WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas City.

Just before midnight Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the&nbsp;900 block of Osage in Kansas City, Kansas. First responders found a man with gunshot wounds deceased outside a residence.

Police did not release the name of the victim or possible suspect details.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas City.Just before midnight Saturday, police responded to report of a shooting in the&nbsp;900 block of Osage in Kansas City, Kansas. First responders found a man with gunshot wounds deceased outside a residence.Police did not release the name of the victim or possible suspect details.

Police investigate homicide outside Kansas home

By Devin Watkins Vatican News Service

At 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the&nbsp;Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:

"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."

The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.

Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.

After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.

In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.

As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.

In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced.

The second edition of the&nbsp;Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis&nbsp;introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death.

The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin.

According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.

“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718390118058.png" alt="Pope Francis image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Pope Francis image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By Devin Watkins Vatican News ServiceAt 9:45 AM, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the&nbsp;Apostolic Chamber, announced the death of Pope Francis from the Casa Santa Marta with these words:"Dearest brothers and sisters, with deep sorrow I must announce the death of our Holy Father Francis. At 7:35 this morning, the Bishop of Rome, Francis, returned to the house of the Father. His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized. With immense gratitude for his example as a true disciple of the Lord Jesus, we commend the soul of Pope Francis to the infinite merciful love of the One and Triune God."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pope Francis died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88 at his residence in the Vatican&#39;s Casa Santa Marta. <a href="https://t.co/jUIkbplVi2">pic.twitter.com/jUIkbplVi2</a>&mdash; Vatican News (@VaticanNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/VaticanNews/status/1914226689065865254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Pope was admitted to the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic Hospital on Friday, February 14, 2025, after suffering from a bout of bronchitis for several days.Pope Francis’ clinical situation gradually worsened, and his doctors diagnosed bilateral pneumonia on Tuesday, February 18.After 38 days in hospital, the late Pope returned to his Vatican residence at the Casa Santa Marta to continue his recovery.In 1957, in his early 20s, Jorge Mario Bergoglio underwent surgery in his native Argentina to remove a portion of his lung that had been affected by a severe respiratory infection.As he aged, Pope Francis frequently suffered bouts of respiratory illnesses, even cancelling a planned visit to the United Arab Emirates in November 2023 due to influenza and lung inflammation.In April 2024, the late Pope Francis approved an updated edition of the liturgical book for papal funeral rites, which will guide the funeral Mass which has yet to be announced.The second edition of the&nbsp;Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis&nbsp;introduces several new elements, including how the Pope’s mortal remains are to be handled after death.The ascertainment of death takes place in the chapel, rather than in the room where he died, and his body is immediately placed inside the coffin.According to Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Apostolic Ceremonies, the late Pope Francis had requested that the funeral rites be simplified and focused on expressing the faith of the Church in the Risen Body of Christ.“The renewed rite,” said Archbishop Ravelli, “seeks to emphasise even more that the funeral of the Roman Pontiff is that of a pastor and disciple of Christ and not of a powerful person of this world.”

Pope Francis, Latin America's first pontiff, dies at 88

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a Thursday evening homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 45-year-old Ian Walker, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, patrol officers were dispatched to 54th and Euclid on the report of sounds of shots.

First responders located Walker in a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. 

Medics transported Walker to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. This is being investigated as homicide. Preliminary information revealed there was a disturbance in the street that led up to the shots being fired. 

Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744942512869.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a Thursday evening homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 45-year-old Ian Walker, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, patrol officers were dispatched to 54th and Euclid on the report of sounds of shots.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744942490486.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located Walker in a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. Medics transported Walker to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later. This is being investigated as homicide. Preliminary information revealed there was a disturbance in the street that led up to the shots being fired. Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect information.

Homicide: Police ID victim found shot in a car in Kansas City

WASHINGTON — A Kansas City resident, attending college in Boston, was arrested and made his initial court appearance in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla business in Kansas City, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1397151/dl?inline">Click here to read </a>the criminal complaint

According to the criminal complaint, filed in the Western District of Missouri, Owen McIntire, 19, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.

“Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.”

“Crimes have consequences. The people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison — we will not make deals and we will not negotiate,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.

“This is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work.”

“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic experts recovered and analyzed key evidence—including Molotov cocktails—used in this deliberate and dangerous arson attack,” said Acting Director Dan Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “This wasn’t vandalism — it was a violent criminal act. Thanks to the relentless work of ATF special agents, and our close coordination with the FBI and local law enforcement, we now have a suspect in custody. I am committed to ensuring ATF continues to stand on the front lines of public safety. ATF will not tolerate those who incite political violence in our communities.”

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on March 17, at approximately 11:16 p.m., an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department (KCMOPD) in the vicinity of the Kansas City (KC) Tesla Center observed smoke coming from a grey Cybertruck parked in the KC Tesla Center parking lot. The officer also observed an unbroken suspected incendiary device near the burning Cybertruck. KCMOPD recovered the unbroken incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail. The fire spread from the Cybertruck to a second Cybertruck in the lot. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire.

The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485. Additionally, two charging stations were damaged by the fire, each of which is valued at approximately $550.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

The FBI Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department are investigating the case.

A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742324423678.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — A Kansas City resident, attending college in Boston, was arrested and made his initial court appearance in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla business in Kansas City, Missouri.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1397151/dl?inline">Click here to read </a>the criminal complaint<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745180645595.png" alt="McIntire photo Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>McIntire photo Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the criminal complaint, filed in the Western District of Missouri, Owen McIntire, 19, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BREAKING?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BREAKING</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FBI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FBI</a> Boston &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIKansasCity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBIKansasCity</a> special agents &amp; our partners at the ATF have arrested Owen McIntire, a college student in Boston, for allegedly launching a Molotov cocktail at a Tesla facility in Kansas City, MO, while home on spring break. <a href="https://t.co/csDfvwav6H">https://t.co/csDfvwav6H</a> <a href="https://t.co/egcpuyFHaD">pic.twitter.com/egcpuyFHaD</a>&mdash; FBI Boston (@FBIBoston) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIBoston/status/1913306226303058235?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.”“Crimes have consequences. The people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison — we will not make deals and we will not negotiate,” said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.“This is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work.”“ATF’s Special Agents and forensic experts recovered and analyzed key evidence—including Molotov cocktails—used in this deliberate and dangerous arson attack,” said Acting Director Dan Driscoll of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). “This wasn’t vandalism — it was a violent criminal act. Thanks to the relentless work of ATF special agents, and our close coordination with the FBI and local law enforcement, we now have a suspect in custody. I am committed to ensuring ATF continues to stand on the front lines of public safety. ATF will not tolerate those who incite political violence in our communities.”According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on March 17, at approximately 11:16 p.m., an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department (KCMOPD) in the vicinity of the Kansas City (KC) Tesla Center observed smoke coming from a grey Cybertruck parked in the KC Tesla Center parking lot. The officer also observed an unbroken suspected incendiary device near the burning Cybertruck. KCMOPD recovered the unbroken incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail. The fire spread from the Cybertruck to a second Cybertruck in the lot. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire.The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485. Additionally, two charging stations were damaged by the fire, each of which is valued at approximately $550.Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.The FBI Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department are investigating the case.A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.&nbsp;

Read the criminal complaint: KC teen charged in Tesla arson case

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop. Just after 3a.m. April 17,&nbsp; a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop near 142nd Road on U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

During the encounter, deputies arrested 54-year-old Frederick Daniel Anguish, of Topeka. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, distribute certain stimulants, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle without an interlock device and driving while suspended.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745026568303.png" alt="Anguish photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Anguish photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop. Just after 3a.m. April 17,&nbsp; a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop near 142nd Road on U.S. Highway 75 for a traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.During the encounter, deputies arrested 54-year-old Frederick Daniel Anguish, of Topeka. He was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, distribute certain stimulants, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle without an interlock device and driving while suspended.

