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

TOPEKA — A Kansas City suburb rose to the top in a major e-commerce company’s nationwide search for a new hub through hefty &nbsp;incentives.

Fortune 500 company Fiserv plans to open a new location in Overland Park, the Kansas governor’s office announced Monday, touting the addition of 2,000 jobs and a 10-year, $6.5 billion economic impact. The state is offering millions in incentives.

Gov. Laura Kelly’s office called the deal the largest office recruitment in the state’s history.

Frank Bisignano, chairman and CEO of Fiserv, said the planned Overland Park hub is an opportunity to expand the company’s footprint in the United States and foster innovation in the financial services field on behalf of its clients.

“The greater Kansas City metro area offers a dynamic environment with a growing population of tech talent, making it the ideal location for Fiserv’s next strategic fintech hub,” he said.

State incentives totaling nearly $155 million over 10 years reward Fiserv with tax credits for above-average wages, a payroll tax withholding refund for creating jobs, relocation funds for out-of-state employees, a job creation award, personal property tax and sales tax abatements, and workforce recruitment assistance.

For every one-dollar investment in state incentives, $21.22 will be added to Kansas’ gross domestic product,&nbsp;said Patrick Lowry, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce.

“These are high-value jobs to help keep more graduates of Kansas colleges and universities remain in Kansas,” he said.

Fiserv has committed $175 million for the project, according to Lowry.

The company’s announcement came less than a week after Overland Park’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee unanimously gave preliminary approval to a property tax rebate program for “Project Turtle,” which has been connected to Fiserv.

The Overland Park City Council is set to take up the issue Monday, but the project has already earned Mayor Curt Skoog’s unofficial approval.

“This is the biggest job-creating project that we’ve worked on in my time,” he said at the economic development committee’s Wednesday meeting.

In Skoog’s 20 years of involvement with the city, he said, he has witnessed significant growth successes and attractive additions to the community

“But this one is a really, really amazing win for us,” he said.

If approved, Project Turtle would receive a rebate on city, county and Blue Valley Recreation Commission property taxes. The company would pay full property taxes to the Blue Valley School District and Johnson County Community College levies.

Under the rebate agreement, taxes will be paid, and then the company would submit an application to the city to be reimbursed for about 40% of those taxes, or an estimated $1.3 million over 10 years of the company’s 15-year lease.

But the rebate is contingent on meeting certain conditions.

Those conditions include a $125 million investment in renovations and improvements and maintaining 2,000 full-time employees by 2030. The governor’s office said those employees will earn an average salary of $102,000 annually. The state anticipates Fiserv will contribute up to $4 billion in payroll investment over the next decade.

&nbsp;The company also would be required to participate in community engagement, invest in memberships with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and the Overland Park Economic Development Council, and commit to using Overland Park hotels and facilities for conventions and meetings.

The economic development committee liked the idea of reusing existing space and increasing the long-term property value at the 200-acre Aspiria campus, which was considered at one point as a new location for the Kansas City Royals. After Sprint sold the campus in 2019, it was envisioned as a live-work-play environment tailored to businesses and entrepreneurs. It’s one of the largest corporate campuses in the U.S., second only to Microsoft’s campus in Washington state.

Fiserv is expected to lease two buildings on the campus, totaling 427,000 square feet.

The tax incentives are an “important component” of the deal, said Alex Leath, an Alabama attorney with the international law firm Bradley Arant who helped bring Panasonic to De Soto.

The Kansas City area wasn’t initially a contender for Fiserv, Leath said.

“What I saw first and foremost — what I do see — is the quality of the people, the work ethic of the people,” Leath told the economic development committee. “This is a company that expects people to be in the office five days a week, … and Kansans struck me as people who would enjoy that, or embrace that.”

Overland Park beat out Nashville, Phoenix, Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta and the South Florida area in the company’s search.

Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids lauded the deal.

“Kansas continues to attract top-tier businesses, and I look forward to welcoming Fiserv to Overland Park,” Moran said.

The governor said the new hub is making good on her administration’s promise to “modernize and diversify” the state’s economy.

“Fiserv’s new strategic hub in Overland Park is a significant step forward as we continue to elevate Kansas to new heights,” Kelly said. “Fiserv will create high-value career options, including opportunities for military personnel transitioning to civilian life and graduates of our higher education system.”

Fiserv chose Overland Park, the announcement said, because of its central location in the United States, proximity to clients in the Midwest, affordable cost of living and the opportunity to recruit talent in the tech field.

Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council, called the investment “monumental.”

He added: “And so is the Kansas City region’s ability to deliver.”

