JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just before 3:30p.m. November 6, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2005 Ford F150 at 118th Road on U.S. 75 Highway for multiple alleged traffic infractions, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Lisa Rene McKinney, 58, and the passenger was identified as Antonio Ramirez, 60, both of Hiawatha. A search was conducted of the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia.

McKinney and Ramirez were arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730934687198.png" alt="McKinney photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>McKinney photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730934741762.png" alt="Ramirez photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ramirez photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 3:30p.m. November 6, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2005 Ford F150 at 118th Road on U.S. 75 Highway for multiple alleged traffic infractions, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver of the vehicle was identified as Lisa Rene McKinney, 58, and the passenger was identified as Antonio Ramirez, 60, both of Hiawatha. A search was conducted of the vehicle which resulted in the discovery of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia.McKinney and Ramirez were arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kansas couple caught transporting  methamphetamine 

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

Just before 6p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a shooting at 75th and Paseo, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responders were directed towards a vehicle that was stopped in the southbound lanes of Paseo. As they approached the vehicle, they located a shooting victim unresponsive inside the vehicle. Officers rendered aid until EMS arrived and took over. EMS transported the man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. At the hospital, the victim was declared deceased, according to Becchina.

Homicide detectives and Crime Scene investigators are here at the scene processing for evidence and canvassing for any potential witnesses.Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was in his vehicle when he was shot by an unknown suspect from outside of the vehicle.

If anyone heard or saw anything in this area or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731123731422.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just before 6p.m. Friday, police were dispatched to a shooting at 75th and Paseo, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.First responders were directed towards a vehicle that was stopped in the southbound lanes of Paseo. As they approached the vehicle, they located a shooting victim unresponsive inside the vehicle. Officers rendered aid until EMS arrived and took over. EMS transported the man to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. At the hospital, the victim was declared deceased, according to Becchina.Homicide detectives and Crime Scene investigators are here at the scene processing for evidence and canvassing for any potential witnesses.Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim was in his vehicle when he was shot by an unknown suspect from outside of the vehicle.If anyone heard or saw anything in this area or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

KCPD: Man found with gunshot wound in his vehicle

WASHINGTON —Daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. November 2. Standard time will last until March 9 when we will again “spring forward”&nbsp;with the return of daylight saving time.

On his social media account, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry wrote he hopes his fellow members in the Senate take action to 'lock the clock.'

Moran wrote, "The Senate should again prioritize and pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent and end this outdated practice.."

"This commonsense change will keep our days brighter, reduce seasonal depression, create more economic activity and eliminate disruptions between farmers and their suppliers."

That spring time change can be tougher on your body. Darker mornings and lighter evenings can knock your internal body clock out of whack, making it harder to fall asleep on time for weeks or longer. Studies have even found an uptick in heart attacks and strokes right after the March time change.

“Fall back” should be easier. But it still may take a while to adjust your sleep habits, not to mention the downsides of leaving work in the dark or trying to exercise while there's still enough light. Some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less sunlight of fall and winter, may struggle, too.

On the other hand, some health groups, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.

-The Associated Press contributed this this report

WASHINGTON —Daylight saving time ended at 2 a.m. November 2. Standard time will last until March 9 when we will again “spring forward”&nbsp;with the return of daylight saving time.On his social media account, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry wrote he hopes his fellow members in the Senate take action to 'lock the clock.'Moran wrote, "The Senate should again prioritize and pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make daylight saving time permanent and end this outdated practice..""This commonsense change will keep our days brighter, reduce seasonal depression, create more economic activity and eliminate disruptions between farmers and their suppliers."That spring time change can be tougher on your body. Darker mornings and lighter evenings can knock your internal body clock out of whack, making it harder to fall asleep on time for weeks or longer. Studies have even found an uptick in heart attacks and strokes right after the March time change.“Fall back” should be easier. But it still may take a while to adjust your sleep habits, not to mention the downsides of leaving work in the dark or trying to exercise while there's still enough light. Some people with seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression usually linked to the shorter days and less sunlight of fall and winter, may struggle, too.On the other hand, some health groups, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology.-The Associated Press contributed this this report

Kan. U.S. Senator wants to make daylight saving time permanent

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas’ child care providers view the state’s child care subsidy program as cumbersome and ineffective, according to a new survey, but they also see ways to fix the underused system.&nbsp;

In partnership with Kansas State University, the Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund highlighted&nbsp;<a href="https://healthfund.org/a/ccsubsidy/" target="_blank">a report</a>&nbsp;Wednesday detailing providers’ perceptions of the state’s child care subsidy program.&nbsp;

Child care providers and administrators across Kansas said that the state’s processes can be a barrier to those seeking assistance due to excessive paperwork, lack of communication and stringent eligibility requirements, the survey found. That’s in addition to inadequate reimbursement rates and delayed payments.

Jennifer Francois, the author of the survey and a K-State professor, said in a news release the goal of the study was to better understand providers and their thoughts on how to improve Kansas’ child care subsidy system to increase participation. Ninety-three Kansas counties were represented in Francois’ survey of nearly 300 child care providers and administrators.

In Kansas, families qualify for the state’s child care subsidy program if they fall into one of four categories: they receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, benefits; they are low income or a foster parent and working; they are pursuing education or training activities; or they are a teen parent completing high school or a GED. The Kansas Department for Children and Families administers the program and loads payments to families on their Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT cards, each month, and the family pays child care providers.

Desiree Streight, the owner of Little Explorers Playschool in Kingman, in south-central Kansas, accepts families using subsidies and said at a Wednesday news conference that families and child care providers are carrying the burden of a flawed system. Seven of the 12 children she cares for are part of families who are receiving child care subsidies, she said.&nbsp;

“Those families are working hard to get by,” Straight said.&nbsp;

Eligibility review takes too long, and families that are already struggling often can’t afford to shoulder the costs of child care or the penalties associated with the state’s subsidy program, she said.&nbsp;

More than 70% of providers identified higher reimbursement rates and direct payments to providers as ways to increase participation in the program, the health ministry fund’s survey found.&nbsp;

“Kansas is one of the few remaining states that pays families subsidies, or the assistance stipend, to then pay the provider, and oftentimes this is inefficient,” said David Jordan, executive director of the health ministry fund, at the news conference.&nbsp;

DCF’s subsidy program is underused. A report based on 2020 data from the Center for Law and Social Policy found that 12% of eligible families are participating. That was lower than the national rate of 14%.

Other states use presumptive eligibility, which allows families to enroll their kids in child care while they undergo the application process for assistance. Kansas has no such thing.&nbsp;

However, Kansas isn’t unique in its child care challenges.&nbsp;

“Every state is struggling in their own way,” said Emily Barnes, education policy advisor for the Topeka child advocacy nonprofit Kansas Action for Children. “Each state is working to increase the effectiveness of their system, and part of it is we have just not had adequate conversation for a really long time.”

As those working in the child care and child advocacy fields look toward the 2025 legislative session, more funding for providers, which could mean dipping into the state’s general fund, and reevaluating work requirements to qualify for child care subsidies could ease barriers.&nbsp;

Quality, affordable child care is important to Kansans. Kansas Speaks, a statewide comprehensive survey from Fort Hays State University’s Docking Institute, found that more than 85% of Kansans believed that “high-quality, affordable infant and toddler child care was extremely or highly important for families in Kansas, regardless of whether or not they had young children.”

