KIOWA COUNTY—At about 11 p.m. Sunday, a stopped Union Pacific train was apparently hit by a tornado in rural, south central Kansas.

The train crew had stopped the train about two miles west of the small community of Haviland, after learning a tornado warning had been issued for the area, according to Union Pacific Spokesperson Robynn Tysver.

About 100 rail cars derailed. No one was injured, and no hazardous material was released. Cleanup is underway.&nbsp;

Union Pacific Railroad thanked the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Department, which quickly responded to the scene and picked up the train crew.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747674253491.png" alt="Cleanup of the rail cars underway -Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Cleanup of the rail cars underway -Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>KIOWA COUNTY—At about 11 p.m. Sunday, a stopped Union Pacific train was apparently hit by a tornado in rural, south central Kansas.The train crew had stopped the train about two miles west of the small community of Haviland, after learning a tornado warning had been issued for the area, according to Union Pacific Spokesperson Robynn Tysver.About 100 rail cars derailed. No one was injured, and no hazardous material was released. Cleanup is underway.&nbsp;Union Pacific Railroad thanked the Kiowa County Sheriff’s Department, which quickly responded to the scene and picked up the train crew.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tornado toppled about 100 rail cars in rural south central Kan.

ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;to visit the United States during a meeting at the Vatican on Monday ahead of a flurry of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire in Russia’s war in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine</a>.

Vance gave the first American pope a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump and the first lady inviting him. The Chicago-born pope took the letter and put it on his desk and was heard saying “at some point,” in the video footage of the meeting provided by Vatican Media.

Vance, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholicism-postliberals-social-policy-7e37e43cb1976c516d642a95d495266a">converted to Catholicism</a>&nbsp;in 2019, also gave the Augustinian pope a copy of two of St. Augustine's most seminal works, “The City of God" and "On Christian Doctrine,” the vice president's office said. Another gift: A Chicago Bears T-shirt with Leo's name on it.

“As you can probably imagine, people in the United States are extremely excited about you,” Vance told Leo as they exchanged gifts.

Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture with the words in Italian “Peace is a fragile flower,” and a coffee-table sized picture book of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. Leo noted that Francis had chosen not to live in them and added, “And I may live in, but it's not totally decided.”

Vance led the U.S. delegation to Sunday's formal Mass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-leo-xiv-installation-mass-b210865c4f0ed422ae74702c6eea1a93">opening the pontificate</a>&nbsp;of the first American pope. Joining him at the meeting on Monday was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, Vance spokesperson Luke Schroeder said. The two then also met with the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

“There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” according to a Vatican statement after their meeting.

According to the photo of the visits released by the Vatican, Leo's brother, Louis Prevost, a self-described “MAGA-type,” and his wife Deborah joined the delegation during the visit.

The Vatican listed Vance's delegation as the first of several private audiences Leo was having Monday with people who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass, including other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his old diocese in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peru-pope-leo-chiclayo-vatican-prevost-0f99859e5749decadade2d24ba7811dd">Chiclayo, Peru</a>.

The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the first three years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-russia-ukraine-peace-pope-rubio-us-95f185bc251ac2dde54200f9495a0ad9">offered to host any peace talks</a>&nbsp;while continuing humanitarian efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps and reunite Ukrainian children taken by Russia.

After greeting Leo briefly at the end of Sunday’s Mass, Vance spent the rest of the day in separate meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also met with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni, who said she hoped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-eu-us-trump-vance-von-der-leyen-europe-trade-tariffs-ukraine-war-russia-pope-leo-b56131694579f4e37f5b7115ca06678d">the trialateral meeting</a>&nbsp;could be a “new beginning.”

In the evening, Meloni spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump and several other European leaders ahead of Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-strike-sumy-e90d68ea2ef45f329a4cda16e200c141">expected call</a>&nbsp;with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a statement from Meloni's office.

Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who spent the bulk of his ministry in Chiclayo, a commercial city of around 800,000 on Peru’s northern Pacific coast.

In the days since his May 8 election, Leo has vowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-eastern-rite-christians-persecuted-protect-a06c75258299e585c7eb8ea2006dc22f">“every effort”</a>&nbsp;to help bring peace to Ukraine. He also has emphasized his continuity with Pope Francis, who made caring for migrants and the poor a priority of his pontificate.

Before his election,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-twitter-x-trump-vance-criticism-9c311123985ebce282877071f75b6d80">Prevost shared</a>&nbsp;news articles on X that were critical of the Trump administration’s plans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-asylum-lawsuit-courts-d325740dd73f425309c66f89e670fd8f">mass deportations of migrants.</a>

Vance was one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-vance-pope-migration-a91d0f741cb994faae1e363d38b66c05">last foreign officials</a>&nbsp;to meet with Francis before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-d6a8a471978c21c71c3f1dc07f663e78">the Argentine pope's April 21 death.</a>&nbsp;The two had tangled over migration, with Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">publicly rebuking</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration's deportation plan and correcting Vance's theological justification for it.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747569688341.jpeg" alt="Pope Leo XIV meets Vice President JD Vance after the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)" />
 <figcaption>Pope Leo XIV meets Vice President JD Vance after the formal inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Sunday, May 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance extended an invitation to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;to visit the United States during a meeting at the Vatican on Monday ahead of a flurry of U.S.-led diplomatic efforts to make progress on a ceasefire in Russia’s war in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Ukraine</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">I was humbled and honored to meet Pope Leo XIV and lead the presidential delegation to Rome for his inaugural mass. We had a great conversation, and I know he is a true servant of God. I hope all Americans will join me in praying for the new pope as he begins his ministry. <a href="https://t.co/z7Q9J48Sdz">https://t.co/z7Q9J48Sdz</a>&mdash; JD Vance (@JDVance) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance/status/1924472188888887416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Vance gave the first American pope a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump and the first lady inviting him. The Chicago-born pope took the letter and put it on his desk and was heard saying “at some point,” in the video footage of the meeting provided by Vatican Media.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">This morning, <a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDVance</a> met with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV <a href="https://twitter.com/Pontifex?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pontifex</a> 🇺🇸🇻🇦 <a href="https://t.co/VRM3ETsAp5">pic.twitter.com/VRM3ETsAp5</a>&mdash; Taylor Van Kirk (@VPPressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/VPPressSec/status/1924377856513052719?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Vance, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholicism-postliberals-social-policy-7e37e43cb1976c516d642a95d495266a">converted to Catholicism</a>&nbsp;in 2019, also gave the Augustinian pope a copy of two of St. Augustine's most seminal works, “The City of God" and "On Christian Doctrine,” the vice president's office said. Another gift: A Chicago Bears T-shirt with Leo's name on it.“As you can probably imagine, people in the United States are extremely excited about you,” Vance told Leo as they exchanged gifts.Leo gave Vance a bronze sculpture with the words in Italian “Peace is a fragile flower,” and a coffee-table sized picture book of the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace. Leo noted that Francis had chosen not to live in them and added, “And I may live in, but it's not totally decided.”Vance led the U.S. delegation to Sunday's formal Mass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-leo-xiv-installation-mass-b210865c4f0ed422ae74702c6eea1a93">opening the pontificate</a>&nbsp;of the first American pope. Joining him at the meeting on Monday was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also a Catholic, Vance spokesperson Luke Schroeder said. The two then also met with the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.“There was an exchange of views on some current international issues, calling for respect for humanitarian law and international law in areas of conflict and for a negotiated solution between the parties involved,” according to a Vatican statement after their meeting.According to the photo of the visits released by the Vatican, Leo's brother, Louis Prevost, a self-described “MAGA-type,” and his wife Deborah joined the delegation during the visit.The Vatican listed Vance's delegation as the first of several private audiences Leo was having Monday with people who had come to Rome for his inaugural Mass, including other Christian leaders and a group of faithful from his old diocese in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/peru-pope-leo-chiclayo-vatican-prevost-0f99859e5749decadade2d24ba7811dd">Chiclayo, Peru</a>.The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the first three years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-russia-ukraine-peace-pope-rubio-us-95f185bc251ac2dde54200f9495a0ad9">offered to host any peace talks</a>&nbsp;while continuing humanitarian efforts to facilitate prisoner swaps and reunite Ukrainian children taken by Russia.After greeting Leo briefly at the end of Sunday’s Mass, Vance spent the rest of the day in separate meetings, including with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also met with European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni, who said she hoped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-eu-us-trump-vance-von-der-leyen-europe-trade-tariffs-ukraine-war-russia-pope-leo-b56131694579f4e37f5b7115ca06678d">the trialateral meeting</a>&nbsp;could be a “new beginning.”In the evening, Meloni spoke by phone with U.S. President Donald Trump and several other European leaders ahead of Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drone-strike-sumy-e90d68ea2ef45f329a4cda16e200c141">expected call</a>&nbsp;with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday, according to a statement from Meloni's office.<h2>‘Every Effort’</h2>Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, is a Chicago-born Augustinian missionary who spent the bulk of his ministry in Chiclayo, a commercial city of around 800,000 on Peru’s northern Pacific coast.In the days since his May 8 election, Leo has vowed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-eastern-rite-christians-persecuted-protect-a06c75258299e585c7eb8ea2006dc22f">“every effort”</a>&nbsp;to help bring peace to Ukraine. He also has emphasized his continuity with Pope Francis, who made caring for migrants and the poor a priority of his pontificate.Before his election,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-twitter-x-trump-vance-criticism-9c311123985ebce282877071f75b6d80">Prevost shared</a>&nbsp;news articles on X that were critical of the Trump administration’s plans for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-asylum-lawsuit-courts-d325740dd73f425309c66f89e670fd8f">mass deportations of migrants.</a>Vance was one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-vance-pope-migration-a91d0f741cb994faae1e363d38b66c05">last foreign officials</a>&nbsp;to meet with Francis before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-vatican-funeral-d6a8a471978c21c71c3f1dc07f663e78">the Argentine pope's April 21 death.</a>&nbsp;The two had tangled over migration, with Francis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">publicly rebuking</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration's deportation plan and correcting Vance's theological justification for it.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

