FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;on Friday berated Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;over the war in Ukraine, accusing him of not showing gratitude after he challenged Vance on the question of diplomacy with Russia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>.

The argument in the Oval Office was broadcast globally. It led to the rest of Zelenskyy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">White House visit</a>&nbsp;being canceled and called into question how much the U.S. will still support Ukraine in its defense against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s 2022 invasion</a>.

Here is a transcript of the key moments of the exchange.

Zelenskyy challenges Vance on Russia and diplomacy

Vance: “For four years, the United States of America, we had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country. The path to peace and the path to prosperity is, maybe, engaging in diplomacy. We tried the pathway of Joe Biden, of thumping our chest and pretending that the president of the United States’ words mattered more than the president of the United States’ actions. What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That’s what President Trump is doing.”

Zelenskyy: “OK. So he (Putin) occupied it, our parts, big parts of Ukraine, parts of east and Crimea. So he occupied it in 2014. So during a lot of years — I’m not speaking about just Biden, but those times was (Barack) Obama, then President Obama, then President Trump, then President Biden, now President Trump. And God bless, now, President Trump will stop him. But during 2014, nobody stopped him. He just occupied and took. He killed people. You know what the --"

Zelenskyy: “Yes, but during 2014 ‘til 2022, the situation is the same, that people have been dying on the contact line. Nobody stopped him. You know that we had conversations with him, a lot of conversations, my bilateral conversation. And we signed with him, me, like, you, president, in 2019, I signed with him the deal. I signed with him, (French President Emmanuel) Macron and (former German Chancellor Angela) Merkel. We signed ceasefire. Ceasefire. All of them told me that he will never go … But after that, he broke the ceasefire, he killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?”

Vance: “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”

Zelenskyy: “Have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?”

Vance: “I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know that what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Do you disagree that you’ve had problems, bringing people into your military?”

Vance: “And do you think that is respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”

Zelenskyy: “A lot of questions. Let’s start from the beginning.”

Trump erupts when Zelenskyy suggests the U.S. might ‘feel it in the future’

Zelenskyy: “First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice ocean and don’t feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless –”

Trump: “You don’t know that. You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”

Zelenskyy: “I’m not telling you. I am answering on these questions.”

Trump: “Because you’re in no position to dictate that.”

Vance: “That’s exactly what you’re doing.”

Trump: “You are in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good.”

Zelenskyy: “You will feel influenced.”

Trump: “We are going to feel very good and very strong.”

Zelenskyy: “I am telling you. You will feel influenced.”

Trump: “You’re, right now, not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position –”

Zelenskyy: “From the very beginning of the war —”

Trump: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”

Zelenskyy: “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Mr. President. I’m very serious.”

Trump: “You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”

Zelenskyy: “What are you speaking about?”

Trump: “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.”

Vance: “Have you said thank you once?”

Zelenskyy: “A lot of times. Even today.”

Vance: “No, in this entire meeting. You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October.”

Vance: “Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.”

Zelenskyy: “Please. You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war, you can –”

Trump: “He’s not speaking loudly. He’s not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble.”

Trump: “No, no. You’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble.”

Trump: “You’re not winning. You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us.”

Zelenskyy: “Mr. President, we are staying in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war, we’ve been alone. And we are thankful. I said thanks.”

Trump demands Zelenskyy accept a ceasefire

Trump: “If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.”

Zelenskyy: “In three days. I heard it from Putin. In three days.”

Trump: “Maybe less. It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this, I tell you.

Zelenskyy: “I said a lot of times, thank you, to American people.”

Vance: “Accept that there are disagreements, and let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you’re wrong. We know that you’re wrong.”

Trump: “But you see, I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on. I think it’s very important. That’s why I kept this going so long. You have to be thankful.”

Trump: “You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. People are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. It would be a damn good thing, and then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a ceasefire. I don’t want a ceasefire, I want to go, and I want this.’ Look, if you can get a ceasefire right now, I tell you, you take it so the bullets stop flying and your men stop getting killed.”

Zelenskyy: “Of course we want to stop the war. But I said to you, with guarantees.”

Trump: “Are you saying you don’t want a ceasefire? I want a ceasefire. Because you’ll get a ceasefire faster than an agreement.”

Zelenskyy: “Ask our people about a ceasefire, what they think.”

Trump: “That wasn’t with me. That was with a guy named Biden, who is not a smart person.”

Zelenskyy: “This is your president. It was your president.”

Trump: “Excuse me. That was with Obama, who gave you sheets, and I gave you Javelins. I gave you the Javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets. In fact, the statement is Obama gave sheets, and Trump gave Javelins. You’ve got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards.”

Trump says Putin respects him due to the investigations of his first term

Vance, restating a reporter’s question: “She is asking what if Russia breaks the ceasefire.”

Trump: “What, if anything? What if the bomb drops on your head right now? OK, what if they broke it? I don’t know, they broke it with Biden because Biden, they didn’t respect him. They didn’t respect Obama. They respect me. Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me. He went through a phony witch hunt ... All I can say is this. He might have broken deals with Obama and Bush, and he might have broken them with Biden. He did, maybe. Maybe he did. I don’t know what happened, but he didn’t break them with me. He wants to make a deal. I don’t know if you can make a deal.”

“The problem is I’ve empowered you (turning toward Zelenskyy) to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States. And your people are very brave. But you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out. But you don’t have the cards. But once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position, but you’re not acting at all thankful. And that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest. That’s not a nice thing.

