SEDGWICK COUNTY —On Friday morning, the Sedgwick County Zoo announced&nbsp;the birth of a healthy African elephant calf, a male, born to mother Talia on April 10, according to a social media report from the zoo.

Both mother and baby are doing well, under the attentive watch of the Zoo’s veterinary and elephant care teams. The baby elephant's name is Bomani, which means “warrior” in Swahili. 

Bomani is already showing signs of curiosity and energy, standing up within his first few minutes of life and exploring his surroundings under the watchful eye of mom and other members of the herd. 

Mom and her new son will remain behind the scenes for a while to allow for the observation of bonding, nursing, and positive herd behavior. Lucky Zoo guests may be able to catch a glimpse of Bomani this weekend as he moves about his new space behind the Elephant Boma. 

<a href="https://sczelephantcampaign.my.canva.site/">Click here for more</a> information about the elephants at Sedgwick County Zoo and opportunities to support the growing herd.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744399238850.png" alt="&nbsp;Photo Sedgwick County Zoo" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photo Sedgwick County Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —On Friday morning, the Sedgwick County Zoo announced&nbsp;the birth of a healthy African elephant calf, a male, born to mother Talia on April 10, according to a social media report from the zoo.Both mother and baby are doing well, under the attentive watch of the Zoo’s veterinary and elephant care teams. The baby elephant's name is Bomani, which means “warrior” in Swahili. Bomani is already showing signs of curiosity and energy, standing up within his first few minutes of life and exploring his surroundings under the watchful eye of mom and other members of the herd. Mom and her new son will remain behind the scenes for a while to allow for the observation of bonding, nursing, and positive herd behavior. Lucky Zoo guests may be able to catch a glimpse of Bomani this weekend as he moves about his new space behind the Elephant Boma. <a href="https://sczelephantcampaign.my.canva.site/">Click here for more</a> information about the elephants at Sedgwick County Zoo and opportunities to support the growing herd.

Kansas zoo celebrating birth of baby elephant 

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

WASHINGTON — Fired federal probationary workers saw setbacks this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court and an appeals court dealt blows in two separate cases, leaving the newly hired or recently promoted employees hit by the administration’s mass firings once again in limbo.

In a case that affected up to 24,000 fired probationary employees across 17 federal agencies, the U.S. Appeals Court for the 4th Circuit on Wednesday blocked a lower court order requiring the government to rehire the workers.

A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to stay the order, writing that the Trump administration is “likely to succeed in showing the district court lacked jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ claims.”

Judge Allison Rushing, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, directed the order, with Judge James Wilkinson, a President Ronald Reagan appointee, concurring. Judge DeAndrea Benjamin, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, dissented.

The case centered on a lawsuit filed by the Democratic attorneys general for 19 states and the District of Columbia, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-attorneys-general-face-trump-administration-over-rehiring-fired-feds" target="_blank">allege</a>&nbsp;economic harm because the federal government did not provide legally required warning ahead of an influx of unemployed state residents.

Federal Judge James Bredar for the District of Maryland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-fired-federal-probationary-workers-reinstated-19-states-dc" target="_blank">issued a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;on April 2 requiring the government to rehire thousands of workers who either lived or reported to work only in the 19 plaintiff states and the District of Columbia while the case moved forward. They included:

The case marked the first time the government provided the number of probationary employees fired at each agency.

Bredar required the figures from the government to show compliance with his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/second-federal-judge-orders-reversal-some-trump-workforce-cuts" target="_blank">mid-March emergency order</a>&nbsp;that the agencies reinstate the workers. The documents showed that the majority of the employees were not recalled to active duty, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fired-fed-workers-won-their-jobs-back-many-linger-administrative-leave-limbo" target="_blank">placed on administrative leave</a>.

In the second case bearing on fired federal workers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a lower court order mandating the federal government reinstate the jobs of 16,000 fired probationary federal workers across six agencies.

The unsigned two-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/040825zr_1b8e.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;stated the nine nonprofits that brought the case do not have legal standing. The justices did not address the question at the center of the lawsuit: whether the firings were illegal.

The Trump administration had escalated the case to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket after the U.S. Appeals Court for the 9th Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-appeals-court-turns-down-trump-attempt-block-rehiring-fired-workers" target="_blank">denied</a>&nbsp;the government’s request to block the agencies from rehiring the employees.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup for the Northern District of California&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-rehiring-thousands-fired-probationary-federal-employees" target="_blank">extended</a>&nbsp;his temporary emergency order on March 13, mandating the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs reinstate employees who were fired under a directive from the Office of Personnel Management as part of an agenda by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-workforce-hit-trumps-sweeping-firings-thousands-probationary-employees" target="_blank">slash the federal workforce</a>.

As the case continues on the lower court track, lawyers for the American Federal of Government Employees, AFL-CIO faced the Trump administration in court Wednesday before Alsup, a Clinton appointee. Alsup ordered both to provide more information by the end of the day Friday, including a comprehensive list of those fired and statements about economic harms.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741729690736.png" alt="Department of Education in Washington -AP photo" />
 <figcaption>Department of Education in Washington -AP photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>WASHINGTON — Fired federal probationary workers saw setbacks this week, as the U.S. Supreme Court and an appeals court dealt blows in two separate cases, leaving the newly hired or recently promoted employees hit by the administration’s mass firings once again in limbo.In a case that affected up to 24,000 fired probationary employees across 17 federal agencies, the U.S. Appeals Court for the 4th Circuit on Wednesday blocked a lower court order requiring the government to rehire the workers.A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 to stay the order, writing that the Trump administration is “likely to succeed in showing the district court lacked jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ claims.”Judge Allison Rushing, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, directed the order, with Judge James Wilkinson, a President Ronald Reagan appointee, concurring. Judge DeAndrea Benjamin, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2023, dissented.The case centered on a lawsuit filed by the Democratic attorneys general for 19 states and the District of Columbia, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democratic-attorneys-general-face-trump-administration-over-rehiring-fired-feds" target="_blank">allege</a>&nbsp;economic harm because the federal government did not provide legally required warning ahead of an influx of unemployed state residents.Federal Judge James Bredar for the District of Maryland&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-fired-federal-probationary-workers-reinstated-19-states-dc" target="_blank">issued a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;on April 2 requiring the government to rehire thousands of workers who either lived or reported to work only in the 19 plaintiff states and the District of Columbia while the case moved forward. They included:<ul>
 <li>Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.</li>
 </ul>The affected agencies included:<ul>
 <li>The departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense (civilian employees only), Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Labor, Transportation, Treasury and Veterans Affairs, as well as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, General Services Administration, Office of Personnel Management, Small Business Administration and the U.S. Agency for International Development.</li>
 </ul>The case marked the first time the government provided the number of probationary employees fired at each agency.Bredar required the figures from the government to show compliance with his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/second-federal-judge-orders-reversal-some-trump-workforce-cuts" target="_blank">mid-March emergency order</a>&nbsp;that the agencies reinstate the workers. The documents showed that the majority of the employees were not recalled to active duty, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/fired-fed-workers-won-their-jobs-back-many-linger-administrative-leave-limbo" target="_blank">placed on administrative leave</a>.<h2>Supreme Court action</h2>In the second case bearing on fired federal workers, the Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a lower court order mandating the federal government reinstate the jobs of 16,000 fired probationary federal workers across six agencies.The unsigned two-page&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/040825zr_1b8e.pdf" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;stated the nine nonprofits that brought the case do not have legal standing. The justices did not address the question at the center of the lawsuit: whether the firings were illegal.The Trump administration had escalated the case to the Supreme Court’s emergency docket after the U.S. Appeals Court for the 9th Circuit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-appeals-court-turns-down-trump-attempt-block-rehiring-fired-workers" target="_blank">denied</a>&nbsp;the government’s request to block the agencies from rehiring the employees.U.S. District Judge William Alsup for the Northern District of California&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-orders-rehiring-thousands-fired-probationary-federal-employees" target="_blank">extended</a>&nbsp;his temporary emergency order on March 13, mandating the departments of Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, Treasury and Veterans Affairs reinstate employees who were fired under a directive from the Office of Personnel Management as part of an agenda by President Donald Trump and adviser Elon Musk to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-workforce-hit-trumps-sweeping-firings-thousands-probationary-employees" target="_blank">slash the federal workforce</a>.As the case continues on the lower court track, lawyers for the American Federal of Government Employees, AFL-CIO faced the Trump administration in court Wednesday before Alsup, a Clinton appointee. Alsup ordered both to provide more information by the end of the day Friday, including a comprehensive list of those fired and statements about economic harms.&nbsp;

Fired federal probationary employees thrown back in limbo after court losses

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged assault in Manhattan.

