_blank">2017 study</a>&nbsp;predicted that removing one family member from every mixed-status household through deportation would drop the median income of those households by nearly 50%.The report was written with data compiled by the Center for Migration Studies of New York and published by the Journal on Migration and Human Security.“Removing undocumented residents from mixed-status households would reduce median household income from $41,300 to $22,000, a drop of $19,300, or 47%, which would plunge millions of US families into poverty,” the report noted.The ramifications on homeownership, businesses and taxes paid could be dramatic.If the U.S. removed all of its undocumented residents, “gross domestic product (GDP) would be reduced by 1.4% in the first year, and cumulative GDP would be reduced by $4.7 trillion over 10 years,” the report said.Updated data will be key to track not only the outcomes of current immigration policy but also the Trump administration’s recently approved budget bill. UnidosUS called it&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/press-releases/unidosus-statement-on-us-house-passage-of-harmful-federal-budget-bill/" target="_blank">“a stunning betrayal to working families, vulnerable communities and the American electorate who entrusted them with their votes”</a>&nbsp;due to its cuts to health programs and food assistance.Studies can also inform&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/events/understanding-systemic-racism-and-resulting-inequity-in-latino-communities/" target="_blank">a wide range of initiatives</a>&nbsp;that have long been the focus of UnidosUS: homeownership, educational attainment, health, voting rights and political empowerment.<h2>Data to support policy, based on understanding Latino history</h2>UnidosUS has partnered with the&nbsp;<a href="https://latino.ucla.edu/about/" target="_blank">Latino Politics &amp; Policy Institute</a>) at the University of California Los Angeles.The institute’s motto is “there is no American agenda without a Latino agenda,” a statement that underscores the relevance of Latinos historically, by population, economic output and future projections as a young demographic.Latinos are contributing nearly $4 trillion annually to the economy, said Rodrigo Domínguez-Villegas, director of research at the UCLA institute.Yet Latinos hold only 12% of the nation’s household wealth while comprising nearly 20% of the population, he said.“There’s a disconnect that reveals a system where Latino labor and entrepreneurship are fueling economic growth in the country, but the wealth that’s generated through Latino labor and entrepreneurship is held elsewhere,” he said.Domínguez-Villegas is leading a project to find out why.In a partnership with UnidosUS, the institute is completing an analysis of how public policy has shaped Latino wealth.The economic mobility study will be released in October.“We are telling the story of Latino communities across the country and what Latinos contribute, and also how Latinos struggle because of systemic and historical disadvantages,” he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754330083724.png" alt="A map of 304 UnidosUS affiliates in the United States. (Courtesy/UnidosUS)" />
 <figcaption>A map of 304 UnidosUS affiliates in the United States. (Courtesy/UnidosUS)</figcaption>
 </figure>Mattie Rhodes, one of the Kansas City-based UnidosUS affiliates, will release the Hispanic/Latino Equity Index for the Kansas City area’s Latino population during the convention on Aug. 4.The report was developed with the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Center for Economic Information and the Urban League of Greater Kansas City.It will highlight disparities in economic opportunity, health, education, social justice and civic engagement.Similar local reports can be aided by another initiative at the UCLA institute, the&nbsp;<a href="https://latinodatahub.org/" target="_blank">Latino Data Hub.</a>It’s an interactive platform to analyze conditions affecting Latinos nationwide, drawing from the 2023 American Community Survey of the U.S. Census.An updated hub was released in mid-July. And tutorials on how to use the hub are ongoing.“We have tried to build it in a way that is as intuitive as possible,” said Domínguez-Villegas, who will be attending the UnidosUs conference. “Our target audiences are, of course, policymakers, but also community-based organizations and the media.”Information can be broken down nationally, by state or county and soon, by congressional districts.Built into the platform are 130 indicators, with filters for people to search for detailed information such as homeownership, health care access and educational attainment. The information can be searched in English or Spanish.The Latino Data Hub grew out of the COVID pandemic, when Latino communities were disproportionately impacted in terms of hospitalizations and deaths.Policymakers were surprised and slow to react, said Domínguez-Villegas, because they hadn’t understood Latino health disparities and access to health care that predated the pandemic.“Policymakers were like, ‘Oh, we didn’t have this data, so we didn’t understand really, how to incorporate that into the response,’” said Domínguez-Villegas.Researchers, he said, vowed “never again.”Strong data can help tell the stories of Latinos and build understanding of past struggles that have led to current inequities, while also addressing the demographic’s contributions. The goal is a more nuanced telling of the nation’s extremely diverse Latino communities.<h2>Sharing the American Dream</h2>Previous work between UnidosUS and the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy found deep gaps in the inclusion of Latinos in U.S. history curriculum.The lack of accurate information undercuts awareness.The buying power of the Hispanic market can be shown in telling stories of entrepreneurship and those who find prosperity by catering to the demographic, in all of its vast diversity.A prime local example is the success of the El Mercado Fresco supermarkets, which began catering primarily to the Latino immigrant communities in northeast Kansas City about a decade ago.The company’s ninth store opened July 17 in a former Big Lots at 7533 State Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas.Hundreds of people, many of them Latino, gathered in the parking lot for the ribbon cutting and then formed a long line, patiently waiting to file into the store to shop as a mariachi band serenaded.Carlos Gomez, president/CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, helped with the honors.Gomez said the El Mercado groceries are successful, in part, because of the owner’s respectful relationship with the Latino community, giving back philanthropically and through hiring.The owner, Eddie Musallet, said he sources products through a wide range of vendors to cater to the culinary preferences of many ethnicities, including Asian and African people.Musallet said he’s conscientious of people’s budgets and tries to use local farmers for some products.Packages of 30 eggs, locally sourced, were marked $6.99 at the State Avenue opening.Soon, a group of leaders gathered outside the store, chatting as friends found one another&nbsp; in the crowd.David Carranza, economic development director for the city of Grandview, Missouri, said that Latinos know how to “make something from nothing,” guided by entrepreneurial efforts and often working not only one, but two jobs.“We’re survivors,” Carranza said.Murguia echoed the sentiments of local leadership in her resolve to advocate and organize through current political and policy challenges.Latinos, she said, are known for optimism and resilience, holding a deep belief in the promise of the nation and its ability to allow people to carve out their American Dream.“If you fundamentally believe that about this country, you’re not going to give up, even in the most daunting times,” Murguia said. “We’re leaning into every bit of resilience and optimism in this moment.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/04/mass-deportation-latino-civil-rights-kansas-city-unidosus/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