“All right, I think we’ve seen enough. What do you think? This is going to be great television. I will say that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740765077568.png" alt="Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;and Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">JD Vance</a>&nbsp;on Friday berated Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;over the war in Ukraine, accusing him of not showing gratitude after he challenged Vance on the question of diplomacy with Russia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">Vladimir Putin</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">WATCH: Full Meeting between President Trump, Vice President Vance and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Oval Office. <a href="https://t.co/Xf6cyErem7">pic.twitter.com/Xf6cyErem7</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1895602226472550410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The argument in the Oval Office was broadcast globally. It led to the rest of Zelenskyy’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-security-guarantees-trump-meeting-washington-eebdf97b663c2cdc9e51fa346b09591d">White House visit</a>&nbsp;being canceled and called into question how much the U.S. will still support Ukraine in its defense against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s 2022 invasion</a>.Here is a transcript of the key moments of the exchange.<h2>Zelenskyy challenges Vance on Russia and diplomacy</h2>Vance: “For four years, the United States of America, we had a president who stood up at press conferences and talked tough about Vladimir Putin, and then Putin invaded Ukraine and destroyed a significant chunk of the country. The path to peace and the path to prosperity is, maybe, engaging in diplomacy. We tried the pathway of Joe Biden, of thumping our chest and pretending that the president of the United States’ words mattered more than the president of the United States’ actions. What makes America a good country is America engaging in diplomacy. That’s what President Trump is doing.”Zelenskyy: “Can I ask you?”Vance: “Sure. Yeah.”Zelenskyy: “OK. So he (Putin) occupied it, our parts, big parts of Ukraine, parts of east and Crimea. So he occupied it in 2014. So during a lot of years — I’m not speaking about just Biden, but those times was (Barack) Obama, then President Obama, then President Trump, then President Biden, now President Trump. And God bless, now, President Trump will stop him. But during 2014, nobody stopped him. He just occupied and took. He killed people. You know what the --"Trump: “2015?”Zelenskyy: “2014.”Trump: “Oh, 2014? I was not here.”Vance: “That’s exactly right.”Zelenskyy: “Yes, but during 2014 ‘til 2022, the situation is the same, that people have been dying on the contact line. Nobody stopped him. You know that we had conversations with him, a lot of conversations, my bilateral conversation. And we signed with him, me, like, you, president, in 2019, I signed with him the deal. I signed with him, (French President Emmanuel) Macron and (former German Chancellor Angela) Merkel. We signed ceasefire. Ceasefire. All of them told me that he will never go … But after that, he broke the ceasefire, he killed our people, and he didn’t exchange prisoners. We signed the exchange of prisoners. But he didn’t do it. What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What do you mean?”ADVERTISEMENTVance: “I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country. Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media. Right now, you guys are going around and forcing conscripts to the front lines because you have manpower problems. You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”Zelenskyy: “Have you ever been to Ukraine that you say what problems we have?”ADVERTISEMENTVance: “I have been to –”Zelenskyy: “Come once.”Vance: “I’ve actually watched and seen the stories, and I know that what happens is you bring people, you bring them on a propaganda tour, Mr. President. Do you disagree that you’ve had problems, bringing people into your military?”Zelenskyy: “We have problems –”Vance: “And do you think that is respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America and attack the administration that is trying to prevent the destruction of your country?”Zelenskyy: “A lot of questions. Let’s start from the beginning.”Vance: “Sure.”ADVERTISEMENT<h2>Trump erupts when Zelenskyy suggests the U.S. might ‘feel it in the future’</h2>Zelenskyy: “First of all, during the war, everybody has problems, even you. But you have nice ocean and don’t feel now. But you will feel it in the future. God bless –”Trump: “You don’t know that. You don’t know that. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel. We’re trying to solve a problem. Don’t tell us what we’re going to feel.”Zelenskyy: “I’m not telling you. I am answering on these questions.”Trump: “Because you’re in no position to dictate that.”Vance: “That’s exactly what you’re doing.”Trump: “You are in no position to dictate what we’re going to feel. We’re going to feel very good.”Zelenskyy: “You will feel influenced.”Trump: “We are going to feel very good and very strong.”Zelenskyy: “I am telling you. You will feel influenced.”Trump: “You’re, right now, not in a very good position. You’ve allowed yourself to be in a very bad position –”Zelenskyy: “From the very beginning of the war —”Trump: “You’re not in a good position. You don’t have the cards right now. With us, you start having cards.”Zelenskyy: “I’m not playing cards. I’m very serious, Mr. President. I’m very serious.”Trump: “You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”Zelenskyy: “What are you speaking about?”Trump: “You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country that’s backed you far more than a lot of people said they should have.”Vance: “Have you said thank you once?”Zelenskyy: “A lot of times. Even today.”Vance: “No, in this entire meeting. You went to Pennsylvania and campaigned for the opposition in October.”Zelenskyy: “No.”Vance: “Offer some words of appreciation for the United States of America and the president who’s trying to save your country.”Zelenskyy: “Please. You think that if you will speak very loudly about the war, you can –”Trump: “He’s not speaking loudly. He’s not speaking loudly. Your country is in big trouble.”Zelenskyy: “Can I answer —”Trump: “No, no. You’ve done a lot of talking. Your country is in big trouble.”Zelenskyy: “I know. I know.”Trump: “You’re not winning. You’re not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us.”Zelenskyy: “Mr. President, we are staying in our country, staying strong. From the very beginning of the war, we’ve been alone. And we are thankful. I said thanks.”<h2>Trump demands Zelenskyy accept a ceasefire</h2>Trump: “If you didn’t have our military equipment, this war would have been over in two weeks.”Zelenskyy: “In three days. I heard it from Putin. In three days.”Trump: “Maybe less. It’s going to be a very hard thing to do business like this, I tell you.Vance: “Just say thank you.”Zelenskyy: “I said a lot of times, thank you, to American people.”Vance: “Accept that there are disagreements, and let’s go litigate those disagreements rather than trying to fight it out in the American media when you’re wrong. We know that you’re wrong.”Trump: “But you see, I think it’s good for the American people to see what’s going on. I think it’s very important. That’s why I kept this going so long. You have to be thankful.”Zelenskyy: “I’m thankful.”Trump: “You don’t have the cards. You’re buried there. People are dying. You’re running low on soldiers. It would be a damn good thing, and then you tell us, ‘I don’t want a ceasefire. I don’t want a ceasefire, I want to go, and I want this.’ Look, if you can get a ceasefire right now, I tell you, you take it so the bullets stop flying and your men stop getting killed.”Zelenskyy: “Of course we want to stop the war. But I said to you, with guarantees.”Trump: “Are you saying you don’t want a ceasefire? I want a ceasefire. Because you’ll get a ceasefire faster than an agreement.”Zelenskyy: “Ask our people about a ceasefire, what they think.”Trump: “That wasn’t with me. That was with a guy named Biden, who is not a smart person.”Zelenskyy: “This is your president. It was your president.”Trump: “Excuse me. That was with Obama, who gave you sheets, and I gave you Javelins. I gave you the Javelins to take out all those tanks. Obama gave you sheets. In fact, the statement is Obama gave sheets, and Trump gave Javelins. You’ve got to be more thankful because let me tell you, you don’t have the cards. With us, you have the cards, but without us, you don’t have any cards.”<h2>Trump says Putin respects him due to the investigations of his first term</h2>Vance, restating a reporter’s question: “She is asking what if Russia breaks the ceasefire.”Trump: “What, if anything? What if the bomb drops on your head right now? OK, what if they broke it? I don’t know, they broke it with Biden because Biden, they didn’t respect him. They didn’t respect Obama. They respect me. Let me tell you, Putin went through a hell of a lot with me. He went through a phony witch hunt ... All I can say is this. He might have broken deals with Obama and Bush, and he might have broken them with Biden. He did, maybe. Maybe he did. I don’t know what happened, but he didn’t break them with me. He wants to make a deal. I don’t know if you can make a deal.”“The problem is I’ve empowered you (turning toward Zelenskyy) to be a tough guy, and I don’t think you’d be a tough guy without the United States. And your people are very brave. But you’re either going to make a deal or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out. I don’t think it’s going to be pretty, but you’ll fight it out. But you don’t have the cards. But once we sign that deal, you’re in a much better position, but you’re not acting at all thankful. And that’s not a nice thing. I’ll be honest. That’s not a nice thing.“All right, I think we’ve seen enough. What do you think? This is going to be great television. I will say that.”___

Read the transcript: Trump, Zelenskyy and Vance Oval Office clash

MCPHERSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in McPherson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported 24-year-old Travis Lane Martin of Galva aboard a&nbsp;Vittorazi&nbsp;Paraglider&nbsp;in the area of 23rd Avenue and Overland Road. The paraglider crashed into a field.

