LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on multiple allegations after a wild chase in southeast Kansas.

Just before 6a.m. Saturday, sheriff's&nbsp;deputies were conducting traffic control near the<a href="https://www.unboundgravel.com/"> Unbound Gravel bike race</a>&nbsp;near Emporia, according to a media release

A Chevy Silverado, driven by Kaitlynn Mundell, 32 of Emporia allegedly disobeyed traffic control and drove through the intersection at Road J and Road 240 without slowing down. 

A deputy attempted to stop the vehicle which&nbsp; fled eastbound. Deputies pursued the vehicle to Road 250 and Road S when it turned back westbound and ran a stop sign.

That's when the pursuit stopped. As deputies began positioning to prevent the vehicle from entering the bike race route, Mundell turned the truck around and traveled back east where the truck passed three deputies and failed to stop. Mundell then turned south on Highway 99 towards Emporia.

Due to the number of pedestrians and bicycles in Emporia at the time, a decision was made to use measures to disable the truck.

In the 2200 block of N. Highway 99, a deputy was able to get in front of the truck in an attempt to slow it down. The truck attempted to pass the deputy in a ditch, but when the truck came out of the ditch, it struck the deputy’s vehicle causing it to slide into the ditch and roll over. The vehicle ended upright after rolling out.

Mundell continued driving towards Emporia. Lyon County deputies and Emporia Police continued to look for the truck and did find it just before 6:30 a.m. at 8th Ave. and Merchant Street. Two patrol vehicles blocked the truck in.

Mundell and Preston Ashburn, 42 or Emporia, who was a passenger in the vehicle, refused to exit the vehicle. They were removed by police and taken into custody.

Mundell and Ashburn were booked into the Lyon County Detention Center. Mundell on requested charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of a controlled substance and multiple traffic charges. Ashburn faces charges of obstruct of legal process and possession of a controlled substance.

The deputy involved in the rollover was treated at a&nbsp; hospital for minor injuries and was released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748743354395.png" alt="Ashburn photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Ashburn photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>LYON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on multiple allegations after a wild chase in southeast Kansas.Just before 6a.m. Saturday, sheriff's&nbsp;deputies were conducting traffic control near the<a href="https://www.unboundgravel.com/"> Unbound Gravel bike race</a>&nbsp;near Emporia, according to a media releaseA Chevy Silverado, driven by Kaitlynn Mundell, 32 of Emporia allegedly disobeyed traffic control and drove through the intersection at Road J and Road 240 without slowing down. A deputy attempted to stop the vehicle which&nbsp; fled eastbound. Deputies pursued the vehicle to Road 250 and Road S when it turned back westbound and ran a stop sign.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748742547739.png" alt="Mundell photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Mundell photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>That's when the pursuit stopped. As deputies began positioning to prevent the vehicle from entering the bike race route, Mundell turned the truck around and traveled back east where the truck passed three deputies and failed to stop. Mundell then turned south on Highway 99 towards Emporia.Due to the number of pedestrians and bicycles in Emporia at the time, a decision was made to use measures to disable the truck.In the 2200 block of N. Highway 99, a deputy was able to get in front of the truck in an attempt to slow it down. The truck attempted to pass the deputy in a ditch, but when the truck came out of the ditch, it struck the deputy’s vehicle causing it to slide into the ditch and roll over. The vehicle ended upright after rolling out.Mundell continued driving towards Emporia. Lyon County deputies and Emporia Police continued to look for the truck and did find it just before 6:30 a.m. at 8th Ave. and Merchant Street. Two patrol vehicles blocked the truck in.Mundell and Preston Ashburn, 42 or Emporia, who was a passenger in the vehicle, refused to exit the vehicle. They were removed by police and taken into custody.Mundell and Ashburn were booked into the Lyon County Detention Center. Mundell on requested charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer, possession of a controlled substance and multiple traffic charges. Ashburn faces charges of obstruct of legal process and possession of a controlled substance.The deputy involved in the rollover was treated at a&nbsp; hospital for minor injuries and was released.

Kan. deputy injured, suspects jailed after pursuit near bike race 

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase in a reported stolen vehicle.

Just after 5 p.m. May 30, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conducted a traffic stop on a stolen red 2017 Ford Escape near SE 10th Avenue and SE Monroe Street in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

The driver, later identified as 44-year-old Bryan K. Carter of Topeka, refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. The vehicle pursuit ended in the 500 block of SE Lafayette Street and the occupants ran from the SUV.

K-9 units assisted and two individuals were taken into custody nearby. Carter was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of stolen property, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body;&nbsp;Operating a vehicle without a valid license,&nbsp;Interference with law enforcement, speeding and reckless driving&nbsp;

Rochelle E-M Mott, 29, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into jail on requested charges that include Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and interference with law enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748811733168.png" alt="Carter photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Carter photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on multiple allegations after a high-speed chase in a reported stolen vehicle.Just after 5 p.m. May 30, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conducted a traffic stop on a stolen red 2017 Ford Escape near SE 10th Avenue and SE Monroe Street in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748811515267.png" alt="Mott photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Mott photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, later identified as 44-year-old Bryan K. Carter of Topeka, refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. The vehicle pursuit ended in the 500 block of SE Lafayette Street and the occupants ran from the SUV.K-9 units assisted and two individuals were taken into custody nearby. Carter was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of stolen property, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body;&nbsp;Operating a vehicle without a valid license,&nbsp;Interference with law enforcement, speeding and reckless driving&nbsp;Rochelle E-M Mott, 29, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into jail on requested charges that include Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and interference with law enforcement.

Kan. sheriff's K9 helped make arrest of 2 who ran from stolen SUV

TOPEKA —Pride Month kicked off with events around the world this weekend.

It’s an annual series of parades and other gatherings to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and rights.

On Sunday morning, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly used her social media account to recognize the month.

At its heart, Pride is both a party and a protest.

In the U.S. this year, that means speaking out against a slew of policies that impose restrictions on transgender people and that try to end diversity, equity and inclusion programming in government, education and businesses.

Here’s a look at the event’s roots and this year’s events and themes.

The monthlong global celebration began with Gay Pride Week in late June 1970, a year after the violent police raid at New York’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-manhattan-new-york-ny-state-wire-4bc5e39485784b16b4b479dca4e4e32c">Stonewall Inn,</a>&nbsp;a gay bar.

At a time when many LGBTQ+ people kept their identities private, the June 28, 1969, raid sparked a series of public protests and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-pa-state-wire-new-york-ny-state-wire-5f2159a5120e4833b31683665f9405ca">catalyzed the gay rights movement</a>.

The first pride week featured marches in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, and it has since grown to other cities. On the calendar are events in Philadelphia this weekend; New Orleans on June 14; Chicago on June 21 and 22; and New York over the weekend of June 28 and 29. Many other events in big cities and small towns are also planned.

There are pride celebrations around the world, including in Tokyo on June 8; Toronto on June 27-29; Sao Paolo on June 22; and Paris on June 28.

Some events fall outside of June, too.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-pride-lgbtq-parade-washington-8399b87fb17792740d1c84094369c682">World Pride</a>, a biannual event held this year in Washington, D.C., began in May and goes through June 8. Pride in London is in July; a big celebration in Rio de Janeiro is in November and Atlanta’s is in October.

Former President Bill Clinton proclaimed June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 1999, marking the first time a U.S. president did so.

How Trump is targeting trans people and DEI policies

When President Donald Trump returned to office in January, he quickly attempted to roll back LGBTQ+ rights.