Nation’s largest Latino civil rights organization meets in KC against backdrop of mass deportations

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —A funeral for Sheriff's Deputy Elijah Ming, who was killed in the line of duty on July 26 will be held Monday, August 11, at Children's Mercy Park, according to a statement from the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office.

The service is open to the public and will begin at 11:00 a.m. 

Parking lots will open at 9:00 a.m., and the stadium gates will open at 10:00 a.m. There will be a Law Enforcement Processional immediately following the service; route details will be announced.

"We are so overwhelmed by the love of our community; we could not be more thankful for our lovely Wyandotte County," the sheriff's office wrote on their social media page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753612145888.png" alt="Deputy Elijah Ming-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Deputy Elijah Ming-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —A funeral for Sheriff's Deputy Elijah Ming, who was killed in the line of duty on July 26 will be held Monday, August 11, at Children's Mercy Park, according to a statement from the Wyandotte County Sheriff's Office.The service is open to the public and will begin at 11:00 a.m. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754356046097.jpeg" alt="Photo Wyandotte Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Wyandotte Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Parking lots will open at 9:00 a.m., and the stadium gates will open at 10:00 a.m. There will be a Law Enforcement Processional immediately following the service; route details will be announced."We are so overwhelmed by the love of our community; we could not be more thankful for our lovely Wyandotte County," the sheriff's office wrote on their social media page.

Funeral services announced for fallen Kansas deputy

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The State of Kansas ends July 2025 with total tax collections at $670.2 million. That is $21.2 million, or 3.3%, above the estimate. Total tax collections were up 1.5% from July 2024.&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FKSOG%2F2025%2F08%2F01%2Ffile_attachments%2F3341713%2F01_July_Revenue_FY2026_08-01-2025_Final.pdf/1/01010198767554f7-81e38fb2-77c7-4e61-a53e-524e123f100d-000000/J2e-Y6KHxzx-FvCaPNw9hRIC0G4Ct2T6l84XgBTV6hc=416">here</a>&nbsp;to view the July 2025 revenue numbers.&nbsp;

“While this month’s tax collections highlight the strength of Kansas’ workforce and economy&nbsp;in the short-term, I remain concerned about the long-term fiscal health of the state,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We&nbsp;must stay vigilant and&nbsp;recommit&nbsp;to fiscally responsible budgeting&nbsp;in order to stay out of the red in the&nbsp;coming years.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Individual income tax collections were $347.5 million. That is $32.5 million, or 10.3% above the estimate. Individual income tax collections were up 12.7% from July 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $18.5 million. That is $16.5 million, or 47.1% below the estimate, and down 46.0% from July 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $291.8 million, which is $2.2 million, or 0.8% below the estimate, and down 4.4% from July 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1564697584639.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;The State of Kansas ends July 2025 with total tax collections at $670.2 million. That is $21.2 million, or 3.3%, above the estimate. Total tax collections were up 1.5% from July 2024.&nbsp;Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FKSOG%2F2025%2F08%2F01%2Ffile_attachments%2F3341713%2F01_July_Revenue_FY2026_08-01-2025_Final.pdf/1/01010198767554f7-81e38fb2-77c7-4e61-a53e-524e123f100d-000000/J2e-Y6KHxzx-FvCaPNw9hRIC0G4Ct2T6l84XgBTV6hc=416">here</a>&nbsp;to view the July 2025 revenue numbers.&nbsp;“While this month’s tax collections highlight the strength of Kansas’ workforce and economy&nbsp;in the short-term, I remain concerned about the long-term fiscal health of the state,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“We&nbsp;must stay vigilant and&nbsp;recommit&nbsp;to fiscally responsible budgeting&nbsp;in order to stay out of the red in the&nbsp;coming years.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Individual income tax collections were $347.5 million. That is $32.5 million, or 10.3% above the estimate. Individual income tax collections were up 12.7% from July 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $18.5 million. That is $16.5 million, or 47.1% below the estimate, and down 46.0% from July 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $291.8 million, which is $2.2 million, or 0.8% below the estimate, and down 4.4% from July 2024.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas total tax collections in July above the estimate

