WASHINGTON (AP) — Approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were released Friday, continuing the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/rfk">Click here to view the files.</a>

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages to its public website. Many files related to the senator’s assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitized and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government.

“Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement.

Gabbard also said the files release “shine a long-overdue light on the truth.”

The release of the RFK files comes a month after unredacted files related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-assassination-documents-release-trump-c56ed5075b38af809f36a6388797d4ca">the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;were disclosed.

Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But he’s also been deeply suspicious for years of the government’s intelligence agencies, and his administration’s release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questioning about the conclusions and operations of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a son of the Democratic New York senator who now serves as the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, commended Trump and Gabbard for their “courage” and “dogged efforts” to release the files.

“Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,” the health secretary said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744988598872.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were released Friday, continuing the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/rfk">Click here to view the files.</a>The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages to its public website. Many files related to the senator’s assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitized and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government.“Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement.Gabbard also said the files release “shine a long-overdue light on the truth.”The release of the RFK files comes a month after unredacted files related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-assassination-documents-release-trump-c56ed5075b38af809f36a6388797d4ca">the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;were disclosed.Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But he’s also been deeply suspicious for years of the government’s intelligence agencies, and his administration’s release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questioning about the conclusions and operations of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI.Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a son of the Democratic New York senator who now serves as the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, commended Trump and Gabbard for their “courage” and “dogged efforts” to release the files.“Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,” the health secretary said in a statement.

Read the just released files: 1968 Robert F. Kennedy assassination 

ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-us-trump-biden-meloni-874d84df75e6a73188a38e7551735824">Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni</a>&nbsp;in Rome on Friday for a second day of talks on tariffs and then attended Good Friday services at the Vatican amid speculation of a possible pope greeting this weekend.

“I’ve been missing you,” Meloni jokingly told Vance as he entered the courtyard of Chigi Palace, the premier's office.

They had seen each other just the previous day in the Oval Office, where Trump lavished praise on the Italian leader for her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-albania-migrants-centers-meloni-eu-courts-34d15e7628a6c2fdf20aeb49bcd794f5">crackdown on migration</a>&nbsp;but didn't yield on tariff plans that have increased tensions with the European Union and stoked fears of recession.

The White House and Meloni's office on Friday issued a joint statement that said Trump would visit Italy “in the very near future.”

"There is also consideration to hold, on such occasion, a meeting between U.S. and Europe,” the statement said.

Vance having Vatican meetings after tangle with pope

Vance, a Catholic convert, later attended Good Friday services with his wife and three children in St. Peter’s Basilica and was scheduled to meet Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

No meeting with Pope Francis was officially announced and the pontiff didn’t attend the solemn, two-hour Good Friday service or the nighttime Way of the Cross procession at Rome's Colosseum. The 88-year-old pope has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-easter-pneumonia-7fc3e1c6ebc191987e7d4c9162bf6a98">cut back his work</a>&nbsp;schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia, and his participation in the weekend’s Easter services is uncertain.

Francis, however, recently met with King Charles III and officials haven’t ruled out a possible audience with Vance, who has criticized Francis on social media in the past, though more recently offered prayers for his recovery.

Francis and Vance have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">tangled sharply over migration</a>&nbsp;and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative U.S. Catholic Church.

Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration’s deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-theology-migration-e868af574fb2e742c6ed3d756c569769">claimed that Catholic doctrine justified</a>&nbsp;such policies.

Vance had defended the administration’s America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as “ordo amoris.” He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care — to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his Feb. 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.

“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,” he wrote. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”

Vance has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vice-president-jd-vance-pope-francis-immigration-4f05693320524f9976d3b9ebe31b3f97">acknowledged Francis’ criticism</a>&nbsp;but has said he would continue to defend his views.

“I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,” Vance posted on X. “I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.”

Good Friday commemorates Christ’s crucifixion and is marked by the Vatican with a Latin-filled service in St. Peter’s and a nighttime, torchlit procession at the Colosseum.

Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe and was the lone EU leader to attend his inauguration. As the head of a far-right party, she is ideologically aligned with Trump on issues such as curbing migration and promoting traditional values. But Italy and the United States have diverged over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-g7-meloni-putin-ukraine-78cdbaa0d45f9b11a190ee647063eb5f">Meloni's strong support for Ukraine</a>, while Trump's tariff threat has put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU's trade interests on behalf of the bloc.

A bond market panic led Trump to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">partially pull back on his tariffs</a>&nbsp;by pausing his 20% import taxes on the EU for 90 days and charge a baseline 10% instead. But Trump said Thursday he was in no rush to reach any trade deals.

Vance on Friday reaffirmed the U.S.-Italy friendship and told Meloni that he would brief her on some “interesting” developments in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. “Big trade negotiations” would continue, he said.

Like Trump, Vance seemed dazzled by Meloni's Italian language even though he didn't understand what she was saying.

“Of course, she could have called me a jerk and I wouldn’t know, but it would be in the most beautiful language imaginable, so I wouldn’t even get offended,” he said at the start of their talks.

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

ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-us-trump-biden-meloni-874d84df75e6a73188a38e7551735824">Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni</a>&nbsp;in Rome on Friday for a second day of talks on tariffs and then attended Good Friday services at the Vatican amid speculation of a possible pope greeting this weekend.“I’ve been missing you,” Meloni jokingly told Vance as he entered the courtyard of Chigi Palace, the premier's office.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JD Vance and Usha Vance and family attend Good Friday services at St. Peter&#39;s Basilica - The Vatican Rome Italy <a href="https://t.co/Xg8rmsdeCG">pic.twitter.com/Xg8rmsdeCG</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1913390609294828031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 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">.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SLOTUS</a> attend the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. 🇻🇦 <a href="https://t.co/jgFfoM8Kea">pic.twitter.com/jgFfoM8Kea</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1913252022041670070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Italy Prime Minister Meloni greets JD Vance at Palazzo Chigi Palace Rome Italy <a href="https://t.co/VajQO0Wk7S">pic.twitter.com/VajQO0Wk7S</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1913391657866739778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>They had seen each other just the previous day in the Oval Office, where Trump lavished praise on the Italian leader for her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-albania-migrants-centers-meloni-eu-courts-34d15e7628a6c2fdf20aeb49bcd794f5">crackdown on migration</a>&nbsp;but didn't yield on tariff plans that have increased tensions with the European Union and stoked fears of recession.The White House and Meloni's office on Friday issued a joint statement that said Trump would visit Italy “in the very near future.”"There is also consideration to hold, on such occasion, a meeting between U.S. and Europe,” the statement said.<h2>Vance having Vatican meetings after tangle with pope</h2>Vance, a Catholic convert, later attended Good Friday services with his wife and three children in St. Peter’s Basilica and was scheduled to meet Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.No meeting with Pope Francis was officially announced and the pontiff didn’t attend the solemn, two-hour Good Friday service or the nighttime Way of the Cross procession at Rome's Colosseum. The 88-year-old pope has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-easter-pneumonia-7fc3e1c6ebc191987e7d4c9162bf6a98">cut back his work</a>&nbsp;schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia, and his participation in the weekend’s Easter services is uncertain.Francis, however, recently met with King Charles III and officials haven’t ruled out a possible audience with Vance, who has criticized Francis on social media in the past, though more recently offered prayers for his recovery.Francis and Vance have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">tangled sharply over migration</a>&nbsp;and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative U.S. Catholic Church.Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration’s deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-theology-migration-e868af574fb2e742c6ed3d756c569769">claimed that Catholic doctrine justified</a>&nbsp;such policies.Vance had defended the administration’s America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as “ordo amoris.” He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care — to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.In his Feb. 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,” he wrote. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”Vance has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vice-president-jd-vance-pope-francis-immigration-4f05693320524f9976d3b9ebe31b3f97">acknowledged Francis’ criticism</a>&nbsp;but has said he would continue to defend his views.“I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,” Vance posted on X. “I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.”Good Friday commemorates Christ’s crucifixion and is marked by the Vatican with a Latin-filled service in St. Peter’s and a nighttime, torchlit procession at the Colosseum.<h2>Meloni as a bridge between the US and EU</h2>Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe and was the lone EU leader to attend his inauguration. As the head of a far-right party, she is ideologically aligned with Trump on issues such as curbing migration and promoting traditional values. But Italy and the United States have diverged over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-g7-meloni-putin-ukraine-78cdbaa0d45f9b11a190ee647063eb5f">Meloni's strong support for Ukraine</a>, while Trump's tariff threat has put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU's trade interests on behalf of the bloc.A bond market panic led Trump to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">partially pull back on his tariffs</a>&nbsp;by pausing his 20% import taxes on the EU for 90 days and charge a baseline 10% instead. But Trump said Thursday he was in no rush to reach any trade deals.Vance on Friday reaffirmed the U.S.-Italy friendship and told Meloni that he would brief her on some “interesting” developments in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. “Big trade negotiations” would continue, he said.Like Trump, Vance seemed dazzled by Meloni's Italian language even though he didn't understand what she was saying.“Of course, she could have called me a jerk and I wouldn’t know, but it would be in the most beautiful language imaginable, so I wouldn’t even get offended,” he said at the start of their talks.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