The Kansas City area has the capacity and competitiveness to rise to the occasion, he said, which he attributed to a “fast-growing tech sector,” a cache of talent and a prosperous, collaborative business community.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745325511316.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly, pictured here with Lt. Gov. David Toland behind her in July 2022 after announcing the $4 billion Panasonic factory in De Soto, announced Monday the arrival of another major company in Kansas — Fiserv, which is expected to usher in 2,000 jobs in the next five years. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly, pictured here with Lt. Gov. David Toland behind her in July 2022 after announcing the $4 billion Panasonic factory in De Soto, announced Monday the arrival of another major company in Kansas — Fiserv, which is expected to usher in 2,000 jobs in the next five years. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A Kansas City suburb rose to the top in a major e-commerce company’s nationwide search for a new hub through hefty &nbsp;incentives.Fortune 500 company Fiserv plans to open a new location in Overland Park, the Kansas governor’s office announced Monday, touting the addition of 2,000 jobs and a 10-year, $6.5 billion economic impact. The state is offering millions in incentives.Gov. Laura Kelly’s office called the deal the largest office recruitment in the state’s history.Frank Bisignano, chairman and CEO of Fiserv, said the planned Overland Park hub is an opportunity to expand the company’s footprint in the United States and foster innovation in the financial services field on behalf of its clients.“The greater Kansas City metro area offers a dynamic environment with a growing population of tech talent, making it the ideal location for Fiserv’s next strategic fintech hub,” he said.State incentives totaling nearly $155 million over 10 years reward Fiserv with tax credits for above-average wages, a payroll tax withholding refund for creating jobs, relocation funds for out-of-state employees, a job creation award, personal property tax and sales tax abatements, and workforce recruitment assistance.For every one-dollar investment in state incentives, $21.22 will be added to Kansas’ gross domestic product,&nbsp;said Patrick Lowry, a spokesman for the Kansas Department of Commerce.“These are high-value jobs to help keep more graduates of Kansas colleges and universities remain in Kansas,” he said.Fiserv has committed $175 million for the project, according to Lowry.The company’s announcement came less than a week after Overland Park’s Finance, Administration and Economic Development Committee unanimously gave preliminary approval to a property tax rebate program for “Project Turtle,” which has been connected to Fiserv.The Overland Park City Council is set to take up the issue Monday, but the project has already earned Mayor Curt Skoog’s unofficial approval.“This is the biggest job-creating project that we’ve worked on in my time,” he said at the economic development committee’s Wednesday meeting.In Skoog’s 20 years of involvement with the city, he said, he has witnessed significant growth successes and attractive additions to the community“But this one is a really, really amazing win for us,” he said.If approved, Project Turtle would receive a rebate on city, county and Blue Valley Recreation Commission property taxes. The company would pay full property taxes to the Blue Valley School District and Johnson County Community College levies.Under the rebate agreement, taxes will be paid, and then the company would submit an application to the city to be reimbursed for about 40% of those taxes, or an estimated $1.3 million over 10 years of the company’s 15-year lease.But the rebate is contingent on meeting certain conditions.Those conditions include a $125 million investment in renovations and improvements and maintaining 2,000 full-time employees by 2030. The governor’s office said those employees will earn an average salary of $102,000 annually. The state anticipates Fiserv will contribute up to $4 billion in payroll investment over the next decade.&nbsp;The company also would be required to participate in community engagement, invest in memberships with the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce and the Overland Park Economic Development Council, and commit to using Overland Park hotels and facilities for conventions and meetings.The economic development committee liked the idea of reusing existing space and increasing the long-term property value at the 200-acre Aspiria campus, which was considered at one point as a new location for the Kansas City Royals. After Sprint sold the campus in 2019, it was envisioned as a live-work-play environment tailored to businesses and entrepreneurs. It’s one of the largest corporate campuses in the U.S., second only to Microsoft’s campus in Washington state.Fiserv is expected to lease two buildings on the campus, totaling 427,000 square feet.The tax incentives are an “important component” of the deal, said Alex Leath, an Alabama attorney with the international law firm Bradley Arant who helped bring Panasonic to De Soto.The Kansas City area wasn’t initially a contender for Fiserv, Leath said.“What I saw first and foremost — what I do see — is the quality of the people, the work ethic of the people,” Leath told the economic development committee. “This is a company that expects people to be in the office five days a week, … and Kansans struck me as people who would enjoy that, or embrace that.”Overland Park beat out Nashville, Phoenix, Dallas, Fort Worth, Atlanta and the South Florida area in the company’s search.Republican U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids lauded the deal.“Kansas continues to attract top-tier businesses, and I look forward to welcoming Fiserv to Overland Park,” Moran said.The governor said the new hub is making good on her administration’s promise to “modernize and diversify” the state’s economy.“Fiserv’s new strategic hub in Overland Park is a significant step forward as we continue to elevate Kansas to new heights,” Kelly said. “Fiserv will create high-value career options, including opportunities for military personnel transitioning to civilian life and graduates of our higher education system.”Fiserv chose Overland Park, the announcement said, because of its central location in the United States, proximity to clients in the Midwest, affordable cost of living and the opportunity to recruit talent in the tech field.Tim Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council, called the investment “monumental.”He added: “And so is the Kansas City region’s ability to deliver.”The Kansas City area has the capacity and competitiveness to rise to the occasion, he said, which he attributed to a “fast-growing tech sector,” a cache of talent and a prosperous, collaborative business community.

Tax incentives, work ethic attract Fortune 500 company to Kansas

KANSAS CITY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Monday in the Costco parking lot&nbsp;

In the Costco parking lot at 241 East Linwood, a pedestrian became involved in a verbal altercation and disturbance with the driver of a black Mercedes, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

The pedestrian was hanging onto the Mercedes as the driver began to leave the scene. As the Mercedes was driving away, the pedestrian was knocked to the ground and run over by the vehicle.

The driver of the Mercedes left the scene without stopping. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Monday in the Costco parking lot&nbsp;In the Costco parking lot at 241 East Linwood, a pedestrian became involved in a verbal altercation and disturbance with the driver of a black Mercedes, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.The pedestrian was hanging onto the Mercedes as the driver began to leave the scene. As the Mercedes was driving away, the pedestrian was knocked to the ground and run over by the vehicle.The driver of the Mercedes left the scene without stopping. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries, according to Gonzalez.&nbsp;

After verbal fight, shopper run over in Costco parking lot

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Four people were injured in an accident just before 8:30p.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Volvo XC9 driven by Lanae B. Taylor, 33, Wichita, was northbound on Interstate 235 in south Wichita.

The SUV crossed the median into the southbound lanes and struck a 2019 Ford F150 KHP motorist assist vehicle driven by Lyle E. Dewalt, 59, Andover, head-on.

EMS transported&nbsp;Taylor and passengers in the Volvo identified as Jaquellin D.&nbsp; Holland, 27, and Manuel I.&nbsp;Trujillo, 26, both of Wichita to St. Francis and Dewalt to Wesley Medical Center.

Trujillo was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745315768351.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—Four people were injured in an accident just before 8:30p.m. Monday in Sedgwick County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Volvo XC9 driven by Lanae B. Taylor, 33, Wichita, was northbound on Interstate 235 in south Wichita.The SUV crossed the median into the southbound lanes and struck a 2019 Ford F150 KHP motorist assist vehicle driven by Lyle E. Dewalt, 59, Andover, head-on.EMS transported&nbsp;Taylor and passengers in the Volvo identified as Jaquellin D.&nbsp; Holland, 27, and Manuel I.&nbsp;Trujillo, 26, both of Wichita to St. Francis and Dewalt to Wesley Medical Center.Trujillo was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

4 injured after crash with KHP motorist assist vehicle

SHAWNEE COUNTY —&nbsp; &nbsp;Authorities investigating a fatal house fire in Topeka have identified the victim as 65-year-old Michael J. Ullman, the only resident of the home, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.

Just before 6a.m. Friday, crews responded to report of a house fire a 419 SE Rodgers Street in Topeka, according to Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke coming from the home and quickly extinguished the fire. During a search of the home, firefighters found Ullman deceased.. There were no other occupants of the home.

Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire.&nbsp; The home did not have working smoke detectors, according to Stahl.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744990133110.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the Friday morning fire-photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the Friday morning fire-photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —&nbsp; &nbsp;Authorities investigating a fatal house fire in Topeka have identified the victim as 65-year-old Michael J. Ullman, the only resident of the home, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.Just before 6a.m. Friday, crews responded to report of a house fire a 419 SE Rodgers Street in Topeka, according to Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke coming from the home and quickly extinguished the fire. During a search of the home, firefighters found Ullman deceased.. There were no other occupants of the home.Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire.&nbsp; The home did not have working smoke detectors, according to Stahl.

Fire Marshal IDs man who died in Kansas house fire

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinals have taken their first decisions following the death of Pope Francis, setting Saturday as the date for his funeral and allowing ordinary faithful to begin paying their final respects starting Wednesday, when his casket is brought into St. Peter’s Basilica.

The cardinals met for the first time Tuesday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world grieving history’s first Latin American pope.

The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend Saturday’s funeral Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected.

Francis died Monday at age 88 after suffering a stroke that put him in a coma and led his heart to fail. He had been recovering in his apartment after being hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia. He made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-easter-sunday-photos-4651ecd21edad5f77af0eb228144b4c5">his last public appearance</a>&nbsp;Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and making what would be his final greeting to followers from his popemobile, looping around St. Peter’s Square.

In retrospect, his Easter appearance from the same loggia where he was introduced to the world as the first pope from the Americas on March 13, 2013, was a perfect bookend to a 12-year papacy that sought to shake up the church and return it to its Gospel-mandated mission of caring for the poorest.