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man facing charges for the fatal shooting of his mother's boyfriend that took place near East 18th Street and Benton Boulevard on August 26 in Kansas City, Missouri, is being held in Wyandotte County, Kansas, according to online jail records.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2692/Burks-REDACT-COMP">Lee Burks</a>, 30.&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, Discharge/Shoot Firearm at or from Motor Vehicle/Shoot at Person, Another Motor Vehicle, Or Building, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2691/Burks-REDACT-PC">Click here to read the probable cause statement.</a>

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2691/Burks-REDACT-PC">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to an area near East 18th Street and Benton Boulevard on July 27 and located the victim, identified in the probably cause statement as the boyfriend of Burk's mother, lying on the ground with severe trauma to the head and body. He was confirmed deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby gas station, which showed a black vehicle arriving and parking at the gas station. A male, later identified as the defendant, exited the vehicle and entered the gas station. He walked around the store and left a short time later. Another camera angle showed the victim falling down the hill near the gas station. The defendant can then be seen walking up to him and firing multiple rounds at the victim, then fleeing. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754341286353.png" alt="Burks -photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Burks -photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man facing charges for the fatal shooting of his mother's boyfriend that took place near East 18th Street and Benton Boulevard on August 26 in Kansas City, Missouri, is being held in Wyandotte County, Kansas, according to online jail records.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2692/Burks-REDACT-COMP">Lee Burks</a>, 30.&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, Discharge/Shoot Firearm at or from Motor Vehicle/Shoot at Person, Another Motor Vehicle, Or Building, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2691/Burks-REDACT-PC">Click here to read the probable cause statement.</a><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2691/Burks-REDACT-PC">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to an area near East 18th Street and Benton Boulevard on July 27 and located the victim, identified in the probably cause statement as the boyfriend of Burk's mother, lying on the ground with severe trauma to the head and body. He was confirmed deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from a nearby gas station, which showed a black vehicle arriving and parking at the gas station. A male, later identified as the defendant, exited the vehicle and entered the gas station. He walked around the store and left a short time later. Another camera angle showed the victim falling down the hill near the gas station. The defendant can then be seen walking up to him and firing multiple rounds at the victim, then fleeing. &nbsp;

Man accused of killing mother's boyfriend is jailed in Kansas

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly joined 22 other states and Washington, D.C., in suing the Trump administration for terminating federal funding, which she said has led to cuts to state agriculture, health and safety programs “on a whim.”

The federal lawsuit, initially filed in June in Massachusetts, targets decisions from President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency that are rooted in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR86b76dde0e1e9dc/section-200.340" target="_blank">regulation</a>&nbsp;allowing the administration to eliminate funding if it “no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.”

Kelly said in a news release that the decisions have made “no sense.”

“I joined this lawsuit on behalf of Kansas to ensure funds going towards critical programs our state depends on are not ripped away by the Trump administration — or any presidential administration — on a whim,” she said.

Kelly joined the lawsuit in an amended complaint filed July 31.

States are suing the Office of Management and Budget and a slate of other federal agencies that have relied on the regulation to eliminate billions in funding.

Those decisions have been devastating, the states said in the lawsuit, depriving states of resources used to equip law enforcement, conduct medical and scientific research, address food insecurity, secure clean drinking water and educate students.

“Federal agencies have done all of this without any advance notice, without any explanation to the state recipients and in direct contravention of the will of Congress,” the lawsuit said. “The state recipients’ sole offense has been that they used the grant funding precisely how they had promised in the grant applications — and as they were instructed by the agencies at the time of the grant award.”

The governor’s office said the Trump administration has used the regulation “to terminate millions of dollars used to purchase goods from Kansas farmers, to mitigate natural disasters and to enhance childhood education.”

The states and D.C. want a judgment from the court that agrees the regulation does not embolden the administration to terminate funding based on priorities created after funding has been awarded. If that isn’t possible, the parties want the court to vacate the administration’s decision to rely on the regulation as the reasoning for terminating billions in federal funding.