He’s especially targeted transgender people with policies that halted allowing people to change the sex listed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-passports-trump-executive-order-ee211c3298f0c6f561f829cf5adca281">on their passport</a>, removed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-ban-military-discharge-troops-0218f0b6fec595c420bd0ac072d87335">transgender military troops</a>&nbsp;and sought to stop using federal insurance programs to pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-transition-executive-order-301e4130233b411311978f66f455f1c4">gender-affirming care for transgender people</a>&nbsp;under age 19, and keep transgender athletes out of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-sports-maine-51322764e6a62c6bbed700bbe7ecfb4d">girls and women’s sports competitions</a>.

All of those changes are being challenged in court.

His actions follow years of policies in Republican-controlled states that bar gender-affirming care for transgender minors and dictate which sports transgender people can play and which school and other public bathrooms they are allowed to use. The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-transgender-tennessee-05cf88e277cb9692ffd5bdd0f95aa4cd">Supreme Court is expected to rule</a>&nbsp;this month on whether Tennessee’s ban on medical treatment is constitutional.

One of Trump’s orders called for removing references to what he and some other conservatives call “gender ideology” from government publications and websites.

A result of that:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stonewall-transgender-trump-3add180f5cfcde156f8d809d24e830a6">References to transgender people</a>&nbsp;have been removed from government websites, including the one for the Stonewall National Monument, site of the event that inspired Pride.

About&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-poll-care-bathrooms-military-trump-b5c9521d3d486e87c8631a99a455df2f">half of U.S. adults</a>&nbsp;approve of how Trump is handling transgender issues, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found last month. About 4 in 10 voters approve of his job as president overall.

But support for his individual policies on transgender people is not uniformly strong, with a clearer consensus against policies that affect youth.

Organizers of Milwaukee’s PrideFest are prepared for close to 50,000 people at the event scheduled for June 5-7.

“We’re feeling that people will be showing up, and that’s their protest,” said Wes Shaver, the president and CEO of Milwaukee Pride, Inc.

The event’s theme is “Celebrating the Power of Pride” and for the first time, one of the entertainment stages one night will feature only transgender performers. Shaver said that’s an intentional move in response to Trump’s policies. Another night, the stage will feature only performers of color.

Jeremy Williams, the executive producer of Philly Pride 365 in Philadelphia, said he didn’t expect more protest than in the past there.

“Everybody’s just there to be together,” he said.

The 10th anniversary of same-sex marriage legalized nationwide

One milestone that’s likely to be celebrated: This month marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which recognized same-sex marriage nationwide. It was a watershed event in establishing rights for LGBTQ+ people across the country.

About two-thirds of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. said the case made the nation more accepting of same-sex couples, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pew-lgbtq-poll-transgender-acceptance-trump-a2971bdc2731f88ceacd64d7614d6152">Pew Research Center poll</a>&nbsp;released last week.

The poll found that LGBTQ+ people don’t always feel accepted, though. About 6 in 10 said they see “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of social acceptance for those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. But only about 1 in 10 said the same is true for nonbinary and transgender people.

Which companies are backing off on sponsorships

Several big companies have pulled back on sponsorships for Pride events this year.

Among them: Anheuser-Busch, the St. Louis-based brewer, declined to sponsor PrideFest in its home city after three decades of support, leaving organizers $150,000 short of last year’s budget, they told The Associated Press.

NYC Pride said about 20% of its corporate sponsors dropped or reduced support, including PepsiCo and Nissan. The carmaker said it was reviewing all its marketing costs.

In other cities, such as Kansas City, Missouri, pride events lost about half their budgets.

Several companies that have pulled back have not explained why to the AP. But some experts see the change as part of a broader retreat from brand activism.

Still, the groups behind many Pride events say some companies have kept contributing but have asked not to be listed publicly as sponsors.

TOPEKA —Pride Month kicked off with events around the world this weekend.It’s an annual series of parades and other gatherings to celebrate LGBTQ+ culture and rights.On Sunday morning, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly used her social media account to recognize the month.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Happy Pride Month, Kansas! This June, we celebrate and elevate the voices and contributions of LGBTQ+ Kansans. Know that as long as I&#39;m governor, I will continue to stand with you — you have an ally in me. <a href="https://t.co/ddTmhEWNsA">pic.twitter.com/ddTmhEWNsA</a>&mdash; Governor Laura Kelly (@GovLauraKelly) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly/status/1929195229912969528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>At its heart, Pride is both a party and a protest.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">All Kansans — regardless of who they are and who they love — deserve to thrive as their most authentic selves. Happy Pride Month! <a href="https://t.co/JAGzsoIPS4">pic.twitter.com/JAGzsoIPS4</a>&mdash; Rep. Sharice Davids (@RepDavids) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDavids/status/1929241535452983453?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In the U.S. this year, that means speaking out against a slew of policies that impose restrictions on transgender people and that try to end diversity, equity and inclusion programming in government, education and businesses.Here’s a look at the event’s roots and this year’s events and themes.<h2>When Pride Month began</h2>The monthlong global celebration began with Gay Pride Week in late June 1970, a year after the violent police raid at New York’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-manhattan-new-york-ny-state-wire-4bc5e39485784b16b4b479dca4e4e32c">Stonewall Inn,</a>&nbsp;a gay bar.At a time when many LGBTQ+ people kept their identities private, the June 28, 1969, raid sparked a series of public protests and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-pa-state-wire-new-york-ny-state-wire-5f2159a5120e4833b31683665f9405ca">catalyzed the gay rights movement</a>.The first pride week featured marches in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, and it has since grown to other cities. On the calendar are events in Philadelphia this weekend; New Orleans on June 14; Chicago on June 21 and 22; and New York over the weekend of June 28 and 29. Many other events in big cities and small towns are also planned.There are pride celebrations around the world, including in Tokyo on June 8; Toronto on June 27-29; Sao Paolo on June 22; and Paris on June 28.Some events fall outside of June, too.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-pride-lgbtq-parade-washington-8399b87fb17792740d1c84094369c682">World Pride</a>, a biannual event held this year in Washington, D.C., began in May and goes through June 8. Pride in London is in July; a big celebration in Rio de Janeiro is in November and Atlanta’s is in October.Former President Bill Clinton proclaimed June as Gay and Lesbian Pride Month in 1999, marking the first time a U.S. president did so.<h2>How Trump is targeting trans people and DEI policies</h2>When President Donald Trump returned to office in January, he quickly attempted to roll back LGBTQ+ rights.He’s especially targeted transgender people with policies that halted allowing people to change the sex listed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-passports-trump-executive-order-ee211c3298f0c6f561f829cf5adca281">on their passport</a>, removed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-ban-military-discharge-troops-0218f0b6fec595c420bd0ac072d87335">transgender military troops</a>&nbsp;and sought to stop using federal insurance programs to pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-transition-executive-order-301e4130233b411311978f66f455f1c4">gender-affirming care for transgender people</a>&nbsp;under age 19, and keep transgender athletes out of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-sports-maine-51322764e6a62c6bbed700bbe7ecfb4d">girls and women’s sports competitions</a>.All of those changes are being challenged in court.His actions follow years of policies in Republican-controlled states that bar gender-affirming care for transgender minors and dictate which sports transgender people can play and which school and other public bathrooms they are allowed to use. The U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-transgender-tennessee-05cf88e277cb9692ffd5bdd0f95aa4cd">Supreme Court is expected to rule</a>&nbsp;this month on whether Tennessee’s ban on medical treatment is constitutional.One of Trump’s orders called for removing references to what he and some other conservatives call “gender ideology” from government publications and websites.A result of that:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stonewall-transgender-trump-3add180f5cfcde156f8d809d24e830a6">References to transgender people</a>&nbsp;have been removed from government websites, including the one for the Stonewall National Monument, site of the event that inspired Pride.About&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-poll-care-bathrooms-military-trump-b5c9521d3d486e87c8631a99a455df2f">half of U.S. adults</a>&nbsp;approve of how Trump is handling transgender issues, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found last month. About 4 in 10 voters approve of his job as president overall.But support for his individual policies on transgender people is not uniformly strong, with a clearer consensus against policies that affect youth.<h2>This year’s celebrations in the U.S.</h2>Organizers of Milwaukee’s PrideFest are prepared for close to 50,000 people at the event scheduled for June 5-7.“We’re feeling that people will be showing up, and that’s their protest,” said Wes Shaver, the president and CEO of Milwaukee Pride, Inc.The event’s theme is “Celebrating the Power of Pride” and for the first time, one of the entertainment stages one night will feature only transgender performers. Shaver said that’s an intentional move in response to Trump’s policies. Another night, the stage will feature only performers of color.Jeremy Williams, the executive producer of Philly Pride 365 in Philadelphia, said he didn’t expect more protest than in the past there.“Everybody’s just there to be together,” he said.<h2>The 10th anniversary of same-sex marriage legalized nationwide</h2>One milestone that’s likely to be celebrated: This month marks the 10th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell v. Hodges ruling, which recognized same-sex marriage nationwide. It was a watershed event in establishing rights for LGBTQ+ people across the country.About two-thirds of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. said the case made the nation more accepting of same-sex couples, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pew-lgbtq-poll-transgender-acceptance-trump-a2971bdc2731f88ceacd64d7614d6152">Pew Research Center poll</a>&nbsp;released last week.The poll found that LGBTQ+ people don’t always feel accepted, though. About 6 in 10 said they see “a great deal” or “a fair amount” of social acceptance for those who are lesbian, gay or bisexual. But only about 1 in 10 said the same is true for nonbinary and transgender people.<h2>Which companies are backing off on sponsorships</h2>Several big companies have pulled back on sponsorships for Pride events this year.Among them: Anheuser-Busch, the St. Louis-based brewer, declined to sponsor PrideFest in its home city after three decades of support, leaving organizers $150,000 short of last year’s budget, they told The Associated Press.NYC Pride said about 20% of its corporate sponsors dropped or reduced support, including PepsiCo and Nissan. The carmaker said it was reviewing all its marketing costs.In other cities, such as Kansas City, Missouri, pride events lost about half their budgets.Several companies that have pulled back have not explained why to the AP. But some experts see the change as part of a broader retreat from brand activism.Still, the groups behind many Pride events say some companies have kept contributing but have asked not to be listed publicly as sponsors.