The same survey found that nearly 80% of Kansans surveyed either strongly agree or somewhat agree that access to affordable child care strengthens the economy.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647281893666.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas’ child care providers view the state’s child care subsidy program as cumbersome and ineffective, according to a new survey, but they also see ways to fix the underused system.&nbsp;In partnership with Kansas State University, the Hutchinson-based United Methodist Health Ministry Fund highlighted&nbsp;<a href="https://healthfund.org/a/ccsubsidy/" target="_blank">a report</a>&nbsp;Wednesday detailing providers’ perceptions of the state’s child care subsidy program.&nbsp;Child care providers and administrators across Kansas said that the state’s processes can be a barrier to those seeking assistance due to excessive paperwork, lack of communication and stringent eligibility requirements, the survey found. That’s in addition to inadequate reimbursement rates and delayed payments.Jennifer Francois, the author of the survey and a K-State professor, said in a news release the goal of the study was to better understand providers and their thoughts on how to improve Kansas’ child care subsidy system to increase participation. Ninety-three Kansas counties were represented in Francois’ survey of nearly 300 child care providers and administrators.In Kansas, families qualify for the state’s child care subsidy program if they fall into one of four categories: they receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, benefits; they are low income or a foster parent and working; they are pursuing education or training activities; or they are a teen parent completing high school or a GED. The Kansas Department for Children and Families administers the program and loads payments to families on their Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT cards, each month, and the family pays child care providers.Desiree Streight, the owner of Little Explorers Playschool in Kingman, in south-central Kansas, accepts families using subsidies and said at a Wednesday news conference that families and child care providers are carrying the burden of a flawed system. Seven of the 12 children she cares for are part of families who are receiving child care subsidies, she said.&nbsp;“Those families are working hard to get by,” Straight said.&nbsp;Eligibility review takes too long, and families that are already struggling often can’t afford to shoulder the costs of child care or the penalties associated with the state’s subsidy program, she said.&nbsp;More than 70% of providers identified higher reimbursement rates and direct payments to providers as ways to increase participation in the program, the health ministry fund’s survey found.&nbsp;“Kansas is one of the few remaining states that pays families subsidies, or the assistance stipend, to then pay the provider, and oftentimes this is inefficient,” said David Jordan, executive director of the health ministry fund, at the news conference.&nbsp;DCF’s subsidy program is underused. A report based on 2020 data from the Center for Law and Social Policy found that 12% of eligible families are participating. That was lower than the national rate of 14%.Other states use presumptive eligibility, which allows families to enroll their kids in child care while they undergo the application process for assistance. Kansas has no such thing.&nbsp;However, Kansas isn’t unique in its child care challenges.&nbsp;“Every state is struggling in their own way,” said Emily Barnes, education policy advisor for the Topeka child advocacy nonprofit Kansas Action for Children. “Each state is working to increase the effectiveness of their system, and part of it is we have just not had adequate conversation for a really long time.”As those working in the child care and child advocacy fields look toward the 2025 legislative session, more funding for providers, which could mean dipping into the state’s general fund, and reevaluating work requirements to qualify for child care subsidies could ease barriers.&nbsp;Quality, affordable child care is important to Kansans. Kansas Speaks, a statewide comprehensive survey from Fort Hays State University’s Docking Institute, found that more than 85% of Kansans believed that “high-quality, affordable infant and toddler child care was extremely or highly important for families in Kansas, regardless of whether or not they had young children.”The same survey found that nearly 80% of Kansans surveyed either strongly agree or somewhat agree that access to affordable child care strengthens the economy.&nbsp;

Kansas child care providers say subsidies difficult to access, survey finds

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating alleged criminal damage in Kansas City have made an arrest.

Early Friday, police arrested a suspect responsible for vandalizing a Vietnamese business in the Columbus Park neighborhood this week, according to a social media report from Kansas City Police.

Officers worked with detectives from a neighboring agency to track down this criminal. Police are now checking into other crimes this suspect may have committed, and charges are pending.

Police did not release the name of the suspect or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating alleged criminal damage in Kansas City have made an arrest.Early Friday, police arrested a suspect responsible for vandalizing a Vietnamese business in the Columbus Park neighborhood this week, according to a social media report from Kansas City Police.Officers worked with detectives from a neighboring agency to track down this criminal. Police are now checking into other crimes this suspect may have committed, and charges are pending.Police did not release the name of the suspect or additional details.

Suspect accused of vandalism at Vietnamese business in KC

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.

Just after 12:30p.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 200 block of N. Clinton Place, according to&nbsp;Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews found smoke showing from the three-story apartment building. Crews initiated an interior offensive attack using three handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. Heavy fire damage on the second-floor apartment with water and smoke damage throughout the structure. The Red Cross was ordered for 12 individuals. There were no injuries were reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731100741509.png" alt="Photos KC Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photos KC Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.Just after 12:30p.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 200 block of N. Clinton Place, according to&nbsp;Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731100764172.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Crews found smoke showing from the three-story apartment building. Crews initiated an interior offensive attack using three handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. Heavy fire damage on the second-floor apartment with water and smoke damage throughout the structure. The Red Cross was ordered for 12 individuals. There were no injuries were reported.

Fire damages 3-story apartment building in Kansas City

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for a shooting incident at a health care office.

On Thursday evening, sheriff's deputies driving in the area of the Johnson County Mental Health Center, 1125 West Spruce Street in Olathe when they observed a subject shooting into the front of the building, according to a statement from the Johnson County Sheriff.

Sheriff's deputies and Olathe police responded immediately to the scene and were able to detain the subject, later identified as 34-year-old Joseph S. Longman without further incident. The office was closed and there were no injuries.

Longman is being held on a requested charge of aggravated assault, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731086634489.png" alt="Longman-photo from an earlier arrest in Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Longman-photo from an earlier arrest in Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for a shooting incident at a health care office.On Thursday evening, sheriff's deputies driving in the area of the Johnson County Mental Health Center, 1125 West Spruce Street in Olathe when they observed a subject shooting into the front of the building, according to a statement from the Johnson County Sheriff.Sheriff's deputies and Olathe police responded immediately to the scene and were able to detain the subject, later identified as 34-year-old Joseph S. Longman without further incident. The office was closed and there were no injuries.Longman is being held on a requested charge of aggravated assault, according to online jail records.

Suspect fired gun into front of Kan. mental health office

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly and legislative leadership approved Thursday a $150,000 settlement in a lawsuit stemming from a 2023 killing in a state prison.

Gary Raburn’s cellmate killed him in January 2023 at the Lansing Correctional Facility, and Raburn’s brother and daughter sued the state of Kansas, the Kansas Department of Corrections and the state’s prison health care provider, Centurion of Kansas.

In a closed-door meeting, the State Finance Council voted unanimously to offer public funds to confidentially settle one piece of the case that allows Centurion, and only Centurion, to avoid a jury trial scheduled for July 2025.

The finance council consists of Kelly and top legislators, including Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins. They approved the settlement Thursday without disclosing any details of the case or terms of the agreement. The motion to settle was filed Wednesday, and a judge hadn’t yet approved the motion as of Thursday afternoon, according to court records.

Raburn was 62 years old at the time of his death. He was serving time for violating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/info/docs/pdf/KORA%20Brochure%20March%202023.pdf" target="_blank">Kansas Offender Registry Act</a>, which was a condition of his probation after he pleaded guilty to a 2005 aggravated kidnapping charge in Neosho County and failed to register multiple times.

His cellmate, Ladarious Barkers, was serving a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges connected to robbing and beating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2017/01/12/2-admit-robbing-82-year-old-priest-pastor-another-person-kansas-city/16560551007/" target="_blank">a priest</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City, Kansas, as a 19-year-old.

The lawsuit said prison staff disciplined Barkers 100 times between March 2017 and the attack on Raburn. It alleges the state, the Department of Corrections and Centurion acted negligently and failed to protect Raburn and other inmates.

“Despite foreknowledge of Barkers’ extensive violent history, Defendants assigned Barkers to a cell with Raburn, who was approximately 37 years older than Barkers and physically infirm,” court records allege.

Prosecutors charged Barkers in March 2023 with capital murder. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was scheduled to go to trial in March. However, Barkers’ mental status appeared to be in question. Court records indicate he has been waiting to be admitted to Larned State Hospital since the trial was postponed. If convicted by a unanimous jury, Barkers could face the death penalty.

Mike Atkinson, an Oklahoma-based lawyer representing Raburn’s surviving family, declined to comment because of confidentiality provisions embedded in the settlement agreement.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach recommended the $150,000 settlement amount to the finance council. The state’s tort claim fund is housed under the attorney general’s budget.

