By&nbsp;ZANE IRWIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-07-29/kansas-snap-funding-harvesters-food-banks">Kansas News Service</a>

State lawmakers must soon decide whether to cover the extra costs to provide food assistance. If they don’t, food banks and pantries alone can’t make up the difference.

On Steve Vossler’s 56th volunteer shift of the year at the Harvesters food bank distribution center in Lawrence, Kansas, he packed corn and cucumbers.

“I like the assembly line aspect of it,” he chuckled.

He was one of a dozen or so volunteers on a July morning cheerfully chatting and packing produce into red mesh bags, ready to stock the shelves at a local food pantry.

Aside from volunteer work, Vossler said, he reads the news. He knew that Congress just approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/03/nx-s1-5454841/house-republicans-trump-tax-bill-medicaid" target="_blank">historic changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>, which could cause many more low-income families to rely on food banks like Harvesters.

“I don't like it and I'm sure there will be some changes,” Vossler said. “But who knows what they’ll be.”

In a major policy shift for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, individual states will have to shoulder some of the costs to help feed low-income families.

Administrative costs will jump for every state. New work eligibility requirements will shut some recipients out, while creating more work for state agencies that run the program. And states will face steep penalties if they don’t run SNAP to a certain degree of precision.

Supporters of those measures don’t see them as “cuts,” so much as policies that force states to run SNAP more responsibly. Critics, like the progressive Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, say the changes could cause millions of low-income people to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/senate-republican-leaders-proposal-risks-deep-cuts-to-food-assistance-some#states-snap-error-rates-vary-cbpp-anchor" target="_blank">lose some or all of their food assistance.</a>

Either way, individual states must figure out how to fill significant budget holes when the policies take effect in 2028. Those decisions will affect how many of&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-state-factsheet-ks.pdf" target="_blank">Kansas’ 180,000 SNAP recipients</a>&nbsp;are able to rely on federal food assistance to get by.

Faced with steep cost-sharing expectations, some states are feeling the same kind of financial panic as families who may see their food benefits dwindle.

SNAP costs for the state of Kansas will rise against the backdrop of an uncertain fiscal future. While the state&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/KSOG/2025/06/02/file_attachments/3279686/11_May_Revenue_FY2025_06-02-2025_Final.pdf" target="_blank">recently took in far more tax revenues</a>&nbsp;than expected, it is still slated to spend more money each year than it raises — leaving an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/roundup-state-budgets-increasingly-strained-as-house-senate#kansas-cbpp-anchor" target="_blank">estimated $731 million shortfall by 2029</a>.

Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said changes to SNAP in President Trump’s recent tax and spending package — known as the One Big Beautiful Bill — could mean more than $50 million in extra costs.

Part of that comes from the boring stuff: administrative expenses. It costs money to hire SNAP case workers, train them and invest in technology to make sure the program is running as it should.

Now, states will pay 75% of those costs rather than half — raising Kansas’ obligation by $15 million.

The bill also expands the range of people who must work or attend training programs for at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits.

Before, certain able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWDs, were exempt. Now, people in that category who are aged 55 to 64, parents with children aged 14 or older, veterans, former foster children and people experiencing homelessness must prove they meet new requirements — or lose access to food assistance.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap/characteristics-fy23" target="_blank">over two-thirds of recipients are children, elderly or disabled.</a>

Some analyses suggest stricter work requirements do not lead to increased work or earnings. Rather, such restrictions often keep eligible individuals from starting or remaining on food assistance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20250407_THP_SNAPWorkRequirements_Paper.pdf" target="_blank">according to the center-left Brookings Institute</a>.

Work requirements do, however, create more work for state agencies. Kelly estimates Kansas will have to hire and train 40 new employees to keep up with new reporting requirements.

Of all the changes to SNAP, the most difficult to plan for involves payment error rates.

States sometimes overpay or underpay SNAP recipients. That’s usually due to incorrect applications or administrative mistakes.

Payment error rates surged throughout the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, topping 12% in Kansas and reaching as high as 60% in Alaska.

The problem has since eased. The 2024 error rate in Kansas dropped under 10%,&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-fy24QC-PER.pdf" target="_blank">below the national average</a>. But many state and federal officials remain dissatisfied, and Congress used its latest budget bill to penalize payment inaccuracies.

Now, states with error rates above 6% must pay anywhere from 5% to 15% of the cost of SNAP benefits themselves, on top of regular administrative expenses.

If Kansas keeps its current error rate when the penalty takes effect in 2028, it will need to pay an extra $41 million per year to operate SNAP at the same level. That would bring the total increased cost to $56 million — a total that could vary widely based on the error rate.

“It is part of the state having skin in the game,” said Republican Ty Masterson, president of the Kansas Senate.

He said the panic over added SNAP costs for states is overwrought, and that the Kansas Legislature can easily account for added costs — so long as the state gets its payment error rate down.

Kelly said Kansas has until October 2026 to reduce errors and avoid penalties.

“We are all hands on deck out there right now,” she said. “Hiring, training our folks, working on our technology systems, our computer systems, programming, to bring that down.

“Because if we don't, it'll just cost us so much more,” she said.

Stephen Davis, who is president and CEO of the food bank Harvesters, said his family relied on food assistance when he was young.

“We struggled the way that many other families struggle on a daily basis,” he said. “So I know firsthand what it means to be food insecure.”

Harvesters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvesters.org/learn-about-hunger/hunger-in-our-region" target="_blank">defines food insecurity</a>&nbsp;as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.”

In the 17 counties that Harvesters serves in Kansas, Davis said 375,000 people, or 1 in 7 individuals, are food insecure.

Davis is concerned cuts to SNAP will make the state’s hunger problem more severe. Even if Kansas finds the funds to continue operating as before, he worries that work requirements will strip people of their benefits.

There’s only so much his organization can do to help. For every meal Harvesters provides, Davis said, SNAP provides nine.

At the same time, the Trump administration has scaled back federal assistance for food banks, in one recent instance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-03-28/harvesters-food-bank-deliveries-trump-administration-missouri-kansas" target="_blank">canceling dozens of truckloads of expected food shipments</a>&nbsp;for Harvesters.

Davis said all of those policies combined will result in more people going hungry.