JD Vance gives Pope Leo XIV an invitation from Trump to visit US

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are&nbsp;investigating a robbery that occurred at a business have released a description of the suspect.

Just after 10p.m. Sunday, an employee in the customer service area at Walmart, 1920 U.S. 73 in Atchison, was entering an office door when she was approached by a man who grabbed a cash bag she was holding. 

The suspect struggled briefly with the employee and pushed her as he ran from the area, he did not display any type of weapon.

The suspect fled the store with a bag of cash. The suspect is described as a black male, tall, long dreads, wearing a black t-shirt and sweatpants with white dots, and wearing a surgical or covid type mask, according to Wilson. 

He left the area in a white Chrysler Pacifica. It is believed the vehicle left the Walmart parking lot west on Raven Hill Road and south on U.S.73.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747668648614.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are&nbsp;investigating a robbery that occurred at a business have released a description of the suspect.Just after 10p.m. Sunday, an employee in the customer service area at Walmart, 1920 U.S. 73 in Atchison, was entering an office door when she was approached by a man who grabbed a cash bag she was holding. The suspect struggled briefly with the employee and pushed her as he ran from the area, he did not display any type of weapon.The suspect fled the store with a bag of cash. The suspect is described as a black male, tall, long dreads, wearing a black t-shirt and sweatpants with white dots, and wearing a surgical or covid type mask, according to Wilson. He left the area in a white Chrysler Pacifica. It is believed the vehicle left the Walmart parking lot west on Raven Hill Road and south on U.S.73.&nbsp;

Suspect escaped Kansas business with bag of cash

RENO COUNTY— A woman was critically injured early Monday in a fire southwest of Hutchinson, according to Reno County Fire officials.

Just before 4a.m., crews from Reno County Fire Districts 4, 6 and 7 were dispatched to 12416 S. Jordan Springs Road and found a camper and garage fully involved in flames.

Reno County EMS responded and transported a female burn victim to a Wichita hospital in critical condition.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 45 minutes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747662369944.jpeg" alt="Photo Reno County Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Photo Reno County Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY— A woman was critically injured early Monday in a fire southwest of Hutchinson, according to Reno County Fire officials.Just before 4a.m., crews from Reno County Fire Districts 4, 6 and 7 were dispatched to 12416 S. Jordan Springs Road and found a camper and garage fully involved in flames.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747662358504.jpeg" alt="Photo Reno County Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Photo Reno County Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>Reno County EMS responded and transported a female burn victim to a Wichita hospital in critical condition.Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 45 minutes. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Woman critically injured in rural Kansas fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump's big tax cuts package out of a key committee during a rare Sunday night vote, but just barely, as conservative holdouts are demanding quicker cuts to Medicaid and green energy programs before giving their full support.

Speaker Mike Johnson met with Republican lawmakers shortly before the meeting and acknowledged to reporters that there are still details to "iron out." He said some changes were being made, but declined to provide details.

It's all setting up a difficult week ahead for the GOP leadership racing toward a Memorial Day deadline, a week away, to pass the package from the House. The Budget Committee, which just days ago failed to advance the package when four conservative Republicans objected, was able to do so Sunday on a vote of 17-16, with the four hold-outs voting "present" to allow it to move ahead, as talks continue. Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes voted with the majority.

"The bill does not yet meet the moment," said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a leader of the House Freedom Caucus, in a social media post immediately after the late-night session. "We can and must do better before we pass the final product."

The path ahead for Johnson is unclear as he tries to hold his narrow House majority together to pass the president's top domestic priority of extending the tax breaks while pumping in money for border security and deportations — all while cutting spending.

Republicans criticizing the measure argued that the bill's new spending and the tax cuts are front-loaded in the bill, while the measures to offset the cost are back-loaded. In particular, they are looking to speed up the new work requirements that Republicans want to enact for able-bodied participants in Medicaid.

Johnson indicated he wants to impose the the work requirements "as soon as possible" but acknowledged it may take states longer to change their systems. Those requirements would not kick in until 2029 under the current bill.

"There will be more details to iron out and several more to take care of," Johnson, R-La., said outside the hearing room.

"But I'm looking forward to very thoughtful discussions, very productive discussions over the next few days, and I'm absolutely convinced we're going to get this in final form and pass it."

More talks are ahead, but Johnson is looking to put the bill on the House floor before the end of the week.

Democrats have decried the cuts Republicans are proposing to Medicaid and food stamps to offset the costs of the tax breaks.

"This spending bill is terrible, and I think the American people know that," Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "There is nothing wrong with us bringing the government in balance. But there is a problem when that balance comes on the back of working men and women. And that's what is happening here."