Just before 8:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of aggravated assault in the 700 block of Colorado Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.. &nbsp;

A 31-year-old man reported that a 41-year-old man armed himself with a sledge hammer during an incident, placing the victim in fear of harm.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged assault in Manhattan.Just before 8:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of aggravated assault in the 700 block of Colorado Street in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.. &nbsp;A 31-year-old man reported that a 41-year-old man armed himself with a sledge hammer during an incident, placing the victim in fear of harm.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Police: Kan. man threatened another with a sledge hammer

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A pastor was abducted by armed and masked men as he was preaching a sermon before a congregation in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, police said Friday.

Four men broke into the Fellowship Baptist church in Motherwell Township on Thursday evening, stole two cellphones from members of the congregation and took away the pastor in his own truck, said police, who have now initiated an investigation into abduction and armed robbery.

Local media named the victim as Josh Sullivan, 45, from the U.S. state of Tennessee, but police would not confirm the identification.

According to the Fellowship Baptist church blog, Sullivan, who described himself as a “church-planting missionary,” his wife Meagan and two children arrived in South Africa in November 2018 to run the Motherwell branch.

An image showing Sullivan preaching behind a pulpit was uploaded on X by a user going by the name of Tom Hatley. Sullivan identifies a man with the same name as his childhood and training pastor on his own blog. Hatley claimed that he was posting on Sullivan’s wife’s behalf and prayed for a safe return.

A Maryville, Tennessee woman by the name Tonya Rinker, who lists Sullivan as her son in her profile, expressed heartbreak on Facebook and asked for prayers for her son, daughter-in-law and grandkids, adding that the American embassy in South Africa was working on finding him.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed in a statement that the stolen truck, a silver Toyota Fortuner, was found abandoned in Motherwell a short while after the incident.

Additionally, the police Anti-Gang Unit has now taken over the investigation that was opened by the South African Police Service in Motherwell.

Beetge would not be drawn to give any particulars about the victim but said protocol dictated that once a ransom was demanded, the case would be handed over to the Hawks — a specialized police unit that investigates organized crime, economic crime, corruption, and other serious crimes.

“As I understand, there has been no ransom raised,” said Beetge, urging anyone with information to come forward.

As they await Sullivan’s safe return, supporters flocked to the pastor’s personal blog site and other social media platforms to offer their well-wishes.

“We are now praying that you delivered from these evil men,” a poster named Richard Stockton said on the church website. “Praying the Holy Spirit well work on their hearts and be saved. And release you!!!”

Another supporter called Kody Moore said Josh was a “faithful brother doing much to make Christ known in Africa."

“Please pray for Josh to be brought home safely and especially his family during this absolutely terrible time. May Christ be magnified,” he tweeted on X.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744386076602.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A pastor was abducted by armed and masked men as he was preaching a sermon before a congregation in South Africa's Eastern Cape province, police said Friday.Four men broke into the Fellowship Baptist church in Motherwell Township on Thursday evening, stole two cellphones from members of the congregation and took away the pastor in his own truck, said police, who have now initiated an investigation into abduction and armed robbery.Local media named the victim as Josh Sullivan, 45, from the U.S. state of Tennessee, but police would not confirm the identification.According to the Fellowship Baptist church blog, Sullivan, who described himself as a “church-planting missionary,” his wife Meagan and two children arrived in South Africa in November 2018 to run the Motherwell branch.An image showing Sullivan preaching behind a pulpit was uploaded on X by a user going by the name of Tom Hatley. Sullivan identifies a man with the same name as his childhood and training pastor on his own blog. Hatley claimed that he was posting on Sullivan’s wife’s behalf and prayed for a safe return.A Maryville, Tennessee woman by the name Tonya Rinker, who lists Sullivan as her son in her profile, expressed heartbreak on Facebook and asked for prayers for her son, daughter-in-law and grandkids, adding that the American embassy in South Africa was working on finding him.Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge confirmed in a statement that the stolen truck, a silver Toyota Fortuner, was found abandoned in Motherwell a short while after the incident.Additionally, the police Anti-Gang Unit has now taken over the investigation that was opened by the South African Police Service in Motherwell.Beetge would not be drawn to give any particulars about the victim but said protocol dictated that once a ransom was demanded, the case would be handed over to the Hawks — a specialized police unit that investigates organized crime, economic crime, corruption, and other serious crimes.“As I understand, there has been no ransom raised,” said Beetge, urging anyone with information to come forward.As they await Sullivan’s safe return, supporters flocked to the pastor’s personal blog site and other social media platforms to offer their well-wishes.“We are now praying that you delivered from these evil men,” a poster named Richard Stockton said on the church website. “Praying the Holy Spirit well work on their hearts and be saved. And release you!!!”Another supporter called Kody Moore said Josh was a “faithful brother doing much to make Christ known in Africa."“Please pray for Josh to be brought home safely and especially his family during this absolutely terrible time. May Christ be magnified,” he tweeted on X.

American pastor abducted at gunpoint in South Africa while preaching a sermon

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person was injured while at the scene of a fire Wednesday night in Topeka.

Just after 10:30p.m. firefighters responded to a reported fire in a building at Cable Dahmer Chevrolet, 3731 SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke and flames coming from a building at the dealership. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, originating on or near the ventilation unit for the paint booth located in the vehicle body repair garage. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries on the scene.&nbsp; Authorities have not released an estimate on damage.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744381127495.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person was injured while at the scene of a fire Wednesday night in Topeka.Just after 10:30p.m. firefighters responded to a reported fire in a building at Cable Dahmer Chevrolet, 3731 SW Topeka Boulevard, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke and flames coming from a building at the dealership. Crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire.The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, originating on or near the ventilation unit for the paint booth located in the vehicle body repair garage. One firefighter was treated for minor injuries on the scene.&nbsp; Authorities have not released an estimate on damage.

Firefighter injured fighting blaze at Kansas car dealership

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed retired Air Force&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-joint-chiefs-chairman-razin-caine-military-41b3faeaefd4d965dc22b15b0223ec58">Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine</a>&nbsp;to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, filling the position almost two months after President Donald Trump fired his predecessor.

Trump nominated Caine to become the top U.S. military officer in February after abruptly firing Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the second Black general to serve as chairman, as part of his administration’s campaign to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-trump-diversity-pentagon-list-602477b6e80641b53f4f9b640a14f4ce">rid the military of leaders who support diversity</a>&nbsp;and equity in the ranks. The Senate confirmed Caine 60-25 in an overnight vote before heading home for a two-week recess. Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall voted with the majority. Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran did not vote.

Caine is a decorated F-16 combat pilot who served in leadership in multiple special operations commands, in some of the Pentagon’s most classified programs and in the CIA. He does not meet prerequisites for the job set out in a 1986 law, such as being a combatant commander or service chief. But those requirements can be waived by the president if there is a determination that “such action is necessary in the national interest.”

Caine’s confirmation in the middle of the night, just before the Senate left town, comes as Republicans have been quickly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been trying to delay the process and show that they are fighting Trump’s policies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., set up the early morning vote after Democrats objected to speeding up procedural votes on the nomination.

Still, Caine was confirmed with some bipartisan support. At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Caine said he would be candid in his advice to Trump and vowed to be apolitical. He disputed Trump’s story that Caine wore a “Make America Great Again” hat when the two first met.

“I have never worn any political merchandise,” he said.

Caine was asked how he would react if ordered to direct the military to do something potentially illegal, such as being used against civilians in domestic law enforcement.

“Will you stand up and push back?” Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin asked.

“Senator, I think that’s the duty and the job that I have, yes,” Caine said.

Trump’s relationship with Caine dates to his first administration. They met during a trip to Iraq, as Trump recounted in a 2019 speech. He has said Caine is “a real general, not a television general.”

During his first term, Trump’s relationship with then-Chairman Gen. Mark Milley soured as Milley pushed back and took steps to try to prevent what he saw as an attempt to politicize the office. He would remind military service members that they took an oath to the Constitution, not to a president.