“He gave himself to the end,” said Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the head of the Italian bishops’ conference and considered a possible contender to be next pope. “To go out to meet everyone, speak to everyone, teach us to speak to everyone, to bless everyone.”

The first images of Francis’ body were released Tuesday, showing him in the wooden casket, in red vestments and his bishop’s miter, with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived and died.

In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, which is outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary. Before and after every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary, draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus, who in turn holds a jeweled golden book.

Francis stopped by the basilica on his way home from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after his 38-day hospital stay, to deliver flowers to be placed before the icon. He returned April 12 to pray before the Madonna for the last time.

Bells tolled in chapels, churches and cathedrals around the world and flags flew at half staff in Italy, India, Taiwan and the U.S. after Francis’ death was announced by the Vatican camerlengo. Soccer matches in Italy and Argentina were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-soccer-san-lorenzo-b8687e9b67c05af7f0e7920af0fb942a">suspended</a>&nbsp;in honor of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/argentina-pope-francis-obit-milei-catholic-church-politics-b2b6058a734c6cbc728718d1c91372fa">Argentine pope</a>&nbsp;who was a lifelong fan of the San Lorenzo soccer club.

World leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-reaction-78ef38471b2560d74a1e25cbd31cbc7e">praised Francis</a>&nbsp;for his moral leadership and compassion, while ordinary faithful remembered his simplicity and humanity.

“Like every Argentine, I think he was a rebel,” said 23-year-old Catalina Favaro, who had come to pay her respects in the Buenos Aires church where Francis discovered his priestly vocation. “He may have been contradictory, but that was nice, too.”

In East Timor, where Francis’ final outdoor Mass drew nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-asia-east-timor-john-paul-ii-8a12d6cfa771b2603d1044afd4ac68a8">half of the population</a>&nbsp;last September, President Jose Ramos-Horta praised Francis’ courage. “Papa Francisco was a brave man who was not afraid to speak out against the rulers of the world who seek war, but do not want to seek peace,” Ramos-Horta said.

“He challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger, and reminded us that our common home — this Earth — is a gift we must protect for future generations,” said Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who is Muslim. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and has around 30 million Catholics, representing about 14% of the total population.

The pope’s formal apartments in the Apostolic Palace and in the Santa Marta hotel were sealed Monday evening, following a centuries-old ritual. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-kevin-farrell-camerlengo-d539db6e09be52a76669dc7f7ac63fd8">as camerlengo</a>&nbsp;had the task of announcing the death and confirming it once the cause was determined, presided over the rituals.

Francis chose not to live in the palace, though, but in a two-room suite in Santa Marta on the other side of Vatican City. He died there and his body was transferred to the hotel chapel in the lobby, where the private viewing was being held Tuesday for Vatican officials and members of the pontifical household.

In changes made by Francis last year, his body was not placed in three wooden coffins, as it had been for previous popes. Rather, Francis was placed in a simplified wooden coffin with a zinc coffin inside.

Once in St. Peter’s, his coffin will not be put on an elevated bier but will just be be placed simply facing the pews, with the Paschal candle nearby.

“He was a pope who didn’t change his path when it came to getting dirty,” Francis’ vicar for Rome, Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, said in a Mass in his honor. “For him, poor people and migrants were the sacrament of Jesus.”

After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, known as the “novendiali.” During this period, cardinals arrive in Rome and meet privately before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/papal-succession-plan-what-happens-798029dfb83f4c03b61de5d9cf6945ff">the conclave</a>.

To give everyone time to assemble, the conclave must begin 15-20 days after the “sede vacante” — the “vacant See” — is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree.

Once the conclave begins, cardinals vote in secret sessions in the Sistine Chapel. After voting sessions, the ballots are burned in a special stove. Black smoke indicates that no pope has been elected, while white smoke indicates that the cardinals have chosen the next head of the Catholic Church.

