KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident &nbsp;that occurred just after 10p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a silver Toyota Camry was &nbsp;westbound on Independence Avenue at a high rate of speed. A pedestrian was crossing Independence Avenue at Monroe from south to north in a marked crosswalk with a red traffic control signal. 

The Toyota driver failed to stop for the red traffic control signal and struck the pedestrian.

The Toyota then ran over the pedestrian and fled the scene without stopping. EMS transported the pedestrian to local hospital with life-threatening injuries and they were later &nbsp;pronounced deceased by hospital staff. 

This is Fatality #47 compared to #59 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez. Police did not release the name of the victim.

<p>KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run incident &nbsp;that occurred just after 10p.m. Saturday in Kansas City.</p><p>According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez, a silver Toyota Camry was &nbsp;westbound on Independence Avenue at a high rate of speed. A pedestrian was crossing Independence Avenue at Monroe from south to north in a marked crosswalk with a red traffic control signal. </p><p>The Toyota driver failed to stop for the red traffic control signal and struck the pedestrian.</p><p>The Toyota then ran over the pedestrian and fled the scene without stopping. EMS transported the pedestrian to local hospital with life-threatening injuries and they were later &nbsp;pronounced deceased by hospital staff. </p><p>This is Fatality #47 compared to #59 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez. Police did not release the name of the victim.</p>

Hit-and-run: Pedestrian killed walking in marked KC crosswalk 

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

Just after 7p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to a shooting in the&nbsp; 1600 block of Washington Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.

First responders located two men and one woman with gunshot wounds. One man was pronounced dead on at the scene and the other two victims were transported to a local hospital where the second man was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The woman sustained non-life threatening injuries. 

The suspect fled prior to officers' arrival. Police have not released names of the victims.

<p>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a double homicide in Kansas City, Kansas.</p><p>Just after 7p.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to a shooting in the&nbsp; 1600 block of Washington Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.</p><p>First responders located two men and one woman with gunshot wounds. One man was pronounced dead on at the scene and the other two victims were transported to a local hospital where the second man was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The woman sustained non-life threatening injuries. </p><p>The suspect fled prior to officers' arrival. Police have not released names of the victims.</p>

Police: 2 men dead, woman wounded in Kansas shooting

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire in Kansas City.

Just after 7p.m. Saturday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported&nbsp;house&nbsp;fire in the 1100 block of West 76th&nbsp;Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

&nbsp;The first company on scene reported heavy fire from a 2-story&nbsp;home&nbsp;and initiated an offensive fire attack. Crews advanced 2 hose lines to extinguish the flames, and searches throughout the structure came back "all clear". 

The fire was reported under control at 7:28 p.m. Companies continued with overhaul operations to expose and extinguish hot spots prior to returning to service. &nbsp;Dangerous buildings was ordered and the Red Cross was ordered for 2 adults. There were no injuries &nbsp;reported, according to Nolan.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755395379957.png" alt="Photos Kansas City Fire Department" />
                        <figcaption>Photos Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire in Kansas City.</p><p>Just after 7p.m. Saturday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported&nbsp;house&nbsp;fire in the 1100 block of West 76th&nbsp;Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755395360525.png" alt="" />
                        <figcaption></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;The first company on scene reported heavy fire from a 2-story&nbsp;home&nbsp;and initiated an offensive fire attack. Crews advanced 2 hose lines to extinguish the flames, and searches throughout the structure came back "all clear". </p><p>The fire was reported under control at 7:28 p.m. Companies continued with overhaul operations to expose and extinguish hot spots prior to returning to service. &nbsp;Dangerous buildings was ordered and the Red Cross was ordered for 2 adults. There were no injuries &nbsp;reported, according to Nolan.</p>

Cause of Kansas City house fire under investigation 

JOHNSON COUNTY — A suspect admitted his role in a deadly shooting that occurred in Kansas earlier this year.

On Monday, 25, year-old &nbsp;Armando Javier Guerrero, pleased guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 21-year-old Landen Roggenkamp, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

On March 25, &nbsp;police responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of East Mart-Way Circle in Olathe and found Roggenkamp with multiple wounds, according to a statement from police. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was was pronounced deceased.

The Olathe Police Department took Guerrero into custody, and officers said they believed he and Roggenkamp knew each other.&nbsp;

Guerrero is scheduled for sentencing on September 25.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743418050944.png" alt="Guerrero -photo Johnson County" />
                        <figcaption>Guerrero -photo Johnson County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>JOHNSON COUNTY — A suspect admitted his role in a deadly shooting that occurred in Kansas earlier this year.</p><p>On Monday, 25, year-old &nbsp;Armando Javier Guerrero, pleased guilty to voluntary manslaughter in connection with the death of 21-year-old Landen Roggenkamp, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.</p><p>On March 25, &nbsp;police responded to a shooting in the 1400 block of East Mart-Way Circle in Olathe and found Roggenkamp with multiple wounds, according to a statement from police. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he was was pronounced deceased.</p><p>The Olathe Police Department took Guerrero into custody, and officers said they believed he and Roggenkamp knew each other.&nbsp;</p><p>Guerrero is scheduled for sentencing on September 25.</p>

Suspect admits killing 21-year-old Kansas man

DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.

On August 14, deputies with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ryan Matthew Roth, 38, of Enterprise, Kansas on a warrant for aggravated internet trading in child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In April, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office began the investigation after receiving tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.&nbsp; During the investigation, a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 500 Block of Court Street, Enterprise, Kansas. &nbsp;Additional search warrants were executed and the warrant was then issued for the arrest of Roth.&nbsp; Roth is being held on a $250,000 bond in the Dickinson County Detention Facility, according to online jail records.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755281097517.png" alt="Roth photo Dickinson County" />
                        <figcaption>Roth photo Dickinson County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>DICKINSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.</p><p>On August 14, deputies with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ryan Matthew Roth, 38, of Enterprise, Kansas on a warrant for aggravated internet trading in child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>In April, the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office began the investigation after receiving tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.&nbsp; During the investigation, a search warrant was executed at a residence in the 500 Block of Court Street, Enterprise, Kansas. &nbsp;Additional search warrants were executed and the warrant was then issued for the arrest of Roth.&nbsp; Roth is being held on a $250,000 bond in the Dickinson County Detention Facility, according to online jail records.</p>

Kansas man accused of trading child porn online

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our incredible First Lady ⁦<a href="https://twitter.com/MELANIATRUMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MELANIATRUMP</a>⁩ shared this powerful, deeply moving letter with President Putin. She speaks from the heart of every American in calling for a world where children, regardless of where they are born, can live in peace. <a href="https://t.co/Soqrv1euAm">pic.twitter.com/Soqrv1euAm</a></p>&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1956829431831605620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

Read the letter the First Lady had the President deliver to Putin

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem used social media on Thursday to congratulate the men and women of the South Dakota Highway Patrol.

Troopers in South Dakota this week made &nbsp;the largest meth bust in state history — 207 pounds worth $12 Million. &nbsp;

Noem, who served as South Dakota governor from 2019-2025 wrote, "This criminal, an illegal alien from Mexico, is now in immigration proceedings. Justice will be served."

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755117198647.png" alt="Photo Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;" />
                        <figcaption>Photo Homeland Security Secretary&nbsp;</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem used social media on Thursday to congratulate the men and women of the South Dakota Highway Patrol.</p><p>Troopers in South Dakota this week made &nbsp;the largest meth bust in state history — 207 pounds worth $12 Million. &nbsp;</p><p>Noem, who served as South Dakota governor from 2019-2025 wrote, "This criminal, an illegal alien from Mexico, is now in immigration proceedings. Justice will be served."</p>

Patrol seized 207 pounds of meth worth $12 million

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage shooting and have made an arrest.

