WASHINGTON (AP) — Travelers who aren’t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-tsa-dhs-air-travel-5005fc6ad2b59bc96d1ee43db08e0ea4">REAL ID compliant</a>&nbsp;by the upcoming deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny, the head of Homeland Security said Tuesday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kristi-noem">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;told a Congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday.

Those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,” Noem said.

“But people will be allowed to fly,” she said. “We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”

REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005.

The commission recommended the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008 but implementation has been repeatedly delayed.

Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, people will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.

In recent weeks, Noem has been warning the American public about the upcoming deadline. In a television ad put out by Homeland Security, she warned that these IDs were needed for air travel and for entering public buildings, adding: “These IDs keep our country safe.”

A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license has a symbol (&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JFKairport/status/1917292918634582136">in most states, a star</a>&nbsp;) in the top corner of the card.

NEW YORK (AP) — The deadline to get a REAL ID is fast approaching after years of postponements and delays.

Starting May 7, your license or identification card will need to be REAL ID-compliant to fly domestically in the U.S.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there will be another delay in the deadline this time. So, if you're confused about how to get a REAL ID, why you even need one in the first place, and what happens if you don't have one by May 7, here are some things to know:

It's a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that the DHS says is a more secure form of identification. Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, you will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.

When the REAL ID Act was signed into law in 2005, it enacted a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that the government set security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and IDs.

"REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver's licenses and identification cards," John Essig, the Transportation Security Administration's Security Director for airports in the New York City region said in a press release on April 3. "The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists' ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification."

The REAL ID Act was supposed to begin rolling out in 2008, "but has faced repeated delays due to state implementation challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic," said Nina Ruggiero, senior editorial director for Travel + Leisure. "The combination of varying state processes and shifting deadlines has added to the overall confusion around REAL IDs and likely led some travelers to take the deadlines less seriously."

How do I know if I already have a REAL ID?

If you've gotten a new ID in the last few years, it could already be REAL ID-compliant.

"I also hear from travelers who are confused as to whether or not they already have a REAL ID," Ruggiero said. "Some people who have recently renewed their license may already have a compliant ID and not know it," so you may want to double-check yours before starting the process.

A REAL ID-compliant driver's license has a symbol ( in most states, a star ) in the top corner of the card.

If you live in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont or Washington, it's possible you could have an "enhanced" ID card instead, which permits you to cross land and sea borders into Mexico and Canada from the U.S. It does not, however, allow you to fly into either of those countries.

Enhanced IDs will have an American flag icon, as well as the word "enhanced" at the top of the card.

If I don't have a REAL ID, how do I get one?

The requirements vary by state, so you will need to visit the website of your state's driver's licensing agency to find out the specific steps, including whether you'll need to make an appointment at a DMV and what documentation you'll need when you get there.

What happens on May 7? What if I don't have a REAL ID by then?

If you don't have a REAL ID by the deadline and you're planning to board a domestic flight, you will need to bring your passport or another TSA-approved form of identification when you travel.

Otherwise, you could face "delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint," warns TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein.

The deadline has already been pushed back so many times. Could it be delayed again?

In mid-April, a group of state senators from Kentucky asked the agency to delay implementing the new requirements yet again. They said the state has limited appointments available to people seeking the new cards and that there has been a rush to meet the May 7 deadline.

However, TSA spokesperson Dan Velez told the AP that the agency does not intend to delay the REAL ID deadline again.

As of late April, 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints were presenting acceptable identification, including a state-issued REAL ID, according to DHS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1617726479094.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Travelers who aren’t&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/real-id-tsa-dhs-air-travel-5005fc6ad2b59bc96d1ee43db08e0ea4">REAL ID compliant</a>&nbsp;by the upcoming deadline this week will still be able to fly but should be prepared for extra scrutiny, the head of Homeland Security said Tuesday.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kristi-noem">Kristi Noem</a>&nbsp;told a Congressional panel that 81% of travelers already have IDs that comply with the REAL ID requirements. She said security checkpoints will also be accepting passports and tribal identification when the deadline hits Wednesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sec_Noem</a>: &quot;Tomorrow is the day that Real ID will finally be enforced. It&#39;s been a law that&#39;s been in place for over 20 years. 81% of the travelers that travel by airline in the United States today are already compliant.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/n4A6ZVorkw">pic.twitter.com/n4A6ZVorkw</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1919765080175989075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Those who still lack an identification that complies with the REAL ID law “may be diverted to a different line, have an extra step,” Noem said.“But people will be allowed to fly,” she said. “We will make sure it’s as seamless as possible.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">REAL ID enforcement begins TOMORROW. If you’re flying within the U.S. &amp; do not have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID (like a passport or military ID) you may be subject to additional screening. Plan ahead, arrive early, and arrive prepared. 🔗 <a href="https://t.co/6uWOP95HFj">https://t.co/6uWOP95HFj</a> <a href="https://t.co/nJtraAlM00">pic.twitter.com/nJtraAlM00</a>&mdash; TSA (@TSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSA/status/1919776420357648690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>REAL ID is a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that Homeland Security says is a more secure form of identification. It was a recommendation by the 9/11 Commission and signed into law in 2005.The commission recommended the government set security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and IDs. It was supposed to be rolled out in 2008 but implementation has been repeatedly delayed.Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, people will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.In recent weeks, Noem has been warning the American public about the upcoming deadline. In a television ad put out by Homeland Security, she warned that these IDs were needed for air travel and for entering public buildings, adding: “These IDs keep our country safe.”A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license has a symbol (&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JFKairport/status/1917292918634582136">in most states, a star</a>&nbsp;) in the top corner of the card.-------------------By BRIDGET BROWN Associated PressNEW YORK (AP) — The deadline to get a REAL ID is fast approaching after years of postponements and delays.Starting May 7, your license or identification card will need to be REAL ID-compliant to fly domestically in the U.S.Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there will be another delay in the deadline this time. So, if you're confused about how to get a REAL ID, why you even need one in the first place, and what happens if you don't have one by May 7, here are some things to know:What is a REAL ID?It's a federally compliant state-issued license or identification card that the DHS says is a more secure form of identification. Besides needing a REAL ID to fly domestically, you will also need one to access certain federal buildings and facilities.Why is this happening?When the REAL ID Act was signed into law in 2005, it enacted a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission that the government set security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and IDs."REAL ID is a coordinated effort by the federal government to improve the reliability and accuracy of driver's licenses and identification cards," John Essig, the Transportation Security Administration's Security Director for airports in the New York City region said in a press release on April 3. "The improvements are intended to inhibit terrorists' ability to evade detection by using fraudulent identification."The REAL ID Act was supposed to begin rolling out in 2008, "but has faced repeated delays due to state implementation challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic," said Nina Ruggiero, senior editorial director for Travel + Leisure. "The combination of varying state processes and shifting deadlines has added to the overall confusion around REAL IDs and likely led some travelers to take the deadlines less seriously."How do I know if I already have a REAL ID?If you've gotten a new ID in the last few years, it could already be REAL ID-compliant."I also hear from travelers who are confused as to whether or not they already have a REAL ID," Ruggiero said. "Some people who have recently renewed their license may already have a compliant ID and not know it," so you may want to double-check yours before starting the process.A REAL ID-compliant driver's license has a symbol ( in most states, a star ) in the top corner of the card.If you live in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Vermont or Washington, it's possible you could have an "enhanced" ID card instead, which permits you to cross land and sea borders into Mexico and Canada from the U.S. It does not, however, allow you to fly into either of those countries.Enhanced IDs will have an American flag icon, as well as the word "enhanced" at the top of the card.If I don't have a REAL ID, how do I get one?The requirements vary by state, so you will need to visit the website of your state's driver's licensing agency to find out the specific steps, including whether you'll need to make an appointment at a DMV and what documentation you'll need when you get there.What happens on May 7? What if I don't have a REAL ID by then?If you don't have a REAL ID by the deadline and you're planning to board a domestic flight, you will need to bring your passport or another TSA-approved form of identification when you travel.Otherwise, you could face "delays, additional screening and the possibility of not being permitted into the security checkpoint," warns TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein.The deadline has already been pushed back so many times. Could it be delayed again?In mid-April, a group of state senators from Kentucky asked the agency to delay implementing the new requirements yet again. They said the state has limited appointments available to people seeking the new cards and that there has been a rush to meet the May 7 deadline.However, TSA spokesperson Dan Velez told the AP that the agency does not intend to delay the REAL ID deadline again.As of late April, 81% of travelers at TSA checkpoints were presenting acceptable identification, including a state-issued REAL ID, according to DHS.

