The Missouri Supreme Court is questioning whether it should be the tribunal to hear the appeal of a Jackson County decision blocking enforcement of most Missouri abortion laws and regulations

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

The Missouri Supreme Court isn’t as ready to hear the appeal of a ruling that allowed abortions to resume in the state as Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;is to argue it&nbsp;in front of the seven judges.

In filings for an appeal of Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-trumps-most-restrictions-judge-rules/">July 3 preliminary injunction</a>, Bailey’s office asked for an expedited schedule and a hearing the week of Aug. 11. The two Planned Parenthood organizations suing to block enforcement of laws regulating abortion, represented by the ACLU of Missouri, agreed there should be an expedited schedule but suggested arguments the week of Aug. 18 would be better.

But instead of setting a schedule, the court has directed the attorneys to explain why it should hear arguments at all. The two sides&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC101176show%20cause%20order.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=210465" target="_blank">have until Friday</a>&nbsp;“to show cause as to why this court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over this appeal” under&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=V++++3&amp;bid=31898&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">the Missouri Constitution</a>.

“It means somebody’s questioning whether they’ve got the authority, the jurisdictional authority, to hear this case,” said Heidi Vollet, an attorney fromJefferson City who clerked for then-U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in 2001 and teaches appellate law to other practicing attorneys for continuing legal education.&nbsp;

“That doesn’t mean they’ve decided one way or the other, that they do or do not,” she said. “So show cause means that they’re concerned enough about it that there’s a question and they want to hear from the parties on that subject.”

Zhang’s July 3 ruling allowed surgical abortions to resume, and Planned Parenthood clinics are providing appointments for women in St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City. The clinics cannot offer medication abortions because the ruling did not block enforcement of a law requiring clinics to have complication plans for women who experience issues after taking the drugs. The state has thus far not signed off on a complication plan submitted earlier this year.

The order blocked the regulation describing what must be in the complication plan, such as access to a physician at all hours, but not the law itself requiring the plans.

Vollet said the Supreme Court has a limited number of cases where the law bypasses the three district appellate courts, usually the first stop in the appeals process. One set of cases involve the validity “of a statute or provision of the constitution of this state…”

If the type of case isn’t listed with the categories where the Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction, an appeal must generally be filed first with the court of appeals.

The show-cause order’s reference to the court’s exclusive jurisdiction is not a question the court had to ask, said former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Wolff.

“The Supreme Court has the authority to bypass the court of appeals and take an appeal directly,” Wolff said.

It will be up to Bailey’s office to show the court it has exclusive jurisdiction, or for Planned Parenthood to admit that having a statute declared invalid is their goal, for the court to agree to hear the case, Wolff said.

Bailey’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

The ACLU said the court made the right move by issuing the show-cause order.

“The Missouri Supreme Court is correct to seek the parties’ positions to the question of jurisdiction,” said spokesman Tom Bastian. “This is the first time we have seen a direct appeal on a circuit court ordered preliminary injunction to the Missouri Supreme Court, whose authority is set by the Constitution.”

In the appeal, Bailey’s office is asking the court to decide that the case should not be before Zhang at all, but in Cole County. The appeal also asks the court to declare that Zhang used the wrong legal standard when issuing the preliminary injunction.

Because the ruling from Zhang is a preliminary injunction, it is not final. That means she has not yet decided whether the state laws her orders block violate the terms of the abortion rights amendment approved by voters in November. Instead, her decision is based on the likelihood the Planned Parenthood plaintiffs will prevail at trial and which side is damaged more, the plaintiffs if the laws are enforced or the state that will see its laws go unenforced.

The show-cause order doesn’t necessarily alter the timeline either party requested for an expedited hearing, Vollet said.

“They absolutely are interested to know about jurisdiction,” she said. “And they’re looking at that presumably before they order a certain time frame.”

This is the second time the question of whether Zhang had grounds to block enforcement of state abortion laws and regulations has come before the court. In May, the court issued a writ ordering Zhang to withdraw&nbsp;two previous preliminary injunctions&nbsp;issued by Zhang.

It is the first time Bailey’s office has used a power&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-approve-bill-targeting-pending-abortion-lawsuit/">newly granted by the legislature</a>&nbsp;to appeal a preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of any provision of the constitution, state law or regulation.

The law was an attack on abortion rights, Bastian said, because it was passed only because of the case being heard by Zhang.

“The law allows the state, and only the state, to appeal interlocutory preliminary injunctions that temporarily block the enforcement of laws that likely violate the constitution,” Bastian said.

But the new law, which took effect April 24 with Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature, does not assign jurisdiction over those appeals to a particular court.&nbsp;

“For very good reason, if this doesn’t belong in the Supreme Court, they’re much better off,” Wolff said. “This is my personal view of it, but by letting the Court of Appeals decide this in the first instance, and then they can take it, take transfer or not take transfer, depending on how badly the court of appeals screwed it up, or not at all.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753206867141.png" alt=" The Missouri Supreme Court issued a show-cause order last week asking why it should hear the appeal of a preliminary injunction that made abortion legally available in the state. The judges, shown in a Sept. 10, 2024, photo, are, from left, Kelly Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary Russell, Zel Fischer, Paul Wilson and Ginger Gooch. (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch)." />
 <figcaption> The Missouri Supreme Court issued a show-cause order last week asking why it should hear the appeal of a preliminary injunction that made abortion legally available in the state. The judges, shown in a Sept. 10, 2024, photo, are, from left, Kelly Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary Russell, Zel Fischer, Paul Wilson and Ginger Gooch. (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri Supreme Court is questioning whether it should be the tribunal to hear the appeal of a Jackson County decision blocking enforcement of most Missouri abortion laws and regulations</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Supreme Court isn’t as ready to hear the appeal of a ruling that allowed abortions to resume in the state as Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;is to argue it&nbsp;in front of the seven judges.In filings for an appeal of Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-trumps-most-restrictions-judge-rules/">July 3 preliminary injunction</a>, Bailey’s office asked for an expedited schedule and a hearing the week of Aug. 11. The two Planned Parenthood organizations suing to block enforcement of laws regulating abortion, represented by the ACLU of Missouri, agreed there should be an expedited schedule but suggested arguments the week of Aug. 18 would be better.But instead of setting a schedule, the court has directed the attorneys to explain why it should hear arguments at all. The two sides&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC101176show%20cause%20order.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=210465" target="_blank">have until Friday</a>&nbsp;“to show cause as to why this court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over this appeal” under&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=V++++3&amp;bid=31898&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">the Missouri Constitution</a>.“It means somebody’s questioning whether they’ve got the authority, the jurisdictional authority, to hear this case,” said Heidi Vollet, an attorney fromJefferson City who clerked for then-U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in 2001 and teaches appellate law to other practicing attorneys for continuing legal education.&nbsp;“That doesn’t mean they’ve decided one way or the other, that they do or do not,” she said. “So show cause means that they’re concerned enough about it that there’s a question and they want to hear from the parties on that subject.”Zhang’s July 3 ruling allowed surgical abortions to resume, and Planned Parenthood clinics are providing appointments for women in St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City. The clinics cannot offer medication abortions because the ruling did not block enforcement of a law requiring clinics to have complication plans for women who experience issues after taking the drugs. The state has thus far not signed off on a complication plan submitted earlier this year.The order blocked the regulation describing what must be in the complication plan, such as access to a physician at all hours, but not the law itself requiring the plans.Vollet said the Supreme Court has a limited number of cases where the law bypasses the three district appellate courts, usually the first stop in the appeals process. One set of cases involve the validity “of a statute or provision of the constitution of this state…”If the type of case isn’t listed with the categories where the Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction, an appeal must generally be filed first with the court of appeals.The show-cause order’s reference to the court’s exclusive jurisdiction is not a question the court had to ask, said former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Wolff.“The Supreme Court has the authority to bypass the court of appeals and take an appeal directly,” Wolff said.It will be up to Bailey’s office to show the court it has exclusive jurisdiction, or for Planned Parenthood to admit that having a statute declared invalid is their goal, for the court to agree to hear the case, Wolff said.Bailey’s office did not respond to a request for comment.The ACLU said the court made the right move by issuing the show-cause order.“The Missouri Supreme Court is correct to seek the parties’ positions to the question of jurisdiction,” said spokesman Tom Bastian. “This is the first time we have seen a direct appeal on a circuit court ordered preliminary injunction to the Missouri Supreme Court, whose authority is set by the Constitution.”In the appeal, Bailey’s office is asking the court to decide that the case should not be before Zhang at all, but in Cole County. The appeal also asks the court to declare that Zhang used the wrong legal standard when issuing the preliminary injunction.Because the ruling from Zhang is a preliminary injunction, it is not final. That means she has not yet decided whether the state laws her orders block violate the terms of the abortion rights amendment approved by voters in November. Instead, her decision is based on the likelihood the Planned Parenthood plaintiffs will prevail at trial and which side is damaged more, the plaintiffs if the laws are enforced or the state that will see its laws go unenforced.The show-cause order doesn’t necessarily alter the timeline either party requested for an expedited hearing, Vollet said.“They absolutely are interested to know about jurisdiction,” she said. “And they’re looking at that presumably before they order a certain time frame.”This is the second time the question of whether Zhang had grounds to block enforcement of state abortion laws and regulations has come before the court. In May, the court issued a writ ordering Zhang to withdraw&nbsp;two previous preliminary injunctions&nbsp;issued by Zhang.It is the first time Bailey’s office has used a power&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-approve-bill-targeting-pending-abortion-lawsuit/">newly granted by the legislature</a>&nbsp;to appeal a preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of any provision of the constitution, state law or regulation.The law was an attack on abortion rights, Bastian said, because it was passed only because of the case being heard by Zhang.“The law allows the state, and only the state, to appeal interlocutory preliminary injunctions that temporarily block the enforcement of laws that likely violate the constitution,” Bastian said.But the new law, which took effect April 24 with Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature, does not assign jurisdiction over those appeals to a particular court.&nbsp;“For very good reason, if this doesn’t belong in the Supreme Court, they’re much better off,” Wolff said. “This is my personal view of it, but by letting the Court of Appeals decide this in the first instance, and then they can take it, take transfer or not take transfer, depending on how badly the court of appeals screwed it up, or not at all.”