The first time that Republicans tried advancing the bill out of the House Budget Committee last week, the deficit hawks joined with Democratic lawmakers in voting against reporting the measure to the full House.

Those same four Republicans — Roy and Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia — cast their "present" votes Sunday.

Norman pointed to a recent downgrade of the nation's credit rating in making his arguments for steeper reductions.

"We've got a lot more work to do," Norman said. "We're excited about what we did. We want to move the bill forward."

At its core, the sprawling legislative package permanently extends the existing income tax cuts that were approved during Trump's first term in 2017 and adds temporary new ones that the president campaigned on in 2024, including no taxes on tips, overtime pay and auto loan interest payments. The measure also proposes big spending increases for border security and defense.

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog group, estimates that the House bill is shaping up to add roughly $3.3 trillion to the debt over the next decade.

Johnson is not just having to address the concerns of the deficit hawks in his party. He's also facing pressure from centrists who will be warily eyeing the proposed changes to Medicaid, food assistance programs and the rolling back of clean energy tax credits. Republican lawmakers from New York and elsewhere are also demanding a much larger state and local tax deduction.

As it stands, the bill proposes tripling what's currently a $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction, increasing it to $30,000 for joint filers with incomes up to $400,000 a year.

Rep. Nick LaLota, one of the New York lawmakers leading the effort to lift the cap, said they have proposed a deduction of $62,000 for single filers and $124,000 for joint filers.

Rep. Jodey Arrington, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said the bill remained under negotiation.

"Deliberations continue at this very moment," Arrington said. "They will continue on into the week, and I suspect right up until the time we put this big, beautiful bill on the floor of the House."

If the bill passes the House this week, it would then move to the Senate, where Republican lawmakers are also eyeing changes that could make final passage in the House more difficult.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747651957660.png" alt="Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes and members of the House Budget Committee during a rare Sunday evening vote -photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes and members of the House Budget Committee during a rare Sunday evening vote -photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans narrowly advanced President Donald Trump's big tax cuts package out of a key committee during a rare Sunday night vote, but just barely, as conservative holdouts are demanding quicker cuts to Medicaid and green energy programs before giving their full support.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">House Budget Committee APPROVES GOP Tax &amp; Spending Bill, 17-16-4. <a href="https://t.co/iOsRn7kPvd">pic.twitter.com/iOsRn7kPvd</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1924299234586591697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaker Mike Johnson met with Republican lawmakers shortly before the meeting and acknowledged to reporters that there are still details to "iron out." He said some changes were being made, but declined to provide details.It's all setting up a difficult week ahead for the GOP leadership racing toward a Memorial Day deadline, a week away, to pass the package from the House. The Budget Committee, which just days ago failed to advance the package when four conservative Republicans objected, was able to do so Sunday on a vote of 17-16, with the four hold-outs voting "present" to allow it to move ahead, as talks continue. Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes voted with the majority."The bill does not yet meet the moment," said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, a leader of the House Freedom Caucus, in a social media post immediately after the late-night session. "We can and must do better before we pass the final product."The path ahead for Johnson is unclear as he tries to hold his narrow House majority together to pass the president's top domestic priority of extending the tax breaks while pumping in money for border security and deportations — all while cutting spending.Republicans criticizing the measure argued that the bill's new spending and the tax cuts are front-loaded in the bill, while the measures to offset the cost are back-loaded. In particular, they are looking to speed up the new work requirements that Republicans want to enact for able-bodied participants in Medicaid.Johnson indicated he wants to impose the the work requirements "as soon as possible" but acknowledged it may take states longer to change their systems. Those requirements would not kick in until 2029 under the current bill."There will be more details to iron out and several more to take care of," Johnson, R-La., said outside the hearing room."But I'm looking forward to very thoughtful discussions, very productive discussions over the next few days, and I'm absolutely convinced we're going to get this in final form and pass it."More talks are ahead, but Johnson is looking to put the bill on the House floor before the end of the week.Democrats have decried the cuts Republicans are proposing to Medicaid and food stamps to offset the costs of the tax breaks."This spending bill is terrible, and I think the American people know that," Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "There is nothing wrong with us bringing the government in balance. But there is a problem when that balance comes on the back of working men and women. And that's what is happening here."The first time that Republicans tried advancing the bill out of the House Budget Committee last week, the deficit hawks joined with Democratic lawmakers in voting against reporting the measure to the full House.Those same four Republicans — Roy and Reps. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma and Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia — cast their "present" votes Sunday.Norman pointed to a recent downgrade of the nation's credit rating in making his arguments for steeper reductions."We've got a lot more work to do," Norman said. "We're excited about what we did. We want to move the bill forward."At its core, the sprawling legislative package permanently extends the existing income tax cuts that were approved during Trump's first term in 2017 and adds temporary new ones that the president campaigned on in 2024, including no taxes on tips, overtime pay and auto loan interest payments. The measure also proposes big spending increases for border security and defense.The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a nonpartisan fiscal watchdog group, estimates that the House bill is shaping up to add roughly $3.3 trillion to the debt over the next decade.Johnson is not just having to address the concerns of the deficit hawks in his party. He's also facing pressure from centrists who will be warily eyeing the proposed changes to Medicaid, food assistance programs and the rolling back of clean energy tax credits. Republican lawmakers from New York and elsewhere are also demanding a much larger state and local tax deduction.As it stands, the bill proposes tripling what's currently a $10,000 cap on the state and local tax deduction, increasing it to $30,000 for joint filers with incomes up to $400,000 a year.Rep. Nick LaLota, one of the New York lawmakers leading the effort to lift the cap, said they have proposed a deduction of $62,000 for single filers and $124,000 for joint filers.Rep. Jodey Arrington, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, said the bill remained under negotiation."Deliberations continue at this very moment," Arrington said. "They will continue on into the week, and I suspect right up until the time we put this big, beautiful bill on the floor of the House."If the bill passes the House this week, it would then move to the Senate, where Republican lawmakers are also eyeing changes that could make final passage in the House more difficult.

Kan. Congressman's vote helps advance Trump's big tax cut bill 

BUTLER COUNTY —A Kansas paramedic died Friday in the line of duty.

&nbsp;Paramedic Justin Lauppe&nbsp;experienced cardiac arrest  and lost his life during an emergency call, according to a statement from Butler County EMS.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/justin-lauppe-memorial-fund?attribution_id=sl:6232ad4c-2deb-44dc-9fca-471a5b4aeec2&amp;lang=en_US&amp;ts=1747503721&amp;utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&amp;utm_content=amp13_c-amp14_t2-amp15_c&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=sms&amp;v=amp14_t2">Click here to see </a>the online memorial fundraiser

 "Lauppe, a 14-year veteran of emergency services, was a pillar of our team, known for his unwavering commitment to saving lives and compassionate care."

"His loss is deeply felt by colleagues, friends, and the countless individuals he served in Butler County. We are heartbroken by the loss of Justin, whose dedication to our community was truly extraordinary. His sacrifice reminds us of the risks our first responders face every day."

"We honor his legacy by continuing to serve with the same passion and bravery he embodied.Butler County EMS is providing support to Justin’s family and colleagues during this difficult time."

"The circumstances of his passing were medical in nature, and further details will be shared as appropriate.Emergency Service agencies are encouraged to help us honoring Paramedic Justin Lauppe’s memory.