EMS transported Martin to Wesley Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

MCPHERSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in McPherson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported 24-year-old Travis Lane Martin of Galva aboard a&nbsp;Vittorazi&nbsp;Paraglider&nbsp;in the area of 23rd Avenue and Overland Road. The paraglider crashed into a field.EMS transported Martin to Wesley Medical Center for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after paraglider crash into a field

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is sending about 3,000 more active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;seeks to clamp down on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-policy-changes-3a38abf95aad30bdb046b1690e06d123">illegal immigration and fulfill a central promise</a>&nbsp;of his campaign, U.S. officials said Saturday.

His defense secretary,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>, has ordered elements of a Stryker brigade combat team and a general support aviation battalion for the mission, the Pentagon announced. The forces will arrive along the nearly 2,000-mile border in the coming weeks.

The Defense Department’s statement did not specify the size of the deployment, but it was put at about 3,000 by the officials, who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The Strykers are medium-armored wheeled personnel carriers.

Already, about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-trump-military-wall-chairman-55609b42958702951c3b4285c1c9755d">9,200 U.S. troops in total</a>&nbsp;are at the southern border, including 4,200 deployed under federal orders and about 5,000 National Guard troops under the control of governors.

The new troops will “reinforce and expand current border security operations to seal the border and protect the territorial integrity of the United States,” the Pentagon said.

Trump is determined to expand the military’s role in his effort to shut down the border and send detained migrants back to their home countries.

Military personnel have been sent to the border almost continuously since the 1990s to help address migration, drug trafficking and transnational crime.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740877823633.png" alt="-File Photo: A UH-60 Black Hawk lands outside of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Tactical Operations Center, at the National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017.&nbsp;Credit:Army Sgt. Michael Spandau" />
 <figcaption>-File Photo: A UH-60 Black Hawk lands outside of the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Tactical Operations Center, at the National Training Center, Ft. Irwin, Calif., Jan. 18, 2017.&nbsp;Credit:Army Sgt. Michael Spandau</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is sending about 3,000 more active-duty troops to the U.S.-Mexico border as President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;seeks to clamp down on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-policy-changes-3a38abf95aad30bdb046b1690e06d123">illegal immigration and fulfill a central promise</a>&nbsp;of his campaign, U.S. officials said Saturday.His defense secretary,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>, has ordered elements of a Stryker brigade combat team and a general support aviation battalion for the mission, the Pentagon announced. The forces will arrive along the nearly 2,000-mile border in the coming weeks.The Defense Department’s statement did not specify the size of the deployment, but it was put at about 3,000 by the officials, who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.The Strykers are medium-armored wheeled personnel carriers.Already, about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-trump-military-wall-chairman-55609b42958702951c3b4285c1c9755d">9,200 U.S. troops in total</a>&nbsp;are at the southern border, including 4,200 deployed under federal orders and about 5,000 National Guard troops under the control of governors.The new troops will “reinforce and expand current border security operations to seal the border and protect the territorial integrity of the United States,” the Pentagon said.Trump is determined to expand the military’s role in his effort to shut down the border and send detained migrants back to their home countries.Military personnel have been sent to the border almost continuously since the 1990s to help address migration, drug trafficking and transnational crime.

Pentagon sending more active-duty troops to the US-Mexico border

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just after 12:30a.m. Saturday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, an orange Harley Davidson motorcycle was northbound on Chouteau Trafficway.

 Just north of NE Russell Road, the Harley ran off the roadway to the right, traveling up and over the curb and striking a metal light pole.

 The Harley operator was ejected off the motorcycle and was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Police did not release his name as the accident is still under investigation.

This is fatality #9 compared to #20 at this time last year, according to Becchina.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just after 12:30a.m. Saturday in Kansas City.According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, an orange Harley Davidson motorcycle was northbound on Chouteau Trafficway. Just north of NE Russell Road, the Harley ran off the roadway to the right, traveling up and over the curb and striking a metal light pole. The Harley operator was ejected off the motorcycle and was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Police did not release his name as the accident is still under investigation.This is fatality #9 compared to #20 at this time last year, according to Becchina.

KCPD: Motorcyclist dies after crash into light pole

KANSAS CITY— A former police officer pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child.

August Price Gildehaus, 28, of Blue Springs, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and one count of producing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.

Gildehaus, a Grain Valley police officer at the time of the offenses, was originally charged by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.

By pleading guilty, Gildehaus admitted that he engaged in illegal sexual activity with a 15-year-old female victim. Gildehaus and the victim met on an online social media platform. Gildehaus met with the victim on five separate occasions between Aug. 5, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, to engage in illicit sexual activity at different locations, including a middle school parking lot.

Gildehaus admitted that the child victim took photographs of herself when she was home, and he took photographs of himself that he sent to her. Gildehaus also admitted that he recorded videos of their sexual encounters.

Under federal statutes, Gildehaus is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681393419659.png" alt=" Gildehaus-photo Grain Valley Police" />
 <figcaption> Gildehaus-photo Grain Valley Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY— A former police officer pleaded guilty in federal court today to charges related to the sexual exploitation of a child.August Price Gildehaus, 28, of Blue Springs, Mo., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to one count of enticing a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity and one count of producing child pornography, according to the United State's Attorney.Gildehaus, a Grain Valley police officer at the time of the offenses, was originally charged by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office.By pleading guilty, Gildehaus admitted that he engaged in illegal sexual activity with a 15-year-old female victim. Gildehaus and the victim met on an online social media platform. Gildehaus met with the victim on five separate occasions between Aug. 5, 2022, and Jan. 5, 2023, to engage in illicit sexual activity at different locations, including a middle school parking lot.Gildehaus admitted that the child victim took photographs of herself when she was home, and he took photographs of himself that he sent to her. Gildehaus also admitted that he recorded videos of their sexual encounters.Under federal statutes, Gildehaus is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

Former KC-area police officer admits to child sex crimes

WASHINGTON (AP)—President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;signed on Saturday an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.

The order allows government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue to offer documents and services in language other than English.

It rescinds a mandate from former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>&nbsp;that required the government and organizations that received federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.

“Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society,” according to the order.

“In welcoming new Americans, a policy of encouraging the learning and adoption of our national language will make the United States a shared home and empower new citizens to achieve the American dream,” the order also states. “Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society.”

More than 30 states have already passed laws designating English as their official language, according to U.S. English, a group that advocates for making English the official language in the United States.

For decades, lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation to designate English as the official language of the U.S., but those efforts have not succeeded.