Just before 5p.m. Friday, police &nbsp;Grain Valley Police officers were dispatched to a report of road rage on Main Street south of 40 Highway in Grain Valley, according to a media release.&nbsp;

 Responding officers determined a suspect had fired a weapon at another driver. There were no injuries were reported. The suspect fled the scene but was quickly located at a residence and taken into custody without incident. Police have not released the suspect's name or additional details.

<p>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage shooting and have made an arrest.</p><p>Just before 5p.m. Friday, police &nbsp;Grain Valley Police officers were dispatched to a report of road rage on Main Street south of 40 Highway in Grain Valley, according to a media release.&nbsp;</p><p> Responding officers determined a suspect had fired a weapon at another driver. There were no injuries were reported. The suspect fled the scene but was quickly located at a residence and taken into custody without incident. Police have not released the suspect's name or additional details.</p>

Suspect jailed after alleged KC area road rage shooting

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

TOPEKA— Firefighters responded to an Thursday night fire outside headquarters of the Johnson County Republican Party in Overland Park that resulted in no injuries.

The incident inspired inflammatory comments by the leader of the Kansas GOP, who placed responsibility on liberals. In a statement, she offered no evidence the fire, which didn’t cause significant damage, was linked to partisan ideology.

“Extreme liberals can’t do anything right, including arson,” said Danedri Herbert, who serves as chair of the Kansas Republican Party and spokesperson for Attorney General Kris Kobach. “Their hateful attempt to intimidate Republicans will also fail.”

Johnson County Republican Party chair Sue Huff said she was grateful no one was hurt in the “vicious attack.”

Overland Park firefighters responded to the county’s GOP headquarters near West 105th and Mastin Street around 12:45 a.m. Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2025/08/15/possible-arson-outside-johnson-county-gop-headquarters-under-investigation/" target="_blank">KCTV 5 reported the department</a>&nbsp;reported the fire was confined to the doorstep of the building.

Jeanna Repass, chair of the state Democratic Party, said in a statement acts of violence should play no role in resolving political differences. She said it was a relief no one was hurt in the “senseless act.”

“We stand with law enforcement as they pursue justice in this matter,” Repass said. “We will never be able to solve political differences with acts of violence, and we send our thoughts to the Johnson County GOP and the Kansas GOP.”

Repass said she was confident Overland Park investigators would hold to account anyone responsible for the fire.

“Violence anywhere, whether at a local party headquarters or our U.S. Capitol, undermines our democracy and must be condemned in full. Real progress cannot be made through fear, intimidation or destruction,” she said.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755306983787.png" alt="File Photo Overland Park Fire" />
                        <figcaption>File Photo Overland Park Fire</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a><br></b><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a></p><p>TOPEKA— Firefighters responded to an Thursday night fire outside headquarters of the Johnson County Republican Party in Overland Park that resulted in no injuries.</p><p>The incident inspired inflammatory comments by the leader of the Kansas GOP, who placed responsibility on liberals. In a statement, she offered no evidence the fire, which didn’t cause significant damage, was linked to partisan ideology.</p><p>“Extreme liberals can’t do anything right, including arson,” said Danedri Herbert, who serves as chair of the Kansas Republican Party and spokesperson for Attorney General Kris Kobach. “Their hateful attempt to intimidate Republicans will also fail.”</p><p>Johnson County Republican Party chair Sue Huff said she was grateful no one was hurt in the “vicious attack.”</p><p>Overland Park firefighters responded to the county’s GOP headquarters near West 105th and Mastin Street around 12:45 a.m. Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kctv5.com/2025/08/15/possible-arson-outside-johnson-county-gop-headquarters-under-investigation/" target="_blank">KCTV 5 reported the department</a>&nbsp;reported the fire was confined to the doorstep of the building.</p><p>Jeanna Repass, chair of the state Democratic Party, said in a statement acts of violence should play no role in resolving political differences. She said it was a relief no one was hurt in the “senseless act.”</p><p>“We stand with law enforcement as they pursue justice in this matter,” Repass said. “We will never be able to solve political differences with acts of violence, and we send our thoughts to the Johnson County GOP and the Kansas GOP.”</p><p>Repass said she was confident Overland Park investigators would hold to account anyone responsible for the fire.</p><p>“Violence anywhere, whether at a local party headquarters or our U.S. Capitol, undermines our democracy and must be condemned in full. Real progress cannot be made through fear, intimidation or destruction,” she said.</p>

Fire outside Johnson Co. GOP headquarters prompts condemnation of political liberals

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/harshawnratanpal/">Harshawn Ratanpal</a>

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe still hasn’t confirmed whether he’ll call a special session to change the state’s congressional map, but Republican lawmakers who’ve spoken to the governor say it’s very possible.

State lawmakers and officials gathered in Sedalia on Thursday morning for the annual Governor’s Ham Breakfast. Planned remarks from the podium focused on celebrating the Missouri State Fair and local agriculture. But, as it has in previous years, politics dominated breakfast-table conversations.

The issue at hand was the effort being pushed by President Donald Trump to change the congressional map of Missouri to increase the Republican delegation by one seat, therefore decreasing the number of Democratic-held seats to just one.

Similar efforts in Texas are underway, sparking counter-efforts by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in California.

Kehoe has stopped short of confirming that he’ll call the legislature into a special session to redraw Missouri’s congressional map.

“You got to make sure on any time you call a special session, or even a regular piece of legislation during the normal process, you want to make sure that what you’re doing is in the right direction and that you have as many people on board as possible,” Kehoe told reporters at the breakfast. “And I’m not saying we are at that point or not at that point, but it’s a process.”

However, Republicans who have spoken to Kehoe about the issue say they think he will call lawmakers back to Jefferson City.

The Kansas City Star reported that Kehoe discussed redistricting with multiple top Republicans in an early August meeting. House Majority Leader Alex Riley, a Springfield Republican, was in that meeting and said he thinks it’s “pretty likely” Kehoe will call a special session.

“I’m supportive of it,” he said. “Right now, Missouri is a solidly Republican state. When you look around the rest of the country, you’ve seen Democrat states, for very long periods of time, draw their lines in such a way that they have no Republican representation or very minimal.”

Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, was also in the meeting but declined to comment.

The recent push to redistrict was ignited by U.S. Rep. Bob Onder from Missouri. He told Punchbowl News that the White House wants Missouri to redraw the map and send more Republicans to the House of Representatives.

As a state senator, Onder was supportive of a 2022 effort to draw Missouri’s congressional map in such a way to give Republicans seven seats, instead of the six they currently control.

“I wasn’t successful in that effort in 2022, but it looks like we will very likely be doing that shortly,” Onder said, before adding that he’d spoken to Kehoe about the issue recently and thinks he will be calling a special session.

Onder represents the 3rd Congressional District, which nearly entirely encircles the state’s 1st and 2nd Districts.

Lt. Gov. David Wasinger, who also supports redistricting, criticized the shape of the current congressional map and blamed state lawmakers for not creating one more favorable to Republicans in 2022.

“If you look at the map that’s currently drawn in Congressman Bob Onder’s district … it looks like a Pac-Man — you know, the old video game Pac-Man,” he said. “It looks like a Pac-Man with its mouth open.”

While he has not confirmed whether he’d call a special session, Kehoe said he shares Trump’s vision for a Republican-led House of Representatives following the midterms.

