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>

Promises to voters ring hollow as emphasis remains on reducing income taxes

TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly patted themselves on the back last June after placing into state law a compromise bill slashing income taxes an estimated $1.2 billion over three years.

Senate Bill 1 had broad support with a mere six opponents among 159 legislators voting on the package negotiated by the Democratic governor, Republican Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita. The focus of that bill was income taxes, but it did raise to $75,000 the exemption on the value of a residence when calculating a taxpayer’s obligation to the state’s property tax levy for public schools.

While 2024 was viewed as the year of the income tax, promises were made by Republicans and Democrats to address property tax reform during the 2025 legislative session. The end of the annual session last week offered evidence the performance of lawmakers on property tax relief was again underwhelming.

“When it came time to lead, both the governor and leadership came up short,” said Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican candidate for governor, said Monday.

He said state lawmakers this session delivered a paltry $25.88 property tax break for the owner of a $150,000 home. That’s not enough to fill the gas tank in many vehicles, cover the cost of a couple sacks of groceries or pay someone to mow a lawn.

Schwab encouraged “every property owner” to respond by challenging their property tax valuation with the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.

“Kansans expected leadership that would address runaway property tax increases, arrest out-of-control valuations and restore confidence that they can afford the homes they live in — not rent them from the government,” he said.

The Senate did endorse an amendment to the Kansas Constitution imposing a 3% cap on residential property tax valuation increases. That won’t be appearing on statewide ballots, however, because the amendment was never taken up in the House.

“We came here with a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican. “I’m just disappointed that we end up at the end of this session with no&nbsp;real&nbsp;relief for those homeowners who are facing selling their home or paying their&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax. That’s where we are.”

Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who serves as Democratic leader of the Senate, drew the same conclusion with a partisan twist. She said progress on property tax reform was minimal, but reminded Kansans that Republicans held supermajorities in the House and Senate. Those two-thirds majorities meant the GOP could pass just about any bill it desired and had numbers to override the governor’s vetoes and place constitutional amendments on the ballot.

“Kansans deserve better than what they got from their Legislature in 2025,” Sykes said. “Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues refused to join us in that effort. Republicans promised Kansans they would deliver&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;relief, but they failed to make good on that promise.”

Kansas voters were assured by sloganeering candidates during last year’s August primary and November general elections that nothing would stand in the way of meaningful property tax reform in 2025. Voters made it clear they thought property taxes were too high, valuations were rising faster than paychecks and, incredibly, some people on fixed incomes who worked all their lives to have a home of their own were being forced out.

As the legislative session began in January, another layer of political vows emerged about cutting property taxes.

“You expect us to put Kansans first, control the overreach of government and keep our promises — and that is exactly what we intend to do,” Masterson said. “That must begin with property tax relief and reform.”

When the dust settled in April, the Legislature barely scratched the surface on rolling back state property taxes. The governor signed Senate Bill 35, which used general state tax dollars to replace a 1.5-mill state property tax dedicated to government building projects. It was unanimously approved in the Senate and overwhelmingly endorsed in the House 96-26.

The Legislature passed a bill renewing the state’s 20-mill property tax, valued at about $875 million annually, to provide financial support to K-12 public schools. The Legislature could have earmarked state income or sales tax dollars to public schools and trimmed state property tax dedicated to that purpose.

Instead, the Republican-controlled House and Senate placed emphasis on income tax reform by voting to override Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 269. This so-called income-tax-trigger bill was designed to methodically drop individual and corporate income tax rates to 4%.

“I have proposed and supported tax cuts when they are implemented responsibly and benefit the people of Kansas, especially those who need it most,” Kelly said. “This bill ignores Kansas families at a time of rising costs and inflation in favor of hundreds of millions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and the wealthy.”

The override vote on SB 269 was 87-37 in the House and 30-10 in the Senate. Instead of responding to Kansans’ demands for gradual reduction of property taxes, the Legislature in 2025 ended up dedicating future state revenue surpluses to gradually reducing income taxes.

The Senate did endorse a constitutional amendment that would have set a 3% cap on property taxes starting in 2027, but House GOP leaders said the necessary two-thirds majority to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603 before Kansas voters didn’t exist in the House.

Critics of the amendment had argued the limitation would cripple the ability of cities and counties to operate, because municipal government relied heavily on property and sales taxes. The state’s revenue stream includes income, sales and property taxes.

In January, the conservative Kansas Policy Institute highlighted for legislators an opinion poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Wichita think tank. It showed 64% of participants were in favor of limits on annual increases in the appraised value of property rather than the current practice of annually resetting appraisals to fair market value.

The poll showed majority support for restraint of property taxes existed in urban and rural regions of the state, said Dave Trabert, a lobbyist with Kansas Policy Institute.

He said 70% of conservatives in the poll were supportive of steps to hold down property taxes, while 67% of moderates and 52% of liberals were on board. Eighteen percent were opposed and the same percentage was uncertain.

“Many homeowners have experienced double-digit property tax increases because local officials took advantage of valuation spikes,” Trabert said.

Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat often distant from KPI’s perspective on public policy issues, said it was folly to ignore will of the people.

“Our constituents are asking for property tax relief,” said Sawyer, who contended the income tax trigger law would prove to be an obstacle to property tax reform. “We go to a rachet so all of our money above inflation in the future goes to cutting the income tax.”

Some of the Senate’s most right-wing members were convinced the Legislature did a belly flop on property taxes in 2025.

Sen. Virgil Peck, a Republican from Havana, said it wasn’t enough the Legislature worked on income tax policy and ditched the 1.5-mill property tax for building construction.

“I think we could do better when it comes to&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;reductions,” Peck said.

Finally, Wichita GOP Sen. Renee Erickson, said the Legislature’s approach to property tax issues didn’t answer the public’s call for relief.