 A memorial service is being planned, with details to follow at a later date.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747426200231.png" alt="-Justin Lauppe courtesy phto" />
 <figcaption>-Justin Lauppe courtesy phto</figcaption>
 </figure>BUTLER COUNTY —A Kansas paramedic died Friday in the line of duty.&nbsp;Paramedic Justin Lauppe&nbsp;experienced cardiac arrest and lost his life during an emergency call, according to a statement from Butler County EMS.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fbucoems%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0tacPb8z3GmYzHfyuW5fjLHpd4ApKZAPutA1nqDM4cLxv8LVcJTBskDw64jCy3ZkDl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="725" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/justin-lauppe-memorial-fund?attribution_id=sl:6232ad4c-2deb-44dc-9fca-471a5b4aeec2&amp;lang=en_US&amp;ts=1747503721&amp;utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&amp;utm_content=amp13_c-amp14_t2-amp15_c&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=sms&amp;v=amp14_t2">Click here to see </a>the online memorial fundraiser "Lauppe, a 14-year veteran of emergency services, was a pillar of our team, known for his unwavering commitment to saving lives and compassionate care.""His loss is deeply felt by colleagues, friends, and the countless individuals he served in Butler County. We are heartbroken by the loss of Justin, whose dedication to our community was truly extraordinary. His sacrifice reminds us of the risks our first responders face every day.""We honor his legacy by continuing to serve with the same passion and bravery he embodied.Butler County EMS is providing support to Justin’s family and colleagues during this difficult time.""The circumstances of his passing were medical in nature, and further details will be shared as appropriate.Emergency Service agencies are encouraged to help us honoring Paramedic Justin Lauppe’s memory. A memorial service is being planned, with details to follow at a later date.

Memorial fund for Kan. paramedic who died during emergency call

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday.

On social media, President Trump and lawmakers sent their good wishes to Biden.

Biden was seen by doctors last week after urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule were found. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," his office said. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what’s known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.

When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones. Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.

However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden’s case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones.

Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center.

“It’s very treatable, but not curable,” Smith said. “Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy.”

Many political leaders sent Biden their wishes for his recovery.

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, a longtime political opponent, posted on social media that he was saddened by the news and “we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”

Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, said on social media that she was keeping him in her family's “hearts and prayers during this time.”

“Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” Harris wrote.

The health of Biden, 82, was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-doctor-physical-debate-7e2ee1216e35891600737ce20cdc7d2d">calamitous debate performance</a>&nbsp;in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Harris became the nominee and lost to Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus.

But in recent days, Biden rejected concerns about his age despite reporting in the new book “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that aides had shielded the public from the extent of his decline while serving as president.

In February 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. And in November 2021, he had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.

In 2022, Biden made a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cancer-moonshot-new-orleans-event-df375e5e4dd1511276710b192bad9c0a">“cancer moonshot”</a>&nbsp;one of his administration's priorities with the goal of halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-beau-death-anniversary-cancer-e7458639de75afb28b159b5d733f8c56">died from brain cancer</a>&nbsp;in 2015.

His father, when announcing the goal to halve the cancer death rate, said this could be an “American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support. <a href="https://t.co/oSS1vGIiwU">pic.twitter.com/oSS1vGIiwU</a>&mdash; Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1924427587582828753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On social media, President Trump and lawmakers sent their good wishes to Biden.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Melania and I are saddened to hear about <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a>’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.&quot; –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/6HjermTGK7">pic.twitter.com/6HjermTGK7</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1924226781118443643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Laina and I are sending heartfelt prayers for President Biden and his family as he fights cancer. Please join us in praying for strength, comfort, and hope during this difficult time.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1924208825856377078?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Doug and I are saddened to learn of President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time. Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and… <a href="https://t.co/gG5nB0GMPp">pic.twitter.com/gG5nB0GMPp</a>&mdash; Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1924219372819673156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden was seen by doctors last week after urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule were found. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," his office said. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”Prostate cancers are graded for aggressiveness using what’s known as a Gleason score. The scores range from 6 to 10, with 8, 9 and 10 prostate cancers behaving more aggressively. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones. Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden’s case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones.Outcomes have improved in recent decades and patients can expect to live with metastatic prostate cancer for four or five years, said Dr. Matthew Smith of Massachusetts General Brigham Cancer Center.“It’s very treatable, but not curable,” Smith said. “Most men in this situation would be treated with drugs and would not be advised to have either surgery or radiation therapy.”Many political leaders sent Biden their wishes for his recovery.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, a longtime political opponent, posted on social media that he was saddened by the news and “we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”Biden's vice president, Kamala Harris, said on social media that she was keeping him in her family's “hearts and prayers during this time.”“Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership,” Harris wrote.The health of Biden, 82, was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-doctor-physical-debate-7e2ee1216e35891600737ce20cdc7d2d">calamitous debate performance</a>&nbsp;in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Harris became the nominee and lost to Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus.But in recent days, Biden rejected concerns about his age despite reporting in the new book “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that aides had shielded the public from the extent of his decline while serving as president.In February 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. And in November 2021, he had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.In 2022, Biden made a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cancer-moonshot-new-orleans-event-df375e5e4dd1511276710b192bad9c0a">“cancer moonshot”</a>&nbsp;one of his administration's priorities with the goal of halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-beau-death-anniversary-cancer-e7458639de75afb28b159b5d733f8c56">died from brain cancer</a>&nbsp;in 2015.His father, when announcing the goal to halve the cancer death rate, said this could be an “American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things.”___

Trump, Kan. lawmaker send best wishes to Biden after cancer diagnosis

KANSAS CITY —Police continue their work stop dangerous side shows on the streets in Kansas City, Missouri.

Late Friday and early Saturday police arrested 19 suspects, towed 36 vehicles and issued 76 citations for activities related to stunts, sideshows, takeovers and more, according to a statement from Kansas&nbsp; City Police. Officers also recovered five firearms.&nbsp;

"Kansas City’s streets belong to all of us, and we are doing the work to show you. Our enforcement of these illegal acts continues." "We will not tolerate those who break the law, trying to hijack our streets." The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jackson County Sheriff and Clay County Sheriff's Department assisted KCPD.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747496379713.png" alt="Photo Kansas City Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Police continue their work stop dangerous side shows on the streets in Kansas City, Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747496443531.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Late Friday and early Saturday police arrested 19 suspects, towed 36 vehicles and issued 76 citations for activities related to stunts, sideshows, takeovers and more, according to a statement from Kansas&nbsp; City Police. Officers also recovered five firearms.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747496396795.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>"Kansas City’s streets belong to all of us, and we are doing the work to show you. Our enforcement of these illegal acts continues." "We will not tolerate those who break the law, trying to hijack our streets." The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Jackson County Sheriff and Clay County Sheriff's Department assisted KCPD.&nbsp;

Police make more stunt, side show arrests in Kansas City

FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on child sex crimes.

On May 8, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children / Internet Crimes Against Children office in Johnson County, Kansas, contacted Garden City Police about child pornography videos being traced back to Garden City, and an investigation began, according to a media release from police.

During the investigation, Rosbel Resendez, 26, was identified as the suspect.