The case is one of hundreds against the Trump administration’s actions, according to a public&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/" target="_blank">tracker</a>&nbsp;by Just Security.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754341737123.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly tours the Axe Shedd during an April 25, 2024, visit to Emporia. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly tours the Axe Shedd during an April 25, 2024, visit to Emporia. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly joined 22 other states and Washington, D.C., in suing the Trump administration for terminating federal funding, which she said has led to cuts to state agriculture, health and safety programs “on a whim.”The federal lawsuit, initially filed in June in Massachusetts, targets decisions from President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency that are rooted in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR86b76dde0e1e9dc/section-200.340" target="_blank">regulation</a>&nbsp;allowing the administration to eliminate funding if it “no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.”Kelly said in a news release that the decisions have made “no sense.”“I joined this lawsuit on behalf of Kansas to ensure funds going towards critical programs our state depends on are not ripped away by the Trump administration — or any presidential administration — on a whim,” she said.Kelly joined the lawsuit in an amended complaint filed July 31.States are suing the Office of Management and Budget and a slate of other federal agencies that have relied on the regulation to eliminate billions in funding.Those decisions have been devastating, the states said in the lawsuit, depriving states of resources used to equip law enforcement, conduct medical and scientific research, address food insecurity, secure clean drinking water and educate students.“Federal agencies have done all of this without any advance notice, without any explanation to the state recipients and in direct contravention of the will of Congress,” the lawsuit said. “The state recipients’ sole offense has been that they used the grant funding precisely how they had promised in the grant applications — and as they were instructed by the agencies at the time of the grant award.”The governor’s office said the Trump administration has used the regulation “to terminate millions of dollars used to purchase goods from Kansas farmers, to mitigate natural disasters and to enhance childhood education.”The states and D.C. want a judgment from the court that agrees the regulation does not embolden the administration to terminate funding based on priorities created after funding has been awarded. If that isn’t possible, the parties want the court to vacate the administration’s decision to rely on the regulation as the reasoning for terminating billions in federal funding.The case is one of hundreds against the Trump administration’s actions, according to a public&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justsecurity.org/107087/tracker-litigation-legal-challenges-trump-administration/" target="_blank">tracker</a>&nbsp;by Just Security.

Kansas joins lawsuit against Trump administration for federal funding losses

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that sent a woman to the hospital over the. weekend in Lawrence.

Just before midnight on Saturday, a&nbsp;woman with a gunshot wound showed up at the hospital, according to a social media report from Lawrence Police.

 The person who drove her left the car and took off on foot. Responding officers got a description of the man and quickly spotted him in Clinton Park,  where he again took off.  After a short foot chase, he was safely taken into custody in a parking lot near 6th and Maine.

The female victim was shot in the arm.  Her injuries were not life-threatening. Detectives with LKPD’s Investigations Unit were called in to talk to the man and try to piece together events that led up to the shooting. Police released no additional details including possible charges in the case.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that sent a woman to the hospital over the. weekend in Lawrence.Just before midnight on Saturday, a&nbsp;woman with a gunshot wound showed up at the hospital, according to a social media report from Lawrence Police. The person who drove her left the car and took off on foot. Responding officers got a description of the man and quickly spotted him in Clinton Park, where he again took off. After a short foot chase, he was safely taken into custody in a parking lot near 6th and Maine.The female victim was shot in the arm. Her injuries were not life-threatening. Detectives with LKPD’s Investigations Unit were called in to talk to the man and try to piece together events that led up to the shooting. Police released no additional details including possible charges in the case.

Police: Woman with gunshot wound dropped off at Kansas hospital

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Monday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Sterling Dump Truck driven by Leslie L.&nbsp;Kendig, 68,&nbsp; Osawatomie, was northbound on Kansas 7 just south of College Boulevard in lane #2.&nbsp; The dump truck drifted into lane #1 and struck a trailer pulled by a Ford F350.&nbsp; The dump truck driver overcorrected to the right, entered the ditch and rolled.

Kendig was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the KHP. The pickup driver identified as Patrick E. Clement, 52, Lane, Kansas, was not injured. Both drivers were&nbsp;properly restrained, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754330967759.png" alt="View near the crash scene -image KC Scout camera" />
 <figcaption>View near the crash scene -image KC Scout camera</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Monday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Sterling Dump Truck driven by Leslie L.&nbsp;Kendig, 68,&nbsp; Osawatomie, was northbound on Kansas 7 just south of College Boulevard in lane #2.&nbsp; The dump truck drifted into lane #1 and struck a trailer pulled by a Ford F350.&nbsp; The dump truck driver overcorrected to the right, entered the ditch and rolled.Kendig was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the KHP. The pickup driver identified as Patrick E. Clement, 52, Lane, Kansas, was not injured. Both drivers were&nbsp;properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man killed after dump truck overturns

GREENWOOD COUNTY –Authorities investigating a weekend drowning have identified the victim as 23-year-old Alexzander Martin of Emporia, according to the Greenwood County Sheriff.

Just after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, a 911 call to the sheriff's office reported someone was yelling for help&nbsp; at the Madison City Lake. The caller reported that the person had gone underwater and did not resurfaced. Emergency crews responded within minutes. The rescue quickly transitioned into a search effort.