“I’m very disappointed we did not do more for our constituents on&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;and I hope that we seriously are able to do something next session,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744653464396.png" alt=" Republican Sen. Mike Thompson, right, says the Kansas Legislature failed to deliver on a bipartisan promise to concentrate during the 2025 session on meaningful property tax reform. Here, Thompson speaks with Democratic Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau on the floor of the Kansas Senate in March. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Republican Sen. Mike Thompson, right, says the Kansas Legislature failed to deliver on a bipartisan promise to concentrate during the 2025 session on meaningful property tax reform. Here, Thompson speaks with Democratic Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau on the floor of the Kansas Senate in March. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Promises to voters ring hollow as emphasis remains on reducing income taxes</h2>TOPEKA — The Kansas Legislature and Gov. Laura Kelly patted themselves on the back last June after placing into state law a compromise bill slashing income taxes an estimated $1.2 billion over three years.Senate Bill 1 had broad support with a mere six opponents among 159 legislators voting on the package negotiated by the Democratic governor, Republican Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover and GOP House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita. The focus of that bill was income taxes, but it did raise to $75,000 the exemption on the value of a residence when calculating a taxpayer’s obligation to the state’s property tax levy for public schools.While 2024 was viewed as the year of the income tax, promises were made by Republicans and Democrats to address property tax reform during the 2025 legislative session. The end of the annual session last week offered evidence the performance of lawmakers on property tax relief was again underwhelming.“When it came time to lead, both the governor and leadership came up short,” said Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican candidate for governor, said Monday.He said state lawmakers this session delivered a paltry $25.88 property tax break for the owner of a $150,000 home. That’s not enough to fill the gas tank in many vehicles, cover the cost of a couple sacks of groceries or pay someone to mow a lawn.Schwab encouraged “every property owner” to respond by challenging their property tax valuation with the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.“Kansans expected leadership that would address runaway property tax increases, arrest out-of-control valuations and restore confidence that they can afford the homes they live in — not rent them from the government,” he said.The Senate did endorse an amendment to the Kansas Constitution imposing a 3% cap on residential property tax valuation increases. That won’t be appearing on statewide ballots, however, because the amendment was never taken up in the House.“We came here with a mandate,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican. “I’m just disappointed that we end up at the end of this session with no&nbsp;real&nbsp;relief for those homeowners who are facing selling their home or paying their&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax. That’s where we are.”Lenexa Sen. Dinah Sykes, who serves as Democratic leader of the Senate, drew the same conclusion with a partisan twist. She said progress on property tax reform was minimal, but reminded Kansans that Republicans held supermajorities in the House and Senate. Those two-thirds majorities meant the GOP could pass just about any bill it desired and had numbers to override the governor’s vetoes and place constitutional amendments on the ballot.“Kansans deserve better than what they got from their Legislature in 2025,” Sykes said. “Unfortunately, our Republican colleagues refused to join us in that effort. Republicans promised Kansans they would deliver&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;relief, but they failed to make good on that promise.”<h2>‘Put Kansans first’</h2>Kansas voters were assured by sloganeering candidates during last year’s August primary and November general elections that nothing would stand in the way of meaningful property tax reform in 2025. Voters made it clear they thought property taxes were too high, valuations were rising faster than paychecks and, incredibly, some people on fixed incomes who worked all their lives to have a home of their own were being forced out.As the legislative session began in January, another layer of political vows emerged about cutting property taxes.“You expect us to put Kansans first, control the overreach of government and keep our promises — and that is exactly what we intend to do,” Masterson said. “That must begin with property tax relief and reform.”When the dust settled in April, the Legislature barely scratched the surface on rolling back state property taxes. The governor signed Senate Bill 35, which used general state tax dollars to replace a 1.5-mill state property tax dedicated to government building projects. It was unanimously approved in the Senate and overwhelmingly endorsed in the House 96-26.The Legislature passed a bill renewing the state’s 20-mill property tax, valued at about $875 million annually, to provide financial support to K-12 public schools. The Legislature could have earmarked state income or sales tax dollars to public schools and trimmed state property tax dedicated to that purpose.Instead, the Republican-controlled House and Senate placed emphasis on income tax reform by voting to override Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 269. This so-called income-tax-trigger bill was designed to methodically drop individual and corporate income tax rates to 4%.“I have proposed and supported tax cuts when they are implemented responsibly and benefit the people of Kansas, especially those who need it most,” Kelly said. “This bill ignores Kansas families at a time of rising costs and inflation in favor of hundreds of millions of dollars in giveaways to corporations and the wealthy.”The override vote on SB 269 was 87-37 in the House and 30-10 in the Senate. Instead of responding to Kansans’ demands for gradual reduction of property taxes, the Legislature in 2025 ended up dedicating future state revenue surpluses to gradually reducing income taxes.The Senate did endorse a constitutional amendment that would have set a 3% cap on property taxes starting in 2027, but House GOP leaders said the necessary two-thirds majority to place Senate Concurrent Resolution 1603 before Kansas voters didn’t exist in the House.Critics of the amendment had argued the limitation would cripple the ability of cities and counties to operate, because municipal government relied heavily on property and sales taxes. The state’s revenue stream includes income, sales and property taxes.<h2>‘Very disappointed’</h2>In January, the conservative Kansas Policy Institute highlighted for legislators an opinion poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the Wichita think tank. It showed 64% of participants were in favor of limits on annual increases in the appraised value of property rather than the current practice of annually resetting appraisals to fair market value.The poll showed majority support for restraint of property taxes existed in urban and rural regions of the state, said Dave Trabert, a lobbyist with Kansas Policy Institute.He said 70% of conservatives in the poll were supportive of steps to hold down property taxes, while 67% of moderates and 52% of liberals were on board. Eighteen percent were opposed and the same percentage was uncertain.“Many homeowners have experienced double-digit property tax increases because local officials took advantage of valuation spikes,” Trabert said.Rep. Tom Sawyer, a Wichita Democrat often distant from KPI’s perspective on public policy issues, said it was folly to ignore will of the people.“Our constituents are asking for property tax relief,” said Sawyer, who contended the income tax trigger law would prove to be an obstacle to property tax reform. “We go to a rachet so all of our money above inflation in the future goes to cutting the income tax.”Some of the Senate’s most right-wing members were convinced the Legislature did a belly flop on property taxes in 2025.Sen. Virgil Peck, a Republican from Havana, said it wasn’t enough the Legislature worked on income tax policy and ditched the 1.5-mill property tax for building construction.“I think we could do better when it comes to&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;reductions,” Peck said.Finally, Wichita GOP Sen. Renee Erickson, said the Legislature’s approach to property tax issues didn’t answer the public’s call for relief.“I’m very disappointed we did not do more for our constituents on&nbsp;property&nbsp;tax&nbsp;and I hope that we seriously are able to do something next session,” she said.

GOP, Democrats blast Kan. Legislature for failure to meaningfully lower property taxes in 2025 session

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement continue searching for the driver of an ATV who drove over and critically injured Kansas City, Missouri Police officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 7p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a disturbance involving an officer at E. Truman Road and S. Main Street, according to KCPD Officer Alyana Gonzalez.

First responders found the driver of an ATV had attempted to avoid tire deflation devices. The driver popped a wheelie and struck the officer who set the devices. The impact caused the officer to fall to the ground before the ATV drove over him and sped off.

The officer transported to a hospital for treatment of a critical head injury and was released and continues to recover at home, according to Kanas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.&nbsp;

Anyone with information about the incident should report it to the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744640895858.png" alt="-The suspect appears to be on a black and lime green Yamaha Raptor 700-Photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>-The suspect appears to be on a black and lime green Yamaha Raptor 700-Photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement continue searching for the driver of an ATV who drove over and critically injured Kansas City, Missouri Police officer.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 7p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a disturbance involving an officer at E. Truman Road and S. Main Street, according to KCPD Officer Alyana Gonzalez.First responders found the driver of an ATV had attempted to avoid tire deflation devices. The driver popped a wheelie and struck the officer who set the devices. The impact caused the officer to fall to the ground before the ATV drove over him and sped off.The officer transported to a hospital for treatment of a critical head injury and was released and continues to recover at home, according to Kanas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.&nbsp;Anyone with information about the incident should report it to the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Search continues for ATV rider who struck KCPD officer

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>

WASHINGTON — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele won’t return a Maryland man the United States erroneously deported to a mega-prison in his Central American country, he said Monday during a visit to the Oval Office.

Sitting beside President Donald Trump, Bukele told reporters, “Of course I’m not going to do it.”

Administration officials present for the meeting defended the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador who had a protective order from a U.S. immigration court shielding him from being sent back to his country because of risks to his life.

The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ice-admits-administrative-error-deporting-maryland-man-el-salvador-mega-prison" target="_blank">admitted</a>&nbsp;in court filings that it deported Abrego Garcia, of Beltsville, Maryland, by mistake.

“That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him, that’s not up to us,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

“If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning, provide a plane,” she added.

The Supreme Court issued a 9-0 decision Thursday stating the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/supreme-court-says-trump-administration-must-facilitate-return-wrongly-deported-man" target="_blank">must “facilitate”</a>&nbsp;the return of Abrego Garcia.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 among roughly 260 Venezuelan men the U.S. flew on commercial jets without due process to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT.