Within hours of Trump's inauguration last month, the new administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-spanish-language-website-62224890c5b05c8ce0878358ba4a5266">took down the Spanish language version</a>&nbsp;of the official White House website.

Hispanic advocacy groups and others expressed confusion and frustration at the change. The White House said at the time it was committed to bringing the Spanish language version of the website back online. As of Saturday, it was still not restored.

The White House did not immediately respond to a message about whether that would happen.

Trump shut down the Spanish version of the website during his first term. It was restored when President Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021.

WASHINGTON (AP)—President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;signed on Saturday an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.The order allows government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue to offer documents and services in language other than English.It rescinds a mandate from former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>&nbsp;that required the government and organizations that received federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Our Nation’s historic governing documents...have all been written in English. It is therefore long past time that English is declared as the official language of the United States.&quot; ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ZxRd8fSDw8">https://t.co/ZxRd8fSDw8</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1896005544911270371?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society,” according to the order.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language.&quot; ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/ZxRd8fSDw8">https://t.co/ZxRd8fSDw8</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1896004794604834975?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“In welcoming new Americans, a policy of encouraging the learning and adoption of our national language will make the United States a shared home and empower new citizens to achieve the American dream,” the order also states. “Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society.”More than 30 states have already passed laws designating English as their official language, according to U.S. English, a group that advocates for making English the official language in the United States.For decades, lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation to designate English as the official language of the U.S., but those efforts have not succeeded.Within hours of Trump's inauguration last month, the new administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-white-house-spanish-language-website-62224890c5b05c8ce0878358ba4a5266">took down the Spanish language version</a>&nbsp;of the official White House website.Hispanic advocacy groups and others expressed confusion and frustration at the change. The White House said at the time it was committed to bringing the Spanish language version of the website back online. As of Saturday, it was still not restored.The White House did not immediately respond to a message about whether that would happen.Trump shut down the Spanish version of the website during his first term. It was restored when President Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021.

Trump signs order designating English as the official language of the US

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting that occurred on Wednesday inside an apartment in the&nbsp; Meadows Apartments, 7600 block of Halsey in Lenexa has been&nbsp;identified as 22-year-old Sadie “Cayden” Riedel of Lenexa, according to a media release.

She was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported another person to an area hospital He remains hospitalized in serious condition as a result of a gunshot wound. 

The couple were known to one another and resided together at the involved apartment. Police are not looking for any other involved persons.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740618887096.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting that occurred on Wednesday inside an apartment in the&nbsp; Meadows Apartments, 7600 block of Halsey in Lenexa has been&nbsp;identified as 22-year-old Sadie “Cayden” Riedel of Lenexa, according to a media release.She was pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported another person to an area hospital He remains hospitalized in serious condition as a result of a gunshot wound. The couple were known to one another and resided together at the involved apartment. Police are not looking for any other involved persons.

Police ID Kansas woman who died in apartment shooting

Hutchinson –&nbsp;Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) resident Lamoine Wiebe, 57, died Saturday, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

 Wiebe was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday morning. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived but were unsuccessful. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.

Wiebe was serving a 233-month sentence for one conviction of voluntary manslaughter in Harvey County, Kansas. He had over two dozen previous convictions that included theft, burglary, robbery, flee or attempt to elude, obstruction, DUI and for drug crimes, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740867685381.png" alt="Wiebe-photo Kansas Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Wiebe-photo Kansas Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson –&nbsp;Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) resident Lamoine Wiebe, 57, died Saturday, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections. Wiebe was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday morning. Staff began life-saving measures immediately and continued after emergency medical services arrived but were unsuccessful. The cause of death is pending the results of an independent autopsy.Wiebe was serving a 233-month sentence for one conviction of voluntary manslaughter in Harvey County, Kansas. He had over two dozen previous convictions that included theft, burglary, robbery, flee or attempt to elude, obstruction, DUI and for drug crimes, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.Per protocol, when a resident dies in the custody of the KDOC, the death is under investigation by the KDOC and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The investigation is ongoing.

Inmate with over 2 dozen convictions dies in Kan.  prison

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Grammy-nominated R&amp;B singer Angie Stone, a member of the all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence and known for the hit song “Wish I Didn't Miss You,” was killed early Saturday in a car crash. She was 63.

About 4 a.m., the vehicle she was riding in back to Atlanta from Alabama “flipped over and was subsequently hit by a big rig,” music producer Walter Millsap III told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/music">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;in an email.

Everyone else in the cargo van survived except Stone, he said.

Millsap said he learned the news from Angie Stone's daughter, Diamond, and longtime The Sequence member Blondy.

Stone was scheduled to perform at the halftime show of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association men's Championship basketball game on Saturday. CIAA Chaplain Pastor Jerome Barber called for a moment of silence at the game.

CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker said they were heartbroken by the loss. “She used her incredible talent, passion, and presence to inspire and touch us with strength and hope,” Parker said.

The singer-songwriter created hits like&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/UgG0Hu_FeiA?si=BQsobjr1SwNQz4uZ">“No More Rain (In This Cloud)”</a>&nbsp;which reached No. 1 for 10 weeks on Billboard’s Adult R&amp;B airplay chart, “Baby” with legendary soul singer Betty Wright, another No. 1 hit, and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “Brotha.”

Stone found a sweet spot in the early 2000s as neo-soul begin to dominate the R&amp;B landscape with the emergence of singers like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell and D’Angelo.

Her 2001 album “Mahagony Soul” reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200, while 2007’s “The Art Of Love &amp; War” peaked at No. 11.

The church-grown singer was born in Columbia, South Carolina. She helped form The Sequence, the first all-female group on the hip-hop trailblazing imprint Sugar Hill Records, becoming one of the first female groups to record a rap song.

The group recorded “Funk You Up,” which has been sampled by numerous artists, including Dr. Dre.

After finding success in the early 1980s, Stone later joined the trio Vertical Hold before launching her solo career.

A Soul Train Lady of Soul winner, Stone went on to showcase her acting chops with film roles in “The Hot Chick” starring Rob Schneider, “The Fighting Temptations” which starred Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé, and “Ride Along” led by Ice Cube and Kevin Hart.

She also hit the Broadway stage as Big Mama Morton in “Chicago,” and she showcased her vulnerability on the reality TV shows “Celebrity Fit Club” and “R&amp;B Divas: Atlanta.”