“Those families that lose their SNAP benefits ... will likely try to turn to the charitable food system,” he said. “And we already don't have the capacity to meet the current need.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888739773.png" alt="Steve Vossler, left, volunteers at the Harvesters distribution center in Lawrence, Kansas.&nbsp;Photo by Zane Irwin/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Steve Vossler, left, volunteers at the Harvesters distribution center in Lawrence, Kansas.&nbsp;Photo by Zane Irwin/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;ZANE IRWIN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-07-29/kansas-snap-funding-harvesters-food-banks">Kansas News Service</a><h2>State lawmakers must soon decide whether to cover the extra costs to provide food assistance. If they don’t, food banks and pantries alone can’t make up the difference.</h2>On Steve Vossler’s 56th volunteer shift of the year at the Harvesters food bank distribution center in Lawrence, Kansas, he packed corn and cucumbers.“I like the assembly line aspect of it,” he chuckled.He was one of a dozen or so volunteers on a July morning cheerfully chatting and packing produce into red mesh bags, ready to stock the shelves at a local food pantry.Aside from volunteer work, Vossler said, he reads the news. He knew that Congress just approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/03/nx-s1-5454841/house-republicans-trump-tax-bill-medicaid" target="_blank">historic changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a>, which could cause many more low-income families to rely on food banks like Harvesters.“I don't like it and I'm sure there will be some changes,” Vossler said. “But who knows what they’ll be.”In a major policy shift for SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, individual states will have to shoulder some of the costs to help feed low-income families.Administrative costs will jump for every state. New work eligibility requirements will shut some recipients out, while creating more work for state agencies that run the program. And states will face steep penalties if they don’t run SNAP to a certain degree of precision.Supporters of those measures don’t see them as “cuts,” so much as policies that force states to run SNAP more responsibly. Critics, like the progressive Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, say the changes could cause millions of low-income people to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/senate-republican-leaders-proposal-risks-deep-cuts-to-food-assistance-some#states-snap-error-rates-vary-cbpp-anchor" target="_blank">lose some or all of their food assistance.</a>Either way, individual states must figure out how to fill significant budget holes when the policies take effect in 2028. Those decisions will affect how many of&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-state-factsheet-ks.pdf" target="_blank">Kansas’ 180,000 SNAP recipients</a>&nbsp;are able to rely on federal food assistance to get by.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888418253.png" alt="At the Harvesters food bank distribution center in Lawrence, Kansas, volunteers pack produce destined for a local food pantry.&nbsp;Photo by Zane Irwin/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>At the Harvesters food bank distribution center in Lawrence, Kansas, volunteers pack produce destined for a local food pantry.&nbsp;Photo by Zane Irwin/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>How will SNAP change?&nbsp;</h2>Faced with steep cost-sharing expectations, some states are feeling the same kind of financial panic as families who may see their food benefits dwindle.SNAP costs for the state of Kansas will rise against the backdrop of an uncertain fiscal future. While the state&nbsp;<a href="https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/KSOG/2025/06/02/file_attachments/3279686/11_May_Revenue_FY2025_06-02-2025_Final.pdf" target="_blank">recently took in far more tax revenues</a>&nbsp;than expected, it is still slated to spend more money each year than it raises — leaving an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/research/state-budget-and-tax/roundup-state-budgets-increasingly-strained-as-house-senate#kansas-cbpp-anchor" target="_blank">estimated $731 million shortfall by 2029</a>.Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said changes to SNAP in President Trump’s recent tax and spending package — known as the One Big Beautiful Bill — could mean more than $50 million in extra costs.Part of that comes from the boring stuff: administrative expenses. It costs money to hire SNAP case workers, train them and invest in technology to make sure the program is running as it should.Now, states will pay 75% of those costs rather than half — raising Kansas’ obligation by $15 million.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888505214.png" alt="SNAP cuts will cost the state millions to keep the program running at the same level. If the funds aren’t made up, charity won’t be able to fill the gap.&nbsp;Photo by Zane Irwin/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>SNAP cuts will cost the state millions to keep the program running at the same level. If the funds aren’t made up, charity won’t be able to fill the gap.&nbsp;Photo by Zane Irwin/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>The bill also expands the range of people who must work or attend training programs for at least 80 hours per month to receive benefits.Before, certain able-bodied adults without dependents, or ABAWDs, were exempt. Now, people in that category who are aged 55 to 64, parents with children aged 14 or older, veterans, former foster children and people experiencing homelessness must prove they meet new requirements — or lose access to food assistance.According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees SNAP,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/research/snap/characteristics-fy23" target="_blank">over two-thirds of recipients are children, elderly or disabled.</a>Some analyses suggest stricter work requirements do not lead to increased work or earnings. Rather, such restrictions often keep eligible individuals from starting or remaining on food assistance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/20250407_THP_SNAPWorkRequirements_Paper.pdf" target="_blank">according to the center-left Brookings Institute</a>.Work requirements do, however, create more work for state agencies. Kelly estimates Kansas will have to hire and train 40 new employees to keep up with new reporting requirements.<h2>Margin for error</h2>Of all the changes to SNAP, the most difficult to plan for involves payment error rates.States sometimes overpay or underpay SNAP recipients. That’s usually due to incorrect applications or administrative mistakes.Payment error rates surged throughout the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, topping 12% in Kansas and reaching as high as 60% in Alaska.The problem has since eased. The 2024 error rate in Kansas dropped under 10%,&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-fy24QC-PER.pdf" target="_blank">below the national average</a>. But many state and federal officials remain dissatisfied, and Congress used its latest budget bill to penalize payment inaccuracies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888579365.png" alt="Carla Whiteside-Hicks is the director of economic and employment services at the Kansas Department for Children and Families, which administers SNAP in the state. She appeared before state lawmakers at an April committee hearing on payment error rates.&nbsp;Screenshot of legislative hearing." />
 <figcaption>Carla Whiteside-Hicks is the director of economic and employment services at the Kansas Department for Children and Families, which administers SNAP in the state. She appeared before state lawmakers at an April committee hearing on payment error rates.&nbsp;Screenshot of legislative hearing.</figcaption>
 </figure>Now, states with error rates above 6% must pay anywhere from 5% to 15% of the cost of SNAP benefits themselves, on top of regular administrative expenses.If Kansas keeps its current error rate when the penalty takes effect in 2028, it will need to pay an extra $41 million per year to operate SNAP at the same level. That would bring the total increased cost to $56 million — a total that could vary widely based on the error rate.“It is part of the state having skin in the game,” said Republican Ty Masterson, president of the Kansas Senate.He said the panic over added SNAP costs for states is overwrought, and that the Kansas Legislature can easily account for added costs — so long as the state gets its payment error rate down.Kelly said Kansas has until October 2026 to reduce errors and avoid penalties.“We are all hands on deck out there right now,” she said. “Hiring, training our folks, working on our technology systems, our computer systems, programming, to bring that down.“Because if we don't, it'll just cost us so much more,” she said.<h2>Fewer options on the table&nbsp;</h2>Stephen Davis, who is president and CEO of the food bank Harvesters, said his family relied on food assistance when he was young.“We struggled the way that many other families struggle on a daily basis,” he said. “So I know firsthand what it means to be food insecure.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888646966.png" alt="In 2023, Harvesters said it partnered with 900 nonprofit organizations to provide more than 52.5 million meals.&nbsp;Photo by Zane Irwin/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>In 2023, Harvesters said it partnered with 900 nonprofit organizations to provide more than 52.5 million meals.&nbsp;Photo by Zane Irwin/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Harvesters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.harvesters.org/learn-about-hunger/hunger-in-our-region" target="_blank">defines food insecurity</a>&nbsp;as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for every person in a household to live an active, healthy life.”In the 17 counties that Harvesters serves in Kansas, Davis said 375,000 people, or 1 in 7 individuals, are food insecure.Davis is concerned cuts to SNAP will make the state’s hunger problem more severe. Even if Kansas finds the funds to continue operating as before, he worries that work requirements will strip people of their benefits.There’s only so much his organization can do to help. For every meal Harvesters provides, Davis said, SNAP provides nine.At the same time, the Trump administration has scaled back federal assistance for food banks, in one recent instance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-03-28/harvesters-food-bank-deliveries-trump-administration-missouri-kansas" target="_blank">canceling dozens of truckloads of expected food shipments</a>&nbsp;for Harvesters.Davis said all of those policies combined will result in more people going hungry.“Those families that lose their SNAP benefits ... will likely try to turn to the charitable food system,” he said. “And we already don't have the capacity to meet the current need.”

Kansas could lose millions after Congress cut SNAP funds. Thousands may go hungry

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) A 38-year-old man who previously served time in prison for aggravated robbery and other crimes has been charged with capital murder in Kansas in connection with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deputy-killed-kansas-city-kansas-7d71dc39a9fe2ec0170f21cd3b7a8f4a">the fatal shooting</a>&nbsp;of a sheriff's deputy in Kansas City, Kansas.

Shawn M. Harris also is charged with violating a Kansas law that prohibits people with felony records from possessing weapons. The charges were filed Monday in Wyandotte County District Court by District Attorney Mark Dupree Sr. Harris made his first court appearance Tuesday, with District Judge Daniel Cahill setting his bond at $2 million. He is jailed in neighboring Johnson County.

Authorities say Harris opened fire Saturday when Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming and a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer approached his home after receiving a report from a woman living there that he had threatened friends who were helping her move out. Ming was hit multiple times and died hours later at a hospital.

Authorities said it was a routine “standby” call, where police go to keep the peace for someone.

“We do thousands of these types of calls a year,” Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Karl Oakman said during a news conference Tuesday.

Dupree said he will confer with Ming's family before deciding within the next 10 days whether to pursue a death sentence. The only alternative sentence would be life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Nine men are on death row in Kansas. But the state hasn't executed anyone since June 1965, when the sentence was carried out by hanging instead of lethal injection.

The state's death penalty defense unit has been appointed to represent Harris because he could not afford to hire an attorney. Chief Capital Defender Mark Manna declined comment Tuesday.

