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

Just after 6 a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of Flora on a reported shooting , according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. 

Officers observed a vehicle facing the wrong direction, parked on the curb. Inside the vehicle officers located a male victim, later identified as 17-year-old Camren A. English suffering from a gunshot wound. 

Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. Medics transported the English to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Police initially indicated the incident was a death investigation. On Monday police reclassified the case to a homicide investigation, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Detectives are working to determine what led to shots being fired and the victim being struck.

<p>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.</p><p>Just after 6 a.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 3700 block of Flora on a reported shooting , according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. </p><p>Officers observed a vehicle facing the wrong direction, parked on the curb. Inside the vehicle officers located a male victim, later identified as 17-year-old Camren A. English suffering from a gunshot wound. </p><p>Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. Medics transported the English to a local hospital where he died a short time later. Police initially indicated the incident was a death investigation. On Monday police reclassified the case to a homicide investigation, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.</p><p>Detectives are working to determine what led to shots being fired and the victim being struck.</p>

KCPD: Teen's death reclassified to homicide investigation

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump on Israel and Iran: &quot;We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the fuck they’re doing.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xrztmebALZ">pic.twitter.com/xrztmebALZ</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1937468807536169315?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">⭕️&quot;In light of the severe violation of the ceasefire carried out by the Iranian regime, we will respond with force.&quot;<br><br>-The Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir in a situational assessment now</p>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1937427038090006827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 Sirens sounding in northern Israel due to missile fire from Iran 🚨 <a href="https://t.co/woGhqD7VCK">pic.twitter.com/woGhqD7VCK</a></p>&mdash; Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDF/status/1937414143637639295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

=🎥Trump uses the 'f bomb' to describe Israel and Iran

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal Kansas officer involved shooting have released the name of the suspect who died as 25-year-old&nbsp;Jose Enrique Cartagena Chacon of Grandview, Missouri.

Just after 3a.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a armed with a gun at an apartment complex&nbsp; in the 12400 block of W. 97th Terrace in Lenexa, according to a media release.

Shots were fired by at least one Lenexa officer and Chacon died. No officers were injured. The Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team is in charge of this investigation.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750595634129.png" alt="Photo Lenexa Police" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Lenexa Police</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal Kansas officer involved shooting have released the name of the suspect who died as 25-year-old&nbsp;Jose Enrique Cartagena Chacon of Grandview, Missouri.</p><p>Just after 3a.m. Sunday, police responded to report of a armed with a gun at an apartment complex&nbsp; in the 12400 block of W. 97th Terrace in Lenexa, according to a media release.</p><p>Shots were fired by at least one Lenexa officer and Chacon died. No officers were injured. The Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigation Team is in charge of this investigation.</p>

Police ID man who died in Kansas officer-shooting

JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman who admitted her role in the drug sale death of another woman is going to prison.

On June 16, Judge Michael P . Joyce sentenced 39-year-old Beulah B. Quiroz to 220 months in prison for distribution of drugs causing death, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

On April 22, Quiroz pleased guilty to the charge.

In January, Quiroz was charged with the distribution of narcotics that caused the death of another and the use of a communication facility during a drug felony, according to the district attorney. The victim, 46-year-old Dori Cunagin, died on Feb. 6, 2024, in Mission, Kansas.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745435736420.png" alt="Quiroz photo Johson County" />
                        <figcaption>Quiroz photo Johson County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>JOHNSON COUNTY —A Kansas woman who admitted her role in the drug sale death of another woman is going to prison.</p><p>On June 16, Judge Michael P . Joyce sentenced 39-year-old Beulah B. Quiroz to 220 months in prison for distribution of drugs causing death, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.</p><p>On April 22, Quiroz pleased guilty to the charge.</p><p>In January, Quiroz was charged with the distribution of narcotics that caused the death of another and the use of a communication facility during a drug felony, according to the district attorney. The victim, 46-year-old Dori Cunagin, died on Feb. 6, 2024, in Mission, Kansas.</p>

Prison for Kansas woman's drug deal death

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Salina man on multiple drug allegations.

Just after 7p.m. June 21, during an ongoing investigation the Salina Drug Task Force located a 47-year old Alphonse Baham at a home in the 600 block of Johnstown in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

The Drug Task Force found over '10 grams of suspected Fentanyl' on Baham and a subsequent search warrant followed at the residence. During the search, it was determined that&nbsp;additional items relating to the distribution of fentanyl and two firearms were located. Police also reported that two children under the age of 18 'resided at the home.'

Baham was then arrested and booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges&nbsp; of Distribution of Fentanyl less than 100 grams, one count of Felony Paraphernalia, one count Distribution of Fentanyl less than a 1000’ from a school, one count of a Drug Tax Stamp, one count of Aggravated Endangerment of a Child, one count of Felony Obstruction, one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm and one count of misdemeanor Paraphernalia.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750608336458.jpeg" alt="Baham photo Saline Co." />
                        <figcaption>Baham photo Saline Co.</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Salina man on multiple drug allegations.</p><p>Just after 7p.m. June 21, during an ongoing investigation the Salina Drug Task Force located a 47-year old Alphonse Baham at a home in the 600 block of Johnstown in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.</p><p>The Drug Task Force found over '10 grams of suspected Fentanyl' on Baham and a subsequent search warrant followed at the residence. During the search, it was determined that&nbsp;additional items relating to the distribution of fentanyl and two firearms were located. Police also reported that two children under the age of 18 'resided at the home.'</p><p>Baham was then arrested and booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges&nbsp; of Distribution of Fentanyl less than 100 grams, one count of Felony Paraphernalia, one count Distribution of Fentanyl less than a 1000’ from a school, one count of a Drug Tax Stamp, one count of Aggravated Endangerment of a Child, one count of Felony Obstruction, one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm and one count of misdemeanor Paraphernalia.</p>

Kansas man accused of selling fentanyl near a school

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750552826391.png" alt="File photo President Trump returning to the White House Saturday-image White House" />
                        <figcaption>File photo President Trump returning to the White House Saturday-image White House</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🚨 <a href="https://t.co/lzIfANo7sd">pic.twitter.com/lzIfANo7sd</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937271127958573387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT’S TIME FOR PEACE!&quot; –President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/c5u6uneVBY">pic.twitter.com/c5u6uneVBY</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1937242445026050171?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">&quot;CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYONE! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE...&quot; –President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/hLTBT34KnG">pic.twitter.com/hLTBT34KnG</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1937275983603597473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Peace through STRENGTH! <a href="https://t.co/ykFdscPAW6">https://t.co/ykFdscPAW6</a></p>&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1937277441778565233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/FvLK6djP9w">https://t.co/FvLK6djP9w</a> <a href="https://t.co/36Q8EJiqqq">pic.twitter.com/36Q8EJiqqq</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1937280247340388696?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

President Trump says Israel, Iran agree to 'complete and total ceasefire'

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating another weekend homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 18-year-old Jeremiah Jones.

Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 5400 block of Winner Road on a reported disturbance, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

When officers arrived they located security guards from a nearby apartment complex. The guards directed the officers to a gas station near the intersection where they believed someone had been shot. 

Behind the gas station officers located Jones suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began performing lifesaving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. KCFD Medics transported Jones to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

This is being investigated as a homicide and no one is in custody.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750692958037.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
                        <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating another weekend homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 18-year-old Jeremiah Jones.</p><p>Just after 8:30p.m. Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 5400 block of Winner Road on a reported disturbance, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.</p><p>When officers arrived they located security guards from a nearby apartment complex. The guards directed the officers to a gas station near the intersection where they believed someone had been shot. </p><p>Behind the gas station officers located Jones suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers immediately began performing lifesaving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. KCFD Medics transported Jones to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.</p><p>This is being investigated as a homicide and no one is in custody.&nbsp;</p>

KCPD: Victim in fatal gas station shooting was only 18

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/sLix9I0PWO">pic.twitter.com/sLix9I0PWO</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937237851571134524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/AYbDjEBZWC">pic.twitter.com/AYbDjEBZWC</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937240686325006762?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/y2PfbJGgZY">pic.twitter.com/y2PfbJGgZY</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1937238331009695862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Read President Trump's statement after Iran's strike on U.S. air base

Sara Smith, the new Children’s Division director, has moved away from her predecessor’s focus on shrinking the foster care system. The Independent sat down with her for an interview about her tenure so far and plans for the future

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

In the nearly two decades Sara Smith spent working at Missouri’s Department of Social Services, she remembers nine different people running the agency in charge of investigating child abuse and neglect.&nbsp;

In March, Smith&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-social-services-agency-appoints-new-child-welfare-director/">took the helm</a>&nbsp;herself.&nbsp;

She hopes to provide more stability in leading the agency which has seen growing scrutiny over the last several years from nearly every direction — including lawmakers, judges, advocates and the media.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Children’s Division is Missouri’s child welfare agency and is responsible for overseeing foster care, working on frontline child abuse and neglect investigations and managing calls to the child abuse and neglect hotline.

There are&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/" target="_blank">over 11,000 Missouri children in foster care,</a>&nbsp;as of May, which is down from a peak of over 14,000 in 2021. The state continues to take kids into care at a rate higher than the national average,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/12/missouri-foster-care-parents-legal-representation/">and is slower to reunite families</a>&nbsp;than the national average.&nbsp;

Children’s Division is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/kids-stay-in-foster-care-beyond-federal-standard-in-most-missouri-counties/">acting under a performance improvement plan&nbsp;</a>with the federal government over issues ranging from failure to provide timely permanent placements for kids to caseworkers failing to provide sufficient engagement with parents.&nbsp;

Lawmakers over the years have also raised concern about&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/09/30/federal-watchdog-finds-missouri-failed-to-adequately-report-protect-missing-foster-kids/">missing foster kids</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/05/06/furious-lawmakers-demand-answers-from-missouri-dss-for-undercount-of-abuse-reports/">unlicensed boarding schools</a>&nbsp;and severe&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/05/missouri-caseworkers-drowning-as-childrens-division-plagued-by-staff-shortages/">understaffing.</a>

In a brief sit-down with The Independent last week, Smith said she wants to bring Children’s Division back to the basics, which she defines as ensuring safety for children. She highlighted her long experience in the agency, beginning as a frontline child abuse and neglect investigator.

She took over from Darrell Missey, who was outspoken about what he felt was a needed course correction for the agency that was taking too many kids into foster care and keeping them there too long. Missey spent his career as a judge before leading Children’s Division, and his vision reflected a national trend toward family preservation efforts.

Smith, on the other hand, said she doesn’t see reducing the number of kids in foster care as an especially valuable metric. She highlighted several policies during the 30-minute interview, including:&nbsp;

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What do you think you bring to the role having spent decades in the agency?&nbsp;

Carrying a caseload as a frontline investigator really helped me understand. I remember the manila folders where I had files for each family, and I would carry those around and try to make sure — have I seen all the kids on this one? Have I seen all the kids on this one? And kind of triaging.

You could be down in Laclede County in Lebanon, and then get a report in Moniteau County and be in California, Missouri. That’s an hour and a half, two hours.

And so just knowing all of those factors, then you have to learn your partners, and every one of those circuits I needed to know law enforcement and courts and juvenile offices and city and county police officers, schools — and so just the importance of having those relationships is one of the things that I learned that I think adds value to getting to see the full picture.

Have the first three months on the job been what you expected?

I think it is more [than I expected], very honestly.

Having stepped away from Children’s Division for a couple of years and worked at Family Support Division, and then having an opportunity to work with some of our residential services, there are just different pieces. We have more team members than we did two years ago. We have different-sized caseloads than we had a couple years ago. Families, I think, coming out of COVID, have more unique sets of circumstances in some areas, with the service array available.&nbsp;

And so just being able to understand all that, to know how to help team members, has just been a little bit more challenging than I expected. It is definitely worth all of the time and effort though, that everybody’s putting into it.