Within hours of Trump’s inauguration in January, Milley’s portrait as chairman of the Joint Chiefs was removed from the Pentagon.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milley-trump-security-detail-clearance-9bc8ebb7cd7cd2c334d00c97d4c142d0">Milley’s security clearance</a>&nbsp;and security detail also were revoked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744367034745.png" alt="Air Force Lt. General Dan "Razin" Caine during his confirmation hearing testimony -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Air Force Lt. General Dan "Razin" Caine during his confirmation hearing testimony -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed retired Air Force&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-joint-chiefs-chairman-razin-caine-military-41b3faeaefd4d965dc22b15b0223ec58">Lt. Gen. Dan “Razin” Caine</a>&nbsp;to become the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on Friday, filling the position almost two months after President Donald Trump fired his predecessor.Trump nominated Caine to become the top U.S. military officer in February after abruptly firing Gen. CQ Brown Jr., the second Black general to serve as chairman, as part of his administration’s campaign to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-trump-diversity-pentagon-list-602477b6e80641b53f4f9b640a14f4ce">rid the military of leaders who support diversity</a>&nbsp;and equity in the ranks. The Senate confirmed Caine 60-25 in an overnight vote before heading home for a two-week recess. Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall voted with the majority. Kansas Senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran did not vote.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">✅ CONFIRMED: Lt. Gen. Dan &#39;Razin&#39; Caine as the 22nd Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff <a href="https://t.co/vFA4RB8IoU">pic.twitter.com/vFA4RB8IoU</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1910665801725558975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Caine is a decorated F-16 combat pilot who served in leadership in multiple special operations commands, in some of the Pentagon’s most classified programs and in the CIA. He does not meet prerequisites for the job set out in a 1986 law, such as being a combatant commander or service chief. But those requirements can be waived by the president if there is a determination that “such action is necessary in the national interest.”Caine’s confirmation in the middle of the night, just before the Senate left town, comes as Republicans have been quickly advancing Trump’s nominees and as Democrats have been trying to delay the process and show that they are fighting Trump’s policies. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., set up the early morning vote after Democrats objected to speeding up procedural votes on the nomination.Still, Caine was confirmed with some bipartisan support. At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Caine said he would be candid in his advice to Trump and vowed to be apolitical. He disputed Trump’s story that Caine wore a “Make America Great Again” hat when the two first met.“I have never worn any political merchandise,” he said.Caine was asked how he would react if ordered to direct the military to do something potentially illegal, such as being used against civilians in domestic law enforcement.“Will you stand up and push back?” Michigan Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin asked.“Senator, I think that’s the duty and the job that I have, yes,” Caine said.Trump’s relationship with Caine dates to his first administration. They met during a trip to Iraq, as Trump recounted in a 2019 speech. He has said Caine is “a real general, not a television general.”During his first term, Trump’s relationship with then-Chairman Gen. Mark Milley soured as Milley pushed back and took steps to try to prevent what he saw as an attempt to politicize the office. He would remind military service members that they took an oath to the Constitution, not to a president.Within hours of Trump’s inauguration in January, Milley’s portrait as chairman of the Joint Chiefs was removed from the Pentagon.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milley-trump-security-detail-clearance-9bc8ebb7cd7cd2c334d00c97d4c142d0">Milley’s security clearance</a>&nbsp;and security detail also were revoked.

Kan. U.S. Senator missed vote as chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed

KANSAS CITY — A woman has established an online fundraiser for her nephew after a deadly home explosion on Wednesday night in the Kansas City suburb of Lexington, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jacob-cami-after-tragic-explosion?attribution_id=sl:bbd7666e-a17d-46eb-89a9-49432439c68f&amp;lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_content=amp13_t1-amp15_t3&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link">Click here to view the online fundraiser.</a>

&nbsp;"The fundraiser is for Jacob Cunningham's family who were tragically impacted by this gas leak turned explosion."

"Jake, Cami and Alistair had just returned home for the evening. I am being told that when Jake flipped the light switch, the home exploded. Leaving only debris. Also causing damage to several other homes on the block, the woman wrote on the online fundraiser."

"Jake his 10 year old daughter Cami Lamb were transported to a local hospital. Soon after Jake was Life Flighted to Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Cami was Life Flighted to Children's Mercy Hospital. Both were severely burned." 

" Jake's 5 year old son Alistair died as a result of the explosion. Both Jake and Cami are considered critical but stable." 

The immediate need is for funeral cost for Alistar. Then costs associated with the medical care for both Jake and Cami, There will loss of income while Jake is out of work recovering from injuries. as he is the sole provider for his family.

The family has also set up an Account at Bank Midwest Bank 1211 Main street, Lexington, MO 64067 c/o Catherine Woods (Cathie). She is handling all the arrangements at this time for the family.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22SARAH%20RAZA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest"></a>KANSAS CITY (AP) —A gas explosion leveled a home on Wednesday evening in a Kansas City suburb after a gas main was damaged.

City officials in Lexington, Missouri, said there were injuries to the family who lived in the home but would not specify the extent of the injuries or if anyone died. More details will be given after the family can inform relatives, Lexington city administrator Shawnna Funderburk said at a press conference Thursday morning.

The explosion happened about 7:45 p.m. after a subcontractor hit a gas main while installing a fiber optic cable, the city said in a social media post.

The explosion caused a fire in the home and, multiple structures nearby also were damaged, Funderburk said.

Liberty Utilities shut off gas to the town of 4,500 people following the incident and is still investigating the cause, the company's director of operations, Jeff McChristian, said during the press conference. Repairs are ongoing, and he could not specify when gas service would be restored to the town.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744302842121.jpeg" alt="View from above the damaged home courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>View from above the damaged home courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — A woman has established an online fundraiser for her nephew after a deadly home explosion on Wednesday night in the Kansas City suburb of Lexington, Missouri.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744331759176.png" alt="Jacob Cunningham with his two children-photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Jacob Cunningham with his two children-photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-jacob-cami-after-tragic-explosion?attribution_id=sl:bbd7666e-a17d-46eb-89a9-49432439c68f&amp;lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_content=amp13_t1-amp15_t3&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link">Click here to view the online fundraiser.</a>&nbsp;"The fundraiser is for Jacob Cunningham's family who were tragically impacted by this gas leak turned explosion.""Jake, Cami and Alistair had just returned home for the evening. I am being told that when Jake flipped the light switch, the home exploded. Leaving only debris. Also causing damage to several other homes on the block, the woman wrote on the online fundraiser.""Jake his 10 year old daughter Cami Lamb were transported to a local hospital. Soon after Jake was Life Flighted to Research Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. Cami was Life Flighted to Children's Mercy Hospital. Both were severely burned." " Jake's 5 year old son Alistair died as a result of the explosion. Both Jake and Cami are considered critical but stable." The immediate need is for funeral cost for Alistar. Then costs associated with the medical care for both Jake and Cami, There will loss of income while Jake is out of work recovering from injuries. as he is the sole provider for his family.The family has also set up an Account at Bank Midwest Bank 1211 Main street, Lexington, MO 64067 c/o Catherine Woods (Cathie). She is handling all the arrangements at this time for the family.-----------<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22SARAH%20RAZA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest"></a>KANSAS CITY (AP) —A gas explosion leveled a home on Wednesday evening in a Kansas City suburb after a gas main was damaged.City officials in Lexington, Missouri, said there were injuries to the family who lived in the home but would not specify the extent of the injuries or if anyone died. More details will be given after the family can inform relatives, Lexington city administrator Shawnna Funderburk said at a press conference Thursday morning.The explosion happened about 7:45 p.m. after a subcontractor hit a gas main while installing a fiber optic cable, the city said in a social media post.The explosion caused a fire in the home and, multiple structures nearby also were damaged, Funderburk said.Liberty Utilities shut off gas to the town of 4,500 people following the incident and is still investigating the cause, the company's director of operations, Jeff McChristian, said during the press conference. Repairs are ongoing, and he could not specify when gas service would be restored to the town.

Online fundraiser for family in deadly KC area home explosion

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with a requirement that everyone in the U.S. illegally must register with the federal government and carry documentation, in a move that could have far-reaching repercussions for immigrants across the country.

Judge Trevor Neil McFadden — a Trump appointee — sided with the administration, which had argued that officials were simply enforcing a requirement that already existed for everyone who is in the country but isn't an American citizen. McFadden's ruling didn't go into the substance of those arguments but rested largely on the technical issue of whether the groups pushing to stop the requirement had standing to pursue their claims. He ruled they didn't.

Immediately after the ruling, Department of Homeland Security officials emphasized in a news release that the deadline to register for those who've already been in the country for 30 days or more is Friday and that going forward, the registration requirement would be enforced to the fullest.

"President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream," Secretary Kristi Noem said in the statement. "The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws — we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans."

While questions remain about how the registration requirement will function, its impact is potentially far-reaching. The Trump administration — which has worked to make good on campaign promises of mass deportations — has said between 2.2 million and 3.2 million people could be affected.