Kansas Governor issues statement on Pride Month

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. approved a new COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna late Friday but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fda-kennedy-covid-shots-rfk-trump-bb4de15b6ff955d6cd0b406aaec3cdc5">with limits</a>&nbsp;on who can use it — not a replacement for the company’s existing shot, but a second option.

The new vaccine, mNexspike, is a step toward next-generation coronavirus vaccines. It's made in a way that allows for a lower dose — a fifth of the dose of its current COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax — by refining its immune target.

The approval “adds an important new tool to help protect people at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19,” Stephane Bancel, Moderna’s CEO, said in a statement Saturday.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the new vaccine for use in all adults 65 and older, and for people age 12 to 64 who have a least one health condition that puts them at increased risk from the coronavirus.

That’s the same limit that the FDA set in licensing another COVID-19 vaccine option from competitor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/novavax-covid19-vaccine-fda-a477c1aa612ceb293e70d904b46611b0">Novavax</a>.

Those restrictions are a departure from how the U.S. has handled COVID-19 vaccines until now, reflecting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccine-trump-science-autism-9b99621b01f11b7f0bdc81e5a0b82d2b">skepticism about vaccines</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and other Trump officials.

Moderna’s existing vaccine doesn’t face those limits and has long been used for anyone ages 6 months and older. The company said it expected to offer both options this fall.

The FDA’s approval was based on a study of 11,400 people age 12 and older that compared the new low-dose vaccine with Moderna’s existing vaccine. It found the new vaccine was safe and was at least as effective — and more by some measures — than the original shot, the company said.

The news came just days after the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moderna-influenza-vaccine-terminated-ca14251649cf6a065342196a8b021f92">canceled funding</a>&nbsp;for Moderna to develop a vaccine against potential pandemic flu viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu, despite promising early study results.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The U.S. approved a new COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna late Friday but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fda-kennedy-covid-shots-rfk-trump-bb4de15b6ff955d6cd0b406aaec3cdc5">with limits</a>&nbsp;on who can use it — not a replacement for the company’s existing shot, but a second option.The new vaccine, mNexspike, is a step toward next-generation coronavirus vaccines. It's made in a way that allows for a lower dose — a fifth of the dose of its current COVID-19 vaccine, Spikevax — by refining its immune target.The approval “adds an important new tool to help protect people at high risk of severe disease from COVID-19,” Stephane Bancel, Moderna’s CEO, said in a statement Saturday.The Food and Drug Administration approved the new vaccine for use in all adults 65 and older, and for people age 12 to 64 who have a least one health condition that puts them at increased risk from the coronavirus.That’s the same limit that the FDA set in licensing another COVID-19 vaccine option from competitor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/novavax-covid19-vaccine-fda-a477c1aa612ceb293e70d904b46611b0">Novavax</a>.Those restrictions are a departure from how the U.S. has handled COVID-19 vaccines until now, reflecting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccine-trump-science-autism-9b99621b01f11b7f0bdc81e5a0b82d2b">skepticism about vaccines</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and other Trump officials.Moderna’s existing vaccine doesn’t face those limits and has long been used for anyone ages 6 months and older. The company said it expected to offer both options this fall.The FDA’s approval was based on a study of 11,400 people age 12 and older that compared the new low-dose vaccine with Moderna’s existing vaccine. It found the new vaccine was safe and was at least as effective — and more by some measures — than the original shot, the company said.The news came just days after the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/moderna-influenza-vaccine-terminated-ca14251649cf6a065342196a8b021f92">canceled funding</a>&nbsp;for Moderna to develop a vaccine against potential pandemic flu viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu, despite promising early study results.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

FDA approves Moderna's new lower-dose COVID-19 vaccine

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Sen. Joni Ernst was met with shouts and groans when she said “we all are going to die” as she addressed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e">potential changes to Medicaid eligibility</a>&nbsp;at a town hall in north-central Iowa on Friday.

On Saturday, Ernst issued an apology, sort of, on her Instagram page.

She had been consistent in her message throughout the contentious forum at a high school in Parkersburg, Iowa, as she defended the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-cuts-medicaid-00ce1ff8a7b7fea7a894d38398748c6b">tax and immigration package</a>&nbsp;that has passed the House and is now under consideration in the Senate. Facing several constituents concerned about cuts to Medicaid, she defended the $700 billion in reduced spending, saying it would keep immigrants in the U.S. illegally and those who have access to insurance through their employers off the rolls.

Then someone in the crowd yelled that people will die without coverage.

“People are not ... well, we all are going to die,” Ernst said, drawing groans. “So, for heaven’s sakes. For heaven’s sakes, folks.”

“What you don’t want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,” Ernst went on. “Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid we will protect.”

House Republicans last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-f2c60ae5c7c1313de69446f9ac7176e6">muscled through</a>&nbsp;the massive spending and tax cut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-cuts-medicaid-00ce1ff8a7b7fea7a894d38398748c6b">package</a>, dubbed “the big, beautiful bill” at the urging of President Donald Trump, by a single vote. It now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-cuts-medicaid-congress-senate-trump-bill-2825f8fa0e96a00cf72a6de6a5a88a25">moves to the Senate</a>.

Ernst made clear Friday that any measure that emerges from the Senate will look different from the House version.

Republicans have defended the new work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and stepped up eligibility verification, saying the generated savings will sustain the program for vulnerable populations. Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.

A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.

Video of Ernst’s comment started making the rounds among Democrat elected officials and candidates. Ernst is up for reelection in 2026.