Harris was paroled in Kansas in October 2023 after pleading guilty to seven felony charges in 2012 and 2013 in Kansas and Missouri, according to records available online.

The crimes included aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony theft in Wyandotte County and felony tampering with a motor vehicle in Lafayette County, Missouri, east of Kansas City. He was taken from Kansas to Missouri in 2013 and pled guilty to an assault charge while serving time there. He returned to Kansas in 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753612145888.png" alt="Deputy Elijah Ming- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Deputy Elijah Ming- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) A 38-year-old man who previously served time in prison for aggravated robbery and other crimes has been charged with capital murder in Kansas in connection with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deputy-killed-kansas-city-kansas-7d71dc39a9fe2ec0170f21cd3b7a8f4a">the fatal shooting</a>&nbsp;of a sheriff's deputy in Kansas City, Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753708143287.png" alt="Harris photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Harris photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>Shawn M. Harris also is charged with violating a Kansas law that prohibits people with felony records from possessing weapons. The charges were filed Monday in Wyandotte County District Court by District Attorney Mark Dupree Sr. Harris made his first court appearance Tuesday, with District Judge Daniel Cahill setting his bond at $2 million. He is jailed in neighboring Johnson County.Authorities say Harris opened fire Saturday when Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming and a Kansas City, Kansas, police officer approached his home after receiving a report from a woman living there that he had threatened friends who were helping her move out. Ming was hit multiple times and died hours later at a hospital.Authorities said it was a routine “standby” call, where police go to keep the peace for someone.“We do thousands of these types of calls a year,” Kansas City, Kansas, Police Chief Karl Oakman said during a news conference Tuesday.Dupree said he will confer with Ming's family before deciding within the next 10 days whether to pursue a death sentence. The only alternative sentence would be life in prison with no possibility of parole.Nine men are on death row in Kansas. But the state hasn't executed anyone since June 1965, when the sentence was carried out by hanging instead of lethal injection.The state's death penalty defense unit has been appointed to represent Harris because he could not afford to hire an attorney. Chief Capital Defender Mark Manna declined comment Tuesday.Harris was paroled in Kansas in October 2023 after pleading guilty to seven felony charges in 2012 and 2013 in Kansas and Missouri, according to records available online.The crimes included aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and felony theft in Wyandotte County and felony tampering with a motor vehicle in Lafayette County, Missouri, east of Kansas City. He was taken from Kansas to Missouri in 2013 and pled guilty to an assault charge while serving time there. He returned to Kansas in 2021.

Kansas man charged in deputy's fatal shooting

JOHNSON COUNTY—A man has admitted responsibility for a fatal fentanyl overdose death.

Earlier this month, 20-year-old Hugo Caesar Guzman, Jr. pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance resulting in<a href="https://everloved.com/life-of/wesley-howard/obituary/"> death of Wesley Howard</a>&nbsp;of Garnder in 2022, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In October 2023, Guzman was charged with distribution of drugs causing death and two counts of fentanyl distribution.

He is scheduled for sentencing September 2.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697156695646.png" alt="Guzman -photo Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Guzman -photo Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY—A man has admitted responsibility for a fatal fentanyl overdose death.Earlier this month, 20-year-old Hugo Caesar Guzman, Jr. pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance resulting in<a href="https://everloved.com/life-of/wesley-howard/obituary/"> death of Wesley Howard</a>&nbsp;of Garnder in 2022, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.In October 2023, Guzman was charged with distribution of drugs causing death and two counts of fentanyl distribution.He is scheduled for sentencing September 2.

Man admits selling fentanyl that killed Kansas man

Richard
Eugene 'Pete' Hubbard, was born November 3, 1950 in Great Bend, Kansas to
Harold Eugene and Patricia Louise (Chance) Hubbard. At an early age the family
moved to Hill City, Kansas where he attended local schools. He graduated from
Hill City High School with the class of 1969.&nbsp;

Following
high school, he attended and graduated from Northwest Kansas Area
Vocational-Technical School in Electricity-Electronics May 28th, 1971.

December
5, 1970, Pete was united in marriage to Linda Kathleen Maier at Immanuel
Lutheran Church in Oakley, Kansas. The Lord Blessed this union with two
children, Julee Lyn and Richard Eugene Jr. (Rick). They later
divorced.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Following
graduation from Vo-Tech, Pete worked for a local electrician until he enlisted
in the United States Air Force in 1972. During his time of service he worked as
a maintenance technician on aircraft (including Air Force One). He received
numerous medals and ribbons for his service and training. While serving, he was
stationed in Illinois, Texas, Japan, Nebraska, and Nevada. He also traveled the
world through temporary assignments. During his service in Nevada, he was
injured in an automobile accident and was Honorably Discharged/Retired from the
Air Force. 

He
returned to Hill City where he worked for Hill City Schools, Riverside Feeders,
Norman Beecher, J Bar S and Kellie’s (from which he retired). Pete was a member
of the Hill City Elks and the VFW. He even served as the Exalted Ruler of the
Elks Club.

Pete
enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and Chiefs football. He developed a close
friendship with the nurses and technicians during his ten years of dialysis
treatments in Hays. He often told stories of his joking and sharing family
stories with “his girls.” They became like a second family to him.

Pete
was a strong supporter of youth, and their activities but his greatest joy was
being able to support his grandchildren and attend their sporting, musical and
school events. You could find him sitting in bleachers, lawn chairs or
auditorium seats or standing along a cross- country course with a smile on his
face beaming with pride for his grandkids. He also looked forward to spending
holidays with Julee and her family.

The
morning of Friday, July 25, 2025, the risen and ascended Lord Jesus received
unto himself the soul of Richard (Pete) Hubbard at the age of 74 years, 8
months, 22 days.

Pete
was preceded in death by his father, Harold, August 25, 1970; his mother, Pat,
February 25, 2004; his stepdad, Bob Stephen, July 24, 2006; his son, Rick,
August 21, 2024; and his brother, Jim, October 21, 2024.

He
is survived by his daughter Julee (Troy) Slater; four granddaughters: Ashten
(Tanner) Staab, Kaylee Slater, Jayden (Dennis) Zoglmann; one grandson Stephen
Slater; and his “special angel” - his great granddaughter, Mila Rae Staab. He
is also survived by an uncle, Ron (Linda) Chance, and cousins Craig Chance and
Krista Wilson, along with many friends that became like family to him.