Sheriff: Kansas man accused of selling illegal drugs

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 — More than 70% of abortions performed in 2024 in Kansas were for out-of-state residents, according to monthly estimates of clinician-provided abortions in states without total bans.

Overall, Kansas was among the top five states in the country with the most substantial increases in abortions performed between 2023 and 2024, with about an 18% increase.

That increase was driven by non-Kansans seeking care, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a health policy research and advocacy organization, that released a report of monthly abortion estimates on April 15.

The report found that clinicians provided more than 1 million abortions in the United States in 2024, an increase of less than 1% from 2023.

Across the country, fewer people generally traveled across state lines seeking abortions in 2024 than in 2023. However, Kansas was an outlier.

Kansas clinicians provided more than 16,000 abortions to out-of state residents in 2024, a 3,300-case increase from 2023. Those abortions accounted for 71% of all abortion performed in the state.

“The latest abortion travel data are a clear reminder that the impact of a state’s abortion policies extends far beyond its borders,” said Kimya Forouzan, the institute’s principal state policy advisor.

The report specifically called out Kansas and Virginia as states with substantial abortion growth driven by out-of-state residents.

“This increase in travel from other states was the main driver of increased abortion counts overall in both states, although other factors like expanded clinic capacity also may have increased access for state residents,” the report said.

Emily Wales, the CEO and president of Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains, said the increase was expected.

Planned Parenthood’s clinics saw people seeking miscarriage management, victims of sexual assault and pregnancies with fetal anomalies. All were in need of care in Kansas because restrictions in their own states were too narrow.

“Too often those patients are being turned away,” Wales said.

Kansas has been a “critical point of access,” she said. Planned Parenthood opened a fourth clinic in August in Pittsburg, creating further regional support.&nbsp;

People living in states with total bans have few states to choose from, Wales said, so proximity to a major highway or airport and travel affordability become major factors in the decision to seek out-of-state care.

An inflow of more than 5,800 Texans, almost 3,000 Oklahomans, 2,860 Missourians, about 520 Arkansans and 150 Louisianans visited Kansas for an abortion in 2024. States with fewer than 100 people seeking care in Kansas were not identified in the report. Most of those who traveled — more than 14,500 people — received care at a Planned Parenthood clinic, Wales said.

While federal and state restrictions continue to settle, Wales believes people are still frustrated and paying attention to government’s involvement in private health care decisions.

“But also,” Wales said, “I do think people have been somewhat removed from how emotional it can be to get in your car and drive 12 hours to access care.”

The uptick in abortion access comes on the heels of the Kansas Legislature’s 2025 session, during which Republicans made several, mostly unsuccessful, attempts at clamping down on reproductive health care access.

“The data reflects that Kansans were more empathetic and insightful when they voted on this issue than the Legislature seems to be,” Wales said, referring to the 2022 ballot question attempting to limit abortion access, which Kansas voters rejected.

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 — More than 70% of abortions performed in 2024 in Kansas were for out-of-state residents, according to monthly estimates of clinician-provided abortions in states without total bans.Overall, Kansas was among the top five states in the country with the most substantial increases in abortions performed between 2023 and 2024, with about an 18% increase.That increase was driven by non-Kansans seeking care, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a health policy research and advocacy organization, that released a report of monthly abortion estimates on April 15.The report found that clinicians provided more than 1 million abortions in the United States in 2024, an increase of less than 1% from 2023.Across the country, fewer people generally traveled across state lines seeking abortions in 2024 than in 2023. However, Kansas was an outlier.Kansas clinicians provided more than 16,000 abortions to out-of state residents in 2024, a 3,300-case increase from 2023. Those abortions accounted for 71% of all abortion performed in the state.“The latest abortion travel data are a clear reminder that the impact of a state’s abortion policies extends far beyond its borders,” said Kimya Forouzan, the institute’s principal state policy advisor.The report specifically called out Kansas and Virginia as states with substantial abortion growth driven by out-of-state residents.“This increase in travel from other states was the main driver of increased abortion counts overall in both states, although other factors like expanded clinic capacity also may have increased access for state residents,” the report said.Emily Wales, the CEO and president of Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains, said the increase was expected.Planned Parenthood’s clinics saw people seeking miscarriage management, victims of sexual assault and pregnancies with fetal anomalies. All were in need of care in Kansas because restrictions in their own states were too narrow.“Too often those patients are being turned away,” Wales said.Kansas has been a “critical point of access,” she said. Planned Parenthood opened a fourth clinic in August in Pittsburg, creating further regional support.&nbsp;People living in states with total bans have few states to choose from, Wales said, so proximity to a major highway or airport and travel affordability become major factors in the decision to seek out-of-state care.An inflow of more than 5,800 Texans, almost 3,000 Oklahomans, 2,860 Missourians, about 520 Arkansans and 150 Louisianans visited Kansas for an abortion in 2024. States with fewer than 100 people seeking care in Kansas were not identified in the report. Most of those who traveled — more than 14,500 people — received care at a Planned Parenthood clinic, Wales said.While federal and state restrictions continue to settle, Wales believes people are still frustrated and paying attention to government’s involvement in private health care decisions.“But also,” Wales said, “I do think people have been somewhat removed from how emotional it can be to get in your car and drive 12 hours to access care.”The uptick in abortion access comes on the heels of the Kansas Legislature’s 2025 session, during which Republicans made several, mostly unsuccessful, attempts at clamping down on reproductive health care access.“The data reflects that Kansans were more empathetic and insightful when they voted on this issue than the Legislature seems to be,” Wales said, referring to the 2022 ballot question attempting to limit abortion access, which Kansas voters rejected.

Kansas abortion clinics saw sizable majority of clients from out of state in 2024

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment last week charging a Kansas woman with tax evasion and wire fraud, according to the United State's attorney.

The indictment alleges that Michelle O’Connor, of Louisburg, owned and operated a realty company based in the Kansas City metro area. For tax years 2008 through 2015, O’Connor filed federal income tax returns, self-reporting that she owed approximately $300,000 in taxes. 

Despite acknowledging she owed the taxes, O’Connor did not pay them. In 2011, the IRS audited her 2008 and 2009 tax returns and concluded that O’Connor had improperly claimed tens of thousands of dollars in personal expenses as charitable deductions to the “Church of Revelation and Love,” a purported church she and her husband created and were, along with her family, its primary members. Based on that audit, the IRS assessed over $40,000 in additional taxes against O’Connor.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Starting in 2011, the IRS began trying to collect the outstanding taxes from O’Connor, sending her over 50 notices regarding them. From 2011 through 2023, however, Michelle O’Connor tried to stymy the IRS’s collections efforts by, among other things, filing three separate false and frivolous bankruptcy petitions, purchasing approximately $250,000 of cashier’s checks to reduce her bank account balances, and closing her personal bank accounts and using her business’ bank accounts to pay personal expenses.