Homeland Security officials announced Feb. 25 that it was mandating that all people in the United States illegally register with the federal government, and said those who didn't self-report could face fines or prosecution. Failure to register is considered a crime, and people will be required to carry registration documents with them or risk prison time and fines.

Registration will be mandatory for everyone 14 and older without legal status. People registering have to provide their fingerprints and address, and parents and guardians of anyone under age 14 must ensure they registered.

The registration process also applies to Canadians who are in the U.S. for more than 30 days, including so-called snowbirds who spend winter months in places like Florida.

Federal immigration law has long required that people who aren't American citizens and live in the U.S., including those here illegally, register with the government. Those laws can be traced back to the Alien Registration Act of 1940, which came amid growing fears of immigrants and political subversives in the early days of World War II. The current requirements stem from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.

But the requirement that people illegally in the U.S. register has been enforced only in rare circumstances. In fact, advocates opposing the government say it hasn't been universally used since it was first introduced in the mid-1940s.

It was used in a limited way after Sept. 11, 2001, when the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System required that noncitizen males 16 and older from 25 countries — all but one of them majority Arab or Muslim — register with the U.S. government. The program led to no terrorism convictions but pulled more than 13,000 people into deportation proceedings. It was suspended in 2011 and dissolved in 2016.

The Trump administration has argued that the registration requirement has always existed and that officials are simply enforcing it for everyone.

The groups that sued say the government should have gone through the more lengthy public notification process before bringing about the change, and that it's enforcing this simply to facilitate President Donald Trump's aim of carrying out mass deportations.

They argue that the registry puts people who work, contribute to the economy and have deep family ties in America into a deep bind: Do they come forward, register and essentially give up their location to a government intent on carrying out mass deportations, or do they stay in the shadows and risk being charged with the crime of not registering?

The government has already asked people subject to the registration requirement to create an account on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

By REBECCA SANTANA Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with a requirement that everyone in the U.S. illegally must register with the federal government and carry documentation, in a move that could have far-reaching repercussions for immigrants across the country.Judge Trevor Neil McFadden — a Trump appointee — sided with the administration, which had argued that officials were simply enforcing a requirement that already existed for everyone who is in the country but isn't an American citizen. McFadden's ruling didn't go into the substance of those arguments but rested largely on the technical issue of whether the groups pushing to stop the requirement had standing to pursue their claims. He ruled they didn't.The requirement goes into effect Friday.Immediately after the ruling, Department of Homeland Security officials emphasized in a news release that the deadline to register for those who've already been in the country for 30 days or more is Friday and that going forward, the registration requirement would be enforced to the fullest."President Trump and I have a clear message for those in our country illegally: leave now. If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream," Secretary Kristi Noem said in the statement. "The Trump administration will enforce all our immigration laws — we will not pick and choose which laws we will enforce. We must know who is in our country for the safety and security of our homeland and all Americans."While questions remain about how the registration requirement will function, its impact is potentially far-reaching. The Trump administration — which has worked to make good on campaign promises of mass deportations — has said between 2.2 million and 3.2 million people could be affected.Homeland Security officials announced Feb. 25 that it was mandating that all people in the United States illegally register with the federal government, and said those who didn't self-report could face fines or prosecution. Failure to register is considered a crime, and people will be required to carry registration documents with them or risk prison time and fines.Registration will be mandatory for everyone 14 and older without legal status. People registering have to provide their fingerprints and address, and parents and guardians of anyone under age 14 must ensure they registered.The registration process also applies to Canadians who are in the U.S. for more than 30 days, including so-called snowbirds who spend winter months in places like Florida.Federal immigration law has long required that people who aren't American citizens and live in the U.S., including those here illegally, register with the government. Those laws can be traced back to the Alien Registration Act of 1940, which came amid growing fears of immigrants and political subversives in the early days of World War II. The current requirements stem from the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.But the requirement that people illegally in the U.S. register has been enforced only in rare circumstances. In fact, advocates opposing the government say it hasn't been universally used since it was first introduced in the mid-1940s.It was used in a limited way after Sept. 11, 2001, when the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System required that noncitizen males 16 and older from 25 countries — all but one of them majority Arab or Muslim — register with the U.S. government. The program led to no terrorism convictions but pulled more than 13,000 people into deportation proceedings. It was suspended in 2011 and dissolved in 2016.The Trump administration has argued that the registration requirement has always existed and that officials are simply enforcing it for everyone.The groups that sued say the government should have gone through the more lengthy public notification process before bringing about the change, and that it's enforcing this simply to facilitate President Donald Trump's aim of carrying out mass deportations.They argue that the registry puts people who work, contribute to the economy and have deep family ties in America into a deep bind: Do they come forward, register and essentially give up their location to a government intent on carrying out mass deportations, or do they stay in the shadows and risk being charged with the crime of not registering?The government has already asked people subject to the registration requirement to create an account on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website.

Judge: Everyone in the US illegally must now register with the government

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</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>

Both chambers voted on overrides in big packages rather than individually

TOPEKA — It was all or nothing as the Senate and House considered the tidal wave of budget vetoes generated by Gov. Laura Kelly.

On Thursday, the Senate instigated an extraordinary maneuver to reject with a single vote about three-dozen vetoes executed by the Democratic governor as she went line-by-line through the spending bill adopted by the Kansas Legislature. The vote was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20250410143422_115739/" target="_blank">30-10</a>&nbsp;in the GOP-controlled chamber to restore every provision of Senate Bill 125 deleted by Kelly.

The House, with a supermajority of Republicans, followed by offering representatives a curated package of 15 elements vetoed by the governor. In a frank presentation, House budget chairman Rep. Troy Waymaster said the short list in front of the House focused on what was worth salvaging.

“This is in a package because it came to us from the Senate in a package,” Waymaster said. “We went through the items, looked at the ones that were palatable, the ones that needed to be funded.”

The vote board in the House didn’t lie:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20250410175209_462027/" target="_blank">82-42</a>. That was two votes short of the two-thirds majority required to overturn the governor’s vetoes on the group of 15. No lengthy attempt was made to rally Republicans to reach the 84-vote threshold. The House had already decided not to challenge vetoes of 18 other earmarks, so the chamber adjourned for the day.

Procedural avenues exist to compel reconsideration of veto override decisions in the House, but that would have to occur Friday before lawmakers ended the annual session. As it stands, the bulk of the Legislature’s sweeping budget bill was signed into law by Kelly and all the governor’s vetoes remain in place.

Senate Democrats howled in opposition to the motion by Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover to avoid individual debate on the vetoes. He proposed the Senate dispense with the governor’s critique of the budget with one brisk up-or-down vote.

Masterson said he was aware the House might not follow the Senate’s one-and-done lead.

“The budget had a plethora of line-item vetoes,” Masterson said. “I’m going to make a global motion … to override all the line-item vetoes in&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_sb125_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 125</a>&nbsp;at one time.”

Initially, the Senate vote stood at 26-14 or one vote shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override Kelly. Then, four Republican senators — Caryn Tyson of Parker, Stephen Owens of Hesston, Brenda Dietrich of Topeka and Elaine Bowers of Concordia — changed their votes to “yes” to complete the override. The final tally was 30-10.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes of Lenexa said the GOP leadership’s quick-strike method adhered to a theme of the 2025 session in which procedures were used to limit bipartisan debate on issues before the Legislature. She voted against the overrides.

“This is just fitting,” Sykes said. “This is a culmination of a condensed and rushed session. We are just amplifying what the public hates about politics and legislation. The ugliness that everyone hates — that’s what we just agreed to.”

Democrats in the House also expressed consternation such a diverse set of veto overrides would be tackled as a unit.

“Some people find it very strange that the Senate did the whole package and didn’t give people an opportunity to explain or talk about things,” said Lawrence Democratic Rep. Barbara Ballard, who noted the House GOP gave up more vetoes than they pursued. “Why would they give that up? Maybe, in some cases, you may not have the votes.”

Rep. Henry Helgerson, a Democrat from Eastborough, said it was “very rare” for the Legislature to consider vetoes in a big bundle. He struggled with the idea Republican and Democratic leaders in the House worked together on which pieces would be subjected to an override vote.

“One of my biggest objections to this process is we are taking away your vote all the time by putting it in the hands of these individuals,” he told House colleagues.

Helgerson, who expects to be primaried by Democrats in 2026, said the budget adopted by the Legislature and signed by the governor would produce a revenue shortfall within a couple years.