🎥DHS explains what will happen Wednesday to travelers without a REAL ID 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to enforce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-military-trump-ban-troops-deb9e388ff588d9d25fb0d8cc58e540f">a ban on transgender people in the military</a>, while legal challenges proceed.

The court acted in the dispute over a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-military-trump-ban-troops-deb9e388ff588d9d25fb0d8cc58e540f">policy</a>&nbsp;that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service and could lead to the expulsion of experienced, decorated officers.

The court’s three liberal justices said they would have kept the policy on hold.

Just after beginning his second term in January, Trump moved aggressively to roll back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-order-passports-prisons-military-3c14ecbdd10f61618384e81624d090fb">the rights of transgender people</a>. Among the Republican president’s actions was an executive order that claims the sexual identity of transgender service members “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” and is harmful to military readiness.

In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-military-trump-ban-troops-deb9e388ff588d9d25fb0d8cc58e540f">issued a policy</a>&nbsp;that gives the military services 30 days to figure out how they will seek out and identify transgender service members to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-tuskegee-airmen-dei-pentagon-480d932c8bcb4c6056abe78e34010982">remove them from the force</a>.

Three federal judges had ruled against the ban.

In the case the justices acted in Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma, Washington, had ruled for seven long-serving transgender military members who say that the ban is insulting and discriminatory and that their firing would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations. A prospective service member also sued.

The individual service members who challenged the ban together have amassed more than 70 medals in 115 years of service, their lawyers wrote. The lead plaintiff is Emily Shilling, a Navy commander with nearly 20 years of service, including as a combat pilot who flew 60 missions in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

The Trump administration offered no explanation as to why transgender troops, who have been able to serve openly over the past four years with no evidence of problems, should suddenly be banned, Settle wrote. The judge is an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush and is a former captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps.

Settle imposed a nationwide hold on the policy and a federal appeals court rejected the administration’s emergency plea. The Justice Department then turned to the Supreme Court.

The policy also has been blocked by a federal judge in the nation’s capital, but that ruling has been temporarily halted by a federal appeals court, which heard arguments last month. The three-judge panel, which includes two judges appointed by Trump during his first term, appeared to be in favor of the administration’s position.

In a more limited ruling, a judge in New Jersey also has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-troops-military-judge-new-jersey-3b7cfe4235487ce08db678ec0386a5d4">barred the Air Force</a>&nbsp;from removing two transgender men, saying they showed their separation would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations that no monetary settlement could repair.

The LGBTQ rights group Lambda Legal called the high court order a devastating blow to dedicated and highly qualified service members.

"By allowing this discriminatory ban to take effect while our challenge continues, the court has temporarily sanctioned a policy that has nothing to do with military readiness and everything to do with prejudice. Transgender individuals meet the same standards and demonstrate the same values as all who serve. We remain steadfast in our belief that this ban violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection and will ultimately be struck down,” the group said in a statement.

The federal appeals court in San Francisco will hear the administration's appeal in a process that will play out over several months at least. All the while, though, the transgender ban will remain in place under the Supreme Court order.

In 2016, during Barack Obama’s presidency, a Defense Department policy permitted transgender people to serve openly in the military. During Trump’s first term in the White House, the Republican issued a directive to ban transgender service members, with an exception for some of those who had already started transitioning under more lenient rules that were in effect during Obama’s Democratic administration.

The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7bda7809a10e4c6f9c9ff0077d4165f4">allowed that ban to take effect</a>. President Joe Biden, a Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-reverse-ban-transgender-military-f0ace4f9866e0ca0df021eba75b3af20">scrapped it</a>&nbsp;when he took office.

The rules the Defense Department wants to enforce contain no exceptions.

The policy during Trump’s first term and the new one are “materially indistinguishable,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the justices, though lawyers for the service members who sued disagreed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672235865420.png" alt="Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States" />
 <figcaption>Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to enforce&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-military-trump-ban-troops-deb9e388ff588d9d25fb0d8cc58e540f">a ban on transgender people in the military</a>, while legal challenges proceed.The court acted in the dispute over a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-military-trump-ban-troops-deb9e388ff588d9d25fb0d8cc58e540f">policy</a>&nbsp;that presumptively disqualifies transgender people from military service and could lead to the expulsion of experienced, decorated officers.The court’s three liberal justices said they would have kept the policy on hold.Just after beginning his second term in January, Trump moved aggressively to roll back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-order-passports-prisons-military-3c14ecbdd10f61618384e81624d090fb">the rights of transgender people</a>. Among the Republican president’s actions was an executive order that claims the sexual identity of transgender service members “conflicts with a soldier’s commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, even in one’s personal life” and is harmful to military readiness.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">. <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecDef</a> We are leaving WOKENESS and WEAKNESS behind. No more pronouns, no more climate change obsessions, no more emergency vaccine mandates, no more DUDES IN DRESSES. We are done with that sh*t.” <a href="https://t.co/MSunWnRYXU">pic.twitter.com/MSunWnRYXU</a>&mdash; DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1919742768831692830?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In response, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-military-trump-ban-troops-deb9e388ff588d9d25fb0d8cc58e540f">issued a policy</a>&nbsp;that gives the military services 30 days to figure out how they will seek out and identify transgender service members to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-tuskegee-airmen-dei-pentagon-480d932c8bcb4c6056abe78e34010982">remove them from the force</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/4StUIuSn2z">pic.twitter.com/4StUIuSn2z</a>&mdash; DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DODResponse/status/1919838609709978067?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Three federal judges had ruled against the ban.In the case the justices acted in Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma, Washington, had ruled for seven long-serving transgender military members who say that the ban is insulting and discriminatory and that their firing would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations. A prospective service member also sued.The individual service members who challenged the ban together have amassed more than 70 medals in 115 years of service, their lawyers wrote. The lead plaintiff is Emily Shilling, a Navy commander with nearly 20 years of service, including as a combat pilot who flew 60 missions in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.The Trump administration offered no explanation as to why transgender troops, who have been able to serve openly over the past four years with no evidence of problems, should suddenly be banned, Settle wrote. The judge is an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush and is a former captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps.Settle imposed a nationwide hold on the policy and a federal appeals court rejected the administration’s emergency plea. The Justice Department then turned to the Supreme Court.The policy also has been blocked by a federal judge in the nation’s capital, but that ruling has been temporarily halted by a federal appeals court, which heard arguments last month. The three-judge panel, which includes two judges appointed by Trump during his first term, appeared to be in favor of the administration’s position.In a more limited ruling, a judge in New Jersey also has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-troops-military-judge-new-jersey-3b7cfe4235487ce08db678ec0386a5d4">barred the Air Force</a>&nbsp;from removing two transgender men, saying they showed their separation would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations that no monetary settlement could repair.The LGBTQ rights group Lambda Legal called the high court order a devastating blow to dedicated and highly qualified service members."By allowing this discriminatory ban to take effect while our challenge continues, the court has temporarily sanctioned a policy that has nothing to do with military readiness and everything to do with prejudice. Transgender individuals meet the same standards and demonstrate the same values as all who serve. We remain steadfast in our belief that this ban violates constitutional guarantees of equal protection and will ultimately be struck down,” the group said in a statement.The federal appeals court in San Francisco will hear the administration's appeal in a process that will play out over several months at least. All the while, though, the transgender ban will remain in place under the Supreme Court order.In 2016, during Barack Obama’s presidency, a Defense Department policy permitted transgender people to serve openly in the military. During Trump’s first term in the White House, the Republican issued a directive to ban transgender service members, with an exception for some of those who had already started transitioning under more lenient rules that were in effect during Obama’s Democratic administration.The Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7bda7809a10e4c6f9c9ff0077d4165f4">allowed that ban to take effect</a>. President Joe Biden, a Democrat,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-reverse-ban-transgender-military-f0ace4f9866e0ca0df021eba75b3af20">scrapped it</a>&nbsp;when he took office.The rules the Defense Department wants to enforce contain no exceptions.The policy during Trump’s first term and the new one are “materially indistinguishable,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the justices, though lawyers for the service members who sued disagreed.