By 2020, O’Connor owed the IRS nearly $500,000 in taxes, penalties, and interest.

In 2020, O’Connor submitted 34 fraudulent COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications on behalf of her real estate business and seven other corporate entities she created for the purpose of maximizing potential EIDL credits. Under the EIDL program, a small business could receive a loan of up to $150,000 from the Small Business Administration to cover six months of working capital. In total, O’Connor received nearly $300,000 from her fraudulent EIDLs, which she used for personal purposes, including $115,000 to purchase cryptocurrency.

If convicted, O’Connor faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

WASHINGTON — A federal grand jury in Kansas City returned an indictment last week charging a Kansas woman with tax evasion and wire fraud, according to the United State's attorney.The indictment alleges that Michelle O’Connor, of Louisburg, owned and operated a realty company based in the Kansas City metro area. For tax years 2008 through 2015, O’Connor filed federal income tax returns, self-reporting that she owed approximately $300,000 in taxes. Despite acknowledging she owed the taxes, O’Connor did not pay them. In 2011, the IRS audited her 2008 and 2009 tax returns and concluded that O’Connor had improperly claimed tens of thousands of dollars in personal expenses as charitable deductions to the “Church of Revelation and Love,” a purported church she and her husband created and were, along with her family, its primary members. Based on that audit, the IRS assessed over $40,000 in additional taxes against O’Connor.&nbsp; &nbsp;Starting in 2011, the IRS began trying to collect the outstanding taxes from O’Connor, sending her over 50 notices regarding them. From 2011 through 2023, however, Michelle O’Connor tried to stymy the IRS’s collections efforts by, among other things, filing three separate false and frivolous bankruptcy petitions, purchasing approximately $250,000 of cashier’s checks to reduce her bank account balances, and closing her personal bank accounts and using her business’ bank accounts to pay personal expenses.By 2020, O’Connor owed the IRS nearly $500,000 in taxes, penalties, and interest.In 2020, O’Connor submitted 34 fraudulent COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications on behalf of her real estate business and seven other corporate entities she created for the purpose of maximizing potential EIDL credits. Under the EIDL program, a small business could receive a loan of up to $150,000 from the Small Business Administration to cover six months of working capital. In total, O’Connor received nearly $300,000 from her fraudulent EIDLs, which she used for personal purposes, including $115,000 to purchase cryptocurrency.If convicted, O’Connor faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for tax evasion and a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Indictment: Kansas realtor, husband gave donations to fake church they created

JOHNSON COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 11:30p.m. Saturday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Toyota Corolla driven by Jose M. Placensia Castaneda, 17, Lenexa, was southbound on U.S. 69 near 58th Street. The car crossed the raised median, entered the northbound lanes and struck a northbound 2015 Kia Optima driven by Victoria A. Jones, 44, Kansas City, Missouri, head-on.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Castaneda and a passenger in the Toyota Itzel&nbsp;Guerra, 18, Overland Park were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Jones and a passenger Germara D.&nbsp;Guillory, 41, Kansas City, Missouri, to KU Medical Center. Castaneda and Guerra were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just before 11:30p.m. Saturday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Toyota Corolla driven by Jose M. Placensia Castaneda, 17, Lenexa, was southbound on U.S. 69 near 58th Street. The car crossed the raised median, entered the northbound lanes and struck a northbound 2015 Kia Optima driven by Victoria A. Jones, 44, Kansas City, Missouri, head-on.&nbsp;&nbsp;Castaneda and a passenger in the Toyota Itzel&nbsp;Guerra, 18, Overland Park were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported Jones and a passenger Germara D.&nbsp;Guillory, 41, Kansas City, Missouri, to KU Medical Center. Castaneda and Guerra were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Two Kansas teens dead after head-on crash

Rural Missourians tend to be older and have more chronic health conditions. It makes a consistent primary care provider more important, but rural patients have the least access to them

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>

Communities across the country are suffering from a lack of primary care providers, and Missouri is no exception. In fact, it ranks fourth worst nationwide in terms of its primary care provider shortage.

All but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/charts/5?state=MO" target="_blank">seven</a>&nbsp;Missouri counties have shortages of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/primary-care-health-professional-shortage-areas-hpsas/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Total%20Primary%20Care%20HPSA%20Designations%22,%22sort%22:%22desc%22%7D" target="_blank">primary care providers</a>. Those mostly rural counties that lack providers see higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer or kidney problems, as well as higher rates of tobacco usage.

And as those communities age and require more care, rural hospitals are closing. Eighteen hospitals have shut their doors in Missouri since 2014, and 12 of those were in rural areas.

Now, as Missouri looks to make inroads in recruiting and retaining primary care providers, those communities bear the brunt of the shortages. Southeast Missouri sees a higher rate of unmet needs when it comes to primary care. Having a regular primary care provider is associated with higher likelihood of appropriate care for a medical condition, and a regular source of care is linked with better health outcomes overall.

“For a person in a rural area without access to this primary care, it will hasten the impact of that disease process on them,” said Brock Slabach, the chief operating officer at the National Rural Health Association. “Now distance becomes a real variable in terms of care. So what we see is delayed care, then at that point, delayed care can be deadly.”

How rural Missouri fares&nbsp;amid the state’s primary care shortage

The growing shortage isn’t just a problem in Missouri. Nationwide, there is a projected shortage of 87,000 full-time primary care doctors by 2037,&nbsp;<a href="https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/state-of-the-primary-care-workforce-report-2024.pdf" target="_blank">HRSA data show.</a>&nbsp;Falling in line with trends, the shortage is predicted to be the worst in rural areas.

Like the rest of the U.S. population, primary care doctors are beginning to age out of the workforce, Slabach said. Figuring out how to replace those veteran doctors — who may have a different view of work-life balance and the demands of the workplace than the next generation — is a challenge.

“The cliff of those retiring is really just getting alarming,” Slabach said. “Rural communities have, on average, a much older cohort of physicians and advanced practice providers. In fact, they should be retiring. Many are not retiring because the need is so great.”

Hospitals, private practice clinics and health centers are also grappling with the changing expectations of a younger workforce.

“Going into a rural community and working 60, 80 hours a week like doctors did 30 or 40 years ago is not being replaced,” Slabach said. “People are wanting predictable patterns of work-life balance, and they’re insisting on that more and more.”

Primary care providers report higher rates of burnout and low satisfaction with work-life balance and a high load of patients. It’s also a less popular field for incoming medical students due to pay. The average salary for a primary care doctor in the U.S. in 2023 was about $272,000, compared to $558,000 for an orthopedic physician and $423,000 for a general surgeon.

But as the country’s population continues to age, the importance of a longstanding relationship with one’s primary care doctor is coming more into focus.

“We believe firmly in family medicine that continuity is protected and that it is worth striving for and attaining,” said Dr. Laura Morris, a family medicine physician at MU Health Care in Fulton.

For doctors who are getting familiar with a new patient’s medical history, it can be a complicated process.

“It makes it more challenging. It takes more time. It might make you overorder tests, or it might make you fail to recognize certain flags or conditions,” Morris said. “That knowledge and that awareness of the patient’s conditions is helpful from a medical and diagnostic sense.”