“My personal preference is just keep Speaker (Mike) Johnson in control in D.C.,” he said. “His values align much better with Missourians than Congressman (Hakeem) Jeffries does, and I think that would be the goal.”

This story was originally published by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kbia.org/kbia-news/2025-08-14/kehoe-wont-confirm-redistricting-republicans-in-the-room-say-its-likely" target="_blank">KBIA</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753559628377.png" alt="Missouri Congressional districts (Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.)" />
                        <figcaption>Missouri Congressional districts (Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/harshawnratanpal/">Harshawn Ratanpal</a></p><p>Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe still hasn’t confirmed whether he’ll call a special session to change the state’s congressional map, but Republican lawmakers who’ve spoken to the governor say it’s very possible.</p><p>State lawmakers and officials gathered in Sedalia on Thursday morning for the annual Governor’s Ham Breakfast. Planned remarks from the podium focused on celebrating the Missouri State Fair and local agriculture. But, as it has in previous years, politics dominated breakfast-table conversations.</p><p>The issue at hand was the effort being pushed by President Donald Trump to change the congressional map of Missouri to increase the Republican delegation by one seat, therefore decreasing the number of Democratic-held seats to just one.</p><p>Similar efforts in Texas are underway, sparking counter-efforts by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom in California.</p><p>Kehoe has stopped short of confirming that he’ll call the legislature into a special session to redraw Missouri’s congressional map.</p><p>“You got to make sure on any time you call a special session, or even a regular piece of legislation during the normal process, you want to make sure that what you’re doing is in the right direction and that you have as many people on board as possible,” Kehoe told reporters at the breakfast. “And I’m not saying we are at that point or not at that point, but it’s a process.”</p><p>However, Republicans who have spoken to Kehoe about the issue say they think he will call lawmakers back to Jefferson City.</p><p>The Kansas City Star reported that Kehoe discussed redistricting with multiple top Republicans in an early August meeting. House Majority Leader Alex Riley, a Springfield Republican, was in that meeting and said he thinks it’s “pretty likely” Kehoe will call a special session.</p><p>“I’m supportive of it,” he said. “Right now, Missouri is a solidly Republican state. When you look around the rest of the country, you’ve seen Democrat states, for very long periods of time, draw their lines in such a way that they have no Republican representation or very minimal.”</p><p>Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, was also in the meeting but declined to comment.</p><p>The recent push to redistrict was ignited by U.S. Rep. Bob Onder from Missouri. He told Punchbowl News that the White House wants Missouri to redraw the map and send more Republicans to the House of Representatives.</p><p>As a state senator, Onder was supportive of a 2022 effort to draw Missouri’s congressional map in such a way to give Republicans seven seats, instead of the six they currently control.</p><p>“I wasn’t successful in that effort in 2022, but it looks like we will very likely be doing that shortly,” Onder said, before adding that he’d spoken to Kehoe about the issue recently and thinks he will be calling a special session.</p><p>Onder represents the 3rd Congressional District, which nearly entirely encircles the state’s 1st and 2nd Districts.</p><p>Lt. Gov. David Wasinger, who also supports redistricting, criticized the shape of the current congressional map and blamed state lawmakers for not creating one more favorable to Republicans in 2022.</p><p>“If you look at the map that’s currently drawn in Congressman Bob Onder’s district … it looks like a Pac-Man — you know, the old video game Pac-Man,” he said. “It looks like a Pac-Man with its mouth open.”</p><p>While he has not confirmed whether he’d call a special session, Kehoe said he shares Trump’s vision for a Republican-led House of Representatives following the midterms.</p><p>“My personal preference is just keep Speaker (Mike) Johnson in control in D.C.,” he said. “His values align much better with Missourians than Congressman (Hakeem) Jeffries does, and I think that would be the goal.”</p><p>This story was originally published by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kbia.org/kbia-news/2025-08-14/kehoe-wont-confirm-redistricting-republicans-in-the-room-say-its-likely" target="_blank">KBIA</a>.&nbsp;</p>

Missouri governor won’t confirm redistricting, but Republicans say it’s likely

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

Just before midnight August 9, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop for an alleged traffic infraction on a Hyundai Elantra traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 75, near 142nd&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, Clifton Wabaunsee, 44, of Topeka was arrested at the scene and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated battery and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754918054048.png" alt="Wabaunsee-photo Jackson County" />
                        <figcaption>Wabaunsee-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.</p><p>Just before midnight August 9, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop for an alleged traffic infraction on a Hyundai Elantra traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 75, near 142nd&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.</p><p>The driver, Clifton Wabaunsee, 44, of Topeka was arrested at the scene and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while suspended.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for aggravated battery and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.</p>

Kansas felon is back in jail on new drug allegations

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;I&#39;m going to start making a few phone calls and tell them what happened, but we had an extremely productive meeting and many points were agreed to. There are just a very few that are left.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/p9MAivEbB6">pic.twitter.com/p9MAivEbB6</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956493746414997647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: I believe we had a very productive meeting. There were many, many points that we agreed on... There&#39;s no deal until there&#39;s a deal. I will call up NATO... I&#39;ll of course call up President Zelensky and tell him about today&#39;s meeting... We really made some great progress. <a href="https://t.co/qEnZHW5D9i">pic.twitter.com/qEnZHW5D9i</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956493139868369139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“We had an extremely productive meeting.” President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://t.co/aIEWqkYYgN">pic.twitter.com/aIEWqkYYgN</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1956493879953563767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump and President Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. <a href="https://t.co/d9DKQ0OtPa">pic.twitter.com/d9DKQ0OtPa</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1956441780544516497?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">B-2 Stealth Bomber flies over President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and President Putin <a href="https://t.co/HaAqyHLftx">pic.twitter.com/HaAqyHLftx</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1956443298400510377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Putin having to deal with a free press for the first time in years and he doesn’t seem amused. <a href="https://t.co/CI8iwqAQJM">pic.twitter.com/CI8iwqAQJM</a></p>&mdash; OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1956447061043527837?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🇷🇺🇺🇸 The meeting between President <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Putin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Putin</a> &amp; <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> has begun in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Anchorage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Anchorage</a>.<br><br>Also taking part in the talks are Russian FM Sergey <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Lavrov?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Lavrov</a>, Presidential Aide Yuri <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ushakov?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ushakov</a>, US Secretary of State <a href="https://twitter.com/marcorubio?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marcorubio</a> &amp; US Presidential Special Envoy <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveWitkoff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SteveWitkoff</a>.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RussiaUSA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RussiaUSA</a> <a href="https://t.co/6jW6MmSrkr">pic.twitter.com/6jW6MmSrkr</a></p>&mdash; MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1956444614271103120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> sits down with President Putin 🇺🇸🇷🇺 <a href="https://t.co/PJfqsvXdkI">pic.twitter.com/PJfqsvXdkI</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1956439512806207706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pursuing Peace. 🇺🇸🇷🇺 <a href="https://t.co/d9VqKzpF6g">pic.twitter.com/d9VqKzpF6g</a></p>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1956446335261175865?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> begins his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin <a href="https://t.co/hpR641t8pJ">pic.twitter.com/hpR641t8pJ</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956441246513467393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">HAPPENING NOW! <a href="https://t.co/5OBEWIttVv">https://t.co/5OBEWIttVv</a> <a href="https://t.co/s9KIftc3ZW">pic.twitter.com/s9KIftc3ZW</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1956435635818070211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="qme" dir="ltr">🤝 <a href="https://t.co/Tru212XRcu">pic.twitter.com/Tru212XRcu</a></p>&mdash; MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mfa_russia/status/1956450765121396775?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and Russian President Vladimir Putin end the day&#39;s historic summit in Alaska <a href="https://t.co/80SsqP2Di8">pic.twitter.com/80SsqP2Di8</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956494156487856548?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Donald Trump: &quot;There&#39;s no deal until there&#39;s a deal. I will call up NATO in a little while. I will call up the various people that I think are appropriate and I&#39;ll of course call up President Zelensky and tell him about today&#39;s meeting. It&#39;s ultimately up to them.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ur3kxRIgM4">pic.twitter.com/ur3kxRIgM4</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1956496911503937682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“Next time in Moscow” President Putin on the next meeting with President Trump <a href="https://t.co/Eomwp1zs7S">pic.twitter.com/Eomwp1zs7S</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1956496289056653652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump and Putin reach an 'understanding,' but offer no details 

TOPEKA&nbsp; – Juan Doroteo Morales, 38, will serve life in prison for the 2021 murder of Camilo Ramirez, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced on Friday.