On May 14, a search warrant was served at Resendez’s home at 2406 N. Main Street. where several electronic items were seized. Resendez was arrested and booked into the Finney County Jail on multiple requested charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747316796306.png" alt="Resendez photo Finney County" />
 <figcaption>Resendez photo Finney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on child sex crimes.On May 8, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children / Internet Crimes Against Children office in Johnson County, Kansas, contacted Garden City Police about child pornography videos being traced back to Garden City, and an investigation began, according to a media release from police.During the investigation, Rosbel Resendez, 26, was identified as the suspect.On May 14, a search warrant was served at Resendez’s home at 2406 N. Main Street. where several electronic items were seized. Resendez was arrested and booked into the Finney County Jail on multiple requested charges of Sexual Exploitation of a Child.

Tip helped police ID SW Kan. man in child sex crime investigation

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City.

Just after 5:30p.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a reported shooting i the 4000 block of Troost in Kansas City, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. 

Callers advised that two people were shot at the location. First responders were directed to an apartment building there. Officers located an adult male shooting victim unresponsive on the front porch of the apartment building. They were further led inside one of the apartment units where officers located an adult female shooting victim unresponsive.

Officers called for EMS to the scene who declared both shooting victims deceased. Homicide detectives are investigating. At this time detectives are not searching for any additional suspects. Further they are working with witnesses to determine the exact sequence of events that led up to the victims being shot.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747536786963.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City.Just after 5:30p.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a reported shooting i the 4000 block of Troost in Kansas City, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747536801851.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Callers advised that two people were shot at the location. First responders were directed to an apartment building there. Officers located an adult male shooting victim unresponsive on the front porch of the apartment building. They were further led inside one of the apartment units where officers located an adult female shooting victim unresponsive.Officers called for EMS to the scene who declared both shooting victims deceased. Homicide detectives are investigating. At this time detectives are not searching for any additional suspects. Further they are working with witnesses to determine the exact sequence of events that led up to the victims being shot.

Double homicide: Man and woman dead at KC apartment building

Prostate cancers are given a score called a Gleason score that measures, on a scale of 1 to 10, how the cancerous cells look compared with normal cells. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.

Pete Buttigieg, who was Biden's transportation secretary, called the former president “a man of deep faith and extraordinary resilience.”

The health of Biden, 82, was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-doctor-physical-debate-7e2ee1216e35891600737ce20cdc7d2d">calamitous debate performance</a>&nbsp;in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee and lost to Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727691434816.png" alt="File photo former President Joe Biden -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo former President Joe Biden -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, his office said Sunday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer. <a href="https://t.co/qszrloAsvR">pic.twitter.com/qszrloAsvR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1924199062443569402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden was seen by doctors last week after urinary symptoms and a prostate nodule were found. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer on Friday, with the cancer cells having spread to the bone.“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management," his office said. "The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”Prostate cancers are given a score called a Gleason score that measures, on a scale of 1 to 10, how the cancerous cells look compared with normal cells. Biden’s office said his score was 9, suggesting his cancer is among the most aggressive.When prostate cancer spreads to other parts of the body, it often spreads to the bones. Metastasized cancer is much harder to treat than localized cancer because it can be hard for drugs to reach all the tumors and completely root out the disease.However, when prostate cancers need hormones to grow, as in Biden’s case, they can be susceptible to treatment that deprives the tumors of hormones.Many political leaders sent Biden their wishes for his recovery.President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, a longtime political opponent, posted on social media that he was saddened by the news and “we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”Pete Buttigieg, who was Biden's transportation secretary, called the former president “a man of deep faith and extraordinary resilience.”The health of Biden, 82, was a dominant concern among voters during his time as president. After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-health-doctor-physical-debate-7e2ee1216e35891600737ce20cdc7d2d">calamitous debate performance</a>&nbsp;in June while seeking reelection, Biden abandoned his bid for a second term. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris became the nominee and lost to Trump, a Republican who returned to the White House after a four-year hiatus.But in recent days, Biden rejected concerns about his age despite reporting in the new book “Original Sin” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson that aides had shielded the public from the extent of his decline while serving as president.In February 2023, Biden had a skin lesion removed from his chest that was a basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. And in November 2021, he had a polyp removed from his colon that was a benign, but potentially pre-cancerous lesion.In 2022, Biden made a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-cancer-moonshot-new-orleans-event-df375e5e4dd1511276710b192bad9c0a">“cancer moonshot”</a>&nbsp;one of his administration's priorities with the goal of halving the cancer death rate over the next 25 years. The initiative was a continuation of his work as vice president to address a disease that had killed his older son, Beau, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-beau-death-anniversary-cancer-e7458639de75afb28b159b5d733f8c56">died from brain cancer</a>&nbsp;in 2015.His father, when announcing the goal to halve the cancer death rate, said this could be an “American moment to prove to ourselves and, quite frankly, the world that we can do really big things.”

Former President Biden diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer

NEW YORK (AP) — Between collections resuming, courts blocking student loan programs and layoffs at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-ab509ad5778497dfbd6d53b9eef692b5">Education Department</a>, borrowers might be confused about the status of their student loans.

Recently, the Education Department announced it would start&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-default-collection-fa6498bf519e0d50f2cd80166faef32a">involuntary collections</a>&nbsp;on defaulted loans, meaning the roughly 5.3 million borrowers who are in default could have their wages garnished by the federal government.

At the center of the turmoil are the government’s income-driven repayment plans, which reduce monthly payments for borrowers with lower incomes. Those plans were temporarily paused after a federal court blocked parts of the plans in February.

“There’s so much confusion, they’ve made it very complicated,” said Natalia Abrams, president and founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center.

At the same time, some borrowers are struggling to get their loan servicers on the phone, making it hard to find answers to their questions, said Abrams.

If you’re a student loan borrower, here are some answers to your questions.

What if I want to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan?

Applications for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-repayment-forgiveness-18c994d3edf0b50acd95de2db0221675">income-driven repayment plans</a>&nbsp;are open, but they’re taking longer than usual to process.

The applications were temporarily shut down earlier this year after a federal court in Missouri blocked the SAVE plan, a Biden administration plan that offered a faster path to loan forgiveness. The judge’s order also blocked parts of other repayment plans, prompting the Education Department to pause income-driven applications entirely.

Amid pressure from advocates, the department reopened the applications on May 10.

Borrowers can apply for the following income-driven plans: the Income-Based Repayment Plan, the Pay as You Earn plan and the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.

Abrams expects applications will continue to be approved but at a slower pace than before the application pause.

Borrowers currently enrolled in an income-driven plan should be receiving notifications about recertification, said Khandice Lofton, counsel at the Student Borrower Protection Center. Recertification is required annually to update information on family size and income, and dates are different for each borrower.

To review income-driven repayment plans, you can check the&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/" target="_blank">loan simulator</a>&nbsp;at studentaid.gov.

Borrowers enrolled in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">SAVE plan</a>&nbsp;have been placed in forbearance while a legal challenge is resolved. That means they don’t have to make payments and interest is not accruing. Time in forbearance normally does not count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

The Education Department will notify borrowers with updates on payments and litigation.

“We don’t know for sure when the SAVE forbearance is going to end,” Abrams said.

While the future of the SAVE plan is decided in court, Abrams encourages borrowers to explore their eligibility for other income-driven repayment plans.

What if I want to consolidate my student loans?

The online application for loan consolidation is available again, at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation/" target="_blank">studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation</a>. If you have multiple federal student loans, you can combine them into one with a fixed interest rate and a single monthly payment.

The consolidation process typically takes around 60 days to complete. You can only consolidate your loans once.