The governor’s office, Department of Corrections and Attorney General’s Office didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731097523341.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly addresses legislative leadership during a Nov. 7, 2024, virtual meeting of the State Finance Council. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature video)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly addresses legislative leadership during a Nov. 7, 2024, virtual meeting of the State Finance Council. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Kansas Legislature video)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly and legislative leadership approved Thursday a $150,000 settlement in a lawsuit stemming from a 2023 killing in a state prison.Gary Raburn’s cellmate killed him in January 2023 at the Lansing Correctional Facility, and Raburn’s brother and daughter sued the state of Kansas, the Kansas Department of Corrections and the state’s prison health care provider, Centurion of Kansas.In a closed-door meeting, the State Finance Council voted unanimously to offer public funds to confidentially settle one piece of the case that allows Centurion, and only Centurion, to avoid a jury trial scheduled for July 2025.The finance council consists of Kelly and top legislators, including Senate President Ty Masterson and House Speaker Dan Hawkins. They approved the settlement Thursday without disclosing any details of the case or terms of the agreement. The motion to settle was filed Wednesday, and a judge hadn’t yet approved the motion as of Thursday afternoon, according to court records.Raburn was 62 years old at the time of his death. He was serving time for violating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansas.gov/kbi/info/docs/pdf/KORA%20Brochure%20March%202023.pdf" target="_blank">Kansas Offender Registry Act</a>, which was a condition of his probation after he pleaded guilty to a 2005 aggravated kidnapping charge in Neosho County and failed to register multiple times.His cellmate, Ladarious Barkers, was serving a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges connected to robbing and beating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/crime/2017/01/12/2-admit-robbing-82-year-old-priest-pastor-another-person-kansas-city/16560551007/" target="_blank">a priest</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City, Kansas, as a 19-year-old.The lawsuit said prison staff disciplined Barkers 100 times between March 2017 and the attack on Raburn. It alleges the state, the Department of Corrections and Centurion acted negligently and failed to protect Raburn and other inmates.“Despite foreknowledge of Barkers’ extensive violent history, Defendants assigned Barkers to a cell with Raburn, who was approximately 37 years older than Barkers and physically infirm,” court records allege.Prosecutors charged Barkers in March 2023 with capital murder. He pleaded not guilty, and the case was scheduled to go to trial in March. However, Barkers’ mental status appeared to be in question. Court records indicate he has been waiting to be admitted to Larned State Hospital since the trial was postponed. If convicted by a unanimous jury, Barkers could face the death penalty.Mike Atkinson, an Oklahoma-based lawyer representing Raburn’s surviving family, declined to comment because of confidentiality provisions embedded in the settlement agreement.Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach recommended the $150,000 settlement amount to the finance council. The state’s tort claim fund is housed under the attorney general’s budget.The governor’s office, Department of Corrections and Attorney General’s Office didn’t respond to Kansas Reflector’s requests for comment.

Kansas officials meet in secret to offer $150K settlement in Lansing prison death

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

Racist text messages received this week primarily by Black students nationwide — including in Missouri — are under investigation by federal authorities.

The FBI said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-statement-on-offensive-and-racist-text-messages" target="_blank">in a statement</a>&nbsp;issued Thursday it “is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter.”

Locally, groups have condemned the attacks, and college campuses are looking into the source of the messages.

The texts, which tell recipients they were “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation,” have been posted on forums online as far back as Wednesday afternoon. Students have reported receiving the texts at several universities around the state.&nbsp;

Thursday morning, the 17-year-old son of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones received the viral message, which the mayor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/VirvusJ/status/1854528257606951111" target="_blank">father posted online</a>.

Nimrod Chapel Jr., president of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, called for law enforcement and schools to take action.

“This is terrorism plain and simple. It points to a well-organized and resourced group that has decided to target Americans on our home soil based on the color of our skin,” he said in a statement after Missouri State University students reported receiving the texts. “The schools that were targeted and law enforcement need to take these reports seriously and act quickly to prevent the escalation to physical violence.”

The University of Missouri-Columbia is also aware of students on its campus receiving the messages.

“​​We are actively investigating the matter and working to identify the source of these messages,” said Christopher Ave, the university’s spokesman. “We are also aware that similar texts have been reported at universities nationwide. Based on the information currently available, there is no indication of a credible threat to the safety of members of the MU community.”&nbsp;

Attorneys general in other states, such as Louisiana and North Carolina, have launched state investigations. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has not spoken publicly about the issue.

BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Racist text messages received this week primarily by Black students nationwide — including in Missouri — are under investigation by federal authorities.The FBI said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-statement-on-offensive-and-racist-text-messages" target="_blank">in a statement</a>&nbsp;issued Thursday it “is in contact with the Justice Department and other federal authorities on the matter.”Locally, groups have condemned the attacks, and college campuses are looking into the source of the messages.The texts, which tell recipients they were “selected to pick cotton at the nearest plantation,” have been posted on forums online as far back as Wednesday afternoon. Students have reported receiving the texts at several universities around the state.&nbsp;Thursday morning, the 17-year-old son of St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones received the viral message, which the mayor’s&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/VirvusJ/status/1854528257606951111" target="_blank">father posted online</a>.Nimrod Chapel Jr., president of the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP, called for law enforcement and schools to take action.“This is terrorism plain and simple. It points to a well-organized and resourced group that has decided to target Americans on our home soil based on the color of our skin,” he said in a statement after Missouri State University students reported receiving the texts. “The schools that were targeted and law enforcement need to take these reports seriously and act quickly to prevent the escalation to physical violence.”The University of Missouri-Columbia is also aware of students on its campus receiving the messages.“​​We are actively investigating the matter and working to identify the source of these messages,” said Christopher Ave, the university’s spokesman. “We are also aware that similar texts have been reported at universities nationwide. Based on the information currently available, there is no indication of a credible threat to the safety of members of the MU community.”&nbsp;Attorneys general in other states, such as Louisiana and North Carolina, have launched state investigations. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has not spoken publicly about the issue.

Racist texts about ‘picking cotton’ sent to Black students nationwide, including Missouri

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Thursday in Johnson County.

The incident involved a pedestrian and a pickup truck, according to Olathe Police Sergeant John Moncayo.

Officers were dispatched to the area of South Lone Elm Road and Interstate 35 Highway in Olathe regarding an injury crash involving a pickup truck and a pedestrian. 

Officers arrived and found unresponsive 37-year-old female pedestrian. Life-saving measures were performed on the woman while on scene, but she was later declared deceased. The 57-year-old male driver of the pickup truck remained on scene and is cooperating in the investigation.

JOHNSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Thursday in Johnson County.The incident involved a pedestrian and a pickup truck, according to Olathe Police Sergeant John Moncayo.Officers were dispatched to the area of South Lone Elm Road and Interstate 35 Highway in Olathe regarding an injury crash involving a pickup truck and a pedestrian. Officers arrived and found unresponsive 37-year-old female pedestrian. Life-saving measures were performed on the woman while on scene, but she was later declared deceased. The 57-year-old male driver of the pickup truck remained on scene and is cooperating in the investigation.

37-year-old Kansas woman dies in pedestrian accident

Critics of Proposition A, which won on Tuesday with 58% of the vote, say they’re exploring litigation and legislative changes

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

A coalition of Missouri business advocacy groups says it is exploring multiple avenues to challenge the implementation of Proposition A — a measure that Missouri voters passed on Tuesday that will raise the state’s minimum wage and guarantee sick leave for some workers.&nbsp;

The measure&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote and had the support of various unions and workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, over 500 state business owners and others.&nbsp;

The minimum wage will increase to $13.75 in January and then $15 in 2026. The paid sick leave provisions go into effect next May.&nbsp;

Hoping to block implementation of the changes is a coalition of business advocacy groups —&nbsp; Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the Missouri Retailers Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.

The coalition is “explor[ing] all available options, including possible legal action,” according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25279788-coalition-statement-prop-a-nov-6-2024" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday.

“We are deeply disappointed by the passage of Proposition A,” the groups wrote, adding that the measure will increase costs for consumers and employers as well as “poses a legal risk for all employers,” by providing a cause of action for employees to sue.

The focus of concern among these business advocacy groups has been with the sick leave portion of the proposition, arguing it constrains business owner’s freedom to make their own decisions and opens them up to liability if they don’t follow the requirements.

Ray McCarty,&nbsp;CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri, said in an interview with The Independent that groups are exploring a lawsuit to challenge the law on the basis that it doesn’t meet the state constitution’s single-subject requirement, because benefits and wages are distinct issues. They are also looking into advocating for legislative changes when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

“We’ll look at the legal challenge first,” McCarty said. “If we’re not successful with that, or we’re not able to get that off the ground, or we don’t believe that we have that high chance of success, then yes, we will be looking at bills to try to mitigate some of the problems that we see with it.”

Supporters of the measure, including&nbsp;Richard Von Glahn, campaign manager for Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages,&nbsp;say efforts to overturn or weaken it are unlikely to succeed. Von Glahn said wages and benefits are part of overall compensation, so fall under the single-subject requirement. He added there were several opportunities for the group to voice an opinion with concerns about the language earlier, and they didn’t.&nbsp;

“They waged a campaign to try to convince voters to reject this. They lost,” Von Glahn said. “And so the idea of a lawsuit now kind of feels a little frivolous to me, and is a waste of time and resources. They would be better off making sure that they are educating their community and businesses about the requirements of the law, and helping for smooth implementation.”

Because the measure changes state law but not the constitution, the legislature could modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people.