&nbsp;Saline County District Court Judge Jacob Peterson sentenced Morales on Friday.&nbsp; In May, a Saline County jury convicted Morales for first-degree, premediated murder, aggravated assault, and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. 

On Aug. 23, 2021, Salina police officers responded to a 911 call of a man shot at the intersection of Iron and Front streets in Salina. First responders found Ramirez, 25, unconscious with a bullet wound to the head. They initiated live-saving measures and transported Ramirez to the hospital, where Ramirez succumbed to his injuries the following day. Investigators learned that Morales and three other individuals, Jamie Leos, Jacob Leos and Kiera Stewart, lured Ramirez to a laundromat in Salina. &nbsp;

When Ramirez and his dog walked to the meeting place near the intersection of Iron and Front Street, the four defendants – Morales, Jamie Leos, Jacob Leos and Kiera Stewart – arrived via car. Morales and Jacob exited the vehicle and fired multiple shots at Ramirez. After the shooting, the pair got back in the car and were driven away by Jamie. Ramirez’s dog was also killed in the shooting.

Stewart entered guilty pleas to second-degree intentional murder, attempted aggravated robbery, and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery on Oct. 18, 2022. Stewart testified during Morales’s trial. &nbsp;On May 16, 2025, she was sentenced to serve 187 months in prison. &nbsp;Jaime Leos entered guilty pleas to voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder in the second degree on July 29. &nbsp;

On May 16, 2025, he was sentenced to prison for 287 months. &nbsp;Jacob Leos entered guilty pleas to intentional murder in the second degree, conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, and aggravated assault on May 2. &nbsp;On May 20, 2025, Jacob was sentenced to serve 284 months in prison. &nbsp;The Salina Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746639820085.png" alt="Morales photo Saline County" />
                        <figcaption>Morales photo Saline County</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>TOPEKA&nbsp; – Juan Doroteo Morales, 38, will serve life in prison for the 2021 murder of Camilo Ramirez, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced on Friday.</p><p>&nbsp;Saline County District Court Judge Jacob Peterson sentenced Morales on Friday.&nbsp; In May, a Saline County jury convicted Morales for first-degree, premediated murder, aggravated assault, and criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. </p><p>On Aug. 23, 2021, Salina police officers responded to a 911 call of a man shot at the intersection of Iron and Front streets in Salina. First responders found Ramirez, 25, unconscious with a bullet wound to the head. They initiated live-saving measures and transported Ramirez to the hospital, where Ramirez succumbed to his injuries the following day. Investigators learned that Morales and three other individuals, Jamie Leos, Jacob Leos and Kiera Stewart, lured Ramirez to a laundromat in Salina. &nbsp;</p><p>When Ramirez and his dog walked to the meeting place near the intersection of Iron and Front Street, the four defendants – Morales, Jamie Leos, Jacob Leos and Kiera Stewart – arrived via car. Morales and Jacob exited the vehicle and fired multiple shots at Ramirez. After the shooting, the pair got back in the car and were driven away by Jamie. Ramirez’s dog was also killed in the shooting.</p><p>Stewart entered guilty pleas to second-degree intentional murder, attempted aggravated robbery, and conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery on Oct. 18, 2022. Stewart testified during Morales’s trial. &nbsp;On May 16, 2025, she was sentenced to serve 187 months in prison. &nbsp;Jaime Leos entered guilty pleas to voluntary manslaughter and conspiracy to commit murder in the second degree on July 29. &nbsp;</p><p>On May 16, 2025, he was sentenced to prison for 287 months. &nbsp;Jacob Leos entered guilty pleas to intentional murder in the second degree, conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, and aggravated assault on May 2. &nbsp;On May 20, 2025, Jacob was sentenced to serve 284 months in prison. &nbsp;The Salina Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.</p>

Life in prison for Kansas man who lured victim to his death

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and President Putin deplane in Anchorage, Alaska ahead of their historic summit. <a href="https://t.co/qbYlQUGj2C">pic.twitter.com/qbYlQUGj2C</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956433883949346958?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska. <a href="https://t.co/so9yO9R5zt">pic.twitter.com/so9yO9R5zt</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1956434912136880310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/tpRtgKjweY">pic.twitter.com/tpRtgKjweY</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1956430058043977743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> greets Russian President Vladimir Putin at their historic Alaska Summit <a href="https://t.co/lc3klJso84">pic.twitter.com/lc3klJso84</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956434737888722952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and President Putin riding in The Beast together 🇺🇸🇷🇺 <a href="https://t.co/wBpVN30Mmm">pic.twitter.com/wBpVN30Mmm</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1956436029222850783?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

President Trump and Putin arrive in Alaska for high-stakes summit

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

TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Thursday asked a federal court to remove Gov. Laura Kelly from a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s refusal to release grant money to states.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-governor-joins-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-for-federal-funding-losses/">Kelly joined 22 states and the District of Columbia</a>&nbsp;in the lawsuit last month. Kobach, a Republican, said the Democratic governor doesn’t have the authority under Kansas law to represent the state in federal litigation.

“The governor is purporting to represent the state of Kansas and claiming that Kansas demands and wants the federal government to continue spending this money that these federal agencies have deemed to be unnecessary and wasteful,” Kobach told legislative leaders at a meeting Thursday at the Statehouse.

The states sued the Office of Management and Budget over decisions by President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, to terminate billions of dollars in federal funding that had been allocated by Congress. The lawsuit argues those cuts have had a devastating impact on state efforts to combat violent crime, educate students, safeguard public health, protect clean drinking water, conduct medical and scientific research, provide meals for students in school, and ensure access to unemployment benefits.

Olivia Taylor-Puckett, a spokeswoman for Kelly, said the governor joined the lawsuit in her official capacity as governor of the state. The Kansas Constitution vests “supreme executive power” in the governor and makes Kansas governors responsible for “enforcement of the laws,” she said.

“As such, the governor oversees all executive agencies in Kansas and has the power to bring a suit and be sued in her official capacity in fulfilling her constitutional duty,” Taylor-Puckett said. “The attorney general was repeatedly asked to exercise his responsibility to protect the people of Kansas and he refused.”

She said the governor acted to prevent infringement of “states’ rights and the best interests of Kansas.”

When the governor joined the lawsuit, her office said the Trump administration had terminated “millions of dollars used to purchase goods from Kansas farmers, to mitigate natural disasters and to enhance childhood education.”

Kobach appeared before the Legislative Coordinating Council, which consists of five Republicans and two Democrats, to ask for a statement of support in dropping Kansas from the litigation. He said he filed an amicus brief Thursday to inform the Massachusetts federal court of his assertion that state law allows only the attorney general to represent the state in federal litigation.