Supreme Court allows ban on transgender members of the military to take effect

House budget bill might trim $1 billion from state’s Medicaid system

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly joined three other Democratic governors Tuesday in denouncing movement by the Republican-led Congress to impose substantial cuts in federal funding of the Medicaid program providing health care to more than 70 million Americans.

Kelly, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association who has campaigned for expansion of Medicaid in Kansas, said the latest proposal in Congress would have a substantial effect on coverage for about 443,000 low-income seniors, children, pregnant mothers and people with disabilities in Kansas.

“Congressional Republicans’ new proposal is expected to slash Medicaid funding by billions of dollars over the next 10 years, threatening health coverage for millions of Americans who rely on this essential program,” Kelly said. “It would be particularly devastating for our rural providers and hospitals who are already struggling to keep their doors open.”

Kelly said 64% of the state’s rural hospitals were at risk of closing and diminishing Medicaid funding would further strain those hospitals. She said the damage could come in the form of lower reimbursement rates to health providers or through growth of uncompensated care for individuals who lost coverage.

On Monday, Kelly said she sent letters to the five Republicans and one Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation urging those lawmakers to resist pressure to vote for Medicaid cuts that would deny health care to the most vulnerable people in the state.

“Significant cuts to the Medicaid program will directly affect Kansans across the state, regardless of their political views. These cuts would be particularly detrimental to our rural hospitals and providers,” Kelly said.

She said the decision by the Kansas Legislature to block expansion of eligibility for Medicaid meant the state’s hospitals currently carry a higher burden of charity care.

So far, the governor said, refusal to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act provisions broadening eligibility for Medicaid meant Kansas turned away approximately $7 billion in federal funding that would have flowed through the state’s health care economy during the past decade.

Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who indicated interest in running for state insurance commissioner, said President Donald Trump and his allies were working to the cost of Medicaid to make certain it was sustainable for years to come.

“Our country cannot continue spending money like drunken sailors,” Hawkins said. “I applaud the Trump administration and those in our federal delegation for their efforts to preserve Medicaid.”

He said it was wrong for states to enroll “able-bodied adults” in the Medicaid program designed for the frail, elderly and disabled as well as children. He endorsed imposition of work requirements for adults in Medicaid ranging in age from 18 to 60 who weren’t pregnant or disabled.

“Governor Kelly should be less concerned about leading the DGA resistance to President Trump and focus more on the best interests of the country, the people of Kansas and the long-term future of Medicaid,” Hawkins said.

In response to the governor’s letter, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas said her GOP colleagues in Congress should reject large federal cuts to Medicaid enacted to help pay for tax breaks to wealthy Americans.

“I stand with Governor Kelly in urging all federal leaders to reject these devastating Medicaid cuts,” the 3rd District Democrat said. “I’ve fought time and again to protect and expand Medicaid in Kansas because our families shouldn’t have to pay more or travel farther just to get the health care they need.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746552383496.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, asked the Kansas’ six representatives in Congress to oppose large-scale federal funding cuts to Medicaid. The program serves more than 440,000 Kansans who are elderly, children, pregnant women or disabled. In 2023 and 2024, Kelly toured the state pitching the idea of broadening access to Medicaid, including this appearance at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, asked the Kansas’ six representatives in Congress to oppose large-scale federal funding cuts to Medicaid. The program serves more than 440,000 Kansans who are elderly, children, pregnant women or disabled. In 2023 and 2024, Kelly toured the state pitching the idea of broadening access to Medicaid, including this appearance at Southwest Medical Center in Liberal, Kansas. (Allison Kite/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>House budget bill might trim $1 billion from state’s Medicaid system</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly joined three other Democratic governors Tuesday in denouncing movement by the Republican-led Congress to impose substantial cuts in federal funding of the Medicaid program providing health care to more than 70 million Americans.Kelly, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association who has campaigned for expansion of Medicaid in Kansas, said the latest proposal in Congress would have a substantial effect on coverage for about 443,000 low-income seniors, children, pregnant mothers and people with disabilities in Kansas.“Congressional Republicans’ new proposal is expected to slash Medicaid funding by billions of dollars over the next 10 years, threatening health coverage for millions of Americans who rely on this essential program,” Kelly said. “It would be particularly devastating for our rural providers and hospitals who are already struggling to keep their doors open.”Kelly said 64% of the state’s rural hospitals were at risk of closing and diminishing Medicaid funding would further strain those hospitals. She said the damage could come in the form of lower reimbursement rates to health providers or through growth of uncompensated care for individuals who lost coverage.On Monday, Kelly said she sent letters to the five Republicans and one Democrat in the Kansas congressional delegation urging those lawmakers to resist pressure to vote for Medicaid cuts that would deny health care to the most vulnerable people in the state.“Significant cuts to the Medicaid program will directly affect Kansans across the state, regardless of their political views. These cuts would be particularly detrimental to our rural hospitals and providers,” Kelly said.She said the decision by the Kansas Legislature to block expansion of eligibility for Medicaid meant the state’s hospitals currently carry a higher burden of charity care.So far, the governor said, refusal to take advantage of the Affordable Care Act provisions broadening eligibility for Medicaid meant Kansas turned away approximately $7 billion in federal funding that would have flowed through the state’s health care economy during the past decade.Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican who indicated interest in running for state insurance commissioner, said President Donald Trump and his allies were working to the cost of Medicaid to make certain it was sustainable for years to come.“Our country cannot continue spending money like drunken sailors,” Hawkins said. “I applaud the Trump administration and those in our federal delegation for their efforts to preserve Medicaid.”He said it was wrong for states to enroll “able-bodied adults” in the Medicaid program designed for the frail, elderly and disabled as well as children. He endorsed imposition of work requirements for adults in Medicaid ranging in age from 18 to 60 who weren’t pregnant or disabled.“Governor Kelly should be less concerned about leading the DGA resistance to President Trump and focus more on the best interests of the country, the people of Kansas and the long-term future of Medicaid,” Hawkins said.In response to the governor’s letter, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids of Kansas said her GOP colleagues in Congress should reject large federal cuts to Medicaid enacted to help pay for tax breaks to wealthy Americans.“I stand with Governor Kelly in urging all federal leaders to reject these devastating Medicaid cuts,” the 3rd District Democrat said. “I’ve fought time and again to protect and expand Medicaid in Kansas because our families shouldn’t have to pay more or travel farther just to get the health care they need.”

Kansas governor pleads with congressional delegation to fight against Medicaid cuts

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.

Just after 10:30p.m. Monday, patrol officers were dispatched to 75th Street and Bruce R Watkins Drive in Kansas City, Missouri on an ambulance in route, medical nature unknown call, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Passing motorists observed an individual lying in the roadway, on Bruce R Watkins Drive and called 911. 

First responders observed a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers began performing life saving measures and KCFD EMS was ordered to the scene. Medics transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.

This is being investigated as a homicide. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the victim being shot. Detectives canvassed the area for witnesses and crime scene personnel processed the scene for physical evidence. Police have not released the name of the victim.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 10:30p.m. Monday, patrol officers were dispatched to 75th Street and Bruce R Watkins Drive in Kansas City, Missouri on an ambulance in route, medical nature unknown call, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.Passing motorists observed an individual lying in the roadway, on Bruce R Watkins Drive and called 911. First responders observed a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Officers began performing life saving measures and KCFD EMS was ordered to the scene. Medics transported the victim to a local hospital, where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.This is being investigated as a homicide. Investigators are working to determine what led up to the victim being shot. Detectives canvassed the area for witnesses and crime scene personnel processed the scene for physical evidence. Police have not released the name of the victim.

KCPD: Drivers saw shooting victim lying in the road

LEXINGTON, Mo. (AP) — A deadly explosion that leveled one Missouri home and damaged two others happened after a subcontractor drilled into an unmarked underground gas main while installing fiber optic cable, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD25LR004.aspx">National Transportation Safety Board</a>&nbsp;announced Monday.