Do you think that Children’s Division deserves the scrutiny and reputation that it’s gotten over the last few years?&nbsp;

I think there’s a lot to Children’s Division. Being in it for so long, it’s complicated, and it’s a space that — we respect families’ privacy, and we can only share certain things, and there’s a lot that we can’t share about the work that happens. And that’s really hard sometimes, because you want to be able to share all the complicating factors that are happening and the ins and outs of different pieces. But we can only talk about how the process should work in a best case scenario.&nbsp;

And I don’t think we should necessarily talk about case specifics, because that is a family’s right to privacy. A child’s right to his or her information being kept close to the vest for Children’s Division, but then having the opportunity to be transparent with our stakeholders about what’s happening, what the pain points are and using those systemic things and trends to be able to work with them to create some change.&nbsp;

Because I do think that lack of stability in the Children’s Division director role does play a part in the practice that people see and the partnerships. I think I’ve had nine [directors] since I started Children’s Division. And I’ve heard this from Children’s Division team members: ‘We’re just going to wait it out. There’ll be somebody else coming in with a different philosophical view.’ Or stakeholders that aren’t sure that you’re going to stay so they don’t take the time to really get to know you or what practice should look like.

Because we’re not adding anything new or different. It’s just following the policy and tools that we have already been provided by the legislators, and really helping support our team. And so I do think that in regard to the scrutiny, some of it is just building that trust factor. And that’s a really big part of our executive team, and I know the department as a whole, is being able to build trust with stakeholders.

You mentioned philosophical differences. What do you see as the main differences between you and former director Darrell Missey?&nbsp;

The director’s role is really hard as I mentioned. Being in this spot, everybody comes in with their plan about how to fix the broken system, or how to help support kids and families better.&nbsp;

And I don’t think that anybody would ever enter into this space and take on this role if they didn’t feel like they could make a difference. And so, for me, I think making sure that we are training really the basics, the back to basics.

We have a workforce that really wants to know at the end of the day what their job is from day to day, and not as much of the philosophical, the ‘why’ behind certain practices. They’re not in it for the social work degree, in most cases — they are here trying to keep kids safe on a day-to-day basis.

And they want to know the practical tools and what they need to enter into the system, when they should notify the court, when they should reach out to law enforcement.&nbsp;

So just having that expertise, coming from Children’s Division, I think that gives me just a little bit different lens, because I’ve worked in every single program area. And so being able to connect those pieces and know what the hand-off looks like, I think that gives me a little bit different flavor than some previous directors.&nbsp;

The last time that I checked, we had around 52 vacancies statewide, which is really amazing, actually, for Children’s Division. We’re still at around 26% turnover statewide. And of that, 41% of that is our front line workers.

We really hear training is the biggest issue. And so that is one of our main priorities, is revamping the training to make it more practical. We are interested in shortening up the length of time, as well, that team members are in the initial training now. There’ll be some trainings that — once they get in and get comfortable and know their role, some specialized trainings that we’ll be able to provide.

Do you see training as potentially helping remedy some of the federal issues outlined in the Performance Improvement Plan, such as family engagement?

If you’re not meeting with families, how are you moving the needle towards permanence here, or identifying safety threats? I don’t think we can hang our hat there and not do any other work around things, but I do think solid training is going to set us up for a lot better success.

I’ve heard you say in other interviews that reducing the number of kids in care is not a particularly valuable metric of progress. How should progress be measured?

To me, creating a culture that kids are safe whether they’re in the home, or if there’s a temporary alternative placement agreement in place, that they’re safe in that placement. Or if we have some intensive in-home services or if we may recommend to the juvenile office for removal and place them with a family member or another placement — that we’re really looking at safety no matter what placement the youth is in.&nbsp;

And so, I think that a good metric for us would be: If we’ve had a touch with a family, are we thoroughly assessing safety and having them in the least-restrictive setting possible, depending on what the allegations are, and then are we having another touch with that family later on?&nbsp;

Is the way I characterized your thoughts on lowering the number of foster kids accurate?

I think it’s an important metric, but I do think you’re accurate. I think that, it’s really looking at how many calls do we have to the hotline that year? Of those, how many were alerted to the field? Are we seeing kids? So what’s our response time to making sure that we’ve assessed the safety of kids? How fast or thoroughly are we giving families closure? So when are those reports closed? Are we meeting our monthly visits with families…how quickly are they going to permanency?&nbsp;

And then how many kids do we have in care as a metric, but it’s more so, is it that they’re staying in care longer, or are we getting permanency in a timely manner? Kind of that whole scorecard of our organizational health as an agency. So I wouldn’t drive that on just one metric unless I knew that my number of critical incidents and retouches with our system had gone down as well.

Do you think that Missouri relies too heavily on foster care? That the portion of kids in care is higher here than in other states and people say neglect is often confused with poverty — do you think that’s an issue?

I think we’re lucky in Missouri to have what I would call kind of a bifurcated system. It’s something that a lot of other states don’t have. Children’s Division cannot remove a child. We would recommend removal to the juvenile office. So the juvenile office that’s receiving that referral, they’re making sure that it’s legally sufficient and that we should be recommending removal.&nbsp;

And we have those [referrals] denied from Children’s Division where, Children’s Division might think that there’s a safety threat, the child can’t remain in the home. And the juvenile office might look at it and help us understand why that’s not a legally sufficient avenue.&nbsp;

They’ve been really great partners to us in that space, but having that other look to make sure that you know whatever the concerns are, do meet legal standards, I think helps make me feel better, especially with our turnover rate, that the kids that are in care are actually there for a reason that is legally supported.

So you see the juvenile office as an important check on Children’s Division’s power?

Yeah, and not a lot of other states have that. I mean, they would still go through a hearing in a lot of other states within certain timeframes depending on that state.&nbsp;

But for Children’s Division to have that check on the front end, I think, is something that’s really valuable to us. And so we pull those numbers to look at different circuits. What does removal look like in our partnership with the juvenile office, and I think that’s really important.

You mentioned the temporary alternative placement agreements. In previous years, there’s been some concern — lawmakers have called them uncounted foster kids. Do you have any plans to make data surrounding TAPAs more transparent?

Definitely, that is something that we’ve been messaging, especially with our juvenile office partners, to make sure that they know that our circuit managers can provide them a listing of TAPAs. I mean, they should be notified, but we were hearing from some pockets that they weren’t receiving those notifications. And so we want to make sure that they know that they can continually get a list.&nbsp;

We’re also working on how we could make a public-facing dashboard with that. That’s something that Director Bax, I think, is really big on — the transparency piece.&nbsp;

So figuring out how we can get not just that data, but any of our data that we get a lot of requests for, or that there’s interest in, that we’re making sure to just try to make that as available as possible to, media partners, local counties — sometimes people are interested and they want to know what’s happening in their circuit — and so just trying to make that available.