“Otherwise the court might assume that a governor walking into a federal court might have the authority to represent the state in court, but under Kansas law, that is not the case,” Kobach said.

The council on a party-line vote approved a motion made by House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who is running for state insurance commissioner, that declares the governor is violating Kansas law and should be dropped from the case.

“Even if the attorney general were representing Kansas, doing so would not be in the state’s interest,” Hawkins said.

Kobach said Kelly did ask him to join the lawsuit and that he declined because he believes it is destined to fail. He pointed to the Trump administration’s insistence that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR86b76dde0e1e9dc/section-200.340" target="_blank">a federal regulation</a>&nbsp;allows agencies to terminate a grant if it no longer effectuates agency priorities.

“We don’t believe that any state has the ability to compel the federal agency to spend the money, and so, purely on legal grounds, we rejected the governor’s request,” Kobach said.

He said the states could get a favorable ruling at the district court level in Massachusetts, where the case was filed, but that their legal claims “are not winners.”

“We’ve all heard in the news there are district judges on every position on the political spectrum, and judicial, ideological, jurisprudential spectrum,” Kobach said. “When this case goes up on appeal, the states seeking the grants are going to lose.”

In the lawsuit, the states argue that the Trump administration is attempting to redefine a regulation that has never before been used to justify an agency withholding grant money “when the agency simply changes its mind.”

The regulation “provides no support for a broad power to terminate grants on a whim based on newly identified agency priorities,” the lawsuit said.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723829601184.png" alt="&nbsp;Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, seen during a June 17, 2024, news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka, says only he can represent the state in federal litigation. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, seen during a June 17, 2024, news conference at the Statehouse in Topeka, says only he can represent the state in federal litigation. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a><br><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039"><i>Kansas Reflecto</i></a>r</p><p>TOPEKA — Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach on Thursday asked a federal court to remove Gov. Laura Kelly from a multi-state lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s refusal to release grant money to states.</p><p><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-governor-joins-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-for-federal-funding-losses/">Kelly joined 22 states and the District of Columbia</a>&nbsp;in the lawsuit last month. Kobach, a Republican, said the Democratic governor doesn’t have the authority under Kansas law to represent the state in federal litigation.</p><p>“The governor is purporting to represent the state of Kansas and claiming that Kansas demands and wants the federal government to continue spending this money that these federal agencies have deemed to be unnecessary and wasteful,” Kobach told legislative leaders at a meeting Thursday at the Statehouse.</p><p>The states sued the Office of Management and Budget over decisions by President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, to terminate billions of dollars in federal funding that had been allocated by Congress. The lawsuit argues those cuts have had a devastating impact on state efforts to combat violent crime, educate students, safeguard public health, protect clean drinking water, conduct medical and scientific research, provide meals for students in school, and ensure access to unemployment benefits.</p><p>Olivia Taylor-Puckett, a spokeswoman for Kelly, said the governor joined the lawsuit in her official capacity as governor of the state. The Kansas Constitution vests “supreme executive power” in the governor and makes Kansas governors responsible for “enforcement of the laws,” she said.</p><p>“As such, the governor oversees all executive agencies in Kansas and has the power to bring a suit and be sued in her official capacity in fulfilling her constitutional duty,” Taylor-Puckett said. “The attorney general was repeatedly asked to exercise his responsibility to protect the people of Kansas and he refused.”</p><p>She said the governor acted to prevent infringement of “states’ rights and the best interests of Kansas.”</p><p>When the governor joined the lawsuit, her office said the Trump administration had terminated “millions of dollars used to purchase goods from Kansas farmers, to mitigate natural disasters and to enhance childhood education.”</p><p>Kobach appeared before the Legislative Coordinating Council, which consists of five Republicans and two Democrats, to ask for a statement of support in dropping Kansas from the litigation. He said he filed an amicus brief Thursday to inform the Massachusetts federal court of his assertion that state law allows only the attorney general to represent the state in federal litigation.</p><p>“Otherwise the court might assume that a governor walking into a federal court might have the authority to represent the state in court, but under Kansas law, that is not the case,” Kobach said.</p><p>The council on a party-line vote approved a motion made by House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who is running for state insurance commissioner, that declares the governor is violating Kansas law and should be dropped from the case.</p><p>“Even if the attorney general were representing Kansas, doing so would not be in the state’s interest,” Hawkins said.</p><p>Kobach said Kelly did ask him to join the lawsuit and that he declined because he believes it is destined to fail. He pointed to the Trump administration’s insistence that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-2/subtitle-A/chapter-II/part-200/subpart-D/subject-group-ECFR86b76dde0e1e9dc/section-200.340" target="_blank">a federal regulation</a>&nbsp;allows agencies to terminate a grant if it no longer effectuates agency priorities.</p><p>“We don’t believe that any state has the ability to compel the federal agency to spend the money, and so, purely on legal grounds, we rejected the governor’s request,” Kobach said.</p><p>He said the states could get a favorable ruling at the district court level in Massachusetts, where the case was filed, but that their legal claims “are not winners.”</p><p>“We’ve all heard in the news there are district judges on every position on the political spectrum, and judicial, ideological, jurisprudential spectrum,” Kobach said. “When this case goes up on appeal, the states seeking the grants are going to lose.”</p><p>In the lawsuit, the states argue that the Trump administration is attempting to redefine a regulation that has never before been used to justify an agency withholding grant money “when the agency simply changes its mind.”</p><p>The regulation “provides no support for a broad power to terminate grants on a whim based on newly identified agency priorities,” the lawsuit said.</p>

Kobach asks federal court to boot Kansas governor from lawsuit over federal funding cuts

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> en route to Alaska: &quot;I&#39;m not doing this for my health. I don&#39;t need it. I&#39;d like to focus on our country — but I&#39;m doing this to save a lot of lives.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/nHd5jKSXLI">pic.twitter.com/nHd5jKSXLI</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956341194826424432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on &quot;security guarantees&quot;: &quot;Not in the form of NATO because there are certain things that aren&#39;t going to happen — but along with Europe, there&#39;s a possibility of that.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/p1VslFOrQH">pic.twitter.com/p1VslFOrQH</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956340908728721532?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755264031202.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on the possibility of territorial swaps: &quot;They&#39;ll be discussed, but I&#39;ve got to let Ukraine make that decision ... I&#39;m not here to negotiate for Ukraine. I&#39;m here to get them at a table.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/IQJGr1Wyi1">pic.twitter.com/IQJGr1Wyi1</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1956340201728426291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> gaggles with the press while en route to Anchorage, Alaska 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/JnjEKlMj3K">pic.twitter.com/JnjEKlMj3K</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1956331165696045421?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> en route to ALASKA! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/KOK2uHXSLZ">pic.twitter.com/KOK2uHXSLZ</a></p>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1956326375394005252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Air Force One en route to Anchorage, Alaska. <a href="https://t.co/iyhVaDl4yx">pic.twitter.com/iyhVaDl4yx</a></p>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1956328369693327830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">POTUS🛫ALASKA… <a href="https://t.co/13UM9NAZsb">https://t.co/13UM9NAZsb</a> <a href="https://t.co/Uw0CnzZ0HX">pic.twitter.com/Uw0CnzZ0HX</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1956329245841531231?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">President Trump aboard Air Force One, en route to Alaska… <a href="https://t.co/Oxwvul96SL">pic.twitter.com/Oxwvul96SL</a></p>&mdash; Dan Scavino (@Scavino47) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scavino47/status/1956393300149105060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 15, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump discusses meeting with Putin while en route to Alaska

JOHNSON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a restaurant fire in Overland Park.