Associated Press reporter Gary Gerard Hamilton contributed to this report from New York.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1740863798715.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Grammy-nominated R&amp;B singer Angie Stone, a member of the all-female hip-hop trio The Sequence and known for the hit song “Wish I Didn't Miss You,” was killed early Saturday in a car crash. She was 63.About 4 a.m., the vehicle she was riding in back to Atlanta from Alabama “flipped over and was subsequently hit by a big rig,” music producer Walter Millsap III told&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/music">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;in an email.Everyone else in the cargo van survived except Stone, he said.Millsap said he learned the news from Angie Stone's daughter, Diamond, and longtime The Sequence member Blondy.Stone was scheduled to perform at the halftime show of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association men's Championship basketball game on Saturday. CIAA Chaplain Pastor Jerome Barber called for a moment of silence at the game.CIAA Commissioner Jacqie McWilliams-Parker said they were heartbroken by the loss. “She used her incredible talent, passion, and presence to inspire and touch us with strength and hope,” Parker said.The singer-songwriter created hits like&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/UgG0Hu_FeiA?si=BQsobjr1SwNQz4uZ">“No More Rain (In This Cloud)”</a>&nbsp;which reached No. 1 for 10 weeks on Billboard’s Adult R&amp;B airplay chart, “Baby” with legendary soul singer Betty Wright, another No. 1 hit, and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “Brotha.”Stone found a sweet spot in the early 2000s as neo-soul begin to dominate the R&amp;B landscape with the emergence of singers like Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Maxwell and D’Angelo.Her 2001 album “Mahagony Soul” reached No. 22 on the Billboard 200, while 2007’s “The Art Of Love &amp; War” peaked at No. 11.The church-grown singer was born in Columbia, South Carolina. She helped form The Sequence, the first all-female group on the hip-hop trailblazing imprint Sugar Hill Records, becoming one of the first female groups to record a rap song.The group recorded “Funk You Up,” which has been sampled by numerous artists, including Dr. Dre.After finding success in the early 1980s, Stone later joined the trio Vertical Hold before launching her solo career.A Soul Train Lady of Soul winner, Stone went on to showcase her acting chops with film roles in “The Hot Chick” starring Rob Schneider, “The Fighting Temptations” which starred Cuba Gooding Jr. and Beyoncé, and “Ride Along” led by Ice Cube and Kevin Hart.She also hit the Broadway stage as Big Mama Morton in “Chicago,” and she showcased her vulnerability on the reality TV shows “Celebrity Fit Club” and “R&amp;B Divas: Atlanta.”——Associated Press reporter Gary Gerard Hamilton contributed to this report from New York.

Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone dies in car crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that he plans to start selling a “gold card” visa with a potential pathway to U.S. citizenship for $5 million, seeking to have that new initiative replace a 35-year-old visa program for investors.

“I happen to think it’ll sell like crazy. It’s a market,” Trump said. “But we’ll know very soon.”

During the first meeting of his second-term Cabinet, Trump suggested that the new revenue generated from the program could be used to pay off the country’s debt.

“If we sell a million, that’s $5 trillion dollars,” he said. Of the demand from the business community to participate, he said "I think we will sell a lot because I think there’s really a thirst.”

Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/howard-lutnick-trump-tariffs-commerce-department-9788590bbee10d09d3cb91822b0c9687">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;told reporters during the same meeting that Trump’s initiative would replace the EB-5 program, which offers U.S. visas to investors who spent about $1 million on a company that employs at least 10 people.

Lutnick said that program “has been around for many years for investment in projects” but “it was poorly overseen, poorly executed.”

The new program could mark a dramatic shift in U.S. immigration policy but isn't unprecedented elsewhere. Countries in Europe and elsewhere offer what have become known as “golden visas” that allow participants to pay in order to secure immigration status in desirable places.

Congress, meanwhile, determines qualifications U.S. for citizenship, but the president said “gold cards” would not require congressional approval.

Trump said of future possible recipients of the gold visa program: “They’ll be wealthy and they’ll be successful and they’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people, and we think it’s going to be extremely successful.”

Henley &amp; Partners, an advisory firm, says more than 100 countries around the world offer “golden visas” to wealthy individuals and investors. That list includes the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada and Italy.

“Companies can buy gold cards and, in exchange, get those visas to hire new employees,” Trump said. Despite similar programs already occurring outside the U.S., he insisted, “No other country can do this because people don’t want to go to other countries. They want to come here."

“Everybody wants to come here, especially since Nov. 5," he said of his Election Day victory last fall.

Lutnick suggested that the gold card — which would actually work, at least to start, more like a green card, or permanent legal residency — would raise the price of admission for investors and do away with fraud and “nonsense” that he said characterize the EB-5 program.

A pathway to citizenship as part of the new program also would set it apart from the EB-5 program. Trump said vetting people who might be eligible for the gold card will “go through a process” that is still being worked out.

Pressed on if there would be restrictions on people from China or Iran not being allowed to participate, Trump suggested it will likely not “be restricted to much in terms of countries, but maybe in terms of individuals."

About 8,000 people obtained investor visas in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2022, according to the Homeland Security Department's most recent Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. The Congressional Research Service reported in 2021 that EB-5 visas pose risks of fraud, including verification that funds were obtained legally.

Trump made no mention of the requirements for job creation. And, while the number of EB-5 visas is capped, the Republican president mused that the federal government could sell 10 million “gold cards” to reduce the deficit. He said it “could be great, maybe it will be fantastic.”

“It’s somewhat like a green card, but at a higher level of sophistication," the president said. “It's a road to citizenship for people — and essentially people of wealth or people of great talent, where people of wealth pay for those people of talent to get in, meaning companies will pay for people to get in and to have long, long term status in the country.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that he plans to start selling a “gold card” visa with a potential pathway to U.S. citizenship for $5 million, seeking to have that new initiative replace a 35-year-old visa program for investors.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump on Gold Card: &quot;I think it&#39;s going to do very well. If we see a million, that&#39;s $5 trillion...If we sell ten million, which is possible...that&#39;s $50 trillion. That means our debt is totally paid off.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/38qSTAx05c">pic.twitter.com/38qSTAx05c</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1894800771050307873?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I happen to think it’ll sell like crazy. It’s a market,” Trump said. “But we’ll know very soon.”During the first meeting of his second-term Cabinet, Trump suggested that the new revenue generated from the program could be used to pay off the country’s debt.“If we sell a million, that’s $5 trillion dollars,” he said. Of the demand from the business community to participate, he said "I think we will sell a lot because I think there’s really a thirst.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick explains President Trump&#39;s new Gold Card, which will replace the fraudulent EB-5 program <a href="https://t.co/zGhMewHka6">pic.twitter.com/zGhMewHka6</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1894798001505202437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Commerce Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/howard-lutnick-trump-tariffs-commerce-department-9788590bbee10d09d3cb91822b0c9687">Howard Lutnick</a>&nbsp;told reporters during the same meeting that Trump’s initiative would replace the EB-5 program, which offers U.S. visas to investors who spent about $1 million on a company that employs at least 10 people.Lutnick said that program “has been around for many years for investment in projects” but “it was poorly overseen, poorly executed.”The new program could mark a dramatic shift in U.S. immigration policy but isn't unprecedented elsewhere. Countries in Europe and elsewhere offer what have become known as “golden visas” that allow participants to pay in order to secure immigration status in desirable places.Congress, meanwhile, determines qualifications U.S. for citizenship, but the president said “gold cards” would not require congressional approval.Trump said of future possible recipients of the gold visa program: “They’ll be wealthy and they’ll be successful and they’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people, and we think it’s going to be extremely successful.”Henley &amp; Partners, an advisory firm, says more than 100 countries around the world offer “golden visas” to wealthy individuals and investors. That list includes the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, Greece, Malta, Australia, Canada and Italy.“Companies can buy gold cards and, in exchange, get those visas to hire new employees,” Trump said. Despite similar programs already occurring outside the U.S., he insisted, “No other country can do this because people don’t want to go to other countries. They want to come here."“Everybody wants to come here, especially since Nov. 5," he said of his Election Day victory last fall.Lutnick suggested that the gold card — which would actually work, at least to start, more like a green card, or permanent legal residency — would raise the price of admission for investors and do away with fraud and “nonsense” that he said characterize the EB-5 program.A pathway to citizenship as part of the new program also would set it apart from the EB-5 program. Trump said vetting people who might be eligible for the gold card will “go through a process” that is still being worked out.Pressed on if there would be restrictions on people from China or Iran not being allowed to participate, Trump suggested it will likely not “be restricted to much in terms of countries, but maybe in terms of individuals."About 8,000 people obtained investor visas in the 12-month period ending Sept. 30, 2022, according to the Homeland Security Department's most recent Yearbook of Immigration Statistics. The Congressional Research Service reported in 2021 that EB-5 visas pose risks of fraud, including verification that funds were obtained legally.Trump made no mention of the requirements for job creation. And, while the number of EB-5 visas is capped, the Republican president mused that the federal government could sell 10 million “gold cards” to reduce the deficit. He said it “could be great, maybe it will be fantastic.”“It’s somewhat like a green card, but at a higher level of sophistication," the president said. “It's a road to citizenship for people — and essentially people of wealth or people of great talent, where people of wealth pay for those people of talent to get in, meaning companies will pay for people to get in and to have long, long term status in the country.”