It would be difficult for the Education Department to reinstate loans that were canceled during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-cancellation-forgiveness-d213afe3ea69da3c6b9e713c7dc16a9a">President Joe Biden’s administration</a>. So far, it isn’t believed to be happening, Abrams said.

What about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program?

President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-service-student-loan-forgiveness-trump-457a24f8dba3c52dfe58f1e72ba61fa4">wants to change</a>&nbsp;the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to disqualify workers of nonprofit groups deemed to have engaged in “improper” activities. He signed an executive order to that effect, but it has yet to be enforced.

Borrowers enrolled in PSLF should keep up with payments to make progress toward loan forgiveness, said Sarah Austin, policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

“There could be some changes coming in regards to PSLF but at this current time PSLF is still functioning and there is still loan forgiveness being processed under the PSLF provision,” said Austin.

An income-driven repayment tracker has disappeared from the federal student loan website for many borrowers, said Abrams. For keeping track of their status, Abrams is recommending that borrowers take screenshots of their payments.

What if I can’t get a hold of my loan servicer?

Contacting your loan servicer is crucial to managing and understanding your student loans. Due to the large number of people trying to get answers or apply for programs, loan servicers are taking longer than usual to respond.

Abrams recommends borrowers prepare for long wait times.

“We’ve heard borrowers being in hold for three or four hours, then being transferred to a supervisor and then being hung up on, after all that wait time. It’s incredibly frustrating,” Abrams said.

What can I do if I’m delinquent on my student loans?

If you’re delinquent, try to get back on track. Borrowers who don’t make their payments for 270 days go into default, which has severe consequences.

“If you’re delinquent but have not defaulted yet, do whatever you can do to avoid going default,” said Kate Wood, a student loans expert at NerdWallet.

Borrowers who are delinquent on their student loans take a massive hit on their credit scores, which could drop 100 points or more, Wood said. A delinquency stays on your credit report for seven years.

Wood recommends contacting your servicer to ask for options, which can include forbearance, deferment or applying for an income-driven repayment plan.

What if I’m in default on my student loans?

The Education Department is recommending borrowers visit its&nbsp;<a href="http://t1.info.ed.gov/r/?id=h23c64d5,1f7dccc,1f7f968" target="_blank">Default Resolution Group</a>&nbsp;to make a monthly payment, enroll in an income-driven repayment plan or sign up for loan rehabilitation.

Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute for Student Loan Advisors, recommends loan rehabilitation.

Borrowers in default must ask their loan servicer to be placed into such a program. Typically, servicers ask for proof of income and expenses to calculate a payment amount. Once a borrower has paid on time for nine months in a row, they are taken out of default, Mayotte said. A loan rehabilitation can only be done once.

The Fresh Start program was a one-time temporary program that helped borrowers get out of default. This program ended Aug. 31, 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741729690736.png" alt="AP photo" />
 <figcaption>AP photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Between collections resuming, courts blocking student loan programs and layoffs at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-ab509ad5778497dfbd6d53b9eef692b5">Education Department</a>, borrowers might be confused about the status of their student loans.Recently, the Education Department announced it would start&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-default-collection-fa6498bf519e0d50f2cd80166faef32a">involuntary collections</a>&nbsp;on defaulted loans, meaning the roughly 5.3 million borrowers who are in default could have their wages garnished by the federal government.At the center of the turmoil are the government’s income-driven repayment plans, which reduce monthly payments for borrowers with lower incomes. Those plans were temporarily paused after a federal court blocked parts of the plans in February.“There’s so much confusion, they’ve made it very complicated,” said Natalia Abrams, president and founder of the Student Debt Crisis Center.At the same time, some borrowers are struggling to get their loan servicers on the phone, making it hard to find answers to their questions, said Abrams.If you’re a student loan borrower, here are some answers to your questions.<h2>What if I want to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan?</h2>Applications for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-debt-repayment-forgiveness-18c994d3edf0b50acd95de2db0221675">income-driven repayment plans</a>&nbsp;are open, but they’re taking longer than usual to process.The applications were temporarily shut down earlier this year after a federal court in Missouri blocked the SAVE plan, a Biden administration plan that offered a faster path to loan forgiveness. The judge’s order also blocked parts of other repayment plans, prompting the Education Department to pause income-driven applications entirely.Amid pressure from advocates, the department reopened the applications on May 10.Borrowers can apply for the following income-driven plans: the Income-Based Repayment Plan, the Pay as You Earn plan and the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.Abrams expects applications will continue to be approved but at a slower pace than before the application pause.Borrowers currently enrolled in an income-driven plan should be receiving notifications about recertification, said Khandice Lofton, counsel at the Student Borrower Protection Center. Recertification is required annually to update information on family size and income, and dates are different for each borrower.To review income-driven repayment plans, you can check the&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/" target="_blank">loan simulator</a>&nbsp;at studentaid.gov.<h2>What if I applied to the SAVE plan?</h2>Borrowers enrolled in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">SAVE plan</a>&nbsp;have been placed in forbearance while a legal challenge is resolved. That means they don’t have to make payments and interest is not accruing. Time in forbearance normally does not count toward Public Service Loan Forgiveness.The Education Department will notify borrowers with updates on payments and litigation.“We don’t know for sure when the SAVE forbearance is going to end,” Abrams said.While the future of the SAVE plan is decided in court, Abrams encourages borrowers to explore their eligibility for other income-driven repayment plans.<h2>What if I want to consolidate my student loans?</h2>The online application for loan consolidation is available again, at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation/" target="_blank">studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation</a>. If you have multiple federal student loans, you can combine them into one with a fixed interest rate and a single monthly payment.The consolidation process typically takes around 60 days to complete. You can only consolidate your loans once.<h2>What if my loan was forgiven?</h2>It would be difficult for the Education Department to reinstate loans that were canceled during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-cancellation-forgiveness-d213afe3ea69da3c6b9e713c7dc16a9a">President Joe Biden’s administration</a>. So far, it isn’t believed to be happening, Abrams said.<h2>What about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program?</h2>Nothing has changed yet.President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-service-student-loan-forgiveness-trump-457a24f8dba3c52dfe58f1e72ba61fa4">wants to change</a>&nbsp;the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program to disqualify workers of nonprofit groups deemed to have engaged in “improper” activities. He signed an executive order to that effect, but it has yet to be enforced.Borrowers enrolled in PSLF should keep up with payments to make progress toward loan forgiveness, said Sarah Austin, policy analyst at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.“There could be some changes coming in regards to PSLF but at this current time PSLF is still functioning and there is still loan forgiveness being processed under the PSLF provision,” said Austin.An income-driven repayment tracker has disappeared from the federal student loan website for many borrowers, said Abrams. For keeping track of their status, Abrams is recommending that borrowers take screenshots of their payments.<h2>What if I can’t get a hold of my loan servicer?</h2>Contacting your loan servicer is crucial to managing and understanding your student loans. Due to the large number of people trying to get answers or apply for programs, loan servicers are taking longer than usual to respond.Abrams recommends borrowers prepare for long wait times.“We’ve heard borrowers being in hold for three or four hours, then being transferred to a supervisor and then being hung up on, after all that wait time. It’s incredibly frustrating,” Abrams said.<h2>What can I do if I’m delinquent on my student loans?</h2>If you’re delinquent, try to get back on track. Borrowers who don’t make their payments for 270 days go into default, which has severe consequences.“If you’re delinquent but have not defaulted yet, do whatever you can do to avoid going default,” said Kate Wood, a student loans expert at NerdWallet.Borrowers who are delinquent on their student loans take a massive hit on their credit scores, which could drop 100 points or more, Wood said. A delinquency stays on your credit report for seven years.Wood recommends contacting your servicer to ask for options, which can include forbearance, deferment or applying for an income-driven repayment plan.<h2>What if I’m in default on my student loans?</h2>The Education Department is recommending borrowers visit its&nbsp;<a href="http://t1.info.ed.gov/r/?id=h23c64d5,1f7dccc,1f7f968" target="_blank">Default Resolution Group</a>&nbsp;to make a monthly payment, enroll in an income-driven repayment plan or sign up for loan rehabilitation.Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute for Student Loan Advisors, recommends loan rehabilitation.Borrowers in default must ask their loan servicer to be placed into such a program. Typically, servicers ask for proof of income and expenses to calculate a payment amount. Once a borrower has paid on time for nine months in a row, they are taken out of default, Mayotte said. A loan rehabilitation can only be done once.<h2>What happened to Fresh Start?</h2>The Fresh Start program was a one-time temporary program that helped borrowers get out of default. This program ended Aug. 31, 2024.___