Why do you think those temporary placements are a tool that the state should rely on more?

Depending on what the concern is, it might be a safety threat that we would be able to mitigate within 30, 60, days, and be able to have supports wrapped around the family and, for the child to go home without entering Children’s Division custody.&nbsp;

And so if that can safely be done, we should definitely be utilizing the TAPA.&nbsp;

It just gives a little bit more formality to what in the old days, it was called a diversion. And I remember diverting a youth from a placement and doing my investigation or assessment, and then there was no policy or procedure at that time, back in 2006, to close the case. And it’s like, okay, well, everything’s safe now, and you just closed it and so, but then that leaves everybody wondering, when can the child go back home? So this process of having a TAPA just really gives, I think, more support to the family.

What about the federal Family First Prevention Services Act funding? Why do you think Missouri has lagged in spending it and what timeline is there now?

I think that probably the stability in leadership plays a part in that, right?&nbsp;

When you have multiple directors, just that transition, getting a spend plan, or getting that money out the door — I think that’s played a part of it. And just the ability for everyone to understand, since it was a little bit newer, how to do it, I think played a part.

Is it true that a certain amount of money expires in October?

That’s correct. I think it was $10 million in transition funding that we got 2018, 2019, somewhere in there that will expire if it’s not expended by October.&nbsp;

And so that is something that we’re trying to see what we’re able to get out the door by October in a meaningful way to help kids and families. That’s something that we’re definitely looking at, and was on our first quarter plans to look at that and see what we can do.

I hate leaving money on the table. And so if we’re able to utilize that money here in Missouri, let’s do it and let’s get it out the door.

Are you hopeful about utilizing it in time?

I’m optimistic that we’ll be able to get it out the door. Coming in, in the eleventh hour, it kind of doesn’t set me up for the best success as a team for that, but I think we’re going to do our best. This exec team has a lot of support, and we’re going to try to do our best around that.&nbsp;

Regarding the problem with children staying in offices and hotels and residential treatment out of state, what kind of steps are you taking to alleviate those issues? And do you have a sense of how many kids are in those situations?

We definitely don’t have any kids in offices.&nbsp;

We are utilizing hotels. Any time there’s a kiddo in a hotel, we are asking those to be sent up so we can try and help and support to make sure that that doesn’t happen proactively.&nbsp;

That’s a priority. Is getting kids that are placed out of state and residential back into Missouri, and we’re excited about that, working with a lot of partners around what we need.&nbsp;

So this is an issue around higher-acuity youth that people, legislators and stakeholders have been talking about for years.

And so I think we’ve admired the problem enough. I think we know what the problem is. And so how do we jump into some solutions to find them appropriate placement and supports here in Missouri, and to wrap services around them.

It was just Friday that I think at least three of us on the exec team were on a call for numerous hours with partners to try and strategize on how to help. The hospitals have been great partners to us, and so, trying to problem-solve and strategize on getting a youth some supports — and in some areas, there’s just not a lot of supports that are offered. And so how do we help make sure we can do that when there’s nothing in the area for that youth in that family.&nbsp;

It’s something that takes more than just Children’s Division leaning in to help — hospitals, Department of Mental Health, Department of Health and Senior Services. Children’s Division doesn’t offer services. We work with others to get family services, and so we rely a lot on that provider network. Just working with our residential providers and acute and sub acuity settings to try to make sure that they feel that their programming is equipped enough to handle higher acuity youth, is something that almost everybody has come to the table wanting to help.&nbsp;

And so we’re just really excited to see what action steps those individuals take to help Children’s Division and our contracted providers find spaces for these youth.

It’s no secret that DSS has had trouble with its technology being old. I’ve encountered issues getting accurate data through Sunshine Requests, and I know others have had data issues, too. What do you think the roots of those problems are, and how do you plan to address them?

The department has made some efforts on bringing individuals on board that have a lot of IT knowledge. And so we’re excited that they’re in place and can help us in that space.&nbsp;

And so we’re excited to have some IT team members on staff to be able to help us with this, because once we figure out the system and how that’s going to work, then the quality of data will help us be able to help kids and families better, and to be able to intelligently talk about the problems in a better way than we are able to today, to, media and partners.

I like the idea of sharing the data that we have now, whatever is available when we can that protects families’ privacy, because it’s at least a starting place. And that’s what we’re working with today. And so what we have today is what we’re going to use today, and then hope that it’s better as we go along.&nbsp;

Overall, I’m really excited to see over the next few months, and I would say, especially in a year — where Children’s Division is at in a year with our policy and practice and new training.

I think we’re going to be in a vastly different space than for people feeling comfortable in their work, and that’s what I’m most excited about, because when people feel comfortable and stakeholders trust us, then it’s only going to equal good things for kids and families.

New Missouri child welfare leader looks for a clean break from the past

CRAWFORD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Monday in Crawford County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Dodge 2500 driven by Tyler Joseph&nbsp;Castagno, 16, Pittsburg, was&nbsp;southbound on U.S. 69 Highway at E 590th Avenue on the north edge of Frontenac.

The driver failed to stop for a red light and struck an eastbound 2022 Kia Soul driven by Matthew Jeffrey Westhoff-Strode, 21, Girard.&nbsp;

Westhoff-Strode was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. Castagno was not injured.&nbsp; The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

<p>CRAWFORD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7a.m. Monday in Crawford County.</p><p>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Dodge 2500 driven by Tyler Joseph&nbsp;Castagno, 16, Pittsburg, was&nbsp;southbound on U.S. 69 Highway at E 590th Avenue on the north edge of Frontenac.</p><p>The driver failed to stop for a red light and struck an eastbound 2022 Kia Soul driven by Matthew Jeffrey Westhoff-Strode, 21, Girard.&nbsp;</p><p>Westhoff-Strode was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Frontier Forensics. Castagno was not injured.&nbsp; The drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.</p>

Kansas man dies after crash with 16-year-old pickup driver

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two cases of alleged arson.