It’s a concerning trend as the nation’s population ages.

<a href="https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2016-11/Missouri.pdf" target="_blank">By 2030</a>, one in five Missourians will be aged 65 or older, an increase of 29% from 2012. In 2020, 16.8% of the nationwide population was 65 or older. By 2040, it’s estimated that will increase to 21.6%.

“We know that in rural counties patients tend to be older. They tend to be sicker. And their outcomes in terms of even basic chronic conditions like heart disease and COPD do not look as good as patients that live in counties where they might have an oversupply of physician access,” Morris said.

How can Missouri address workforce concerns as its population ages?&nbsp;&nbsp;

A November 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2826107" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;analyzed the national supply of primary care doctors focused on patients 65 and older. It found that while the number of geriatric-focused medical doctors is dropping, the supply of geriatric-focused nurse practitioners is on the rise.

The number of medical doctors per capita nationwide decreased by 12.7% from 2010 to 2020, the study found, while the rate of geriatric nurse practitioners increased by 125%. Over the 10 years of data the study analyzed, nearly 64% of small and rural counties had no geriatric physicians or nurse practitioners.

The state is also looking to amp up health care workforce recruitment and retention through training programs and loan repayment plans. One program sends physicians to practice in designated health care professional shortage areas across the state. During the 2022 fiscal year, 14 of the recipients were in rural areas and seven had a family medicine specialty.

That brings other medical professionals, like advanced practice nurses, behavioral health specialists and social workers into the mix.

“I think the solutions lie in team-based care and really pulling in all of the different resources we have available as a health care team,” Morris said. “It is not simply relying upon a doctor to hang out a shingle and provide all-encompassing care for an entire community. That’s not realistic.”

Nurse practitioners in Missouri have been pushing for more reliance on medical providers outside of medical doctors. Missouri is one of 11 states that require nurse practitioners to practice with a collaborating physician. It’s a requirement for nurse practitioners who want to prescribe medicines and treat patients.

<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB392&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">Legislation</a>&nbsp;has been introduced to eliminate some of those requirements after a certain number of hours worked alongside a collaborating physician, but so far it hasn’t gained much traction.

“Maximizing work from nurses, clinic pharmacists and partnering with other organizations to provide wraparound care … is the best way to most efficiently deliver care,” Morris said, “and then alleviate what looks and feels like an overwhelming workload on physician partners.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/17/missouri-primary-care-shortage-rural-physicians/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</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>.

<h2>Rural Missourians tend to be older and have more chronic health conditions. It makes a consistent primary care provider more important, but rural patients have the least access to them</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>Communities across the country are suffering from a lack of primary care providers, and Missouri is no exception. In fact, it ranks fourth worst nationwide in terms of its primary care provider shortage.All but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/charts/5?state=MO" target="_blank">seven</a>&nbsp;Missouri counties have shortages of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/primary-care-health-professional-shortage-areas-hpsas/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Total%20Primary%20Care%20HPSA%20Designations%22,%22sort%22:%22desc%22%7D" target="_blank">primary care providers</a>. Those mostly rural counties that lack providers see higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer or kidney problems, as well as higher rates of tobacco usage.And as those communities age and require more care, rural hospitals are closing. Eighteen hospitals have shut their doors in Missouri since 2014, and 12 of those were in rural areas.Now, as Missouri looks to make inroads in recruiting and retaining primary care providers, those communities bear the brunt of the shortages. Southeast Missouri sees a higher rate of unmet needs when it comes to primary care. Having a regular primary care provider is associated with higher likelihood of appropriate care for a medical condition, and a regular source of care is linked with better health outcomes overall.“For a person in a rural area without access to this primary care, it will hasten the impact of that disease process on them,” said Brock Slabach, the chief operating officer at the National Rural Health Association. “Now distance becomes a real variable in terms of care. So what we see is delayed care, then at that point, delayed care can be deadly.”<h2>How rural Missouri fares&nbsp;amid the state’s primary care shortage</h2>The growing shortage isn’t just a problem in Missouri. Nationwide, there is a projected shortage of 87,000 full-time primary care doctors by 2037,&nbsp;<a href="https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/state-of-the-primary-care-workforce-report-2024.pdf" target="_blank">HRSA data show.</a>&nbsp;Falling in line with trends, the shortage is predicted to be the worst in rural areas.Like the rest of the U.S. population, primary care doctors are beginning to age out of the workforce, Slabach said. Figuring out how to replace those veteran doctors — who may have a different view of work-life balance and the demands of the workplace than the next generation — is a challenge.“The cliff of those retiring is really just getting alarming,” Slabach said. “Rural communities have, on average, a much older cohort of physicians and advanced practice providers. In fact, they should be retiring. Many are not retiring because the need is so great.”Hospitals, private practice clinics and health centers are also grappling with the changing expectations of a younger workforce.“Going into a rural community and working 60, 80 hours a week like doctors did 30 or 40 years ago is not being replaced,” Slabach said. “People are wanting predictable patterns of work-life balance, and they’re insisting on that more and more.”Primary care providers report higher rates of burnout and low satisfaction with work-life balance and a high load of patients. It’s also a less popular field for incoming medical students due to pay. The average salary for a primary care doctor in the U.S. in 2023 was about $272,000, compared to $558,000 for an orthopedic physician and $423,000 for a general surgeon.But as the country’s population continues to age, the importance of a longstanding relationship with one’s primary care doctor is coming more into focus.“We believe firmly in family medicine that continuity is protected and that it is worth striving for and attaining,” said Dr. Laura Morris, a family medicine physician at MU Health Care in Fulton.For doctors who are getting familiar with a new patient’s medical history, it can be a complicated process.“It makes it more challenging. It takes more time. It might make you overorder tests, or it might make you fail to recognize certain flags or conditions,” Morris said. “That knowledge and that awareness of the patient’s conditions is helpful from a medical and diagnostic sense.”It’s a concerning trend as the nation’s population ages.<a href="https://acl.gov/sites/default/files/programs/2016-11/Missouri.pdf" target="_blank">By 2030</a>, one in five Missourians will be aged 65 or older, an increase of 29% from 2012. In 2020, 16.8% of the nationwide population was 65 or older. By 2040, it’s estimated that will increase to 21.6%.“We know that in rural counties patients tend to be older. They tend to be sicker. And their outcomes in terms of even basic chronic conditions like heart disease and COPD do not look as good as patients that live in counties where they might have an oversupply of physician access,” Morris said.<h2>How can Missouri address workforce concerns as its population ages?&nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>A November 2024&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2826107" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;analyzed the national supply of primary care doctors focused on patients 65 and older. It found that while the number of geriatric-focused medical doctors is dropping, the supply of geriatric-focused nurse practitioners is on the rise.The number of medical doctors per capita nationwide decreased by 12.7% from 2010 to 2020, the study found, while the rate of geriatric nurse practitioners increased by 125%. Over the 10 years of data the study analyzed, nearly 64% of small and rural counties had no geriatric physicians or nurse practitioners.The state is also looking to amp up health care workforce recruitment and retention through training programs and loan repayment plans. One program sends physicians to practice in designated health care professional shortage areas across the state. During the 2022 fiscal year, 14 of the recipients were in rural areas and seven had a family medicine specialty.That brings other medical professionals, like advanced practice nurses, behavioral health specialists and social workers into the mix.“I think the solutions lie in team-based care and really pulling in all of the different resources we have available as a health care team,” Morris said. “It is not simply relying upon a doctor to hang out a shingle and provide all-encompassing care for an entire community. That’s not realistic.”Nurse practitioners in Missouri have been pushing for more reliance on medical providers outside of medical doctors. Missouri is one of 11 states that require nurse practitioners to practice with a collaborating physician. It’s a requirement for nurse practitioners who want to prescribe medicines and treat patients.<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB392&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">Legislation</a>&nbsp;has been introduced to eliminate some of those requirements after a certain number of hours worked alongside a collaborating physician, but so far it hasn’t gained much traction.“Maximizing work from nurses, clinic pharmacists and partnering with other organizations to provide wraparound care … is the best way to most efficiently deliver care,” Morris said, “and then alleviate what looks and feels like an overwhelming workload on physician partners.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/17/missouri-primary-care-shortage-rural-physicians/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</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>.