The one who has secured&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/next-pope-contenders-list-101d68d61be2401a85310e34b45371a9">two-thirds of the votes</a>&nbsp;wins. If he accepts, his election is announced by a cardinal from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica who tells the world “Habemus Papam,” Latin for “We have a pope.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745316464619.jpeg" alt="A Catholic nun of the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Saint Teresa, prays as a portrait of Pope Francis, placed over the saint's tomb following his death, in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)" />
 <figcaption>A Catholic nun of the Missionaries of Charity, the order founded by Saint Teresa, prays as a portrait of Pope Francis, placed over the saint's tomb following his death, in Kolkata, India, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)</figcaption>
 </figure>VATICAN CITY (AP) — Cardinals have taken their first decisions following the death of Pope Francis, setting Saturday as the date for his funeral and allowing ordinary faithful to begin paying their final respects starting Wednesday, when his casket is brought into St. Peter’s Basilica.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745322565144.png" alt="The late Pope Francis' body lies in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta-photo Vatican News Service" />
 <figcaption>The late Pope Francis' body lies in the chapel of the Casa Santa Marta-photo Vatican News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>The cardinals met for the first time Tuesday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world grieving history’s first Latin American pope.The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re.U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he and first lady Melania Trump plan to attend Saturday’s funeral Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected.Francis died Monday at age 88 after suffering a stroke that put him in a coma and led his heart to fail. He had been recovering in his apartment after being hospitalized for five weeks with pneumonia. He made&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-easter-sunday-photos-4651ecd21edad5f77af0eb228144b4c5">his last public appearance</a>&nbsp;Sunday, delivering an Easter blessing and making what would be his final greeting to followers from his popemobile, looping around St. Peter’s Square.In retrospect, his Easter appearance from the same loggia where he was introduced to the world as the first pope from the Americas on March 13, 2013, was a perfect bookend to a 12-year papacy that sought to shake up the church and return it to its Gospel-mandated mission of caring for the poorest.“He gave himself to the end,” said Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the head of the Italian bishops’ conference and considered a possible contender to be next pope. “To go out to meet everyone, speak to everyone, teach us to speak to everyone, to bless everyone.”The first images of Francis’ body were released Tuesday, showing him in the wooden casket, in red vestments and his bishop’s miter, with the Vatican secretary of state praying over him in the chapel of the Domus Santa Marta hotel where he lived and died.In his final will, Francis confirmed he would be buried at St. Mary Major basilica, which is outside the Vatican and home to his favorite icon of the Virgin Mary. Before and after every foreign trip, Francis would go to the basilica to pray before the Byzantine-style painting that features an image of Mary, draped in a blue robe, holding the infant Jesus, who in turn holds a jeweled golden book.Francis stopped by the basilica on his way home from the Gemelli hospital on March 23, after his 38-day hospital stay, to deliver flowers to be placed before the icon. He returned April 12 to pray before the Madonna for the last time.<h2>The world reacts</h2>Bells tolled in chapels, churches and cathedrals around the world and flags flew at half staff in Italy, India, Taiwan and the U.S. after Francis’ death was announced by the Vatican camerlengo. Soccer matches in Italy and Argentina were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-soccer-san-lorenzo-b8687e9b67c05af7f0e7920af0fb942a">suspended</a>&nbsp;in honor of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/argentina-pope-francis-obit-milei-catholic-church-politics-b2b6058a734c6cbc728718d1c91372fa">Argentine pope</a>&nbsp;who was a lifelong fan of the San Lorenzo soccer club.World leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-reaction-78ef38471b2560d74a1e25cbd31cbc7e">praised Francis</a>&nbsp;for his moral leadership and compassion, while ordinary faithful remembered his simplicity and humanity.“Like every Argentine, I think he was a rebel,” said 23-year-old Catalina Favaro, who had come to pay her respects in the Buenos Aires church where Francis discovered his priestly vocation. “He may have been contradictory, but that was nice, too.”In East Timor, where Francis’ final outdoor Mass drew nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-asia-east-timor-john-paul-ii-8a12d6cfa771b2603d1044afd4ac68a8">half of the population</a>&nbsp;last September, President Jose Ramos-Horta praised Francis’ courage. “Papa Francisco was a brave man who was not afraid to speak out against the rulers of the world who seek war, but do not want to seek peace,” Ramos-Horta said.“He challenged the powerful to act with justice, called nations to welcome the stranger, and reminded us that our common home — this Earth — is a gift we must protect for future generations,” said Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who is Muslim. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and has around 30 million Catholics, representing about 14% of the total population.<h2>Viewing the pope’s coffin</h2>The pope’s formal apartments in the Apostolic Palace and in the Santa Marta hotel were sealed Monday evening, following a centuries-old ritual. Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-kevin-farrell-camerlengo-d539db6e09be52a76669dc7f7ac63fd8">as camerlengo</a>&nbsp;had the task of announcing the death and confirming it once the cause was determined, presided over the rituals.Francis chose not to live in the palace, though, but in a two-room suite in Santa Marta on the other side of Vatican City. He died there and his body was transferred to the hotel chapel in the lobby, where the private viewing was being held Tuesday for Vatican officials and members of the pontifical household.In changes made by Francis last year, his body was not placed in three wooden coffins, as it had been for previous popes. Rather, Francis was placed in a simplified wooden coffin with a zinc coffin inside.Once in St. Peter’s, his coffin will not be put on an elevated bier but will just be be placed simply facing the pews, with the Paschal candle nearby.“He was a pope who didn’t change his path when it came to getting dirty,” Francis’ vicar for Rome, Cardinal Baldassarre Reina, said in a Mass in his honor. “For him, poor people and migrants were the sacrament of Jesus.”<h2>Choosing the next pope</h2>After the funeral, there are nine days of official mourning, known as the “novendiali.” During this period, cardinals arrive in Rome and meet privately before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/papal-succession-plan-what-happens-798029dfb83f4c03b61de5d9cf6945ff">the conclave</a>.To give everyone time to assemble, the conclave must begin 15-20 days after the “sede vacante” — the “vacant See” — is declared, although it can start sooner if the cardinals agree.Once the conclave begins, cardinals vote in secret sessions in the Sistine Chapel. After voting sessions, the ballots are burned in a special stove. Black smoke indicates that no pope has been elected, while white smoke indicates that the cardinals have chosen the next head of the Catholic Church.The one who has secured&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/next-pope-contenders-list-101d68d61be2401a85310e34b45371a9">two-thirds of the votes</a>&nbsp;wins. If he accepts, his election is announced by a cardinal from the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica who tells the world “Habemus Papam,” Latin for “We have a pope.”___

Cardinals set date for Pope Francis’ funeral, public viewing 

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Four House Democrats have traveled to El Salvador to call attention to the plight of a man the Trump administration deported to a Salvadoran prison and has refused to help return — even after the Supreme Court ruled that it was the government's duty to do so.

Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California arrived Sunday in the Central American nation to investigate the condition of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-abrego-garcia-e1b2af6528f915a1f0ec60f9a1c73cdd">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, who had lived in the United States for more than a decade. The Trump administration deported him, a move that administration officials have said in court filings was done in error.

But despite a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the Trump administration to help facilitate Abrego Garcia's return, the administration has said it has no power to bring him back, a position being scrutinized by federal courts as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">potentially in violation of judicial rulings</a>.

In a news conference Monday in El Salvador's capital, the Democratic representatives and Abrego Garcia's lawyer said they were in El Salvador “demanding his safe return home." The group said they hoped to continue to pressure authorities for his release, and that their petition to meet with Abrego Garcia was denied.

"Part of what the Trump administration does is they do so much that they try to make sure people forget — forget about them breaking the law, forget about them completely ignoring the Supreme Court," Frost said. “We’re not going to be the last members of Congress and senators that are here to make sure that he’s released and that our country is following our laws.”

The quartet’s trip comes after Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/van-hollen-democrats-trump-resistance-abrego-garcia-084ab2c9691accd1e79b3c956f68d058">Chris Van Hollen of Maryland</a>&nbsp;traveled to El Salvador last week and met with Abrego Garcia and Salvadoran officials. Abrego Garcia lived in Maryland with his wife and three children, who are American citizens, before he was deported on March 15.

Abrego Garcia's protected legal status prohibited him from being deported to El Salvador. He was deported on one of three planes filled with migrants accused of being gang members.

Frost said the four representatives were in El Salvador to “build off the work” of Van Hollen and that they were inquiring about where Abrego Garcia was being held and under what conditions.

Chris Newman, a lawyer representing the deportee, added that his primary concerns was Abrego Garcia's access to counsel.

“We know nothing of Mr. Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts since the staged photo op on Thursday with Senator Van Hollen,” Newman said. "We demand to immediately know where he is and to have access to him."

The White House press office issued a statement Monday that said the past week “has shown Americans everything they need to know about Democrats’ priorities.”

The White House accused the representatives of "picking up their party’s mantle of prioritizing a deported illegal immigrant MS-13 gang member over the Americans they represent.”

Rep. Garcia said he and Frost sent a letter last week to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., requesting that an official delegation go to El Salvador to investigate Abrego Garcia's condition and push for his return, but received no response. Ansari said more Democrats would be traveling to El Salvador in the coming days and weeks.

Justice Department lawyers said in court last week that they have no power to advance Abrego Garcia’s return because he is in a foreign country’s custody. Administration officials also claimed in public comments that Abrego Garcia was engaged in human trafficking and terrorism and therefore correctly deported. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that if Abrego Garcia were to return to the U.S., “he would immediately be deported again.”

Van Hollen unsuccessfully lobbied the Salvadoran government for Abrego Garcia's return. He told NBC's “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the United States is facing a constitutional crisis if the Trump administration does not follow the Supreme Court's order to push to bring Abrego Garcia back.

It's a warning Democrats are increasingly amplifying. Rather than debate President Donald Trump's hard-line immigration policy or the merits of the administration's invocation of national security to carry out deportations, Democratic lawmakers are zeroing in on the issue of due process, with some noting that the Supreme Court and lower court federal judges found Abrego Garcia was deported without a proper hearing.

Ansari said she finds it “extremely alarming” that Trump officials seem to have no regard for due process.

“Even with all of the illegal actions we’ve seen over the last couple of months, I think this is the one that terrifies me the most when it comes to the future of our democracy," she said in an interview.