Jurisdiction issues emerge in AG’s appeal of ruling legalizing abortion in Missouri

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the devastating flash flooding in central Texas, many are looking for ways to get and give help. And scammers are looking to prey on people’s generosity. So how can you make sure your donations go to the people who need them and not to a scammer?

To learn more about how to donate safely, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/charity">ftc.gov/charity</a>.

For advice to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from weather emergencies and the scams that follow, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/dealing-weather-emergencies">ftc.gov/weatheremergencies</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751724141131.png" alt="Heavy rains in&nbsp; Kerr County and elsewhere in central Texas caused severe flooding and loss of life. Photo by City of Kerrville Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Heavy rains in&nbsp; Kerr County and elsewhere in central Texas caused severe flooding and loss of life. Photo by City of Kerrville Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>Federal Trade CommissionWASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the devastating flash flooding in central Texas, many are looking for ways to get and give help. And scammers are looking to prey on people’s generosity. So how can you make sure your donations go to the people who need them and not to a scammer?<ul>
 <li>Donate to charities you know and trust&nbsp;with a proven track record of dealing with disasters.</li><li>Before you give, research the charity yourself&nbsp;— especially if the donation request comes on social media. Check out the charity on the Better Business Bureau’s&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgive.org%2F&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2025%2F07%2Fhelp-people-affected-flooding-texas-not-scammer%3Futm_source%3Dgovdelivery">Give.org</a>, or&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/now-leaving?external_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.charitywatch.org%2F&amp;back_url=https%3A%2F%2Fconsumer.ftc.gov%2Fconsumer-alerts%2F2024%2F10%2Fafter-disaster-make-your-donations-count">Charity&nbsp;Watch</a>. Find out exactly how much of your donation will go directly to the people the charity says it helps.</li><li>Don’t donate to anyone who insists you must pay by cash, gift card, wiring money, or cryptocurrency. That’s how scammers tell you to pay. If you decide to donate, paying by credit card gives you more protections.</li><li>Be cautious about giving to individuals on&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/donating-through-crowdfunding-social-media-and-fundraising-platforms">crowdfunding sites</a>.&nbsp;Know that money raised in a crowdfunding campaign goes to the campaign organizer, not directly to the people or cause it’s set up to help. Review the platform’s policies — does it take measures to verify postings that ask for help after a disaster? And know that donating via crowdfunding is not tax deductible.</li><li>Confirm the number before you text to donate.&nbsp;If someone asks you to donate by text, call the number on the charity’s website to confirm you have the right number to donate by text.</li>
 </ul>To learn more about how to donate safely, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ftc.gov/charity">ftc.gov/charity</a>. For advice to help you prepare for, deal with, and recover from weather emergencies and the scams that follow, check out&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/features/dealing-weather-emergencies">ftc.gov/weatheremergencies</a>.

FTC: Help the people affected by flooding in Texas — not a scammer

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Heavy rainfall Monday night slowed the Ellis County Fire Department’s response to a hay bale fire.

Ellis County Assistant Fire Chief Lyle Pantle said the department received a call at 8:22 p.m. for the fire south of the 1800 block of Saline River Road.

Pantle said reaching the site was difficult because the muddy field prevented fire trucks from accessing it. At 9:07 p.m., Ellis County Fire Chief Darin Myers radioed from the scene, saying that they expected to be on site for an extended period.

Pantle said lighter pickups were used to transport personnel and tools, including rakes, shovels and pitchforks, to spread out the hay bale since tightly rolled bales can take hours to burn. Additional rainfall also helped extinguish the fire.

Pantle said the official cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, but a lightning strike is suspected. No injuries were reported.

Ellis County Public Works Director Brendan Mackay said the fire department notified them at 10 p.m. about water over Saline River Road, but it had receded by 4 a.m. Tuesday.

No damage was reported as a result of the flooding.

Flash flood warnings were in effect for Ellis and Trego counties from about 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4a952903-297f-49e5-8315-c544bc415bac">SEE RELATED STORY: Welcome rain falls in Hays overnight Monday</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751902451563.jpg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostHeavy rainfall Monday night slowed the Ellis County Fire Department’s response to a hay bale fire.Ellis County Assistant Fire Chief Lyle Pantle said the department received a call at 8:22 p.m. for the fire south of the 1800 block of Saline River Road.Pantle said reaching the site was difficult because the muddy field prevented fire trucks from accessing it. At 9:07 p.m., Ellis County Fire Chief Darin Myers radioed from the scene, saying that they expected to be on site for an extended period.Pantle said lighter pickups were used to transport personnel and tools, including rakes, shovels and pitchforks, to spread out the hay bale since tightly rolled bales can take hours to burn. Additional rainfall also helped extinguish the fire.Pantle said the official cause of the fire hasn’t been determined, but a lightning strike is suspected. No injuries were reported.Ellis County Public Works Director Brendan Mackay said the fire department notified them at 10 p.m. about water over Saline River Road, but it had receded by 4 a.m. Tuesday.No damage was reported as a result of the flooding.Flash flood warnings were in effect for Ellis and Trego counties from about 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4a952903-297f-49e5-8315-c544bc415bac">SEE RELATED STORY: Welcome rain falls in Hays overnight Monday</a>

Ellis County rain delays fire response, lightning suspected as cause

WASHINGTON (AP) —Coca-Cola said Tuesday it will add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to its U.S. lineup this fall, confirming a recent announcement by President Donald Trump.

Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-coca-cola-real-sugar-corn-syrup-be3111be856dcffea8c5e004259c37c8">agreed to use real cane sugar</a>&nbsp;in its flagship product in the U.S., which has been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s. Coke didn't immediately confirm the change, but promised new offerings soon.

On Tuesday, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range “to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences.”