“I see a $1 billion shortfall out there and we’re still spending more money,” he said. “When are you going to wake up and say, ‘Wait a minute?’ ”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744367311808.png" alt=" Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, convinced the Senate to take an unusual path to overriding Gov. Laura Kelly's line-item vetoes in a state budget bill. At his request, the Senate took a single vote to override three-dozens of vetoes. The House, however, didn't secure a two-thirds majority to override Kelly on a smaller package of 15 vetoes. That meant, as of Thursday, all of Kelly's vetoes stand entering the final day of the session Friday. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, convinced the Senate to take an unusual path to overriding Gov. Laura Kelly's line-item vetoes in a state budget bill. At his request, the Senate took a single vote to override three-dozens of vetoes. The House, however, didn't secure a two-thirds majority to override Kelly on a smaller package of 15 vetoes. That meant, as of Thursday, all of Kelly's vetoes stand entering the final day of the session Friday. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</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><h2>Both chambers voted on overrides in big packages rather than individually</h2>TOPEKA — It was all or nothing as the Senate and House considered the tidal wave of budget vetoes generated by Gov. Laura Kelly.On Thursday, the Senate instigated an extraordinary maneuver to reject with a single vote about three-dozen vetoes executed by the Democratic governor as she went line-by-line through the spending bill adopted by the Kansas Legislature. The vote was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20250410143422_115739/" target="_blank">30-10</a>&nbsp;in the GOP-controlled chamber to restore every provision of Senate Bill 125 deleted by Kelly.The House, with a supermajority of Republicans, followed by offering representatives a curated package of 15 elements vetoed by the governor. In a frank presentation, House budget chairman Rep. Troy Waymaster said the short list in front of the House focused on what was worth salvaging.“This is in a package because it came to us from the Senate in a package,” Waymaster said. “We went through the items, looked at the ones that were palatable, the ones that needed to be funded.”The vote board in the House didn’t lie:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20250410175209_462027/" target="_blank">82-42</a>. That was two votes short of the two-thirds majority required to overturn the governor’s vetoes on the group of 15. No lengthy attempt was made to rally Republicans to reach the 84-vote threshold. The House had already decided not to challenge vetoes of 18 other earmarks, so the chamber adjourned for the day.Procedural avenues exist to compel reconsideration of veto override decisions in the House, but that would have to occur Friday before lawmakers ended the annual session. As it stands, the bulk of the Legislature’s sweeping budget bill was signed into law by Kelly and all the governor’s vetoes remain in place.<h2>Swinging for the fence</h2>Senate Democrats howled in opposition to the motion by Senate President Ty Masterson of Andover to avoid individual debate on the vetoes. He proposed the Senate dispense with the governor’s critique of the budget with one brisk up-or-down vote.Masterson said he was aware the House might not follow the Senate’s one-and-done lead.“The budget had a plethora of line-item vetoes,” Masterson said. “I’m going to make a global motion … to override all the line-item vetoes in&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_sb125_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 125</a>&nbsp;at one time.”Initially, the Senate vote stood at 26-14 or one vote shy of the two-thirds majority needed to override Kelly. Then, four Republican senators — Caryn Tyson of Parker, Stephen Owens of Hesston, Brenda Dietrich of Topeka and Elaine Bowers of Concordia — changed their votes to “yes” to complete the override. The final tally was 30-10.Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes of Lenexa said the GOP leadership’s quick-strike method adhered to a theme of the 2025 session in which procedures were used to limit bipartisan debate on issues before the Legislature. She voted against the overrides.“This is just fitting,” Sykes said. “This is a culmination of a condensed and rushed session. We are just amplifying what the public hates about politics and legislation. The ugliness that everyone hates — that’s what we just agreed to.”<h2>Over in the House</h2>Democrats in the House also expressed consternation such a diverse set of veto overrides would be tackled as a unit.“Some people find it very strange that the Senate did the whole package and didn’t give people an opportunity to explain or talk about things,” said Lawrence Democratic Rep. Barbara Ballard, who noted the House GOP gave up more vetoes than they pursued. “Why would they give that up? Maybe, in some cases, you may not have the votes.”Rep. Henry Helgerson, a Democrat from Eastborough, said it was “very rare” for the Legislature to consider vetoes in a big bundle. He struggled with the idea Republican and Democratic leaders in the House worked together on which pieces would be subjected to an override vote.“One of my biggest objections to this process is we are taking away your vote all the time by putting it in the hands of these individuals,” he told House colleagues.Helgerson, who expects to be primaried by Democrats in 2026, said the budget adopted by the Legislature and signed by the governor would produce a revenue shortfall within a couple years.“I see a $1 billion shortfall out there and we’re still spending more money,” he said. “When are you going to wake up and say, ‘Wait a minute?’ ”

Senate rejects all of Kan. governor’s budget vetoes; House takes starkly different approach

SALINE COUNTY —Two people including a Salina Police officer were injured&nbsp; in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Thursday in Salina.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Freestar driven by Susan K. Price, 71, Salina, was southbound on Lewis Street at a stop sign at Crawford Street. The driver failed to yield to an eastbound 2024 Ford Explorer driven by Officer Melissa K.&nbsp;Short-Eshleman, 49, Salina, who had lights and sirens on and was responding to another accident.

EMS transported both drivers to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp; Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

SALINE COUNTY —Two people including a Salina Police officer were injured&nbsp; in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Thursday in Salina.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Freestar driven by Susan K. Price, 71, Salina, was southbound on Lewis Street at a stop sign at Crawford Street. The driver failed to yield to an eastbound 2024 Ford Explorer driven by Officer Melissa K.&nbsp;Short-Eshleman, 49, Salina, who had lights and sirens on and was responding to another accident.EMS transported both drivers to Salina Regional Health Center for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp; Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas police officer injured in 2-vehicle crash

KANSAS CITY — Charges&nbsp; have been filed against a man who broke into a Kansas CIty wine bar last Month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2563/Werts_Evan--Complaint_Redacted2">Evan A. Werts faces</a>&nbsp;2nd Degree Burglary, 1st Degree Property Damage, and two counts of Stealing.&nbsp;

Werts was previously charged with two counts of 2nd Degree Property Damage for an incident last year and posted bond. He had been complying with a GPS monitoring system and strict special conditions of his bond for months, which led to the court’s decision to allow modifications of some of his restrictions.&nbsp;

While out on bond, the defendant turned off his GPS monitoring system right before committing a weekend’s burglary. As a result, the Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion to revoke bond, and the court issued a no-bond warrant.&nbsp;

“In this case, the defendant was given an opportunity, based on his compliance and positive behavior, to have access to tools to improve himself, but instead chose to commit a new felony," said Prosecutor Johnson.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2562/Werts_Evan--PC-Statement_redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to Vita’s Place on a burglary call on March 30. Video footage revealed a male, later identified as Werts attempt to kick in the rear door of the business but was unsuccessful. He then broke in and entered a window on the front door of the business. Two bottles of wine, one bottle of whiskey, and cash from the register were missing from the business.&nbsp;

Werts is being held for a mental health evaluation and will be taken into custody as soon as he is released.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744317708339.png" alt="Werts as seen in security camera images from Vitas Place" />
 <figcaption>Werts as seen in security camera images from Vitas Place</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — Charges&nbsp; have been filed against a man who broke into a Kansas CIty wine bar last Month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2563/Werts_Evan--Complaint_Redacted2">Evan A. Werts faces</a>&nbsp;2nd Degree Burglary, 1st Degree Property Damage, and two counts of Stealing.&nbsp;Werts was previously charged with two counts of 2nd Degree Property Damage for an incident last year and posted bond. He had been complying with a GPS monitoring system and strict special conditions of his bond for months, which led to the court’s decision to allow modifications of some of his restrictions.&nbsp;While out on bond, the defendant turned off his GPS monitoring system right before committing a weekend’s burglary. As a result, the Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion to revoke bond, and the court issued a no-bond warrant.&nbsp;“In this case, the defendant was given an opportunity, based on his compliance and positive behavior, to have access to tools to improve himself, but instead chose to commit a new felony," said Prosecutor Johnson.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2562/Werts_Evan--PC-Statement_redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to Vita’s Place on a burglary call on March 30. Video footage revealed a male, later identified as Werts attempt to kick in the rear door of the business but was unsuccessful. He then broke in and entered a window on the front door of the business. Two bottles of wine, one bottle of whiskey, and cash from the register were missing from the business.&nbsp;Werts is being held for a mental health evaluation and will be taken into custody as soon as he is released.&nbsp;

Doorbell camera saw man breaking into KC wine bar

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday said the Trump administration must facilitate the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to prison in El Salvador, rejecting the administration’s emergency appeal.