🎥Vice President Vance attends Good Friday service at the Vatican

SEDGWICK COUNTY –Homicide detectives are investigating a deadly shooting outside a motel in Wichita.

On Thursday evening, police were in the area of Harry and Broadway on an unrelated call when they heard gunshots nearby, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. Officers immediately responded to the area and located a man with a gunshot wound who was in front of the Frontier Motel at 1623 S. Broadway.

&nbsp;The victim was later identified as 33-year-old Eric Lopez-Morales from Wichita.

Despite the life-saving efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:04 p.m.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Lopez-Morales was involved in a physical altercation with unknown males in the parking lot of the motel before the shooting.&nbsp;

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4407. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745003725186.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY –Homicide detectives are investigating a deadly shooting outside a motel in Wichita.On Thursday evening, police were in the area of Harry and Broadway on an unrelated call when they heard gunshots nearby, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. Officers immediately responded to the area and located a man with a gunshot wound who was in front of the Frontier Motel at 1623 S. Broadway.&nbsp;The victim was later identified as 33-year-old Eric Lopez-Morales from Wichita.Despite the life-saving efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:04 p.m.Preliminary investigations indicate that Lopez-Morales was involved in a physical altercation with unknown males in the parking lot of the motel before the shooting.&nbsp;Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4407. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

Police: Fight outside Kansas motel led to fatal shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge who blocked the Trump administration from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-doge-cfpb-elon-musk-456b747c367fccbcf3b74d2893cd1a35">dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau</a>&nbsp;ruled Friday that the bureau can’t go forward immediately with plans to mass fire hundreds of employees.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she is “deeply concerned” that administration officials aren’t complying with her earlier order that maintains the bureau’s existence until she rules on the merits of a lawsuit seeking to preserve it.

During a hearing, Jackson said she will bar officials from carrying out any mass firings or cutting off employees’ access to bureau computer systems on Friday.

Jackson scheduled a hearing on April 28 to hear testimony from officials who were working on the reduction in force, or RIF, procedures.

“I’m willing to resolve it quickly, but I’m not going to let this RIF go forward until I have,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge who blocked the Trump administration from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-doge-cfpb-elon-musk-456b747c367fccbcf3b74d2893cd1a35">dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau</a>&nbsp;ruled Friday that the bureau can’t go forward immediately with plans to mass fire hundreds of employees.U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she is “deeply concerned” that administration officials aren’t complying with her earlier order that maintains the bureau’s existence until she rules on the merits of a lawsuit seeking to preserve it.During a hearing, Jackson said she will bar officials from carrying out any mass firings or cutting off employees’ access to bureau computer systems on Friday.Jackson scheduled a hearing on April 28 to hear testimony from officials who were working on the reduction in force, or RIF, procedures.“I’m willing to resolve it quickly, but I’m not going to let this RIF go forward until I have,” she said.

Judge blocks Trump admin. plans for mass layoffs at the CFPB

GREENWOOD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Friday in Greenwood County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 International concrete truck driven by Curk Bradley&nbsp;Creed, 64,&nbsp;Eureka, was&nbsp;southbound on Kansas 99 two miles north of Severy. The truck traveled off the right side of the road. The driver overcorrected back onto the highway and tipped the truck onto its side in the ditch.

Creed was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Forensics Medical in Wichita. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

GREENWOOD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Friday in Greenwood County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 International concrete truck driven by Curk Bradley&nbsp;Creed, 64,&nbsp;Eureka, was&nbsp;southbound on Kansas 99 two miles north of Severy. The truck traveled off the right side of the road. The driver overcorrected back onto the highway and tipped the truck onto its side in the ditch.Creed was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Forensics Medical in Wichita. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies when concrete truck overturns

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>

GOP House leader says anyone sounding revenue alarm likely a ‘budget boogeyman’

TOPEKA — A bullish revenue picture for state government in Kansas through the current and next fiscal years couldn’t sugarcoat projections the state budget could end up with a $730 million deficit by 2029 if lawmakers continued spending more than what was collected in revenue.

The new forecast released Thursday by the Consensus Revenue Group, which is responsible for updating financial reports twice each year, indicated the treasury could expect to collect $157 million more in the current fiscal year than projected in November. In addition, the state could receive $219 million more in the 2026 fiscal year than predicted six months ago. The state general fund takes in about $10 billion annually.

The estimating group said the state’s budget ending balance could sit at $2.29 billion at close of the current fiscal year in June, but fall to $1.73 billion in 2026, $903 million in 2027 and $63 million in 2028 before going under water by $730 million in 2029.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the latest revenue estimates from university economists and state financial experts could be viewed as positive news.

“In reality, they underscore the seriousness of the financial predicament ahead,” Kelly said. “The bizarre and irresponsible budget gimmicks used by the Republican-led Legislature spend more than the state takes in by nearly $800 million per year. Ultimately, this will lead to a historically large budget deficit.”

She said the revenue update came one week after GOP House and Senate leaders adjourned the annual legislative session. Traditionally, the Legislature remained in session until the revenue forecast was updated so spending and tax policy could be refined.

“Kansans need to demand their legislators restore fiscal sanity and fairness when they return in January,” Kelly said.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita, said the Legislature successfully assumed a more direct approach to developing the new state budget and produced a plan that spent less than recommended by the governor.

He said the Legislature was confident in the wisdom of the three-year, $1.2 billion income tax cut adopted in the 2024 special session and the additional tax relief approved in the 2025 regular session.