Similar concerns were echoed by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote in the court’s ruling in Abrego Garcia’s case: “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."

Republicans have been going, too — for a different reason

Several House Republicans have visited El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, the prison where Abergo Garcia is being held, and lauded the facility for what they view as El Salvador's tough-on-crime policies. Republican senators and governors have defended Abrego Garcia's detention as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration. But at least one Republican senator called his deportation a mistake.

“The administration won’t admit it. But this was a screw-up,” said Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, on NBC's “Meet the Press.”

During a meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office, Trump remarked that “homegrown” lawbreakers should be deported to prisons in the Central American country and urged Bukele to “build about five more places” like the notorious penitentiary where Abrego Garcia is being held.

Congressional Republicans have so far shown little interest in negotiating the dispute between the president and the judiciary. Democrats, who are in the minority in both chambers of Congress, have little leverage to pressure the White House. But Abrego Garcia's case has become both an alarming and galvanizing case inside the party.

Democrats "have the power to draw attention to this issue, to keep the pressure up," Ansari said. "That’s why you know some of us are going, and so many members will be going. Because this is about the future of our democracy and the future of due process as American citizens.”

Brown reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City.

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Four House Democrats have traveled to El Salvador to call attention to the plight of a man the Trump administration deported to a Salvadoran prison and has refused to help return — even after the Supreme Court ruled that it was the government's duty to do so.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I am in El Salvador because I will not stand by while our country is thrown into a constitutional crisis. This is a moment to act. I will not rest until due process is upheld for all. <a href="https://t.co/q5b4cZg3iV">pic.twitter.com/q5b4cZg3iV</a>&mdash; Congresswoman Maxine Dexter (@RepDexterOR) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDexterOR/status/1914346370841903519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Reps. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, Maxine Dexter of Oregon, Maxwell Frost of Florida and Robert Garcia of California arrived Sunday in the Central American nation to investigate the condition of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-abrego-garcia-e1b2af6528f915a1f0ec60f9a1c73cdd">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, who had lived in the United States for more than a decade. The Trump administration deported him, a move that administration officials have said in court filings was done in error.But despite a Supreme Court ruling that ordered the Trump administration to help facilitate Abrego Garcia's return, the administration has said it has no power to bring him back, a position being scrutinized by federal courts as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">potentially in violation of judicial rulings</a>.In a news conference Monday in El Salvador's capital, the Democratic representatives and Abrego Garcia's lawyer said they were in El Salvador “demanding his safe return home." The group said they hoped to continue to pressure authorities for his release, and that their petition to meet with Abrego Garcia was denied."Part of what the Trump administration does is they do so much that they try to make sure people forget — forget about them breaking the law, forget about them completely ignoring the Supreme Court," Frost said. “We’re not going to be the last members of Congress and senators that are here to make sure that he’s released and that our country is following our laws.”<h2>The trip comes after one last week</h2>The quartet’s trip comes after Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/van-hollen-democrats-trump-resistance-abrego-garcia-084ab2c9691accd1e79b3c956f68d058">Chris Van Hollen of Maryland</a>&nbsp;traveled to El Salvador last week and met with Abrego Garcia and Salvadoran officials. Abrego Garcia lived in Maryland with his wife and three children, who are American citizens, before he was deported on March 15.Abrego Garcia's protected legal status prohibited him from being deported to El Salvador. He was deported on one of three planes filled with migrants accused of being gang members.Frost said the four representatives were in El Salvador to “build off the work” of Van Hollen and that they were inquiring about where Abrego Garcia was being held and under what conditions.Chris Newman, a lawyer representing the deportee, added that his primary concerns was Abrego Garcia's access to counsel.“We know nothing of Mr. Abrego Garcia’s whereabouts since the staged photo op on Thursday with Senator Van Hollen,” Newman said. "We demand to immediately know where he is and to have access to him."The White House press office issued a statement Monday that said the past week “has shown Americans everything they need to know about Democrats’ priorities.”The White House accused the representatives of "picking up their party’s mantle of prioritizing a deported illegal immigrant MS-13 gang member over the Americans they represent.”Rep. Garcia said he and Frost sent a letter last week to House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., requesting that an official delegation go to El Salvador to investigate Abrego Garcia's condition and push for his return, but received no response. Ansari said more Democrats would be traveling to El Salvador in the coming days and weeks.Justice Department lawyers said in court last week that they have no power to advance Abrego Garcia’s return because he is in a foreign country’s custody. Administration officials also claimed in public comments that Abrego Garcia was engaged in human trafficking and terrorism and therefore correctly deported. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that if Abrego Garcia were to return to the U.S., “he would immediately be deported again.”Van Hollen unsuccessfully lobbied the Salvadoran government for Abrego Garcia's return. He told NBC's “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the United States is facing a constitutional crisis if the Trump administration does not follow the Supreme Court's order to push to bring Abrego Garcia back.It's a warning Democrats are increasingly amplifying. Rather than debate President Donald Trump's hard-line immigration policy or the merits of the administration's invocation of national security to carry out deportations, Democratic lawmakers are zeroing in on the issue of due process, with some noting that the Supreme Court and lower court federal judges found Abrego Garcia was deported without a proper hearing.Ansari said she finds it “extremely alarming” that Trump officials seem to have no regard for due process.“Even with all of the illegal actions we’ve seen over the last couple of months, I think this is the one that terrifies me the most when it comes to the future of our democracy," she said in an interview.Similar concerns were echoed by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote in the court’s ruling in Abrego Garcia’s case: “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."<h2>Republicans have been going, too — for a different reason</h2>Several House Republicans have visited El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, the prison where Abergo Garcia is being held, and lauded the facility for what they view as El Salvador's tough-on-crime policies. Republican senators and governors have defended Abrego Garcia's detention as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration. But at least one Republican senator called his deportation a mistake.“The administration won’t admit it. But this was a screw-up,” said Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, on NBC's “Meet the Press.”During a meeting with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in the Oval Office, Trump remarked that “homegrown” lawbreakers should be deported to prisons in the Central American country and urged Bukele to “build about five more places” like the notorious penitentiary where Abrego Garcia is being held.Congressional Republicans have so far shown little interest in negotiating the dispute between the president and the judiciary. Democrats, who are in the minority in both chambers of Congress, have little leverage to pressure the White House. But Abrego Garcia's case has become both an alarming and galvanizing case inside the party.Democrats "have the power to draw attention to this issue, to keep the pressure up," Ansari said. "That’s why you know some of us are going, and so many members will be going. Because this is about the future of our democracy and the future of due process as American citizens.”___Brown reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Megan Janetsky contributed to this report from Mexico City.

🎥More lawmakers visit El Salvador on Abrego Garcia's behalf

JOHNSON—A Kansas man accused in the killing of his wife and son made another court appearance in the case last week.

Todd M. Donovan, 53, plead guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and to cruelty to animals, according to the Johnson County District Attorney. Donovan is scheduled for sentencing July 21st.

Just before 8:30p.m. Nov. 1, police responded on the report of an armed disturbance at a home in the 7900 block of Hallet in the city of Lenexa, according to a media release. As officers arrived, they heard multiple gunshots coming from the area of the residence.