Just before 6p.m. Friday, officers filed a report for arson near the intersection of Walsburg Road and Madison Creek Road in Leonardville, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 40-year-old man and a 41-year-old man reported a 30-year-old suspect when it was reported the suspect started a fire that damaged a wheat field and equipment. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,250.&nbsp;

At approximately the same time on Friday officers filed a report for arson in the 14400 block of Senn Road in Leonardville. A 72-year-old man reported a 30-year-old man started a fire which damaged a wheat field, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $5,000.&nbsp;

<p>RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two cases of alleged arson.</p><p>Just before 6p.m. Friday, officers filed a report for arson near the intersection of Walsburg Road and Madison Creek Road in Leonardville, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.</p><p>A 40-year-old man and a 41-year-old man reported a 30-year-old suspect when it was reported the suspect started a fire that damaged a wheat field and equipment. The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $1,250.&nbsp;</p><p>At approximately the same time on Friday officers filed a report for arson in the 14400 block of Senn Road in Leonardville. A 72-year-old man reported a 30-year-old man started a fire which damaged a wheat field, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.</p><p>The estimated total loss associated with this case is approximately $5,000.&nbsp;</p>

Police: Suspect accused of starting Kansas wheat field fires

USSELL COUNTY —A man drowned on Saturday at Wilson Lake.

Just after noon Saturday,&nbsp;&nbsp;Russell County Communications received a 911 call about a possible drowning at Lucas Swim Beach, Wilson Lake, Russell County Kansas. 

The Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Russell County EMS, Lucas Fire, Army Corp of Engineers, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Russell County Emergency Management, and the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the scene.

After a thorough search of the area, a body was located by boat sonar under the water. Divers were deployed and just after 2:30p.m. 43-year-old Lee Andrew Williams of Kansas City, Missouri was recovered.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750690381838.png" alt="Wilson Lake photo Army Corps of Engineers" />
                        <figcaption>Wilson Lake photo Army Corps of Engineers</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>USSELL COUNTY —A man drowned on Saturday at Wilson Lake.</p><p>Just after noon Saturday,&nbsp;&nbsp;Russell County Communications received a 911 call about a possible drowning at Lucas Swim Beach, Wilson Lake, Russell County Kansas. </p><p>The Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Russell County EMS, Lucas Fire, Army Corp of Engineers, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Russell County Emergency Management, and the Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the scene.</p><p>After a thorough search of the area, a body was located by boat sonar under the water. Divers were deployed and just after 2:30p.m. 43-year-old Lee Andrew Williams of Kansas City, Missouri was recovered.&nbsp; The sheriff's office released no additional details.</p>

Sheriff: Missouri man drowns at lake in Kansas

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The next hurdle for Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate and the “big, beautiful bill”: Democrats — and possibly a few of their own members — in a marathon voting session will make last-ditch attempts to change the tax and spending cut measure.

The vote-a-rama, as it’s known, is expected to begin sometime during the last full week of June as Congress heads toward the Fourth of July recess. It will likely begin in the afternoon and&nbsp; last overnight into the next morning. Senators will debate and vote on dozens of amendments attempting to revise the massive legislation that could have an effect on nearly every American.

Democrats, who have 47 votes in the Senate compared to 53 for Republicans, plan to zero in on Medicaid, taxes, corruption, policies that could raise energy costs and proposals that would increase the deficit, according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and the committee chairs tasked with drafting pieces of the package have spent weeks combing through the House-passed bill to figure out what needs to be altered to avoid divisive floor votes.&nbsp;

They’ve rewritten numerous policy proposals to comply with the strict rules that go along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/five-questions-and-answers-about-reconciliation-us-senate" target="_blank">the complex reconciliation process</a>&nbsp;and are now trying to work out disagreements among GOP senators that could doom or complicate a final deal.

The goal is to avoid a protracted debate over core GOP provisions in full public view once the vote-a-rama begins, though some senators are already predicting votes on GOP amendments.

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-senators-warn-mega-bills-new-medicaid-cuts-will-hurt-rural-hospitals" target="_blank">who has raised concerns about the bill’s impact on rural hospitals</a>, said he hopes GOP leaders reach a consensus before vote-a-rama but didn’t rule out offering his own amendments if they don’t settle their disputes.

“Amending it on the floor, that’s a potentially messy process,” Hawley said. “I would hope that we could get to a good place before that. But we have to fix the rural hospital issue.”

Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he will likely propose amendments during floor debate, though he declined to say what specific policies he’d seek to change or eliminate from the package.

“Yeah, we’ll have some,” Tuberville said. “And we’ve got them all, we just haven’t turned them in yet.”

Thune said he and other negotiators are making “headway” toward consensus on the more significant provisions in the package, which in many respects is far from its final form.

“The meetings right now are on the major provisions in tax and health. We have sort of pre-litigated a lot of that,” Thune said. “But there are a lot of the other provisions in the bill, chapters in the bill that are still subject to going through the Byrd bath, and we’re in the process of doing that. But hopefully that’ll be done by early next week.”

Republicans are using the reconciliation process to pass their sweeping tax and spending cuts package through the Senate with just a simple majority vote, requiring them to comply with the Byrd rules.

That includes the Byrd bath — going before the Senate parliamentarian to explain how each provision has an impact on federal revenue or spending that is not “merely incidental.” Democrats then usually debate before the parliamentarian the various changes that don’t meet that threshold. The process is named after the late Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat.

Once the parliamentarian rules what elements comply and which need to be removed, the bill can go to the floor and senators can trudge through vote-a-rama. Eventually, all 100 lawmakers will vote to approve or disapprove of the legislation.

GOP senators passing their version of the package would send it back to the House, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">passed its version</a>&nbsp;on a slim 215-214 vote earlier this year — and could make yet more changes in the Senate bill.

Democrats are hoping to highlight policy divisions among Republicans during the vote-a-rama. And even if they don’t succeed in getting any of their amendments adopted, several votes could serve as fodder for campaign ads during next year’s midterm elections.

Schumer said Wednesday during a press conference it would be “difficult” for Democrats to peel off at least four GOP senators from the rest of the party in order to get an amendment adopted, but said he’s hopeful Republicans will “vote with us on some things they’ve all said they’ve agreed with.”

Democratic senators, he said, have created a task force to reach out to Republicans on major issues in the package, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/medicaid-cuts-rippling-through-rural-america-could-bring-hospital-closures-job-losses" target="_blank">how it would impact rural hospitals</a>.

“Many of these hospital administrators and employees are Republican,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. “In many of the rural hospitals, they are the largest employer in the county, and in most they’re the only supplier of health care. It infuriates the rural counties, and they tend to be Republican.”