Primary care shortage has an outsized impact on rural Missouri

KANSAS CITY—A&nbsp; Kansas City father and son face charges in connection with a fatal dog mauling that took place last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2589/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John-II--Complaint-and-Warrant-Packet-1">John R. Thibeaux II</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2588/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John--Complaint-and-Warrant-Packet-1">John R. Thibeaux I</a>&nbsp;face one count of 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of 2nd Degree Assault each.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2587/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John-II--PC-Statement_redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 3200 block of East 80th Street on Nov. 2, 2024, and found numerous dogs attacking the victim. Officers used sirens and air horns to scare away the dogs and they retreated to Thibeaux II’s yard through holes in a chain-link fence. The fence was improperly installed, allowing the dogs to enter and exit the yard.

The victim, who suffered severe wounds, died days later. Another person was also bitten while trying to stop the attack.

Surveillance video showed the dogs behind the fence in Thibeaux II’s yard before the attack. One of the dogs was outside the fence and began attacking the victim. The other dogs crawled under the chain-link fence and joined in the attack.&nbsp;

Witnesses reported the dogs regularly roamed the neighborhood, had attacked neighbors’ pets, were aggressive toward people, and even bit someone in the neighborhood on two separate occasions. Text messages revealed Thibeaux I knew about the dogs’ behavior.&nbsp;

Detectives also discovered Thibeaux II operated a dog breeding business, as evidenced by social media posts advertising puppies for sale. Thibeaux II also admitted in texts that one of his dogs had bitten him while he tried to break up a fight between his dogs, just months before the fatal attack.&nbsp;

Both defendants are in custody on a $100,000 bond each.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745011329889.png" alt="John R. Thibeaux-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>John R. Thibeaux-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A&nbsp; Kansas City father and son face charges in connection with a fatal dog mauling that took place last year, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2589/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John-II--Complaint-and-Warrant-Packet-1">John R. Thibeaux II</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2588/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John--Complaint-and-Warrant-Packet-1">John R. Thibeaux I</a>&nbsp;face one count of 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter and one count of 2nd Degree Assault each.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745011303839.png" alt="John R. Thibeaux II photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>John R. Thibeaux II photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2587/KC24082504--Thibeaux_John-II--PC-Statement_redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the 3200 block of East 80th Street on Nov. 2, 2024, and found numerous dogs attacking the victim. Officers used sirens and air horns to scare away the dogs and they retreated to Thibeaux II’s yard through holes in a chain-link fence. The fence was improperly installed, allowing the dogs to enter and exit the yard.The victim, who suffered severe wounds, died days later. Another person was also bitten while trying to stop the attack.Surveillance video showed the dogs behind the fence in Thibeaux II’s yard before the attack. One of the dogs was outside the fence and began attacking the victim. The other dogs crawled under the chain-link fence and joined in the attack.&nbsp;Witnesses reported the dogs regularly roamed the neighborhood, had attacked neighbors’ pets, were aggressive toward people, and even bit someone in the neighborhood on two separate occasions. Text messages revealed Thibeaux I knew about the dogs’ behavior.&nbsp;Detectives also discovered Thibeaux II operated a dog breeding business, as evidenced by social media posts advertising puppies for sale. Thibeaux II also admitted in texts that one of his dogs had bitten him while he tried to break up a fight between his dogs, just months before the fatal attack.&nbsp;Both defendants are in custody on a $100,000 bond each.&nbsp;

Kansas City father, son accused in fatal dog mauling

DODGE COUNTY, Nebraska —Authorities are investigating a small plane crash in rural northeast Nebraska that killed three people including a man from Kansas.

The plane crashed just after 8p.m. Friday into the Platte River south of Fremont, according to the Dodge County Sheriff's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;The victims have been identified as 43-year-old Daniel Williams of Moundridge, Kansas, 50-year-old Jeff Bittinger and 48-year-old Randy Amrein both of Fremont, Nebraska, according to the sheriff's office.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are in charge of the investigation. Fremont is located approximately 45 minutes northwest of Omaha.

DODGE COUNTY, Nebraska —Authorities are investigating a small plane crash in rural northeast Nebraska that killed three people including a man from Kansas.The plane crashed just after 8p.m. Friday into the Platte River south of Fremont, according to the Dodge County Sheriff's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;The victims have been identified as 43-year-old Daniel Williams of Moundridge, Kansas, 50-year-old Jeff Bittinger and 48-year-old Randy Amrein both of Fremont, Nebraska, according to the sheriff's office.The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are in charge of the investigation. Fremont is located approximately 45 minutes northwest of Omaha.

Kan. man among 3 dead in small plane crash in Nebraska

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple allegations after an alleged domestic incident involving a gun.

Just after 1p.m. April 16, police were in the area of the 2000 block of Lane Street in Topeka and witnessed shots being fired, according to Topeka Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.

&nbsp;The suspect was believed to have been hiding in a nearby residence but has not been located. The shooting was being investigated as a domestic dispute and there with no imminent threat to the public.&nbsp;

As a result of this investigation police arrested 53-year-old Christopher L. Cowan on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated assault, use of a deadly weapon, Aggravated endangering a child, reckless situation to a child &lt;18, Criminal discharge of a firearm, recklessly at occupied vehicle, Criminal possession of a weapon by a felon,&nbsp;Interference with LEO; obstruct/resist/oppose felon warrant service or execution and Parole violation warrant arrest.