Lenexa officers spoke on the phone with the individual suspected of firing shots and learned 53-year-old Todd M. Donovan was inside his residence on Hallet.

Donovan refused to comply with officer’s requests to come outside peacefully and the Lenexa Tactical Team and crisis negotiators responded on the barricade operation. Negotiators spoke with Donovan for nearly two hours before he discontinued dialogue.

Just before 2a.m. the next morning, members of the Lenexa Tactical Team entered the residence and took Donovan into custody. He was taken to an area hospital due to a possible overdose.

Officers located two individuals later identified as Donovan's wife 52-year-old Sheila Donovan and his son 22-year-old Tyler Donovan deceased inside the home. The preliminary investigation indicates that both were shot. As part of this investigation, it was also learned that a neighbor's dog was shot and killed around the same time that officers responded on the initial call.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730686002368.png" alt="Donovan photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Donovan photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON—A Kansas man accused in the killing of his wife and son made another court appearance in the case last week.Todd M. Donovan, 53, plead guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and to cruelty to animals, according to the Johnson County District Attorney. Donovan is scheduled for sentencing July 21st.Just before 8:30p.m. Nov. 1, police responded on the report of an armed disturbance at a home in the 7900 block of Hallet in the city of Lenexa, according to a media release. As officers arrived, they heard multiple gunshots coming from the area of the residence.Lenexa officers spoke on the phone with the individual suspected of firing shots and learned 53-year-old Todd M. Donovan was inside his residence on Hallet.Donovan refused to comply with officer’s requests to come outside peacefully and the Lenexa Tactical Team and crisis negotiators responded on the barricade operation. Negotiators spoke with Donovan for nearly two hours before he discontinued dialogue.Just before 2a.m. the next morning, members of the Lenexa Tactical Team entered the residence and took Donovan into custody. He was taken to an area hospital due to a possible overdose.Officers located two individuals later identified as Donovan's wife 52-year-old Sheila Donovan and his son 22-year-old Tyler Donovan deceased inside the home. The preliminary investigation indicates that both were shot. As part of this investigation, it was also learned that a neighbor's dog was shot and killed around the same time that officers responded on the initial call.

Kansas man admits killing wife, son and neighbor's dog

SANTA TERESA, N.M. (AP) — Military officials have identified the two Marines from California who were killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-service-members-killed-vehicle-accident-0676c8454bff6d647f93cc14c61fcae5">when their vehicle crashed</a>&nbsp;as a convoy was traveling along the U.S.-Mexico border near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

They were Lance Cpl. Albert Aguilera, 22, of Riverside and Lance Cpl. Marcelino Gamino, 28, of Fresno. Both were members of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion based at Camp Pendleton.

Another Marine with the battalion remains in critical condition.

The investigation into Tuesday’s crash is ongoing, military officials said in a statement.

The region where the accident took place is just over the state line and west of Fort Bliss, a major Army installation in West Texas that has played a critical role in dispatching military deportation flights and served as a touchpoint for thousands of soldiers and pieces of equipment now deployed along the border.

The troops are deployed there in support of President Donald Trump’s executive order to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-trump-roosevelt-military-immigration-85974188a51593351eed70ad26291888">secure the U.S.-Mexico border</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745287416212.png" alt="Lance Cpl. Albert Aguilera-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Lance Cpl. Albert Aguilera-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SANTA TERESA, N.M. (AP) — Military officials have identified the two Marines from California who were killed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-service-members-killed-vehicle-accident-0676c8454bff6d647f93cc14c61fcae5">when their vehicle crashed</a>&nbsp;as a convoy was traveling along the U.S.-Mexico border near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745287340245.png" alt="&nbsp;Lance Cpl. Marcelino Gamino courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Lance Cpl. Marcelino Gamino courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>They were Lance Cpl. Albert Aguilera, 22, of Riverside and Lance Cpl. Marcelino Gamino, 28, of Fresno. Both were members of the 1st Combat Engineer Battalion based at Camp Pendleton.Another Marine with the battalion remains in critical condition.The investigation into Tuesday’s crash is ongoing, military officials said in a statement.The region where the accident took place is just over the state line and west of Fort Bliss, a major Army installation in West Texas that has played a critical role in dispatching military deportation flights and served as a touchpoint for thousands of soldiers and pieces of equipment now deployed along the border.The troops are deployed there in support of President Donald Trump’s executive order to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/border-trump-roosevelt-military-immigration-85974188a51593351eed70ad26291888">secure the U.S.-Mexico border</a>.

Officials release names of Marines killed supporting border operations

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon in in custody after a traffic a weekend arrest. Just after 4:30a.m. Friday, police&nbsp;conducted a traffic stop, according to a social media report from Kechi Police. During the investigation, police seized $3,810.00, two loaded firearms (one of which was stolen) and narcotics.

The suspect was arrested on requested charges that include Felon in possession of a Firearm; Criminal use of Weapons; Possession of Marijuana; Felony Interfere with Law Enforcement; Expired Driver's; No Insurance and for Running a Stop Sign.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745241712101.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas felon in in custody after a traffic a weekend arrest. Just after 4:30a.m. Friday, police&nbsp;conducted a traffic stop, according to a social media report from Kechi Police. During the investigation, police seized $3,810.00, two loaded firearms (one of which was stolen) and narcotics. The suspect was arrested on requested charges that include Felon in possession of a Firearm; Criminal use of Weapons; Possession of Marijuana; Felony Interfere with Law Enforcement; Expired Driver's; No Insurance and for Running a Stop Sign.

Police seize cash, stolen gun and drugs during Kan. traffic stop

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department will begin collection next month on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-repayment-trump-9fb6287fe52ed0be73719b53dd5bf90d">student loans</a>&nbsp;that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday.

Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump administration</a>&nbsp;’s announcement marks an end to a period of leniency that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. No federal student loans have been referred for collection since March 2020, including those in default. Under President Joe Biden, the Education Department tried multiple times to forgive millions of people’s student loans, only to be stopped by courts.

“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.

Beginning May 5, the department will begin involuntary collection through the Treasury Department's offset program, which withholds payments from the government — including tax refunds, federal salaries and other benefits — from people with past-due debts to the government. After a 30-day notice, the department will also begin garnishing wages for borrowers in default.

The decision to send debt to collections drew criticism from advocates.

“This is cruel, unnecessary and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country,” said Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center.

Already, many borrowers have been bracing for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-default-0eb5a2bdb0ed4cfbd9663f822dfd457c">obligations coming due</a>.

In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-cancellation-forgiveness-d213afe3ea69da3c6b9e713c7dc16a9a">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;paused federal student loan payments and interest accrual as a temporary relief measure for student borrowers. The pause in payments was extended multiple times by the Biden administration through 2023, and a final grace period for loan repayments ended in October 2024. That meant tens of millions of Americans had to start making payments again.

Borrowers who don't make payments for nine months go into default, which is reported on their credit scores and can go to collections.

In addition to the borrowers already in default, around another 4 million are between 91 to 180 days late on their loan payments. Less than 40% of all borrowers are current on their student loans, department officials said.