Student loans have been confusing lately: A guide to know where you stand

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 — Fuel shortages in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska spurred a federal agency to issue an emergency declaration this week that gives leeway to commercial drivers hauling fuel.

<a href="http://chrome-extension//efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.kcc.ks.gov/images/PDFs/transportation/Emergency%20Declaration%20No.%202025-007%20-%20Fuel%20Shortages%20-%2005-13-2025.pdf" target="_blank">The emergency order</a>&nbsp;by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association extended an April 30 state of disaster emergency proclamation from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. The state-level declaration expired on May 13, said Linda Berry, spokesperson for the Kansas Corporation Commission, which regulates gas and oil production in the state.

Areas in Kansas and surrounding states are experiencing a fuel shortage, causing long lines at fuel stations, delivery delays and a need for truck drivers to increase the number of hours they can drive to deliver fuel, said an April 30 press release. The short-term changes only apply to drivers who are part of the fuel delivery system.

Under the declaration, drivers can temporarily work longer hours to ensure fuel supplies are going through, the release said.

“This declaration is in response to the widespread fuel shortages in affected states impacting agricultural operations and the national food supply, and their effects on people and property, including immediate threats to human life, public safety, or public welfare,” the federal declaration said.

Berry said planned pipeline and refinery maintenance and higher demands among farmers and drivers during planting season were likely sources of the supply chain disruption.

Primarily, the impact has been on diesel fuel and has not affected consumers.

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 — Fuel shortages in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska spurred a federal agency to issue an emergency declaration this week that gives leeway to commercial drivers hauling fuel.<a href="http://chrome-extension//efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.kcc.ks.gov/images/PDFs/transportation/Emergency%20Declaration%20No.%202025-007%20-%20Fuel%20Shortages%20-%2005-13-2025.pdf" target="_blank">The emergency order</a>&nbsp;by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Association extended an April 30 state of disaster emergency proclamation from Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly. The state-level declaration expired on May 13, said Linda Berry, spokesperson for the Kansas Corporation Commission, which regulates gas and oil production in the state.Areas in Kansas and surrounding states are experiencing a fuel shortage, causing long lines at fuel stations, delivery delays and a need for truck drivers to increase the number of hours they can drive to deliver fuel, said an April 30 press release. The short-term changes only apply to drivers who are part of the fuel delivery system.Under the declaration, drivers can temporarily work longer hours to ensure fuel supplies are going through, the release said.“This declaration is in response to the widespread fuel shortages in affected states impacting agricultural operations and the national food supply, and their effects on people and property, including immediate threats to human life, public safety, or public welfare,” the federal declaration said.Berry said planned pipeline and refinery maintenance and higher demands among farmers and drivers during planting season were likely sources of the supply chain disruption.Primarily, the impact has been on diesel fuel and has not affected consumers.

Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska fuel shortages lead to federal emergency declaration

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.

Just before 11:30p.m. May 15, a&nbsp;Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at milepost 167 on I-35 for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. 

During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

Brandon J. Pengra, 35, of McLoud, Oklahoma was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He has previous convictions for criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1747067817381.png" alt="Pengra-photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Pengra-photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.Just before 11:30p.m. May 15, a&nbsp;Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop at milepost 167 on I-35 for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.Brandon J. Pengra, 35, of McLoud, Oklahoma was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia. He has previous convictions for criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Sheriff: Kan. felon caught with meth from Oklahoma

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>

There’s debate over whether classrooms need stricter control or a shift toward restorative justice.

In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to reinstate “common sense” school discipline, more states may follow and expand the authority of teachers and school officials to deal with disruptive students.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/reinstating-common-sense-school-discipline-policies/" target="_blank">order</a>, signed in April, repeals prior federal guidance that encouraged schools to address racial disparities in discipline, arguing that such policies promoted “discriminatory equity ideology” and compromised school safety by pressuring administrators to underreport serious student misconduct.

In some states, new legislation already is trending toward giving teachers more authority to address student misbehavior.

In West Virginia, for example,<a href="https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb199%20sub1.htm&amp;yr=2025&amp;sesstype=RS&amp;i=199" target="_blank">&nbsp;a new law creates a structured process</a>&nbsp;for responding to violent, threatening or disruptive behavior among students in grades K-6.

Under the law, a student exhibiting such behavior can be immediately removed from class, evaluated by counselors or behavioral specialists and placed on an individualized behavior plan. If there’s no improvement after two rounds of intervention, the student could be moved into a behavioral intervention program or an alternative learning environment.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, and supporters say the law empowers teachers to maintain safe classrooms.

“This legislation provides teachers with the tools to regain control of the classroom and ensure safe learning environments for our kids,” Morrisey&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.wv.gov/article/governor-patrick-morrisey-signs-school-discipline-bill-law" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;at the bill’s signing.

In April, the Texas House of Representatives&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB6/2025" target="_blank">passed</a>&nbsp;a bill referred to as the “Teacher’s Bill of Rights” with a bipartisan vote of 124-20.

That bill, now sitting in the Senate’s education committee, would significantly expand the grounds for out-of-school suspensions, allowing students to be suspended for repeated disruptions or threats beginning in third grade. It would reverse earlier changes that limited suspensions for younger students. It also would mandate that students making terroristic threats or assaulting school employees be placed in alternative education programs for at least 30 days.

Texas civil rights groups argue that the bill would impose a one-size-fits-all punitive approach, rather than addressing students’ developmental and behavioral needs.

Alycia Castillo, associate director of policy at the Texas Civil Rights Project and a former teacher, said state lawmakers are taking the wrong approach by mandating sweeping discipline policies for&nbsp;<a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2023/09/20/texas-diverse-state-in-u-s--" target="_blank">a state as diverse as Texas</a>.

During the 2020-21 school year, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Education, Black students faced the highest rates of disciplinary action across all categories — suspension and expulsion — among all racial and ethnic groups.

They were 39% more likely than white students to receive in-school suspensions, 70% more likely to face out-of-school suspensions, and 71% more likely to be expelled.

The disparities were even starker for Black students with disabilities, who experienced suspension and expulsion rates far exceeding those of both their white peers and non-disabled students.