Just before 11 p.m., Martin's body was recovered. The circumstances surrounding his drowning are under investigation.

The Madison Fire Department, Emporia Fire Department, Eureka Fire Department, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with rescue and recovery efforts.

GREENWOOD COUNTY –Authorities investigating a weekend drowning have identified the victim as 23-year-old Alexzander Martin of Emporia, according to the Greenwood County Sheriff.Just after 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, a 911 call to the sheriff's office reported someone was yelling for help&nbsp; at the Madison City Lake. The caller reported that the person had gone underwater and did not resurfaced. Emergency crews responded within minutes. The rescue quickly transitioned into a search effort.Just before 11 p.m., Martin's body was recovered. The circumstances surrounding his drowning are under investigation.The Madison Fire Department, Emporia Fire Department, Eureka Fire Department, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Kansas Highway Patrol assisted with rescue and recovery efforts.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who drowned in city lake

President Trump, misspelled Sweeney’s first name. He said it was “the HOTTEST ad out there.”

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;She&#39;s a registered Republican? Oh, now I love her ad. Is that right? You&#39;d be surprised at how many people are Republicans. That&#39;s one I wouldn&#39;t have known, but I&#39;m glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic.&quot; - Pres. Trump <a href="https://t.co/l4BA1sRe70">pic.twitter.com/l4BA1sRe70</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1952345996584759451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Trump, misspelled Sweeney’s first name. He said it was “the HOTTEST ad out there.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump on Sidney Sweeney <a href="https://t.co/Or1m3DAR9q">pic.twitter.com/Or1m3DAR9q</a>&mdash; Diana Nerozzi (@diana_nerozzi) <a href="https://twitter.com/diana_nerozzi/status/1952368664575098985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President Trump comments on Sydney Sweeney's jeans ad 

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a theft from the Farmer's Market in Manhattan.

Just before 10a.m. on Friday, officers filed a report for theft in the 200 block of Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Riley Police Department activity report.. 

The Downtown Farmer’s Market of Manhattan reported a 46-year-old woman took money. The estimated total loss with this case is approximately $6,000.&nbsp; The RCPD released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754322068838.png" alt="Photo courtesy Farmer's Market of Manhattan" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Farmer's Market of Manhattan</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a theft from the Farmer's Market in Manhattan.Just before 10a.m. on Friday, officers filed a report for theft in the 200 block of Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Riley Police Department activity report.. The Downtown Farmer’s Market of Manhattan reported a 46-year-old woman took money. The estimated total loss with this case is approximately $6,000.&nbsp; The RCPD released no additional details.

Police: Woman accused of theft of cash from Farmer's Market

CAMDEN COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at Lake of the Ozarks.

At 1:07 a.m. Monday, troopers responded to a large fire at Wheelhouse Marina,&nbsp;143 Wheel House Court, Lake Ozarks. Several docks and boats were engulfed. The fire has since been extinguished and there were no injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754314913168.png" alt="Photo MSHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>CAMDEN COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at Lake of the Ozarks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754314872401.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>At 1:07 a.m. Monday, troopers responded to a large fire at Wheelhouse Marina,&nbsp;143 Wheel House Court, Lake Ozarks. Several docks and boats were engulfed. The fire has since been extinguished and there were no injuries.

Cause of marina fire at Lake of the Ozarks under investigation

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 30-year-old&nbsp;Rahmalle Ceasar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, patrol officers were dispatched to 53rd and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, on a reported shooting with a victim down in a parking lot, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they were directed to a convenience store on Prospect. There officers located Ceasar in the parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. 

Police officers began performing lifesaving measures and summoned medical personnel to the scene. KCFD medics pronounced him deceased at the scene. This is being investigated as a homicide. There is no one in custody.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754225807663.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 30-year-old&nbsp;Rahmalle Ceasar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just before 7p.m. Saturday, patrol officers were dispatched to 53rd and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, on a reported shooting with a victim down in a parking lot, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.As officers arrived they were directed to a convenience store on Prospect. There officers located Ceasar in the parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Police officers began performing lifesaving measures and summoned medical personnel to the scene. KCFD medics pronounced him deceased at the scene. This is being investigated as a homicide. There is no one in custody.&nbsp;

Homicide: Police found shooting victim in KC store parking lot

WASHINGTON&nbsp;- U.S. Senator Jerry Moran — the chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation&nbsp; released the following statement after the conclusion of the National Transportation Safety Board’s three-day investigative hearing into the January 29 midair collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter.