In 2018, after the state passed a minimum wage increase, some business interest groups advocated unsuccessfully for lawmakers to change pieces of it, Von Glahn said, “and that might happen again.”&nbsp;

“If I’m a politician, I know I have a limited amount of time in Jefferson City. There’s a limited amount of bills that can be heard and voted on,” he said. “Overturning the will of Missouri voters should not be high on the list.”

McCarty said the wide margin of passage could make it challenging to convince legislators to tweak the law.&nbsp;

“For 58 to 42, that’s very difficult for any legislator, even experienced ones who have been around a long time, it’s very difficult for them to go against the will of the people, and we understand that,” he said. “Some legislators may look at this and go, we don’t want to goof with it at all because the percentage was so high in support of it.”&nbsp;

Business leaders “have good reasons why we would want to change it,” McCarty said. But while they could try to move a bill through the legislature, he said they’d prefer to “head it off at the pass and just do away with it” through litigation.

Prop A’s victory&nbsp;didn’t come as a surprise to most: It<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-voted-for-abortion-rights-amendment-and-republicans-who-vow-to-overturn-it/">&nbsp;follows a trend of progressive initiative petition campaigns</a>&nbsp;finding success in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for statewide office since 2018

Paid sick leave measures also passed in Alaska and Nebraska, bringing the number of states with such laws to 18.

The details of the law are similar to those in states that have already adopted policies to expand access to paid sick leave. Employees can begin accruing and using sick time on May 1, 2025, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to&nbsp;five days per year for small businesses (those with fewer than 15 employees) and seven days per year for larger businesses. Certain workers are exempt, and are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">listed</a>&nbsp;in the full text of the law, including those employed on a “casual basis” for babysitting, workers employed in a private residence who work occasionally for six or fewer hours, and those who work in retail or service in a business that annually makes less than $500,000 in annual gross volume sales.

Von Glahn said that while canvassing, workers found common ground in their identity with other workers — regardless of party affiliation — who also have the experience of needing to leave work to pick their sick children up from school.

“And immediately what I get is people nodding their heads, ‘yeah, I have that too,’ and saying, it doesn’t make sense that some workers get punished for having to do that. “

Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant prep cook in Columbia who canvassed with the campaign, said people he spoke to were surprised to hear about “what it’s really like in the restaurant industry,” and some were surprised to hear the minimum wage isn’t already $15.&nbsp;

Coworkers come into work sick “all the time,” he said, in his experience in the restaurant industry. One coworker who had the stomach flu, he remembers, came into work, saying “my stomach tells me I need to stay home, but my wallet tells me I need to come to work.”

Gallardo will qualify for sick leave for the first time in his career come May. He’ll no longer have to choose between going without pay or coming into work sick, calling it a “huge improvement for a lot of workers in the state.”

The ballot measure will make sick leave guaranteed for 728,000 workers who currently lack it statewide, or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers, according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project.

The minimum wage increase is slated to affect over 562,000 workers in the state,&nbsp;according to the Missouri Budget Project, or nearly one in every four workers.

“This is a vital part of the community that’s not being treated the way it should be treated,” Gallardo said. And I think this proposition will go a long way to fix that.”&nbsp;

<h2>Critics of Proposition A, which won on Tuesday with 58% of the vote, say they’re exploring litigation and legislative changes</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728643418242.png" alt="The campaign in favor of Prop A, called Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages collected 210,000 signatures to have the issue placed on the statewide ballot (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>The campaign in favor of Prop A, called Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages collected 210,000 signatures to have the issue placed on the statewide ballot (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A coalition of Missouri business advocacy groups says it is exploring multiple avenues to challenge the implementation of Proposition A — a measure that Missouri voters passed on Tuesday that will raise the state’s minimum wage and guarantee sick leave for some workers.&nbsp;The measure&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote and had the support of various unions and workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, over 500 state business owners and others.&nbsp;The minimum wage will increase to $13.75 in January and then $15 in 2026. The paid sick leave provisions go into effect next May.&nbsp;Hoping to block implementation of the changes is a coalition of business advocacy groups —&nbsp; Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the Missouri Retailers Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.The coalition is “explor[ing] all available options, including possible legal action,” according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25279788-coalition-statement-prop-a-nov-6-2024" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday.“We are deeply disappointed by the passage of Proposition A,” the groups wrote, adding that the measure will increase costs for consumers and employers as well as “poses a legal risk for all employers,” by providing a cause of action for employees to sue.The focus of concern among these business advocacy groups has been with the sick leave portion of the proposition, arguing it constrains business owner’s freedom to make their own decisions and opens them up to liability if they don’t follow the requirements.Ray McCarty,&nbsp;CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri, said in an interview with The Independent that groups are exploring a lawsuit to challenge the law on the basis that it doesn’t meet the state constitution’s single-subject requirement, because benefits and wages are distinct issues. They are also looking into advocating for legislative changes when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.“We’ll look at the legal challenge first,” McCarty said. “If we’re not successful with that, or we’re not able to get that off the ground, or we don’t believe that we have that high chance of success, then yes, we will be looking at bills to try to mitigate some of the problems that we see with it.”Supporters of the measure, including&nbsp;Richard Von Glahn, campaign manager for Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages,&nbsp;say efforts to overturn or weaken it are unlikely to succeed. Von Glahn said wages and benefits are part of overall compensation, so fall under the single-subject requirement. He added there were several opportunities for the group to voice an opinion with concerns about the language earlier, and they didn’t.&nbsp;“They waged a campaign to try to convince voters to reject this. They lost,” Von Glahn said. “And so the idea of a lawsuit now kind of feels a little frivolous to me, and is a waste of time and resources. They would be better off making sure that they are educating their community and businesses about the requirements of the law, and helping for smooth implementation.”Because the measure changes state law but not the constitution, the legislature could modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people.In 2018, after the state passed a minimum wage increase, some business interest groups advocated unsuccessfully for lawmakers to change pieces of it, Von Glahn said, “and that might happen again.”&nbsp;“If I’m a politician, I know I have a limited amount of time in Jefferson City. There’s a limited amount of bills that can be heard and voted on,” he said. “Overturning the will of Missouri voters should not be high on the list.”McCarty said the wide margin of passage could make it challenging to convince legislators to tweak the law.&nbsp;“For 58 to 42, that’s very difficult for any legislator, even experienced ones who have been around a long time, it’s very difficult for them to go against the will of the people, and we understand that,” he said. “Some legislators may look at this and go, we don’t want to goof with it at all because the percentage was so high in support of it.”&nbsp;Business leaders “have good reasons why we would want to change it,” McCarty said. But while they could try to move a bill through the legislature, he said they’d prefer to “head it off at the pass and just do away with it” through litigation.<h2>A predicted victory</h2>Prop A’s victory&nbsp;didn’t come as a surprise to most: It<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-voted-for-abortion-rights-amendment-and-republicans-who-vow-to-overturn-it/">&nbsp;follows a trend of progressive initiative petition campaigns</a>&nbsp;finding success in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for statewide office since 2018Paid sick leave measures also passed in Alaska and Nebraska, bringing the number of states with such laws to 18.The details of the law are similar to those in states that have already adopted policies to expand access to paid sick leave. Employees can begin accruing and using sick time on May 1, 2025, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to&nbsp;five days per year for small businesses (those with fewer than 15 employees) and seven days per year for larger businesses. Certain workers are exempt, and are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">listed</a>&nbsp;in the full text of the law, including those employed on a “casual basis” for babysitting, workers employed in a private residence who work occasionally for six or fewer hours, and those who work in retail or service in a business that annually makes less than $500,000 in annual gross volume sales.Von Glahn said that while canvassing, workers found common ground in their identity with other workers — regardless of party affiliation — who also have the experience of needing to leave work to pick their sick children up from school.“And immediately what I get is people nodding their heads, ‘yeah, I have that too,’ and saying, it doesn’t make sense that some workers get punished for having to do that. “<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731072359515.png" alt="Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant worker who helped collect signatures and canvass for Prop A (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant worker who helped collect signatures and canvass for Prop A (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant prep cook in Columbia who canvassed with the campaign, said people he spoke to were surprised to hear about “what it’s really like in the restaurant industry,” and some were surprised to hear the minimum wage isn’t already $15.&nbsp;Coworkers come into work sick “all the time,” he said, in his experience in the restaurant industry. One coworker who had the stomach flu, he remembers, came into work, saying “my stomach tells me I need to stay home, but my wallet tells me I need to come to work.”Gallardo will qualify for sick leave for the first time in his career come May. He’ll no longer have to choose between going without pay or coming into work sick, calling it a “huge improvement for a lot of workers in the state.”The ballot measure will make sick leave guaranteed for 728,000 workers who currently lack it statewide, or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers, according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project.The minimum wage increase is slated to affect over 562,000 workers in the state,&nbsp;according to the Missouri Budget Project, or nearly one in every four workers.“This is a vital part of the community that’s not being treated the way it should be treated,” Gallardo said. And I think this proposition will go a long way to fix that.”&nbsp;

Missouri business groups weigh challenge to voter-approved minimum wage hike, sick leave

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement and fire investigators found the body of a man after a standoff and fire at a home in Kansas City.