Just after 2a.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;battled a fire at Torreador Restaurant, 79th and Floyd, according to a social media report from Overland Park Fire Department.

&nbsp;The fire was quickly extinguished. There was smoke and fire damage to the restaurant and adjoining bookstore. There were no injuries.&nbsp;

Overland Park Consolidated Fire District #2 and Lenexa Fire responded to the scene.

<p>JOHNSON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of a restaurant fire in Overland Park.</p><p>Just after 2a.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;battled a fire at Torreador Restaurant, 79th and Floyd, according to a social media report from Overland Park Fire Department.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">An OPFD firefighter emerges from an overnight building fire as an electrical panel arcs behind him. With a primary search completed and the fire knocked down, it was time to get to safety until power to the building could be disconnected. <a href="https://t.co/YGEgbJ2vVm">pic.twitter.com/YGEgbJ2vVm</a></p>&mdash; Overland Park Fire Department (@OverlandParkFD) <a href="https://twitter.com/OverlandParkFD/status/1955930175088062658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>&nbsp;The fire was quickly extinguished. There was smoke and fire damage to the restaurant and adjoining bookstore. There were no injuries.&nbsp;</p><p>Overland Park Consolidated Fire District #2 and Lenexa Fire responded to the scene.</p>

Crews battle fire at Kansas restaurant

STONE COUNTY —A teen drowned just after 11a.m. Thursday at Table Rock Lake.&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 16-year-old from Panama was swimming between the docs at Kimberling City, Little North Indian Creek. The boy disappeared beneath the surface approximately 50-feet from the dock.&nbsp; 

Stone County Fire crews utilized an underwater drone to locate him. He was recovered by a fire department diver pronounced dead at the scene. The Patrol no longer releases names of drowning incidents.

<p>STONE COUNTY —A teen drowned just after 11a.m. Thursday at Table Rock Lake.&nbsp;</p><p>The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 16-year-old from Panama was swimming between the docs at Kimberling City, Little North Indian Creek. The boy disappeared beneath the surface approximately 50-feet from the dock.&nbsp; </p><p>Stone County Fire crews utilized an underwater drone to locate him. He was recovered by a fire department diver pronounced dead at the scene. The Patrol no longer releases names of drowning incidents.</p>

16-year-old drowns at Table Rock Lake

FRANKLIN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Thursday in Franklin County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Freightliner semi driven by Zachary Williams, 29, Liberty, Tennessee, was northbound on Interstate 35 just south of Sand CreekRoad in the outside lane.

The semi drifted through the inside lane, crossing the grass median, entered the southbound lanes and struck a southbound 2020 Freightliner semi driven by Thomas&nbsp;Romero, 52,&nbsp;Albuquerque, New Mexico. After impact the 2023 semi came to rest in the west ditch and became fully engulfed in flames.

Williams was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. EMS transported Romero to KU Medical. Williams was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<p>FRANKLIN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Thursday in Franklin County.</p><p>The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Freightliner semi driven by Zachary Williams, 29, Liberty, Tennessee, was northbound on Interstate 35 just south of Sand CreekRoad in the outside lane.</p><p>The semi drifted through the inside lane, crossing the grass median, entered the southbound lanes and struck a southbound 2020 Freightliner semi driven by Thomas&nbsp;Romero, 52,&nbsp;Albuquerque, New Mexico. After impact the 2023 semi came to rest in the west ditch and became fully engulfed in flames.</p><p>Williams was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. EMS transported Romero to KU Medical. Williams was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.</p>

Driver dies after wrong-way semi crash, fire on Kansas highway

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

TOPEKA — The U.S. Department of Education is investigating four Kansas school districts after a right-wing nonprofit complained about their policies allowing teachers to maintain confidentiality with transgender students.

Topeka, Shawnee Mission, Olathe and Kansas City, Kansas, public school districts are under investigation for potentially violating Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, the department said in a Thursday press release.

The education secretary, Linda McMahon, said the districts’ alleged violations are an affront to the law and educational leadership.

“School personnel should not confuse and unsettle young girls by forcing them to share sex-separated sports and intimate facilities with boys,” McMahon said, “nor should school personnel abuse their position of authority by hiding sensitive information pertaining to a child’s health and wellbeing from that child’s parents.”

She vowed a vigorous investigation into the four districts.

Those school districts allegedly allow students to participate in sports and use restrooms and locker rooms based on gender identity instead of biological sex, said the initial complaint from the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies, a conservative nonprofit founded by two former Trump administration officials. Kansas law already prohibits transgender and cisgender girls from playing sports together and bans transgender girls from school locker rooms and bathrooms.

The district policies under investigation also allow educators to maintain confidentiality with transgender students, which in some cases means not disclosing a student’s gender identity to their parents without the student’s consent.

In a 35-page complaint detailing the districts’ gender identity practices and policies, the institute encouraged the federal department to pull funding from the districts, listing court decisions, a January presidential executive order, federal law and state law as justification.

The institute alleges Shawnee Mission, Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas, districts violated Title IX “by forcing students to share intimate facilities with members of the opposite sex as a condition of participation in their education programs and activities,” the complaint said. It argues that the districts’ gender identity policies “erase” sex.

All four schools, the complaint argues, are allegedly in violation of FERPA, which prohibits districts from preventing parental access to student educational records.

The districts “are undermining parents’ rights to access their children’s educational records and appear to be distributing the information contained therein to employees with no legitimate educational interest in these records without parental consent,” the complaint said.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/home/showdocument?id=24580&amp;t=638863684518261138" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to McMahon in June, urging the department to investigate. He said in a Thursday announcement that Title IX was created to safeguard girls’ equal educational opportunities.

Kobach had previously sent letters to six Kansas school districts in 2023, criticizing gender identity policies and practices.

“It would be arrogant beyond belief to hide something with such weighty consequences from the very people (parents) that both law and nature vest with providing for a child’s long-term well-being,” he wrote in the December 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/10474/638460589512800000" target="_blank">letter</a>. “That a Kansas school district could so cavalierly allow&nbsp;<i>a minor child</i>—whom science tells us does not even have a fully formed brain until into his or her twenties—to decide whether his or her parents know about such things is shockingly irresponsible.”

Two school districts reportedly modified their policies, Kobach said, but four did not. Those four districts are the subject of the recent complaint.

Kobach also sued the Biden administration in federal court in 2024 to challenge new rules that strengthened antidiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ students and expanded the definition of sexual harassment at colleges and schools. A federal judge eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/03/kansas-judge-issues-injunction-blocking-new-federal-anti-discrimination-rules-in-education/">blocked</a>&nbsp;the rules from taking effect in Kansas.

“I am grateful that we now have a federal government that takes Title IX seriously and will ensure that school districts follow the law,” Kobach said.

Title IX is enforced by the federal department’s Office of Civil Rights and FERPA is enforced by the department’s Student Privacy Policy Office.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said in a statement the investigation and complaint illustrate “how out of touch Republicans are with reality and with what is happening in our school buildings.”

“These vague, unspecified claims are a witch hunt and a distraction from providing a world-class education,” said Sykes, whose Senate district sits within the Shawnee Mission school district.