&nbsp;U.S. Marshall’s Service assisted Topeka police in the arrest.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744898147600.png" alt="Cowan photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Cowan photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on multiple allegations after an alleged domestic incident involving a gun.Just after 1p.m. April 16, police were in the area of the 2000 block of Lane Street in Topeka and witnessed shots being fired, according to Topeka Police Lt. Donna Eubanks.&nbsp;The suspect was believed to have been hiding in a nearby residence but has not been located. The shooting was being investigated as a domestic dispute and there with no imminent threat to the public.&nbsp;As a result of this investigation police arrested 53-year-old Christopher L. Cowan on requested charges of&nbsp;Aggravated assault, use of a deadly weapon, Aggravated endangering a child, reckless situation to a child &lt;18, Criminal discharge of a firearm, recklessly at occupied vehicle, Criminal possession of a weapon by a felon,&nbsp;Interference with LEO; obstruct/resist/oppose felon warrant service or execution and Parole violation warrant arrest.&nbsp;U.S. Marshall’s Service assisted Topeka police in the arrest.&nbsp;

U.S. Marshals help catch Kansas felon wanted for shooting

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

Just after 6p.m. Thursday, police&nbsp;responded to an injury accident in the 3700 block of East 51st&nbsp;Street, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

When officers arrived, they located a man later identified as 50-year-old&nbsp;Terry Lindsey suffering from life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Lindsey was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.&nbsp;

Originally, Accident Investigation Unit detectives responded to the scene to handle the investigation.&nbsp; However, preliminary findings revealed the Lindsey appeared to have been struck intentionally by a vehicle.&nbsp; Homicide Detectives have taken over the case and this is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp;

A subject of interest was taken into custody a short time later, pending further investigation.&nbsp; Detectives conducted area canvasses for witnesses and surveillance footage.&nbsp; 

Crime Scene responded to the scene and processed all available physical evidence.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 6p.m. Thursday, police&nbsp;responded to an injury accident in the 3700 block of East 51st&nbsp;Street, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.When officers arrived, they located a man later identified as 50-year-old&nbsp;Terry Lindsey suffering from life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Lindsey was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.&nbsp;Originally, Accident Investigation Unit detectives responded to the scene to handle the investigation.&nbsp; However, preliminary findings revealed the Lindsey appeared to have been struck intentionally by a vehicle.&nbsp; Homicide Detectives have taken over the case and this is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp;A subject of interest was taken into custody a short time later, pending further investigation.&nbsp; Detectives conducted area canvasses for witnesses and surveillance footage.&nbsp; Crime Scene responded to the scene and processed all available physical evidence.&nbsp;

KCPD: Homicide victim intentionally run over by a vehicle

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department has positively identified the body pulled Thursday from the Missouri River&nbsp; as 39-year-old, Brandon Anfinson, according to a statement from the department.

On March 21, Anfinson’s family reported him missing from his home in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas. Since that time law enforcement, family, friends and the community conducted extensive searches of the area for him. 

On Thursday, the Kansas City, Missouri Police and Fire Departments were called to 7808 E. Levee Road on a report of a body in the Missouri River. The missing persons case has now become an active death investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. 

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745025874467.png" alt="Brandon Anfinson courtesy p hoto" />
 <figcaption>Brandon Anfinson courtesy p hoto</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department has positively identified the body pulled Thursday from the Missouri River&nbsp; as 39-year-old, Brandon Anfinson, according to a statement from the department.On March 21, Anfinson’s family reported him missing from his home in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas. Since that time law enforcement, family, friends and the community conducted extensive searches of the area for him. On Thursday, the Kansas City, Missouri Police and Fire Departments were called to 7808 E. Levee Road on a report of a body in the Missouri River. The missing persons case has now become an active death investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

Police: Body pulled from river was missing Kansas man

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

Missouri’s first confirmed measles case of the year involves a child in Taney County, the health department announced Friday afternoon.

The child’s vaccination status “has not yet been verified,” according to the press release.

The child, who is not a Missouri resident, was visiting Taney County and was diagnosed “soon after arrival,” Lisa Cox, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/58f781a5-e996-4c78-918c-07b00af263cf/case-of-measles-confirmed-in-traveler-to-missouri" target="_blank">press release</a>.

Taney County is in southwest Missouri, and its largest city is Branson.&nbsp;

“Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts have been identified and contacted,” Cox said, adding that the state is supporting Taney County’s health department to investigate possible exposure.&nbsp;

The case is “associated with recent international travel,” Cox said.

Measles is a highly-contagious virus the country&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html" target="_blank">declared eliminated</a>&nbsp;25 years ago, but that has resurged with falling vaccination rates.&nbsp;

“For those unvaccinated or those unsure of their vaccination status, now is the time to review records and get caught up if needed,” Dr. George Turabelidze, state epidemiologist with DHSS, said in the press release.

The percent of Missouri kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella has declined over the last several years, from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year to 91% in the 2023-2024 school year, in public schools, per&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/schoolhealth/dashboard.php" target="_blank">DHHS data</a>. In private schools, the drop has been even larger, from 92% to 85% in the same period.

Nationally, there are at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html" target="_blank">800 reported cases of measles across 25 states,&nbsp;</a>according to Center for Disease Control data as of Friday. That doesn’t include Missouri’s case, Cox said, because the state received lab test results Thursday night, after the federal reporting deadline for this week.&nbsp;

That is the highest number for a single year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-outbreak-us-map/" target="_blank">since 2019</a>&nbsp;and is still growing.

The majority of measles infections nationally have been reported in a West Texas outbreak. There have been two confirmed deaths, both in Texas.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2314/Measles-Data" target="_blank">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has reported 37 cases,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html" target="_blank">possibly linked</a>&nbsp;to the Texas outbreak.

There are outbreaks in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/health/measles-texas-mexico-canada.html" target="_blank">Canada and Mexico</a>, too, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html" target="_blank">several states have reported</a>&nbsp;isolated cases as the result of international travel.

At the same time, the federal government has cut grant funding set aside for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to encourage vaccinations,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/health-science-environment/2025-04-16/federal-government-cuts-missouri-vaccine-funds-as-immunizations-dip" target="_blank">according to St. Louis Public Radio.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741908251964.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s first confirmed measles case of the year involves a child in Taney County, the health department announced Friday afternoon.The child’s vaccination status “has not yet been verified,” according to the press release.The child, who is not a Missouri resident, was visiting Taney County and was diagnosed “soon after arrival,” Lisa Cox, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/58f781a5-e996-4c78-918c-07b00af263cf/case-of-measles-confirmed-in-traveler-to-missouri" target="_blank">press release</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Measles has been diagnosed in Missouri for the first time this year. The case is in a child who visited Taney county after traveling internationally. Luckily, there is no evidence of widespread public exposure, so there is no need to panic. <a href="https://t.co/kP0QydyipI">pic.twitter.com/kP0QydyipI</a>&mdash; Missouri Department of Health &amp; Senior Services (@HealthyLivingMo) <a href="https://twitter.com/HealthyLivingMo/status/1913290649522045239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Taney County is in southwest Missouri, and its largest city is Branson.&nbsp;“Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts have been identified and contacted,” Cox said, adding that the state is supporting Taney County’s health department to investigate possible exposure.&nbsp;The case is “associated with recent international travel,” Cox said.Measles is a highly-contagious virus the country&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html" target="_blank">declared eliminated</a>&nbsp;25 years ago, but that has resurged with falling vaccination rates.&nbsp;“For those unvaccinated or those unsure of their vaccination status, now is the time to review records and get caught up if needed,” Dr. George Turabelidze, state epidemiologist with DHSS, said in the press release.The percent of Missouri kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella has declined over the last several years, from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year to 91% in the 2023-2024 school year, in public schools, per&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/schoolhealth/dashboard.php" target="_blank">DHHS data</a>. In private schools, the drop has been even larger, from 92% to 85% in the same period.Nationally, there are at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html" target="_blank">800 reported cases of measles across 25 states,&nbsp;</a>according to Center for Disease Control data as of Friday. That doesn’t include Missouri’s case, Cox said, because the state received lab test results Thursday night, after the federal reporting deadline for this week.&nbsp;That is the highest number for a single year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-outbreak-us-map/" target="_blank">since 2019</a>&nbsp;and is still growing.The majority of measles infections nationally have been reported in a West Texas outbreak. There have been two confirmed deaths, both in Texas.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2314/Measles-Data" target="_blank">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has reported 37 cases,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html" target="_blank">possibly linked</a>&nbsp;to the Texas outbreak.There are outbreaks in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/health/measles-texas-mexico-canada.html" target="_blank">Canada and Mexico</a>, too, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html" target="_blank">several states have reported</a>&nbsp;isolated cases as the result of international travel.At the same time, the federal government has cut grant funding set aside for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to encourage vaccinations,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/health-science-environment/2025-04-16/federal-government-cuts-missouri-vaccine-funds-as-immunizations-dip" target="_blank">according to St. Louis Public Radio.</a>

Missouri health department announces first measles case of 2025

TOPEKA — Approval of a last-minute addition to Kansas’ state budget took the gambling and sports betting sphere by surprise, leaving the future of the industry in the state uncertain.