‘It’s just a show, it’s a charade’

West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said she’s not concerned about having to vote on dozens of amendments.&nbsp;

“We’re here to vote,” Capito said. “As a creature of the House, we voted all the time on everything, so this doesn’t bother me. And, you know, just let the body work its will. If some changes are made, those will have to be dealt with. But I’m not worried about that.”

Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman said he expects the vote-a-rama will be “a very late night” and that he’s not planning to offer any of his own amendments.

As chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Boozman expects to spend a considerable amount of time during vote-a-rama arguing against amendments seeking to change those provisions — including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-tries-ease-pain-states-sharing-costs-snap-benefits" target="_blank">controversial cuts</a>&nbsp;in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food aid for lower-income families.

Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said he plans to spend much of the vote-a-rama “going back and forth from my hideaway,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/clip/qa/senate-hideaways/5109792" target="_blank">the ceremonial office</a>&nbsp;that every senator holds in the Capitol building.

But Johnson cast doubt on actually being able to amend the package during that process, saying changes to the various bills that Senate committees have released need to be agreed to before then.

“You’ve got to get this before it ever goes to the floor. I mean, you’re not going to change things substantially or significantly with amendments. I know people have some idealized version that happens. It doesn’t,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to get these things in the base bill. Amendments; it’s just a show, it’s a charade.”

The Senate has held two vote-a-ramas so far this year, and both demonstrated how difficult it is to change a piece of legislation.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/why-did-us-senate-pull-all-nighter-budget-look-inside-vote-rama" target="_blank">first all-nighter</a>&nbsp;in February went along with Senate debate on its budget resolution and included votes on 25 amendments, with lawmakers adopting just two — one from Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and one from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wins-approval-sprawling-budget-blueprint-shipping-it-house" target="_blank">second vote-a-rama</a>&nbsp;took place in April just before the Senate voted to approve the budget resolution that ultimately cleared the way for Congress to use the budget reconciliation process to advance the “big, beautiful bill.” Senators debated 28 amendments, voting to adopt one change from Sullivan.

Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, ranking member on the Finance Committee, said he and staff on the panel will continue to parse through details of the panel’s bill, which Republicans just released Monday.

Wyden said he plans to hold several town hall meetings in GOP areas of his state over the weekend to gauge how residents there view the policy revisions Republican senators have put forward.

“We’ve had this bill for basically 36 hours. The first time I had it, I stayed up all night, so last night I got a little sleep,” Wyden said on Wednesday. “But on the plane, I’ll be working through it. And I expect to be working through it all through the next few days, except when I’m having these town hall meetings where I’ll have a number of questions.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747785438346.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a></p><p>WASHINGTON — The next hurdle for Republican leaders in the U.S. Senate and the “big, beautiful bill”: Democrats — and possibly a few of their own members — in a marathon voting session will make last-ditch attempts to change the tax and spending cut measure.</p><p>The vote-a-rama, as it’s known, is expected to begin sometime during the last full week of June as Congress heads toward the Fourth of July recess. It will likely begin in the afternoon and&nbsp; last overnight into the next morning. Senators will debate and vote on dozens of amendments attempting to revise the massive legislation that could have an effect on nearly every American.</p><p>Democrats, who have 47 votes in the Senate compared to 53 for Republicans, plan to zero in on Medicaid, taxes, corruption, policies that could raise energy costs and proposals that would increase the deficit, according to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.</p><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and the committee chairs tasked with drafting pieces of the package have spent weeks combing through the House-passed bill to figure out what needs to be altered to avoid divisive floor votes.&nbsp;</p><p>They’ve rewritten numerous policy proposals to comply with the strict rules that go along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/five-questions-and-answers-about-reconciliation-us-senate" target="_blank">the complex reconciliation process</a>&nbsp;and are now trying to work out disagreements among GOP senators that could doom or complicate a final deal.</p><p>The goal is to avoid a protracted debate over core GOP provisions in full public view once the vote-a-rama begins, though some senators are already predicting votes on GOP amendments.</p><h2>‘A potentially messy process’</h2><p>Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gop-senators-warn-mega-bills-new-medicaid-cuts-will-hurt-rural-hospitals" target="_blank">who has raised concerns about the bill’s impact on rural hospitals</a>, said he hopes GOP leaders reach a consensus before vote-a-rama but didn’t rule out offering his own amendments if they don’t settle their disputes.</p><p>“Amending it on the floor, that’s a potentially messy process,” Hawley said. “I would hope that we could get to a good place before that. But we have to fix the rural hospital issue.”</p><p>Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he will likely propose amendments during floor debate, though he declined to say what specific policies he’d seek to change or eliminate from the package.</p><p>“Yeah, we’ll have some,” Tuberville said. “And we’ve got them all, we just haven’t turned them in yet.”</p><p>Thune said he and other negotiators are making “headway” toward consensus on the more significant provisions in the package, which in many respects is far from its final form.</p><p>“The meetings right now are on the major provisions in tax and health. We have sort of pre-litigated a lot of that,” Thune said. “But there are a lot of the other provisions in the bill, chapters in the bill that are still subject to going through the Byrd bath, and we’re in the process of doing that. But hopefully that’ll be done by early next week.”</p><p>Republicans are using the reconciliation process to pass their sweeping tax and spending cuts package through the Senate with just a simple majority vote, requiring them to comply with the Byrd rules.</p><p>That includes the Byrd bath — going before the Senate parliamentarian to explain how each provision has an impact on federal revenue or spending that is not “merely incidental.” Democrats then usually debate before the parliamentarian the various changes that don’t meet that threshold. The process is named after the late Sen. Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat.</p><p>Once the parliamentarian rules what elements comply and which need to be removed, the bill can go to the floor and senators can trudge through vote-a-rama. Eventually, all 100 lawmakers will vote to approve or disapprove of the legislation.</p><p>GOP senators passing their version of the package would send it back to the House, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">passed its version</a>&nbsp;on a slim 215-214 vote earlier this year — and could make yet more changes in the Senate bill.</p><h2>Democrats develop strategy</h2><p>Democrats are hoping to highlight policy divisions among Republicans during the vote-a-rama. And even if they don’t succeed in getting any of their amendments adopted, several votes could serve as fodder for campaign ads during next year’s midterm elections.</p><p>Schumer said Wednesday during a press conference it would be “difficult” for Democrats to peel off at least four GOP senators from the rest of the party in order to get an amendment adopted, but said he’s hopeful Republicans will “vote with us on some things they’ve all said they’ve agreed with.”</p><p>Democratic senators, he said, have created a task force to reach out to Republicans on major issues in the package, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/medicaid-cuts-rippling-through-rural-america-could-bring-hospital-closures-job-losses" target="_blank">how it would impact rural hospitals</a>.</p><p>“Many of these hospital administrators and employees are Republican,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said. “In many of the rural hospitals, they are the largest employer in the county, and in most they’re the only supplier of health care. It infuriates the rural counties, and they tend to be Republican.”</p><h2>‘It’s just a show, it’s a charade’</h2><p>West Virginia Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said she’s not concerned about having to vote on dozens of amendments.&nbsp;</p><p>“We’re here to vote,” Capito said. “As a creature of the House, we voted all the time on everything, so this doesn’t bother me. And, you know, just let the body work its will. If some changes are made, those will have to be dealt with. But I’m not worried about that.”</p><p>Arkansas Republican Sen. John Boozman said he expects the vote-a-rama will be “a very late night” and that he’s not planning to offer any of his own amendments.</p><p>As chairman of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, Boozman expects to spend a considerable amount of time during vote-a-rama arguing against amendments seeking to change those provisions — including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-tries-ease-pain-states-sharing-costs-snap-benefits" target="_blank">controversial cuts</a>&nbsp;in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food aid for lower-income families.</p><p>Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson said he plans to spend much of the vote-a-rama “going back and forth from my hideaway,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/clip/qa/senate-hideaways/5109792" target="_blank">the ceremonial office</a>&nbsp;that every senator holds in the Capitol building.</p><p>But Johnson cast doubt on actually being able to amend the package during that process, saying changes to the various bills that Senate committees have released need to be agreed to before then.</p><p>“You’ve got to get this before it ever goes to the floor. I mean, you’re not going to change things substantially or significantly with amendments. I know people have some idealized version that happens. It doesn’t,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to get these things in the base bill. Amendments; it’s just a show, it’s a charade.”</p><h2>Vote-a-rama after vote-a-rama</h2><p>The Senate has held two vote-a-ramas so far this year, and both demonstrated how difficult it is to change a piece of legislation.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/why-did-us-senate-pull-all-nighter-budget-look-inside-vote-rama" target="_blank">first all-nighter</a>&nbsp;in February went along with Senate debate on its budget resolution and included votes on 25 amendments, with lawmakers adopting just two — one from Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and one from Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-gop-wins-approval-sprawling-budget-blueprint-shipping-it-house" target="_blank">second vote-a-rama</a>&nbsp;took place in April just before the Senate voted to approve the budget resolution that ultimately cleared the way for Congress to use the budget reconciliation process to advance the “big, beautiful bill.” Senators debated 28 amendments, voting to adopt one change from Sullivan.</p><p>Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, ranking member on the Finance Committee, said he and staff on the panel will continue to parse through details of the panel’s bill, which Republicans just released Monday.</p><p>Wyden said he plans to hold several town hall meetings in GOP areas of his state over the weekend to gauge how residents there view the policy revisions Republican senators have put forward.</p><p>“We’ve had this bill for basically 36 hours. The first time I had it, I stayed up all night, so last night I got a little sleep,” Wyden said on Wednesday. “But on the plane, I’ll be working through it. And I expect to be working through it all through the next few days, except when I’m having these town hall meetings where I’ll have a number of questions.”</p>