On Thursday afternoon police were called to a house in the 11500 block of N. Cherry on a concern of a suicidal person, according t KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

The caller was not at the residence but was concerned about a man who was inside the home and they believed he was suicidal based on contact they had with him.

Responding officers made verbal contact with a man inside the residence from a distance. They attempted to get him to come outside to check his well-being. After a short time officers heard the sound of several rounds of gunfire coming from inside the residence. Officers backed away to protect those in the surrounding area and prevent any escape. They continued to try to make contact with the man to get him to come outside with negative result. 

All indications are the man was inside the residence alone. Based on the shots being fired and the potential of danger to the surrounding area Officers called for an Operation 100 / Police Stand-off to bring additional resources and trained negotiators to the scene, according to Becchina.

Tactical officers with rescue vehicles worked to evacuate surrounding residents and a nearby school was placed on lock and teach. School staff and Clay County Sheriff’s Office Deputies worked to arrange for safe school departure for the students.&nbsp; Officers continued to hear the sound of gunfire from inside the residence.

Just after 4:30 pm officers reported seeing a small fire coming from inside the residence. The fire slowly spread and negotiators continued to make attempts to contact the man and get him to come out. Tactical officers helped arrange for fire personnel to safely deploy water onto the house from a safe distance away in an attempt to extinguish the fire.

As the house remained on fire, officers attempted to use KCFD and KCPD drone technology to get an overview of the scene.

At approximately 8:45 pm officers used robot video and drone video and approached the rear of the residence and cleared the back yard and an out-building in the rear of the residence. Officers didn’t locate the man in that area.

Fire crews moved in closer to the house to more aggressively deploy water to fight the fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;As KCFD began closer and more aggressive efforts to extinguish the fire they located the man deceased inside the front of the residence, according to Becchina. Police have not released his name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731066050296.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement and fire investigators found the body of a man after a standoff and fire at a home in Kansas City.On Thursday afternoon police were called to a house in the 11500 block of N. Cherry on a concern of a suicidal person, according t KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.The caller was not at the residence but was concerned about a man who was inside the home and they believed he was suicidal based on contact they had with him.Responding officers made verbal contact with a man inside the residence from a distance. They attempted to get him to come outside to check his well-being. After a short time officers heard the sound of several rounds of gunfire coming from inside the residence. Officers backed away to protect those in the surrounding area and prevent any escape. They continued to try to make contact with the man to get him to come outside with negative result. All indications are the man was inside the residence alone. Based on the shots being fired and the potential of danger to the surrounding area Officers called for an Operation 100 / Police Stand-off to bring additional resources and trained negotiators to the scene, according to Becchina.Tactical officers with rescue vehicles worked to evacuate surrounding residents and a nearby school was placed on lock and teach. School staff and Clay County Sheriff’s Office Deputies worked to arrange for safe school departure for the students.&nbsp; Officers continued to hear the sound of gunfire from inside the residence.Just after 4:30 pm officers reported seeing a small fire coming from inside the residence. The fire slowly spread and negotiators continued to make attempts to contact the man and get him to come out. Tactical officers helped arrange for fire personnel to safely deploy water onto the house from a safe distance away in an attempt to extinguish the fire.As the house remained on fire, officers attempted to use KCFD and KCPD drone technology to get an overview of the scene.At approximately 8:45 pm officers used robot video and drone video and approached the rear of the residence and cleared the back yard and an out-building in the rear of the residence. Officers didn’t locate the man in that area.Fire crews moved in closer to the house to more aggressively deploy water to fight the fire.&nbsp;&nbsp;As KCFD began closer and more aggressive efforts to extinguish the fire they located the man deceased inside the front of the residence, according to Becchina. Police have not released his name.

Body found in fire debris after standoff at Kansas City home

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple drug allegations after an arrest.

Just after 11p.m. Nov. 4, sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 49 at the Passaic exit, approximately 25 miles east of Lacygne Kansas, according to a media release.

The Deputy made contact with the occupants and identified the two as 40-year-old Ashley C. Alexander (Burris) of Montrose and 40-year-old Amber R. Jefferies of Butler.

  During the traffic stop a K9 unit responded to the scene.  During a free air sniff of the vehicle, K9 Griff alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle.  During the subsequent search a fake soda can was located with a false compartment that contained approximately 6 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 7 grams of fentanyl.

  Several items of drug paraphernalia were also located in the vehicle.&nbsp; Under Missouri law, possession of 20 milligrams of fentanyl is considered 1st degree trafficking narcotics, a class A felony. 

  These two were in possession of over 7,000 milligrams of fentanyl.

According to <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2FDEA.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0ydJB5TftUCxDiL-ojSXZ58k0BDlapXdhFnY0x0uO1b2IrPWGzxyT72Cs_aem_rxjgNOgAaim27yCOOo11XQ&amp;h=AT3oRdrUIp0F3LDhbSJIc_kdkt3GKQPKYiinnptARzTD9j9DE39jEKXdV0l_4zmeG24TT7xLNFIh429-QWSfFC1MTWrUhyzD8eSXNcXw796resals_4VSCR8mfC-vVYmziBh2HU&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3CWTK82SnMBx7soIYY2MRx3akYX6W-iA76Yq1-JELSBAwhh3C8LKG6dvfZBo8GjpIQKDuXPEpDET_eYbJEwftWje-LYlmg_D0jBgdHCbkTkaWqf9zJCKkb-0XTWu3a1tdmnlfRnsq_12z3qiWQ1QsE3GGw5dzQ6slc7dBVA-sIlH46L67cGT5T6mmPr48ZvH61lam5WNWXbcU-8GyFYSi3bw" target="_blank">DEA.gov</a>, approximately 2 milligrams of fentanyl is fatal to the average person. Potentially, these two had enough fentanyl to kill the every person in the City of Adrian and Rich Hill combined.

 Both Jeffries and Alexander have been charged with one count of Trafficking drugs in the first degree and possession of methamphetamine.  Bonds were set at $150,000 cash only. 

  These two have an extensive criminal history related to narcotics in the region, according to the Sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730979119755.png" alt="Jeffries-photo Bates County" />
 <figcaption>Jeffries-photo Bates County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple drug allegations after an arrest.Just after 11p.m. Nov. 4, sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 49 at the Passaic exit, approximately 25 miles east of Lacygne Kansas, according to a media release.The Deputy made contact with the occupants and identified the two as 40-year-old Ashley C. Alexander (Burris) of Montrose and 40-year-old Amber R. Jefferies of Butler.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730979082801.png" alt="Alexander photo Bates Co." />
 <figcaption>Alexander photo Bates Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> During the traffic stop a K9 unit responded to the scene. During a free air sniff of the vehicle, K9 Griff alerted to the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle. During the subsequent search a fake soda can was located with a false compartment that contained approximately 6 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 7 grams of fentanyl. Several items of drug paraphernalia were also located in the vehicle.&nbsp; Under Missouri law, possession of 20 milligrams of fentanyl is considered 1st degree trafficking narcotics, a class A felony. These two were in possession of over 7,000 milligrams of fentanyl. According to <a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2FDEA.gov%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0ydJB5TftUCxDiL-ojSXZ58k0BDlapXdhFnY0x0uO1b2IrPWGzxyT72Cs_aem_rxjgNOgAaim27yCOOo11XQ&amp;h=AT3oRdrUIp0F3LDhbSJIc_kdkt3GKQPKYiinnptARzTD9j9DE39jEKXdV0l_4zmeG24TT7xLNFIh429-QWSfFC1MTWrUhyzD8eSXNcXw796resals_4VSCR8mfC-vVYmziBh2HU&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT3CWTK82SnMBx7soIYY2MRx3akYX6W-iA76Yq1-JELSBAwhh3C8LKG6dvfZBo8GjpIQKDuXPEpDET_eYbJEwftWje-LYlmg_D0jBgdHCbkTkaWqf9zJCKkb-0XTWu3a1tdmnlfRnsq_12z3qiWQ1QsE3GGw5dzQ6slc7dBVA-sIlH46L67cGT5T6mmPr48ZvH61lam5WNWXbcU-8GyFYSi3bw" target="_blank">DEA.gov</a>, approximately 2 milligrams of fentanyl is fatal to the average person. Potentially, these two had enough fentanyl to kill the every person in the City of Adrian and Rich Hill combined. Both Jeffries and Alexander have been charged with one count of Trafficking drugs in the first degree and possession of methamphetamine. Bonds were set at $150,000 cash only. These two have an extensive criminal history related to narcotics in the region, according to the Sheriff's office.