“We appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand,” Quincey said in a conference call with investors Tuesday. “We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options."

Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other U.S. drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. Coke has also sold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-c074fc0b315e4625bdd7810112215bb7">Mexican Coke</a>, which is made with cane sugar, in the U.S. since 2005.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there’s an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving,” Quincey said. “It’s a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things.”

Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the U.S. since 2009.

Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its trademark cola — as PepsiCo did this week — Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fiber in Japan and is studying consumer response to it.

Quincey said consumer demand for its products improved in the second quarter in many markets, including China, Europe, Africa and North America.

“I would I would say overall that the global economy and the global consumer remains resilient,” Quincey said.

But early monsoons and conflict hurt demand in India, and Quincey said demand in Thailand and Indonesia was also weaker than expected. Quincey also said lower-income consumers in the U.S. and elsewhere have also pulled back on spending.

Global case volumes of Coca-Cola fell 1%. Juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4%, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3%, as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America.

One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which saw case volumes grow 14%. Traditional Coca-Cola still&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cocacola-making-coke-cane-sugar-0404b23518e65e2e6cd3487381411d7f">far outsells the zero-sugar variety</a>, but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly.

In North America, case volumes fell 1%, but that was an improvement from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cocacola-profit-tariffs-earnings-2fc769ce037319481ff365caf6933b77">first quarter</a>, when they were down 3%.

Quincey said Hispanic sales in the U.S. returned to normal levels by the end of June. They had plummeted starting in February, when a social media video began circulating that claimed Coke was reporting its own workers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

Quincey said the claim was false. The company has been trying to win back Hispanic consumers with targeted deals and ads touting the company’s local economic impact.

“It was still a headwind in the second quarter but the issue is now largely resolved,” Quincey said Tuesday.

Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset the weaker volumes. Coke said pricing rose 6% globally.

Revenue for the Atlanta company rose 1% to $12.5 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, quarterly revenue was $12.6 billion. That was in line with Wall Street’s forecast, according to analysts polled by FactSet.

Net income jumped 58% to $3.8 billion. Coke's adjusted net income was 87 cents, which was higher than the 83 cents Wall Street forecast.

Coke said it now expects full-year adjusted earnings to grow 8%. At the start of the year, Coke had expected earnings to grow 8% to 10%, but in April it lowered that range to 7% to 9%. Coke earned $2.88 per share in 2024.

Shares of Coca-Cola Co. were down 1% in early trading Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Coca-Cola said Tuesday it will add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to its U.S. lineup this fall, confirming a recent announcement by President Donald Trump.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;I have been speaking to <a href="https://twitter.com/CocaCola?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CocaCola</a> about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!&quot; –President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/9L27oxlYUj">pic.twitter.com/9L27oxlYUj</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1945588887847375341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-coca-cola-real-sugar-corn-syrup-be3111be856dcffea8c5e004259c37c8">agreed to use real cane sugar</a>&nbsp;in its flagship product in the U.S., which has been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s. Coke didn't immediately confirm the change, but promised new offerings soon.On Tuesday, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range “to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences.”“We appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand,” Quincey said in a conference call with investors Tuesday. “We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options."Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other U.S. drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. Coke has also sold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-c074fc0b315e4625bdd7810112215bb7">Mexican Coke</a>, which is made with cane sugar, in the U.S. since 2005.“We’re always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there’s an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving,” Quincey said. “It’s a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things.”Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the U.S. since 2009.Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its trademark cola — as PepsiCo did this week — Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fiber in Japan and is studying consumer response to it.Quincey said consumer demand for its products improved in the second quarter in many markets, including China, Europe, Africa and North America.“I would I would say overall that the global economy and the global consumer remains resilient,” Quincey said.But early monsoons and conflict hurt demand in India, and Quincey said demand in Thailand and Indonesia was also weaker than expected. Quincey also said lower-income consumers in the U.S. and elsewhere have also pulled back on spending.Global case volumes of Coca-Cola fell 1%. Juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4%, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3%, as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America.One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which saw case volumes grow 14%. Traditional Coca-Cola still&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cocacola-making-coke-cane-sugar-0404b23518e65e2e6cd3487381411d7f">far outsells the zero-sugar variety</a>, but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly.In North America, case volumes fell 1%, but that was an improvement from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cocacola-profit-tariffs-earnings-2fc769ce037319481ff365caf6933b77">first quarter</a>, when they were down 3%.Quincey said Hispanic sales in the U.S. returned to normal levels by the end of June. They had plummeted starting in February, when a social media video began circulating that claimed Coke was reporting its own workers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.Quincey said the claim was false. The company has been trying to win back Hispanic consumers with targeted deals and ads touting the company’s local economic impact.“It was still a headwind in the second quarter but the issue is now largely resolved,” Quincey said Tuesday.Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset the weaker volumes. Coke said pricing rose 6% globally.Revenue for the Atlanta company rose 1% to $12.5 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, quarterly revenue was $12.6 billion. That was in line with Wall Street’s forecast, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Net income jumped 58% to $3.8 billion. Coke's adjusted net income was 87 cents, which was higher than the 83 cents Wall Street forecast.Coke said it now expects full-year adjusted earnings to grow 8%. At the start of the year, Coke had expected earnings to grow 8% to 10%, but in April it lowered that range to 7% to 9%. Coke earned $2.88 per share in 2024.Shares of Coca-Cola Co. were down 1% in early trading Tuesday.

Coca-Cola to add new drink made with cane sugar after Trump's request

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

After a high of 102 degrees Monday, the temperature cooled off a little as a summertime thunderstorm moved through Hays during the evening hours and overnight.

The official total&nbsp; amount of rain measured at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town was 1.46 inches. The Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall, received 1.50 inches.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e67f10b8-70f3-45f7-a002-76990b4a3f5a">Flash flood warnings</a> were issued for Ellis and Trego Counties from just before 8 p.m. until 1 a.m.

Hays still remains about an inch below normal for the month of July and the year-to-date.

Average monthly moisture for July is 3.33 inches. As of July 21, Hays has received 2.39 inches. Average moisture for the year to-date is 14.67 inches. Hays has measured&nbsp;13.43 inches so far in 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718896799079.jpeg" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostAfter a high of 102 degrees Monday, the temperature cooled off a little as a summertime thunderstorm moved through Hays during the evening hours and overnight.The official total&nbsp; amount of rain measured at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town was 1.46 inches. The Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall, received 1.50 inches.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/e67f10b8-70f3-45f7-a002-76990b4a3f5a">Flash flood warnings</a> were issued for Ellis and Trego Counties from just before 8 p.m. until 1 a.m.Hays still remains about an inch below normal for the month of July and the year-to-date.Average monthly moisture for July is 3.33 inches. As of July 21, Hays has received 2.39 inches. Average moisture for the year to-date is 14.67 inches. Hays has measured&nbsp;13.43 inches so far in 2025.

Welcome rain falls in Hays overnight Monday

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Brenda Meder, executive director of the Hays Arts Council about summer art center activities and the upcoming Fall Art Walk on Aug. 22.

<div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Summer activities at the Hays Arts Council" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=f9rfr-1908cba-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Brenda Meder, executive director of the Hays Arts Council about summer art center activities and the upcoming Fall Art Walk on Aug. 22.

🎙 Post Podcast: Summer activities at the Hays Arts Council

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Bazaar on the Bricks Sidewalk Sale is coming to the heart of Hays to give local vendors, businesses and nonprofits a chance to set up shop.

The sale runs from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Main Street. Lee Ann June, executive director of the Bricks in Downtown Hays, said the event will feature more than 50 vendors, along with downtown retailers.

"There's everything from your homemade food items to different nonprofits, and items to wear and personalize," June said.

The annual sale stretches from Eighth to 12th streets. The Downtown Hays Market will also take place alongside Bazaar on the Bricks at 7:30 a.m. under the Downtown Hays Pavilion.