She said the investigations are a distraction “from the real issues that are impacting our students right now,” including access to mental and physical health care, food access for families and school funding threats.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755204689376.png" alt="U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon-courtesy image" />
                        <figcaption>U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon-courtesy image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a><br><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a></p><p>TOPEKA — The U.S. Department of Education is investigating four Kansas school districts after a right-wing nonprofit complained about their policies allowing teachers to maintain confidentiality with transgender students.</p><p>Topeka, Shawnee Mission, Olathe and Kansas City, Kansas, public school districts are under investigation for potentially violating Title IX and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, the department said in a Thursday press release.</p><p>The education secretary, Linda McMahon, said the districts’ alleged violations are an affront to the law and educational leadership.</p><p>“School personnel should not confuse and unsettle young girls by forcing them to share sex-separated sports and intimate facilities with boys,” McMahon said, “nor should school personnel abuse their position of authority by hiding sensitive information pertaining to a child’s health and wellbeing from that child’s parents.”</p><p>She vowed a vigorous investigation into the four districts.</p><p>Those school districts allegedly allow students to participate in sports and use restrooms and locker rooms based on gender identity instead of biological sex, said the initial complaint from the Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies, a conservative nonprofit founded by two former Trump administration officials. Kansas law already prohibits transgender and cisgender girls from playing sports together and bans transgender girls from school locker rooms and bathrooms.</p><p>The district policies under investigation also allow educators to maintain confidentiality with transgender students, which in some cases means not disclosing a student’s gender identity to their parents without the student’s consent.</p><p>In a 35-page complaint detailing the districts’ gender identity practices and policies, the institute encouraged the federal department to pull funding from the districts, listing court decisions, a January presidential executive order, federal law and state law as justification.</p><p>The institute alleges Shawnee Mission, Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas, districts violated Title IX “by forcing students to share intimate facilities with members of the opposite sex as a condition of participation in their education programs and activities,” the complaint said. It argues that the districts’ gender identity policies “erase” sex.</p><p>All four schools, the complaint argues, are allegedly in violation of FERPA, which prohibits districts from preventing parental access to student educational records.</p><p>The districts “are undermining parents’ rights to access their children’s educational records and appear to be distributing the information contained therein to employees with no legitimate educational interest in these records without parental consent,” the complaint said.</p><p>Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach wrote a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/home/showdocument?id=24580&amp;t=638863684518261138" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to McMahon in June, urging the department to investigate. He said in a Thursday announcement that Title IX was created to safeguard girls’ equal educational opportunities.</p><p>Kobach had previously sent letters to six Kansas school districts in 2023, criticizing gender identity policies and practices.</p><p>“It would be arrogant beyond belief to hide something with such weighty consequences from the very people (parents) that both law and nature vest with providing for a child’s long-term well-being,” he wrote in the December 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/10474/638460589512800000" target="_blank">letter</a>. “That a Kansas school district could so cavalierly allow&nbsp;<i>a minor child</i>—whom science tells us does not even have a fully formed brain until into his or her twenties—to decide whether his or her parents know about such things is shockingly irresponsible.”</p><p>Two school districts reportedly modified their policies, Kobach said, but four did not. Those four districts are the subject of the recent complaint.</p><p>Kobach also sued the Biden administration in federal court in 2024 to challenge new rules that strengthened antidiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ students and expanded the definition of sexual harassment at colleges and schools. A federal judge eventually&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/03/kansas-judge-issues-injunction-blocking-new-federal-anti-discrimination-rules-in-education/">blocked</a>&nbsp;the rules from taking effect in Kansas.</p><p>“I am grateful that we now have a federal government that takes Title IX seriously and will ensure that school districts follow the law,” Kobach said.</p><p>Title IX is enforced by the federal department’s Office of Civil Rights and FERPA is enforced by the department’s Student Privacy Policy Office.</p><p>Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said in a statement the investigation and complaint illustrate “how out of touch Republicans are with reality and with what is happening in our school buildings.”</p><p>“These vague, unspecified claims are a witch hunt and a distraction from providing a world-class education,” said Sykes, whose Senate district sits within the Shawnee Mission school district.</p><p>She said the investigations are a distraction “from the real issues that are impacting our students right now,” including access to mental and physical health care, food access for families and school funding threats.</p>

U.S. education dept. launches investigation into Kansas schools’ gender identity policies

KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement are investigating a fatal crash following an attempted traffic stop that occurred&nbsp; just after midnight Wednesday.

A police sergeant attempted to initiate a car check of a stolen white Hyundai Tucson in the area of Independence Avenue and Brooklyn in Kansas City, Missouri, according to.Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

The Hyundai refused to stop for the Sergeant and the Sergeant ended his attempt to stop the Hyundai in the area of Independence and Wabash. 

The Hyundai was last seen traveling northbound on Wabash at a high rate of speed with no patrol units pursuing it. In the area of Lexington and Wabash, the Hyundai driver failed to stop for the posted stop sign, entered the intersection and struck a westbound silver Jeep Grand Cherokee.

 The driver, front seat passenger, left rear seat passenger, and middle seat juvenile passenger of the Jeep were all transported to local hospitals with critical injuries. 

The right rear passenger of the Jeep was ejected from the vehicle and was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries and later was&nbsp; pronounced deceased by hospital staff, according to Gonzalez.

The driver and rear seat passenger of the Hyundai were both transported to local hospitals with serious injuries. The front seat passenger of the Hyundai was uninjured in the collision. The surviving driver and the surviving passengers of the Jeep are all currently in critical condition. The driver and passenger of the Hyundai are both currently in stable condition This is fatality #46 compared to #59 at this time last year according to&nbsp; Gonzalez.

<p>KANSAS CITY— Law enforcement are investigating a fatal crash following an attempted traffic stop that occurred&nbsp; just after midnight Wednesday.</p><p>A police sergeant attempted to initiate a car check of a stolen white Hyundai Tucson in the area of Independence Avenue and Brooklyn in Kansas City, Missouri, according to.Officer Alayna Gonzalez.</p><p>The Hyundai refused to stop for the Sergeant and the Sergeant ended his attempt to stop the Hyundai in the area of Independence and Wabash. </p><p>The Hyundai was last seen traveling northbound on Wabash at a high rate of speed with no patrol units pursuing it. In the area of Lexington and Wabash, the Hyundai driver failed to stop for the posted stop sign, entered the intersection and struck a westbound silver Jeep Grand Cherokee.</p><p> The driver, front seat passenger, left rear seat passenger, and middle seat juvenile passenger of the Jeep were all transported to local hospitals with critical injuries. </p><p>The right rear passenger of the Jeep was ejected from the vehicle and was transported to a local hospital with life threatening injuries and later was&nbsp; pronounced deceased by hospital staff, according to Gonzalez.</p><p>The driver and rear seat passenger of the Hyundai were both transported to local hospitals with serious injuries. The front seat passenger of the Hyundai was uninjured in the collision. The surviving driver and the surviving passengers of the Jeep are all currently in critical condition. The driver and passenger of the Hyundai are both currently in stable condition This is fatality #46 compared to #59 at this time last year according to&nbsp; Gonzalez.</p>

KCPD: 1 dead after driver of SUV fled traffic stop

&nbsp;Danny Zeck, a member of the Kansas State Board of Education, appears at a July 8, 2025, board meeting. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA — Judith Deedy said there’s been a disconnect for a decade in Kansas’ student assessment scores.

Her oldest child once earned fives — the highest level at the time — until 2015, when she began scoring at level three after the assessment scores changed.

“The Kansas assessment has persistently been an outlier for all of the three children in my own family and for thousands of students across the state, as data has shown,” Deedy, a public education advocate, said at a Tuesday meeting of the Kansas State Board of Education.

State assessment scores have shown a steady increase in the number of Kansas students scoring lower on math, science and English language arts tests since 2016, while achieving marks of post-secondary success, such as higher education degrees and military careers.