“Be wary of those who want to make political hay by invoking the budget boogeyman and screaming that the sky is falling,” Hawkins said. “These positive consensus revenue estimates reaffirm we’re headed down a smart and sustainable path as we continue to monitor all fiscal data as it’s available.”

Adam Proffitt, secretary of the Kansas Department of administration and budget director for the governor, state tax reductions and elevated spending were significant drivers of the state’s financial prospectus.

He said the extended assessment was that state revenue could remain below expenditures during the next four years unless a different approach was taken by state lawmakers.

“We need to get more structurally balanced,” Proffitt said. “This is something we’ve been watching for a couple years. I think the governor’s been pretty consistent in her message that we need to be showing fiscal restraint and making sure we have a good handle on expenditures and don’t grow them unnecessarily.”

Proffitt said the projected $800 million decline in state budget ending balances in fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029 would leave the state in dire financial condition. An unknown for forecasters, for a couple more months after close of tax season, was the influence of retroactive income tax cuts approved by the state lawmakers in 2024, he said. In addition, he said, the forecast changes didn’t take into account the influence of tax bills on Kelly’s desk nor possible federal policy shifts.

Shirley Morrow, director of the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department, said during a news conference at the Capitol the solution to the state’s future budget predicament was obvious.

“To me,” she said, “the simple answer — and this is going to be too simple — is increase revenue and decrease expenditures.”

Morrow said forces that could influence the state’s bottom line were tied to volatility in the U.S. economy. Factors capable of altering the fiscal assessment included persistently elevated inflation, trade policy changes relevant to agriculture exports and aviation manufacturing, shifting unemployment rates, sustained high interest rates, cuts in federal funding to states, monetary policy and geopolitical dynamics, she said.

“The reoccurring theme throughout the forecast cycle is an increased volatility in the state’s economy,” Morrow said.

She said the Kansas inflation rate in 2025 was raised from 2.3% to 2.9% while the estimate for inflation in 2026 was raised from 2.2% to 2.5%. Kansas has added 3,300 jobs over the year, she said.

In terms of agriculture, she said, crop producers continued to struggle with low commodity prices and high input costs. Livestock producers were looking to expand beef herds based on continued escalation in market prices, she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744995015357.png" alt=" Adam Proffitt, state budget director, and Shirley Morrow, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, brief reporters on revised state revenue estimates that outline unanticipated growth in revenue this year and next year. They warned of budget problems if the Legislature continued to expend more money than collected in revenue. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Adam Proffitt, state budget director, and Shirley Morrow, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, brief reporters on revised state revenue estimates that outline unanticipated growth in revenue this year and next year. They warned of budget problems if the Legislature continued to expend more money than collected in revenue. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>GOP House leader says anyone sounding revenue alarm likely a ‘budget boogeyman’</h2>TOPEKA — A bullish revenue picture for state government in Kansas through the current and next fiscal years couldn’t sugarcoat projections the state budget could end up with a $730 million deficit by 2029 if lawmakers continued spending more than what was collected in revenue.The new forecast released Thursday by the Consensus Revenue Group, which is responsible for updating financial reports twice each year, indicated the treasury could expect to collect $157 million more in the current fiscal year than projected in November. In addition, the state could receive $219 million more in the 2026 fiscal year than predicted six months ago. The state general fund takes in about $10 billion annually.The estimating group said the state’s budget ending balance could sit at $2.29 billion at close of the current fiscal year in June, but fall to $1.73 billion in 2026, $903 million in 2027 and $63 million in 2028 before going under water by $730 million in 2029.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the latest revenue estimates from university economists and state financial experts could be viewed as positive news.“In reality, they underscore the seriousness of the financial predicament ahead,” Kelly said. “The bizarre and irresponsible budget gimmicks used by the Republican-led Legislature spend more than the state takes in by nearly $800 million per year. Ultimately, this will lead to a historically large budget deficit.”She said the revenue update came one week after GOP House and Senate leaders adjourned the annual legislative session. Traditionally, the Legislature remained in session until the revenue forecast was updated so spending and tax policy could be refined.“Kansans need to demand their legislators restore fiscal sanity and fairness when they return in January,” Kelly said.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita, said the Legislature successfully assumed a more direct approach to developing the new state budget and produced a plan that spent less than recommended by the governor.He said the Legislature was confident in the wisdom of the three-year, $1.2 billion income tax cut adopted in the 2024 special session and the additional tax relief approved in the 2025 regular session.“Be wary of those who want to make political hay by invoking the budget boogeyman and screaming that the sky is falling,” Hawkins said. “These positive consensus revenue estimates reaffirm we’re headed down a smart and sustainable path as we continue to monitor all fiscal data as it’s available.”<h2>A structural imbalance</h2>Adam Proffitt, secretary of the Kansas Department of administration and budget director for the governor, state tax reductions and elevated spending were significant drivers of the state’s financial prospectus.He said the extended assessment was that state revenue could remain below expenditures during the next four years unless a different approach was taken by state lawmakers.“We need to get more structurally balanced,” Proffitt said. “This is something we’ve been watching for a couple years. I think the governor’s been pretty consistent in her message that we need to be showing fiscal restraint and making sure we have a good handle on expenditures and don’t grow them unnecessarily.”Proffitt said the projected $800 million decline in state budget ending balances in fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029 would leave the state in dire financial condition. An unknown for forecasters, for a couple more months after close of tax season, was the influence of retroactive income tax cuts approved by the state lawmakers in 2024, he said. In addition, he said, the forecast changes didn’t take into account the influence of tax bills on Kelly’s desk nor possible federal policy shifts.Shirley Morrow, director of the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department, said during a news conference at the Capitol the solution to the state’s future budget predicament was obvious.“To me,” she said, “the simple answer — and this is going to be too simple — is increase revenue and decrease expenditures.”Morrow said forces that could influence the state’s bottom line were tied to volatility in the U.S. economy. Factors capable of altering the fiscal assessment included persistently elevated inflation, trade policy changes relevant to agriculture exports and aviation manufacturing, shifting unemployment rates, sustained high interest rates, cuts in federal funding to states, monetary policy and geopolitical dynamics, she said.“The reoccurring theme throughout the forecast cycle is an increased volatility in the state’s economy,” Morrow said.She said the Kansas inflation rate in 2025 was raised from 2.3% to 2.9% while the estimate for inflation in 2026 was raised from 2.2% to 2.5%. Kansas has added 3,300 jobs over the year, she said.In terms of agriculture, she said, crop producers continued to struggle with low commodity prices and high input costs. Livestock producers were looking to expand beef herds based on continued escalation in market prices, she said.

Analysts raise Kansas’ short-term revenue forecast, warn of budget woes on horizon

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

Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, patrol officers were dispatched to 54th and Euclid on the report of sounds of shots, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

First responders located a man in a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. 

Medics transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.T his is being investigated as homicide. Preliminary information revealed there was a disturbance in the street that led up to the shots being fired. 

Police have not released the name of the victim or reported any suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744942512869.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, patrol officers were dispatched to 54th and Euclid on the report of sounds of shots, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744942490486.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located a man in a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. Medics transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.T his is being investigated as homicide. Preliminary information revealed there was a disturbance in the street that led up to the shots being fired. Police have not released the name of the victim or reported any suspect information.

Homicide: Man found with gunshot wound in a vehicle in Kansas City

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in a house fire on Friday in Topeka.