Bryan VonFeldt, treasurer of the Bricks board of directors, said the day will also be full of family fun with a bouncy house, bubble machine and chalk for kids.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/36bedd43-80a3-489f-a1f9-7768ab328c62">SEE RELATED STORY: Post Podcast: 'The Bricks'&nbsp; board treasurer on Downtown Market, Bazaar on the Bricks</a>

Commemorative bricks will be sold at the event to help fund a shed for storing Downtown Hays Market supplies, June said.

You can visit the Bricks in Downtown Hays' <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/bazaar-on-the-bricks">website</a>&nbsp;for a vendor list and locations once they become available.&nbsp;You can also follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHays">Facebook</a>.

The event was previously known as the Sidewalk Bazaar, which started in 1963, and has undergone several changes. It was initially intended as an annual back-to-school clothing sale for downtown businesses.

You can find more information on the Bricks in Downtown Hays&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/bazaar-on-the-bricks">website</a>&nbsp;and follow them on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHays">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753113007078.jpeg" alt="Courtesy Photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostBazaar on the Bricks Sidewalk Sale is coming to the heart of Hays to give local vendors, businesses and nonprofits a chance to set up shop.The sale runs from 7:30 a.m. to noon on Main Street. Lee Ann June, executive director of the Bricks in Downtown Hays, said the event will feature more than 50 vendors, along with downtown retailers."There's everything from your homemade food items to different nonprofits, and items to wear and personalize," June said.The annual sale stretches from Eighth to 12th streets. The Downtown Hays Market will also take place alongside Bazaar on the Bricks at 7:30 a.m. under the Downtown Hays Pavilion.Bryan VonFeldt, treasurer of the Bricks board of directors, said the day will also be full of family fun with a bouncy house, bubble machine and chalk for kids.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/36bedd43-80a3-489f-a1f9-7768ab328c62">SEE RELATED STORY: Post Podcast: 'The Bricks'&nbsp; board treasurer on Downtown Market, Bazaar on the Bricks</a>Commemorative bricks will be sold at the event to help fund a shed for storing Downtown Hays Market supplies, June said.You can visit the Bricks in Downtown Hays' <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/bazaar-on-the-bricks">website</a>&nbsp;for a vendor list and locations once they become available.&nbsp;You can also follow them on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHays">Facebook</a>.The event was previously known as the Sidewalk Bazaar, which started in 1963, and has undergone several changes. It was initially intended as an annual back-to-school clothing sale for downtown businesses.You can find more information on the Bricks in Downtown Hays&nbsp;<a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/bazaar-on-the-bricks">website</a>&nbsp;and follow them on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/DowntownHays">Facebook</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bazaar on the Bricks Sidewalk Sale set for Saturday in Hays

CHICAGO (AP) — Salvador Perez homered twice and drove in four runs, Jac Caglianone and John Rave added solo shots and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago Cubs 12-4 on Monday night.

Chicago’s Matt Shaw and Carson Kelly went deep off Noah Cameron (4-4) in the second, but the rookie lefthander was in control for most of the first six innings. He allowed all four Cubs runs and seven hits while striking out six to help the Royals win their second straight.

Ben Brown (4-7), recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Iowa, replaced opener Ryan Brasier in the second and gave up six earned runs and seven hits while striking out four over the next four innings. Caglianone had a solo shot off Brown in the second and Perez added a two-run homer in the fourth.

Kansas City got RBI hits from Jonathan India and Bobby Witt Jr. to start a four-run fifth. The two scored on a throwing error and wild pitch, respectively.

Rave homered in the seventh off Chris Flexen, who gave up Perez’s two-run shot in a four-run eighth that ensured the Cubs’ second straight loss. Relievers John Schreiber and Andrew Hoffman kept Chicago scoreless, and Witt and Rave each finished with a pair of RBIs.

Shaw drove in three runs for the Cubs, who gave All-Star centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong the night off due to knee soreness.

Witt made the most of his at-bat in the fifth inning. He drove in Kyle Isbel with a single to put the Royals in front for good, stole second and went to third on Kelly’s errant pickoff throw, then scored on Brown’s wild pitch for the final run of the inning.

The top third of the Cubs’ order — Nico Hoerner, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki — was a combined 0 for 11.

Cubs LHP Matthew Boyd (10-3, 2.34 ERA) makes his first post-All Star break appearance Tuesday. Kansas City has not named a starter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753154061646.jpeg" alt="Photo Kansas City Royals" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City Royals</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — Salvador Perez homered twice and drove in four runs, Jac Caglianone and John Rave added solo shots and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago Cubs 12-4 on Monday night.Chicago’s Matt Shaw and Carson Kelly went deep off Noah Cameron (4-4) in the second, but the rookie lefthander was in control for most of the first six innings. He allowed all four Cubs runs and seven hits while striking out six to help the Royals win their second straight.Ben Brown (4-7), recalled earlier in the day from Triple-A Iowa, replaced opener Ryan Brasier in the second and gave up six earned runs and seven hits while striking out four over the next four innings. Caglianone had a solo shot off Brown in the second and Perez added a two-run homer in the fourth.Kansas City got RBI hits from Jonathan India and Bobby Witt Jr. to start a four-run fifth. The two scored on a throwing error and wild pitch, respectively.Rave homered in the seventh off Chris Flexen, who gave up Perez’s two-run shot in a four-run eighth that ensured the Cubs’ second straight loss. Relievers John Schreiber and Andrew Hoffman kept Chicago scoreless, and Witt and Rave each finished with a pair of RBIs.Shaw drove in three runs for the Cubs, who gave All-Star centerfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong the night off due to knee soreness.<h2>Key moment</h2>Witt made the most of his at-bat in the fifth inning. He drove in Kyle Isbel with a single to put the Royals in front for good, stole second and went to third on Kelly’s errant pickoff throw, then scored on Brown’s wild pitch for the final run of the inning.<h2>Key stat</h2>The top third of the Cubs’ order — Nico Hoerner, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki — was a combined 0 for 11.Up nextCubs LHP Matthew Boyd (10-3, 2.34 ERA) makes his first post-All Star break appearance Tuesday. Kansas City has not named a starter.

⚾ Perez, Caglianone and Rave homers power Royals over the Cubs

HAYS - It appears mother nature may be the only thing able to stop the Hays Larks. 

The Larks (28-4-1, 20-4 RMBL) had won 13-straight overall and 15 in a row at home entering Monday's regular season finale against Dodge City and had a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when rain and lightning moved in forcing the game be eventually be called.

Thomas Lyssy singled, advanced to third on a
Trent Baker base hit then stole home to give the Larks the early lead.


The Larks now head to Wichita where they will begin defense of their NBC World Series title Thursday at 6 p.m. against the Seattle Blackfins. 

There will be a link to watch the Larks games on the NBC YouTube page on Hays Post.

Hays Post SportsHAYS - It appears mother nature may be the only thing able to stop the Hays Larks. The Larks (28-4-1, 20-4 RMBL) had won 13-straight overall and 15 in a row at home entering Monday's regular season finale against Dodge City and had a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when rain and lightning moved in forcing the game be eventually be called.Thomas Lyssy singled, advanced to third on a
Trent Baker base hit then stole home to give the Larks the early lead.
The Larks now head to Wichita where they will begin defense of their NBC World Series title Thursday at 6 p.m. against the Seattle Blackfins. There will be a link to watch the Larks games on the NBC YouTube page on Hays Post.

⚾ Larks regular season finale rained out

The Kansas Association of Broadcasters announced its annual&nbsp;2025 Station Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting on Monday.&nbsp;

Eagle Radio and the Hays Post were honored with six awards in the medium-sized radio market division.