ICE agents apprehended Abrego Garcia near Baltimore on March 12 when he was driving his 5-year-old son home. Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen, “was called and instructed to appear at their location within ten minutes to get her five-year old son, A.A.V.; otherwise, the ICE officers threatened that the child would be handed over to Child Protective Services,” according to a court&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.1.0.pdf" target="_blank">filing</a>.

Garcia has no criminal history in the U.S., El Salvador or any other country, according to the filing.

The Trump administration is paying the El Salvador government $6 million to detain the men,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-human-rights-law-likely-violated-6m-payment-el-salvador-prison-experts-say" target="_blank">sparking questions</a>&nbsp;over whether the payment violates U.S. human rights law.

Lawyers for many of the Venezuelan men maintain their clients&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/venezuelans-deported-brutal-el-salvador-prison-werent-gang-members-lawyers-say" target="_blank">weren’t gang members</a>.

Trump triggered the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically targeting Venezuelans 14 and older who the administration suspected of having ties to the gang Tren de Aragua.&nbsp;

Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office Monday that he wants to export “homegrown” criminals, as in U.S. citizens, to El Salvador and would be willing to assist Bukele in building more mega prisons.

“I’d like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country, but you’ll have to be looking at the laws on that,” said Trump.

The administration maintains that immigration courts connected Abrego Garcia in 2019 to the violent El Salvadoran gang MS-13 but makes no mention of the protective order granted to Abrego Garcia by an immigration judge that same year.

In addition to Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller defended Abrego Garcia’s deportation and the administration’s refusal to cooperate with a court order to return him to the U.S.

Miller said Friday’s unanimous Supreme Court decision squarely landed on the side of the administration.

“This was a 9-0 (decision) in our favor against the district court ruling saying that no district court has the power to compel the foreign policy function of the United States,” Miller told reporters in the Oval Office Monday.

“The ruling solely stated that if this individual, at El Salvador’s sole discretion, was sent back to our country, that we could deport him a second time. No version of this legally ends up with him ever living here because he is a citizen of El Salvador,” Miller continued.

Bukele said the idea that El Salvador would return Abrego Garcia is “preposterous.”&nbsp;

“How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don’t have the power to return him to the United States,” Bukele said.

The Department of State&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/designation-of-international-cartels/" target="_blank">designated</a>&nbsp;MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization in February.

Rubio said he doesn’t understand “what the confusion is.”

“This individual is a citizen of El Salvador. He was illegally in the United States and was returned to his country,” Rubio said, adding that “foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President of the United States, not by a court.”

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement Monday calling Bukele’s comments “pure nonsense.”

“The law is clear, due process was grossly violated, and the Supreme Court has clearly spoken that the Trump administration must facilitate and effectuate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He should be returned to the U.S. immediately.&nbsp;

“Due process and the rule of law are cornerstones of American society for citizens and noncitizens alike and not to follow that is dangerous and outrageous. A threat to one is a threat to all,” Schumer said.

Abrego Garcia’s case is winding through the federal courts.

The administration was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/doj-ordered-give-daily-updates-standoff-judge-over-wrongly-deported-maryland-man" target="_blank">ordered</a>&nbsp;Friday, after a standoff in court, to provide daily updates on Abrego Garcia’s physical location and status, and what steps the administration has taken or plans to take to facilitate his return.

Abrego Garcia’s wife&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?filed_after=&amp;filed_before=&amp;entry_gte=&amp;entry_lte=&amp;order_by=desc" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and immigration officials in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland last month, alleging her husband received no due process and his removal was unlawful.

District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. by April 7.

A federal appeals court unanimously upheld the lower court’s order on April 7. The Trump administration missed the deadline and immediately appealed to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket.

The high court unanimously ruled Thursday that the administration must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return but stopped short of requiring his return and did not give a deadline. The court also ordered Xinis to clarify language in the lower court’s ruling to test whether the court overreached into foreign affairs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744665072669.png" alt="&nbsp;El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and President Trump in the Oval office Monday-photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and President Trump in the Oval office Monday-photo by Margo Martin, Special Assistant to the President</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — El Salvador President Nayib Bukele won’t return a Maryland man the United States erroneously deported to a mega-prison in his Central American country, he said Monday during a visit to the Oval Office.Sitting beside President Donald Trump, Bukele told reporters, “Of course I’m not going to do it.”Administration officials present for the meeting defended the deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a native of El Salvador who had a protective order from a U.S. immigration court shielding him from being sent back to his country because of risks to his life.The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ice-admits-administrative-error-deporting-maryland-man-el-salvador-mega-prison" target="_blank">admitted</a>&nbsp;in court filings that it deported Abrego Garcia, of Beltsville, Maryland, by mistake.“That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him, that’s not up to us,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi.“If they wanted to return him, we would facilitate it, meaning, provide a plane,” she added.The Supreme Court issued a 9-0 decision Thursday stating the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/supreme-court-says-trump-administration-must-facilitate-return-wrongly-deported-man" target="_blank">must “facilitate”</a>&nbsp;the return of Abrego Garcia.U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 among roughly 260 Venezuelan men the U.S. flew on commercial jets without due process to Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT.ICE agents apprehended Abrego Garcia near Baltimore on March 12 when he was driving his 5-year-old son home. Abrego Garcia’s wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, a U.S. citizen, “was called and instructed to appear at their location within ten minutes to get her five-year old son, A.A.V.; otherwise, the ICE officers threatened that the child would be handed over to Child Protective Services,” according to a court&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815/gov.uscourts.mdd.578815.1.0.pdf" target="_blank">filing</a>.Garcia has no criminal history in the U.S., El Salvador or any other country, according to the filing.The Trump administration is paying the El Salvador government $6 million to detain the men,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-human-rights-law-likely-violated-6m-payment-el-salvador-prison-experts-say" target="_blank">sparking questions</a>&nbsp;over whether the payment violates U.S. human rights law.Lawyers for many of the Venezuelan men maintain their clients&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/venezuelans-deported-brutal-el-salvador-prison-werent-gang-members-lawyers-say" target="_blank">weren’t gang members</a>.Trump triggered the deportations under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically targeting Venezuelans 14 and older who the administration suspected of having ties to the gang Tren de Aragua.&nbsp;Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office Monday that he wants to export “homegrown” criminals, as in U.S. citizens, to El Salvador and would be willing to assist Bukele in building more mega prisons.“I’d like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country, but you’ll have to be looking at the laws on that,” said Trump.<h2>Rubio, Miller defend deportation</h2>The administration maintains that immigration courts connected Abrego Garcia in 2019 to the violent El Salvadoran gang MS-13 but makes no mention of the protective order granted to Abrego Garcia by an immigration judge that same year.In addition to Bondi, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller defended Abrego Garcia’s deportation and the administration’s refusal to cooperate with a court order to return him to the U.S.Miller said Friday’s unanimous Supreme Court decision squarely landed on the side of the administration.“This was a 9-0 (decision) in our favor against the district court ruling saying that no district court has the power to compel the foreign policy function of the United States,” Miller told reporters in the Oval Office Monday.“The ruling solely stated that if this individual, at El Salvador’s sole discretion, was sent back to our country, that we could deport him a second time. No version of this legally ends up with him ever living here because he is a citizen of El Salvador,” Miller continued.Bukele said the idea that El Salvador would return Abrego Garcia is “preposterous.”&nbsp;“How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don’t have the power to return him to the United States,” Bukele said.The Department of State&nbsp;<a href="https://www.state.gov/designation-of-international-cartels/" target="_blank">designated</a>&nbsp;MS-13 as a foreign terrorist organization in February.Rubio said he doesn’t understand “what the confusion is.”“This individual is a citizen of El Salvador. He was illegally in the United States and was returned to his country,” Rubio said, adding that “foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President of the United States, not by a court.”Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement Monday calling Bukele’s comments “pure nonsense.”“The law is clear, due process was grossly violated, and the Supreme Court has clearly spoken that the Trump administration must facilitate and effectuate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He should be returned to the U.S. immediately.&nbsp;“Due process and the rule of law are cornerstones of American society for citizens and noncitizens alike and not to follow that is dangerous and outrageous. A threat to one is a threat to all,” Schumer said.<h2>Daily updates</h2>Abrego Garcia’s case is winding through the federal courts.The administration was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/doj-ordered-give-daily-updates-standoff-judge-over-wrongly-deported-maryland-man" target="_blank">ordered</a>&nbsp;Friday, after a standoff in court, to provide daily updates on Abrego Garcia’s physical location and status, and what steps the administration has taken or plans to take to facilitate his return.Abrego Garcia’s wife&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69777799/abrego-garcia-v-noem/?filed_after=&amp;filed_before=&amp;entry_gte=&amp;entry_lte=&amp;order_by=desc" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and immigration officials in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland last month, alleging her husband received no due process and his removal was unlawful.District Judge Paula Xinis ordered the Trump administration to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. by April 7.A federal appeals court unanimously upheld the lower court’s order on April 7. The Trump administration missed the deadline and immediately appealed to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket.The high court unanimously ruled Thursday that the administration must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return but stopped short of requiring his return and did not give a deadline. The court also ordered Xinis to clarify language in the lower court’s ruling to test whether the court overreached into foreign affairs.