Pete’s
mortal remains will rest in the Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Hill City, Kansas until
the day of resurrection of all flesh.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. at the
Stinemetz Funeral Home, Hill City, Kansas, Pete requested that memorials be
made for the education funds of his great grandchildren in care of&nbsp; Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy Ave.,
Hill City, Kansas 67642.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753745765152.jpeg" alt="Richard Eugene 'Pete' Hubbard" />
 <figcaption>Richard Eugene 'Pete' Hubbard</figcaption>
 </figure>Richard
Eugene 'Pete' Hubbard, was born November 3, 1950 in Great Bend, Kansas to
Harold Eugene and Patricia Louise (Chance) Hubbard. At an early age the family
moved to Hill City, Kansas where he attended local schools. He graduated from
Hill City High School with the class of 1969.&nbsp;Following
high school, he attended and graduated from Northwest Kansas Area
Vocational-Technical School in Electricity-Electronics May 28th, 1971.December
5, 1970, Pete was united in marriage to Linda Kathleen Maier at Immanuel
Lutheran Church in Oakley, Kansas. The Lord Blessed this union with two
children, Julee Lyn and Richard Eugene Jr. (Rick). They later
divorced.&nbsp;&nbsp;Following
graduation from Vo-Tech, Pete worked for a local electrician until he enlisted
in the United States Air Force in 1972. During his time of service he worked as
a maintenance technician on aircraft (including Air Force One). He received
numerous medals and ribbons for his service and training. While serving, he was
stationed in Illinois, Texas, Japan, Nebraska, and Nevada. He also traveled the
world through temporary assignments. During his service in Nevada, he was
injured in an automobile accident and was Honorably Discharged/Retired from the
Air Force. He
returned to Hill City where he worked for Hill City Schools, Riverside Feeders,
Norman Beecher, J Bar S and Kellie’s (from which he retired). Pete was a member
of the Hill City Elks and the VFW. He even served as the Exalted Ruler of the
Elks Club.Pete
enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping and Chiefs football. He developed a close
friendship with the nurses and technicians during his ten years of dialysis
treatments in Hays. He often told stories of his joking and sharing family
stories with “his girls.” They became like a second family to him.Pete
was a strong supporter of youth, and their activities but his greatest joy was
being able to support his grandchildren and attend their sporting, musical and
school events. You could find him sitting in bleachers, lawn chairs or
auditorium seats or standing along a cross- country course with a smile on his
face beaming with pride for his grandkids. He also looked forward to spending
holidays with Julee and her family.The
morning of Friday, July 25, 2025, the risen and ascended Lord Jesus received
unto himself the soul of Richard (Pete) Hubbard at the age of 74 years, 8
months, 22 days.Pete
was preceded in death by his father, Harold, August 25, 1970; his mother, Pat,
February 25, 2004; his stepdad, Bob Stephen, July 24, 2006; his son, Rick,
August 21, 2024; and his brother, Jim, October 21, 2024.He
is survived by his daughter Julee (Troy) Slater; four granddaughters: Ashten
(Tanner) Staab, Kaylee Slater, Jayden (Dennis) Zoglmann; one grandson Stephen
Slater; and his “special angel” - his great granddaughter, Mila Rae Staab. He
is also survived by an uncle, Ron (Linda) Chance, and cousins Craig Chance and
Krista Wilson, along with many friends that became like family to him.Pete’s
mortal remains will rest in the Memorial Lawn Cemetery, Hill City, Kansas until
the day of resurrection of all flesh.Funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. at the
Stinemetz Funeral Home, Hill City, Kansas, Pete requested that memorials be
made for the education funds of his great grandchildren in care of&nbsp; Stinemetz Funeral Home, 522 N. Pomeroy Ave.,
Hill City, Kansas 67642.

Richard Eugene 'Pete' Hubbard

Bonnie Lee Kaser, beloved wife, mother, grandmother,
sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at
Denver Hospice in Denver, Colorado, with her devoted husband Ron by her side.
She was 83.

Born on June 7, 1942, in Elkhart, Indiana to Thelma and
David Curran, Bonnie’s life was one of curiosity, compassion, and resilience.
Her early years took her from Indianapolis to Canaan, New York, and ultimately
to Baltimore, Maryland, where she graduated from high school. Bonnie’s
intellectual drive earned her a scholarship to Ohio State University, where she
graduated fourth in her class with a Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration in 1964.

In 1966, Bonnie joined Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, where she
met Ron. Bonnie and Ron’s first date was on Ron’s 24th birthday, March 31,
1967, and just months later, they were married on August 21, 1967, at Osborne
Christian Church in Osborne, Kansas. In true Bonnie fashion, she kept life
delightfully spontaneous—Ron did not meet her parents until the night before
the wedding.

In 1968, Bonnie and Ron made Osborne their forever home.
Family was Bonnie’s greatest joy. She welcomed her first son, Kevin, on October
10, 1968, followed by Shawn on January 18, 1972. Bonnie enthusiastically
supported their school activities throughout the 1980s and was blessed when her
parents moved to Osborne in 1990, allowing her to spend cherished time with
them.

Bonnie brought energy and warmth to every facet of her
community. She was a proud member of P.E.O. and a founding organizer of Osborne
High School's after-graduation parties. Her passion for playing
cards—especially bridge and pinochle—was matched only by her dedication to
civic engagement, including her contributions to Osborne's centennial
celebrations.

Bonnie dedicated over 30 years of service to Parkview
Nursing Home, retiring in 2008 as its business manager. Even before retirement,
Bonnie and Ron journeyed together to countless destinations, embracing the joy
of travel and shared experiences.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Thelma and
David Curran; her brother Joel Curran; sister-in-law Jan Curran; and
sister-in-law Nancy Scott.

Bonnie is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Ron
Kaser, Osborne, KS; her sons, Kevin Kaser, Ormond Beach, FL, and Shawn (Hope)
Kaser, Omaha, NE; and three treasured grandchildren: Piper, Elly, and Beckett.
She is also survived by her brother Mark (Cathy) Curran, Iola, TX;
brother-in-law Bill Scott of Wamego; nephews Brian Scott and David Curran; and
nieces Lisa Schreck (Scott), Diane Henderson (Curran), April Falco (Curran),
and Ashley Moore (Curran).

Bonnie's legacy is woven into the lives she touched with
grace, generosity, and unwavering spirit. She will be deeply missed and forever
remembered.

Visitation will be held Monday, August 4, 2025, at the
United Christian Church (209 N 2nd St. Osborne, KS) from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at
the United Christian Church (209 N 2nd St. Osborne, KS) at 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorials be given
to United Christian Church, 209 N 2nd St. Osborne, KS 67473.

Arrangements entrusted to the Rentschler Family Mortuaries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753719173749.jpeg" alt="Bonnie Lee Kaser" />
 <figcaption>Bonnie Lee Kaser</figcaption>
 </figure>Bonnie Lee Kaser, beloved wife, mother, grandmother,
sister, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at
Denver Hospice in Denver, Colorado, with her devoted husband Ron by her side.
She was 83.Born on June 7, 1942, in Elkhart, Indiana to Thelma and
David Curran, Bonnie’s life was one of curiosity, compassion, and resilience.
Her early years took her from Indianapolis to Canaan, New York, and ultimately
to Baltimore, Maryland, where she graduated from high school. Bonnie’s
intellectual drive earned her a scholarship to Ohio State University, where she
graduated fourth in her class with a Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration in 1964.In 1966, Bonnie joined Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, where she
met Ron. Bonnie and Ron’s first date was on Ron’s 24th birthday, March 31,
1967, and just months later, they were married on August 21, 1967, at Osborne
Christian Church in Osborne, Kansas. In true Bonnie fashion, she kept life
delightfully spontaneous—Ron did not meet her parents until the night before
the wedding.In 1968, Bonnie and Ron made Osborne their forever home.
Family was Bonnie’s greatest joy. She welcomed her first son, Kevin, on October
10, 1968, followed by Shawn on January 18, 1972. Bonnie enthusiastically
supported their school activities throughout the 1980s and was blessed when her
parents moved to Osborne in 1990, allowing her to spend cherished time with
them.Bonnie brought energy and warmth to every facet of her
community. She was a proud member of P.E.O. and a founding organizer of Osborne
High School's after-graduation parties. Her passion for playing
cards—especially bridge and pinochle—was matched only by her dedication to
civic engagement, including her contributions to Osborne's centennial
celebrations.Bonnie dedicated over 30 years of service to Parkview
Nursing Home, retiring in 2008 as its business manager. Even before retirement,
Bonnie and Ron journeyed together to countless destinations, embracing the joy
of travel and shared experiences.Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, Thelma and
David Curran; her brother Joel Curran; sister-in-law Jan Curran; and
sister-in-law Nancy Scott.Bonnie is survived by her loving husband of 57 years, Ron
Kaser, Osborne, KS; her sons, Kevin Kaser, Ormond Beach, FL, and Shawn (Hope)
Kaser, Omaha, NE; and three treasured grandchildren: Piper, Elly, and Beckett.
She is also survived by her brother Mark (Cathy) Curran, Iola, TX;
brother-in-law Bill Scott of Wamego; nephews Brian Scott and David Curran; and
nieces Lisa Schreck (Scott), Diane Henderson (Curran), April Falco (Curran),
and Ashley Moore (Curran).Bonnie's legacy is woven into the lives she touched with
grace, generosity, and unwavering spirit. She will be deeply missed and forever
remembered.Visitation will be held Monday, August 4, 2025, at the
United Christian Church (209 N 2nd St. Osborne, KS) from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM.Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at
the United Christian Church (209 N 2nd St. Osborne, KS) at 10:30 AM.In lieu of flowers, family requests that memorials be given
to United Christian Church, 209 N 2nd St. Osborne, KS 67473.Arrangements entrusted to the Rentschler Family Mortuaries.