For borrowers in default, one step to avoid wage garnishment is to get into loan rehabilitation, said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute for Student Loan Advisors.

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

Biden oversaw the cancellation of student loans for more than 5 million borrowers. Despite the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">Supreme Court's rejection</a>&nbsp;of his signature proposal for broad relief, he waived more than $183.6 billion in student loans through expanded forgiveness programs.

In her statement Monday, McMahon said Biden had gone too far.

“Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment — both for the sake of their own financial health and our nation’s economic outlook,” she said.

Associated Press writer Adriana Morga in New York contributed to this report.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745272046906.png" alt="Education Secretary Linda McMahon during a press conference earlier this month-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Education Secretary Linda McMahon during a press conference earlier this month-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department will begin collection next month on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-repayment-trump-9fb6287fe52ed0be73719b53dd5bf90d">student loans</a>&nbsp;that are in default, including the garnishing of wages for potentially millions of borrowers, officials said Monday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Starting May 5, the Department will resume collections to protect taxpayers from shouldering the cost of student loans. Federal student loans are financed by the American people and must be paid back. <a href="https://t.co/yQmP12Tojy">https://t.co/yQmP12Tojy</a> <a href="https://t.co/5tsrc8yu8B">pic.twitter.com/5tsrc8yu8B</a>&mdash; U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/usedgov/status/1914409175326564695?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Currently, roughly 5.3 million borrowers are in default on their federal student loans.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump administration</a>&nbsp;’s announcement marks an end to a period of leniency that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. No federal student loans have been referred for collection since March 2020, including those in default. Under President Joe Biden, the Education Department tried multiple times to forgive millions of people’s student loans, only to be stopped by courts.“American taxpayers will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for irresponsible student loan policies,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.Beginning May 5, the department will begin involuntary collection through the Treasury Department's offset program, which withholds payments from the government — including tax refunds, federal salaries and other benefits — from people with past-due debts to the government. After a 30-day notice, the department will also begin garnishing wages for borrowers in default.The decision to send debt to collections drew criticism from advocates.“This is cruel, unnecessary and will further fan the flames of economic chaos for working families across this country,” said Mike Pierce, executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center.Already, many borrowers have been bracing for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-forgiveness-supreme-court-default-0eb5a2bdb0ed4cfbd9663f822dfd457c">obligations coming due</a>.In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-cancellation-forgiveness-d213afe3ea69da3c6b9e713c7dc16a9a">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;paused federal student loan payments and interest accrual as a temporary relief measure for student borrowers. The pause in payments was extended multiple times by the Biden administration through 2023, and a final grace period for loan repayments ended in October 2024. That meant tens of millions of Americans had to start making payments again.Borrowers who don't make payments for nine months go into default, which is reported on their credit scores and can go to collections.In addition to the borrowers already in default, around another 4 million are between 91 to 180 days late on their loan payments. Less than 40% of all borrowers are current on their student loans, department officials said.For borrowers in default, one step to avoid wage garnishment is to get into loan rehabilitation, said Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute for Student Loan Advisors.Borrowers need to ask their loan servicer to be placed into a loan rehabilitation program. Typically, servicers ask for proof of income and expenses to calculate a payment amount. Once a borrower has paid on time for nine months in a row, they are taken out of default, Mayotte said. A loan rehabilitation can only be done once.Biden oversaw the cancellation of student loans for more than 5 million borrowers. Despite the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-supreme-court-653c2e9c085863bdbf81f125f87669fa">Supreme Court's rejection</a>&nbsp;of his signature proposal for broad relief, he waived more than $183.6 billion in student loans through expanded forgiveness programs.In her statement Monday, McMahon said Biden had gone too far.“Going forward, the Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Treasury, will shepherd the student loan program responsibly and according to the law, which means helping borrowers return to repayment — both for the sake of their own financial health and our nation’s economic outlook,” she said.___Associated Press writer Adriana Morga in New York contributed to this report.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Student loans in default to be referred to debt collection

WASHINGTON (AP)—The White House is expressing support for Pete Hegseth following media reports that the defense secretary created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where sensitive military information was shared.

The New York Times first reported Sunday evening that the embattled Pentagon leader shared details of a March military airstrike against Yemen’s Houthi militants that were similar to those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">sent in another chain</a>&nbsp;with top Trump administration leaders. A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump “stands strongly behind” Hegseth. She tried to dismiss the reporting by saying “this is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you.”

Hegseth told reporters Monday that he had spoken with the president and “we are going to continue fighting.”

“This is what the media does,” Pete Hegseth said at the White House Easter Egg Roll.

“They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me.”

“I have spoken to the president, and we are going to continue fighting, on the same page all the way,” he said.

The president offered full-throated backing of his defense secretary following media reports that Hegseth shared sensitive military details in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-houthis-attack-8dbf9dd6c711796438a5c1c84831c40b">another Signal messaging chat</a>, including with his wife and brother.

Asked by reporters if he still had confidence in Hegseth amid the latest revelations, Trump responded the media should pose that question to the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, who have been facing a barrage of U.S. airstrikes in recent weeks.

“Ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump said. He added, “Ask the Houthis how much dysfunction...There is none.”

Trump also appeared to blame recently dismissed Pentagon aides for being behind the reports.

WASHINGTON (AP)—The White House is expressing support for Pete Hegseth following media reports that the defense secretary created another Signal messaging chat that included his wife and brother where sensitive military information was shared.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> Hegseth on &quot;Signal chat controversy&quot;: &quot;What a big surprise that a few leakers get fired and suddenly a bunch of hit pieces come out from the same media that peddled the Russia hoax, won&#39;t give back their Pulitzers, they got Pulitzers for a bunch of lies ... This is what… <a href="https://t.co/qYH8O98EtX">pic.twitter.com/qYH8O98EtX</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1914311301272052045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The New York Times first reported Sunday evening that the embattled Pentagon leader shared details of a March military airstrike against Yemen’s Houthi militants that were similar to those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">sent in another chain</a>&nbsp;with top Trump administration leaders. A person familiar with the contents and those who received the messages confirmed the second chat to The Associated Press.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday that Trump “stands strongly behind” Hegseth. She tried to dismiss the reporting by saying “this is what happens when the entire Pentagon is working against you.”Hegseth told reporters Monday that he had spoken with the president and “we are going to continue fighting.”“This is what the media does,” Pete Hegseth said at the White House Easter Egg Roll.“They take anonymous sources from disgruntled former employees, and then they try to slash and burn people and ruin their reputations. Not going to work with me.”Hegseth did not deny the reports.“I have spoken to the president, and we are going to continue fighting, on the same page all the way,” he said.The president offered full-throated backing of his defense secretary following media reports that Hegseth shared sensitive military details in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-houthis-attack-8dbf9dd6c711796438a5c1c84831c40b">another Signal messaging chat</a>, including with his wife and brother.Asked by reporters if he still had confidence in Hegseth amid the latest revelations, Trump responded the media should pose that question to the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, who have been facing a barrage of U.S. airstrikes in recent weeks.“Ask the Houthis how he’s doing,” Trump said. He added, “Ask the Houthis how much dysfunction...There is none.”Trump also appeared to blame recently dismissed Pentagon aides for being behind the reports.