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

Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire. The name of the victim has not been releases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744990133110.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the Friday morning fire-photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the Friday morning fire-photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in a house fire on Friday in Topeka.Just before 6a.m. Friday, crews responded to report of a house fire a 419 SE Rodgers Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke coming from the home and quickly extinguished the fire. During a search of the home, firefighters found one occupant deceased, according to Stahl. There were no other occupants of the home.Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire. The name of the victim has not been releases.

Fire Marshal: One found dead after  fire at a Kansas home

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and local health departments are working together in response to a measles outbreak in southwest Kansas. As of April 16, a total of 37 cases have been reported. KDHE is informing the public of potential measles exposure at the Clarion Inn, 1911 E Kansas Avenue in Garden City April 8, 9 and 10.

The measles virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Because the measles virus is highly contagious, anyone who visited the Clarion Inn in Garden City on any of the dates and times listed above may have been exposed to measles and should take the following steps:

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.

The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick.

For questions, contact the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline by phone at 877-427-7317 (option 5) or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov">kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;.

For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019649477afa-52289caa-ee83-4396-99f0-c261a282e101-000000/pzOLx1j1VNAg9stNAjSTUxMz6rBb7a2t5YoIOiDmvOk=401">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741908251964.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and local health departments are working together in response to a measles outbreak in southwest Kansas. As of April 16, a total of 37 cases have been reported. KDHE is informing the public of potential measles exposure at the Clarion Inn, 1911 E Kansas Avenue in Garden City April 8, 9 and 10.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744819510121.png" alt="Counties in yellow have a confirmed measles outbreak -KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Counties in yellow have a confirmed measles outbreak -KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The measles virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Because the measles virus is highly contagious, anyone who visited the Clarion Inn in Garden City on any of the dates and times listed above may have been exposed to measles and should take the following steps:<ul>
 <li>Understand if you are susceptible to infection.&nbsp;Check if you’ve received a measles-containing vaccine, like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, have medical documentation of past measles infection, or have laboratory evidence of immunity. People who are not vaccinated and have not previously had measles are especially vulnerable to becoming infected.</li><li>Watch for symptoms. Monitor yourself for 21 days after your exposure. Look out for any symptoms—especially a fever and a new or unexplained skin rash—and contact your healthcare provider or local health department if symptoms develop.</li><li>If you were at the hotel on:April 8, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, April 29.April 9, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, April 30.April 10, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, May 1.</li><li>April 8, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, April 29.</li><li>April 9, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, April 30.</li><li>April 10, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, May 1.</li><li>Avoid high-risk settings. If you are not immune, consider staying home to prevent the spread of measles. If you cannot remain home, stay away from large gatherings and persons that might be susceptible to measles, including those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants, or people who are immunocompromised. If you need medical care, call your provider ahead of time and let them know you may have been exposed to measles so they can take any necessary steps to protect others from potential measles exposure.</li><li>Talk to a healthcare provider. If you have any questions about your health or your immunity status, contact your healthcare provider. If you are not immune to measles, a healthcare provider can determine whether you need treatment to help prevent or lessen the severity of infection.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744819591987.png" alt="Cases of measles in Kansas as of April 16, 2025-KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Cases of measles in Kansas as of April 16, 2025-KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick.For questions, contact the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline by phone at 877-427-7317 (option 5) or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov">kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;.For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019649477afa-52289caa-ee83-4396-99f0-c261a282e101-000000/pzOLx1j1VNAg9stNAjSTUxMz6rBb7a2t5YoIOiDmvOk=401">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.

KDHE reports potential measles exposures at SW Kan. hotel

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Trump administration is asking Congress to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-office-closures-hhs-trump-00b1a6b33ef918cb66e59b7ffb07ac13">eliminate funding for Head Start,</a>&nbsp;a move that would cut early education for more than half a million of the nation’s neediest children and child care for their families.

The proposal is tucked in a 64-page internal draft budget document obtained by The Associated Press that seeks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-agencies-cuts-70ae99161321f0b779e2e56d8d2db304">deep cuts</a>&nbsp;at the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Head Start. It is still in a highly preliminary phase as the White House prepares to send Congress its budget request for the 2026 fiscal year.

It is not clear if the proposed cuts will be accepted by lawmakers. While Congress often ignores a president’s budget request, the proposed elimination of Head Start highlights the administration’s priorities as President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-woke-education-24f864d83e2f5745d12a79ebac0d7cc4">seeks to overhaul education</a>&nbsp;in the United States.

“The budget does not fund Head Start,” according to the draft. It says eliminating the program is consistent with the Trump administration’s “goals of returning control of education to the states and increasing parental control.”

“The federal government should not be in the business of mandating curriculum, locations, and performance standards for any form of education,” the document says.

Spokespeople for Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment.

Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has vowed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-ab509ad5778497dfbd6d53b9eef692b5">dismantle the Department of Education</a>, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">banned diversity initiatives</a>&nbsp;at schools and has frozen funding at several elite universities in an attempt to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-federal-cuts-universities-protests-8fa92331b2780394ea171b0b32d5d243">force change at colleges</a>&nbsp;that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism.

The Head Start program had already been hit this year by layoffs and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-funding-preschool-child-care-closures-1f92fa98f320c7c14db63e69b986d11d">funding lags</a>, along with a glitch this winter that briefly locked preschool providers out of their federal accounts. The private and public schools that run Head Start classrooms are deeply reliant on federal money, and this year’s funding problems have caused some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-blackouts-trump-6e7655e56c0b451092411e7fdd1def2e">preschools to close temporarily.</a>

Those closures cut off child care for hundreds of thousands of low-income families, for whom a day without work is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daycare-child-care-college-degree-moms-ac72f1227844eae0281305835e07273b">often a day without pay</a>.

The National Head Start Association said it was “deeply alarmed” by the administration’s proposal to stop funding the six-decade-old program.

“It reflects a divestment in our future,” said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the NHSA, in a statement Thursday. “Eliminating funding for Head Start would be catastrophic. It would be a direct attack on our nation’s most at-risk children, their well-being, and their families.”

Head Start is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/preschool-head-start-alaska-education-b32c3623193f2b972521922954b71dbd">more than just a preschool program</a>, Vinci said. It provides meals and health screenings and helps level the playing field for children who might otherwise fall behind before starting kindergarten. Many Head Start children are in foster care or are homeless.

A lag in funding to Head Start since January has caused some Head Start preschool classrooms to close. The federal government has distributed $1.6 billion for Head Start from Jan. 1 through Tuesday, compared with $2.55 billion issued during the same period last year, according to the office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., which has been analyzing a&nbsp;<a href="https://taggs.hhs.gov/" target="_blank">federal database</a>. Murray said the Trump administration had “slow-walked” funding appropriated by Congress.

“This administration believes we cannot afford to help families get preschool or help kids get basic health services, but we can afford trillions of dollars more in tax breaks for billionaires,” Murray said earlier this week. “It’s offensive and just plain wrong, and let me be clear: Democrats won’t let a proposal like this go anywhere in Congress.”

“But that doesn’t mean Head Start and so many other programs aren’t under grave threat — because Trump has proven he’ll ignore our laws and do whatever he can to break these programs on his own,” Murray said.

Head Start operates in all 50 states. Parents who otherwise would not be able to afford child care rely on it when they work or go to school. Supporters say that underscores the importance of Head Start to the economy and at-risk children alike.