President of El Salvador refuses to return wrongly deported man to the U.S.

SHERMAN—The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the victims of a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 in Sherman County approximately 9 miles east of Goodland that occurred before 3:30p.m. March 14.

According to the Patrol the victims included 20-year-old Dawson Hogan of Salina; 72-year-old Larry Smith of Sharon Springs; 57-year-old Manuel Alacron of Dodge City; 31-year-old Mario Juarez of Garden City; 24-year-old Baiel Sharshembiev of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 48-year-old Carlos Arzate of Shattuck, Oklahoma; 61-year-old Stephane Purcell of Evansville Indiana and 60-year-old Giovanni Stephan of Troy Michigan.

A total of seventy-one&nbsp; vehicles were identified as being involved in the collision event, resulting in eight fatalities and forty-six injured who were transported to local hospitals. 

The patrol will complete multiple motor vehicle collision reports to document and separate the collisions that occurred within the event. Investigators believe the separate collisions occurred between the times of approximately 3:20pm - 3:35pm (CDT). Due to the extreme circumstances the exact sequence of events is is still under investigation.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744654081515.png" alt="Photo from the crash scene KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo from the crash scene KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>SHERMAN—The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the victims of a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 70 in Sherman County approximately 9 miles east of Goodland that occurred before 3:30p.m. March 14.According to the Patrol the victims included 20-year-old Dawson Hogan of Salina; 72-year-old Larry Smith of Sharon Springs; 57-year-old Manuel Alacron of Dodge City; 31-year-old Mario Juarez of Garden City; 24-year-old Baiel Sharshembiev of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 48-year-old Carlos Arzate of Shattuck, Oklahoma; 61-year-old Stephane Purcell of Evansville Indiana and 60-year-old Giovanni Stephan of Troy Michigan.A total of seventy-one&nbsp; vehicles were identified as being involved in the collision event, resulting in eight fatalities and forty-six injured who were transported to local hospitals. The patrol will complete multiple motor vehicle collision reports to document and separate the collisions that occurred within the event. Investigators believe the separate collisions occurred between the times of approximately 3:20pm - 3:35pm (CDT). Due to the extreme circumstances the exact sequence of events is is still under investigation.&nbsp;

Patrol IDs 8 who died in Kansas dust storm crash

KANSAS CITY —Three police officers were injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Monday in Kansas City

Incident Date/Time: 4/14/2025 0052 CRN: 25-022492 Division: CPDEvent Start Address: 12th and GrandEvent End Address: 12th and GrandNature: Injury Crash involving PD Members

Narrative: AIS responded to assist CPD in a crash at 12th and Grand. Preliminary investigation revealed that

According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a marked Police Vehicle was traveling code 1 eastbound on 12th Street with a green light at Grand Avenue.

At the same time, a Marked Police Vehicle was driving with red and blue light Southbound on Grand with a red traffic signal. The Eastbound Vehicle struck the Southbound vehicle in a T-Bone manner. Three officers were taken to an area hospital for injuries. No other vehicles nor pedestrian were involved.

KANSAS CITY —Three police officers were injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Monday in Kansas CityIncident Date/Time: 4/14/2025 0052 CRN: 25-022492 Division: CPDEvent Start Address: 12th and GrandEvent End Address: 12th and GrandNature: Injury Crash involving PD MembersNarrative: AIS responded to assist CPD in a crash at 12th and Grand. Preliminary investigation revealed thatAccording to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a marked Police Vehicle was traveling code 1 eastbound on 12th Street with a green light at Grand Avenue.At the same time, a Marked Police Vehicle was driving with red and blue light Southbound on Grand with a red traffic signal. The Eastbound Vehicle struck the Southbound vehicle in a T-Bone manner. Three officers were taken to an area hospital for injuries. No other vehicles nor pedestrian were involved.

3 KCPD officers hospitalized after 2 police vehicles collide

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

Two years ago, Missouri regulators suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s THC concentrate was made with out-state cannabis

In Missouri’s massive marijuana recall two years ago, regulators pulled 62,000 products off the shelves that contained a THC concentrate the state deemed a “potential threat to health and safety.”&nbsp;

Last week, the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation added another 6,000 products to that list that should have been pulled in 2023 because they were all made with an ingredient produced by the company at the heart of the recall, Robertsville-based Delta Extraction.

The new “threats” were found after the division was ordered in February by the state’s administrative hearing commission to release any Midwest Magic brand products from its 2023 recall list.&nbsp;During that review, the division discovered additional marijuana products containing a THC oil that Delta Extraction made using “unregulated cannabis,” the division stated in a Thursday press release.

“Regarding risks to the public, the department recalled these products for the same reason it issued the original, related recall: It identified a potential threat to health and safety,”&nbsp;said Amy Moore, the divisions director, in an email to The Independent.

However, there have been no adverse reactions reported for any of the product in the original or updated recall, she said.

“The initial recall was a large and complex endeavor requiring expert application of system functionality and program processes,”&nbsp;she said.&nbsp;“The department has made improvements in both areas since that time and continues to improve in ways that ensure future recalls can better identify all relevant product at initial issuance.”

Delta Extraction is a licensed cannabis manufacturing facility that specializes in making THC distillate, a highly potent and pure form of THC used for things like vape pens, infused pre-rolled joints and edibles. About 100 other manufacturers bought the distillate in question in spring 2023 and went on to make thousands of products.&nbsp;

In August 2023, the division suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s distillate was made with untested “<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910265-conference-call-delta-extraction" target="_blank">marijuana or converted hemp</a>&nbsp;from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility.”&nbsp;

The state also issued the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/16/state-faces-pushback-from-missouri-marijuana-industry-over-product-recall/">product recall</a>.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/01/missouri-rolls-back-part-of-its-cannabis-product-recall/">few months later</a>, the state&nbsp;rolled back its recall of nearly 15,000 Midwest Magic products and allowed them to return to the dispensary shelves.&nbsp;Though part owner of the Delta facility, Midwest Magic owners successfully argued that the brand didn’t use the distillate in its products.&nbsp;

A company called A Joint Operation owns the other 50% of Delta Extraction.