Deputies found enough fentanyl to kill hundreds

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Wednesday in Wyandotte County.

Lansing law enforcement is reporting a major accident at the intersection of K-7 (Main St.) and 4H Rd. Please avoid the area so first responders can do their job.

Police in Lansing reported a coach bus was southbound on Kansas 7/ Main Street at 4H Road.&nbsp; A sedan attempted to make a left turn at the intersection and collided with the bus, according to a media release. The driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other injuries reported.

Police have not released the name of the driver who died. The crash remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731017739533.png" alt="First responders at the scene&nbsp; photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene&nbsp; photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7p.m. Wednesday in Wyandotte County.Lansing law enforcement is reporting a major accident at the intersection of K-7 (Main St.) and 4H Rd. Please avoid the area so first responders can do their job.Police in Lansing reported a coach bus was southbound on Kansas 7/ Main Street at 4H Road.&nbsp; A sedan attempted to make a left turn at the intersection and collided with the bus, according to a media release. The driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no other injuries reported.Police have not released the name of the driver who died. The crash remains under investigation.

Driver dies after car, bus crash on Kansas highway

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

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday reassured the nation that democracy won despite his party’s resounding election losses, and promised his accomplishments will live on, in brief remarks from the White House.

“I know for some people, it’s a time for victory, to state the obvious. For others, it’s a time of loss. Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made,” Biden said in just over six minutes of remarks to his staff and administration officials gathered in the Rose Garden just after 11 a.m. Eastern.

Former Republican President Donald Trump, now president-elect,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-harris-election-updates-11-5-2024#00000193-0229-dcda-ab93-b2e9ada10000" target="_blank">handily won</a>&nbsp;the 2024 presidential contest Tuesday against Vice President Kamala Harris, earning victories in closely watched swing states, including Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Trump as of early Thursday afternoon had 295 Electoral College votes, to 226 for Harris, with 270 needed for victory. He also led in the popular vote.

The Republicans also secured a Senate majority, gaining at least 52 seats while Democrats have 45. Control of the U.S. House&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/article/it-was-hell-good-day-us-senate-gop-takes-election-victory-lap">remained unclear</a>, though a trend toward GOP victory was emerging as ballots were still being counted.

Biden ran against Trump for the majority of the 2024 presidential race but dropped his reelection bid weeks after a disastrous presidential debate performance sparked a pressure campaign for him to step aside.

Biden phoned Trump Wednesday to congratulate him and arranged an in-person meeting to discuss the White House transition — a step that Trump did not take following his loss to Biden in 2020.

“I assured him I’d direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve,” Biden said.

Biden also talked about his phone call Wednesday with Democratic nominee Harris, whom he described as a “partner and public servant.”

“She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much: her character. She has a backbone like a ramrod,” Biden said.

The president said he told his team that “together, we’ve changed America for the better.”

“Much of the work we’ve done is already being felt by the American people, with the vast majority of it will not be felt, will be felt over the next 10 years,” Biden said, specifically citing the bipartisan infrastructure legislation he signed into&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684" target="_blank">law</a>&nbsp;in November 2021.

Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/article/vp-harris-concedes-presidential-race-phone-call-donald-trump">conceded</a>&nbsp;the race Wednesday in a phone call to Trump.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?539843-1/vice-president-kamala-harris-concession-speech" target="_blank">speech</a>&nbsp;to somber supporters at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C., the same day, Harris told the crowd “I get it” when it comes to feeling a range of emotions following the outcome.

“But we must accept the results of this election. … A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election we accept the results,” Harris said.

Following the 2020 presidential election, Trump and his allies challenged the results in dozens of ultimately unsuccessful lawsuits. Following his losses in court, Trump and a team of private lawyers continued to deny the election outcome and pressure state officials to manipulate slates of electors.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday reassured the nation that democracy won despite his party’s resounding election losses, and promised his accomplishments will live on, in brief remarks from the White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden: &quot;Yesterday I spoke with President-elect Trump and congratulated him on his victory. I assured him that I&#39;ve directed my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That&#39;s what the American people deserve.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/rPWIBkUJY4">pic.twitter.com/rPWIBkUJY4</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1854562595476263180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I know for some people, it’s a time for victory, to state the obvious. For others, it’s a time of loss. Campaigns are contests of competing visions. The country chooses one or the other. We accept the choice the country made,” Biden said in just over six minutes of remarks to his staff and administration officials gathered in the Rose Garden just after 11 a.m. Eastern.Former Republican President Donald Trump, now president-elect,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/trump-harris-election-updates-11-5-2024#00000193-0229-dcda-ab93-b2e9ada10000" target="_blank">handily won</a>&nbsp;the 2024 presidential contest Tuesday against Vice President Kamala Harris, earning victories in closely watched swing states, including Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.Trump as of early Thursday afternoon had 295 Electoral College votes, to 226 for Harris, with 270 needed for victory. He also led in the popular vote.The Republicans also secured a Senate majority, gaining at least 52 seats while Democrats have 45. Control of the U.S. House&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/article/it-was-hell-good-day-us-senate-gop-takes-election-victory-lap">remained unclear</a>, though a trend toward GOP victory was emerging as ballots were still being counted.Biden ran against Trump for the majority of the 2024 presidential race but dropped his reelection bid weeks after a disastrous presidential debate performance sparked a pressure campaign for him to step aside.Biden phoned Trump Wednesday to congratulate him and arranged an in-person meeting to discuss the White House transition — a step that Trump did not take following his loss to Biden in 2020.“I assured him I’d direct my entire administration to work with his team to ensure a peaceful and orderly transition. That’s what the American people deserve,” Biden said.Biden also talked about his phone call Wednesday with Democratic nominee Harris, whom he described as a “partner and public servant.”“She ran an inspiring campaign, and everyone got to see something that I learned early on to respect so much: her character. She has a backbone like a ramrod,” Biden said.The president said he told his team that “together, we’ve changed America for the better.”“Much of the work we’ve done is already being felt by the American people, with the vast majority of it will not be felt, will be felt over the next 10 years,” Biden said, specifically citing the bipartisan infrastructure legislation he signed into&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3684" target="_blank">law</a>&nbsp;in November 2021.Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/article/vp-harris-concedes-presidential-race-phone-call-donald-trump">conceded</a>&nbsp;the race Wednesday in a phone call to Trump.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?539843-1/vice-president-kamala-harris-concession-speech" target="_blank">speech</a>&nbsp;to somber supporters at her alma mater Howard University in Washington, D.C., the same day, Harris told the crowd “I get it” when it comes to feeling a range of emotions following the outcome.“But we must accept the results of this election. … A fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election we accept the results,” Harris said.Following the 2020 presidential election, Trump and his allies challenged the results in dozens of ultimately unsuccessful lawsuits. Following his losses in court, Trump and a team of private lawyers continued to deny the election outcome and pressure state officials to manipulate slates of electors.

Biden promises a ‘peaceful and orderly transition’ to new Trump administration

TOPEKA —It’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, according to National Sleep Foundation. So far this week, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported two accidents where the driver fell asleep.

Just after 3:30a.m. Wednesday in Rawlins County,&nbsp;a 2007 Saturn Vue driven by&nbsp;Lawrence Stephen&nbsp;Longwolf, 25, Vacaville, California, was northbound on Kansas 25 approximately eight miles south of U.S. 36

The driver fell asleep and woke up as the SUV was leaving the roadway to the east. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle crossed the southbound lane, entered the west ditch sideways and rolled.

EMS transported a passenger Kylie R.&nbsp; Cisco, 23, Anadarko, Oklahoma, to the Rawlins County Hospital.&nbsp; Longwolf and a 1-year-old passenger were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Just before 3p.m. Tuesday, a 2006 Honda Accord driven by&nbsp; Jimi Wayne&nbsp; Hill, 26, Timken, was southbound on U.S. 183 at South County Line Road.

The driver fell asleep. The car traveled off the road to the west and the driver overcorrected. The Honda then crossed U.S. 183 to the east and struck a utility pole.