The winners will be recognized at the Kansas Association Station Awards Dinner during the association's Annual Convention in Manhattan on Oct. 6.&nbsp;

Dustin Armbruster, Mike Holliday - Best Morning Show, 101.9 FM - The Bull Morning Show&nbsp;- 1st&nbsp;Place

Gerard Wellbrock - Complete Sportscast&nbsp; -&nbsp;KJLS MIX 103.3 FM - 7 a.m. Sports&nbsp;- 2nd&nbsp;Place

Gerard Wellbrock - Sports Play-By-Play -&nbsp;FHSU Basketball -&nbsp;&nbsp;KJLS MIX 103.3 FM-&nbsp;&nbsp;2nd&nbsp;Place

Cristina Janney, Jordan Schaefer - Multimedia Storytelling - "A Voice for Karen" - Hays Post and KAYS 94.3 FM, 1400 AM - 1st&nbsp;Place

Read the four-part series "A Voice for Karen" links below:

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f6fb5eb0-494c-4518-992a-6bffdf7c38c9">A Voice for Karen: Living behind a curtain of silence</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/83db8380-36ef-4fae-998f-19d47159e964">A Voice for Karen: Leaving and going back</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a1a463f9-45a3-424b-86b8-1445e2bf2959">A Voice for Karen: He took her away from us</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/65023111-a863-47a5-bca5-8be446e5ab78">A Voice for Karen: 'A slap in the face,' hope for others</a>

Cristina Janney - Public Affairs Program - Options Housing First&nbsp; - KAYS 94.3 FM, 1400 AM- 1st&nbsp;Place

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d08e005e-d047-47c3-b223-360cc8e14b89">Listen to the Podcast Options Housing First.</a>

Theresa Trapp - Public Affairs Program -&nbsp;WaterSmart Hays Boil Water Advisory Update - KHAZ 99 FM -&nbsp;Honorable Mention

Hays PostThe Kansas Association of Broadcasters announced its annual&nbsp;2025 Station Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting on Monday.&nbsp;Eagle Radio and the Hays Post were honored with six awards in the medium-sized radio market division.The winners will be recognized at the Kansas Association Station Awards Dinner during the association's Annual Convention in Manhattan on Oct. 6.&nbsp;The Hays winners are as follows:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645543996271.jpeg" alt="Dustin Armbruster" />
 <figcaption>Dustin Armbruster</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610640372314.jpeg" alt="Mike Holliday" />
 <figcaption>Mike Holliday</figcaption>
 </figure>Dustin Armbruster, Mike Holliday - Best Morning Show, 101.9 FM - The Bull Morning Show&nbsp;- 1st&nbsp;Place<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753180904705.jpeg" alt="Gerard Wellbrock" />
 <figcaption>Gerard Wellbrock</figcaption>
 </figure>Gerard Wellbrock - Complete Sportscast&nbsp; -&nbsp;KJLS MIX 103.3 FM - 7 a.m. Sports&nbsp;- 2nd&nbsp;PlaceGerard Wellbrock - Sports Play-By-Play -&nbsp;FHSU Basketball -&nbsp;&nbsp;KJLS MIX 103.3 FM-&nbsp;&nbsp;2nd&nbsp;Place<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580744283323.jpeg" alt="Cristina Janney" />
 <figcaption>Cristina Janney</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753134340949.jpeg" alt="Jordan Schaefer" />
 <figcaption>Jordan Schaefer</figcaption>
 </figure>Cristina Janney, Jordan Schaefer - Multimedia Storytelling - "A Voice for Karen" - Hays Post and KAYS 94.3 FM, 1400 AM - 1st&nbsp;PlaceRead the four-part series "A Voice for Karen" links below:<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/f6fb5eb0-494c-4518-992a-6bffdf7c38c9">A Voice for Karen: Living behind a curtain of silence</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/83db8380-36ef-4fae-998f-19d47159e964">A Voice for Karen: Leaving and going back</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a1a463f9-45a3-424b-86b8-1445e2bf2959">A Voice for Karen: He took her away from us</a> <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/65023111-a863-47a5-bca5-8be446e5ab78">A Voice for Karen: 'A slap in the face,' hope for others</a>Cristina Janney - Public Affairs Program - Options Housing First&nbsp; - KAYS 94.3 FM, 1400 AM- 1st&nbsp;Place<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d08e005e-d047-47c3-b223-360cc8e14b89">Listen to the Podcast Options Housing First.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753134399022.jpeg" alt="Theresa Trapp" />
 <figcaption>Theresa Trapp</figcaption>
 </figure>Theresa Trapp - Public Affairs Program -&nbsp;WaterSmart Hays Boil Water Advisory Update - KHAZ 99 FM -&nbsp;Honorable Mention

Eagle Radio, Hays Post win 6 Kansas Association of Broadcasters awards

The sweeping requests raise fears about how the Trump administration plans to use the information

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jonathan-shorman/">Jonathan Shorman</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking the voter registration lists of several states — representing data on millions of Americans — and other election information ahead of the 2026 midterms, raising fears about how the Trump administration plans to use the information.

The DOJ is also demanding Colorado turn over all records related to the 2024 election, a massive trove of documents that could include ballots and even voting equipment. The Colorado inquiry, the most sweeping publicly known request, underscores the extent of the administration’s attention on state election activities.

At least nine states have received requests for information over the past three months, according to letters from the DOJ obtained by Stateline. Some states also received emails from a DOJ official last week asking for meetings to discuss information-sharing agreements.

The department’s focus on elections comes after President Donald Trump directed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in March to seek information about suspected election crimes from state election officials and empowered her to potentially withhold grants and other funds from uncooperative states.

For years, Trump has advanced false claims about elections, including the idea that the 2020 election that he lost was stolen. Now back in power, his administration is taking a new level of interest in how states — and even local authorities — administer elections.

Last week, a political operative approached several Republican county clerks in Colorado to enlist them in election integrity efforts in light of Trump’s sweeping March executive order overhauling elections administration. One clerk told Stateline the operative claimed to represent the White House.

“Whatever the Trump administration tries to pull is very unlikely to be successful,” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, said in an interview, calling Colorado elections very secure. “With that said, do I think they are trying to undermine our elections at large in this country? Absolutely.”

DOJ has sent letters to Alaska, Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, in addition to the request to Colorado.

The letters have typically asked election officials to describe how they register voters and work to identify duplicate registrations and individuals not eligible to vote, such as people with felony convictions and those who have died. The Washington Post earlier Wednesday reported on the letters; Votebeat and NPR previously reported on some of the letters as well.

Most letters also ask about each state’s process for flagging noncitizen applicants. Noncitizen voting is against federal law and incredibly rare, but Trump and his allies have promoted false claims about its prevalence. The Trump administration is also conducting a general crackdown on illegal immigration.

The letters call on election officials to turn over voter registration lists, which in some instances contain data on millions of residents in their states. This request has raised the most concerns, with some experts saying it’s unclear exactly why the DOJ wants the information.

“They don’t make much sense as law enforcement investigations. That makes me think that there’s some other purpose,” said Justin Levitt, who served as senior policy adviser for democracy and voting rights in the Biden White House and is now a law professor at Loyola Marymount University.

While many states make their voter registration lists available to the public, Levitt emphasized the data could still be largely off-limits to the federal government. Federal privacy law sometimes restricts how the government can use data that’s publicly obtainable. The DOJ may need voter information in some individual circumstances, but “that’s not blanket permission to go vacuuming up data.”

The DOJ didn’t respond to questions for this story.

Federal laws restrict the federal government’s ability to centralize information on Americans, said David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation &amp; Research. Even if states provide voter registration information to the public, they often redact sensitive information.

In Orange County, California, the DOJ sued local election officials in June, seeking unredacted voter registration information, such as Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses, as part of an investigation into noncitizen voting.

More than 350 election officials from some 33 states participated in a conference call about federal actions on Monday hosted by Becker, who was previously an attorney in the DOJ Voting Rights Section during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He said the interest in the call shows the level of uncertainty and anxiety over the current “federal imposition” on election administrators.

“The DOJ seems dead set on acquiring personal information on voters, including driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers and dates of birth — records that are highly protected under federal law and under state law and which state election officials are sworn to protect,” Becker said.

In Colorado, the amount of data the DOJ wants is enormous. On May 12, Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant U.S. attorney general in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to Griswold, the secretary of state, asking for access to “all records” related to the 2024 election.