“Six months after the tragic crash near DCA, the NTSB laid out a series of failures it has uncovered so far in its investigation of the tragedy that claimed 67 lives, including Kansans. While there is no single factor that led to the crash on January 29, it is alarming that FAA failed to act on years of data and near misses indicating serious problems with the design of the mixed airspace around DCA. The FAA blamed their inaction on bureaucracy but did not take action to try and alleviate the bureaucratic roadblocks within the agency. That is no excuse.&nbsp;

“The NTSB uncovered long-term staffing issues at the control tower that were compounded by a culture of distrust among DCA air traffic controllers and a toleration for unacceptable risks; found inaccurate altitude readings on the helicopter; and discovered the ADS-B Out technology was not transmitting on the Blackhawk likely due to faulty equipment that the Army failed to identify and has now been found to be an issue on numerous other Army helicopters as well.

“I commend Chair Homendy on her thorough investigation into this crash and her dedication in bringing to light the failures in our airspace. Despite numerous warnings signs of serious problems over the last several years, little was done to try and correct them, and these failures by the FAA, the Army and air traffic control cost 67 lives. I know the last few days have been painful for the families of the victims, and I assure them that Congress will not let these failures go unanswered. We cannot undo the tragic loss of life, but we can work to make certain it never happens again.”

Congressional Action since January 29:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753879190797.png" alt="Photo NTSB" />
 <figcaption>Photo NTSB</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;- U.S. Senator Jerry Moran — the chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation&nbsp; released the following statement after the conclusion of the National Transportation Safety Board’s three-day investigative hearing into the January 29 midair collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter.“Six months after the tragic crash near DCA, the NTSB laid out a series of failures it has uncovered so far in its investigation of the tragedy that claimed 67 lives, including Kansans. While there is no single factor that led to the crash on January 29, it is alarming that FAA failed to act on years of data and near misses indicating serious problems with the design of the mixed airspace around DCA. The FAA blamed their inaction on bureaucracy but did not take action to try and alleviate the bureaucratic roadblocks within the agency. That is no excuse.&nbsp;“The NTSB uncovered long-term staffing issues at the control tower that were compounded by a culture of distrust among DCA air traffic controllers and a toleration for unacceptable risks; found inaccurate altitude readings on the helicopter; and discovered the ADS-B Out technology was not transmitting on the Blackhawk likely due to faulty equipment that the Army failed to identify and has now been found to be an issue on numerous other Army helicopters as well.“I commend Chair Homendy on her thorough investigation into this crash and her dedication in bringing to light the failures in our airspace. Despite numerous warnings signs of serious problems over the last several years, little was done to try and correct them, and these failures by the FAA, the Army and air traffic control cost 67 lives. I know the last few days have been painful for the families of the victims, and I assure them that Congress will not let these failures go unanswered. We cannot undo the tragic loss of life, but we can work to make certain it never happens again.”Congressional Action since January 29:<ol>
 <li>Feb. 5: Sen. Moran and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=36B2737E-26E4-4733-B6F8-7F261A2C9E5D">call on the FAA</a>&nbsp;to restrict non-essential helicopter operations near DCA.</li><li>March 13: Sen. Moran and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=D7323088-98D9-4B35-B4B1-B81D3ACF22EF">press the Army</a>&nbsp;to answer questions regarding the Army’s role in the midair collision on January 29th.</li><li>March 27: The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=6B0933F9-6B02-480A-8A70-4531D0A64811">holds a hearing</a>&nbsp;on the January 29 midair collision.</li><li>May 14: Sen. Moran&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=91FECE28-4241-4A97-95BB-04F909559D70">questions FAA officials</a>&nbsp;on the lack of response on near-miss data aggregated in their databases during a Commerce hearing.</li><li>May 16: Sen. Moran&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=2544D35B-93DD-451F-BE67-FFC08F210110">introduces legislation</a>&nbsp;to require all aircraft in high-volume airspace to use ADS-B technology.</li><li>May 16: Sen. Moran&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=FDD6F2AB-4D3D-4A08-B9F8-C5AB3E95642B">questions Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy</a>&nbsp;during a hearing on current restrictions around DCA.</li><li>June 10: Senators&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=127DC1B6-DEB8-4C86-9250-76EB2BBA3F76">call for audits</a>&nbsp;into the Department of Transportation and the Army’s response to the midair collision.</li><li>June 11: Sen. Moran leads a briefing with NTSB, FAA and Army on additional near collisions that occurred between an Army helicopter and two commercial aircraft in April after the crash.</li><li>June 12: Sen. Moran&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=C5E084BC-BBFB-47C3-9954-0759B6533257">questions Defense Secretary Pete&nbsp;Hegseth</a>&nbsp;on the use of ADS-B technology in military aircraft.</li><li>July 29: Sen. Moran joins his colleagues in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=63BE7B2D-8F4D-4467-AF88-1CA2D46F24A2">introducing the ROTOR Act</a>&nbsp;to require the use of location technology in high-volume airspace and initiate a review of flight routes near DC and an Inspector General’s audit of the Army’s aviation practices.</li>
 </ol>

Kan. U.S. Senator's statement on NTSB hearing on fatal DCA midair collision 

ST.&nbsp;LOUIS– Approximately 3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles, Mo., and Mascoutah, Ill. voted on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025 to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing, according to a media release from the union.