“This morning, Joni Ernst said the quiet part out loud:" Republicans do not care “about whether their own constituents live or die as long as the richest few get richer,” said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican Sen. Joni Ernst was met with shouts and groans when she said “we all are going to die” as she addressed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e">potential changes to Medicaid eligibility</a>&nbsp;at a town hall in north-central Iowa on Friday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">During a town hall meeting, when discussing Medicaid benefits, Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) responds to someone: &quot;Well, we all are going to die.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/HDj0w27vHJ">pic.twitter.com/HDj0w27vHJ</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1928477381359972502?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Saturday, Ernst issued an apology, sort of, on her Instagram page.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Against all odds, Joni Ernst has made it worse <a href="https://t.co/aElIudNmZG">pic.twitter.com/aElIudNmZG</a>&mdash; Keith Edwards (@keithedwards) <a href="https://twitter.com/keithedwards/status/1928916957278908823?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>She had been consistent in her message throughout the contentious forum at a high school in Parkersburg, Iowa, as she defended the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-cuts-medicaid-00ce1ff8a7b7fea7a894d38398748c6b">tax and immigration package</a>&nbsp;that has passed the House and is now under consideration in the Senate. Facing several constituents concerned about cuts to Medicaid, she defended the $700 billion in reduced spending, saying it would keep immigrants in the U.S. illegally and those who have access to insurance through their employers off the rolls.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thanks folks for coming out to my town hall in Parkersburg today! I always enjoy hearing from constituents and sharing my work to cut government red tape for you. <a href="https://t.co/Roy06rQVvL">pic.twitter.com/Roy06rQVvL</a>&mdash; Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJoniErnst/status/1928456005597151575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Then someone in the crowd yelled that people will die without coverage.“People are not ... well, we all are going to die,” Ernst said, drawing groans. “So, for heaven’s sakes. For heaven’s sakes, folks.”“What you don’t want to do is listen to me when I say that we are going to focus on those that are most vulnerable,” Ernst went on. “Those that meet the eligibility requirements for Medicaid we will protect.”House Republicans last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-tax-cuts-trump-f2c60ae5c7c1313de69446f9ac7176e6">muscled through</a>&nbsp;the massive spending and tax cut&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/big-beautiful-bill-trump-tax-cuts-medicaid-00ce1ff8a7b7fea7a894d38398748c6b">package</a>, dubbed “the big, beautiful bill” at the urging of President Donald Trump, by a single vote. It now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-cuts-medicaid-congress-senate-trump-bill-2825f8fa0e96a00cf72a6de6a5a88a25">moves to the Senate</a>.Ernst made clear Friday that any measure that emerges from the Senate will look different from the House version.Republicans have defended the new work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents and stepped up eligibility verification, saying the generated savings will sustain the program for vulnerable populations. Democrats warn that millions of Americans will lose coverage.A preliminary estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the proposals would reduce the number of people with health care by 8.6 million over the decade.Video of Ernst’s comment started making the rounds among Democrat elected officials and candidates. Ernst is up for reelection in 2026.“This morning, Joni Ernst said the quiet part out loud:" Republicans do not care “about whether their own constituents live or die as long as the richest few get richer,” said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement.

🎥U.S. Senator responds to criticism of her ‘We're all going to die’ statement 

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

Just before 9p.m. Friday,&nbsp; patrol officers were dispatched to a reported shooting at 82nd Terrace and Troost, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

While in route officers received numerous calls about sounds of shots in the area. They also received an additional call that there was a victim in the 8200 block of Tracy. As officers arrived they located an adult male victim in the street. He was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and officers immediately began performing life saving measures.

 KCFD EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

This is being investigated as a homicide and there is no one in custody at this point. Preliminary information indicated there was an altercation between several individuals in the street that led to shots being fired and the victim being struck.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim.

KANSAS CITY —Police are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.Just before 9p.m. Friday,&nbsp; patrol officers were dispatched to a reported shooting at 82nd Terrace and Troost, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.While in route officers received numerous calls about sounds of shots in the area. They also received an additional call that there was a victim in the 8200 block of Tracy. As officers arrived they located an adult male victim in the street. He was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds and officers immediately began performing life saving measures. KCFD EMS responded and transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.This is being investigated as a homicide and there is no one in custody at this point. Preliminary information indicated there was an altercation between several individuals in the street that led to shots being fired and the victim being struck.&nbsp; Police have not released the name of the victim.

KCPD: After multiple reports of gunfire, victim found in the street

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-bauder">DAVID BAUDER</a> Associated Press

PBS filed suit Friday against President Donald Trump and other administration officials to block his order stripping federal funding from the 330-station public television system,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/npr-trump-lawsuit-public-radio-f320314b30df6934238a5b6af47c5067">three days after NPR</a>&nbsp;did the same for its radio network.

In its lawsuit, PBS relies on similar arguments, saying Trump was overstepping his authority and engaging in&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/e2b87457c520ea5311da8651d77fccc5.-1.0.json?type=edit" target="_blank">“viewpoint discrimination”</a>&nbsp;because of his claim that PBS’ news coverage is biased against conservatives.

“PBS disputes those charged assertions in the strongest possible terms,” lawyer Z.W. Julius Chen wrote in the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington. “But regardless of any policy disagreements over the role of public television, our Constitution and laws forbid the President from serving as the arbiter of the content of PBS’s programming, including by attempting to defund PBS.”

It was the latest of many legal actions taken against the administration for its moves, including several by media organizations impacted by Trump’s orders.

Northern Minnesota PBS station joins in the lawsuit

PBS was joined as a plaintiff by one of its stations, Lakeland PBS, which serves rural areas in northern and central Minnesota. Trump’s order is an “existential threat” to the station, the lawsuit said.

A PBS spokesman said that “after careful deliberation, PBS reached the conclusion that it was necessary to take legal action to safeguard public television’s editorial independence, and to protect the autonomy of PBS member stations.”

Through an executive order earlier this month, Trump told the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal agencies to stop funding the two systems. Through the corporation alone, PBS is receiving $325 million this year, most of which goes directly to individual stations.

The White House deputy press secretary, Harrison Fields, said the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is creating media to support a particular political party on the taxpayers’ dime.

“Therefore, the President is exercising his lawful authority to limit funding to NPR and PBS,” Fields said. “The President was elected with a mandate to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and he will continue to use his lawful authority to achieve that objective.”

PBS, which makes much of the programming used by the stations, said it gets 22% of its revenue directly from the feds. Sixty-one percent of PBS’ budget is funded through individual station dues, and the stations raise the bulk of that money through the government.

Interrupting ‘a rich tapestry of programming’

Trump’s order “would have profound impacts on the ability of PBS and PBS member stations to provide a rich tapestry of programming to all Americans,” Chen wrote.

PBS said the U.S. Department of Education has canceled a $78 million grant to the system for educational programming, used to make children’s shows like “Sesame Street,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “Reading Rainbow.”

For Minnesota residents, the order threatens the “Lakeland Learns” education program and “Lakeland News,” described in the lawsuit as the only television program in the region providing local news, weather and sports.

Besides Trump, the lawsuit names other administration officials as defendants, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. PBS says its technology is used as a backup for the nationwide wireless emergency alert system.