Trump's $5,000,000 immigration gold card' visa explained

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting in Wichita.

Just after 8:30p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting inside a home in the 2200 block of S Santa Fe in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders discovered a 1-year-old girl who had sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body. 

EMS transported the child to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9:27p.m.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting in Wichita.Just after 8:30p.m. Friday, police responded to a shooting inside a home in the 2200 block of S Santa Fe in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Andrew Ford. First responders discovered a 1-year-old girl who had sustained a gunshot wound to the upper body. EMS transported the child to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 9:27p.m.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

Police: 1-year-old dead after shooting in Kansas home

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a campaign to compel people in the United States without legal authority to register with the U.S. government and then self-deport.

In doing so, Trump administration officials could carry out their plans for mass deportations without using agency resources for physical removals.

Noem said in a press release that if a person without legal status fails to register online, that person will be subject to a fine, imprisonment or both.

It’s unclear how much the fine is, or what charges would be levied that would result in imprisonment. In response to State Newsroom’s request for comment, DHS said it was looking into those details.

“If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.

<a href="https://nipnlg.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/2023_post-deportation-assessment-guide.pdf" target="_blank">In order to return to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;after a voluntary departure, an approved visa petition is needed, like a work visa, as well as a waiver of inadmissibility from a U.S. embassy or consulate.

The registry is not up and running, but a form and process will be made available in the coming days,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration" target="_blank">according to the DHS website.</a>

Registering would require submitting fingerprint information and other personal information. Adults and children 14 and older would be required to register.

“Compelling mass self-deportation is a safer path for aliens and law enforcement, and saves U.S. taxpayer dollars, in addition to conserving valuable Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources needed to keep Americans safe,” according to the DHS press release.

Tuesday’s late announcement comes as Noem&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/02/17/dhs-announces-ad-campaign-warning-illegal-aliens-self-deport-and-stay-out" target="_blank">has appeared in commercials</a>&nbsp;where she has warned immigrants without legal authorization “will be hunted down and deported.”

Those who are required to register include immigrants in the U.S. without legal authorization, “Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration” and those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, or those with Temporary Protected Status, according to the DHS website.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740574621163.png" alt="DHS Secretary Kristi Noem courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>DHS Secretary Kristi Noem courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced a campaign to compel people in the United States without legal authority to register with the U.S. government and then self-deport.In doing so, Trump administration officials could carry out their plans for mass deportations without using agency resources for physical removals.Noem said in a press release that if a person without legal status fails to register online, that person will be subject to a fine, imprisonment or both.It’s unclear how much the fine is, or what charges would be levied that would result in imprisonment. In response to State Newsroom’s request for comment, DHS said it was looking into those details.“If you leave now, you may have the opportunity to return and enjoy our freedom and live the American dream,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement.<a href="https://nipnlg.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/2023_post-deportation-assessment-guide.pdf" target="_blank">In order to return to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;after a voluntary departure, an approved visa petition is needed, like a work visa, as well as a waiver of inadmissibility from a U.S. embassy or consulate.The registry is not up and running, but a form and process will be made available in the coming days,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration" target="_blank">according to the DHS website.</a>Registering would require submitting fingerprint information and other personal information. Adults and children 14 and older would be required to register.“Compelling mass self-deportation is a safer path for aliens and law enforcement, and saves U.S. taxpayer dollars, in addition to conserving valuable Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) resources needed to keep Americans safe,” according to the DHS press release.Tuesday’s late announcement comes as Noem&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/02/17/dhs-announces-ad-campaign-warning-illegal-aliens-self-deport-and-stay-out" target="_blank">has appeared in commercials</a>&nbsp;where she has warned immigrants without legal authorization “will be hunted down and deported.”Those who are required to register include immigrants in the U.S. without legal authorization, “Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration” and those enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, or those with Temporary Protected Status, according to the DHS website.&nbsp;

DHS will require migrants without legal status to register with U.S. government

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before midnight Friday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, a silver Honda Accord was&nbsp; northbound in the southbound lanes of Blue Ridge Cutoff at a high rate of speed.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy was operating a black Ford Explorer patrol vehicle, traveling non-emergent, southbound on Blue Ridge Cutoff. 

The Honda struck the patrol vehicle head-on. The deputy was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Honda was pronounced deceased at the scene. The deputy is currently in stable condition. Police released no additional details.

This is fatality #8 compared to #20 at this time last year.

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before midnight Friday in Kansas City.According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, a silver Honda Accord was&nbsp; northbound in the southbound lanes of Blue Ridge Cutoff at a high rate of speed.&nbsp; A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy was operating a black Ford Explorer patrol vehicle, traveling non-emergent, southbound on Blue Ridge Cutoff. The Honda struck the patrol vehicle head-on. The deputy was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Honda was pronounced deceased at the scene. The deputy is currently in stable condition. Police released no additional details.This is fatality #8 compared to #20 at this time last year.