The court acted in the case of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, a Salvadoran citizen who had an immigration court order preventing his deportation to his native country over fears he would face persecution from local gangs.

U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had ordered Abrego Garcia, now being held in a notorious Salvadoran prison, returned to the United States by midnight Monday.

“The order properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,” the court said in an unsigned order with no noted dissents.

Chief Justice John Roberts had already pushed back Xinis’ deadline, and the justices said that her order must now be clarified to make sure it doesn’t intrude into executive branch power over foreign affairs, since Abrego Garcia is being held abroad. The court said the Trump administration should also be prepared to share what steps it has taken to try and get him back — and what more it could potentially do.

The administration claims Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, though he has never been charged with or convicted of a crime. His attorneys said there is no evidence he was in MS-13.

The administration has conceded that it made a mistake in sending him to El Salvador, but argued that it no longer could do anything about it.

The court’s liberal justices said the administration should have hastened to correct “its egregious error” and was “plainly wrong” to suggest it could not bring him home.

“The Government’s argument, moreover, implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U. S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, joined by her two colleagues.

In the district court, Xinis wrote that the decision to arrest Abrego Garcia and send him to El Salvador appears to be “wholly lawless.” There is little to no evidence to support a “vague, uncorroborated” allegation that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>&nbsp;was once in the MS-13 street gang, Xinis wrote.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-el-salvador-prison-kilmar-abrego-garcia-5a92d6bd7f893eed64c2607cc129a6f9">Abrego Garcia</a>, 29, was detained by immigration agents and deported last month.

He had a permit from the Homeland Security Department to legally work in the U.S. and was a sheet metal apprentice pursuing a journeyman license, his attorney said. His wife is a U.S. citizen.

In 2019, an immigration judge barred the U.S. from deporting Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, finding that he faced likely persecution by local gangs.

A Justice Department lawyer conceded in a court hearing that Abrego Garcia should not have been deported. Attorney General Pam Bondi later removed the lawyer, Erez Reuveni, from the case and placed him on leave.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744328941021.png" alt="Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on social media last month from the prison in El Salvador holding Kilmar Abrego Garcia" />
 <figcaption>Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on social media last month from the prison in El Salvador holding Kilmar Abrego Garcia</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday said the Trump administration must facilitate the return of a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to prison in El Salvador, rejecting the administration’s emergency appeal.The court acted in the case of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, a Salvadoran citizen who had an immigration court order preventing his deportation to his native country over fears he would face persecution from local gangs.U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis had ordered Abrego Garcia, now being held in a notorious Salvadoran prison, returned to the United States by midnight Monday.“The order properly requires the Government to ‘facilitate’ Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador,” the court said in an unsigned order with no noted dissents.Chief Justice John Roberts had already pushed back Xinis’ deadline, and the justices said that her order must now be clarified to make sure it doesn’t intrude into executive branch power over foreign affairs, since Abrego Garcia is being held abroad. The court said the Trump administration should also be prepared to share what steps it has taken to try and get him back — and what more it could potentially do.The administration claims Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, though he has never been charged with or convicted of a crime. His attorneys said there is no evidence he was in MS-13.The administration has conceded that it made a mistake in sending him to El Salvador, but argued that it no longer could do anything about it.The court’s liberal justices said the administration should have hastened to correct “its egregious error” and was “plainly wrong” to suggest it could not bring him home.“The Government’s argument, moreover, implies that it could deport and incarcerate any person, including U. S. citizens, without legal consequence, so long as it does so before a court can intervene,” Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, joined by her two colleagues.AdvertisementIn the district court, Xinis wrote that the decision to arrest Abrego Garcia and send him to El Salvador appears to be “wholly lawless.” There is little to no evidence to support a “vague, uncorroborated” allegation that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-deportation-maryland-man-trump-error-818a0fa1218de714448edcb5be1f7347">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>&nbsp;was once in the MS-13 street gang, Xinis wrote.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-el-salvador-prison-kilmar-abrego-garcia-5a92d6bd7f893eed64c2607cc129a6f9">Abrego Garcia</a>, 29, was detained by immigration agents and deported last month.He had a permit from the Homeland Security Department to legally work in the U.S. and was a sheet metal apprentice pursuing a journeyman license, his attorney said. His wife is a U.S. citizen.In 2019, an immigration judge barred the U.S. from deporting Abrego Garcia to El Salvador, finding that he faced likely persecution by local gangs.A Justice Department lawyer conceded in a court hearing that Abrego Garcia should not have been deported. Attorney General Pam Bondi later removed the lawyer, Erez Reuveni, from the case and placed him on leave.

Supreme Court: Trump admin. must return mistakenly deported man

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Jus after 1:30p.m. April 4, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a reckless driver on U.S. 75 near 266th Road. The suspect was driving on the shoulder of the highway and into oncoming traffic.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle, a 2019 Toyota Avalon driving south on U.S. 75, just north of Holton.

 The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near 192nd Road. As a result of the traffic stop, the driver, Josiah Desmond Jerrell Williams, 38, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of cocaine, possession of stimulant, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, incapable of safely operating; 2nd offense, transporting an open container of alcohol, violation of driving restrictions, improper driving on laned roadway and traffic contraband into correctional facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744146190527.png" alt="Williams photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Jus after 1:30p.m. April 4, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a call of a reckless driver on U.S. 75 near 266th Road. The suspect was driving on the shoulder of the highway and into oncoming traffic.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle, a 2019 Toyota Avalon driving south on U.S. 75, just north of Holton. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle near 192nd Road. As a result of the traffic stop, the driver, Josiah Desmond Jerrell Williams, 38, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges that include possession of cocaine, possession of stimulant, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, incapable of safely operating; 2nd offense, transporting an open container of alcohol, violation of driving restrictions, improper driving on laned roadway and traffic contraband into correctional facility.

Sheriff: Reckless Kansas driver was transporting cocaine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's top health agency will undertake a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause&nbsp;<a href="http://apnews.com/hub/autism">of autism</a>, Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr</a>. announced Thursday.

Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic who has pushed a discredited theory that routine childhood shots cause the developmental disability, said the effort will be completed by September and involve hundreds of scientists. He shared the plans with President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;during a televised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-second-term-staff/">Cabinet meeting</a>.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-rates-vaccines-trump-rfk-polio-4d1ef5bd69dc20533e95e8e34e0b1e86">suggested that vaccines</a>&nbsp;could be to blame for autism rates, although decades of research have concluded there is no link between the two.

“There's got to be something artificial out there that's doing this,” Trump told Kennedy. “If you can come up with that answer, where you stop taking something, eating something, or maybe it's a shot. But something's causing it."

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adult-autism-diagnosis-spectrum-4babb9b0eea3335dddc93c35f7fcd913">Autism is</a>&nbsp;a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. It presents with a wide range of symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills.

There’s scientific consensus that childhood vaccines don’t cause autism. Leading autism advocacy groups, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-causes-autism">Autism Speaks</a>, agree.

Research, including studies of twins, shows genes play a large role. No single environmental factor has been deemed a culprit. The National Institutes of Health, which already spends more than $300 million yearly researching autism, lists some possible risk factors such as prenatal exposure to pesticides or air pollution, extreme prematurity or low birth weight, certain maternal health problems or parents conceiving at an older age.

Kennedy has offered no details on how his study will be different or what researchers will be involved. Leading autism organizations, such as the Autism Society of America, have not been included in discussions about the research, said ASA spokeswoman Kristyn Roth.

Roth said many agree that more research is needed to determine what causes autism, but Kennedy’s approach has raised alarms.

"There is a deep concern that we are going backward and evaluating debunked theories,” Roth said.

Trump and Kennedy have both expressed concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/profound-autism-rate-us-bc21057fabe11774843d4ac2197956a4">rising autism diagnoses rates</a>.

Some of that increase is due to increased awareness and a change in how the disability is diagnosed. For decades, the diagnosis was given only to kids with severe problems communicating or socializing and those with unusual, repetitive behaviors. But around 30 years ago, the term became shorthand for a group of milder, related conditions known as ″autism spectrum disorders.” Milder autism cases are far more common than severe ones.

With improved screening and autism services, diagnosis is increasingly happening at younger ages, too. And there’s been more awareness and advocacy for Black and Hispanic families, leading to an increase in autism diagnosed among those groups.

Still, anti-vaccine advocates, including Kennedy, have claimed that vaccines are to blame. The theory largely stems from a 1998 paper that was later retracted.