While Head Start has enjoyed bipartisan support since its creation under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, some Republicans have emphasized its shortcomings and criticized efforts to increase funding. And Project 2025, the policy blueprint created by the conservative Heritage Foundation, called for eliminating Head Start altogether.

AP Education Writers Cheyanne Mumphrey and Moriah Balingit contributed.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744927349106.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Trump administration is asking Congress to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-office-closures-hhs-trump-00b1a6b33ef918cb66e59b7ffb07ac13">eliminate funding for Head Start,</a>&nbsp;a move that would cut early education for more than half a million of the nation’s neediest children and child care for their families.The proposal is tucked in a 64-page internal draft budget document obtained by The Associated Press that seeks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-agencies-cuts-70ae99161321f0b779e2e56d8d2db304">deep cuts</a>&nbsp;at the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Head Start. It is still in a highly preliminary phase as the White House prepares to send Congress its budget request for the 2026 fiscal year.It is not clear if the proposed cuts will be accepted by lawmakers. While Congress often ignores a president’s budget request, the proposed elimination of Head Start highlights the administration’s priorities as President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-woke-education-24f864d83e2f5745d12a79ebac0d7cc4">seeks to overhaul education</a>&nbsp;in the United States.“The budget does not fund Head Start,” according to the draft. It says eliminating the program is consistent with the Trump administration’s “goals of returning control of education to the states and increasing parental control.”“The federal government should not be in the business of mandating curriculum, locations, and performance standards for any form of education,” the document says.Spokespeople for Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment.Since taking office in January, the Trump administration has vowed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-ab509ad5778497dfbd6d53b9eef692b5">dismantle the Department of Education</a>, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-critical-race-theory-colleges-diversity-db8317ad37931558dd5a396cf5ab3d42">banned diversity initiatives</a>&nbsp;at schools and has frozen funding at several elite universities in an attempt to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-federal-cuts-universities-protests-8fa92331b2780394ea171b0b32d5d243">force change at colleges</a>&nbsp;that Republicans say have become hotbeds of liberalism and antisemitism.The Head Start program had already been hit this year by layoffs and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-funding-preschool-child-care-closures-1f92fa98f320c7c14db63e69b986d11d">funding lags</a>, along with a glitch this winter that briefly locked preschool providers out of their federal accounts. The private and public schools that run Head Start classrooms are deeply reliant on federal money, and this year’s funding problems have caused some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/head-start-blackouts-trump-6e7655e56c0b451092411e7fdd1def2e">preschools to close temporarily.</a>Those closures cut off child care for hundreds of thousands of low-income families, for whom a day without work is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/daycare-child-care-college-degree-moms-ac72f1227844eae0281305835e07273b">often a day without pay</a>.The National Head Start Association said it was “deeply alarmed” by the administration’s proposal to stop funding the six-decade-old program.“It reflects a divestment in our future,” said Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the NHSA, in a statement Thursday. “Eliminating funding for Head Start would be catastrophic. It would be a direct attack on our nation’s most at-risk children, their well-being, and their families.”Head Start is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/preschool-head-start-alaska-education-b32c3623193f2b972521922954b71dbd">more than just a preschool program</a>, Vinci said. It provides meals and health screenings and helps level the playing field for children who might otherwise fall behind before starting kindergarten. Many Head Start children are in foster care or are homeless.A lag in funding to Head Start since January has caused some Head Start preschool classrooms to close. The federal government has distributed $1.6 billion for Head Start from Jan. 1 through Tuesday, compared with $2.55 billion issued during the same period last year, according to the office of Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., which has been analyzing a&nbsp;<a href="https://taggs.hhs.gov/" target="_blank">federal database</a>. Murray said the Trump administration had “slow-walked” funding appropriated by Congress.“This administration believes we cannot afford to help families get preschool or help kids get basic health services, but we can afford trillions of dollars more in tax breaks for billionaires,” Murray said earlier this week. “It’s offensive and just plain wrong, and let me be clear: Democrats won’t let a proposal like this go anywhere in Congress.”“But that doesn’t mean Head Start and so many other programs aren’t under grave threat — because Trump has proven he’ll ignore our laws and do whatever he can to break these programs on his own,” Murray said.Head Start operates in all 50 states. Parents who otherwise would not be able to afford child care rely on it when they work or go to school. Supporters say that underscores the importance of Head Start to the economy and at-risk children alike.While Head Start has enjoyed bipartisan support since its creation under President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty, some Republicans have emphasized its shortcomings and criticized efforts to increase funding. And Project 2025, the policy blueprint created by the conservative Heritage Foundation, called for eliminating Head Start altogether.___AP Education Writers Cheyanne Mumphrey and Moriah Balingit contributed.___The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

White House wants to end funding for Head Start 

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting at a convenience store in Topeka have identified the victim as 24-year-old&nbsp; Oscar A. Ramirez of Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt.&nbsp;LT Donna Eubanks.

Just after 3:00 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting at the Kwik Shop gas station, 746 NE Wabash Avenue in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Edward Stanley. First responders located Ramirez with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; Medical personnel pronounced him deceased on scene.&nbsp;

As a result of the investigation, Caleb E Brown, 19, Topeka was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and is being held on requested charges of Voluntary manslaughter, Unreasonable belief of justified deadly force, Possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

This is the city’s 4th homicide investigation of 2025, according to Stanley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744941578851.png" alt="Brown photo Shawnee&nbsp; County." />
 <figcaption>Brown photo Shawnee&nbsp; County.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal shooting at a convenience store in Topeka have identified the victim as 24-year-old&nbsp; Oscar A. Ramirez of Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt.&nbsp;LT Donna Eubanks.Just after 3:00 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a shooting at the Kwik Shop gas station, 746 NE Wabash Avenue in Topeka, according to Topeka Police Lt. Edward Stanley. First responders located Ramirez with life threatening injuries.&nbsp; Medical personnel pronounced him deceased on scene.&nbsp;As a result of the investigation, Caleb E Brown, 19, Topeka was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and is being held on requested charges of Voluntary manslaughter, Unreasonable belief of justified deadly force, Possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or drugsThis is the city’s 4th homicide investigation of 2025, according to Stanley.

Kan. teen accused in deadly shooting while under the influence

JOHNSON COUNTY —Just before 9a.m. Thursday, police responded to Shawnee Mission South High School,&nbsp;5800 W 107th Street in Overland Park regarding a suspicious man on the property, according to Officer John Lacy.

He was described as a white male in his late twenties, with a beard, wearing a tan baseball cap and tan pants.  The man was seen on the north side of the school near a wooded area.  School officials took the appropriate action by conducting a lockdown, bringing all students and staff inside the building. Despite a search by K-9 officers, patrol officers and drone operators, police did not find the person.

The lockdown lasted for sixty minutes. Parents of students who attend Shawnee Mission South were contacted by district office about the incident.&nbsp;

JOHNSON COUNTY —Just before 9a.m. Thursday, police responded to Shawnee Mission South High School,&nbsp;5800 W 107th Street in Overland Park regarding a suspicious man on the property, according to Officer John Lacy.He was described as a white male in his late twenties, with a beard, wearing a tan baseball cap and tan pants. The man was seen on the north side of the school near a wooded area. School officials took the appropriate action by conducting a lockdown, bringing all students and staff inside the building. Despite a search by K-9 officers, patrol officers and drone operators, police did not find the person.The lockdown lasted for sixty minutes. Parents of students who attend Shawnee Mission South were contacted by district office about the incident.&nbsp;

Report of suspicious man near Kan. high school led to lockdown 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. airstrikes targeting an oil port held by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;killed 74 people and wounded 171 others, the group said Friday, marking the single-deadliest known attack under President Donald Trump’s new campaign targeting the rebels.