EMS transported Hill to Hays Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

The Kansas Turnpike Safety Assist, sponsored by Geico reminds motorists to be fully awake when behind the wheel. "Ensure a better night’s sleep by a relaxing wind-down and putting your devices away an hour before bed."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730996217585.png" alt="Driving Drowsy Prevention Week November 3–9, 2024" />
 <figcaption>Driving Drowsy Prevention Week November 3–9, 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —It’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, according to National Sleep Foundation. So far this week, the Kansas Highway Patrol reported two accidents where the driver fell asleep.Just after 3:30a.m. Wednesday in Rawlins County,&nbsp;a 2007 Saturn Vue driven by&nbsp;Lawrence Stephen&nbsp;Longwolf, 25, Vacaville, California, was northbound on Kansas 25 approximately eight miles south of U.S. 36The driver fell asleep and woke up as the SUV was leaving the roadway to the east. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle crossed the southbound lane, entered the west ditch sideways and rolled.EMS transported a passenger Kylie R.&nbsp; Cisco, 23, Anadarko, Oklahoma, to the Rawlins County Hospital.&nbsp; Longwolf and a 1-year-old passenger were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.Just before 3p.m. Tuesday, a 2006 Honda Accord driven by&nbsp; Jimi Wayne&nbsp; Hill, 26, Timken, was southbound on U.S. 183 at South County Line Road.The driver fell asleep. The car traveled off the road to the west and the driver overcorrected. The Honda then crossed U.S. 183 to the east and struck a utility pole.EMS transported Hill to Hays Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week and our Kansas Turnpike Safety Assist, sponsored by <a href="https://twitter.com/GEICO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GEICO</a>, reminds motorists to be fully awake when behind the wheel. Ensure a better night’s sleep by a relaxing wind-down and putting your devices away an hour before bed. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GEICOSafetyPatrol?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GEICOSafetyPatrol</a> <a href="https://t.co/Nt4y0x8B8y">pic.twitter.com/Nt4y0x8B8y</a>&mdash; Kansas Turnpike (@KansasTurnpike) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasTurnpike/status/1854258453218492640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Kansas Turnpike Safety Assist, sponsored by Geico reminds motorists to be fully awake when behind the wheel. "Ensure a better night’s sleep by a relaxing wind-down and putting your devices away an hour before bed."

Two sleeping drivers in Kan. during Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that she granted clemency to seven individuals by commuting the sentences of two incarcerated individuals and granting pardons to five individuals, all of whom show strong signs of rehabilitation, according to a statement from the governor's office.

The decision to grant the commutations and pardons was made following independent reviews by the Prison Review Board, the Kansas Department of Administration, and the Governor’s legal team.

“Granting commutations and pardons is not something I take lightly,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “By vetting numerous applications through a careful and thorough process, it was determined that these individuals have demonstrated their commitment to making amends and positively contributing to society. In cases where a disproportionally harsh sentence is imposed or a miscarriage of justice exists, commutation can be a tool to ensure reasonable action and a fairer sentence. In extraordinary cases where the criminal justice system failed to account for mitigating factors surrounding an individual’s alleged crime throughout the legal process, including sentencing, commutations can give a second chance to individuals experiencing incomprehensible circumstances at the time of their offense.”

Governor Kelly took into consideration numerous factors to determine if the commutations and pardons were warranted, including but not limited to: the nature of the offense, harsh sentences, impact of the crime on victims or survivors, demonstration of rehabilitation, criminal history, absence of disciplinary issues in prison, positive achievements and growth while incarcerated, and the ability to contribute to society following release.

Article 1, Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution and K.S.A. § 22-3701 grants the Governor’s authority to grant clemency. Below, please find the list of individuals receiving commutations and pardons:

Review of clemency applications by the Governor is ongoing, and there is no set timeline for review. By law, clemency applications in Kansas must be submitted to the Prisoner Review Board and notice of an individual’s application for clemency must be published in the county newspaper where the crime was committed. The Board reviews all applications before forwarding them for further review. Additional information about the process can be found at the Board’s website:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.doc.ks.gov%252Fprb%26data=05%257C02%257CAna.Nixon%2540ks.gov%257C54a18c945bc94c7cef9908dcccec3705%257Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%257C0%257C0%257C638610562106760595%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata=TVFfLmVj0zBjEC2hlG41qZasLpFnoRvUlC0EsfsqVKM%253D%26reserved=0/1/01010193039881ea-45df8950-42c0-4dec-b909-0a69dd90e820-000000/EQD3pxK56IRd9nkMPcKCzxcRt8HakRbBbdI_y-W9EXs=378">https://www.doc.ks.gov/prb</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730986375858.png" alt="Holle was serving time after convictions for Murder in the 2nd Degree, Aggravated abandonment of a child and abuse of a child, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Holle was serving time after convictions for Murder in the 2nd Degree, Aggravated abandonment of a child and abuse of a child, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced Wednesday that she granted clemency to seven individuals by commuting the sentences of two incarcerated individuals and granting pardons to five individuals, all of whom show strong signs of rehabilitation, according to a statement from the governor's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730986943406.png" alt="Durham was serving time for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections." />
 <figcaption>Durham was serving time for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</figcaption>
 </figure>The decision to grant the commutations and pardons was made following independent reviews by the Prison Review Board, the Kansas Department of Administration, and the Governor’s legal team.“Granting commutations and pardons is not something I take lightly,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “By vetting numerous applications through a careful and thorough process, it was determined that these individuals have demonstrated their commitment to making amends and positively contributing to society. In cases where a disproportionally harsh sentence is imposed or a miscarriage of justice exists, commutation can be a tool to ensure reasonable action and a fairer sentence. In extraordinary cases where the criminal justice system failed to account for mitigating factors surrounding an individual’s alleged crime throughout the legal process, including sentencing, commutations can give a second chance to individuals experiencing incomprehensible circumstances at the time of their offense.”Governor Kelly took into consideration numerous factors to determine if the commutations and pardons were warranted, including but not limited to: the nature of the offense, harsh sentences, impact of the crime on victims or survivors, demonstration of rehabilitation, criminal history, absence of disciplinary issues in prison, positive achievements and growth while incarcerated, and the ability to contribute to society following release.Article 1, Section 7 of the Kansas Constitution and K.S.A. § 22-3701 grants the Governor’s authority to grant clemency. Below, please find the list of individuals receiving commutations and pardons:Jose Arellano,&nbsp;pardonDeshaun Durham,&nbsp;commutationStephen Gontz,&nbsp;pardonJeffrey Gronewaller,&nbsp;pardonLauren Holle, commutation &nbsp;James Valentine,&nbsp;pardonScottie Way, pardonReview of clemency applications by the Governor is ongoing, and there is no set timeline for review. By law, clemency applications in Kansas must be submitted to the Prisoner Review Board and notice of an individual’s application for clemency must be published in the county newspaper where the crime was committed. The Board reviews all applications before forwarding them for further review. Additional information about the process can be found at the Board’s website:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl=https%253A%252F%252Fwww.doc.ks.gov%252Fprb%26data=05%257C02%257CAna.Nixon%2540ks.gov%257C54a18c945bc94c7cef9908dcccec3705%257Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%257C0%257C0%257C638610562106760595%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata=TVFfLmVj0zBjEC2hlG41qZasLpFnoRvUlC0EsfsqVKM%253D%26reserved=0/1/01010193039881ea-45df8950-42c0-4dec-b909-0a69dd90e820-000000/EQD3pxK56IRd9nkMPcKCzxcRt8HakRbBbdI_y-W9EXs=378">https://www.doc.ks.gov/prb</a>

Gov. commutes sentence of Kan. woman in prison for murder

The abortion-rights groups behind the amendment are challenging Missouri’s TRAP laws in the hopes of opening up more access than Missourians have seen in decades

Missouri’s Planned Parenthood clinics filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to strike down the state’s current abortion restrictions, less than 24 hours after&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">an amendment enshrining reproductive rights in the constitution was approved by voters.&nbsp;</a>

The news was announced Wednesday afternoon by coalition members of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the organization behind Amendment 3.&nbsp;

Leaders with both Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers said if the court grants their injunction, they plan to start providing abortions the day the amendment goes into effect on Dec. 5 at the health centers in Columbia, the Central West End in St. Louis and the Midtown neighborhood of Kansas City.

A series of “targeted regulation of abortion providers” laws enacted by the legislature, including a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the initial appointment and a surgical abortion and mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions “were parts of a&nbsp;web of impenetrable, onerous, and medically unnecessary restrictions targeted at abortion providers,” that limited access for Missourians for years prior to the state’s abortion ban, the lawsuit reads.