Both parties prep for mega-bill marathon in U.S. Senate vote-a-rama

On Sunday in Leavenworth, Governor Kelly joined Kansans for the third annual Pride Picnic.

On social media the governor wrote, "Events like this remind us that Kansas is stronger when we support one another and celebrate every person for who they are."

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750635825581.png" alt="Courtesy photos" />
                        <figcaption>Courtesy photos</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>On Sunday in Leavenworth, Governor Kelly joined Kansans for the third annual Pride Picnic.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750635804717.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>On social media the governor wrote, "Events like this remind us that Kansas is stronger when we support one another and celebrate every person for who they are."</p>

Kan. governor celebrates Pride Month at annual picnic

LABETTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a woman death in a violent domestic assault in Labette County.

Just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a reported disturbance in the 1100 block of Richard Avenue in Parsons after multiple 911 callers reported hearing screams followed by two gunshots, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, officers immediately began speaking with witnesses and canvassing the area. Tragically, they discovered a deceased woman with a gunshot wound. Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident was domestic in nature.

A juvenile witness, identified as the victim's son, reported that a violent domestic altercation had taken place between his mother and her boyfriend, 36-year-old Steve Antone McDonald. The juvenile told officers that McDonald struck him in the head during the argument, prompting this mother to flee the residence. As she ran down the street, McDonald followed and fired two shots, one of which fatally struck her, according to police.

Following the shooting, McDonald returned to the home, took the victim's car keys, and fled the scene in a white 2000 Cadillac Escalade.

Parsons Police immediately issued an alert for the suspect and the vehicle. A short time later, law enforcement in Wilson County spotted the suspect vehicle. Greenwood County deputies assisted in attempting a felony stop near the town of Severy. A brief pursuit ensued before the vehicle crashed. Upon approach, deputies discovered McDonald inside the vehicle with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Emergency aid was rendered on scene, but McDonald succumbed to his injury.

McDonald, originally from the Kansas City area, had recently been residing in Parsons with the victim. He had a history of domestic violence. On April 24, 2025, he was arrested on multiple charges, including Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, Criminal Threat, Criminal Damage to Property, and Endangering a Child. He was released on bond on May 15, 2025.

Lieutenant Sherri McGuire, who oversees the Parsons Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit, said "This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the family, the victim's child, and our entire community. Domestic violence is a silent epidemic that tears lives and families apart. Our Domestic Violence Unit was created to intervene, support survivors, and prevent these outcomes. We urge anyone experiencing abuse to reach out there is help, and you are not alone."