The administration has fought with several media organizations. Government-run news services like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-trump-f30c48df0c16de622ec5fd99ee6c627c">Voice of America</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/radio-free-europe-5e0b2355ad9cee4ad09a3e03b53df8fa">Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty</a>&nbsp;are struggling for their lives, The Associated Press has battled with the White House over press access and the Federal Communications Commission is investigating television news divisions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746181587274.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/david-bauder">DAVID BAUDER</a> Associated PressPBS filed suit Friday against President Donald Trump and other administration officials to block his order stripping federal funding from the 330-station public television system,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/npr-trump-lawsuit-public-radio-f320314b30df6934238a5b6af47c5067">three days after NPR</a>&nbsp;did the same for its radio network.In its lawsuit, PBS relies on similar arguments, saying Trump was overstepping his authority and engaging in&nbsp;<a href="https://pronto.associatedpress.com/web/stories/details/e2b87457c520ea5311da8651d77fccc5.-1.0.json?type=edit" target="_blank">“viewpoint discrimination”</a>&nbsp;because of his claim that PBS’ news coverage is biased against conservatives.“PBS disputes those charged assertions in the strongest possible terms,” lawyer Z.W. Julius Chen wrote in the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington. “But regardless of any policy disagreements over the role of public television, our Constitution and laws forbid the President from serving as the arbiter of the content of PBS’s programming, including by attempting to defund PBS.”It was the latest of many legal actions taken against the administration for its moves, including several by media organizations impacted by Trump’s orders.<h2>Northern Minnesota PBS station joins in the lawsuit</h2>PBS was joined as a plaintiff by one of its stations, Lakeland PBS, which serves rural areas in northern and central Minnesota. Trump’s order is an “existential threat” to the station, the lawsuit said.A PBS spokesman said that “after careful deliberation, PBS reached the conclusion that it was necessary to take legal action to safeguard public television’s editorial independence, and to protect the autonomy of PBS member stations.”Through an executive order earlier this month, Trump told the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and federal agencies to stop funding the two systems. Through the corporation alone, PBS is receiving $325 million this year, most of which goes directly to individual stations.The White House deputy press secretary, Harrison Fields, said the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is creating media to support a particular political party on the taxpayers’ dime.“Therefore, the President is exercising his lawful authority to limit funding to NPR and PBS,” Fields said. “The President was elected with a mandate to ensure efficient use of taxpayer dollars, and he will continue to use his lawful authority to achieve that objective.”PBS, which makes much of the programming used by the stations, said it gets 22% of its revenue directly from the feds. Sixty-one percent of PBS’ budget is funded through individual station dues, and the stations raise the bulk of that money through the government.<h2>Interrupting ‘a rich tapestry of programming’</h2>Trump’s order “would have profound impacts on the ability of PBS and PBS member stations to provide a rich tapestry of programming to all Americans,” Chen wrote.PBS said the U.S. Department of Education has canceled a $78 million grant to the system for educational programming, used to make children’s shows like “Sesame Street,” “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “Reading Rainbow.”For Minnesota residents, the order threatens the “Lakeland Learns” education program and “Lakeland News,” described in the lawsuit as the only television program in the region providing local news, weather and sports.Besides Trump, the lawsuit names other administration officials as defendants, including Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. PBS says its technology is used as a backup for the nationwide wireless emergency alert system.The administration has fought with several media organizations. Government-run news services like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voice-of-america-trump-f30c48df0c16de622ec5fd99ee6c627c">Voice of America</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/radio-free-europe-5e0b2355ad9cee4ad09a3e03b53df8fa">Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty</a>&nbsp;are struggling for their lives, The Associated Press has battled with the White House over press access and the Federal Communications Commission is investigating television news divisions.___

PBS will fight Trump administration in court over funding cuts

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22YONAT%20SHIMRON%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By YONAT SHIMRON </a><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22YONAT%20SHIMRON%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">Religion News Service</a>

This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story.

Last month, Marc Wyatt, director of Welcome House Raleigh, received a call from the North Carolina field office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants asking if he could help furnish the apartments for the refugees, among the 59 Afrikaners who arrived in the U.S. last week from South Africa, he told RNS. It was a common request for the ministry that partners with refugee resettlement agencies to provide temporary housing and furniture for people in need.

And at the same time, the request was extremely challenging. After thinking about it, consulting with the Welcome House network director and asking for feedback from ministry volunteers, Wyatt said yes.

“Our position is that however morally and ethically charged it is, our mandate is to help welcome and love people,” said Wyatt, a retired Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missionary who now works for CBF North Carolina. “Our holy book says God loves people. We don’t get to discriminate.”

He recognized that Afrikaners are part of a white ethnic minority that created and led South Africa’s brutal segregationist policies known as apartheid for nearly 50 years. That policy, which included denying the country’s Black majority rights to voting, housing, education and land, ended in 1994, when the country elected Nelson Mandela in its first free presidential election.

Like Wyatt and Welcome House, many faith-based groups are now considering whether to help the government resettle Afrikaners after the Trump administration shut down refugee resettlement for all others.

Last week, the Episcopal Church chose to end its refugee resettlement partnership with the U.S. government rather than resettle Afrikaners. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said his church’s commitment to racial justice and reconciliation, and its long relationship with the late Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu made it impossible for the church to work with the government on resettling Afrikaners.

In January, in one of his first executive orders, President Donald Trump shuttered the decades-old refugee program, which brings people to the U.S. who are displaced by war, natural disasters or persecution. The decision left thousands of refugees, many living in camps for years and having undergone a rigorous vetting process, stranded.

But then Trump directed the government to fast-track the group of Afrikaners for resettlement, saying these white farmers in South Africa are being killed in a genocide, a baseless claim. The order left many refugee advocates who have worked for years to resettle vulnerable people enraged.

“Refugees sit in camps for 10, 20 years, but if you’re a white South African Afrikaner, then suddenly you can make it through in three months?” asked the Rev. Randy Carter, director of the Welcome Network and a pastor of a CBF church. “There’s a lot of words I’d like to attach to that, but I don’t want any of those printed.”

Carter said he respects and honors the Episcopal Church’s decision not to work with the government on resettling the Afrikaners, even if his network has taken a different approach.

“The call to welcome is not always easy,” Carter said. “Sometimes it’s hard.”

At the same time, he said, it’s important resettlement volunteers keep in mind that the ministry opposes apartheid and racism, both in the U.S. and abroad, and is committed to repentance and repair.

The North Carolina field office for the USCRI resettlement group also recognized how fraught this particular resettlement is for its faith-based partners.

“In our communication with them, we said, ‘Look, we know this is not a normal issue. You or your constituencies may have reservations, and we understand that. That should not affect our partnership,’” said Omer Omer, the North Carolina field office director for USCRI. “If you want to participate, welcome. If not, we understand.”

Wyatt got nearly two dozen comments on his Facebook post in which he announced his decision to work with the refugee agency in resettling the Afrikaners. Nearly all wrote in support of his decision. “I’m up sleepless pondering this,” acknowledged one person. “Complicated, but the right call,” wrote another.

USCRI did not release the names of the three Afrikaners who chose to settle in Raleigh, a couple and a single individual. Other Afrikaners chose to be resettled in Idaho, Iowa, New York and Texas.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested last week that more Afrikaners are on the way. The Trump administration argues white South Africans are being discriminated against by the country’s government, pointing to a law potentially allowing the government to seize privately held land under certain conditions. Since the end of apartheid, the South African government has made efforts to level the economic imbalance and redistribute land to Black South Africans that had been seized by the former colonial and apartheid governments.