Federal law requires state election officials to preserve records related to elections for 22 months. Typically, the rule ensures records are preserved in case any lawsuits are filed over an election. In the letter, Dhillon referred to a complaint against Griswold’s office alleging noncompliance with records retention laws, but provided no details.

Experts on election administration who spoke to Stateline expressed shock at the scope of the demand to Colorado. The request encompasses a vast trove of material, potentially including ballots.

“The amount of records being requested from a place like Colorado … it’s really, really significant in terms of the volume of materials that are required to be retained,” said Neal Ubriani, a former voting rights litigator at the DOJ during the Obama and first Trump administrations and the current policy and research director at the nonpartisan Institute for Responsive Government.

Colorado elections have previously drawn Trump’s attention. Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a staunch Trump supporter, is serving a nine-year prison sentence after a conviction in state court for allowing unauthorized access to voting equipment in 2021.

On May 5 of this year — a week before the Dhillon letter to Griswold — Trump posted on social media that Peters should be released, calling her a “political prisoner.” Griswold noted the timing.

“I think the bigger picture is Donald Trump is continuing to try and rewrite the 2020 election and destabilize the ’26 and ’28 elections,” Griswold told Stateline.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office responded to the DOJ by providing copies of the state’s master voter file and voter history file. All of the information provided is also available to the public.

Some Colorado Republican county clerks in recent days have also been approached by Jeff Small, a political operative who worked at the U.S. Department of the Interior during the first Trump administration. Stateline and Colorado Newsline spoke to three GOP clerks who said they had spoken to Small last week.

Steve Schleiker, clerk of El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs and is the most populous county in the state, said that on July 9 he received a text and call from Small, who introduced himself in a voicemail as someone who “works for the White House.”

Schleiker said that when he called back, Small said he wanted to build relationships with clerks because the Trump administration was unhappy with progress on the president’s elections executive order. He later connected Schleiker with a Homeland Security official who wanted to test the security of El Paso County’s election systems, said Schleiker, who added that he opposed the request.

Weld County Clerk Carly Koppes said she also heard from Small, but that Small told her he wasn’t under contract or being paid for the calls. Small indicated he was making the calls on behalf of former colleagues, Koppes said.

Small, a former Capitol Hill chief of staff who now works for a Colorado-based government affairs firm, didn’t return a call to his office on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the agency works with local partners to ensure elections remain safe.

“We don’t disclose every single conversation we have with them,” an unidentified DHS spokesperson wrote in an email.

Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said he was aware of 10 clerks approached by Small. He noted that every clerk approached by Small hails from a county that uses Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems.

While Dominion is widely used in Colorado, it’s also been the subject of election conspiracy theories. A former candidate for county sheriff in southwest Colorado was arrested in June, accused of firebombing a clerk’s office. Colorado Public Radio reported the suspect, according to law enforcement, had spoken publicly about trying to get rid of the county’s Dominion machines.

“I think the really important thing to say here is that it was Republican clerks who stood up to a Republican administration and said, ‘No, we’re going to follow the law,’” Crane said.

The intent of the efforts by Small and the federal government “has been muddied up it seems,” Montrose County Clerk Tressa Guynes said. Based on her conversations with other clerks, she said, it appeared Small represented one thing to other clerks and then “represented maybe a watered-down version by the time it got to me.”

Guynes said Small wanted to discuss Trump’s elections executive order. She said Small asked whether she would be willing to support a federal task force’s efforts in an advisory role.

“I said absolutely I will advise,” Guynes said. “I said I’m frankly glad that they’re finally reaching out to the boots on the ground, the people who actually conduct the elections, instead of listening to those who have never conducted a Colorado election.”

As Colorado grapples with the most far-reaching request, other states are choosing how to respond. In Wisconsin, the state election commission responded to a DOJ request for the voter registration list with instructions on how to request public voter data.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, responded on June 2 — after DOJ in a May 20 letter told the state to ensure voter registration applicants&nbsp;provided a driver’s license number, if they have one, instead of a partial Social Security number. The DOJ also wanted Arizona to check voters against a state database to look for noncitizens.

Fontes replied that Arizona complies with federal law and conducts checks using a state motor vehicle division database.

“We are focused on dealing with DOJ in a good faith manner while ensuring we are following the letter of federal and state laws,” Fontes spokesperson JP Martin wrote in an email to Stateline.

More recently, Arizona received a letter July 10 from DOJ about implementation of Trump’s elections executive order. Rhode Island Democratic Secretary of State Gregg Amore also received an email about the order the same day, according to a copy provided to the Rhode Island Current.

In the email, Scott Laragy, principal deputy director in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, asks for a call to discuss a possible information-sharing agreement to provide DOJ with information on individuals who have registered to vote or have voted despite being ineligible, or those who have committed other forms of election fraud.

The email echoes the language in Trump’s elections executive order, which calls for DOJ to reach information-sharing agreements with states. While much of the order, which focused on proof of citizenship in elections, has been struck down in federal court, provisions related to information sharing remain.

The executive order directs Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, to prioritize enforcement of federal “election integrity laws” in uncooperative states. It also requires her to review grants and other DOJ funds that could be withheld from states that resist.

Some states have already struck deals with the Trump administration. Indiana Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales announced an agreement last week with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services allowing the state to access a database to verify the citizenship of registered voters. Alabama Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen has signed a similar agreement.

“With your cooperation, we plan to use this information to enforce Federal election laws and protect the integrity of Federal elections,” Laragy wrote to Rhode Island.