Bonnie Lee Kaser

EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State Football was tabbed third in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, released on Monday (July 28) at MIAA Football Media Day. The Tigers are picked where they finished last year in the standings, coming off an 8-3 overall, 6-3 MIAA performance in 2024.

Fort Hays State tied for third in the MIAA regular season standings with Central Missouri, both at 6-3. The Tigers were right on the cut line of getting into the NCAA Playoffs, ranked eighth in the final super region rankings release as the top seven teams were selected to the playoffs. The Tigers defeated Central Missouri head-to-head in Hays last year and got the nod for the higher spot in the preseason polls with Central Missouri listed fourth in both.

Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State led the way in both polls, coming off NCAA playoff appearances in 2024. UCO was picked first in the coaches poll, while PSU slightly edged UCO for first in the media poll despite UCO having more first-place votes. Central Oklahoma was the MIAA champion in 2024 with an 8-1 conference mark and went on to finish the year 12-2 overall by advancing to the Round of 16 in the NCAA playoffs. Pittsburg State finished 2024 8-3 overall after going 7-2 in MIAA action. The Gorillas lost their opening game of the NCAA playoffs.

Fort Hays State returns seven of its regular starters from the 2024 season on offense, but just four on defense. FHSU had the third-best scoring offense and fourth-best total offense in the MIAA last year, but backed it with the best scoring defense and second-best total defense in the conference. The Tigers return six All-MIAA selections from last year's squad in 2025. The group includes Josh Shaw (OL), Porter Dannevik (OL), Cale Cormaney (TE), and Caleb Heavner (QB) on offense, and John Johnson (LB) and Gaven Haselhorst (DL) on defense.

For the second-straight year, Fort Hays State will open with Angelo State at home on Thursday, August 28. The Tigers will have five home games throughout the 2025 regular season, which includes two in September, one in October, and one in November. The Tigers start with two non-conference games (one home, one away) before jumping into MIAA play for its final nine games of the regular season.

Below are the MIAA Football Preseason Polls

2025 MIAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL 1. Central Oklahoma [7] – 78 points 2. Pittsburg State [3] – 75 points 3. Fort Hays State – 62 points 4. Central Missouri – 57 points 5. Emporia State – 50 points 6. Northwest Missouri – 41 points 7. Missouri Western – 29 points 8. Nebraska Kearney – 28 points 9. Washburn – 21 points 10. Missouri Southern – 9 points [#] - Number of First Place Votes

2025 MIAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL 1. Pittsburg State [13] – 310 points 2. Central Oklahoma [18] – 307 points 3. Fort Hays State [2] – 271 points 4. Central Missouri [1] – 239 points 5. Northwest Missouri – 215 points 6. Emporia State – 167 points 7. Nebraska Kearney – 120 points 8. Missouri Western – 107 points 9. Washburn – 88 points 10. Missouri Southern – 46 points [#] - Number of First Place Votes

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753714264021.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU AthleticsEMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State Football was tabbed third in both the MIAA Preseason Coaches and Media Polls, released on Monday (July 28) at MIAA Football Media Day. The Tigers are picked where they finished last year in the standings, coming off an 8-3 overall, 6-3 MIAA performance in 2024.Fort Hays State tied for third in the MIAA regular season standings with Central Missouri, both at 6-3. The Tigers were right on the cut line of getting into the NCAA Playoffs, ranked eighth in the final super region rankings release as the top seven teams were selected to the playoffs. The Tigers defeated Central Missouri head-to-head in Hays last year and got the nod for the higher spot in the preseason polls with Central Missouri listed fourth in both.Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State led the way in both polls, coming off NCAA playoff appearances in 2024. UCO was picked first in the coaches poll, while PSU slightly edged UCO for first in the media poll despite UCO having more first-place votes. Central Oklahoma was the MIAA champion in 2024 with an 8-1 conference mark and went on to finish the year 12-2 overall by advancing to the Round of 16 in the NCAA playoffs. Pittsburg State finished 2024 8-3 overall after going 7-2 in MIAA action. The Gorillas lost their opening game of the NCAA playoffs.Fort Hays State returns seven of its regular starters from the 2024 season on offense, but just four on defense. FHSU had the third-best scoring offense and fourth-best total offense in the MIAA last year, but backed it with the best scoring defense and second-best total defense in the conference. The Tigers return six All-MIAA selections from last year's squad in 2025. The group includes Josh Shaw (OL), Porter Dannevik (OL), Cale Cormaney (TE), and Caleb Heavner (QB) on offense, and John Johnson (LB) and Gaven Haselhorst (DL) on defense.For the second-straight year, Fort Hays State will open with Angelo State at home on Thursday, August 28. The Tigers will have five home games throughout the 2025 regular season, which includes two in September, one in October, and one in November. The Tigers start with two non-conference games (one home, one away) before jumping into MIAA play for its final nine games of the regular season.Below are the MIAA Football Preseason Polls2025 MIAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL 1. Central Oklahoma [7] – 78 points 2. Pittsburg State [3] – 75 points 3. Fort Hays State – 62 points 4. Central Missouri – 57 points 5. Emporia State – 50 points 6. Northwest Missouri – 41 points 7. Missouri Western – 29 points 8. Nebraska Kearney – 28 points 9. Washburn – 21 points 10. Missouri Southern – 9 points [#] - Number of First Place Votes2025 MIAA FOOTBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL 1. Pittsburg State [13] – 310 points 2. Central Oklahoma [18] – 307 points 3. Fort Hays State [2] – 271 points 4. Central Missouri [1] – 239 points 5. Northwest Missouri – 215 points 6. Emporia State – 167 points 7. Nebraska Kearney – 120 points 8. Missouri Western – 107 points 9. Washburn – 88 points 10. Missouri Southern – 46 points [#] - Number of First Place Votes

🏈FHSU Football Tabbed Third in 2025 MIAA Preseason Polls

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported just three new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 90 cases in 11 counties and eight hospitalizations. All but three of the cases are connected, and most are in Gray County.

On July 4, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports health officials in Colorado say the state's measles outbreak is over, and the U.S. added just 10 confirmed cases&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-us-texas-mmr-vaccine-rfk-144ed193e13de675a750e52a505423e9">nationally</a>&nbsp;in the last week.

Wednesday's national case count stood at 1,319, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier this month, the U.S. passed the total count for 2019, when the country almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

A vast majority of this year's cases are from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas,</a>&nbsp;where a major outbreak raged through the late winter and spring. Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Arizona, Georgia, Iowa,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah.

There have been three deaths in the U.S. this year, and all were unvaccinated:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>.

North America has three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">large outbreaks</a>. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=3d8451977cd34084a8b494a6a11b4f1a&amp;sc_lang=en&amp;hash=48D1A6D0D037B39BD421AAF060204EE0">2,276 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through July 15. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.

Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">1,472 as of Tuesday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 3,296 measles cases and 10 deaths as of Tuesday, according to data from the state health ministry.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>&nbsp;and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

How many measles cases are there in Texas?

Texas did not add any cases in the last week, coming in at 762 measles cases Tuesday across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">36 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>.

Throughout the outbreak, 99 people have been hospitalized.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — were actively infectious as of Tuesday.

Statewide, only Lamar County has ongoing measles transmission, officials said. In total, though, more than half of Texas’ cases (414) have been in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.

How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?

New Mexico also stayed steady at 95 measles cases on Tuesday.

Lea County has seen the most with 67, but Lea and six other counties no longer have active measles spread, officials said Tuesday.

An outbreak of 14 cases tied to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-new-mexico-detention-facility-migrants-outbreak-c7f5897ebba85a59548d279c500adaea">jail in Luna County</a>&nbsp;remains active.

An unvaccinated adult died of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related illness March 6</a>. The person did not seek medical care. Seven people have been hospitalized since the state's outbreak started.

Oklahoma held steady a third week at 17 confirmed and three probable cases.

The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but no counties have recent public exposures.

Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. They are linked to a single source, the county health department said June 9. All four were unvaccinated and had a history of recent international travel.

Georgia has an outbreak of three cases in metro Atlanta, with the most recent infection confirmed June 18.

The state has confirmed six total cases in 2025. The remaining three are part of an unrelated outbreak from January.