Wyatt, who has been running the Welcome House Raleigh ministry for 10 years, providing temporary housing and a furniture bank for refugees, and now asylum seekers, said he has settled the matter in his mind.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22YONAT%20SHIMRON%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By YONAT SHIMRON </a><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22YONAT%20SHIMRON%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">Religion News Service</a>___This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story.___Last month, Marc Wyatt, director of Welcome House Raleigh, received a call from the North Carolina field office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants asking if he could help furnish the apartments for the refugees, among the 59 Afrikaners who arrived in the U.S. last week from South Africa, he told RNS. It was a common request for the ministry that partners with refugee resettlement agencies to provide temporary housing and furniture for people in need.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">U.S. officials greet white South Africans to whom the Trump administration has granted refugee status for being deemed victims of racial discrimination in their home country. <a href="https://t.co/JwaVyziofT">pic.twitter.com/JwaVyziofT</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1922007640294519257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>And at the same time, the request was extremely challenging. After thinking about it, consulting with the Welcome House network director and asking for feedback from ministry volunteers, Wyatt said yes.“Our position is that however morally and ethically charged it is, our mandate is to help welcome and love people,” said Wyatt, a retired Cooperative Baptist Fellowship missionary who now works for CBF North Carolina. “Our holy book says God loves people. We don’t get to discriminate.”He recognized that Afrikaners are part of a white ethnic minority that created and led South Africa’s brutal segregationist policies known as apartheid for nearly 50 years. That policy, which included denying the country’s Black majority rights to voting, housing, education and land, ended in 1994, when the country elected Nelson Mandela in its first free presidential election.Like Wyatt and Welcome House, many faith-based groups are now considering whether to help the government resettle Afrikaners after the Trump administration shut down refugee resettlement for all others.Last week, the Episcopal Church chose to end its refugee resettlement partnership with the U.S. government rather than resettle Afrikaners. Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said his church’s commitment to racial justice and reconciliation, and its long relationship with the late Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu made it impossible for the church to work with the government on resettling Afrikaners.In January, in one of his first executive orders, President Donald Trump shuttered the decades-old refugee program, which brings people to the U.S. who are displaced by war, natural disasters or persecution. The decision left thousands of refugees, many living in camps for years and having undergone a rigorous vetting process, stranded.But then Trump directed the government to fast-track the group of Afrikaners for resettlement, saying these white farmers in South Africa are being killed in a genocide, a baseless claim. The order left many refugee advocates who have worked for years to resettle vulnerable people enraged.“Refugees sit in camps for 10, 20 years, but if you’re a white South African Afrikaner, then suddenly you can make it through in three months?” asked the Rev. Randy Carter, director of the Welcome Network and a pastor of a CBF church. “There’s a lot of words I’d like to attach to that, but I don’t want any of those printed.”Carter said he respects and honors the Episcopal Church’s decision not to work with the government on resettling the Afrikaners, even if his network has taken a different approach.“The call to welcome is not always easy,” Carter said. “Sometimes it’s hard.”At the same time, he said, it’s important resettlement volunteers keep in mind that the ministry opposes apartheid and racism, both in the U.S. and abroad, and is committed to repentance and repair.The North Carolina field office for the USCRI resettlement group also recognized how fraught this particular resettlement is for its faith-based partners.“In our communication with them, we said, ‘Look, we know this is not a normal issue. You or your constituencies may have reservations, and we understand that. That should not affect our partnership,’” said Omer Omer, the North Carolina field office director for USCRI. “If you want to participate, welcome. If not, we understand.”Wyatt got nearly two dozen comments on his Facebook post in which he announced his decision to work with the refugee agency in resettling the Afrikaners. Nearly all wrote in support of his decision. “I’m up sleepless pondering this,” acknowledged one person. “Complicated, but the right call,” wrote another.USCRI did not release the names of the three Afrikaners who chose to settle in Raleigh, a couple and a single individual. Other Afrikaners chose to be resettled in Idaho, Iowa, New York and Texas.Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested last week that more Afrikaners are on the way. The Trump administration argues white South Africans are being discriminated against by the country’s government, pointing to a law potentially allowing the government to seize privately held land under certain conditions. Since the end of apartheid, the South African government has made efforts to level the economic imbalance and redistribute land to Black South Africans that had been seized by the former colonial and apartheid governments.Wyatt, who has been running the Welcome House Raleigh ministry for 10 years, providing temporary housing and a furniture bank for refugees, and now asylum seekers, said he has settled the matter in his mind.

‘We don’t get to discriminate’: How a ministry decided to help resettle Afrikaners

GLADSTONE, Mo. —Authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly explosion at a single-family home in the 100 Block of NE 74th Terrace in the Kansas City suburb of Gladstone.&nbsp; Investigators found one unidentified body at the scene.

Just after 11a.m. Saturday, crews from city of Gladstone and the Kansas City Fire Department responded to the property where the home was completely destroyed, according to&nbsp;Gladstone Battalion Chief Mike Desaultels.&nbsp;

As a precaution, adjacent homes were evacuated. Crews found the body of one victim. No other injuries were reported.&nbsp; The area was secured and reported to be safe.

The Kansas City Fire Dept. assisted Gladstone with 4 pumper companies, 2 truck companies, HazMat, and a Drone, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748720548341.png" alt="View near the scene of the home explosion-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>View near the scene of the home explosion-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>GLADSTONE, Mo. —Authorities are investigating the cause of a deadly explosion at a single-family home in the 100 Block of NE 74th Terrace in the Kansas City suburb of Gladstone.&nbsp; Investigators found one unidentified body at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748777741182.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 11a.m. Saturday, crews from city of Gladstone and the Kansas City Fire Department responded to the property where the home was completely destroyed, according to&nbsp;Gladstone Battalion Chief Mike Desaultels.&nbsp;As a precaution, adjacent homes were evacuated. Crews found the body of one victim. No other injuries were reported.&nbsp; The area was secured and reported to be safe.The Kansas City Fire Dept. assisted Gladstone with 4 pumper companies, 2 truck companies, HazMat, and a Drone, according to KCFD Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

Cause of fatal home explosion under investigation in KC suburb 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas House Democrats opened their “fight back” tour Thursday night in the capital city, drawing more than 220 people to sit through rain showers and talk about the importance of strengthening their party’s voice in upcoming elections.

“There’s a lot to lose, so we have a lot to fight for,” said Carla Gardner, of Lawrence, as she waited in line to get into the event. “It’s sad that in 2025 we feel we have to fight back. But a lot of, well, women, potentially, could lose, the LGBTQ+ community, health care, veterans — there are just so many groups, people of color, just all the marginalized groups, that stand to lose a lot more. We have to fight back.”

Linda Manley and Sarah Ruiz, both of Topeka, said they attended the rally because they feel the need to get involved more at the local level after watching national news.

Why did they come listen to Democrats in the rain?

“The chaos in the world and trying to find out what we can do,” Ruiz said.

“Loss of our Constitution, loss of our courts, checks and balances — I know it needs to start locally,” Manley added.

Their words were echoed by many of the House Democrats in attendance, as well as Gov. Laura Kelly, who spoke briefly at the event.

“This was exactly the right response to what happened in November of 2024, in this last legislative session,” she said. “We need to be out there now and forever, leading up to the August 2026 primary when, in addition to electing candidates, we also have to make sure that we defeat that amendment to elect our Supreme Court justices.”

Kelly referred to a proposed constitutional amendment that would put Kansas Supreme Court justices on the ballot, instead of the governor appointing one of three finalists selected by a nonpartisan review panel.

“I don’t know about you, but I have no interest in being like Wisconsin on this where there are millions and millions of dollars coming into that state to sway the one group that is supposed to be impartial and not motivated by political leanings,” the governor said.

Kelly encouraged everyone in attendance to “learn to speak Republican” and talk to people throughout the state.

“Talk about the issues that matter to people, and talk about electing a person, not a party,” she said.

Rep. Susan Ruiz, before the event started, emphasized that same message. The Shawnee Democrat said anyone paying attention to what happened in the Legislature during the recent session should be concerned.

A more collaborative relationship is needed in the Statehouse to push forward things Kansans care about, she said.

“I want to see more Democrats running and winning so that we can have a fighting chance,” she said, referring to the Republicans’ supermajority. “But it would be nice to see some moderate Republicans also win because we can band together. There’s a lot of things that we can do together that would be good for the majority of the people in the state, and not the Koch brothers of the world.”

Rep. Kirk Haskins, a Topeka Democrat, said before speaking at the event that the fight back tour, which will go to at least 11 more stops throughout the state, is important to get messaging out for the Democrats.