One person was killed and two others were injured in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-explosion-gas-lexington-missouri-8b5aa834fa33a47e69ef91efdbb09c9e">April 9</a>&nbsp;explosion in the 4,500-person town of Lexington, Missouri, which is about 55 miles&nbsp; west of downtown Kansas City.

Liberty Utilities, a subsidiary of Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation, sent someone out to mark its lines before the subcontractor began digging, but the uncapped gas main section involved in the accident wasn't identified, the NTSB said in its preliminary report.

A few hours before the explosion, the subcontractor felt their drill strike something and smelled odorized natural gas. The crew supervisor then called 911.

Firefighters and a crew with Liberty Utilities arrived and worked to stop the flow of gas. One business about 15 feet (4.57 meters) from the leak was evacuated. But several other nearby buildings were not evacuated, including the destroyed and damaged homes, which ranged from 80 feet to 160 feet from the leak, the NTSB said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744302842121.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>LEXINGTON, Mo. (AP) — A deadly explosion that leveled one Missouri home and damaged two others happened after a subcontractor drilled into an unmarked underground gas main while installing fiber optic cable, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD25LR004.aspx">National Transportation Safety Board</a>&nbsp;announced Monday.One person was killed and two others were injured in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/home-explosion-gas-lexington-missouri-8b5aa834fa33a47e69ef91efdbb09c9e">April 9</a>&nbsp;explosion in the 4,500-person town of Lexington, Missouri, which is about 55 miles&nbsp; west of downtown Kansas City.Liberty Utilities, a subsidiary of Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation, sent someone out to mark its lines before the subcontractor began digging, but the uncapped gas main section involved in the accident wasn't identified, the NTSB said in its preliminary report.A few hours before the explosion, the subcontractor felt their drill strike something and smelled odorized natural gas. The crew supervisor then called 911.Firefighters and a crew with Liberty Utilities arrived and worked to stop the flow of gas. One business about 15 feet (4.57 meters) from the leak was evacuated. But several other nearby buildings were not evacuated, including the destroyed and damaged homes, which ranged from 80 feet to 160 feet from the leak, the NTSB said.

Investigators: Utility was not marked before deadly KC area gas explosion 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday asked a judge to toss out a lawsuit from Kansas and two other GOP-led states seeking to cut off telehealth access to abortion medication mifepristone.

Justice Department attorneys stayed the legal course charted by Biden administration, though they didn't directly weigh in on the underlying issue of access to the drug that's part of the nation's most common method of abortion.

Rather, the government argued the states don't have the legal right, or standing, to sue.

“The states are free to pursue their claims in a district where venue is proper, but the states’ claims before this court must be dismissed or transferred pursuant to the venue statute’s mandatory command,” federal government attorneys wrote.

The lawsuit from Kansas, Idaho and Missouri argues that Food and Drug Administration should roll back access to mifepristone. They filed their complaint after the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-mifepristone-supreme-court-kansas-idaho-missouri-5cc89d289ced29a1274423b43789397f">preserved access to mifepristone</a>&nbsp;last year. They want the FDA to prohibit telehealth prescriptions for mifepristone, require three in-office visits and restrict the point in a pregnancy when it can be used.

The case is being considered by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas, a Trump nominee who once ruled in favor of halting approval for the drug.

Kacsmaryk’s original ruling came in a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion groups. It was narrowed by an appeals court before being tossed out by the Supreme Court, which found the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to sue.

The three states later moved to revive the case, arguing they did have legal standing because access to the drug undermined their abortion laws.

But the Department of Justice attorneys said the states can't just piggyback on the earlier lawsuit as a way to keep the case in Texas.

Nothing is stopping the states from filing the lawsuit someplace else, attorney Daniel Schwei wrote, but the venue has to have some connection to the claims being made.

Besides, Schwei wrote, the states are challenging actions the FDA took in 2016, when it first loosened restrictions on mifeprostone. That's well past the six-year time limit to sue, he said.

Abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy in Idaho. Missouri had a strict ban, but clinics recently began offering abortions again after voters approved a new constitutional amendment for reproductive rights. Abortion is generally legal up to 22 weeks in Kansas, where voters rejected an anti-abortion ballot measure in 2022, though the state does have age restrictions.

Trump told Time magazine in December he would not restrict access to abortion medication. On the campaign trail, said abortion is an issue for the states and stressed that he appointed justices to the Supreme Court who were in the majority when striking down the national right to abortion in 2022.

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s stance on abortion seems to have shifted at times, drawing criticism from both abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion forces. During his first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-trump-health-hhs-vaccine-abortion-b785e44f341691684b4daa711dae8c85">confirmation hearing</a>&nbsp;in January, he repeatedly said, “I have always believed abortion is a tragedy,” when pressed about his views.

Mifepristone is usually used in combination with a second drug for medication abortion, which has accounted for more than three-fifths of all abortions in the U.S. since the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1680967457500.png" alt="AP photo" />
 <figcaption>AP photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday asked a judge to toss out a lawsuit from Kansas and two other GOP-led states seeking to cut off telehealth access to abortion medication mifepristone.Justice Department attorneys stayed the legal course charted by Biden administration, though they didn't directly weigh in on the underlying issue of access to the drug that's part of the nation's most common method of abortion.Rather, the government argued the states don't have the legal right, or standing, to sue.“The states are free to pursue their claims in a district where venue is proper, but the states’ claims before this court must be dismissed or transferred pursuant to the venue statute’s mandatory command,” federal government attorneys wrote.The lawsuit from Kansas, Idaho and Missouri argues that Food and Drug Administration should roll back access to mifepristone. They filed their complaint after the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-mifepristone-supreme-court-kansas-idaho-missouri-5cc89d289ced29a1274423b43789397f">preserved access to mifepristone</a>&nbsp;last year. They want the FDA to prohibit telehealth prescriptions for mifepristone, require three in-office visits and restrict the point in a pregnancy when it can be used.The case is being considered by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas, a Trump nominee who once ruled in favor of halting approval for the drug.Kacsmaryk’s original ruling came in a lawsuit filed by anti-abortion groups. It was narrowed by an appeals court before being tossed out by the Supreme Court, which found the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to sue.The three states later moved to revive the case, arguing they did have legal standing because access to the drug undermined their abortion laws.But the Department of Justice attorneys said the states can't just piggyback on the earlier lawsuit as a way to keep the case in Texas.Nothing is stopping the states from filing the lawsuit someplace else, attorney Daniel Schwei wrote, but the venue has to have some connection to the claims being made.Besides, Schwei wrote, the states are challenging actions the FDA took in 2016, when it first loosened restrictions on mifeprostone. That's well past the six-year time limit to sue, he said.Abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy in Idaho. Missouri had a strict ban, but clinics recently began offering abortions again after voters approved a new constitutional amendment for reproductive rights. Abortion is generally legal up to 22 weeks in Kansas, where voters rejected an anti-abortion ballot measure in 2022, though the state does have age restrictions.Trump told Time magazine in December he would not restrict access to abortion medication. On the campaign trail, said abortion is an issue for the states and stressed that he appointed justices to the Supreme Court who were in the majority when striking down the national right to abortion in 2022.Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s stance on abortion seems to have shifted at times, drawing criticism from both abortion rights advocates and anti-abortion forces. During his first&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-trump-health-hhs-vaccine-abortion-b785e44f341691684b4daa711dae8c85">confirmation hearing</a>&nbsp;in January, he repeatedly said, “I have always believed abortion is a tragedy,” when pressed about his views.Mifepristone is usually used in combination with a second drug for medication abortion, which has accounted for more than three-fifths of all abortions in the U.S. since the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

Trump admin. asks to dismiss Kan. lawsuit trying to limit abortion pill

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating 37-year-old Thomas Torrez, a known violent offender, after a series of dangerous events that began early Sunday morning and continued into the evening, according to a media release from the sheriff's department.

Just after 1a.m. Sunday, Wichita Police officers were recovering a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of E. 21st Street North. During the recovery, Torrez—an occupant of the vehicle—fled the scene in the stolen car. He was not located during the initial incident.

Just before 8p.m., a Sedgwick County deputy spotted the same stolen vehicle using a Flock license plate reader at a McDonald’s drive-thru in the 4800 block of S. Broadway. Torrez was behind the wheel with a female passenger.