Iowa announced another measles case on Tuesday, bringing the state's total to eight in 2025. The state health department said the new case isn't linked to others in the state, and occurred in a person who was fully vaccinated.

An outbreak in eastern Johnson County involves four cases in members of the same household.

How many measles cases are there in Kentucky?

Central Kentucky's outbreak rose to nine cases as of July 8. The cases are in Fayette County, which includes Lexington, and neighboring Woodford County.

The state has had 18 cases total in 2025; eight are linked to outbreaks.

In northern Michigan, Grand Traverse County has an outbreak of four cases as of Wednesday. An earlier outbreak of four cases in Montcalm County was declared over on June 2.

Missouri stayed steady with seven cases as of Wednesday.

Five cases are in southwestern Cedar County, and four of those are members of the same family. The fifth case is still under investigation, according to county health director Victoria Barker.

Montana added two measles cases this week for a total of 27. Cascade County confirmed its first case.

Seventeen were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana’s first in 35 years. Flathead County has two cases, Yellowstone County had three and Hill County had four cases.

There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Utah's measles case count rose by one to 11 as of Tuesday.

At least three of the cases are linked, the state health department said last week. State epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen has said there are at least three different measles clusters in the state.

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

Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Earlier outbreaks in Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee are over.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year. Most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

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

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

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."

Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported just three new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 90 cases in 11 counties and eight hospitalizations. All but three of the cases are connected, and most are in Gray County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753284887510.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On July 4, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.<ol>
 <li>Location:&nbsp;Fifth-Floor Pediatric Unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center</li><li>Address:&nbsp;550 N Hillside St, Wichita, KS 67214</li><li>Dates and times:&nbsp;Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 10 p.m. until Thursday, July 3, 2025, 4:45 p.m.</li>
 </ol>Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports health officials in Colorado say the state's measles outbreak is over, and the U.S. added just 10 confirmed cases&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-us-texas-mmr-vaccine-rfk-144ed193e13de675a750e52a505423e9">nationally</a>&nbsp;in the last week.Wednesday's national case count stood at 1,319, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier this month, the U.S. passed the total count for 2019, when the country almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.A vast majority of this year's cases are from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas,</a>&nbsp;where a major outbreak raged through the late winter and spring. Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Arizona, Georgia, Iowa,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah.There have been three deaths in the U.S. this year, and all were unvaccinated:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>.North America has three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">large outbreaks</a>. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=3d8451977cd34084a8b494a6a11b4f1a&amp;sc_lang=en&amp;hash=48D1A6D0D037B39BD421AAF060204EE0">2,276 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through July 15. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">1,472 as of Tuesday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 3,296 measles cases and 10 deaths as of Tuesday, according to data from the state health ministry.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>&nbsp;and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.<h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas?</h2>Texas did not add any cases in the last week, coming in at 762 measles cases Tuesday across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">36 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>.Throughout the outbreak, 99 people have been hospitalized.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — were actively infectious as of Tuesday.Statewide, only Lamar County has ongoing measles transmission, officials said. In total, though, more than half of Texas’ cases (414) have been in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community.The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.<h2>How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?</h2>New Mexico also stayed steady at 95 measles cases on Tuesday.Lea County has seen the most with 67, but Lea and six other counties no longer have active measles spread, officials said Tuesday.An outbreak of 14 cases tied to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-new-mexico-detention-facility-migrants-outbreak-c7f5897ebba85a59548d279c500adaea">jail in Luna County</a>&nbsp;remains active.An unvaccinated adult died of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related illness March 6</a>. The person did not seek medical care. Seven people have been hospitalized since the state's outbreak started.<h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2>Oklahoma held steady a third week at 17 confirmed and three probable cases.The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but no counties have recent public exposures.<h2>How many cases are there in Arizona?</h2>Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. They are linked to a single source, the county health department said June 9. All four were unvaccinated and had a history of recent international travel.<h2>How many cases are there in Georgia?</h2>Georgia has an outbreak of three cases in metro Atlanta, with the most recent infection confirmed June 18.The state has confirmed six total cases in 2025. The remaining three are part of an unrelated outbreak from January.<h2>How many cases are there in Iowa?</h2>Iowa announced another measles case on Tuesday, bringing the state's total to eight in 2025. The state health department said the new case isn't linked to others in the state, and occurred in a person who was fully vaccinated.An outbreak in eastern Johnson County involves four cases in members of the same household.<h2>How many measles cases are there in Kentucky?</h2>Kentucky has 13 cases this year.Central Kentucky's outbreak rose to nine cases as of July 8. The cases are in Fayette County, which includes Lexington, and neighboring Woodford County.<h2>How many cases are there in Michigan?</h2>The state has had 18 cases total in 2025; eight are linked to outbreaks.In northern Michigan, Grand Traverse County has an outbreak of four cases as of Wednesday. An earlier outbreak of four cases in Montcalm County was declared over on June 2.<h2>How many cases are there in Missouri?</h2>Missouri stayed steady with seven cases as of Wednesday.Five cases are in southwestern Cedar County, and four of those are members of the same family. The fifth case is still under investigation, according to county health director Victoria Barker.<h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2>Montana added two measles cases this week for a total of 27. Cascade County confirmed its first case.Seventeen were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana’s first in 35 years. Flathead County has two cases, Yellowstone County had three and Hill County had four cases.There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.<h2>How many cases are there in Utah?</h2>Utah's measles case count rose by one to 11 as of Tuesday.At least three of the cases are linked, the state health department said last week. State epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen has said there are at least three different measles clusters in the state.<h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2>Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.Earlier outbreaks in Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee are over.Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year. Most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home.<h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.<h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.___

KDHE: More measles cases in Kansas; US case count continues to diminish

KANSAS CITY —The death of a baby boy last fall is now being investigated as a homicide.

Just after 6:30p.m. October 26, 2023, police were dispatched to Children's Mercy Hospital on a reported assault that occurred in the 8000 block of NW Milrey Drive in Kansas City, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Upon arrival, they contacted hospital staff who advised that two-month-old Mateo Rideout&nbsp;was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries. 

A person of interest was identified and taken into police custody for further investigation. On November 5, the child died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.

This death was ruled suspicious in nature until detectives would receive the official autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office. 

On June 10, an autopsy report from Forensic Medical was provided ruling this death a homicide. This case has been submitted to Platte County Prosecutors for charging consideration.

KANSAS CITY —The death of a baby boy last fall is now being investigated as a homicide.Just after 6:30p.m. October 26, 2023, police were dispatched to Children's Mercy Hospital on a reported assault that occurred in the 8000 block of NW Milrey Drive in Kansas City, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Upon arrival, they contacted hospital staff who advised that two-month-old Mateo Rideout&nbsp;was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries. A person of interest was identified and taken into police custody for further investigation. On November 5, the child died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.This death was ruled suspicious in nature until detectives would receive the official autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office. On June 10, an autopsy report from Forensic Medical was provided ruling this death a homicide. This case has been submitted to Platte County Prosecutors for charging consideration.

KCPD: Baby's suspicious death now ruled a homicide

NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University announced Wednesday it has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-layoffs-campus-protests-trump-funding-antisemitism-ec6d152048d921bd1764ec11a287bbdd">federal research money</a>&nbsp;that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.

Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay a $200 million settlement over three years, the university said. It will also pay $21 million to resolve alleged civil rights violations against Jewish employees that occurred following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the White House said.

“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting University President Claire Shipman said.

The school had been threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support, including more than $400 million in grants canceled earlier this year. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protests-antisemitism-palestine-israel-9c209ce040e4b60d2702b40b9c2fb321">pulled the funding</a>&nbsp;because of what it described as the university’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.

Columbia has since agreed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-funding-trump-fa70143c715df8fd4ef337c0e1ccf872">series of demands</a>&nbsp;laid out by the Republican administration, including overhauling the university’s student disciplinary process and applying a contentious, federally endorsed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/antisemitism-definition-states-law-zionism-indiana-georgia-871571f3b392455b1479827bdf1f5ea7">definition of antisemitism</a>&nbsp;not only to teaching but to a disciplinary committee that has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-campus-protests-trump-congress-ba0eddec4679d70287202831c52ebed6">investigating students critical of Israel</a>.