This vote follows members’<a href="https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-district-837-members-in-st-louis-vote-to-reject-boeing-defense-contract/">&nbsp;overwhelming rejection</a>&nbsp;of Boeing’s earlier proposal on Sunday, July 27. A strike will begin at midnight on Monday, Aug 4.

“IAM District 837 members have spoken loud and clear, they deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation’s defense,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative Tom Boelling. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with these working families as they fight for fairness and respect on the job.”

“Our union is built on democracy, and our members have every right to demand a contract worthy of their contributions,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;IAM International President Brian Bryant.&nbsp;“We will be there on the picket lines, ensuring Boeing hears the collective power of working people.”

“IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe,”&nbsp;said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise.”

“Solidarity is our strength. This vote shows that when workers stand together, they can push back against corporate greed and fight for a better future for themselves and their families,”&nbsp;said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett.&nbsp;“We are proud to back our members every step of the way.”

IAM Members assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18, and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies. Their work plays a vital role in safeguarding national security and supporting U.S. and allied defense operations.

The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

ST.&nbsp;LOUIS– Approximately 3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles, Mo., and Mascoutah, Ill. voted on Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025 to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing, according to a media release from the union.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 STRIKE ALERT: 3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough. This is about respect and dignity, not empty promises. <a href="https://t.co/2mRlPkmOMm">https://t.co/2mRlPkmOMm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnionStrong?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnionStrong</a>&mdash; IAM Union (@IAM_Union) <a href="https://twitter.com/IAM_Union/status/1952244162931155295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>This vote follows members’<a href="https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-district-837-members-in-st-louis-vote-to-reject-boeing-defense-contract/">&nbsp;overwhelming rejection</a>&nbsp;of Boeing’s earlier proposal on Sunday, July 27. A strike will begin at midnight on Monday, Aug 4.“IAM District 837 members have spoken loud and clear, they deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation’s defense,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative Tom Boelling. “We stand shoulder to shoulder with these working families as they fight for fairness and respect on the job.”“Our union is built on democracy, and our members have every right to demand a contract worthy of their contributions,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;IAM International President Brian Bryant.&nbsp;“We will be there on the picket lines, ensuring Boeing hears the collective power of working people.”“IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe,”&nbsp;said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli. “They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise.”“Solidarity is our strength. This vote shows that when workers stand together, they can push back against corporate greed and fight for a better future for themselves and their families,”&nbsp;said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett.&nbsp;“We are proud to back our members every step of the way.”IAM Members assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18, and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies. Their work plays a vital role in safeguarding national security and supporting U.S. and allied defense operations.The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

Boeing workers who build fighter jets go on strike

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop. 

Just after 10:30p.. on July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, acording to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The traffic stop led to the arrest of the driver, 48-year-old Carl Thomas Ramsey, of Topeka.  Ramsey was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methampehtamine, criminal possession of a weapon by felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, distribute cocaine, criminal use of weapons; possession of firearm by person addicted/use controlled substance and no drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753809979269.png" alt="Ramsey-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ramsey-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop. Just after 10:30p.. on July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, acording to Sheriff Tim Morse.The traffic stop led to the arrest of the driver, 48-year-old Carl Thomas Ramsey, of Topeka. Ramsey was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methampehtamine, criminal possession of a weapon by felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, distribute cocaine, criminal use of weapons; possession of firearm by person addicted/use controlled substance and no drug tax stamp.

Sheriff: Kansas felon accused of selling cocaine

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City woman has been found a guilty of embezzlement, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

“We are proud of last week’s conviction, which is exactly the kind of justice our community deserves,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “In this case, the defendant abused their position of trust to steal from their employer. We will never tolerate these kinds of crimes and pursuing anyone who preys on businesses, whether from the outside or within, remains one of our top priorities.”

During a jury trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2690/JUDGMENT---State-v-Kristen-Cannon_FINAL">Kristen Cannon was convicted</a>&nbsp;of one count of Stealing - $750 or more. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23. Cannon faces up to seven years in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2689/Kristen-Cannon-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Cannon was employed at a business between the dates of May 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, and had access to business finances. The business owner told detectives that the defendant had used the business card for more than $18,000 in personal expenses not related to the business.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City woman has been found a guilty of embezzlement, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.“We are proud of last week’s conviction, which is exactly the kind of justice our community deserves,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “In this case, the defendant abused their position of trust to steal from their employer. We will never tolerate these kinds of crimes and pursuing anyone who preys on businesses, whether from the outside or within, remains one of our top priorities.”During a jury trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2690/JUDGMENT---State-v-Kristen-Cannon_FINAL">Kristen Cannon was convicted</a>&nbsp;of one count of Stealing - $750 or more. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23. Cannon faces up to seven years in prison.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753806938329.png" alt="Court record from the Jackson Co. Prosecutor's office" />
 <figcaption>Court record from the Jackson Co. Prosecutor's office</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2689/Kristen-Cannon-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Cannon was employed at a business between the dates of May 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, and had access to business finances. The business owner told detectives that the defendant had used the business card for more than $18,000 in personal expenses not related to the business.&nbsp;