Janine Weisman of the Rhode Island Current and Lindsey Toomer of Colorado Newsline contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Jonathan Shorman can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jshorman@stateline.org">jshorman@stateline.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709323737405.png" alt="Fire photo (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Fire photo (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The sweeping requests raise fears about how the Trump administration plans to use the information</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jonathan-shorman/">Jonathan Shorman</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking the voter registration lists of several states — representing data on millions of Americans — and other election information ahead of the 2026 midterms, raising fears about how the Trump administration plans to use the information.The DOJ is also demanding Colorado turn over all records related to the 2024 election, a massive trove of documents that could include ballots and even voting equipment. The Colorado inquiry, the most sweeping publicly known request, underscores the extent of the administration’s attention on state election activities.At least nine states have received requests for information over the past three months, according to letters from the DOJ obtained by Stateline. Some states also received emails from a DOJ official last week asking for meetings to discuss information-sharing agreements.The department’s focus on elections comes after President Donald Trump directed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi in March to seek information about suspected election crimes from state election officials and empowered her to potentially withhold grants and other funds from uncooperative states.For years, Trump has advanced false claims about elections, including the idea that the 2020 election that he lost was stolen. Now back in power, his administration is taking a new level of interest in how states — and even local authorities — administer elections.Last week, a political operative approached several Republican county clerks in Colorado to enlist them in election integrity efforts in light of Trump’s sweeping March executive order overhauling elections administration. One clerk told Stateline the operative claimed to represent the White House.“Whatever the Trump administration tries to pull is very unlikely to be successful,” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, said in an interview, calling Colorado elections very secure. “With that said, do I think they are trying to undermine our elections at large in this country? Absolutely.”DOJ has sent letters to Alaska, Arizona, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, in addition to the request to Colorado.The letters have typically asked election officials to describe how they register voters and work to identify duplicate registrations and individuals not eligible to vote, such as people with felony convictions and those who have died. The Washington Post earlier Wednesday reported on the letters; Votebeat and NPR previously reported on some of the letters as well.Most letters also ask about each state’s process for flagging noncitizen applicants. Noncitizen voting is against federal law and incredibly rare, but Trump and his allies have promoted false claims about its prevalence. The Trump administration is also conducting a general crackdown on illegal immigration.The letters call on election officials to turn over voter registration lists, which in some instances contain data on millions of residents in their states. This request has raised the most concerns, with some experts saying it’s unclear exactly why the DOJ wants the information.“They don’t make much sense as law enforcement investigations. That makes me think that there’s some other purpose,” said Justin Levitt, who served as senior policy adviser for democracy and voting rights in the Biden White House and is now a law professor at Loyola Marymount University.While many states make their voter registration lists available to the public, Levitt emphasized the data could still be largely off-limits to the federal government. Federal privacy law sometimes restricts how the government can use data that’s publicly obtainable. The DOJ may need voter information in some individual circumstances, but “that’s not blanket permission to go vacuuming up data.”The DOJ didn’t respond to questions for this story.Federal laws restrict the federal government’s ability to centralize information on Americans, said David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation &amp; Research. Even if states provide voter registration information to the public, they often redact sensitive information.In Orange County, California, the DOJ sued local election officials in June, seeking unredacted voter registration information, such as Social Security numbers and driver’s licenses, as part of an investigation into noncitizen voting.More than 350 election officials from some 33 states participated in a conference call about federal actions on Monday hosted by Becker, who was previously an attorney in the DOJ Voting Rights Section during the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He said the interest in the call shows the level of uncertainty and anxiety over the current “federal imposition” on election administrators.“The DOJ seems dead set on acquiring personal information on voters, including driver’s license numbers, Social Security numbers and dates of birth — records that are highly protected under federal law and under state law and which state election officials are sworn to protect,” Becker said.<h2>Sweeping Colorado requests</h2>In Colorado, the amount of data the DOJ wants is enormous. On May 12, Harmeet Dhillon, an assistant U.S. attorney general in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, sent a letter to Griswold, the secretary of state, asking for access to “all records” related to the 2024 election.Federal law requires state election officials to preserve records related to elections for 22 months. Typically, the rule ensures records are preserved in case any lawsuits are filed over an election. In the letter, Dhillon referred to a complaint against Griswold’s office alleging noncompliance with records retention laws, but provided no details.Experts on election administration who spoke to Stateline expressed shock at the scope of the demand to Colorado. The request encompasses a vast trove of material, potentially including ballots.“The amount of records being requested from a place like Colorado … it’s really, really significant in terms of the volume of materials that are required to be retained,” said Neal Ubriani, a former voting rights litigator at the DOJ during the Obama and first Trump administrations and the current policy and research director at the nonpartisan Institute for Responsive Government.Colorado elections have previously drawn Trump’s attention. Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a staunch Trump supporter, is serving a nine-year prison sentence after a conviction in state court for allowing unauthorized access to voting equipment in 2021.On May 5 of this year — a week before the Dhillon letter to Griswold — Trump posted on social media that Peters should be released, calling her a “political prisoner.” Griswold noted the timing.“I think the bigger picture is Donald Trump is continuing to try and rewrite the 2020 election and destabilize the ’26 and ’28 elections,” Griswold told Stateline.The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office responded to the DOJ by providing copies of the state’s master voter file and voter history file. All of the information provided is also available to the public.Some Colorado Republican county clerks in recent days have also been approached by Jeff Small, a political operative who worked at the U.S. Department of the Interior during the first Trump administration. Stateline and Colorado Newsline spoke to three GOP clerks who said they had spoken to Small last week.Steve Schleiker, clerk of El Paso County, which includes Colorado Springs and is the most populous county in the state, said that on July 9 he received a text and call from Small, who introduced himself in a voicemail as someone who “works for the White House.”Schleiker said that when he called back, Small said he wanted to build relationships with clerks because the Trump administration was unhappy with progress on the president’s elections executive order. He later connected Schleiker with a Homeland Security official who wanted to test the security of El Paso County’s election systems, said Schleiker, who added that he opposed the request.Weld County Clerk Carly Koppes said she also heard from Small, but that Small told her he wasn’t under contract or being paid for the calls. Small indicated he was making the calls on behalf of former colleagues, Koppes said.Small, a former Capitol Hill chief of staff who now works for a Colorado-based government affairs firm, didn’t return a call to his office on Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that the agency works with local partners to ensure elections remain safe.“We don’t disclose every single conversation we have with them,” an unidentified DHS spokesperson wrote in an email.Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said he was aware of 10 clerks approached by Small. He noted that every clerk approached by Small hails from a county that uses Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems.While Dominion is widely used in Colorado, it’s also been the subject of election conspiracy theories. A former candidate for county sheriff in southwest Colorado was arrested in June, accused of firebombing a clerk’s office. Colorado Public Radio reported the suspect, according to law enforcement, had spoken publicly about trying to get rid of the county’s Dominion machines.“I think the really important thing to say here is that it was Republican clerks who stood up to a Republican administration and said, ‘No, we’re going to follow the law,’” Crane said.The intent of the efforts by Small and the federal government “has been muddied up it seems,” Montrose County Clerk Tressa Guynes said. Based on her conversations with other clerks, she said, it appeared Small represented one thing to other clerks and then “represented maybe a watered-down version by the time it got to me.”Guynes said Small wanted to discuss Trump’s elections executive order. She said Small asked whether she would be willing to support a federal task force’s efforts in an advisory role.“I said absolutely I will advise,” Guynes said. “I said I’m frankly glad that they’re finally reaching out to the boots on the ground, the people who actually conduct the elections, instead of listening to those who have never conducted a Colorado election.”<h2>Letters to other states</h2>As Colorado grapples with the most far-reaching request, other states are choosing how to respond. In Wisconsin, the state election commission responded to a DOJ request for the voter registration list with instructions on how to request public voter data.Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, responded on June 2 — after DOJ in a May 20 letter told the state to ensure voter registration applicants&nbsp;provided a driver’s license number, if they have one, instead of a partial Social Security number. The DOJ also wanted Arizona to check voters against a state database to look for noncitizens.Fontes replied that Arizona complies with federal law and conducts checks using a state motor vehicle division database.“We are focused on dealing with DOJ in a good faith manner while ensuring we are following the letter of federal and state laws,” Fontes spokesperson JP Martin wrote in an email to Stateline.More recently, Arizona received a letter July 10 from DOJ about implementation of Trump’s elections executive order. Rhode Island Democratic Secretary of State Gregg Amore also received an email about the order the same day, according to a copy provided to the Rhode Island Current.In the email, Scott Laragy, principal deputy director in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys, asks for a call to discuss a possible information-sharing agreement to provide DOJ with information on individuals who have registered to vote or have voted despite being ineligible, or those who have committed other forms of election fraud.The email echoes the language in Trump’s elections executive order, which calls for DOJ to reach information-sharing agreements with states. While much of the order, which focused on proof of citizenship in elections, has been struck down in federal court, provisions related to information sharing remain.The executive order directs Bondi, the U.S. attorney general, to prioritize enforcement of federal “election integrity laws” in uncooperative states. It also requires her to review grants and other DOJ funds that could be withheld from states that resist.Some states have already struck deals with the Trump administration. Indiana Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales announced an agreement last week with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services allowing the state to access a database to verify the citizenship of registered voters. Alabama Republican Secretary of State Wes Allen has signed a similar agreement.“With your cooperation, we plan to use this information to enforce Federal election laws and protect the integrity of Federal elections,” Laragy wrote to Rhode Island.Janine Weisman of the Rhode Island Current and Lindsey Toomer of Colorado Newsline contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Jonathan Shorman can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:jshorman@stateline.org">jshorman@stateline.org</a>.

Trump’s DOJ wants states to turn over voter lists, election info

Congratulations to Doug Kutina from Ellis and Bernita Augustine from WaKeeney&nbsp; on becoming finalists in the Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Giveaway on Saturday at American Shooters.

They join other finalists: 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lance Armbruster – Wild West Festival – 7-2-2025 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Curtis Wellbrock – Wild West Festival – 7-2-2025 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryan Cellmer – Mr. K’s Foodtown – 7-5-2025 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Barry Gilliland – Mr. K’s Foodtown – 7-5-2025 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Debbie Windholz – Malay’s Market – 7-12-2025 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Darren Dunn – Malay’s Market – 7-12-2025

Special thanks to our sponsor A &amp; A Coors Yuengling.

Keep listening to Eagle Radio and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.