In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/delta-extraction-loses-appeal-of-its-revoked-license-following-missouri-cannabis-recall/">Delta Extraction lost its appeal&nbsp;</a>of its license suspension, but it was awarded a renewed search for Midwest Magic products on the recall list. The Thursday update released about 120 Midwest Magic products from dispensaries and manufacturing facilities. The update also allowed testing labs to release samples of several hundred recalled products so they can be destroyed.

Ted Maritz, co-owner of Midwest Magic, said the company had already written off the released items as a loss.

“I’m not going to ask any stores for payment or anything,” Maritz said. “Everyone’s gone through hell for this.”

While the ordered search had a small impact on Midwest Magic, it is having a big impact on some dispensaries and manufacturers carrying the 6,200 products.&nbsp;

The recall list actually represents product tags used by the state’s tracing system called Metrc. Each tag in dispensaries typically represents a case of 10 to 12 units. And Metrc tags for manufacturing facilities represent ingredients that could make thousands or millions of units.&nbsp;

One Kansas City manufacturer had almost 700 ingredients recalled Thursday.&nbsp;

Josh Corson, co-owner of A Joint Operation, said he had not yet heard about the updated recall, in a text message Friday to The Independent and could not immediately comment.

Over the last two years, several companies have opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/06/companies-can-now-work-with-state-to-destroy-recalled-missouri-marijuana-products/">destroy the products</a>&nbsp;to make more room in their storage areas.&nbsp;

Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the division, said&nbsp;there was a slight increase for destruction requests since February through April, following the commission’s decision and totaling about 200 requests. However the division is “unable to identify whether these requests are specific to the February decision,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The units remaining on hold for the Delta Extraction recall, which have not been destroyed, total nearly 157,000 items. That includes 4,000 THC concentrate items that equal 378,000 grams of oil, along with about 13,000 grams of marijuana flower. It also includes 18,000 infused edibles, more than 40,000 pre-rolled joints and 90,000 vape cartridges.&nbsp;

In Delta’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/07/three-day-hearing-reveals-behind-the-scenes-details-of-missouri-marijuana-recall/">appeal</a>, the company argued the process it used to make the distillate was safe and legal.&nbsp;

Delta Extraction admitted to importing<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/25/missouri-cannabis-recall-hemp/">&nbsp;a large amount of THC-A</a>&nbsp;— a non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant that becomes intoxicating when heated — purportedly extracted from hemp plants. The company’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/04/hearing-on-recall-of-60000-missouri-marijuana-products-set-to-begin/">contractor</a>&nbsp;would mix it with a smaller amount of THC-A extracted from Missouri-regulated marijuana.&nbsp;

Delta argued the hemp-derived THC-A should fall under the same rules as added ingredients, like flavors or the non-intoxicating cannabis compound CBD, because hemp is not a federally controlled substance like marijuana. It was taken off the federal controlled substance list in the 2018 farm bill.

But Carole Iles of Missouri’s administrative hearing commission, wrote in her 137-page ruling that THC-A becomes intoxicating through the exact same process no matter if it’s extracted from hemp or marijuana, so the state is correct in regulating the THC the same as marijuana.&nbsp;

That means it must be grown and manufactured in licensed Missouri facilities, Iles concluded, and tracked from the time the seed goes into the soil in the Metrc system.

“THC originating from other sources,” she wrote, “is prohibited.”&nbsp;

Chuck Hatfield, former attorney for Delta Extraction, said licensed facilities have the ability to challenge these new recalls of the products on their shelves.&nbsp;

“They probably should,” Hatfield said. “Because DCR has had such difficulty figuring out which products should be recalled, no licensee can be sure which products it can sell.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712141630999.png" alt="&nbsp;In August 2023, the state suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s distillate was made with untested “marijuana or converted hemp from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility" (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;In August 2023, the state suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s distillate was made with untested “marijuana or converted hemp from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility" (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>Two years ago, Missouri regulators suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s THC concentrate was made with out-state cannabis</h2>In Missouri’s massive marijuana recall two years ago, regulators pulled 62,000 products off the shelves that contained a THC concentrate the state deemed a “potential threat to health and safety.”&nbsp;Last week, the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation added another 6,000 products to that list that should have been pulled in 2023 because they were all made with an ingredient produced by the company at the heart of the recall, Robertsville-based Delta Extraction.The new “threats” were found after the division was ordered in February by the state’s administrative hearing commission to release any Midwest Magic brand products from its 2023 recall list.&nbsp;During that review, the division discovered additional marijuana products containing a THC oil that Delta Extraction made using “unregulated cannabis,” the division stated in a Thursday press release.“Regarding risks to the public, the department recalled these products for the same reason it issued the original, related recall: It identified a potential threat to health and safety,”&nbsp;said Amy Moore, the divisions director, in an email to The Independent.However, there have been no adverse reactions reported for any of the product in the original or updated recall, she said.“The initial recall was a large and complex endeavor requiring expert application of system functionality and program processes,”&nbsp;she said.&nbsp;“The department has made improvements in both areas since that time and continues to improve in ways that ensure future recalls can better identify all relevant product at initial issuance.”Delta Extraction is a licensed cannabis manufacturing facility that specializes in making THC distillate, a highly potent and pure form of THC used for things like vape pens, infused pre-rolled joints and edibles. About 100 other manufacturers bought the distillate in question in spring 2023 and went on to make thousands of products.&nbsp;In August 2023, the division suspended Delta Extraction’s license after finding the company’s distillate was made with untested “<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910265-conference-call-delta-extraction" target="_blank">marijuana or converted hemp</a>&nbsp;from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility.”&nbsp;The state also issued the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/16/state-faces-pushback-from-missouri-marijuana-industry-over-product-recall/">product recall</a>.A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/01/missouri-rolls-back-part-of-its-cannabis-product-recall/">few months later</a>, the state&nbsp;rolled back its recall of nearly 15,000 Midwest Magic products and allowed them to return to the dispensary shelves.&nbsp;Though part owner of the Delta facility, Midwest Magic owners successfully argued that the brand didn’t use the distillate in its products.&nbsp;A company called A Joint Operation owns the other 50% of Delta Extraction.In February,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/delta-extraction-loses-appeal-of-its-revoked-license-following-missouri-cannabis-recall/">Delta Extraction lost its appeal&nbsp;</a>of its license suspension, but it was awarded a renewed search for Midwest Magic products on the recall list. The Thursday update released about 120 Midwest Magic products from dispensaries and manufacturing facilities. The update also allowed testing labs to release samples of several hundred recalled products so they can be destroyed.Ted Maritz, co-owner of Midwest Magic, said the company had already written off the released items as a loss.“I’m not going to ask any stores for payment or anything,” Maritz said. “Everyone’s gone through hell for this.”While the ordered search had a small impact on Midwest Magic, it is having a big impact on some dispensaries and manufacturers carrying the 6,200 products.&nbsp;The recall list actually represents product tags used by the state’s tracing system called Metrc. Each tag in dispensaries typically represents a case of 10 to 12 units. And Metrc tags for manufacturing facilities represent ingredients that could make thousands or millions of units.&nbsp;One Kansas City manufacturer had almost 700 ingredients recalled Thursday.&nbsp;Josh Corson, co-owner of A Joint Operation, said he had not yet heard about the updated recall, in a text message Friday to The Independent and could not immediately comment.Over the last two years, several companies have opted to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/06/companies-can-now-work-with-state-to-destroy-recalled-missouri-marijuana-products/">destroy the products</a>&nbsp;to make more room in their storage areas.&nbsp;Lisa Cox, spokeswoman for the division, said&nbsp;there was a slight increase for destruction requests since February through April, following the commission’s decision and totaling about 200 requests. However the division is “unable to identify whether these requests are specific to the February decision,” she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The units remaining on hold for the Delta Extraction recall, which have not been destroyed, total nearly 157,000 items. That includes 4,000 THC concentrate items that equal 378,000 grams of oil, along with about 13,000 grams of marijuana flower. It also includes 18,000 infused edibles, more than 40,000 pre-rolled joints and 90,000 vape cartridges.&nbsp;In Delta’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/07/three-day-hearing-reveals-behind-the-scenes-details-of-missouri-marijuana-recall/">appeal</a>, the company argued the process it used to make the distillate was safe and legal.&nbsp;Delta Extraction admitted to importing<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/25/missouri-cannabis-recall-hemp/">&nbsp;a large amount of THC-A</a>&nbsp;— a non-psychoactive compound of the cannabis plant that becomes intoxicating when heated — purportedly extracted from hemp plants. The company’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/04/hearing-on-recall-of-60000-missouri-marijuana-products-set-to-begin/">contractor</a>&nbsp;would mix it with a smaller amount of THC-A extracted from Missouri-regulated marijuana.&nbsp;Delta argued the hemp-derived THC-A should fall under the same rules as added ingredients, like flavors or the non-intoxicating cannabis compound CBD, because hemp is not a federally controlled substance like marijuana. It was taken off the federal controlled substance list in the 2018 farm bill.But Carole Iles of Missouri’s administrative hearing commission, wrote in her 137-page ruling that THC-A becomes intoxicating through the exact same process no matter if it’s extracted from hemp or marijuana, so the state is correct in regulating the THC the same as marijuana.&nbsp;That means it must be grown and manufactured in licensed Missouri facilities, Iles concluded, and tracked from the time the seed goes into the soil in the Metrc system.“THC originating from other sources,” she wrote, “is prohibited.”&nbsp;Chuck Hatfield, former attorney for Delta Extraction, said licensed facilities have the ability to challenge these new recalls of the products on their shelves.&nbsp;“They probably should,” Hatfield said. “Because DCR has had such difficulty figuring out which products should be recalled, no licensee can be sure which products it can sell.”&nbsp;