“There’s a lot of Kansans that have had their opinion not heard,” he said. “For example, 80% of Kansans want us to see some sort of expansion of Medicaid, but yet it doesn’t come up. We also feel like it’s time for the House Democrats to lead the opportunity for them to be heard, and so we’re traveling across with an agenda purpose to share what’s happening, but also to learn, not just from Democrats, but from all Kansans.”

Haskins said he’s been concerned about how business is being conducted at the Statehouse, and also what is happening at the federal level. Important items are buried in details, for instance.&nbsp;

“We saw this during the past session many times over,” he said. “Property tax relief started off as something they campaigned on, but then when it came out, they’re making sure that luxury jets get property tax relief.”

Rob Fillion, executive director of the Kansas GOP, said the House Democrats are not on a “fight back” tour.

“This is the out-of-touch tour,” he said by email. “Do the legislators not know that people are tired of larger government? Do they not understand that people like lower taxes, secure borders and parental rights?”

The gathering drew former elected officials like Joan Wagnon, who served in the House and as Topeka mayor, along with 13 current representatives and senators, Kansas Board of Education members, Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla and others.

After Kelly spoke, a panel made up of House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, of Lenexa, and Topeka Reps. Alexis Simmons, John Alcala, and Haskins answered questions from the audience.

Those questions focused primarily on what actions people could take to make a difference, as well as concerns about Medicaid cuts and mental health services.

The panel encouraged people to contact their legislators, to go to their offices and be heard.&nbsp;

“I’m on my soapbox. Settle in,” Simmons said, drawing laughs. “Y’all know how many races in the state of Kansas, in the state Legislature, are won or lost by only double digits? It’s crazy. There are so many. We just lost a state senator in Leavenworth — he lost by 31 votes.”

Simmons encouraged people to talk to everyone and tell them to vote all the way down the ballot.

“Do not vote only for president. Don’t vote only for Congress. Vote all the way down,” she said.

The next fight back tour events will be in Wichita on June 5 and Newton on June 6. Details are on the House Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshousedems" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748697749008.jpeg" alt="Linda Manley, left, and Sarah Ruiz attended the House Democrats “fight back” rally Thursday in Topeka. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Linda Manley, left, and Sarah Ruiz attended the House Democrats “fight back” rally Thursday in Topeka. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas House Democrats opened their “fight back” tour Thursday night in the capital city, drawing more than 220 people to sit through rain showers and talk about the importance of strengthening their party’s voice in upcoming elections.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔥🦬Topeka showed up!!! A fired-up crowd of hundreds gathered in Topeka last night to help us launch the Fight Back Tour! The Fight Back Tour heads next to Wichita and Newton on June 5 and 6. 🔥 RSVP for your spot at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fightbacktour?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fightbacktour</a> in our bio <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kansas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kansas</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a> <a href="https://t.co/3jSTNkC36p">pic.twitter.com/3jSTNkC36p</a>&mdash; Kansas House Democrats (@KSHouseDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/KSHouseDems/status/1928555944931176957?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“There’s a lot to lose, so we have a lot to fight for,” said Carla Gardner, of Lawrence, as she waited in line to get into the event. “It’s sad that in 2025 we feel we have to fight back. But a lot of, well, women, potentially, could lose, the LGBTQ+ community, health care, veterans — there are just so many groups, people of color, just all the marginalized groups, that stand to lose a lot more. We have to fight back.”Linda Manley and Sarah Ruiz, both of Topeka, said they attended the rally because they feel the need to get involved more at the local level after watching national news.Why did they come listen to Democrats in the rain?“The chaos in the world and trying to find out what we can do,” Ruiz said.“Loss of our Constitution, loss of our courts, checks and balances — I know it needs to start locally,” Manley added.Their words were echoed by many of the House Democrats in attendance, as well as Gov. Laura Kelly, who spoke briefly at the event.“This was exactly the right response to what happened in November of 2024, in this last legislative session,” she said. “We need to be out there now and forever, leading up to the August 2026 primary when, in addition to electing candidates, we also have to make sure that we defeat that amendment to elect our Supreme Court justices.”Kelly referred to a proposed constitutional amendment that would put Kansas Supreme Court justices on the ballot, instead of the governor appointing one of three finalists selected by a nonpartisan review panel.“I don’t know about you, but I have no interest in being like Wisconsin on this where there are millions and millions of dollars coming into that state to sway the one group that is supposed to be impartial and not motivated by political leanings,” the governor said.Kelly encouraged everyone in attendance to “learn to speak Republican” and talk to people throughout the state.“Talk about the issues that matter to people, and talk about electing a person, not a party,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748697709558.png" alt="Representatives (from left) John Alcala, Alexis Simmons, Kirk Haskins and Brandon Woodard took part in a panel in Topeka Thursday to kick off the House Democrats “fight back” tour. The panel was moderated by Jacquie Lightcap. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Representatives (from left) John Alcala, Alexis Simmons, Kirk Haskins and Brandon Woodard took part in a panel in Topeka Thursday to kick off the House Democrats “fight back” tour. The panel was moderated by Jacquie Lightcap. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Rep. Susan Ruiz, before the event started, emphasized that same message. The Shawnee Democrat said anyone paying attention to what happened in the Legislature during the recent session should be concerned.A more collaborative relationship is needed in the Statehouse to push forward things Kansans care about, she said.“I want to see more Democrats running and winning so that we can have a fighting chance,” she said, referring to the Republicans’ supermajority. “But it would be nice to see some moderate Republicans also win because we can band together. There’s a lot of things that we can do together that would be good for the majority of the people in the state, and not the Koch brothers of the world.”Rep. Kirk Haskins, a Topeka Democrat, said before speaking at the event that the fight back tour, which will go to at least 11 more stops throughout the state, is important to get messaging out for the Democrats.“There’s a lot of Kansans that have had their opinion not heard,” he said. “For example, 80% of Kansans want us to see some sort of expansion of Medicaid, but yet it doesn’t come up. We also feel like it’s time for the House Democrats to lead the opportunity for them to be heard, and so we’re traveling across with an agenda purpose to share what’s happening, but also to learn, not just from Democrats, but from all Kansans.”Haskins said he’s been concerned about how business is being conducted at the Statehouse, and also what is happening at the federal level. Important items are buried in details, for instance.&nbsp;“We saw this during the past session many times over,” he said. “Property tax relief started off as something they campaigned on, but then when it came out, they’re making sure that luxury jets get property tax relief.”Rob Fillion, executive director of the Kansas GOP, said the House Democrats are not on a “fight back” tour.“This is the out-of-touch tour,” he said by email. “Do the legislators not know that people are tired of larger government? Do they not understand that people like lower taxes, secure borders and parental rights?”The gathering drew former elected officials like Joan Wagnon, who served in the House and as Topeka mayor, along with 13 current representatives and senators, Kansas Board of Education members, Topeka Mayor Michael Padilla and others.After Kelly spoke, a panel made up of House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, of Lenexa, and Topeka Reps. Alexis Simmons, John Alcala, and Haskins answered questions from the audience.Those questions focused primarily on what actions people could take to make a difference, as well as concerns about Medicaid cuts and mental health services.The panel encouraged people to contact their legislators, to go to their offices and be heard.&nbsp;“I’m on my soapbox. Settle in,” Simmons said, drawing laughs. “Y’all know how many races in the state of Kansas, in the state Legislature, are won or lost by only double digits? It’s crazy. There are so many. We just lost a state senator in Leavenworth — he lost by 31 votes.”Simmons encouraged people to talk to everyone and tell them to vote all the way down the ballot.“Do not vote only for president. Don’t vote only for Congress. Vote all the way down,” she said.The next fight back tour events will be in Wichita on June 5 and Newton on June 6. Details are on the House Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshousedems" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.&nbsp;

Kansas House Democrats hit the road to ‘fight back’ against GOP supermajority

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after caught in an alleged stolen vehicle.