Driver dies after wrong-way crash into KC deputy

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Only surgical abortions will be offered initially as the clinics await state approval to restart medication abortions

Two of Missouri’s nine Planned Parenthood clinics are poised to start performing regularly-scheduled surgical abortions next week, though clinic leadership says access to medication abortions is in the hands of the state.&nbsp;

The first elective abortion in Missouri since the procedure was banned in 2022 was performed earlier this month in a Kansas City Planned Parenthood clinic. It will now be offering regular appointments for surgical abortions along with the clinic in Columbia, which has not offered the procedure since 2018.&nbsp;

Two weeks ago, Jackson County judge Jerri Zhang&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/14/missouri-judge-blocks-discriminatory-abortion-clinics-rules-blamed-for-lack-of-access/">struck down the final few regulations for Missouri abortion providers</a>, calling them “unnecessary” and “discriminatory,” opening the door for abortions to resume.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/06/missouri-planned-parenthood-clinics-delay-abortion-amendment-3-lawsuit/">The regulations run afoul of the constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;granting the right to abortion, which voters passed in November as Amendment 3.

Among these now defunct regulations is a requirement that abortion clinics submit a complication plan for medication abortions.

While Zhang blocked the regulations connected to the complication plan, the statute itself remains, said Emily Wales, president and CEO with Planned Parenthood Great Plains.&nbsp;

Wales said Planned Parenthood submitted a complication plan to the state last week, but there has been no indication as to how long it will take to review the plans. Until that approval arrives, medication abortions cannot begin, Wales said.&nbsp;

“I do not have an anticipated timeline for approval or denial of the pending complication plans,”&nbsp;Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services&nbsp;spokeswoman Sami Jo Freeman said in an email.

Freeman confirmed the plans were received from both Planned Parenthood affiliates the Thursday and Friday prior. &nbsp;

“We’re in uncharted territory here, because we don’t have regulations that tie to the statute, because they’re blocked,” Wales said. “I would be somewhat surprised if (the state) came back and said they are fine with the plan.”

<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">In 2023, 63% of abortions in the United States took place using medication</a>&nbsp;rather than surgical procedures, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group. That number is increasing as the number of states with bans and restrictions on abortions grow.&nbsp;

In states where abortion is legal, medication that induces a miscarriage is available to patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Patients typically take two doses of medication, the second of which is often taken at home. In recent years, a growing number of women have been ordering abortion medication from online providers in the United States and abroad.

Wales said Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Kansas City and Columbia are stocked with abortion medication and ready to administer it as soon as the state allows. Leadership at the clinic in St. Louis said they are also ready to begin providing the medication as soon as the state green lights it.

“We are hoping that the state acts in good faith,” Wales said. “And recognizes that our process for managing complications is in line with the standard of care nationally.”

Abortions to resume in Columbia, Kansas City

The first elective abortion to take place in Columbia since 2018 is scheduled for Monday.

Nearly seven years ago, the clinic in central Missouri stopped seeing abortion patients after a new law required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.&nbsp;

Soon, appointments will be available at least one day a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kansas City clinic, located 125 miles west on Interstate 70, performed the first elective abortion in nearly three years in Missouri on Feb. 15. No other patients have undergone the procedure since.&nbsp;

But beginning Wednesday, the clinic will begin seeing patients for regularly-scheduled surgical abortions at least one day a week. Initially, they are scheduling patients up until 12 weeks in pregnancy, but Wales said they intend to expand the gestational age as they figure out scheduling.&nbsp;

The clinic also hopes to expand the pain management offered for surgical abortions. Initially, they plan to offer patients Valium and local anesthetic. Down the road Wales said they hope to also offer IV sedation.

The lag between the first abortion patient and the second was due to logistics. But weather and a holiday weekend also played a role.&nbsp;

A snowstorm that week forced the clinic to cancel other appointments and the physicians who came in to perform the first abortion hadn’t been scheduled to work the weekend of President’s Day. Instead, they offered to come in on their day off to take part in the historic moment.