Scientists have since ruled out a link between vaccines and autism, finding no evidence of increased rates of autism among those who are vaccinated compared to those who are not.

Kennedy has hired David Geier, a man who has repeatedly claimed a link between vaccines and autism, to lead the autism research effort. The hiring of Geier, who the state of Maryland found was practicing medicine on a child without a doctor's license, was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/03/25/vaccine-skeptic-hhs-rfk-immunization-autism/">first reported by The Washington Post</a>.

HHS did not immediately response to a request for comment.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's top health agency will undertake a “massive testing and research effort” to determine the cause&nbsp;<a href="http://apnews.com/hub/autism">of autism</a>, Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr</a>. announced Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨 LET&#39;S GO! HHS Secretary RFK Jr. says by September of THIS YEAR, the U.S. will unveil the cause of the autism epidemic &quot;We&#39;ll be able to eliminate those exposures.&quot; TRUMP: &quot;It was 1 in 10,000... now it&#39;s 1 in 31. That is a HORRIBLE statistic.&quot; MAHA!<a href="https://t.co/ozJTgQ9LVT">pic.twitter.com/ozJTgQ9LVT</a>&mdash; Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1910388516246167751?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic who has pushed a discredited theory that routine childhood shots cause the developmental disability, said the effort will be completed by September and involve hundreds of scientists. He shared the plans with President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;during a televised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-second-term-staff/">Cabinet meeting</a>.Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/autism-rates-vaccines-trump-rfk-polio-4d1ef5bd69dc20533e95e8e34e0b1e86">suggested that vaccines</a>&nbsp;could be to blame for autism rates, although decades of research have concluded there is no link between the two.“There's got to be something artificial out there that's doing this,” Trump told Kennedy. “If you can come up with that answer, where you stop taking something, eating something, or maybe it's a shot. But something's causing it."<a href="https://apnews.com/article/adult-autism-diagnosis-spectrum-4babb9b0eea3335dddc93c35f7fcd913">Autism is</a>&nbsp;a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. It presents with a wide range of symptoms that can include delays in language, learning, and social or emotional skills.There’s scientific consensus that childhood vaccines don’t cause autism. Leading autism advocacy groups, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-causes-autism">Autism Speaks</a>, agree.Research, including studies of twins, shows genes play a large role. No single environmental factor has been deemed a culprit. The National Institutes of Health, which already spends more than $300 million yearly researching autism, lists some possible risk factors such as prenatal exposure to pesticides or air pollution, extreme prematurity or low birth weight, certain maternal health problems or parents conceiving at an older age.Kennedy has offered no details on how his study will be different or what researchers will be involved. Leading autism organizations, such as the Autism Society of America, have not been included in discussions about the research, said ASA spokeswoman Kristyn Roth.Roth said many agree that more research is needed to determine what causes autism, but Kennedy’s approach has raised alarms."There is a deep concern that we are going backward and evaluating debunked theories,” Roth said.Trump and Kennedy have both expressed concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/profound-autism-rate-us-bc21057fabe11774843d4ac2197956a4">rising autism diagnoses rates</a>.Some of that increase is due to increased awareness and a change in how the disability is diagnosed. For decades, the diagnosis was given only to kids with severe problems communicating or socializing and those with unusual, repetitive behaviors. But around 30 years ago, the term became shorthand for a group of milder, related conditions known as ″autism spectrum disorders.” Milder autism cases are far more common than severe ones.With improved screening and autism services, diagnosis is increasingly happening at younger ages, too. And there’s been more awareness and advocacy for Black and Hispanic families, leading to an increase in autism diagnosed among those groups.Still, anti-vaccine advocates, including Kennedy, have claimed that vaccines are to blame. The theory largely stems from a 1998 paper that was later retracted.Scientists have since ruled out a link between vaccines and autism, finding no evidence of increased rates of autism among those who are vaccinated compared to those who are not.Kennedy has hired David Geier, a man who has repeatedly claimed a link between vaccines and autism, to lead the autism research effort. The hiring of Geier, who the state of Maryland found was practicing medicine on a child without a doctor's license, was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/03/25/vaccine-skeptic-hhs-rfk-immunization-autism/">first reported by The Washington Post</a>.HHS did not immediately response to a request for comment.___

🎥RFK Jr. says HHS will determine the cause of autism by September

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

The Immanuel Lutheran Church in Milberger, Kansas was built in 1887. The
church was moved from the unincorporated community in south Russell County to
south Hoisington in 1971. Mostly unused for decades, Debbie Deutsch has had her
eye on the structure for years.

Deutsch opened the Corinthians Hill Event
Center, just north of Great Bend and Barton Community College, in 2020 with the
idea to have a church on site for wedding ceremonies and receptions.


"This was always the vision," said Deutsch. "I wanted to be able to offer weddings that can be done in a church as well as for inclement weather. Rather than having to sit at a table to watch a bride and groom when it's pouring outside. You can at least go inside a church while it's pouring. It was always the plan."

With more than 40 years of interior design experience, Deutsch operates
Cornerstone Interiors in Great Bend, and eventually started decorating for
people’s weddings. 


Along with a house and venues on site for receptions and events, Deutsch hired
a moving company to haul the church Wednesday morning from its location near Hoisington
to the foundation installed at Corinthians Hill.


"I have wanted this church for about 10 years," said Deutsch. "Probably five years ago, I approached the owner and asked him if he would be willing to sell it. He said yes. I wasn't quite ready for it. When I was ready for it about a month ago, I approached him again. We made a deal, and the movers had availability."

Deutsch said the church is roughly 61 feet long by 32 feet wide and was listed
to fit “300 souls” inside. Renovations to the church will get started soon in
its new location.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

"I have a vision for the whole thing," added Deutsch. "I'm not done, trust me."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744218088588.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostThe Immanuel Lutheran Church in Milberger, Kansas was built in 1887. The
church was moved from the unincorporated community in south Russell County to
south Hoisington in 1971. Mostly unused for decades, Debbie Deutsch has had her
eye on the structure for years.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DFjBjgl076Q?si=_ttp4d6RoSmjnAK9&amp;start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Deutsch opened the Corinthians Hill Event
Center, just north of Great Bend and Barton Community College, in 2020 with the
idea to have a church on site for wedding ceremonies and receptions.
"This was always the vision," said Deutsch. "I wanted to be able to offer weddings that can be done in a church as well as for inclement weather. Rather than having to sit at a table to watch a bride and groom when it's pouring outside. You can at least go inside a church while it's pouring. It was always the plan."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744218056494.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>With more than 40 years of interior design experience, Deutsch operates
Cornerstone Interiors in Great Bend, and eventually started decorating for
people’s weddings. 
Along with a house and venues on site for receptions and events, Deutsch hired
a moving company to haul the church Wednesday morning from its location near Hoisington
to the foundation installed at Corinthians Hill.
"I have wanted this church for about 10 years," said Deutsch. "Probably five years ago, I approached the owner and asked him if he would be willing to sell it. He said yes. I wasn't quite ready for it. When I was ready for it about a month ago, I approached him again. We made a deal, and the movers had availability."Deutsch said the church is roughly 61 feet long by 32 feet wide and was listed
to fit “300 souls” inside. Renovations to the church will get started soon in
its new location.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;"I have a vision for the whole thing," added Deutsch. "I'm not done, trust me."

🎥Historic Kansas church moved a second time

JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Peterbilt semi driven by Eugene Merrell, 48, Tonganoxie, was northbound on U.S. 69 just north of 270th Street&nbsp;n the number two lane.

The semi traveled off the road to the right, struck the bridge rail over 207th street, crossed into the number one lane, traveled off the road to the left, entered the median and overturned in the median. Vehicle one came to rest in the Southbound lanes facing East. The semi's water tank came to rest in the median approximately 50 feet north of the vehicle.

Merrell was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Johnson County Medical Examiners Office.&nbsp; EMS transported a passenger Colin&nbsp;Cowdin, 28, Ottawa, to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. They were both properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744314060936.png" alt="Image of the crash scene KC Scout camera" />
 <figcaption>Image of the crash scene KC Scout camera</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7:30 a.m. Thursday in Johnson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Peterbilt semi driven by Eugene Merrell, 48, Tonganoxie, was northbound on U.S. 69 just north of 270th Street&nbsp;n the number two lane.The semi traveled off the road to the right, struck the bridge rail over 207th street, crossed into the number one lane, traveled off the road to the left, entered the median and overturned in the median. Vehicle one came to rest in the Southbound lanes facing East. The semi's water tank came to rest in the median approximately 50 feet north of the vehicle.Merrell was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Johnson County Medical Examiners Office.&nbsp; EMS transported a passenger Colin&nbsp;Cowdin, 28, Ottawa, to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. They were both properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

Kansas man dies when semi carrying water tank overturns

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks dove Thursday and surrendered a chunk of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">historic gains</a>&nbsp;from the day before as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;trade war continues to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-pause-businesses-reaction-a61a1adcaf6332f6188ae1d70664b898">threaten the economy</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 tumbled 3.5%, slicing into Wednesday’s surge of 9.5% following Trump’s decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">pause many of his tariffs worldwide</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,014 points, or 2.5%, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 4.3%.