Missouri cannabis regulators find another 6,000 products that should have been recalled in 2023

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

The U.S. Education Department has agreed to delay for nearly two weeks enforcement of a disputed directive seeking to ban diversity, equity and inclusion practices, according to a court filing Thursday in the case challenging the order.

The agreement between the department and the groups suing it over the order pauses enforcement until after April 24. According to the<a href="https://www.aclu.org/cases/national-education-association-et-al-v-us-department-of-education-et-al?document=Agreement" target="_blank">&nbsp;agreement</a>, states and local education agencies until then cannot be investigated or asked to provide certification that they are not using DEI, a term for race- and gender-conscious practices, in admissions, programming, training, hiring or scholarships.

Education Department spokeswoman Madi Biedermann said the department and the groups reached the agreement Monday.

<a href="https://www.ed.gov/media/document/reminder-of-legal-obligations-undertaken-exchange-receiving-federal-financial-assistance-and-request-certification-under-title-vi-and-sffa-v-harvard-april-3">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the full notice

An April 3 letter from the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/states-ordered-us-education-department-certify-school-dei-ban-or-lose-funds" target="_blank">demanded states and districts provide certifications</a>&nbsp;they were complying with the order within 10 days or risk losing federal funding. That letter<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-education-department-threatens-yanking-funds-schools-use-race-decisions" target="_blank">&nbsp;followed a February missive</a>&nbsp;introducing the order.

The National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu.org/documents/complaint-in-aclu-nea-et-al-v-u-s-department-of-education" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;in New Hampshire federal court last month to block enforcement of the directive.

“This pause in enforcement provides immediate relief to schools across the country while the broader legal challenge continues,” the NEA said in a Thursday statement.

In a written statement, Biedermann said the extension was due to what the department saw as states’ efforts to comply with the order.

“The Department extended the certification requirement on Monday in response to states’ good-faith inquiries to ensure compliance,” Biedermann wrote. “Having voluntarily extended the deadline, commonsense would dictate the Department would not take enforcement action until the deadline had passed.”

The groups asked the court to issue an emergency ruling to block enforcement of the department’s order while the case is ongoing.

The agreement effectively grants that request without a court order.

“No school district, state agency, or higher education institution will face investigation or penalties for failure to return the challenged certification that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts do not exist within their curriculums,” the NEA said.

The suit challenges the department’s authority to impose restrictions on state K-12 curriculum and says the order limits academic freedom and restricts educators’ ability to teach.

President Donald Trump campaigned against progressive cultural positions, including how race, gender and sexuality are handled in public schools.

In the early months of his second presidency, the entire executive branch has moved to restrict DEI initiatives and education policy, which has long been a battleground for such issues, has been a focal point.

The administration has used antidiscrimination requirements to pursue restrictions on DEI initiatives in education, arguing that DEI discriminates against white students.

DEI programs “discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another based on identity characteristics in clear violation of Title VI,” Craig Trainor, the Education Department’s acting head of civil rights, said in an April 3 statement.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The U.S. Education Department has agreed to delay for nearly two weeks enforcement of a disputed directive seeking to ban diversity, equity and inclusion practices, according to a court filing Thursday in the case challenging the order.The agreement between the department and the groups suing it over the order pauses enforcement until after April 24. According to the<a href="https://www.aclu.org/cases/national-education-association-et-al-v-us-department-of-education-et-al?document=Agreement" target="_blank">&nbsp;agreement</a>, states and local education agencies until then cannot be investigated or asked to provide certification that they are not using DEI, a term for race- and gender-conscious practices, in admissions, programming, training, hiring or scholarships.Education Department spokeswoman Madi Biedermann said the department and the groups reached the agreement Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743709447177.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.ed.gov/media/document/reminder-of-legal-obligations-undertaken-exchange-receiving-federal-financial-assistance-and-request-certification-under-title-vi-and-sffa-v-harvard-april-3">Click here to read</a>&nbsp;the full noticeAn April 3 letter from the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/states-ordered-us-education-department-certify-school-dei-ban-or-lose-funds" target="_blank">demanded states and districts provide certifications</a>&nbsp;they were complying with the order within 10 days or risk losing federal funding. That letter<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-education-department-threatens-yanking-funds-schools-use-race-decisions" target="_blank">&nbsp;followed a February missive</a>&nbsp;introducing the order.The National Education Association and the American Civil Liberties Union&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu.org/documents/complaint-in-aclu-nea-et-al-v-u-s-department-of-education" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;in New Hampshire federal court last month to block enforcement of the directive.“This pause in enforcement provides immediate relief to schools across the country while the broader legal challenge continues,” the NEA said in a Thursday statement.In a written statement, Biedermann said the extension was due to what the department saw as states’ efforts to comply with the order.“The Department extended the certification requirement on Monday in response to states’ good-faith inquiries to ensure compliance,” Biedermann wrote. “Having voluntarily extended the deadline, commonsense would dictate the Department would not take enforcement action until the deadline had passed.”<h2>Court battle</h2>The groups asked the court to issue an emergency ruling to block enforcement of the department’s order while the case is ongoing.The agreement effectively grants that request without a court order.“No school district, state agency, or higher education institution will face investigation or penalties for failure to return the challenged certification that diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts do not exist within their curriculums,” the NEA said.The underlying lawsuit remains ongoing.The suit challenges the department’s authority to impose restrictions on state K-12 curriculum and says the order limits academic freedom and restricts educators’ ability to teach.<h2>Trump and DEI</h2>President Donald Trump campaigned against progressive cultural positions, including how race, gender and sexuality are handled in public schools.In the early months of his second presidency, the entire executive branch has moved to restrict DEI initiatives and education policy, which has long been a battleground for such issues, has been a focal point.The administration has used antidiscrimination requirements to pursue restrictions on DEI initiatives in education, arguing that DEI discriminates against white students.DEI programs “discriminate against one group of Americans to favor another based on identity characteristics in clear violation of Title VI,” Craig Trainor, the Education Department’s acting head of civil rights, said in an April 3 statement.