While Columbia and Kansas City will only be offering appointments one day a week for the first couple months, both hope to expand as they adjust providers’ schedules and new staff physicians come on board.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which runs clinics in Kansas, Western Missouri and Oklahoma, has five physicians based in the Kansas City area. Wales said they hope to add at least one more staff physician in the coming months. The clinics also rely on a network of about half a dozen out-of-state contracted physicians to coordinate care at the clinics, which primarily includes contraceptives, STI testing, cancer screenings and wellness checks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740781567276.png" alt="A surgical room is prepped for patients on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Planned Parenthood Great Plains in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>A surgical room is prepped for patients on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Planned Parenthood Great Plains in Overland Park, Kansas (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>Only surgical abortions will be offered initially as the clinics await state approval to restart medication abortions</h2>Two of Missouri’s nine Planned Parenthood clinics are poised to start performing regularly-scheduled surgical abortions next week, though clinic leadership says access to medication abortions is in the hands of the state.&nbsp;The first elective abortion in Missouri since the procedure was banned in 2022 was performed earlier this month in a Kansas City Planned Parenthood clinic. It will now be offering regular appointments for surgical abortions along with the clinic in Columbia, which has not offered the procedure since 2018.&nbsp;Two weeks ago, Jackson County judge Jerri Zhang&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/14/missouri-judge-blocks-discriminatory-abortion-clinics-rules-blamed-for-lack-of-access/">struck down the final few regulations for Missouri abortion providers</a>, calling them “unnecessary” and “discriminatory,” opening the door for abortions to resume.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/06/missouri-planned-parenthood-clinics-delay-abortion-amendment-3-lawsuit/">The regulations run afoul of the constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;granting the right to abortion, which voters passed in November as Amendment 3.Among these now defunct regulations is a requirement that abortion clinics submit a complication plan for medication abortions.While Zhang blocked the regulations connected to the complication plan, the statute itself remains, said Emily Wales, president and CEO with Planned Parenthood Great Plains.&nbsp;Wales said Planned Parenthood submitted a complication plan to the state last week, but there has been no indication as to how long it will take to review the plans. Until that approval arrives, medication abortions cannot begin, Wales said.&nbsp;“I do not have an anticipated timeline for approval or denial of the pending complication plans,”&nbsp;Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services&nbsp;spokeswoman Sami Jo Freeman said in an email.Freeman confirmed the plans were received from both Planned Parenthood affiliates the Thursday and Friday prior. &nbsp;“We’re in uncharted territory here, because we don’t have regulations that tie to the statute, because they’re blocked,” Wales said. “I would be somewhat surprised if (the state) came back and said they are fine with the plan.”<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">In 2023, 63% of abortions in the United States took place using medication</a>&nbsp;rather than surgical procedures, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group. That number is increasing as the number of states with bans and restrictions on abortions grow.&nbsp;In states where abortion is legal, medication that induces a miscarriage is available to patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Patients typically take two doses of medication, the second of which is often taken at home. In recent years, a growing number of women have been ordering abortion medication from online providers in the United States and abroad.Wales said Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Kansas City and Columbia are stocked with abortion medication and ready to administer it as soon as the state allows. Leadership at the clinic in St. Louis said they are also ready to begin providing the medication as soon as the state green lights it.“We are hoping that the state acts in good faith,” Wales said. “And recognizes that our process for managing complications is in line with the standard of care nationally.”<h2>Abortions to resume in Columbia, Kansas City</h2>The first elective abortion to take place in Columbia since 2018 is scheduled for Monday.Nearly seven years ago, the clinic in central Missouri stopped seeing abortion patients after a new law required abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.&nbsp;Soon, appointments will be available at least one day a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kansas City clinic, located 125 miles west on Interstate 70, performed the first elective abortion in nearly three years in Missouri on Feb. 15. No other patients have undergone the procedure since.&nbsp;But beginning Wednesday, the clinic will begin seeing patients for regularly-scheduled surgical abortions at least one day a week. Initially, they are scheduling patients up until 12 weeks in pregnancy, but Wales said they intend to expand the gestational age as they figure out scheduling.&nbsp;The clinic also hopes to expand the pain management offered for surgical abortions. Initially, they plan to offer patients Valium and local anesthetic. Down the road Wales said they hope to also offer IV sedation.The lag between the first abortion patient and the second was due to logistics. But weather and a holiday weekend also played a role.&nbsp;A snowstorm that week forced the clinic to cancel other appointments and the physicians who came in to perform the first abortion hadn’t been scheduled to work the weekend of President’s Day. Instead, they offered to come in on their day off to take part in the historic moment.While Columbia and Kansas City will only be offering appointments one day a week for the first couple months, both hope to expand as they adjust providers’ schedules and new staff physicians come on board.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which runs clinics in Kansas, Western Missouri and Oklahoma, has five physicians based in the Kansas City area. Wales said they hope to add at least one more staff physician in the coming months. The clinics also rely on a network of about half a dozen out-of-state contracted physicians to coordinate care at the clinics, which primarily includes contraceptives, STI testing, cancer screenings and wellness checks.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The equipment used in surgical abortions has been on a tri-state tour in recent years, Wales said. After the Columbia clinic ended the procedure, the equipment went to Oklahoma, which at the time was seeing a surge in Texans following that state’s 6-week ban. When Oklahoma’s ban went into effect, the equipment was sent to Kansas as more Texans and Oklahomans started traveling north for the procedure.&nbsp;Now, it’s back in Columbia.&nbsp;Wales said it’s not immediately clear what the demand for abortion appointments will be in Missouri. In 2023, Kansas saw a 58% increase in abortion appointments as bans took effect in neighboring states. Wales is anticipating the clinics in Columbia and Kansas City could see patients traveling in from Iowa, Arkansas and even Louisiana.&nbsp;“One of the challenges for us is that we still have an overwhelming need in Kansas, and we’re going to have to take some time to figure out how patients travel,” Wales said. “If the demand is higher in Missouri, we will increase access there.”<h2>No set date to begin abortions again in St. Louis</h2>The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis’ Central West End was the last clinic in Missouri to provide an abortion before Roe v. Wade was overturned.&nbsp;Clinic leadership, wary of the ongoing court battle, has not yet started scheduling out abortion appointments in St. Louis.Dr. Margaret Baum, interim chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which runs clinics in eastern and southern Missouri and southern Illinois, said it was too soon to provide a timeline of when surgical abortions will return to St. Louis.“We moved all of our services to Illinois, our nursing staff, our anesthesia equipment, physician presence, all of those things,” she said. “So it’s going to take a little bit of time to bring things back to Missouri.”&nbsp;The St. Louis location previously offered abortions up to 21 weeks, six days gestation. Baum said she imagines they will offer the procedure up until that point again once services restart.&nbsp;A 20 minute drive across the river in Fairview Heights, Illinois, patients can be seen up to 28 weeks, six days gestation.While a lot of uncertainty remains around surgical abortions, Baum said the St. Louis clinic is ready to start providing medication abortions as soon as the state clears them to do so.&nbsp;But even though medication abortion is easier to provide — it requires fewer staff and less equipment —&nbsp;Baum said the clinics in Springfield and Rolla won’t be able to make the medication available to patients because neither clinic has doctors on staff, citing a state law that requires only physicians perform the procedure.&nbsp;She said bringing physicians to Springfield and Rolla “is certainly a discussion, but “right now, we have to focus our physician power in our very, very busy service in Illinois, and bringing things back to Missouri.”Baum is one of two long-term staff physicians and one contracted physician at Planned Parenthood Great Rivers.&nbsp;When she started at Planned Parenthood in St. Louis several years ago, an ultrasound technician saw patients, then Baum reviewed the ultrasound images before moving on with the procedure. But then Missouri law changed and suddenly she was required to do the ultrasound, cutting into her time with other patients.&nbsp;Then came the mandatory 72 hour waiting period between seeing a provider and having an abortion. That was followed by a requirement that the same physician who walked the patient through the required informed consent process also be the one to do their abortion 72 hours later.&nbsp;Across the river in Illinois, there was no waiting period, no physician consent requirement and no pelvic exam required for medication abortions.&nbsp;While Baum said Planned Parenthood celebrated the judge’s most recent decision, many are also wary of what the state could do next.&nbsp;This legislative session, dozens of bills have been filed seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/19/missouri-born-alive-survivors-bill-abortion-medication-lawsuits/">restrict Amendment 3.</a>&nbsp;This includes multiple proposed constitutional amendments seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/05/missouri-abortion-ban-constitutional-amendment-stinnett-rape-incest-exception/">put an abortion ban on the ballot</a>&nbsp;as soon as this year.“It is important to remember that while we celebrated this victory last Friday, it is temporary, so we are still a little bit nervous that things could change,” she said. “We don’t know what will happen in January, when the actual court case takes place. So before we put too much effort into reopening services in St. Louis, if things could then change, we still have to focus where we have this facility in Illinois, to keep that running.”&nbsp;<h2>Legal battles continue to complicate planning</h2>On Saturday, Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed a request for a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction, asking a Cole County judge to temporarily halt the Columbia and Kansas City clinics from performing abortions. The state has been attempting to move Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit against the state from Jackson County to Cole County.The filing is part of a separate lawsuit filed late last year by the attorney general’s office arguing that Planned Parenthood doesn’t have the grounds to sue because of a 2010 settlement agreement between Planned Parenthood and the state.&nbsp;“More than anything, I think it’s an attempt to get out of a court where they’re unhappy with the outcomes they’re seeing,” Wales said. “But also to delay, distract and prevent Missourians from access and care.”Planned Parenthood has requested that the case be transferred to Jackson County. A status hearing in the Cole County case is scheduled for March 12.Bailey is also expected to appeal the most recent order out of Jackson County which allowed Planned Parenthood to restart surgical abortions.In an email Tuesday, a spokeswoman for the attorney general said the office intends to appeal the judge’s Feb. 14 order “immediately.” As of Thursday, the office had not filed an appeal.