The Kansas Legislature Friday passed the&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb125/" target="_blank">state budget bill</a>, which included a provision that bans the Kansas Lottery, the agency that oversees gambling in the state, from spending state money to negotiate any renewals, extensions or new contracts with sports wagering operators until July 2026.

Jeremy Kudon, a lobbyist who had a hand in ushering in gambling’s new era of sports wagering in the United States, took to the social media platform X to assure bettors that their online sports betting operators would remain in Kansas — for now.

“Just want to clarify: None of the leading OSB operators in Kansas will go dark as a result of today’s vote,” Kudon wrote in a post.

Most contracts with the state lottery are valid until 2027, he said.

“But I wouldn’t let the Kansas legislature off so easy. They had no idea when these contracts expired and were willing to take your favorite OSB apps away from Kansans. We’re not going to let that happen,” Kudon wrote.

Kansans over 21 years old can bet on badminton, bull riding and 50 other categories of live and virtual sports. Since 2022, after the passage of&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/sb84/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 84</a>, the state recruited six sports wager operators: BetMGM, Caesar’s, DraftKings, ESPNBet, FanDuel and Fanatics. Each of those contracts, which include retail and mobile betting, are set to expire at the same time in August 2027.

Historically, the Kansas Lottery negotiated the contracts and went through an approval process with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

The Legislature’s moratorium, which will apply to fiscal years 2025 and 2026, could open up Kansas’ sports betting market to new regulations or more influence from state lawmakers if they decide to take up the issue in the 2026 session. Among possible changes, one option is an increase in the share of money the state collects from sports wagering revenues. The state currently collects 10% of all revenue from both mobile and retail platforms.&nbsp;

Sports wagering is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Missouri voters narrowly approved in November a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting online, in casinos and in certain districts near major sports arenas. The rollout was scheduled for this summer, but the state has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/24/launch-of-missouri-sports-betting-delayed-until-fall-after-emergency-rules-were-rejected/" target="_blank">delayed it until the fall</a>&nbsp;to allow for time to straighten out licensing rules.

Legalized gambling in Kansas dates back to 1986, when more than 60% of voters approved a constitutional amendment to establish a state-run lottery. A year later, the Legislature passed the Kansas Lottery Act.&nbsp;

The Legislature this year authorized a gaming compact between the governor’s office and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska to allow sports betting at the Sac &amp; Fox Casino in Powhattan. In 2024, the Legislature approved a sports betting compact for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska’s White Cloud Casino in White Cloud and did the same in 2023 for the Prairie Band Casino Resort in Mayetta, which is owned by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662056609748.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly, who signed a bill in May 2022 legalizing sports betting in Kansas, placed the state's first bet in September of that year on the Kansas City Chiefs.(Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly, who signed a bill in May 2022 legalizing sports betting in Kansas, placed the state's first bet in September of that year on the Kansas City Chiefs.(Submitted)</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 — Approval of a last-minute addition to Kansas’ state budget took the gambling and sports betting sphere by surprise, leaving the future of the industry in the state uncertain.The Kansas Legislature Friday passed the&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb125/" target="_blank">state budget bill</a>, which included a provision that bans the Kansas Lottery, the agency that oversees gambling in the state, from spending state money to negotiate any renewals, extensions or new contracts with sports wagering operators until July 2026.Jeremy Kudon, a lobbyist who had a hand in ushering in gambling’s new era of sports wagering in the United States, took to the social media platform X to assure bettors that their online sports betting operators would remain in Kansas — for now.“Just want to clarify: None of the leading OSB operators in Kansas will go dark as a result of today’s vote,” Kudon wrote in a post.Most contracts with the state lottery are valid until 2027, he said.“But I wouldn’t let the Kansas legislature off so easy. They had no idea when these contracts expired and were willing to take your favorite OSB apps away from Kansans. We’re not going to let that happen,” Kudon wrote.Kansans over 21 years old can bet on badminton, bull riding and 50 other categories of live and virtual sports. Since 2022, after the passage of&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/sb84/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 84</a>, the state recruited six sports wager operators: BetMGM, Caesar’s, DraftKings, ESPNBet, FanDuel and Fanatics. Each of those contracts, which include retail and mobile betting, are set to expire at the same time in August 2027.Historically, the Kansas Lottery negotiated the contracts and went through an approval process with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.The Legislature’s moratorium, which will apply to fiscal years 2025 and 2026, could open up Kansas’ sports betting market to new regulations or more influence from state lawmakers if they decide to take up the issue in the 2026 session. Among possible changes, one option is an increase in the share of money the state collects from sports wagering revenues. The state currently collects 10% of all revenue from both mobile and retail platforms.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744994370822.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sports wagering is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Missouri voters narrowly approved in November a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting online, in casinos and in certain districts near major sports arenas. The rollout was scheduled for this summer, but the state has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/24/launch-of-missouri-sports-betting-delayed-until-fall-after-emergency-rules-were-rejected/" target="_blank">delayed it until the fall</a>&nbsp;to allow for time to straighten out licensing rules.Legalized gambling in Kansas dates back to 1986, when more than 60% of voters approved a constitutional amendment to establish a state-run lottery. A year later, the Legislature passed the Kansas Lottery Act.&nbsp;The Legislature this year authorized a gaming compact between the governor’s office and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska to allow sports betting at the Sac &amp; Fox Casino in Powhattan. In 2024, the Legislature approved a sports betting compact for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska’s White Cloud Casino in White Cloud and did the same in 2023 for the Prairie Band Casino Resort in Mayetta, which is owned by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

Last-minute moratorium on Kansas sports betting contract negotiations provokes uncertainty

KANSAS CITY—A suspect faces charges in connection with a shooting in a Kansas City suburg.

According to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson, 19-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2582/HunleyDeShawn---Complaint-Redacted">De’Shawn Hunley</a>&nbsp;faces one count of 1st Degree Assault and one count of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2581/HunleyDeShawn---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Grain Valley police were dispatched to the 1700 block of Buckner Tarsney Road on April 14 regarding a shooting. Officers located the victim standing near his vehicle with severe trauma from a gunshot wound to his face. He was transported to an area trauma center and was in stable condition.