The state education board voted 7-3 on Tuesday to change assessment cut scores in the 2025-2026 school year, broadening the scoring range and shrinking the tests. Board members Michelle Dombrosky, Connie O’Brien and Debby Potter voted against resetting the scores.

In partnership with the University of Kansas and with input from nearly 150 educators, the Kansas State Department of Education crafted new metrics for the assessment tests students periodically take in English language arts, math and science throughout their school careers.

Cut scores divide performance levels, reflecting student achievement.

Following the board’s vote, cut scores are undergoing an expansion. Previously, the scoring scale ranged from 220-380, with cutoffs varying by grade, level and subject.

Now, the lowest obtainable score is 400 across all grades and subjects, and the highest is 700. Level two cuts off at 510, and the level three cutoff is 540 for all grades and subjects. The level four cutoff varies by grade and subject.

In May, the board approved new performance definitions for each level. Previously, scores fell into the following levels: limited, basic, effective and excellent. Now, “limited” and “basic” remain for levels one and two, but “effective” was changed to “proficient” and “excellent” to “advanced.”

Beth Fultz, director of career standards and assessment services for the education department, addressed the board before its vote. She said it “was an opportunity to impact Kansas education for several years to come.”

Beryl New, a board member from Topeka, said she has heard from constituents who are concerned the state education department is lowering standards.

Fultz responded that the change is more of a realignment of expectations for student performance.

“I do believe we are not reducing the rigor on this assessment,” Fultz said.

The state education commissioner, Randy Watson, said the department brought to the table “a scientifically based process that’s nationally recognized,” and came from the voices of teachers. He assured the board that the new scores still set the highest expectations for Kansas kids.

Deedy, who spoke during the board’s public forum section at the beginning of the meeting, said the old cut scores overshot a desire to be aspirational.

“Adjusting cut scores is not lowering our standards,” Deedy said, ”but rather improving the predictability and reliability of this point-in-time assessment to more accurately reflect student achievement levels.”

Danny Zeck, a board member from Leavenworth, said he struggles with assessments. He said he was once what he called “a level one kid.”

Zeck, following a long pause, said: “The problem I have with level one, two, three and four is that level one person wakes up sometime and they’re gonna be successful.”

He also encouraged parents, if they do not agree with the new cut scores, to exempt their students from participating in assessments.

“C’mon, people,” he said. “If you really dislike it, opt them out. It’s not a rocket science deal.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755189194778.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>&nbsp;Danny Zeck, a member of the Kansas State Board of Education, appears at a July 8, 2025, board meeting. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</p><p>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a><br><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039"><i>Kansas Reflector</i></a></p><p>TOPEKA — Judith Deedy said there’s been a disconnect for a decade in Kansas’ student assessment scores.</p><p>Her oldest child once earned fives — the highest level at the time — until 2015, when she began scoring at level three after the assessment scores changed.</p><p>“The Kansas assessment has persistently been an outlier for all of the three children in my own family and for thousands of students across the state, as data has shown,” Deedy, a public education advocate, said at a Tuesday meeting of the Kansas State Board of Education.</p><p>State assessment scores have shown a steady increase in the number of Kansas students scoring lower on math, science and English language arts tests since 2016, while achieving marks of post-secondary success, such as higher education degrees and military careers.</p><p>The state education board voted 7-3 on Tuesday to change assessment cut scores in the 2025-2026 school year, broadening the scoring range and shrinking the tests. Board members Michelle Dombrosky, Connie O’Brien and Debby Potter voted against resetting the scores.</p><p>In partnership with the University of Kansas and with input from nearly 150 educators, the Kansas State Department of Education crafted new metrics for the assessment tests students periodically take in English language arts, math and science throughout their school careers.</p><p>Cut scores divide performance levels, reflecting student achievement.</p><p>Following the board’s vote, cut scores are undergoing an expansion. Previously, the scoring scale ranged from 220-380, with cutoffs varying by grade, level and subject.</p><p>Now, the lowest obtainable score is 400 across all grades and subjects, and the highest is 700. Level two cuts off at 510, and the level three cutoff is 540 for all grades and subjects. The level four cutoff varies by grade and subject.</p><p>In May, the board approved new performance definitions for each level. Previously, scores fell into the following levels: limited, basic, effective and excellent. Now, “limited” and “basic” remain for levels one and two, but “effective” was changed to “proficient” and “excellent” to “advanced.”</p><p>Beth Fultz, director of career standards and assessment services for the education department, addressed the board before its vote. She said it “was an opportunity to impact Kansas education for several years to come.”</p><p>Beryl New, a board member from Topeka, said she has heard from constituents who are concerned the state education department is lowering standards.</p><p>Fultz responded that the change is more of a realignment of expectations for student performance.</p><p>“I do believe we are not reducing the rigor on this assessment,” Fultz said.</p><p>The state education commissioner, Randy Watson, said the department brought to the table “a scientifically based process that’s nationally recognized,” and came from the voices of teachers. He assured the board that the new scores still set the highest expectations for Kansas kids.</p><p>Deedy, who spoke during the board’s public forum section at the beginning of the meeting, said the old cut scores overshot a desire to be aspirational.</p><p>“Adjusting cut scores is not lowering our standards,” Deedy said, ”but rather improving the predictability and reliability of this point-in-time assessment to more accurately reflect student achievement levels.”</p><p>Danny Zeck, a board member from Leavenworth, said he struggles with assessments. He said he was once what he called “a level one kid.”</p><p>Zeck, following a long pause, said: “The problem I have with level one, two, three and four is that level one person wakes up sometime and they’re gonna be successful.”</p><p>Everybody reacts differently, he said.</p><p>He also encouraged parents, if they do not agree with the new cut scores, to exempt their students from participating in assessments.</p><p>“C’mon, people,” he said. “If you really dislike it, opt them out. It’s not a rocket science deal.”</p>

Kansas state education board expands scoring range for student assessments

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating what police now believe is accidental shooting in Lawrence.

Just before 7p.m. Wednesday police found several people in and around the apartment&nbsp; near 19th and Naismith, according to a media release.&nbsp; One man had been shot in the abdomen. Officers worked to slow the bleeding and provide other lifesaving measures until medics from Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical arrived. 

Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene and detectives brought several witnesses in for questioning. The victim was transported to a trauma center by ambulance.&nbsp;The man who fired the gun is cooperating with police.&nbsp; Police released no additional details late Wednesday.

<p>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating what police now believe is accidental shooting in Lawrence.</p><p>Just before 7p.m. Wednesday police found several people in and around the apartment&nbsp; near 19th and Naismith, according to a media release.&nbsp; One man had been shot in the abdomen. Officers worked to slow the bleeding and provide other lifesaving measures until medics from Lawrence Douglas County Fire Medical arrived. </p><p>Crime Scene Investigators processed the scene and detectives brought several witnesses in for questioning. The victim was transported to a trauma center by ambulance.&nbsp;The man who fired the gun is cooperating with police.&nbsp; Police released no additional details late Wednesday.</p>

Police: Kansas man hospitalized after accidental shooting

MORGAN COUNTY —A 2-year-old girl drowned just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the child wandered away from home located at 10.2 of the Gravois Arm of the lake. She was discovered face-up in the lake and transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. 

She was pronounced deceased just after 12:30p.m. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

<p>MORGAN COUNTY —A 2-year-old girl drowned just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday at Lake of the Ozarks.</p><p>The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the child wandered away from home located at 10.2 of the Gravois Arm of the lake. She was discovered face-up in the lake and transported by ambulance to Lake Regional Hospital. </p><p>She was pronounced deceased just after 12:30p.m. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.</p>