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for help.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750632220905.png" alt="McDonald photo Labette Co. Jail" />
                        <figcaption>McDonald photo Labette Co. Jail</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>LABETTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a woman death in a violent domestic assault in Labette County.</p><p>Just before 1:30 a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to a reported disturbance in the 1100 block of Richard Avenue in Parsons after multiple 911 callers reported hearing screams followed by two gunshots, according to a media release.</p><p>Upon arrival, officers immediately began speaking with witnesses and canvassing the area. Tragically, they discovered a deceased woman with a gunshot wound. Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident was domestic in nature.</p><p>A juvenile witness, identified as the victim's son, reported that a violent domestic altercation had taken place between his mother and her boyfriend, 36-year-old Steve Antone McDonald. The juvenile told officers that McDonald struck him in the head during the argument, prompting this mother to flee the residence. As she ran down the street, McDonald followed and fired two shots, one of which fatally struck her, according to police.</p><p>Following the shooting, McDonald returned to the home, took the victim's car keys, and fled the scene in a white 2000 Cadillac Escalade.</p><p>Parsons Police immediately issued an alert for the suspect and the vehicle. A short time later, law enforcement in Wilson County spotted the suspect vehicle. Greenwood County deputies assisted in attempting a felony stop near the town of Severy. A brief pursuit ensued before the vehicle crashed. Upon approach, deputies discovered McDonald inside the vehicle with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Emergency aid was rendered on scene, but McDonald succumbed to his injury.</p><p>McDonald, originally from the Kansas City area, had recently been residing in Parsons with the victim. He had a history of domestic violence. On April 24, 2025, he was arrested on multiple charges, including Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated Kidnapping, Criminal Threat, Criminal Damage to Property, and Endangering a Child. He was released on bond on May 15, 2025.</p><p>Lieutenant Sherri McGuire, who oversees the Parsons Police Department's Domestic Violence Unit, said "This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the family, the victim's child, and our entire community. Domestic violence is a silent epidemic that tears lives and families apart. Our Domestic Violence Unit was created to intervene, support survivors, and prevent these outcomes. We urge anyone experiencing abuse to reach out there is help, and you are not alone."</p><p>If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out for help.&nbsp;</p>

Police: Man with a history of crime killed Kansas girlfriend

TANEY COUNTY —A teen died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday at Table Rock Lake.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 16-year-old Sedalia, Misouri, boy and a 19-year-old Ozark, Missouri, man were riding Sea-Doo jet skis in Clevenger Cove near Hollister. The jet skis collided head-on.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:50p.m.&nbsp; The 19-year-old was not injured.

This was the first lake fatality of 2025 in Troop D, according to MSHP. The&nbsp; Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

<p>TANEY COUNTY —A teen died in an accident just before 3p.m. Saturday at Table Rock Lake.</p><p>The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 16-year-old Sedalia, Misouri, boy and a 19-year-old Ozark, Missouri, man were riding Sea-Doo jet skis in Clevenger Cove near Hollister. The jet skis collided head-on.&nbsp; He was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:50p.m.&nbsp; The 19-year-old was not injured.</p><p>This was the first lake fatality of 2025 in Troop D, according to MSHP. The&nbsp; Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.</p>

Teen killed in head-on jet ski crash at Table Rock Lake

The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks. Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020. The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland. Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks.

Issued:&nbsp;&nbsp; June 22, 2025Expires:&nbsp;&nbsp; September 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET

The Iranian Government has publicly condemned direct US involvement in the conflict.

Listen to local authorities and public safety officials.

If You See Something, Say Something®. Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement or call 911.

The National Terrorism Advisory System provides Americans with alert information on homeland security threats. It is distributed by the Department of Homeland Security. More information is available at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/advisories">www.dhs.gov/advisories</a>. To receive mobile updates:&nbsp;<a href="http://x.com/dhsgov">x.com/dhsgov</a>

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750613857435.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks. Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020. The likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland. Multiple recent Homeland terrorist attacks have been motivated by anti-Semitic or anti-Israel sentiment, and the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict could contribute to US-based individuals plotting additional attacks.</p><h2>Duration</h2><p>Issued:&nbsp;&nbsp; June 22, 2025Expires:&nbsp;&nbsp; September 22, 2025 at 11:59 PM ET</p><h2>Additional Information</h2><p>The Iranian Government has publicly condemned direct US involvement in the conflict.</p><ul>
                        <li>Both hacktivists and Iranian government-affiliated actors routinely target poorly secured US networks and Internet-connected devices for disruptive cyber attacks.</li><li>US law enforcement has disrupted multiple potentially lethal Iranian-backed plots in the United States since 2020. During this timeframe, the Iranian government has also unsuccessfully targeted critics of its regime who are based in the Homeland for lethal attack.</li><li>If Iranian leadership were to issue a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against specific targets in the Homeland, it could increase the likelihood that a supporter of the Iranian regime is inspired to commit an act of violence in the Homeland.</li><li>Since the start of the conflict, we have seen media releases by foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs)—including HAMAS, Lebanese Hizballah, the Houthis, and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, among others—some of which have called for violence against US assets and personnel in the Middle East because of Israel’s attack.</li><li>The conflict could also motivate violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators seeking to attack targets perceived to be Jewish, pro-Israel, or linked to the US government or military in the Homeland.</li>
                    </ul><h2>Resources to Stay Safe</h2><h2>Report Potential Threats</h2><p>Listen to local authorities and public safety officials.</p><ul>
                        <li>DHS’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/">Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)</a>&nbsp;offers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/topics/cybersecurity-best-practices">cybersecurity best practices</a>&nbsp;for securing US networks.</li><li><a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices">The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI)</a>&nbsp;is a collaborative effort by DHS, the FBI, and law enforcement partners to identify and report threats of terrorism and other related criminal activity.</li><li><a href="https://www.dhs.gov/see-something-say-something">If You See Something, Say Something®</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/publication/suspicious-activity-reporting-indicators-and-behaviors">Report suspicious activity</a>&nbsp;and threats of violence, including online threats, to local law enforcement,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices">FBI Field Offices</a>, or your local&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices">Fusion Center</a>. Call 911 in case of emergency.</li>
                    </ul><h2>If You See Something, Say Something®. Report suspicious activity to local law enforcement or call 911.</h2><p>The National Terrorism Advisory System provides Americans with alert information on homeland security threats. It is distributed by the Department of Homeland Security. More information is available at:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/advisories">www.dhs.gov/advisories</a>. To receive mobile updates:&nbsp;<a href="http://x.com/dhsgov">x.com/dhsgov</a></p>