Embezzlement: KC woman paid her taxes with company credit card

While the crypto machines can be used for legitimate reasons, they’ve become favored by scammers.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>

They may resemble other ATMs, but officials are increasingly warning about the potential for fraud with the expanding fleet of cryptocurrency ATMs popping up across the country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753716326941.png" alt="Image courtesy Bitcoin Depot" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Bitcoin Depot</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>While the crypto machines can be used for legitimate reasons, they’ve become favored by scammers.</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>They may resemble other ATMs, but officials are increasingly warning about the potential for fraud with the expanding fleet of cryptocurrency ATMs popping up across the country.The National Consumers League says the largely unregulated machines have become&nbsp;<a href="https://nclnet.org/ncl-supports-new-legislation-to-combat-crypto-atm-fraud/" target="_blank">favored by scammers</a>&nbsp;for their anonymity and irreversibility — once a user transfers or deposits funds, that money is essentially gone.While officials say the machines can be used for legitimate purposes, red and blue states are increasingly imposing new regulations to protect consumers: AARP says 11 states have recently passed new laws or regulations of the machines.“In state after state, AARP found lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and local law enforcement eager to work on commonsense rules that balance innovation and consumer safety,” Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer, said in a news release.Last year, the FBI reported nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf" target="_blank">11,000 complaints</a>&nbsp;of cryptocurrency ATM fraud. Those cases disproportionately affected older Americans and cost victims $246.7 million.<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/cryptocurrency" target="_blank">Cryptocurrencies</a>&nbsp;are digital assets, including bitcoin, that offer an alternative payment or method without control of a central bank or government like other currencies.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/investigation-fraud-and-risk/cryptocurrency-atms/" target="_blank">Crypto ATMs</a>, sometimes called crypto kiosks, allow users to insert cash or use debit cards to convert currencies such as U.S. dollars into cryptocurrencies.The Federal Trade Commission says crypto ATM scams&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/scammers-use-bitcoin-atms-steal-your-money" target="_blank">often start&nbsp;</a>with a call or text message warning of a supposed problem, such as unauthorized bank charges or suspicious activity on an Amazon account.The FTC says consumers should contact banks or other institutions directly about any account issues. And it warns consumers not to believe anyone who says they must use a crypto ATM to address a financial problem.“Real businesses and government agencies will never do that — anyone who does is a scammer,” the agency said.After signing a bill with new regulations, Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen was clear that the state would continue to welcome cryptocurrency businesses as it aims to become a hub for the industry.The Nebraska law requires ATM operators to acquire state licensure, warn customers of the potential for criminal exploitation and take “reasonable steps to detect and prevent fraud.” The law also limits transactions to $2,000 per day for new customers and $10,500 for existing customers, and requires operators to issue refunds for properly reported fraudulent transactions.At least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/financial-services/cryptocurrency-digital-or-virtual-currency-and-digital-assets-2025-legislation" target="_blank">40 states</a>&nbsp;have introduced legislation regarding cryptocurrency, digital or virtual currencies and other digital assets in the 2025 legislative session, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Those measures include ATM regulations, prohibiting the use of digital currencies by governments and allowing state investment in digital assets.Federal lawmakers are also taking action on the issue. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives declared the week of July 14&nbsp;<a href="https://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410793" target="_blank">“Crypto Week,”</a>&nbsp;when lawmakers considered several pieces of legislation.At the end of that week, President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-signs-genius-act-crypto-bill/" target="_blank">signed</a>&nbsp;into law the GENIUS Act, the first major law governing digital currency. It establishes a regulatory framework for the industry.Trump hopes the bill will instill confidence in the industry that spent heavily to strengthen its legitimacy and political might, The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-stablecoins-congress-cryptocurrency-94fa3c85e32ec6fd5a55576cf46e58ea" target="_blank">reported</a>.“This signing is a massive validation of your hard work and your pioneering spirit,” the president told crypto executives.In state legislatures, new bills regulating crypto ATMS have enjoyed bipartisan support. AARP tracking shows new bills have been approved in Arkansas, Iowa and Oklahoma, as well as in more liberal states such as Maryland and Vermont.In May, Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs&nbsp;<a href="https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/news/2025/05/governor-katie-hobbs-legislative-action-update-2" target="_blank">signed</a>&nbsp;Republican-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1r/bills/hb2387h.htm" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;that sets daily transaction limits and mandates crypto ATM operators provide customers certain disclosures and warnings.The legislation followed local news coverage of at least<a href="https://www.azfamily.com/2025/02/07/new-warning-after-arizonans-lose-millions-bitcoin-atm-scams/" target="_blank">&nbsp;two dozen crypto scams</a>, including one that cost an Arizonan $28,000.Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>.