Based on witness reports and surveillance footage, Hunley shot at the victim who was in his vehicle fleeing after an argument about a potential marijuana sale. Hunley fled from the scene on foot to his residence and hid the gun and his clothes.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence and with the help of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents and an ATF K9, they found the handgun used in the shooting and the clothes the defendant was wearing at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;

Hunley is in custody on a $100,000 cash only bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744834860672.png" alt="Hunley photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Hunley photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A suspect faces charges in connection with a shooting in a Kansas City suburg.According to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson, 19-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2582/HunleyDeShawn---Complaint-Redacted">De’Shawn Hunley</a>&nbsp;faces one count of 1st Degree Assault and one count of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2581/HunleyDeShawn---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Grain Valley police were dispatched to the 1700 block of Buckner Tarsney Road on April 14 regarding a shooting. Officers located the victim standing near his vehicle with severe trauma from a gunshot wound to his face. He was transported to an area trauma center and was in stable condition.Based on witness reports and surveillance footage, Hunley shot at the victim who was in his vehicle fleeing after an argument about a potential marijuana sale. Hunley fled from the scene on foot to his residence and hid the gun and his clothes.Detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence and with the help of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents and an ATF K9, they found the handgun used in the shooting and the clothes the defendant was wearing at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;Hunley is in custody on a $100,000 cash only bond.&nbsp;

KC man shot victim in the face in dispute over marijuana sale

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on a bicycle.

Just after 11:30 p.m. April 15, , a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist near NW Taylor Street and NW Lyman Road in rural Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, the deputy found illegal drugs and arrested 49-year-old Donald W. St Clair of Topeka. He was&nbsp; booked into the Shawnee County Department on&nbsp;charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana and the bicycle was not equipped with lamp when in use at night

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744897598539.png" alt="St. Clair photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>St. Clair photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on a bicycle.Just after 11:30 p.m. April 15, , a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist near NW Taylor Street and NW Lyman Road in rural Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, the deputy found illegal drugs and arrested 49-year-old Donald W. St Clair of Topeka. He was&nbsp; booked into the Shawnee County Department on&nbsp;charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana and the bicycle was not equipped with lamp when in use at night

Kansas bicyclist caught transporting illegal drugs

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

GOP House leader says anyone sounding revenue alarm likely a ‘budget boogeyman’

TOPEKA — A bullish revenue picture for state government in Kansas through the current and next fiscal years couldn’t sugarcoat projections the state budget could end up with a $730 million deficit by 2029 if lawmakers continued spending more than what was collected in revenue.

The new forecast released Thursday by the Consensus Revenue Group, which is responsible for updating financial reports twice each year, indicated the treasury could expect to collect $157 million more in the current fiscal year than projected in November. In addition, the state could receive $219 million more in the 2026 fiscal year than predicted six months ago. The state general fund takes in about $10 billion annually.

The estimating group said the state’s budget ending balance could sit at $2.29 billion at close of the current fiscal year in June, but fall to $1.73 billion in 2026, $903 million in 2027 and $63 million in 2028 before going under water by $730 million in 2029.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the latest revenue estimates from university economists and state financial experts could be viewed as positive news.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744995015357.png" alt=" Adam Proffitt, state budget director, and Shirley Morrow, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, brief reporters on revised state revenue estimates that outline unanticipated growth in revenue this year and next year. They warned of budget problems if the Legislature continued to expend more money than collected in revenue. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Adam Proffitt, state budget director, and Shirley Morrow, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, brief reporters on revised state revenue estimates that outline unanticipated growth in revenue this year and next year. They warned of budget problems if the Legislature continued to expend more money than collected in revenue. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>GOP House leader says anyone sounding revenue alarm likely a ‘budget boogeyman’</h2>TOPEKA — A bullish revenue picture for state government in Kansas through the current and next fiscal years couldn’t sugarcoat projections the state budget could end up with a $730 million deficit by 2029 if lawmakers continued spending more than what was collected in revenue.The new forecast released Thursday by the Consensus Revenue Group, which is responsible for updating financial reports twice each year, indicated the treasury could expect to collect $157 million more in the current fiscal year than projected in November. In addition, the state could receive $219 million more in the 2026 fiscal year than predicted six months ago. The state general fund takes in about $10 billion annually.The estimating group said the state’s budget ending balance could sit at $2.29 billion at close of the current fiscal year in June, but fall to $1.73 billion in 2026, $903 million in 2027 and $63 million in 2028 before going under water by $730 million in 2029.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the latest revenue estimates from university economists and state financial experts could be viewed as positive news.“In reality, they underscore the seriousness of the financial predicament ahead,” Kelly said. “The bizarre and irresponsible budget gimmicks used by the Republican-led Legislature spend more than the state takes in by nearly $800 million per year. Ultimately, this will lead to a historically large budget deficit.”She said the revenue update came one week after GOP House and Senate leaders adjourned the annual legislative session. Traditionally, the Legislature remained in session until the revenue forecast was updated so spending and tax policy could be refined.“Kansans need to demand their legislators restore fiscal sanity and fairness when they return in January,” Kelly said.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita, said the Legislature successfully assumed a more direct approach to developing the new state budget and produced a plan that spent less than recommended by the governor.He said the Legislature was confident in the wisdom of the three-year, $1.2 billion income tax cut adopted in the 2024 special session and the additional tax relief approved in the 2025 regular session.“Be wary of those who want to make political hay by invoking the budget boogeyman and screaming that the sky is falling,” Hawkins said. “These positive consensus revenue estimates reaffirm we’re headed down a smart and sustainable path as we continue to monitor all fiscal data as it’s available.”<h2>A structural imbalance</h2>Adam Proffitt, secretary of the Kansas Department of administration and budget director for the governor, state tax reductions and elevated spending were significant drivers of the state’s financial prospectus.He said the extended assessment was that state revenue could remain below expenditures during the next four years unless a different approach was taken by state lawmakers.“We need to get more structurally balanced,” Proffitt said. “This is something we’ve been watching for a couple years. I think the governor’s been pretty consistent in her message that we need to be showing fiscal restraint and making sure we have a good handle on expenditures and don’t grow them unnecessarily.”Proffitt said the projected $800 million decline in state budget ending balances in fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029 would leave the state in dire financial condition. An unknown for forecasters, for a couple more months after close of tax season, was the influence of retroactive income tax cuts approved by the state lawmakers in 2024, he said. In addition, he said, the forecast changes didn’t take into account the influence of tax bills on Kelly’s desk nor possible federal policy shifts.Shirley Morrow, director of the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department, said during a news conference at the Capitol the solution to the state’s future budget predicament was obvious.“To me,” she said, “the simple answer — and this is going to be too simple — is increase revenue and decrease expenditures.”Morrow said forces that could influence the state’s bottom line were tied to volatility in the U.S. economy. Factors capable of altering the fiscal assessment included persistently elevated inflation, trade policy changes relevant to agriculture exports and aviation manufacturing, shifting unemployment rates, sustained high interest rates, cuts in federal funding to states, monetary policy and geopolitical dynamics, she said.“The reoccurring theme throughout the forecast cycle is an increased volatility in the state’s economy,” Morrow said.She said the Kansas inflation rate in 2025 was raised from 2.3% to 2.9% while the estimate for inflation in 2026 was raised from 2.2% to 2.5%. Kansas has added 3,300 jobs over the year, she said.In terms of agriculture, she said, crop producers continued to struggle with low commodity prices and high input costs. Livestock producers were looking to expand beef herds based on continued escalation in market prices, she said.