Deadline extended for schools to meet anti-DEI order or lose funds

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Authorities are investigating the cause of a townhome fire in Kansas City.

Just after 8p.m. Sunday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported fire in the 1700 block of Woodland, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

First responders reported heavy fire from a two-story 4-plex townhome. After inital interior operations crews were forced to evacuate when the roof became unstable. Searches of the adjoining structures came back all clear. The fire was placed under control at 8:26 p.m. No injuries were reported.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744625941039.png" alt="View of the fire scene- photo KMBC" />
 <figcaption>View of the fire scene- photo KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Authorities are investigating the cause of a townhome fire in Kansas City.Just after 8p.m. Sunday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported fire in the 1700 block of Woodland, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.First responders reported heavy fire from a two-story 4-plex townhome. After inital interior operations crews were forced to evacuate when the roof became unstable. Searches of the adjoining structures came back all clear. The fire was placed under control at 8:26 p.m. No injuries were reported.&nbsp;

Cause of massive KC townhome fire under investigation

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—One person died in an accident just before 11p.m. Sunday in Kansas City.

A Dodge Challenger was southbound on Prospect Avenue from Gregory Blvd. at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez. The driver lost control and was ejected. 

EMS pronounced him deceased on scene. Police released no additional details early Monday including the name of the victim.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—One person died in an accident just before 11p.m. Sunday in Kansas City.A Dodge Challenger was southbound on Prospect Avenue from Gregory Blvd. at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez. The driver lost control and was ejected. EMS pronounced him deceased on scene. Police released no additional details early Monday including the name of the victim.

Driver dies after ejected from car crash in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A man who fled to Mexico and faked his own death has been sentenced in federal court for receiving and possessing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

On April 9, Diego Antonio Rafael Camargo-Wasserman, 32, formerly of Columbia, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Carmargo-Wasserman to 10 years of supervised release following&nbsp; his release from custody. Carmargo-Wasserman will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.

On August 8, 2024, Camargo-Wasserman pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.

The investigation began on July 1, 2010, as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of child pornography over the internet.&nbsp; During a search warrant execution, Camargo-Wasserman admitted to using Limewire to download child pornography.&nbsp; Multiple videos depicting child pornography were found on Camargo-Wasserman’s cell phone.&nbsp; Camargo-Wasserman was previously indicted on federal charges for this offense in 2010, however in 2013, a bail bond agent provided documentation from Mexico stating Camargo-Wasserman had died on October 5, 2012.&nbsp; Federal charges were dismissed.

In July 2017, the FBI received information that Camargo-Wasserman was alive and was residing in Mexico.&nbsp;Federal charges were filed again in 2018 followed by extradition proceedings to return Camargo-Wasserman to the United States.&nbsp; Camargo-Wasserman was brought to the United States to face charges in 2024.&nbsp;Camargo-Wasserman is a dual citizen of both the United States and Mexico.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744585150152.png" alt="Camargo-Wasserman photo Boone Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Camargo-Wasserman photo Boone Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A man who fled to Mexico and faked his own death has been sentenced in federal court for receiving and possessing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.On April 9, Diego Antonio Rafael Camargo-Wasserman, 32, formerly of Columbia, Missouri, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven R. Bough to 10 years in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Carmargo-Wasserman to 10 years of supervised release following&nbsp; his release from custody. Carmargo-Wasserman will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release from prison and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements, which may apply throughout his life.On August 8, 2024, Camargo-Wasserman pleaded guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography.The investigation began on July 1, 2010, as part of an ongoing investigation into the distribution of child pornography over the internet.&nbsp; During a search warrant execution, Camargo-Wasserman admitted to using Limewire to download child pornography.&nbsp; Multiple videos depicting child pornography were found on Camargo-Wasserman’s cell phone.&nbsp; Camargo-Wasserman was previously indicted on federal charges for this offense in 2010, however in 2013, a bail bond agent provided documentation from Mexico stating Camargo-Wasserman had died on October 5, 2012.&nbsp; Federal charges were dismissed.In July 2017, the FBI received information that Camargo-Wasserman was alive and was residing in Mexico.&nbsp;Federal charges were filed again in 2018 followed by extradition proceedings to return Camargo-Wasserman to the United States.&nbsp; Camargo-Wasserman was brought to the United States to face charges in 2024.&nbsp;Camargo-Wasserman is a dual citizen of both the United States and Mexico.

Mo. man who fled to Mexico, faked his own death is going to prison

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for causing a $1.2&nbsp;&nbsp;million loss to a company by submitting false invoices in connection a performance incentive rewards program, according to the United State's Attorney. The prison sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release, and Cummings is ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution.

According to court documents, Barry Cummings, 52, of Overland Park, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. An energy management company offered a performance-based rewards program as an incentive to non-employee resellers, contractors, and others to sell its products. Participants submitted information regarding sales to earn points they could then redeem for items like airline vouchers, hotel stays, gift cards, and electronic devices.

In 2017, a business in Lenexa, Kansas, hired Cummings, and he enrolled in the victim company’s rewards program through that affiliation. In his plea agreement, Cummings admitted to orchestrating a years-long scheme to defraud the victim company’s rewards program. Cummings admitted to logging into the rewards site and submitting fraudulent sales claims, which falsely represented that he had sold the company’s products. Cummings admitted that he never sold a single one of the company’s products despite the thousands of sales claims he submitted representing that he did.

After his termination from the Lenexa business in April 2018, Cummings continually logged into the rewards website to submit fraudulent invoices and redeem points, using the email he previously had at the Lenexa business. As an example, during a 12-hour period in November 2018, Cummings submitted 834 fraudulent invoices for which he received more than 2.8 million points. In 2019, he submitted 5,543 false claims for 22.5 million points. Cummings used point redemptions to receive more than 2,000 rewards at a value that caused a $1,233,024 loss to the victim company.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. The victim energy company cooperated and provided invaluable assistance in the investigation. 

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Kansas man was sentenced to 15 months in prison for causing a $1.2&nbsp;&nbsp;million loss to a company by submitting false invoices in connection a performance incentive rewards program, according to the United State's Attorney. The prison sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release, and Cummings is ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution.According to court documents, Barry Cummings, 52, of Overland Park, pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. An energy management company offered a performance-based rewards program as an incentive to non-employee resellers, contractors, and others to sell its products. Participants submitted information regarding sales to earn points they could then redeem for items like airline vouchers, hotel stays, gift cards, and electronic devices.In 2017, a business in Lenexa, Kansas, hired Cummings, and he enrolled in the victim company’s rewards program through that affiliation. In his plea agreement, Cummings admitted to orchestrating a years-long scheme to defraud the victim company’s rewards program. Cummings admitted to logging into the rewards site and submitting fraudulent sales claims, which falsely represented that he had sold the company’s products. Cummings admitted that he never sold a single one of the company’s products despite the thousands of sales claims he submitted representing that he did.After his termination from the Lenexa business in April 2018, Cummings continually logged into the rewards website to submit fraudulent invoices and redeem points, using the email he previously had at the Lenexa business. As an example, during a 12-hour period in November 2018, Cummings submitted 834 fraudulent invoices for which he received more than 2.8 million points. In 2019, he submitted 5,543 false claims for 22.5 million points. Cummings used point redemptions to receive more than 2,000 rewards at a value that caused a $1,233,024 loss to the victim company.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case. The victim energy company cooperated and provided invaluable assistance in the investigation.