Reviving old, harsh disciplinary policies risks disproportionately harming students of color, students with disabilities and those from low-income backgrounds, Castillo said.

“What works in Austin may not work in West Texas,” Castillo said.

“Children are naturally disruptive — that’s part of their development,” she added. “Excluding them only harms their growth into functional adults.”

In recent years, some other states have passed laws promoting restorative practices in schools, in which students and teachers work through problems and focus on repairing the harm caused by disruptions or conflict.

Michigan’s 2017 law&nbsp;<a href="https://www.studentadvocacycenter.org/rethink-discipline-toolkit/" target="_blank">requires schools</a>&nbsp;to consider restorative approaches before suspensions or expulsions, aiming to repair harm rather than exclude students. Nevada began mandating restorative justice approaches in 2019, but&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2023/11/03/though-scaled-back-by-nv-lawmakers-restorative-justice-plans-still-making-progress-report-says/" target="_blank">scaled back</a>&nbsp;that approach in 2023.

This year, Maryland passed a&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/MD/text/HB197/2025" target="_blank">law</a>&nbsp;requiring the state to establish “restorative practices schools,” specific schools with trained educators who use the approach in everyday discipline.

Kimberly Hellerich, an assistant professor at Sacred Heart University and a former K-12 teacher, said discipline policies should go beyond punitive measures to foster accountability and community healing.

“Adding restorative practices to accompany codes of conduct can allow students to recognize the impact of their actions on themselves, peers, the teacher, the class and the school community,” Hellerich said.

In her own classrooms, Hellerich used what she called “community circles” to guide students in processing behavior, offering apologies and rebuilding trust. “The apology served as a way to restore the student’s relationship with the entire class community,” she said.

Calls for a cultural shift on expectations

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691616488001.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a><h2>There’s debate over whether classrooms need stricter control or a shift toward restorative justice.</h2>In the wake of President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to reinstate “common sense” school discipline, more states may follow and expand the authority of teachers and school officials to deal with disruptive students.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/reinstating-common-sense-school-discipline-policies/" target="_blank">order</a>, signed in April, repeals prior federal guidance that encouraged schools to address racial disparities in discipline, arguing that such policies promoted “discriminatory equity ideology” and compromised school safety by pressuring administrators to underreport serious student misconduct.In some states, new legislation already is trending toward giving teachers more authority to address student misbehavior.In West Virginia, for example,<a href="https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=sb199%20sub1.htm&amp;yr=2025&amp;sesstype=RS&amp;i=199" target="_blank">&nbsp;a new law creates a structured process</a>&nbsp;for responding to violent, threatening or disruptive behavior among students in grades K-6.Under the law, a student exhibiting such behavior can be immediately removed from class, evaluated by counselors or behavioral specialists and placed on an individualized behavior plan. If there’s no improvement after two rounds of intervention, the student could be moved into a behavioral intervention program or an alternative learning environment.West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, and supporters say the law empowers teachers to maintain safe classrooms.“This legislation provides teachers with the tools to regain control of the classroom and ensure safe learning environments for our kids,” Morrisey&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.wv.gov/article/governor-patrick-morrisey-signs-school-discipline-bill-law" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;at the bill’s signing.In April, the Texas House of Representatives&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/HB6/2025" target="_blank">passed</a>&nbsp;a bill referred to as the “Teacher’s Bill of Rights” with a bipartisan vote of 124-20.That bill, now sitting in the Senate’s education committee, would significantly expand the grounds for out-of-school suspensions, allowing students to be suspended for repeated disruptions or threats beginning in third grade. It would reverse earlier changes that limited suspensions for younger students. It also would mandate that students making terroristic threats or assaulting school employees be placed in alternative education programs for at least 30 days.Texas civil rights groups argue that the bill would impose a one-size-fits-all punitive approach, rather than addressing students’ developmental and behavioral needs.Alycia Castillo, associate director of policy at the Texas Civil Rights Project and a former teacher, said state lawmakers are taking the wrong approach by mandating sweeping discipline policies for&nbsp;<a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2023/09/20/texas-diverse-state-in-u-s--" target="_blank">a state as diverse as Texas</a>.During the 2020-21 school year, according to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of Education, Black students faced the highest rates of disciplinary action across all categories — suspension and expulsion — among all racial and ethnic groups.They were 39% more likely than white students to receive in-school suspensions, 70% more likely to face out-of-school suspensions, and 71% more likely to be expelled.The disparities were even starker for Black students with disabilities, who experienced suspension and expulsion rates far exceeding those of both their white peers and non-disabled students.Reviving old, harsh disciplinary policies risks disproportionately harming students of color, students with disabilities and those from low-income backgrounds, Castillo said.“What works in Austin may not work in West Texas,” Castillo said.“Children are naturally disruptive — that’s part of their development,” she added. “Excluding them only harms their growth into functional adults.”<h2>Restorative justice models</h2>In recent years, some other states have passed laws promoting restorative practices in schools, in which students and teachers work through problems and focus on repairing the harm caused by disruptions or conflict.Michigan’s 2017 law&nbsp;<a href="https://www.studentadvocacycenter.org/rethink-discipline-toolkit/" target="_blank">requires schools</a>&nbsp;to consider restorative approaches before suspensions or expulsions, aiming to repair harm rather than exclude students. Nevada began mandating restorative justice approaches in 2019, but&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2023/11/03/though-scaled-back-by-nv-lawmakers-restorative-justice-plans-still-making-progress-report-says/" target="_blank">scaled back</a>&nbsp;that approach in 2023.This year, Maryland passed a&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/MD/text/HB197/2025" target="_blank">law</a>&nbsp;requiring the state to establish “restorative practices schools,” specific schools with trained educators who use the approach in everyday discipline.Kimberly Hellerich, an assistant professor at Sacred Heart University and a former K-12 teacher, said discipline policies should go beyond punitive measures to foster accountability and community healing.“Adding restorative practices to accompany codes of conduct can allow students to recognize the impact of their actions on themselves, peers, the teacher, the class and the school community,” Hellerich said.In her own classrooms, Hellerich used what she called “community circles” to guide students in processing behavior, offering apologies and rebuilding trust. “The apology served as a way to restore the student’s relationship with the entire class community,” she said.<h2>Calls for a cultural shift on expectations</h2>While lawmakers debate discipline procedures, other education advocates warn that an even deeper issue is unfolding inside classrooms: the gradual erosion of behavioral expectations and academic rigor.Jessica Bartnick, co-founder and CEO of the Dallas-based mentorship program Foundation for C.H.O.I.C.E., said that declining school discipline and lowered standards are quietly undermining educational outcomes.“Discipline is the backbone of effective learning,” Bartnick, who supports the Texas legislation, told Stateline in an email. “Without it, classrooms become chaotic, instructional time is lost and teachers are forced to shift their focus from instruction to behavior management.”Bartnick said efforts to promote equity sometimes inadvertently lower behavioral standards and deprive teachers of the tools they need to maintain safe learning environments.She also criticized lenient grading policies and unlimited test retakes, arguing that they diminish the value of preparation, responsibility and resilience.“If students are shielded from the discomfort of failure, they are also shielded from the growth that comes with it,” she wrote. “If we want to prepare students for a world that will not offer endless second chances, we must return to a classroom culture grounded in discipline, responsibility, and rigor.”Stateline reporter Amanda Hernández contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rsequeira@stateline.org">rsequeira@stateline.org</a>.