Just after 7p.m. May 28, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a Ford pickup that was being stolen from private property located at 142nd&nbsp;and T. Road in southeastern Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle and three male subjects on 142nd&nbsp;between U.4 and V. Roads.&nbsp; All three men were arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail.

Philip D. Lister, 61, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property, possession of opiates, and possession of methamphetamine.

Michael Ray Youngs, 52, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of felony theft of property, criminal damage to property and possession of a hallucinogenic drug.

Thomas Wesley Denny, 41, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property and criminal damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748458727934.png" alt="Denny photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Denny photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating three suspects on multiple allegations after caught in an alleged stolen vehicle.Just after 7p.m. May 28, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a Ford pickup that was being stolen from private property located at 142nd&nbsp;and T. Road in southeastern Jackson County, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle and three male subjects on 142nd&nbsp;between U.4 and V. Roads.&nbsp; All three men were arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748458673294.png" alt="Lister photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Lister photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Philip D. Lister, 61, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property, possession of opiates, and possession of methamphetamine.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748458836186.png" alt="Youngs photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Youngs photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Michael Ray Youngs, 52, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of felony theft of property, criminal damage to property and possession of a hallucinogenic drug.Thomas Wesley Denny, 41, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of felony possession of stolen property and criminal damage to property.

Sheriff: Suspects caught in pickup stolen from rural Kansas home

CHARLES CITY, Va. (AP) — Harrison Ruffin Tyler, the last living grandson of U.S. President John Tyler born 83 years after his grandfather left the White House in 1845, died. He was 96.

The cause of Tyler’s death on Sunday was not immediately released. John Tyler was 63 years old when Harrison Tyler’s father, Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr., was born. And Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in 1928 when that father was 75 years old and the presidential grandfather had been dead for more than 60 years.

The grandson was known for preserving his grandfather’s plantation and nearby Civil War fort. In a statement, Annique Dunning, the executive director of Sherwood Forest, a national landmark of President Tyler’s residence, said the president’s grandson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-bbd1a166bba24ec9907e3457a3005a48">whose brother died in 2020</a>, was a “beloved father and grandfather, he will be missed immeasurably by those who survive him.”

“He will be remembered for his considerable charm, generosity and unfailing good humor by all who knew him,” Dunning said.

Over the course of his life, Tyler preserved Sherwood Forest, his grandfather’s plantation that enslaved dozens of people, including 43 people in 1860, just before the Civil War began. The grandson also helped restore and maintain Fort Pocahontas, a Union fort during the Civil War.

Tyler’s grandfather was a Democrat nicknamed the “Accidental President” after unexpectedly assuming the presidency when President William Henry Harrison died in office. President Tyler was the first vice president to gain control of the White House in the wake of a death.

The University of Virginia’s Miller Center&nbsp;<a href="https://millercenter.org/president/tyler">described the president</a>&nbsp;as “the last gasp of the Old Virginia aristocracy in the White House.” He had married twice and had 15 children, including Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr.

The time between the president’s birth and his grandson’s death spans 235 years.

CHARLES CITY, Va. (AP) — Harrison Ruffin Tyler, the last living grandson of U.S. President John Tyler born 83 years after his grandfather left the White House in 1845, died. He was 96.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOfficialSherwoodForest%2Fposts%2Fpfbid033GBgdR3PpjhJj4KHFjop8ro41GY5LXib6ehgSAhvMZuBD7CR9iV1SXRoMpJAzEJ4l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="763" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The cause of Tyler’s death on Sunday was not immediately released. John Tyler was 63 years old when Harrison Tyler’s father, Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr., was born. And Harrison Ruffin Tyler was born in 1928 when that father was 75 years old and the presidential grandfather had been dead for more than 60 years.The grandson was known for preserving his grandfather’s plantation and nearby Civil War fort. In a statement, Annique Dunning, the executive director of Sherwood Forest, a national landmark of President Tyler’s residence, said the president’s grandson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-bbd1a166bba24ec9907e3457a3005a48">whose brother died in 2020</a>, was a “beloved father and grandfather, he will be missed immeasurably by those who survive him.”“He will be remembered for his considerable charm, generosity and unfailing good humor by all who knew him,” Dunning said.Over the course of his life, Tyler preserved Sherwood Forest, his grandfather’s plantation that enslaved dozens of people, including 43 people in 1860, just before the Civil War began. The grandson also helped restore and maintain Fort Pocahontas, a Union fort during the Civil War.Tyler’s grandfather was a Democrat nicknamed the “Accidental President” after unexpectedly assuming the presidency when President William Henry Harrison died in office. President Tyler was the first vice president to gain control of the White House in the wake of a death.The University of Virginia’s Miller Center&nbsp;<a href="https://millercenter.org/president/tyler">described the president</a>&nbsp;as “the last gasp of the Old Virginia aristocracy in the White House.” He had married twice and had 15 children, including Lyon Gardiner Tyler Sr.The time between the president’s birth and his grandson’s death spans 235 years.

Last grandson of 10th U.S. President John Tyler, dies at 96

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with a fatal shooting that took place near Westport on May 23.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2628/Ponder-COMPLAINTREDACTED">Marquis Ponder</a>, 30,&nbsp; faces 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2629/Ponder-Marquis-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard and located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound in a vehicle. He was transferred to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Based on surveillance footage, Ponder and the victim and exchanged words while inside a nearby business. The victim exited and Ponder followed behind him. The two appeared to continue exchanging words and then the victim turned around and walked away from the Ponder.&nbsp; Ponder then reached his hand into his pant pocket, retrieved a firearm, and then fired at the victim. The victim ran to his parked vehicle and attempted to drive away.&nbsp;

The defendant is being held on a $200,000 cash bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748052715240.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces felony charges in connection with a fatal shooting that took place near Westport on May 23.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2628/Ponder-COMPLAINTREDACTED">Marquis Ponder</a>, 30,&nbsp; faces 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748446156709.png" alt="Ponder photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ponder photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2629/Ponder-Marquis-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to the area of Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard and located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound in a vehicle. He was transferred to an area hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.&nbsp;Based on surveillance footage, Ponder and the victim and exchanged words while inside a nearby business. The victim exited and Ponder followed behind him. The two appeared to continue exchanging words and then the victim turned around and walked away from the Ponder.&nbsp; Ponder then reached his hand into his pant pocket, retrieved a firearm, and then fired at the victim. The victim ran to his parked vehicle and attempted to drive away.&nbsp;The defendant is being held on a $200,000 cash bond.&nbsp;

KCPD: Man shot victim who drove away and was involved in a crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Two women died from injuries in an accident just after 2p.m. Friday in Shawnee County..

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Anya Joann&nbsp;Turner, 22, Topeka, was eastbound on U.S. 24 just east of Goodyear Road.

The SUV traveled off the roadway to the right and the drier overcorrected to the left, crossed all eastbound lanes, traveled through the median into the westbound lanes and collided with a 2020 Kia Forte driven by Andria Nikkole&nbsp; Starr, 32, Topeka.

Turner was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. EMS transported Starr to Stormont Vail where she was pronounced deceased just before 8p.m. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748653892847.png" alt="First responders at the scene Friday -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the scene Friday -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Two women died from injuries in an accident just after 2p.m. Friday in Shawnee County..The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by Anya Joann&nbsp;Turner, 22, Topeka, was eastbound on U.S. 24 just east of Goodyear Road.The SUV traveled off the roadway to the right and the drier overcorrected to the left, crossed all eastbound lanes, traveled through the median into the westbound lanes and collided with a 2020 Kia Forte driven by Andria Nikkole&nbsp; Starr, 32, Topeka.Turner was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. EMS transported Starr to Stormont Vail where she was pronounced deceased just before 8p.m. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.