The $10,000 golf cart will be given away at this year’s Oktoberfest on Friday, Sept. 26.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753111486077.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to Doug Kutina from Ellis and Bernita Augustine from WaKeeney&nbsp; on becoming finalists in the Yuengling Flight Golf Cart Giveaway on Saturday at American Shooters.They join other finalists: 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lance Armbruster – Wild West Festival – 7-2-2025 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Curtis Wellbrock – Wild West Festival – 7-2-2025 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ryan Cellmer – Mr. K’s Foodtown – 7-5-2025 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Barry Gilliland – Mr. K’s Foodtown – 7-5-2025 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Debbie Windholz – Malay’s Market – 7-12-2025 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Darren Dunn – Malay’s Market – 7-12-2025Special thanks to our sponsor A &amp; A Coors Yuengling.Keep listening to Eagle Radio and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.The $10,000 golf cart will be given away at this year’s Oktoberfest on Friday, Sept. 26.

Yuengling Flight Golf Cart finalists named from American Shooters

Congratulations to&nbsp; Danny Wasinger and&nbsp; Brett Davidson&nbsp;from Hays on being selected as finalists in the Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway on Friday at the Ellis County Fair.

Congratulations to Erin Storer from Hays and Landon Paul from Hays&nbsp;on being selected as finalists in the Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway on Saturday at Doghouse Liquor.

1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Garrett Bland – Relay for Life Golf Tournament – 6-13-2025 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Earl Brungardt – Relay for Life Golf Tournament – 6-13-2025 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tara Graham – LoKal Country Bar – 6-27-2025 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Brad Leitner – LoKal Country Bar – 6-27-2025 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Becky Wachs – Wild West Festival – 7-3-2025 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirby Garrison – Wild West Festival – 7-3-2025 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Marlin Sherfick – Trego County Fair – 7-11-2025 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dale Pfannenstiel – Trego County Fair – 7-11-2025

The Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway is courtesy of A &amp; A Coors and Miller, Briney Motorsports, Advantage Glass Plus, Commercial Sign Company, Hull Broadcasting and the Eagle Media Center of Hays.

The UTV will be given away at a Fort Hays Football Game on Saturday, Sept. 13.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750185433864.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750183630238.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Congratulations to&nbsp; Danny Wasinger and&nbsp; Brett Davidson&nbsp;from Hays on being selected as finalists in the Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway on Friday at the Ellis County Fair.Congratulations to Erin Storer from Hays and Landon Paul from Hays&nbsp;on being selected as finalists in the Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway on Saturday at Doghouse Liquor.They join the following finalists.1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Garrett Bland – Relay for Life Golf Tournament – 6-13-2025 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Earl Brungardt – Relay for Life Golf Tournament – 6-13-2025 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tara Graham – LoKal Country Bar – 6-27-2025 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Brad Leitner – LoKal Country Bar – 6-27-2025 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Becky Wachs – Wild West Festival – 7-3-2025 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirby Garrison – Wild West Festival – 7-3-2025 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Marlin Sherfick – Trego County Fair – 7-11-2025 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dale Pfannenstiel – Trego County Fair – 7-11-2025The Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway is courtesy of A &amp; A Coors and Miller, Briney Motorsports, Advantage Glass Plus, Commercial Sign Company, Hull Broadcasting and the Eagle Media Center of Hays.Keep listening to Eagle Radio and reading the Hays Post all summer long for your chance to become a finalist.The UTV will be given away at a Fort Hays Football Game on Saturday, Sept. 13.

Ellis County Fair, Doghouse Liquor finalists named for Lite Beer from Miller UTV Giveaway

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft has issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2025/07/customer-guidance-for-sharepoint-vulnerability-cve-2025-53770/" target="_blank">emergency fix</a>&nbsp;to close off a vulnerability in Microsoft’s SharePoint software that hackers have exploited to carry out widespread attacks on businesses and at least some federal agencies.

The company&nbsp;<a href="https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-53770" target="_blank">issued an alert</a>&nbsp;to customers Saturday saying it was aware of the zero-day exploit being used to conduct attacks and that it was working to patch the issue. Microsoft updated its guidance Sunday with instructions to fix the problem for SharePoint Server 2019 and SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. Engineers were still working on a fix for the older SharePoint Server 2016 software.

A zero-day exploit is a cyberattack that takes advantage of a previously unknown security vulnerability. “Zero-day” refers to the fact that the security engineers have had zero days to develop a fix for the vulnerability.

According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2025/07/20/microsoft-releases-guidance-exploitation-sharepoint-vulnerability-cve-2025-53770" target="_blank">exploit affecting SharePoint</a>&nbsp;is “a variant of the existing vulnerability CVE-2025-49706 and poses a risk to organizations with on-premise SharePoint servers.”

Security researchers warn that the exploit, reportedly known as “ToolShell,” is a serious one and can allow actors to fully access SharePoint file systems, including services connected to SharePoint, such as Teams and OneDrive.

Google’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/austin-larsen_sharepoint-cybersecurity-threatintel-activity-7352536349356273665-xPaK/" target="_blank">Threat Intelligence Group warned</a>&nbsp;that the vulnerability may allow bad actors to “bypass future patching.”

Eye Security said in its&nbsp;<a href="https://research.eye.security/sharepoint-under-siege/" target="_blank">blog post</a>&nbsp;that it scanned over 8,000 SharePoint servers worldwide and discovered that at least dozens of systems were compromised. The cybersecurity company said the attacks likely began on July 18.

Although the scope of the attack is still being assessed, CISA warned that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2025/07/20/microsoft-releases-guidance-exploitation-sharepoint-vulnerability-cve-2025-53770" target="_blank">impact could be widespread</a>&nbsp;and recommended that any servers impacted by the exploit should be disconnected from the internet until they are patched.

NEW YORK (AP) — Microsoft has issued an&nbsp;<a href="https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2025/07/customer-guidance-for-sharepoint-vulnerability-cve-2025-53770/" target="_blank">emergency fix</a>&nbsp;to close off a vulnerability in Microsoft’s SharePoint software that hackers have exploited to carry out widespread attacks on businesses and at least some federal agencies.The company&nbsp;<a href="https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-53770" target="_blank">issued an alert</a>&nbsp;to customers Saturday saying it was aware of the zero-day exploit being used to conduct attacks and that it was working to patch the issue. Microsoft updated its guidance Sunday with instructions to fix the problem for SharePoint Server 2019 and SharePoint Server Subscription Edition. Engineers were still working on a fix for the older SharePoint Server 2016 software.<h2>What is a zero-day exploit?</h2>A zero-day exploit is a cyberattack that takes advantage of a previously unknown security vulnerability. “Zero-day” refers to the fact that the security engineers have had zero days to develop a fix for the vulnerability.According to the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2025/07/20/microsoft-releases-guidance-exploitation-sharepoint-vulnerability-cve-2025-53770" target="_blank">exploit affecting SharePoint</a>&nbsp;is “a variant of the existing vulnerability CVE-2025-49706 and poses a risk to organizations with on-premise SharePoint servers.”Security researchers warn that the exploit, reportedly known as “ToolShell,” is a serious one and can allow actors to fully access SharePoint file systems, including services connected to SharePoint, such as Teams and OneDrive.Google’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/austin-larsen_sharepoint-cybersecurity-threatintel-activity-7352536349356273665-xPaK/" target="_blank">Threat Intelligence Group warned</a>&nbsp;that the vulnerability may allow bad actors to “bypass future patching.”<h2>How widespread is the impact?</h2>Eye Security said in its&nbsp;<a href="https://research.eye.security/sharepoint-under-siege/" target="_blank">blog post</a>&nbsp;that it scanned over 8,000 SharePoint servers worldwide and discovered that at least dozens of systems were compromised. The cybersecurity company said the attacks likely began on July 18.Although the scope of the attack is still being assessed, CISA warned that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2025/07/20/microsoft-releases-guidance-exploitation-sharepoint-vulnerability-cve-2025-53770" target="_blank">impact could be widespread</a>&nbsp;and recommended that any servers impacted by the exploit should be disconnected from the internet until they are patched.