Wednesday’s agreement — which does not include an admission of wrongdoing — codifies those reforms while preserving the university’s autonomy, Shipman said.

‘Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap,' Trump administration says

Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the deal “a seismic shift in our nation’s fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment.”

“Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap for elite universities that wish to regain the confidence of the American public by renewing their commitment to truth-seeking, merit, and civil debate,” McMahon said in a statement.

As part of the agreement, Columbia agreed to a series of changes previously announced in March, including reviewing its Middle East curriculum to make sure it was “comprehensive and balanced” and appointing new faculty to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. It also promised to end programs “that promote unlawful efforts to achieve race-based outcomes, quotes, diversity targets or similar efforts.”

The university will also have to issue a report to a monitor assuring that its programs “do not promote unlawful DEI goals.”

In a post Wednesday night on his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump said Columbia had “committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus.”

He also warned, without being specific, “Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming.”

The pact comes after months of uncertainty and fraught negotiations at the more than 270-year-old university. It was among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-antisemitism-investigation-contracts-e0680c1d3de85930a3ee9deaa7f42c62">first targets</a>&nbsp;of Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus protests and on colleges that he asserts have allowed Jewish students be threatened and harassed.

Columbia’s own antisemitism&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-israel-palestine-columbia-f2984f21aa38a4f637982af7b98fed5e">task force found last summer</a>&nbsp;that Jewish students had faced verbal abuse, ostracism and classroom humiliation during the spring 2024 demonstrations.

Other Jewish students took part in the protests, however, and protest leaders maintain they aren’t targeting Jews but rather criticizing the Israeli government and its war in Gaza.

Columbia’s leadership — a revolving door of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-president-resigns-katrina-armstrong-f9479f6294a6fb536651def3f88309a6">three interim presidents</a>&nbsp;in the last year — has declared that the campus climate needs to change.

Columbia agrees to question international students

Also in the settlement is an agreement to ask prospective international students “questions designed to elicit their reasons for wishing to study in the United States,” and establishes processes to make sure all students are committed to “civil discourse.”

In a move that would potentially make it easier for the Trump administration to deport students who participate in protests, Columbia promised to provide the government with information, upon request, of disciplinary actions involving student-visa holders resulting in expulsions or suspensions.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-columbia-discipline-trump-administration-f009b90113fe0ba7847c54ffc9197bd1">Columbia on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;announced it would suspend, expel or revoke degrees from more than 70 students who participated in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-pro-palestine-protest-d6963720d50e92f271346d9febb95f18">pro-Palestinian demonstration</a>&nbsp;inside the main library in May and an encampment during alumni weekend last year.

The pressure on Columbia began with a series of funding cuts. Then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protester-mahmoud-khalil-immigration-arrest-5ae6eeb3ac95f190a505abebc4ee0944">Mahmoud Khalil</a>, a former graduate student who had been a visible figure in the protests,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-15014bcbb921f21a9f704d5acdcae7a8">became the first</a>&nbsp;person detained in the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detainees-students-ozturk-khalil-78f544fb2c8b593c88a0c1f0e0ad9c5f">push to deport pro-Palestinian activists</a>&nbsp;who aren’t U.S. citizens.

Next came searches of some university residences amid a federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-arrests-3a8db6e646b786a721089a6f0bc8d9fc">Justice Department investigation</a>&nbsp;into whether Columbia concealed “illegal aliens” on campus. The interim president at the time responded that the university was committed to upholding the law.

Columbia was an early test case for the Trump administration as it sought closer oversight of universities that the Republican president views as bastions of liberalism. Yet it soon was overshadowed by Harvard University, which became the first higher education institution to defy Trump’s demands and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-lawsuit-grants-f098f55c6986b37e1227e7bcf8967a46">fight back in court</a>.

The Trump administration has used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-federal-cuts-universities-protests-8fa92331b2780394ea171b0b32d5d243">federal research funding</a>&nbsp;as its primary lever in its campaign to reshape higher education. More than $2 billion in total has also been frozen at Cornell, Northwestern, Brown and Princeton universities.

Administration officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-transgender-swimmer-trump-federal-funding-2416de5d0abee40163a25294e8a72442">pulled $175 million from the University of Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;in March over a dispute around women’s sports. They restored it when school officials agreed to update records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and change their policies.

The administration also is looking beyond private universities. University of Virginia President James Ryan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-virginia-dei-james-ryan-6f8cfc43738944ca8164ab20814c5695">agreed to resign</a>&nbsp;in June under pressure from a U.S. Justice Department investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion practices. A similar investigation was opened this month at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-george-mason-university-trump-2157c7a294ab7b79811df6654394bacc">George Mason University</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753350506660.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University announced Wednesday it has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-layoffs-campus-protests-trump-funding-antisemitism-ec6d152048d921bd1764ec11a287bbdd">federal research money</a>&nbsp;that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay a $200 million settlement over three years, the university said. It will also pay $21 million to resolve alleged civil rights violations against Jewish employees that occurred following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the White House said.“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting University President Claire Shipman said.The school had been threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support, including more than $400 million in grants canceled earlier this year. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protests-antisemitism-palestine-israel-9c209ce040e4b60d2702b40b9c2fb321">pulled the funding</a>&nbsp;because of what it described as the university’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.Columbia has since agreed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-funding-trump-fa70143c715df8fd4ef337c0e1ccf872">series of demands</a>&nbsp;laid out by the Republican administration, including overhauling the university’s student disciplinary process and applying a contentious, federally endorsed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/antisemitism-definition-states-law-zionism-indiana-georgia-871571f3b392455b1479827bdf1f5ea7">definition of antisemitism</a>&nbsp;not only to teaching but to a disciplinary committee that has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-campus-protests-trump-congress-ba0eddec4679d70287202831c52ebed6">investigating students critical of Israel</a>.Wednesday’s agreement — which does not include an admission of wrongdoing — codifies those reforms while preserving the university’s autonomy, Shipman said.<h2>‘Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap,' Trump administration says</h2>Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the deal “a seismic shift in our nation’s fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment.”“Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap for elite universities that wish to regain the confidence of the American public by renewing their commitment to truth-seeking, merit, and civil debate,” McMahon said in a statement.As part of the agreement, Columbia agreed to a series of changes previously announced in March, including reviewing its Middle East curriculum to make sure it was “comprehensive and balanced” and appointing new faculty to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. It also promised to end programs “that promote unlawful efforts to achieve race-based outcomes, quotes, diversity targets or similar efforts.”The university will also have to issue a report to a monitor assuring that its programs “do not promote unlawful DEI goals.”In a post Wednesday night on his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump said Columbia had “committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus.”He also warned, without being specific, “Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming.”<h2>Crackdown follows Columbia protests</h2>The pact comes after months of uncertainty and fraught negotiations at the more than 270-year-old university. It was among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-antisemitism-investigation-contracts-e0680c1d3de85930a3ee9deaa7f42c62">first targets</a>&nbsp;of Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus protests and on colleges that he asserts have allowed Jewish students be threatened and harassed.Columbia’s own antisemitism&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-israel-palestine-columbia-f2984f21aa38a4f637982af7b98fed5e">task force found last summer</a>&nbsp;that Jewish students had faced verbal abuse, ostracism and classroom humiliation during the spring 2024 demonstrations.Other Jewish students took part in the protests, however, and protest leaders maintain they aren’t targeting Jews but rather criticizing the Israeli government and its war in Gaza.Columbia’s leadership — a revolving door of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-president-resigns-katrina-armstrong-f9479f6294a6fb536651def3f88309a6">three interim presidents</a>&nbsp;in the last year — has declared that the campus climate needs to change.<h2>Columbia agrees to question international students</h2>Also in the settlement is an agreement to ask prospective international students “questions designed to elicit their reasons for wishing to study in the United States,” and establishes processes to make sure all students are committed to “civil discourse.”In a move that would potentially make it easier for the Trump administration to deport students who participate in protests, Columbia promised to provide the government with information, upon request, of disciplinary actions involving student-visa holders resulting in expulsions or suspensions.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-columbia-discipline-trump-administration-f009b90113fe0ba7847c54ffc9197bd1">Columbia on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;announced it would suspend, expel or revoke degrees from more than 70 students who participated in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-pro-palestine-protest-d6963720d50e92f271346d9febb95f18">pro-Palestinian demonstration</a>&nbsp;inside the main library in May and an encampment during alumni weekend last year.The pressure on Columbia began with a series of funding cuts. Then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protester-mahmoud-khalil-immigration-arrest-5ae6eeb3ac95f190a505abebc4ee0944">Mahmoud Khalil</a>, a former graduate student who had been a visible figure in the protests,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-15014bcbb921f21a9f704d5acdcae7a8">became the first</a>&nbsp;person detained in the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detainees-students-ozturk-khalil-78f544fb2c8b593c88a0c1f0e0ad9c5f">push to deport pro-Palestinian activists</a>&nbsp;who aren’t U.S. citizens.Next came searches of some university residences amid a federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-arrests-3a8db6e646b786a721089a6f0bc8d9fc">Justice Department investigation</a>&nbsp;into whether Columbia concealed “illegal aliens” on campus. The interim president at the time responded that the university was committed to upholding the law.<h2>University oversight expands</h2>Columbia was an early test case for the Trump administration as it sought closer oversight of universities that the Republican president views as bastions of liberalism. Yet it soon was overshadowed by Harvard University, which became the first higher education institution to defy Trump’s demands and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-lawsuit-grants-f098f55c6986b37e1227e7bcf8967a46">fight back in court</a>.The Trump administration has used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-federal-cuts-universities-protests-8fa92331b2780394ea171b0b32d5d243">federal research funding</a>&nbsp;as its primary lever in its campaign to reshape higher education. More than $2 billion in total has also been frozen at Cornell, Northwestern, Brown and Princeton universities.Administration officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-transgender-swimmer-trump-federal-funding-2416de5d0abee40163a25294e8a72442">pulled $175 million from the University of Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;in March over a dispute around women’s sports. They restored it when school officials agreed to update records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and change their policies.The administration also is looking beyond private universities. University of Virginia President James Ryan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-virginia-dei-james-ryan-6f8cfc43738944ca8164ab20814c5695">agreed to resign</a>&nbsp;in June under pressure from a U.S. Justice Department investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion practices. A similar investigation was opened this month at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-george-mason-university-trump-2157c7a294ab7b79811df6654394bacc">George Mason University</a>.