Assessing the toll of Trump’s campaign,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-us-airstrikes-israel-hamas-278d07bc5aad75bb32e57f99a78cbe88">which began March 15</a>, has been incredibly difficult as the U.S. military’s Central Command so far has not released any information on the campaign, its specific targets and how many people have been killed. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels strictly control access to areas attacked and don’t publish complete information on the strikes, many of which likely have targeted military and security sites.

But the strike on the Ras Isa port, which sent massive fireballs shooting into the night sky, represented a major escalation for the American campaign by hitting oil facilities for the first time.

In a statement, Central Command said that “U.S. forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years.”

“This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully,” it added. It did not acknowledge any casualties from the attack or offer any damage assessment.

Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press Friday showed destroyed tanks and vehicles at the port as oil leaks into the Red Sea.

The Iranian-backed Houthis later Friday launched a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, the Israeli military said. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and other areas.

The war in Yemen, meanwhile, further internationalized as the U.S. alleged a Chinese satellite company was “directly supporting” Houthi attacks, something Beijing declined to directly comment on Friday. And a second round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-program-us-tensions-explains-25acc4bfbbe165a374a58ebfa6a4ab41">rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>, which America has linked to the Yemen campaign, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-talks-iaea-zarif-tehran-c3a8afc699c670300b9521f1e2019ef7">due to happen Saturday in Rome</a>.

The Ras Isa port, a collection of oil tanks and refining equipment, sits in Yemen's Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea. It is just off Kamaran Island, targeted by intense U.S. airstrikes over the past few days.

The Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel aired graphic footage of the aftermath, showing corpses strewn across the site and smashed tanker trucks ablaze.

The port also is the terminus of an oil pipeline stretching to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-dubai-iran-iran-nuclear-united-arab-emirates-f81982b0ce4a4c65b8c94f6ff2517594">Yemen's energy-rich Marib governorate</a>, which remains held by allies of Yemen's exiled government. The Houthis expelled that government from Yemen's capital, Sanaa, back in 2014. However, oil exports have been halted by the decadelong war and the Houthis have used Ras Isa to bring in oil.

Ras Isa takes in gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas for the Houthis. The damage from the strikes could have serious impacts on life in Houthi-held areas of Yemen.

The Houthis denounced the U.S. attack as a “completely unjustified aggression.”

“It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades," the Houthis said in a statement.

On April 9, the U.S. State Department issued a warning about oil shipments to Yemen, saying it would “not tolerate any country or commercial entity providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis.”

The attack follows Israeli airstrikes on the Houthis which previously hit port and oil infrastructure used by the rebels after their attacks on Israel, including Ras Isa.

Oil depot attack deadliest so far known in Trump's Yemen campaign

The attack represented the deadliest known attack so far in the campaign, analysts said. However, “it’s been so difficult to assess the fatalities,” said Luca Nevola, the senior analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at the Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data Project.

“Since they are targeting civilian areas, there’s a lot more victims but it’s also difficult to assess how many because the Houthis are releasing these umbrella statements that cover all the victims ... or tend to stress only the civilian victims,” Nevola said.

Further complicating the situation is the U.S. strikes hitting military targets, said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report risk advisory firm. He pointed to an American attack that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-airstrikes-israel-hamas-war-87ca0be8a841ce3e939d65ee72d2c021">Trump highlighted online with black-and-white strike footage</a>, that may have killed some 70 fighters.

“Although the Houthis claimed it was a tribal gathering, they neither released any footage nor named a single casualty, strongly suggesting the victims were not civilians but affiliated fighters,” al-Basha said. “However, the overnight strike on the Ras Isa Fuel Port marks the first mass-casualty incident the Houthis have openly acknowledged and publicized.”

Chinese satellite firm accused by US of aiding Houthi attacks

Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a briefing with journalists accused Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., a commercial satellite image provider, of “directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests.”

Bruce did not elaborate in detail, but acknowledged a report by The Financial Times that quoted anonymous American officials saying the firm linked to the People’s Liberation Army has provided images allowing the rebels to target U.S. warships and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea corridor.

Bruce said “Beijing's support ... of the satellite company” “contradicts their claims of being peace supporters.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, responding to a question about the allegation, said Friday: “I am not familiar with the situation you mentioned." However, he insisted China is seen as urging countries “to make more efforts conducive to regional peace and stability.”

“Since the escalations in the Red Sea situation, China has been playing a positive role in de-escalating the situation,” Lin said. “Who is promoting talks for peace and de-escalating the tensions, and who is imposing sanctions and pressure?”

Chang Guang did not respond to request for comment. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the company in 2023 for allegedly providing satellite images to the Russian mercenary force&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/wagner-group">the Wagner Group</a>&nbsp;as it fought in Ukraine.

It remains unclear whether Chang Guang is linked to the Chinese government. The U.S. government in the past has used images taken by American commercial satellite companies to share with allies, like Ukraine, to avoid releasing its own top-secret pictures.

US strikes are part of monthlong intense campaign

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-us-airstrikes-israel-hamas-278d07bc5aad75bb32e57f99a78cbe88">An AP review</a>&nbsp;has found the new U.S. operation against the Houthis under President Donald Trump appears&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3WJ-C2gpDA">more extensive</a>&nbsp;than that under former President Joe Biden. The new campaign of airstrikes started after the rebels&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-ship-attacks-0da6c2453fe2c4e5f81923c84c7d3f3a">threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships</a>&nbsp;again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sinking two of them and killing four sailors</a>&nbsp;from November 2023 until January of this year. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it. The Houthis also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.

Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744939148247.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. airstrikes targeting an oil port held by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen’s Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;killed 74 people and wounded 171 others, the group said Friday, marking the single-deadliest known attack under President Donald Trump’s new campaign targeting the rebels.Assessing the toll of Trump’s campaign,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-us-airstrikes-israel-hamas-278d07bc5aad75bb32e57f99a78cbe88">which began March 15</a>, has been incredibly difficult as the U.S. military’s Central Command so far has not released any information on the campaign, its specific targets and how many people have been killed. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi rebels strictly control access to areas attacked and don’t publish complete information on the strikes, many of which likely have targeted military and security sites.But the strike on the Ras Isa port, which sent massive fireballs shooting into the night sky, represented a major escalation for the American campaign by hitting oil facilities for the first time.In a statement, Central Command said that “U.S. forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years.”“This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully,” it added. It did not acknowledge any casualties from the attack or offer any damage assessment.Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC and analyzed by The Associated Press Friday showed destroyed tanks and vehicles at the port as oil leaks into the Red Sea.The Iranian-backed Houthis later Friday launched a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, the Israeli military said. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and other areas.The war in Yemen, meanwhile, further internationalized as the U.S. alleged a Chinese satellite company was “directly supporting” Houthi attacks, something Beijing declined to directly comment on Friday. And a second round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. over Tehran's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-program-us-tensions-explains-25acc4bfbbe165a374a58ebfa6a4ab41">rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>, which America has linked to the Yemen campaign, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-talks-iaea-zarif-tehran-c3a8afc699c670300b9521f1e2019ef7">due to happen Saturday in Rome</a>.<h2>US strikes spark massive fireball</h2>The Ras Isa port, a collection of oil tanks and refining equipment, sits in Yemen's Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea. It is just off Kamaran Island, targeted by intense U.S. airstrikes over the past few days.The Houthis’ al-Masirah satellite news channel aired graphic footage of the aftermath, showing corpses strewn across the site and smashed tanker trucks ablaze.The port also is the terminus of an oil pipeline stretching to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-dubai-iran-iran-nuclear-united-arab-emirates-f81982b0ce4a4c65b8c94f6ff2517594">Yemen's energy-rich Marib governorate</a>, which remains held by allies of Yemen's exiled government. The Houthis expelled that government from Yemen's capital, Sanaa, back in 2014. However, oil exports have been halted by the decadelong war and the Houthis have used Ras Isa to bring in oil.Ras Isa takes in gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas for the Houthis. The damage from the strikes could have serious impacts on life in Houthi-held areas of Yemen.The Houthis denounced the U.S. attack as a “completely unjustified aggression.”“It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades," the Houthis said in a statement.On April 9, the U.S. State Department issued a warning about oil shipments to Yemen, saying it would “not tolerate any country or commercial entity providing support to foreign terrorist organizations, such as the Houthis.”The attack follows Israeli airstrikes on the Houthis which previously hit port and oil infrastructure used by the rebels after their attacks on Israel, including Ras Isa.<h2>Oil depot attack deadliest so far known in Trump's Yemen campaign</h2>The attack represented the deadliest known attack so far in the campaign, analysts said. However, “it’s been so difficult to assess the fatalities,” said Luca Nevola, the senior analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at the Armed Conflict Location &amp; Event Data Project.“Since they are targeting civilian areas, there’s a lot more victims but it’s also difficult to assess how many because the Houthis are releasing these umbrella statements that cover all the victims ... or tend to stress only the civilian victims,” Nevola said.Further complicating the situation is the U.S. strikes hitting military targets, said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report risk advisory firm. He pointed to an American attack that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-us-airstrikes-israel-hamas-war-87ca0be8a841ce3e939d65ee72d2c021">Trump highlighted online with black-and-white strike footage</a>, that may have killed some 70 fighters.“Although the Houthis claimed it was a tribal gathering, they neither released any footage nor named a single casualty, strongly suggesting the victims were not civilians but affiliated fighters,” al-Basha said. “However, the overnight strike on the Ras Isa Fuel Port marks the first mass-casualty incident the Houthis have openly acknowledged and publicized.”<h2>Chinese satellite firm accused by US of aiding Houthi attacks</h2>Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce in a briefing with journalists accused Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., a commercial satellite image provider, of “directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests.”Bruce did not elaborate in detail, but acknowledged a report by The Financial Times that quoted anonymous American officials saying the firm linked to the People’s Liberation Army has provided images allowing the rebels to target U.S. warships and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea corridor.Bruce said “Beijing's support ... of the satellite company” “contradicts their claims of being peace supporters.”Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, responding to a question about the allegation, said Friday: “I am not familiar with the situation you mentioned." However, he insisted China is seen as urging countries “to make more efforts conducive to regional peace and stability.”“Since the escalations in the Red Sea situation, China has been playing a positive role in de-escalating the situation,” Lin said. “Who is promoting talks for peace and de-escalating the tensions, and who is imposing sanctions and pressure?”Chang Guang did not respond to request for comment. The U.S. Treasury sanctioned the company in 2023 for allegedly providing satellite images to the Russian mercenary force&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/wagner-group">the Wagner Group</a>&nbsp;as it fought in Ukraine.It remains unclear whether Chang Guang is linked to the Chinese government. The U.S. government in the past has used images taken by American commercial satellite companies to share with allies, like Ukraine, to avoid releasing its own top-secret pictures.<h2>US strikes are part of monthlong intense campaign</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-us-airstrikes-israel-hamas-278d07bc5aad75bb32e57f99a78cbe88">An AP review</a>&nbsp;has found the new U.S. operation against the Houthis under President Donald Trump appears&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3WJ-C2gpDA">more extensive</a>&nbsp;than that under former President Joe Biden. The new campaign of airstrikes started after the rebels&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-ship-attacks-0da6c2453fe2c4e5f81923c84c7d3f3a">threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships</a>&nbsp;again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip.The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sinking two of them and killing four sailors</a>&nbsp;from November 2023 until January of this year. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it. The Houthis also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.___Associated Press writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.

US airstrikes target a Yemeni oil port in single-deadliest attack under Trump

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for a fatal shooting that took place in south Kansas City in 2023, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2569/Baker-Judgement-Redacted">Dinsmore Baker, 47, pled guilt</a>y&nbsp;to 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

He received 18 years for 2nd Degree Murder and five years for Armed Criminal Action, which will run consecutively. He also received a five-year sentence for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, which will be served at the same time as the other two counts.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2568/BakerDinsmore---PCStatement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to East 85th Street and Holmes Road on June 15, 2023, on a sound of shots call. Witnesses told detectives the defendant shot into their vehicle and struck the passenger in the head, killing him. Witnesses said Baker was an ex-boyfriend of the driver.

Baker has a history of domestic assault, violating a protection order, and reported threatening, erratic, and violent behavior.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744203480976.png" alt="Baker photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Baker photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for a fatal shooting that took place in south Kansas City in 2023, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2569/Baker-Judgement-Redacted">Dinsmore Baker, 47, pled guilt</a>y&nbsp;to 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. He received 18 years for 2nd Degree Murder and five years for Armed Criminal Action, which will run consecutively. He also received a five-year sentence for Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, which will be served at the same time as the other two counts.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2568/BakerDinsmore---PCStatement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to East 85th Street and Holmes Road on June 15, 2023, on a sound of shots call. Witnesses told detectives the defendant shot into their vehicle and struck the passenger in the head, killing him. Witnesses said Baker was an ex-boyfriend of the driver.Baker has a history of domestic assault, violating a protection order, and reported threatening, erratic, and violent behavior.

Prison for murder of victim in car with his ex-girlfriend

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday in El Salvador with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, a man who was sent there by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportees-el-salvador-contempt-boasberg-da282511ac6f5c8dd19af620995ca440">Trump administration</a>&nbsp;in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.

Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife “to pass along his message of love.” The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S.

El Salvador’s Presidnet Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post, saying “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ &amp; ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!”

The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcia's well-being and push for his release.

The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">Terrorism Confinement Center</a>, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on.

“They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed," Van Hollen said.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Bukele&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-white-house-el-salvador-kilmar-abrego-garcia-ad338d6b4558a6aba80e8290fd3eece9">said this week</a>&nbsp;that they have no basis to send Abrego Garcia back, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">facilitate his return</a>. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity.

Van Hollen’s trip has become a partisan flashpoint in the U.S. as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-trump-salvador-due-process-a1265923d0188dc375b01205a0742ac2">Democrats have seized on</a>&nbsp;Abrego Garcia's deportation as what they say is a cruel consequence of Trump's disregard for the courts. Republicans have criticized Democrats for defending him and argued that his deportation is part of a larger effort to reduce crime. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a news conference Wednesday with the mother of a Maryland woman who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023.

The Maryland senator told reporters Wednesday that he met with Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa, who said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States.