“Trump blinks,” UBS strategist Bhanu Baweja wrote in a report about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economy-one-week-liberation-day-1aad750dc90829f07473fe17f913b8ba">president’s decision on tariffs</a>, “but the damage isn’t all undone.”

Trump has focused more on China, raising tariffs on its products to well above 100%. Even if that were to get negotiated down to something like 50%, and even if only 10% tariffs remained on other countries, Baweja said the hit to the U.S. economy could still be large enough to hurt expected growth for upcoming U.S. corporate profits.

The losses for U.S. stocks accelerated Thursday after the White House clarified that the United States will tax Chinese imports at 145%, not the 125% rate that Trump had written about in&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114309144289505174">his posting on Truth Social Wednesday</a>, once other previously announced tariffs were included. The drop for the S&amp;P 500 exceeded 6% at one point.

“Everything is still very volatile, because with Donald Trump, you don’t know what to expect,” said Francis Lun, chief executive of Geo Securities. “This is really big uncertainty in the market. The threat of recession has not faded.”

China, meanwhile, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tariffs-negotiations-f5acfd1ef8f3573f92e8963a8150bdfb">reached out to other countries</a>&nbsp;around the world in apparent hopes of forming a united front against Trump. The world's second-largest economy is also ramping up its own countermeasures to Trump's tariffs.

The stock price of Warner Bros. Discovery, the company behind “A Minecraft Movie,” dropped 12.5% for one of Wall Street’s sharpest losses after China said Thursday it will “appropriately reduce the number of imported U.S. films.” The Walt Disney Co.’s stock sank 6.8%

A spokesperson for the China Film Administration said it is “inevitable” that Chinese audiences would find American films less palatable given the “wrong move by the U.S. to wantonly implement tariffs on China.”

That was after Trump and his Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, sent a clear message to other countries Wednesday after announcing their pause on tariffs for most countries: “Do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded.”

The European Union said Thursday it will put its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-trump-tariffs-retaliation-trade-eu-vdl-ad6cde9920b6336789b9e2e9935c69fb">trade retaliation measures on hold</a>&nbsp;for 90 days and leave room for a negotiated solution.

Thursday’s swings also hit the bond market, which had been showing encouraging signals earlier in the day that stress may be easing.

The bond market has historically played the role of enforcer against politicians and economic policies it deemed imprudent. It helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/liz-truss-economy-book-donald-trump-bbd694da6150d6f851af805b462e92fb">topple the United Kingdom’s Liz Truss</a>&nbsp;in 2022, for example, whose 49 days made her Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister. James Carville, adviser to former U.S. President Bill Clinton, also famously said he’d like to be reincarnated as the bond market because of how much power it wields.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722962507580.png" alt="File (AP Photo/Richard Drew)" />
 <figcaption>File (AP Photo/Richard Drew)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks dove Thursday and surrendered a chunk of their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">historic gains</a>&nbsp;from the day before as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;trade war continues to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-pause-businesses-reaction-a61a1adcaf6332f6188ae1d70664b898">threaten the economy</a>.The S&amp;P 500 tumbled 3.5%, slicing into Wednesday’s surge of 9.5% following Trump’s decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">pause many of his tariffs worldwide</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,014 points, or 2.5%, and the Nasdaq composite tumbled 4.3%.“Trump blinks,” UBS strategist Bhanu Baweja wrote in a report about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economy-one-week-liberation-day-1aad750dc90829f07473fe17f913b8ba">president’s decision on tariffs</a>, “but the damage isn’t all undone.”Trump has focused more on China, raising tariffs on its products to well above 100%. Even if that were to get negotiated down to something like 50%, and even if only 10% tariffs remained on other countries, Baweja said the hit to the U.S. economy could still be large enough to hurt expected growth for upcoming U.S. corporate profits.The losses for U.S. stocks accelerated Thursday after the White House clarified that the United States will tax Chinese imports at 145%, not the 125% rate that Trump had written about in&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114309144289505174">his posting on Truth Social Wednesday</a>, once other previously announced tariffs were included. The drop for the S&amp;P 500 exceeded 6% at one point.“Everything is still very volatile, because with Donald Trump, you don’t know what to expect,” said Francis Lun, chief executive of Geo Securities. “This is really big uncertainty in the market. The threat of recession has not faded.”China, meanwhile, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tariffs-negotiations-f5acfd1ef8f3573f92e8963a8150bdfb">reached out to other countries</a>&nbsp;around the world in apparent hopes of forming a united front against Trump. The world's second-largest economy is also ramping up its own countermeasures to Trump's tariffs.The stock price of Warner Bros. Discovery, the company behind “A Minecraft Movie,” dropped 12.5% for one of Wall Street’s sharpest losses after China said Thursday it will “appropriately reduce the number of imported U.S. films.” The Walt Disney Co.’s stock sank 6.8%A spokesperson for the China Film Administration said it is “inevitable” that Chinese audiences would find American films less palatable given the “wrong move by the U.S. to wantonly implement tariffs on China.”That was after Trump and his Treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, sent a clear message to other countries Wednesday after announcing their pause on tariffs for most countries: “Do not retaliate, and you will be rewarded.”The European Union said Thursday it will put its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-trump-tariffs-retaliation-trade-eu-vdl-ad6cde9920b6336789b9e2e9935c69fb">trade retaliation measures on hold</a>&nbsp;for 90 days and leave room for a negotiated solution.Thursday’s swings also hit the bond market, which had been showing encouraging signals earlier in the day that stress may be easing.The bond market has historically played the role of enforcer against politicians and economic policies it deemed imprudent. It helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/liz-truss-economy-book-donald-trump-bbd694da6150d6f851af805b462e92fb">topple the United Kingdom’s Liz Truss</a>&nbsp;in 2022, for example, whose 49 days made her Britain’s shortest-serving prime minister. James Carville, adviser to former U.S. President Bill Clinton, also famously said he’d like to be reincarnated as the bond market because of how much power it wields.Earlier this week, big jumps for U.S. Treasury yields had rattled the market, so much that Trump said Wednesday he had been watching how investors were “getting a little queasy.”Several reasons could have been behind the sharp, sudden rise in yields. Hedge funds may have sold Treasurys in order to raise cash, and investors outside the United States may be dumping their U.S. government bonds because of the trade war. Regardless of the reasons behind it, higher Treasury yields crank up pressure on the stock market and push rates higher for mortgages and other loans for U.S. households and businesses.The 10-year Treasury yield had calmed following Trump’s U-turn on tariffs, dropping all the way back to 4.30% shortly after the release of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-tariffs-964784cc5697c2f0df5bb79806392e3c">better-than-expected report on inflation</a>&nbsp;Thursday morning. That’s after it had shot up to nearly 4.50% Wednesday morning from just 4.01% at the end of last week.As Thursday progressed, though, the 10-year Treasury yield climbed once again and reached 4.40%.It all demonstrates why many on Wall Street are preparing for more swings in markets, after the S&amp;P 500 at one point nearly dropped into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bear-market-stocks-market-tariffs-trump-sp-500-c5d106a80666c0ff4f0e71624d525158">“bear market”</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-china-trump-b686ef0259c2f4894f9fcd1f3649a956">almost closing 20% below its record</a>.Often, the market’s whipsaw moves have come not just day to day but also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-nikkei-tariffs-trump-76d0de278a6cad291ace624a74a6a1b6">hour to hour</a>. The S&amp;P 500 still remains below where it was when Trump announced his sweeping set of tariffs last week on “Liberation Day.”All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 188.85 points Thursday to 5,268.05. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,014.79 to 39,593.66, and the Nasdaq composite sank 737.66 to 16,387.31.In stock markets abroad, indexes rallied across Europe and Asia in their first chances to trade following Trump’s pause on many of his tariffs. Japan’s Nikkei 225 surged 9.1%, South Korea’s Kospi leaped 6.6% and Germany’s DAX returned 4.5%.