Prison: Kan. man cheated business incentive rewards program

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) has been alerted of a scam impacting incarcerated individuals and their families where callers are identifying themselves as FBOP employees to secure money for community placement services. 

The FBOP will not contact individuals to request personal information or money. Also, there appear to be other scams affecting incarcerated individuals and their families. Specifically, callers are identifying as “Federal Bureau of Prisons Reentry Division Services” to gain personal information or money for early release and/or community placement services.

Individuals who are contacted by persons purporting to be employees of the FBOP requesting money and/or compensation should report these calls to the Federal Trade Commission online <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">by clicking here</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712245575011.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) has been alerted of a scam impacting incarcerated individuals and their families where callers are identifying themselves as FBOP employees to secure money for community placement services. The FBOP will not contact individuals to request personal information or money. Also, there appear to be other scams affecting incarcerated individuals and their families. Specifically, callers are identifying as “Federal Bureau of Prisons Reentry Division Services” to gain personal information or money for early release and/or community placement services.Individuals who are contacted by persons purporting to be employees of the FBOP requesting money and/or compensation should report these calls to the Federal Trade Commission online <a href="https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/">by clicking here</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.).

Federal Bureau of Prisons alerts public to a scam

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

Evenezer Cortez Martinez is back on U.S. soil, landing in Kansas City Tuesday afternoon after being deported.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/DACA" target="_blank">DACA</a>&nbsp;recipient and Kansas father of three feared that he wouldn’t be able to return from Mexico, a country he left at the age of 4. His Roeland Park family embraced in a tearful and joyful reunion at Kansas City International airport.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection had stopped Cortez Martinez at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport more than two weeks ago, after he took a short trip to Mexico to visit his grandfather’s grave.

Instead, he was detained and questioned, then put back on a plane to Mexico City on March 23.

Cortez Martinez is a recipient of DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.

He had never been back to his birth nation, having been brought to the U.S. by his parents as a toddler. His farmworker father tended grapevines in California.

Prior to his scheduled trip to Mexico, Cortez Martinez had applied for and received permission to travel and return to the U.S., a process called “advance parole.”

His case is an example of an immigrant who “did everything the right way” and still ran into problems, said&nbsp;<a href="https://sharma-crawford.com/" target="_blank">Rekha Sharma-Crawford</a>, the Kansas City-based immigration attorney who filed a lawsuit April 2 on behalf of Cortez Martinez with the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas. The case,&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/03/kansas-man-deported-after-visiting-grandfathers-grave-in-mexico/" target="_blank">first reported by The Beacon</a>, drew national attention.

“The lawsuit has been dismissed because you are home and that was really the point of the lawsuit,” Sharma-Crawford told her client at the airport.

The government had asked for time to respond, indicating that the issue could be resolved without the judge hearing the case, said Sharma-Crawford.

There seemed to be some confusion at the time when he was detained in Dallas, Cortez Martinez recalled, because a supervisor had been called over.

Still, Cortez Martinez said he was told that he’d been ordered removed in absentia on June 11, 2024, and that his documents allowing him to travel had been issued in error.

Cortez Martinez said he was never made aware of that order.

“I never got any notice,” he said. “I check everything because there is all of the paper that we get for DACA renewal.”

His current DACA is valid until October 2026.

Cortez Martinez will now have an opportunity to resolve the re-calendaring of removal proceedings in Kansas City’s immigration court, said Sharma-Crawford.

“I trust you,” Cortez Martinez said to Sharma-Crawford. “Let’s talk as soon as possible.”

His children carried a poster they’d made, each signing a note to their father.

They also brought mylar “Happy Birthday” balloons.

Cortez Martinez turned 40 while he was gone. Several other family members also had recent birthdays.

Laughing, Cortez Martinez hugged his wife and declared, “We’ll have one single party.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/08/daca-recipient-deported-after-visiting-mexico-back-in-kansas-city/" 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/2025/4/1744549104964.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">Mary Sanchez</a>Evenezer Cortez Martinez is back on U.S. soil, landing in Kansas City Tuesday afternoon after being deported.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/DACA" target="_blank">DACA</a>&nbsp;recipient and Kansas father of three feared that he wouldn’t be able to return from Mexico, a country he left at the age of 4. His Roeland Park family embraced in a tearful and joyful reunion at Kansas City International airport.U.S. Customs and Border Protection had stopped Cortez Martinez at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport more than two weeks ago, after he took a short trip to Mexico to visit his grandfather’s grave.He was trying to return to Kansas City.Instead, he was detained and questioned, then put back on a plane to Mexico City on March 23.Cortez Martinez is a recipient of DACA, or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.He had never been back to his birth nation, having been brought to the U.S. by his parents as a toddler. His farmworker father tended grapevines in California.Prior to his scheduled trip to Mexico, Cortez Martinez had applied for and received permission to travel and return to the U.S., a process called “advance parole.”His case is an example of an immigrant who “did everything the right way” and still ran into problems, said&nbsp;<a href="https://sharma-crawford.com/" target="_blank">Rekha Sharma-Crawford</a>, the Kansas City-based immigration attorney who filed a lawsuit April 2 on behalf of Cortez Martinez with the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Texas. The case,&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/03/kansas-man-deported-after-visiting-grandfathers-grave-in-mexico/" target="_blank">first reported by The Beacon</a>, drew national attention.“The lawsuit has been dismissed because you are home and that was really the point of the lawsuit,” Sharma-Crawford told her client at the airport.The government had asked for time to respond, indicating that the issue could be resolved without the judge hearing the case, said Sharma-Crawford.There seemed to be some confusion at the time when he was detained in Dallas, Cortez Martinez recalled, because a supervisor had been called over.Still, Cortez Martinez said he was told that he’d been ordered removed in absentia on June 11, 2024, and that his documents allowing him to travel had been issued in error.Cortez Martinez said he was never made aware of that order.“I never got any notice,” he said. “I check everything because there is all of the paper that we get for DACA renewal.”His current DACA is valid until October 2026.Cortez Martinez will now have an opportunity to resolve the re-calendaring of removal proceedings in Kansas City’s immigration court, said Sharma-Crawford.“I trust you,” Cortez Martinez said to Sharma-Crawford. “Let’s talk as soon as possible.”His children carried a poster they’d made, each signing a note to their father.They also brought mylar “Happy Birthday” balloons.Cortez Martinez turned 40 while he was gone. Several other family members also had recent birthdays.Laughing, Cortez Martinez hugged his wife and declared, “We’ll have one single party.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/04/08/daca-recipient-deported-after-visiting-mexico-back-in-kansas-city/" 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>.

Man deported after visiting family grave in Mexico is back in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are searching for the driver of an ATV who drove over and critically injured Kansas City, Missouri Police officer.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are searching for the driver of an ATV who drove over and critically injured Kansas City, Missouri Police officer.Just before 7p.m. on Saturday, police responded to a disturbance involving an officer at E. Truman Road and S. Main Street, according to KCPD Officer Alyana Gonzalez.First responders found the driver of an ATV had attempted to avoid tire deflation devices. The driver popped a wheelie and struck the officer who set the devices. The impact caused the officer to fall to the ground before the ATV drove over him and sped off.The officer was transported to a hospital for treatment of a critical head injury.&nbsp;Anyone with information about the incident should report it to the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.