The deputy positioned his patrol vehicle to block the stolen car, but Torrez accelerated, ramming the patrol unit. He then reversed into the building, drove over a curb and landscaping, and fled onto 47th Street. The deputy’s vehicle was disabled from the impact, and he was unable to pursue. The deputy sustained minor injuries as a result.

The deputy was “put out in trouble,” and charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer were broadcast to responding units.

While responding with lights and sirens, a second deputy collided with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of 47th Street and Hydraulic. The civilian vehicle was carrying five people—a 37-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, and three children ages 6, 8, and 10. All suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. No officers were actively pursuing the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. This deputy sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention.

Shortly after fleeing McDonald’s, the female passenger escaped the vehicle near Laura Street, north of 47th. She was located by officers and cooperated with the investigation. According to her statement, she tried to surrender during the initial stop and attempted multiple times to exit the vehicle, even using mace on Torrez.

Torrez later abandoned the stolen vehicle near 44th and Pattie and fled on foot. He then stole a second vehicle from a mobile home park in the 1000 block of E. MacArthur and led deputies on a brief pursuit, driving off-road in the area of O.J. Watson Park.

During his escape, Torrez caused a hit-and-run crash near Harry and McLean. The victim followed him to the area of Water and Zimmerly, where Torrez ditched the second vehicle and fled on foot.

Torrez is required to register with the Sheriff’s Office under the Offender Registration Act. He currently has two felony warrants for his arrest: one for failure to report as required and another for a probation violation.

Thomas Torrez is considered dangerous and should not be approached. If you see him or know where he is, call 911 immediately. To remain anonymous, contact Wichita-Sedgwick County Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111. Tips can also be submitted to Sedgwick County Investigations at (316) 660-5300.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746467676255.png" alt="Photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sedgwick Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help in locating 37-year-old Thomas Torrez, a known violent offender, after a series of dangerous events that began early Sunday morning and continued into the evening, according to a media release from the sheriff's department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746467566855.png" alt="Torrez-photo Sedgwick County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Torrez-photo Sedgwick County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Just after 1a.m. Sunday, Wichita Police officers were recovering a stolen vehicle in the 4800 block of E. 21st Street North. During the recovery, Torrez—an occupant of the vehicle—fled the scene in the stolen car. He was not located during the initial incident.Just before 8p.m., a Sedgwick County deputy spotted the same stolen vehicle using a Flock license plate reader at a McDonald’s drive-thru in the 4800 block of S. Broadway. Torrez was behind the wheel with a female passenger.The deputy positioned his patrol vehicle to block the stolen car, but Torrez accelerated, ramming the patrol unit. He then reversed into the building, drove over a curb and landscaping, and fled onto 47th Street. The deputy’s vehicle was disabled from the impact, and he was unable to pursue. The deputy sustained minor injuries as a result.The deputy was “put out in trouble,” and charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer were broadcast to responding units.While responding with lights and sirens, a second deputy collided with a civilian vehicle at the intersection of 47th Street and Hydraulic. The civilian vehicle was carrying five people—a 37-year-old man, a 29-year-old woman, and three children ages 6, 8, and 10. All suffered minor injuries and were treated at a local hospital. No officers were actively pursuing the stolen vehicle at the time of the crash. This deputy sustained minor injuries that did not require medical attention.Shortly after fleeing McDonald’s, the female passenger escaped the vehicle near Laura Street, north of 47th. She was located by officers and cooperated with the investigation. According to her statement, she tried to surrender during the initial stop and attempted multiple times to exit the vehicle, even using mace on Torrez.Torrez later abandoned the stolen vehicle near 44th and Pattie and fled on foot. He then stole a second vehicle from a mobile home park in the 1000 block of E. MacArthur and led deputies on a brief pursuit, driving off-road in the area of O.J. Watson Park.During his escape, Torrez caused a hit-and-run crash near Harry and McLean. The victim followed him to the area of Water and Zimmerly, where Torrez ditched the second vehicle and fled on foot.Torrez is required to register with the Sheriff’s Office under the Offender Registration Act. He currently has two felony warrants for his arrest: one for failure to report as required and another for a probation violation.Thomas Torrez is considered dangerous and should not be approached. If you see him or know where he is, call 911 immediately. To remain anonymous, contact Wichita-Sedgwick County Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111. Tips can also be submitted to Sedgwick County Investigations at (316) 660-5300.

Kan. violent offender who rammed deputy's patrol car is still missing

President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;responded to questions Monday about the&nbsp;&nbsp;artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope.&nbsp;President Trump: "The Catholics loved it. I had nothing to do with it. Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope and put it out on the Internet. That's not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from. Maybe it was AI."

The image, shared Friday night on Trump's Truth Social site and later reposted by the White House on its official X account, raised eyebrows on social media and at the Vatican, which was still in the period of nine days of official mourning following Pope Francis' death on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">April 21</a>.\

&nbsp;Catholic cardinals have been celebrating daily Masses in memory Pope Francis and are due to open the conclave to elect his successor on Wednesday.

The image featuring Trump in a white cassock and pointed miter, or bishop’s hat, was the topic of several questions during the Vatican’s daily conclave briefing Saturday. Italian and Spanish news reports lamented its poor taste and said it was offensive, given that the period of official mourning was still underway.

President&nbsp;Donald Trump&nbsp;responded to questions Monday about the&nbsp;&nbsp;artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope.&nbsp;President Trump: "The Catholics loved it. I had nothing to do with it. Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope and put it out on the Internet. That's not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from. Maybe it was AI."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump: &quot;The Catholics loved it. I had nothing to do with it. Somebody made up a picture of me dressed like the Pope and hey put it out on the Internet. That&#39;s not me that did it. I have no idea where it came from. Maybe it was AI.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/e48WHbgsRt">pic.twitter.com/e48WHbgsRt</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1919465888165855342?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The image, shared Friday night on Trump's Truth Social site and later reposted by the White House on its official X account, raised eyebrows on social media and at the Vatican, which was still in the period of nine days of official mourning following Pope Francis' death on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-francis-dead-01ca7d73c3c48d25fd1504ba076e2e2a">April 21</a>.\<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/x2HrR939tn">pic.twitter.com/x2HrR939tn</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1918502592335724809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>&nbsp;Catholic cardinals have been celebrating daily Masses in memory Pope Francis and are due to open the conclave to elect his successor on Wednesday.The image featuring Trump in a white cassock and pointed miter, or bishop’s hat, was the topic of several questions during the Vatican’s daily conclave briefing Saturday. Italian and Spanish news reports lamented its poor taste and said it was offensive, given that the period of official mourning was still underway.

🎥Trump: Catholics loved my joke image as a Pope

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A 7-year-old boy remains on life-support after an incident at a hotel pool in Wichita, according to an <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-zjs-recovery-and-family-needs">online fundraiser</a> established to help the family.

Just after 9:30p.m. May 1, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a hotel in the 7300 block of E. Kellogg in Wichita, in response to a reported drowning, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Sedgwick County EMS and the Wichita Fire Department arrived and began life-saving measures on the boy. 

EMS&nbsp; transported him to a local hospital in critical condition. Preliminary investigation indicates the child was playing in the pool when he went underwater and became unresponsive. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746528273026.png" alt="Zaniriusz Chambers, Jr. (Z J) photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Zaniriusz Chambers, Jr. (Z J) photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A 7-year-old boy remains on life-support after an incident at a hotel pool in Wichita, according to an <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-zjs-recovery-and-family-needs">online fundraiser</a> established to help the family.Just after 9:30p.m. May 1, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a hotel in the 7300 block of E. Kellogg in Wichita, in response to a reported drowning, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746220803574.png" alt="First responders at the hotel on Thursday photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>First responders at the hotel on Thursday photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Sedgwick County EMS and the Wichita Fire Department arrived and began life-saving measures on the boy. EMS&nbsp; transported him to a local hospital in critical condition. Preliminary investigation indicates the child was playing in the pool when he went underwater and became unresponsive. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation.

Boy remains on life-support after near drowning at Kan. hotel pool

NEW ORLEANS (AP) —Louisiana authorities on Monday charged a second suspect with murder in the death of a television reporter who had traveled to New Orleans to cover the Super Bowl.

Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old reporter and anchor for Telemundo based in Kansas City, Missouri, was found dead Feb. 5 in his hotel room in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner. A woman seen on security video leaving Manzano's room was later charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-reporter-death-woman-charged-19030dc5638ec7e190764ebc15faf32f">second-degree murder</a>&nbsp;and with stealing his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-telemundo-reporter-death-adan-manzano-590192fafbbc6401682e813402801e94">credit cards and cellphone.</a>

Kenner police announced Monday that an accomplice, 34-year-old Rickey White, has also been charged with second-degree murder. White was arrested in Florida in March on robbery and fraud charges related to Manzano's death, then extradited to Louisiana.

Kenner police said in a news release that the murder charge against White resulted from “continued investigative efforts,” but officials gave no further details.

Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said at a news conference March 18 that investigators had linked White to Danette Colbert, the first suspect charged in the case, based on “correspondence and information where they were going back and forth. So we think they were working hand-in-hand in concert with each other.”

An attorney for White, Kevin Boshea, said he hadn't been informed of the murder charge before an Associated Press reporter called him Monday.

“I don’t think he’s guilty of the other crimes,” Boshea said, “so how can he be guilty of murder?”

Boshea said he pressed police during a preliminary hearing on the robbery and fraud charges last month to show evidence that White was in the New Orleans area when Manzano died, but they presented none.

An attorney for Colbert had said that police were making “assumptions and guesses” to link her to Manzano’s death.

Under Louisiana law, a defendant can be charged with second-degree murder for distributing drugs that cause a death or for committing certain crimes, including robbery, that result in someone dying.

An autopsy found Manzano died lying facedown on a pillow and unable to breathe after ingesting a combination of alcohol&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-reporter-death-drug-telemundo-2e63ce04cbe526ae6856559b20c92913">and the depressant Xanax,</a>&nbsp;Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich told reporters in March.

Police said security video from Manzano's hotel showed him and Colbert entering his room together the day of his death. Footage showed Colbert leaving without him about an hour later. Authorities have said Colbert later used Manzano’s credit card to make a purchase at a New Orleans gas station and at several stores in the area.

Police have also said Manzano’s medical records showed no prescriptions for Xanax or other depressants, and that they recovered the drug from Colbert’s home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738973498909.png" alt="Adan Manzano courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Adan Manzano courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) —Louisiana authorities on Monday charged a second suspect with murder in the death of a television reporter who had traveled to New Orleans to cover the Super Bowl.Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old reporter and anchor for Telemundo based in Kansas City, Missouri, was found dead Feb. 5 in his hotel room in the New Orleans suburb of Kenner. A woman seen on security video leaving Manzano's room was later charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-reporter-death-woman-charged-19030dc5638ec7e190764ebc15faf32f">second-degree murder</a>&nbsp;and with stealing his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-telemundo-reporter-death-adan-manzano-590192fafbbc6401682e813402801e94">credit cards and cellphone.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746499475287.png" alt="Colbert photo Kenner Police" />
 <figcaption>Colbert photo Kenner Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Kenner police announced Monday that an accomplice, 34-year-old Rickey White, has also been charged with second-degree murder. White was arrested in Florida in March on robbery and fraud charges related to Manzano's death, then extradited to Louisiana.Kenner police said in a news release that the murder charge against White resulted from “continued investigative efforts,” but officials gave no further details.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746499338239.png" alt="White photo Kenner Police" />
 <figcaption>White photo Kenner Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley said at a news conference March 18 that investigators had linked White to Danette Colbert, the first suspect charged in the case, based on “correspondence and information where they were going back and forth. So we think they were working hand-in-hand in concert with each other.”An attorney for White, Kevin Boshea, said he hadn't been informed of the murder charge before an Associated Press reporter called him Monday.“I don’t think he’s guilty of the other crimes,” Boshea said, “so how can he be guilty of murder?”Boshea said he pressed police during a preliminary hearing on the robbery and fraud charges last month to show evidence that White was in the New Orleans area when Manzano died, but they presented none.An attorney for Colbert had said that police were making “assumptions and guesses” to link her to Manzano’s death.Under Louisiana law, a defendant can be charged with second-degree murder for distributing drugs that cause a death or for committing certain crimes, including robbery, that result in someone dying.An autopsy found Manzano died lying facedown on a pillow and unable to breathe after ingesting a combination of alcohol&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-reporter-death-drug-telemundo-2e63ce04cbe526ae6856559b20c92913">and the depressant Xanax,</a>&nbsp;Jefferson Parish Coroner Gerry Cvitanovich told reporters in March.Police said security video from Manzano's hotel showed him and Colbert entering his room together the day of his death. Footage showed Colbert leaving without him about an hour later. Authorities have said Colbert later used Manzano’s credit card to make a purchase at a New Orleans gas station and at several stores in the area.Police have also said Manzano’s medical records showed no prescriptions for Xanax or other depressants, and that they recovered the drug from Colbert’s home.___

Accomplice charged in the death of  KC Super Bowl reporter at hotel

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday directed the active duty military to shed 20% of its four-star general officers as the Trump administration moves forward with deep cuts that it says will promote efficiency but that critics worry could result in a more politicized force.

Hegseth also told the National Guard to shed 20% of its top positions and directed the military to cut an additional 10% of its general and flag officers across the force, which could include any one-star or above or officer of equivalent Navy rank.

The cuts are on top of more than a half-dozen top general officers that President Donald Trump or Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-brown-joint-chiefs-firing-25668b583b8fb2262c7890a44164e287">have fired since January,</a>&nbsp;including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-brown-joint-chiefs-of-staff-firing-fa428cc1508a583b3bf5e7a5a58f6acf">Gen. CQ Brown Jr.</a>&nbsp;They also have fired the only two women serving as four-star officers, as well as a disproportionate number of other senior female officers.

In the earlier rounds of firing, Hegseth said the eliminations were “a reflection of the president wanting the right people around him to execute the national security approach we want to take.”

As Pentagon chief, Hegseth has touted his efforts to root out any programming or leadership that endorses diversity in the ranks, tried to terminate transgender service members and begun sweeping changes to enforce a uniform fitness standard for combat positions.

In a memo announcing the cuts Monday, Hegseth said they would remove “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership.” He said the aim was to free the military from “unnecessary bureaucratic layers.”

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a Marine who served in Iraq and is now on the House Armed Services Committee, said he sees Hegseth’s actions as trying to politicize the military.

“He’s creating a formal framework to fire all the generals who disagree with him — and the president,” Moulton told AP at the Capitol.

He said certainly any organization can look for efficiencies but Hegseth has long been explicit about his agenda. “He wrote a book about it. He wants to politicize the military,” Moulton said. "So it’s hard to see these cuts in any other context.”

Moulton warned of fallout for the troops. “It is essential that our troops understand they are getting constitutional orders, not political orders,” he said, “because otherwise you don’t have a democracy, otherwise you have a military that just works well for one political party or another.”

Adding to the turmoil in the Pentagon, Hegseth in recent weeks has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ullyot-leaks-pentagon-hegseth-trump-dei-d5306e0441dacae1a0d03c871be265bb">dismissed or transferred multiple close advisers</a>, tightly narrowing his inner circle. He also has been facing questions from both Democrats and Republicans about his handling of sensitive information and use of the Signal messaging app.

There are about 800 general officers in the military, but only 44 of those are four-star general or flag officers. The Army has the largest number of general officers, with 219, including eight four-star generals.

The number of general officer positions in the military is set by law. Members of Congress were not provided with the advance notification they normally would receive on the cuts but were given a “very brief alert” this afternoon, according to a congressional staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not made public.

The Pentagon is under pressure to slash spending and personnel as part of the broader federal government cuts pushed by Trump and ally Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Hegseth last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-program-personnel-cuts-mergers-98c61ed96953d84625b597ef4fc1ad40">ordered a sweeping transformation</a>&nbsp;of the Army to “build a leaner, more lethal force,” including merging or closing headquarters, dumping outdated vehicles and aircraft, slashing as many as 1,000 headquarters staff in the Pentagon and shifting personnel to units in the field.

Also last week the Army confirmed that there will be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-army-military-parade-birthday-2f5cd12c8ccd4efddc29bfa3cf8f2705">military parade on Trump’s birthday</a>&nbsp;in June, as part of the celebration around the service’s 250th birthday. Officials say it will cost tens of millions of dollars.

Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday directed the active duty military to shed 20% of its four-star general officers as the Trump administration moves forward with deep cuts that it says will promote efficiency but that critics worry could result in a more politicized force.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Introducing the “Less Generals More GIs Policy.” <a href="https://t.co/bQLRL2MqSC">pic.twitter.com/bQLRL2MqSC</a>&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1919499390370066650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Hegseth also told the National Guard to shed 20% of its top positions and directed the military to cut an additional 10% of its general and flag officers across the force, which could include any one-star or above or officer of equivalent Navy rank.The cuts are on top of more than a half-dozen top general officers that President Donald Trump or Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-brown-joint-chiefs-firing-25668b583b8fb2262c7890a44164e287">have fired since January,</a>&nbsp;including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-brown-joint-chiefs-of-staff-firing-fa428cc1508a583b3bf5e7a5a58f6acf">Gen. CQ Brown Jr.</a>&nbsp;They also have fired the only two women serving as four-star officers, as well as a disproportionate number of other senior female officers.In the earlier rounds of firing, Hegseth said the eliminations were “a reflection of the president wanting the right people around him to execute the national security approach we want to take.”As Pentagon chief, Hegseth has touted his efforts to root out any programming or leadership that endorses diversity in the ranks, tried to terminate transgender service members and begun sweeping changes to enforce a uniform fitness standard for combat positions.In a memo announcing the cuts Monday, Hegseth said they would remove “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership.” He said the aim was to free the military from “unnecessary bureaucratic layers.”Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a Marine who served in Iraq and is now on the House Armed Services Committee, said he sees Hegseth’s actions as trying to politicize the military.“He’s creating a formal framework to fire all the generals who disagree with him — and the president,” Moulton told AP at the Capitol.He said certainly any organization can look for efficiencies but Hegseth has long been explicit about his agenda. “He wrote a book about it. He wants to politicize the military,” Moulton said. "So it’s hard to see these cuts in any other context.”Moulton warned of fallout for the troops. “It is essential that our troops understand they are getting constitutional orders, not political orders,” he said, “because otherwise you don’t have a democracy, otherwise you have a military that just works well for one political party or another.”Adding to the turmoil in the Pentagon, Hegseth in recent weeks has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ullyot-leaks-pentagon-hegseth-trump-dei-d5306e0441dacae1a0d03c871be265bb">dismissed or transferred multiple close advisers</a>, tightly narrowing his inner circle. He also has been facing questions from both Democrats and Republicans about his handling of sensitive information and use of the Signal messaging app.There are about 800 general officers in the military, but only 44 of those are four-star general or flag officers. The Army has the largest number of general officers, with 219, including eight four-star generals.The number of general officer positions in the military is set by law. Members of Congress were not provided with the advance notification they normally would receive on the cuts but were given a “very brief alert” this afternoon, according to a congressional staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not made public.The cuts were first reported by CNN.The Pentagon is under pressure to slash spending and personnel as part of the broader federal government cuts pushed by Trump and ally Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.Hegseth last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/army-program-personnel-cuts-mergers-98c61ed96953d84625b597ef4fc1ad40">ordered a sweeping transformation</a>&nbsp;of the Army to “build a leaner, more lethal force,” including merging or closing headquarters, dumping outdated vehicles and aircraft, slashing as many as 1,000 headquarters staff in the Pentagon and shifting personnel to units in the field.Also last week the Army confirmed that there will be a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-army-military-parade-birthday-2f5cd12c8ccd4efddc29bfa3cf8f2705">military parade on Trump’s birthday</a>&nbsp;in June, as part of the celebration around the service’s 250th birthday. Officials say it will cost tens of millions of dollars.—-Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Lolita C. Baldor contributed to this report.

🎥Hegseth orders Pentagon to cut number of senior generals by 20%

HARVEY COUNTY —On May 2, Honorable Judge Jason Lane sentenced Hunter D. Miller to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years for Rape of a child less than 14 years of age and Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.

In April, Miller was convicted in a jury trial.

Prior to sentencing the Court denied Miller’s motion for a new trial. The victim in this case was under the age of 10 at the time of the crimes. If released from custody, Miller will be subject to lifetime parole with electronic monitoring and will have lifetime registration as a sexual offender. 

This case was prosecuted with the assistance of the Newton Police Department and Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713279497993.png" alt="Miller photo KBI offender registry" />
 <figcaption>Miller photo KBI offender registry</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —On May 2, Honorable Judge Jason Lane sentenced Hunter D. Miller to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years for Rape of a child less than 14 years of age and Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, according to the Harvey County Attorney's office.In April, Miller was convicted in a jury trial.Prior to sentencing the Court denied Miller’s motion for a new trial. The victim in this case was under the age of 10 at the time of the crimes. If released from custody, Miller will be subject to lifetime parole with electronic monitoring and will have lifetime registration as a sexual offender. This case was prosecuted with the assistance of the Newton Police Department and Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center.

 Kan. man guilty of sex crimes involving a child under age 10

FRANKLIN COUNTY —Authorities investigating a deadly head-on crash that occurred just after 5:30p.m. Sunday in Franklin County have identified the victims.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 GMC Yukon driven by James D. Gilstrap, 33, Tulsa, Oklahoma, was southbound on U.S. 169 highway just northeast of Virginia Road.

The driver attempted to overtake a slower southbound vehicle and entered the northbound lanes to pass.&nbsp; The Yukon and a northbound 2016 Subaru Legacy driven by Alexander R.&nbsp;Ernst, 37, Ames, Iowa, collided head-on on the northbound shoulder and caught fire.

Gilstrap and passengers in the Yukon including Wayne T.&nbsp; Walls, 41, Talala, Oklahoma, and two 14-year-old boys from Tulsa were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a 15-year-old boy from Talala, Oklahoma to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Ernst and passengers in the Subaru including John D.&nbsp;Elliott, 76;&nbsp; Madalyn N. Elliott, 33;&nbsp; Norleen L. Elliott, 69, all from Chesterfield, Missouri, were pronounced dead at the scene. All were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Three of those killed were connected with Tulsa Public Schools, the school district confirmed Monday. Booker T. Washington High School student 14-year-old Donald “DJ” Laster, was one of the teens who died in the crash, along with former Carver Middle School coach and teacher Wayne Walls and Ja’mon Gilstrap, a member of Tulsa Public Schools' transportation team.

The crash closed a section of the highway for four hours, and Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Jodi Clary said authorities were still working at the crash site Monday evening. The cause of the crash remained under investigation. “Both cars burned up,” Clary said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746453539052.png" alt="Photo KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>FRANKLIN COUNTY —Authorities investigating a deadly head-on crash that occurred just after 5:30p.m. Sunday in Franklin County have identified the victims.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 GMC Yukon driven by James D. Gilstrap, 33, Tulsa, Oklahoma, was southbound on U.S. 169 highway just northeast of Virginia Road.The driver attempted to overtake a slower southbound vehicle and entered the northbound lanes to pass.&nbsp; The Yukon and a northbound 2016 Subaru Legacy driven by Alexander R.&nbsp;Ernst, 37, Ames, Iowa, collided head-on on the northbound shoulder and caught fire.Gilstrap and passengers in the Yukon including Wayne T.&nbsp; Walls, 41, Talala, Oklahoma, and two 14-year-old boys from Tulsa were pronounced dead at the scene. EMS transported a 15-year-old boy from Talala, Oklahoma to Overland Park Regional Medical Center.Ernst and passengers in the Subaru including John D.&nbsp;Elliott, 76;&nbsp; Madalyn N. Elliott, 33;&nbsp; Norleen L. Elliott, 69, all from Chesterfield, Missouri, were pronounced dead at the scene. All were properly restrained, according to the KHP.Three of those killed were connected with Tulsa Public Schools, the school district confirmed Monday. Booker T. Washington High School student 14-year-old Donald “DJ” Laster, was one of the teens who died in the crash, along with former Carver Middle School coach and teacher Wayne Walls and Ja’mon Gilstrap, a member of Tulsa Public Schools' transportation team.The crash closed a section of the highway for four hours, and Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Jodi Clary said authorities were still working at the crash site Monday evening. The cause of the crash remained under investigation. “Both cars burned up,” Clary said.