“So today, I tried again to make contact with Mr. Abrego Garcia by driving to the CECOT prison,” Van Hollen said Thursday.

Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia has not had any contact with his family or his lawyers. “There has been no ability to find out anything about his health and well-being," Van Hollen said. He said Abrego Garcia should be able to have contact with his lawyers under international law.

“We won’t give up until Kilmar has his due process rights respected,” Van Hollen said. He said there would be “many more” lawmakers coming to El Salvador.

New Jersey Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cory-booker-new-jersey-senator-speech-ab573bb7c3c76fa107cacac7136d3823">Cory Booker</a>, D-N.J., is also considering a trip to El Salvador, as are some House Democrats.

While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">notorious gang prison</a>&nbsp;in support of the Trump administration's efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that he’d visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility “houses the country’s most brutal criminals.”

“I leave now even more determined to support President Trump’s efforts to secure our homeland,” Moore wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepRileyMoore/status/1912289444863828144">social media</a>.

Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that “thanks to President Trump" the facility “now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans.”

The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-maryland-father-deported-el-salvador-6de340ac95f2abb5fd3688fc1679fd66">repeated refusals</a>&nbsp;from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him.

Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants</a>&nbsp;— whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes — and placed them inside the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">maximum-security gang prison</a>&nbsp;just outside San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukele’s broader effort to crack down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-bukele-central-america-crime-gangs-60c3a34c571dfdbdf0a203deb85abf71">on the country’s powerful street gangs</a>, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home.

Human rights groups have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-human-rights-abuses-amnesty-international-bukele-9e6df04aed5b8a21b02e8614b345105a">accused</a>&nbsp;Bukele's government of subjecting those jailed to “systematic use of torture and other mistreatment." Officials there deny wrongdoing.

SAN SALVADOR (AP) — Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen met Thursday in El Salvador with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-el-salvador-trump-deported-e537cfb69a9840046b5d3e512509e9a8">Kilmar Abrego Garcia</a>, a man who was sent there by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportees-el-salvador-contempt-boasberg-da282511ac6f5c8dd19af620995ca440">Trump administration</a>&nbsp;in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return. <a href="https://t.co/U9y2gZpxCb">pic.twitter.com/U9y2gZpxCb</a>&mdash; Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisVanHollen/status/1913034619710034094?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife “to pass along his message of love.” The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the “death camps” &amp; “torture”, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!🍹 <a href="https://t.co/r6VWc6Fjtn">pic.twitter.com/r6VWc6Fjtn</a>&mdash; Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) <a href="https://twitter.com/nayibbukele/status/1913028548001923259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>El Salvador’s Presidnet Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post, saying “Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ &amp; ‘torture’, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!”The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcia's well-being and push for his release.The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers (about 2 miles) from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">Terrorism Confinement Center</a>, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on.“They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed," Van Hollen said.U.S. President Donald Trump and Bukele&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-white-house-el-salvador-kilmar-abrego-garcia-ad338d6b4558a6aba80e8290fd3eece9">said this week</a>&nbsp;that they have no basis to send Abrego Garcia back, even as the Trump administration has called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-maryland-deportation-trump-9f46dd62890befdc321ed1ab56107470">facilitate his return</a>. Trump officials have said that Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, has ties to the MS-13 gang, but his attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of that and Abrego Garcia has never been charged with any crime related to such activity.Van Hollen’s trip has become a partisan flashpoint in the U.S. as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-trump-salvador-due-process-a1265923d0188dc375b01205a0742ac2">Democrats have seized on</a>&nbsp;Abrego Garcia's deportation as what they say is a cruel consequence of Trump's disregard for the courts. Republicans have criticized Democrats for defending him and argued that his deportation is part of a larger effort to reduce crime. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt held a news conference Wednesday with the mother of a Maryland woman who was killed by a fugitive from El Salvador in 2023.The Maryland senator told reporters Wednesday that he met with Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa, who said his government could not return Abrego Garcia to the United States.“So today, I tried again to make contact with Mr. Abrego Garcia by driving to the CECOT prison,” Van Hollen said Thursday.Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia has not had any contact with his family or his lawyers. “There has been no ability to find out anything about his health and well-being," Van Hollen said. He said Abrego Garcia should be able to have contact with his lawyers under international law.“We won’t give up until Kilmar has his due process rights respected,” Van Hollen said. He said there would be “many more” lawmakers coming to El Salvador.New Jersey Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cory-booker-new-jersey-senator-speech-ab573bb7c3c76fa107cacac7136d3823">Cory Booker</a>, D-N.J., is also considering a trip to El Salvador, as are some House Democrats.While Van Hollen was denied entry, several House Republicans have visited the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">notorious gang prison</a>&nbsp;in support of the Trump administration's efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that he’d visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. He did not mention Abrego Garcia but said the facility “houses the country’s most brutal criminals.”“I leave now even more determined to support President Trump’s efforts to secure our homeland,” Moore wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/RepRileyMoore/status/1912289444863828144">social media</a>.Missouri Republican Rep. Jason Smith, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, also visited the prison. He posted on X that “thanks to President Trump" the facility “now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans.”The fight over Abrego Garcia has also played out in contentious court filings, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abrego-garcia-maryland-father-deported-el-salvador-6de340ac95f2abb5fd3688fc1679fd66">repeated refusals</a>&nbsp;from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him.Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants</a>&nbsp;— whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes — and placed them inside the country’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">maximum-security gang prison</a>&nbsp;just outside San Salvador. That prison is part of Bukele’s broader effort to crack down&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-bukele-central-america-crime-gangs-60c3a34c571dfdbdf0a203deb85abf71">on the country’s powerful street gangs</a>, which has put 84,000 people behind bars and made Bukele extremely popular at home.Human rights groups have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-human-rights-abuses-amnesty-international-bukele-9e6df04aed5b8a21b02e8614b345105a">accused</a>&nbsp;Bukele's government of subjecting those jailed to “systematic use of torture and other mistreatment." Officials there deny wrongdoing.

Senator meets with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador amid fight over US return

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with illegally collecting more than $100,000 by defrauding a federal program aimed at helping people who lost their livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to court documents, Kylie Charles, 35, of Wichita is charged with 17 counts of wire fraud and 17 counts of aggravated identity theft, according to the United State's Attorney.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided financial relief to Americans dealing with the economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. The program expanded unemployment benefits to some people who would not typically qualify such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, those with a limited work history, and people who lost their business as a result of the pandemic.

Between May 2020 and August 2021, Charles is accused of stealing the identities of people she knew and using their information without their knowledge or consent to file false claims in multiple states for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act program.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744821348694.png" alt="Charles is being held in Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Charles is being held in Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned an indictment charging a Kansas woman with illegally collecting more than $100,000 by defrauding a federal program aimed at helping people who lost their livelihoods during the COVID-19 pandemic.According to court documents, Kylie Charles, 35, of Wichita is charged with 17 counts of wire fraud and 17 counts of aggravated identity theft, according to the United State's Attorney.The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) provided financial relief to Americans dealing with the economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic. The program expanded unemployment benefits to some people who would not typically qualify such as business owners, self-employed workers, independent contractors, those with a limited work history, and people who lost their business as a result of the pandemic.Between May 2020 and August 2021, Charles is accused of stealing the identities of people she knew and using their information without their knowledge or consent to file false claims in multiple states for unemployment benefits under the CARES Act program.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case.