“The restrictions we’re challenging today do not actually help patients. They hurt them,” Richard Muniz, interim President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said during a press conference Wednesday. “The ripple effects of these overreaching policies can be felt throughout the state. Missouri continues to have high STI rates and poor pregnancy outcomes, and providers do not want to train or practice in Missouri, creating even further scarcity and gaps in coverage for thousands of women and pregnant people throughout Missouri.”

The constitutional amendment, which won with<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/missouri/?r=83071" target="_blank">&nbsp;51.7% of the nearly 3 million votes</a>&nbsp;cast Tuesday, goes into effect in 30 days and prohibits the legislature from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability — generally seen as the point at which a fetus can likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary measures.

But both proponents of and those opposed to Amendment 3 have warned that abortion access would not be immediate, as a bevy of challenges to current law must first make their way through the courts.

The lawsuit, which was filed in Jackson County, challenges a number of current state laws, including the state’s current abortion ban, a trigger law enacted in June 2022 that only allows abortions exceptions in cases of medical emergencies.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728400594576.png" alt=" The Planned Parenthood clinic in Missouri (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> The Planned Parenthood clinic in Missouri (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The abortion-rights groups behind the amendment are challenging Missouri’s TRAP laws in the hopes of opening up more access than Missourians have seen in decades</h2>Missouri’s Planned Parenthood clinics filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to strike down the state’s current abortion restrictions, less than 24 hours after&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">an amendment enshrining reproductive rights in the constitution was approved by voters.&nbsp;</a>The news was announced Wednesday afternoon by coalition members of Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the organization behind Amendment 3.&nbsp;Leaders with both Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers said if the court grants their injunction, they plan to start providing abortions the day the amendment goes into effect on Dec. 5 at the health centers in Columbia, the Central West End in St. Louis and the Midtown neighborhood of Kansas City.A series of “targeted regulation of abortion providers” laws enacted by the legislature, including a mandatory 72-hour waiting period between the initial appointment and a surgical abortion and mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions “were parts of a&nbsp;web of impenetrable, onerous, and medically unnecessary restrictions targeted at abortion providers,” that limited access for Missourians for years prior to the state’s abortion ban, the lawsuit reads.“The restrictions we’re challenging today do not actually help patients. They hurt them,” Richard Muniz, interim President and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said during a press conference Wednesday. “The ripple effects of these overreaching policies can be felt throughout the state. Missouri continues to have high STI rates and poor pregnancy outcomes, and providers do not want to train or practice in Missouri, creating even further scarcity and gaps in coverage for thousands of women and pregnant people throughout Missouri.”The constitutional amendment, which won with<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/missouri/?r=83071" target="_blank">&nbsp;51.7% of the nearly 3 million votes</a>&nbsp;cast Tuesday, goes into effect in 30 days and prohibits the legislature from regulating abortion prior to the point of fetal viability — generally seen as the point at which a fetus can likely survive outside the womb without extraordinary measures.But both proponents of and those opposed to Amendment 3 have warned that abortion access would not be immediate, as a bevy of challenges to current law must first make their way through the courts.The lawsuit, which was filed in Jackson County, challenges a number of current state laws, including the state’s current abortion ban, a trigger law enacted in June 2022 that only allows abortions exceptions in cases of medical emergencies.&nbsp;Among the TRAP laws targeted by the new lawsuit include:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Requirements that abortion clinics be licensed as ambulatory surgical centers.&nbsp;</li><li>A 72-hour waiting period between a patient’s initial visit with a doctor and their abortion procedure.</li><li>Mandates that abortion clinics be located within 30 miles of a hospital where they have admitting privileges.&nbsp;</li><li>The required submission of all tissue removed during an abortion be submitted to a pathologist.&nbsp;</li><li>Rules requiring abortion providers report all abortions and abortion complications to the state.&nbsp;</li><li>Requirements that the same physician who initially sees a patient must also be the physician who performs the abortion procedure.</li><li>Current law requiring only physicians can perform abortions, excluding physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>The lawsuit also addresses access to medication abortion, asking that a judge lift the current restrictions that would make it difficult to prescribe, including a telemedicine ban that requires the physician who prescribes the medication to also be in the room when the patient takes the first dose of the medication.&nbsp;It also seeks to end criminal penalties for abortion providers, who currently face loss of their license and up to 15 years in prison if they perform an abortion that doesn’t fall under the current exception for medical emergencies.&nbsp;The lawsuit does not challenge Missouri’s current law requiring parental or guardian consent for minors seeking abortions. Muniz did not specifically say whether this will be challenged in the future, but rather noted this is only the first lawsuit.Court challenges can take months, if not years. In Ohio, where citizens voted to protect abortion rights one year ago,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ohio-abortion-ban-ruling-e83ad0f1af11ded06d73d900bb240a04" target="_blank">a county judge just struck down that state’s “heartbeat” law.</a>Freda Levenson, legal director for the ACLU of Ohio, said while the payoff is worthwhile, the road can be long to reach widespread access.&nbsp;“They shouldn’t engage in magical thinking or fiction that these restrictions will fall away on their own,” she advised Missourians who voted in support of Amendment 3. “This is going to take hard work.”Tori Schafer, director of policy and campaigns at the ACLU of Missouri, said while she hopes the legislature will respect the will of the people, those who supported Amendment 3 stand ready to hold them accountable.Missouri lawmakers including state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman and U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley have said<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/02/missouri-abortion-amendment-march-life/">&nbsp;they intend to give Missourians the opportunity to vote on abortion again.&nbsp;</a>When asked in September what GOP lawmakers might do if Amendment 3 passed, Coleman pointed to a 2018 citizen-led amendment that would have required legislative districts be drawn to ensure partisan fairness. This amendment, known as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2020/11/04/voters-repeal-clean-missouri-redistricting-plan-they-enacted-in-2018/">“Clean Missouri,” was repealed two years later</a>&nbsp;through a legislature-proposed amendment.On Wednesday morning, Mary Catherine Martin, an attorney with the Thomas More Society who previously argued against the amendment before the Missouri Supreme Court, promised to defend Missouri against Amendment 3.&nbsp;“They’re not going to stand back and give up,” Levenson said. “They’ll fight around the edges to keep any restrictions in that they can.”&nbsp;Former President Donald Trump’s victory means Missouri abortion-rights organizations may have more than just state anti-abortion forces working against them. It could soon also be the federal government.&nbsp;&nbsp;One example is federal enforcement of the Comstock Act, an 1873 law that bans mailing obscene material, including for the use of abortion.Hawley, who was re-elected to a second term on Tuesday, was among a number of senators who signed a letter in 2023 asking the U.S. Attorney General to enforce the Comstock Act&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24834197-20230123-letter-on-comstock-to-doj" target="_blank">and make illegal the mailing of abortion medication</a>, which has increasingly become popular and accessible across the United States over the last two years.“We are being thoughtful about what a change in the federal administration could mean,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains. “I think more than anything, it will be the time for Missourians and individuals in other states who may have crossed political lines to hold accountable national leaders who have said they think this should be an issue decided by the states.”Kellie Copeland, executive director of Pro-Choice Ohio, which led that state’s successful abortion-rights ballot measure last year,&nbsp;noted that it also takes time to rebuild health care infrastructure that had been limited or eliminated with abortion restrictions.&nbsp;While abortion wasn’t outlawed in Missouri until the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion two years ago, Missourians have long lacked access to the procedure as TRAP laws whittled away at abortion clinics’ abilities to stay open.&nbsp;For clinics near the Kansas and Illinois borders, providers began sending Missourians across state lines where laws were less restrictive.&nbsp;A decade ago, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in Missouri, according to the health department. By 2020, that number dropped to 167 as a result of the TRAP laws.Between June 24, 2022 and July 31, 2024, 74 abortions were performed in Missouri under the state’s emergency exemption, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.Despite facing additional hurdles to care, including the time and financial costs of travel, time off work and childcare, many Missourians have continued accessing abortion in the post-Roe era.In 2023 alone, approximately 2,860 Missourians traveled to Kansas last year for abortions, and 8,710 traveled to Illinois,&nbsp;<a href="https://guttmacherinstitute.github.io/provision-dashboard/" target="_blank">according to the Guttmacher Institute,</a>&nbsp;a reproductive rights research group that closely tracks abortion data.&nbsp;Abortion access in Missouri will likely have ripple effects across the Midwest and south, opening up another access point for those in states with bans like Iowa, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.Copeland said Missouri’s first step toward legal action is nothing short of “momentous.”“That the Missouri team did it this year of all years in this political climate is astounding,” she said. “It shows what an incredible campaign they waged, but also how deeply people feel about abortion access and reproductive freedom regardless of the party they identify with.”