🎥Hegseth responds to latest Signal chat controversy

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI AP Health Writer</a>

Montana is the ninth U.S. state to have an active measles outbreak.

The U.S. was up to 800&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">cases of measles</a>&nbsp;nationwide on Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>&nbsp;is driving the high numbers, with an outbreak centered in West Texas that started nearly three months ago and is up to 597 cases.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.

Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include Indiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Mexico. The U.S. has more than double the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;it saw in all of 2024.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

Health experts fear the virus will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">take hold in other U.S. communities</a>&nbsp;with low vaccination rates and that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>.

In North America, an outbreak in Ontario, Canada has sickened 925 from mid-October through April 16. That's on top of cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;that the World Health Organization has said are linked to the Texas outbreak. A large outbreak in Chihuahua state has 433 cases as of April 18, according to data from the state health ministry.

Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a>

<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state, health officials announced Wednesday.

Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray and Morton counties have fewer than five cases each. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.

The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.

How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas state health officials said Friday there were 36 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">597 across 25 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. Four more Texans were hospitalized, for a total of 62 throughout the outbreak, and Parmer and Potter counties logger their first cases.

State health officials estimated about 4% of cases — fewer than 30 — are actively infectious.

Sixty-two percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has logged 371 cases since late January — just over 1% of the county's residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.

New Mexico announced five new cases this week, bringing the state’s total to 63. Three more people were in the hospital this week, for a total of six since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Two are in Eddy County and Chaves and Doña Ana counties have one each.

State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. New Mexico reported its first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related death in an adult</a>&nbsp;on March 6.

Cases in Oklahoma remained steady at 12 total cases Friday: nine confirmed and three probable. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said.

A state health department spokesperson said measles exposures were confirmed in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Rogers and Custer counties, but wouldn't say which counties had cases.

The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 30 measles cases in the state Thursday. The state county includes only Ohio residents.

There are 14 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties, the state said. The outbreak in Ashtabula County started with an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally.

Health officials in Knox County, in east-central Ohio, say there are a total of 20 people with measles, but seven of them do not live in Ohio. In 2022, a measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85.

Indiana confirmed two more cases Monday in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown. The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said Monday.

How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?

In far northwest Pennsylvania, Erie County health officials declared a measles outbreak Monday after finding two new cases linked to a measles case confirmed March 30.

The state has had nine cases overall this year, six of which are not linked to the outbreak, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.

Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has three linked measles cases. State health officials say the cases are tied to a large measles outbreak in Ontario, Canada.

The state has seven confirmed measles cases as of Thursday, but the remaining four are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak. Michigan's last measles outbreak was in 2019.

Montana state health officials announced five cases Thursday in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and confirmed it was an outbreak on Monday. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.

State health officials are working to trace exposures in Bozeman and Belgrade.

They are Montana's first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn't say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

There have been 800 cases in 2025 as of Friday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 10 clusters — defined as three or more related cases.

Measles cases have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;(MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI AP Health Writer</a>Montana is the ninth U.S. state to have an active measles outbreak.The U.S. was up to 800&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">cases of measles</a>&nbsp;nationwide on Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">Texas</a>&nbsp;is driving the high numbers, with an outbreak centered in West Texas that started nearly three months ago and is up to 597 cases.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;died from measles-related illnesses near&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">the epicenter in Texas,</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness.Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include Indiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Mexico. The U.S. has more than double the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;it saw in all of 2024.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.Health experts fear the virus will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">take hold in other U.S. communities</a>&nbsp;with low vaccination rates and that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>.In North America, an outbreak in Ontario, Canada has sickened 925 from mid-October through April 16. That's on top of cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;that the World Health Organization has said are linked to the Texas outbreak. A large outbreak in Chihuahua state has 433 cases as of April 18, according to data from the state health ministry.Here's what else you&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">need to know about measles in the U.S.</a><h2>How many cases are there in Kansas?</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744819510121.png" alt="Counties with active cases in Kansas -KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Counties with active cases in Kansas -KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state, health officials announced Wednesday.Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray and Morton counties have fewer than five cases each. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.<h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?</h2>Texas state health officials said Friday there were 36 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">597 across 25 counties</a>&nbsp;— most of them in West Texas. Four more Texans were hospitalized, for a total of 62 throughout the outbreak, and Parmer and Potter counties logger their first cases.State health officials estimated about 4% of cases — fewer than 30 — are actively infectious.Sixty-two percent of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has logged 371 cases since late January — just over 1% of the county's residents.The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February — Kennedy said age 6.New Mexico announced five new cases this week, bringing the state’s total to 63. Three more people were in the hospital this week, for a total of six since the outbreak started. Most of the state's cases are in Lea County. Two are in Eddy County and Chaves and Doña Ana counties have one each.State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas’ outbreak based on genetic testing. New Mexico reported its first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related death in an adult</a>&nbsp;on March 6.<h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2>Cases in Oklahoma remained steady at 12 total cases Friday: nine confirmed and three probable. The first two probable cases were “associated” with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said.A state health department spokesperson said measles exposures were confirmed in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Rogers and Custer counties, but wouldn't say which counties had cases.<h2>How many cases are there in Ohio?</h2>The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 30 measles cases in the state Thursday. The state county includes only Ohio residents.There are 14 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties, the state said. The outbreak in Ashtabula County started with an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally.Health officials in Knox County, in east-central Ohio, say there are a total of 20 people with measles, but seven of them do not live in Ohio. In 2022, a measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85.<h2>How many cases are there in Indiana?</h2>Indiana confirmed two more cases Monday in an outbreak that has sickened eight in Allen County in the northeast part of the state — five are unvaccinated minors and three are adults whose vaccination status is unknown. The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said Monday.<h2>How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?</h2>In far northwest Pennsylvania, Erie County health officials declared a measles outbreak Monday after finding two new cases linked to a measles case confirmed March 30.The state has had nine cases overall this year, six of which are not linked to the outbreak, including international travel-related cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pa.gov/content/dam/copapwp-pagov/en/health/documents/topics/documents/2025%20HAN/2025-787-3-13-ADV-%20Measles.pdf">Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia</a>.<h2>How many cases are there in Michigan?</h2>Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has three linked measles cases. State health officials say the cases are tied to a large measles outbreak in Ontario, Canada.The state has seven confirmed measles cases as of Thursday, but the remaining four are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak. Michigan's last measles outbreak was in 2019.<h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2>Montana state health officials announced five cases Thursday in unvaccinated children and adults who had traveled out of state, and confirmed it was an outbreak on Monday. All five are isolating at home in Gallatin County in the southwest part of the state.State health officials are working to trace exposures in Bozeman and Belgrade.They are Montana's first measles cases in 35 years. Health officials didn't say whether the cases are linked to other outbreaks in North America.<h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2>There have been 800 cases in 2025 as of Friday, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 10 clusters — defined as three or more related cases.Measles cases have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.<h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;(MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because most children back then had measles and now have “presumptive immunity.”In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a><h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.___