Columbia to pay more than $220M in deal with Trump to restore federal funding

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes inched their way to more records on Monday to kick off a week full of profit updates from big U.S. companies.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.1% and squeaked past its prior&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-powell-trump-ee3ff3ef24f5054fb0550605a922df83">all-time high set on Thursday</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down by 19 points, or less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.4%&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/markets-stocks-japan-inflation-rates-43b87b3786fdd2971f3b8c52ffedc20a">to its own record</a>.

Verizon Communications helped lead the way and rose 4%. The telecom giant reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, along with higher revenue than forecast. Following the better-than-expected performance, Verizon raised its forecasts for profit and other financial measures for the full year.

That helped offset a 5.4% drop for Sarepta Therapeutics, which continued to fall after the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that it asked the company to voluntarily stop all shipments of Elevidys, its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, due to safety concerns.

Block, Jack Dorsey’s company behind Square, Cash App and other tech brands climbed 7.6% in its first trading after learning it will join the widely followed and imitated S&amp;P 500 index. It will take the place of Hess, which Chevron bought, before trading begins on Wednesday.

Cleveland-Cliffs rallied 12.4% after the steel producer reported a smaller loss for the spring than analysts expected. It shipped a record 4.3 million net tons of steel during the quarter, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the company has begun to see “the positive impact that tariffs have on domestic manufacturing” and other things.

It’s a major supplier to the auto industry, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;steer companies hoping to sell cars in the United States toward steel made in the country.

Other U.S. companies, though, are navigating the downsides and complications of tariffs, which raise prices on all kinds of things imported to the United States. That includes General Motors, which will report its latest profit results later this week, along with such market heavyweights as Alphabet, Coca-Cola and Tesla.

Many of Trump’s stiff proposed tariffs are currently on pause after Trump extended the deadline for talks with other countries in order to give more time to reach potential trade deals that could lower the tax rates. The next big deadline, at least for now, is Aug. 1.

It’s still early days in this earnings reporting season, but most big U.S. companies have been topping analysts’ expectations, as is usually the case.

Some encouraging undertones may already be emerging. An upward inflection in demand for travel that United Airlines said it’s seen recently, combined with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-economy-inflation-22178ab1457693a21d6822ec12c9b0d9">better-than-expected data on U.S. retail sales</a>, may indicate that U.S. consumers remain in decent health, Bank of America strategist Savita Subramanian said in a BofA Global Research report. That could offer a strong source of support for the economy.

Companies will need to keep delivering solid profit growth to tamp down criticism that the U.S. stock market may be looking expensive again after prices reached records despite potential worries about tariffs and the economy.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes inched their way to more records on Monday to kick off a week full of profit updates from big U.S. companies.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.1% and squeaked past its prior&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-powell-trump-ee3ff3ef24f5054fb0550605a922df83">all-time high set on Thursday</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down by 19 points, or less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.4%&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/markets-stocks-japan-inflation-rates-43b87b3786fdd2971f3b8c52ffedc20a">to its own record</a>.Verizon Communications helped lead the way and rose 4%. The telecom giant reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, along with higher revenue than forecast. Following the better-than-expected performance, Verizon raised its forecasts for profit and other financial measures for the full year.That helped offset a 5.4% drop for Sarepta Therapeutics, which continued to fall after the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that it asked the company to voluntarily stop all shipments of Elevidys, its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, due to safety concerns.Block, Jack Dorsey’s company behind Square, Cash App and other tech brands climbed 7.6% in its first trading after learning it will join the widely followed and imitated S&amp;P 500 index. It will take the place of Hess, which Chevron bought, before trading begins on Wednesday.Cleveland-Cliffs rallied 12.4% after the steel producer reported a smaller loss for the spring than analysts expected. It shipped a record 4.3 million net tons of steel during the quarter, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the company has begun to see “the positive impact that tariffs have on domestic manufacturing” and other things.It’s a major supplier to the auto industry, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;steer companies hoping to sell cars in the United States toward steel made in the country.Other U.S. companies, though, are navigating the downsides and complications of tariffs, which raise prices on all kinds of things imported to the United States. That includes General Motors, which will report its latest profit results later this week, along with such market heavyweights as Alphabet, Coca-Cola and Tesla.Many of Trump’s stiff proposed tariffs are currently on pause after Trump extended the deadline for talks with other countries in order to give more time to reach potential trade deals that could lower the tax rates. The next big deadline, at least for now, is Aug. 1.It’s still early days in this earnings reporting season, but most big U.S. companies have been topping analysts’ expectations, as is usually the case.Some encouraging undertones may already be emerging. An upward inflection in demand for travel that United Airlines said it’s seen recently, combined with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-economy-inflation-22178ab1457693a21d6822ec12c9b0d9">better-than-expected data on U.S. retail sales</a>, may indicate that U.S. consumers remain in decent health, Bank of America strategist Savita Subramanian said in a BofA Global Research report. That could offer a strong source of support for the economy.Companies will need to keep delivering solid profit growth to tamp down criticism that the U.S. stock market may be looking expensive again after prices reached records despite potential worries about tariffs and the economy.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 8.81 points to 6,305.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 19.12 to 44,323.07, and the Nasdaq composite rose 78.52 to 20,974.17.In the bond market, Treasury yields eased. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.38% from 4.44% late Friday.In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in Europe after finishing modestly higher in much of Asia.Markets were closed for a holiday in Japan, where the ruling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-politics-election-ishiba-parliament-vote-fcc2fb4cce609240d1c2369bf4090e26">Liberal Democrats lost their coalition majorities</a>&nbsp;in both houses of parliament for the first time since 1955 following Sunday’s upper house election and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-ishiba-parliament-election-ldp-opposition-5c6509c7b83963ffe40588c50998967c">loss of their lower house majority</a>&nbsp;in October.