KHP IDs six adults, two 14-year-olds who died in head-on crash 

SEDGWICK —A Kansas felon on parole who admitted to a fatal stabbing in 2020 is going back to prison.

On Friday, Judge Sean Hatfield sentenced Kenneth Junius, Jr. to 247 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In March he pleaded guilty to the killing&nbsp; 59-year-old Bryan Turner.

In November of 2020, police responded to a stabbing at a home in the 2800 block of South Washington in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;

Upon arrival, officer’s located Bryan Turner with multiple cut and stab wounds to his body.&nbsp; Officers quickly began life-saving measures, but he died of his injuries on the scene.

The investigation revealed that multiple people were at the home, and Turner and a suspect identified as Junious were both visiting. While at the home, a disturbance ensued between Junious and Turner.

During the disturbance, Junious pulled out a knife and caused multiple injuries to Turner. Junious then fled the scene in a vehicle.&nbsp; Police reported his arrest several days later.

Junious has numerous previous felony convictions that include aggravated battery, aggravated escape from custody, theft, criminal possession of a weapon, theft, flee and attempt to elude and and was on parole through Kansas Dept. of Corrections at the time of the stabbing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605617102715.png" alt="Junious photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Junious photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK —A Kansas felon on parole who admitted to a fatal stabbing in 2020 is going back to prison.On Friday, Judge Sean Hatfield sentenced Kenneth Junius, Jr. to 247 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In March he pleaded guilty to the killing&nbsp; 59-year-old Bryan Turner.In November of 2020, police responded to a stabbing at a home in the 2800 block of South Washington in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.&nbsp;Upon arrival, officer’s located Bryan Turner with multiple cut and stab wounds to his body.&nbsp; Officers quickly began life-saving measures, but he died of his injuries on the scene.The investigation revealed that multiple people were at the home, and Turner and a suspect identified as Junious were both visiting. While at the home, a disturbance ensued between Junious and Turner.During the disturbance, Junious pulled out a knife and caused multiple injuries to Turner. Junious then fled the scene in a vehicle.&nbsp; Police reported his arrest several days later.Junious has numerous previous felony convictions that include aggravated battery, aggravated escape from custody, theft, criminal possession of a weapon, theft, flee and attempt to elude and and was on parole through Kansas Dept. of Corrections at the time of the stabbing.

Kan. felon on parole going back to prison for knife fight killing

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pushing forward with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">its mass deportation agenda</a>, President Donald Trump's administration said Monday that it would pay $1,000 to immigrants who are in the United States illegally and return to their home country voluntarily.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a news release that it would also pay for travel assistance — and that people who use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigrant-deportation-87badb16224730affadf95c67c551da7">an app called CBP Home</a>&nbsp;to tell the government they plan to return home will be “deprioritized” for detention and removal by immigration enforcement.

“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest," Secretary Kristi Noem said. “DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App.”

The department said it had already paid for a plane ticket for one migrant to return home to Honduras from Chicago and said more tickets have been booked for this week and next.

It's a major part of Trump's administration

Trump made immigration enforcement and the mass deportation of immigrants in the United States illegally a centerpiece of his campaign, and he is following through during the first months of his administration. But it is a costly, resource-intensive endeavor.

While the Republican administration is asking Congress for a massive increase in resources for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement department responsible for removing people from the country, it’s also pushing people in the country illegally to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-self-deportation-trump-0a8d8371cf7e22a5809db40ebbecf42d">“self-deport.”</a>

It has coupled this self-deportation push with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dhs-immigration-award-republican-ad-campaign-e7939619195791493e828dfd20604d65">television ads threatening action</a>&nbsp;against people in the U.S. illegally and social media images showing immigration enforcement arrests and migrants being sent to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-us-rubio-prison-de912f6a8199aaa7c8490585dcaa3b87">a prison in El Salvador</a>.

The Trump administration has often portrayed self-deportation as a way for migrants to preserve their ability to return to the U.S. someday.

But Aaron Reichlen-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, which advocates for immigrants, said there’s a lot for migrants to be cautious about in the latest offer from Homeland Security.

He said it’s often worse for people to leave the country and not fight their case in immigration court, especially if they’re already in removal proceedings. He said if migrants are in removal proceedings and don’t show up in court they can automatically get a deportation order and leaving the country usually counts as abandoning many applications for relief including asylum applications.

And Homeland Security is not indicating that it is closely coordinating with the immigration courts so that there are no repercussions for people in immigration court if they leave, he said.

“People’s immigration status is not as simple as this makes it out to be," Reichlen-Melnick said.

He questioned where Homeland Security would get the money and the authorization to make the payments — and he suggested they are necessary because the administration can't arrest and remove as many people as it has promised so it has to encourage people to do it on their own.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pushing forward with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">its mass deportation agenda</a>, President Donald Trump's administration said Monday that it would pay $1,000 to immigrants who are in the United States illegally and return to their home country voluntarily.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest. DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App. This is… <a href="https://t.co/2f02wLWQi5">pic.twitter.com/2f02wLWQi5</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1919402136753811733?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump on new plan to offer undocumented immigrants $1,000 to self-deport from the U.S. <a href="https://t.co/B7WdNYstcp">pic.twitter.com/B7WdNYstcp</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1919465672251240574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Department of Homeland Security said in a news release that it would also pay for travel assistance — and that people who use&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigrant-deportation-87badb16224730affadf95c67c551da7">an app called CBP Home</a>&nbsp;to tell the government they plan to return home will be “deprioritized” for detention and removal by immigration enforcement.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">🚨ILLEGAL ALIENS: Download the CBP Home App – Now Available on All App Stores Do it the easy way, or get deported the hard way. <a href="https://t.co/Kb3GgAl7it">pic.twitter.com/Kb3GgAl7it</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1901977915882938715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746467204589.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-effective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest," Secretary Kristi Noem said. “DHS is now offering illegal aliens financial travel assistance and a stipend to return to their home country through the CBP Home App.”The department said it had already paid for a plane ticket for one migrant to return home to Honduras from Chicago and said more tickets have been booked for this week and next.<h2>It's a major part of Trump's administration</h2>Trump made immigration enforcement and the mass deportation of immigrants in the United States illegally a centerpiece of his campaign, and he is following through during the first months of his administration. But it is a costly, resource-intensive endeavor.While the Republican administration is asking Congress for a massive increase in resources for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement department responsible for removing people from the country, it’s also pushing people in the country illegally to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-self-deportation-trump-0a8d8371cf7e22a5809db40ebbecf42d">“self-deport.”</a>It has coupled this self-deportation push with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dhs-immigration-award-republican-ad-campaign-e7939619195791493e828dfd20604d65">television ads threatening action</a>&nbsp;against people in the U.S. illegally and social media images showing immigration enforcement arrests and migrants being sent to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-us-rubio-prison-de912f6a8199aaa7c8490585dcaa3b87">a prison in El Salvador</a>.The Trump administration has often portrayed self-deportation as a way for migrants to preserve their ability to return to the U.S. someday.But Aaron Reichlen-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, which advocates for immigrants, said there’s a lot for migrants to be cautious about in the latest offer from Homeland Security.He said it’s often worse for people to leave the country and not fight their case in immigration court, especially if they’re already in removal proceedings. He said if migrants are in removal proceedings and don’t show up in court they can automatically get a deportation order and leaving the country usually counts as abandoning many applications for relief including asylum applications.<h2>It can be an intricate process</h2>And Homeland Security is not indicating that it is closely coordinating with the immigration courts so that there are no repercussions for people in immigration court if they leave, he said.“People’s immigration status is not as simple as this makes it out to be," Reichlen-Melnick said.He questioned where Homeland Security would get the money and the authorization to make the payments — and he suggested they are necessary because the administration can't arrest and remove as many people as it has promised so it has to encourage people to do it on their own.“They’re not getting their numbers," he said.As part of its self-deportation effort, the Trump administration has transformed an app that had been used by the Biden administration to allow nearly 1 million migrants to schedule appointments to enter the country into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigrant-deportation-87badb16224730affadf95c67c551da7">a tool to help migrants</a>&nbsp;return home. Under the Biden administration, it was called CBP One; now it's dubbed CBP Home.Homeland Security said that, so far, “thousands” of migrants have used the app to self-deport.