Harold L. ‘Harry’ Leiker, 82, Hays, died Thursday, June 12,
2025 at HaysMed.

He was born November 14, 1942 in Hays, the son of Carl S.
and Helen (Schmidt) Leiker.&nbsp; He was
graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy with the class of 1960, then he proudly
served in the U.S. Army from 1960 – 1963 and was stationed in Germany during
that time.&nbsp; He owned and operated Harry’s
Heating and Air Conditioning and did sheet metal work.&nbsp; On April 24, 1965, he was united in marriage to
Carolyn Marsh at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, and they celebrated 60
years of marriage.&nbsp; Harry was a member of
the Eagle’s Lodge and the Hays American Legion Post #173.&nbsp; Harry was a car enthusiast who enjoyed new
and classic cars, was a stickler for a well-manicured lawn, was a proud member
of the McDonald’s Coffee Crew, and relished visiting with his friends.&nbsp; He and Carolyn spent 32 years in Longmont,
Colorado, moving back to Hays in 2017 due to his health.

Survivors include his wife Carolyn, of the home in Hays, two
sons, Loren Leiker (Linda) of Hays and Troy Leiker of Longmont, CO, a daughter,
Karen Zurfluh (Steve Gentry) of Frederick, CO, two brothers, Earl J. Leiker
(Mary Ann) of Hays, and Carl Leiker (Donna) of Texhoma, TX, five grandchildren,
Brandon Leiker (Kristina), Marissa Schumacher (Luke), Bailee Carroll (Jordan),
Brynn Leiker, and Tanner Zurfluh (Mackenzie), one great grandson due in
September, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Merlyn
Leiker (Phyllis), an infant brother Johnny Leiker, sisters, Betty Ann Walter
(Leo Walter, Jr.), and Janet Dreiling, an infant sister Mary Leiker, a daughter-in-law
Pam Leiker, a brother-in-law William Marsh, and a nephew Shawn Leiker.

Private family inurnment will take place at a later date in
St. Joseph Cemetery with military honors by the Hays VFW #9076 Honor
Guard.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to
Wounded Warriors or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.&nbsp; Services are in the care of Hays Memorial
Chapel Funeral Home and memories and condolences of Harry may be left for the
family at www.haysmemorial.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749846085982.jpeg" alt="Harold L. ‘Harry’ Leiker," />
 <figcaption>Harold L. ‘Harry’ Leiker,</figcaption>
 </figure>Harold L. ‘Harry’ Leiker, 82, Hays, died Thursday, June 12,
2025 at HaysMed.He was born November 14, 1942 in Hays, the son of Carl S.
and Helen (Schmidt) Leiker.&nbsp; He was
graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy with the class of 1960, then he proudly
served in the U.S. Army from 1960 – 1963 and was stationed in Germany during
that time.&nbsp; He owned and operated Harry’s
Heating and Air Conditioning and did sheet metal work.&nbsp; On April 24, 1965, he was united in marriage to
Carolyn Marsh at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays, and they celebrated 60
years of marriage.&nbsp; Harry was a member of
the Eagle’s Lodge and the Hays American Legion Post #173.&nbsp; Harry was a car enthusiast who enjoyed new
and classic cars, was a stickler for a well-manicured lawn, was a proud member
of the McDonald’s Coffee Crew, and relished visiting with his friends.&nbsp; He and Carolyn spent 32 years in Longmont,
Colorado, moving back to Hays in 2017 due to his health.Survivors include his wife Carolyn, of the home in Hays, two
sons, Loren Leiker (Linda) of Hays and Troy Leiker of Longmont, CO, a daughter,
Karen Zurfluh (Steve Gentry) of Frederick, CO, two brothers, Earl J. Leiker
(Mary Ann) of Hays, and Carl Leiker (Donna) of Texhoma, TX, five grandchildren,
Brandon Leiker (Kristina), Marissa Schumacher (Luke), Bailee Carroll (Jordan),
Brynn Leiker, and Tanner Zurfluh (Mackenzie), one great grandson due in
September, and numerous nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Merlyn
Leiker (Phyllis), an infant brother Johnny Leiker, sisters, Betty Ann Walter
(Leo Walter, Jr.), and Janet Dreiling, an infant sister Mary Leiker, a daughter-in-law
Pam Leiker, a brother-in-law William Marsh, and a nephew Shawn Leiker.Private family inurnment will take place at a later date in
St. Joseph Cemetery with military honors by the Hays VFW #9076 Honor
Guard.&nbsp; Memorials are suggested to
Wounded Warriors or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.&nbsp; Services are in the care of Hays Memorial
Chapel Funeral Home and memories and condolences of Harry may be left for the
family at www.haysmemorial.com

Harold L. ‘Harry’ Leiker

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

A 30-year-old Plainville man was sentenced to more than 13
years in prison Friday in Rooks County District Court for rape and sexual assault.

Bryan Moran was initially arrested in September 2024 for eight
felony counts and two misdemeanor charges for a series of incidents that occurred
Aug. 23-26 in Plainville.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation.

According to court documents, Moran held the victim, with
whom he was in a relationship, against her will on multiple occasions. He kicked
and hit the victim in the head, threatened her with an axe, struck her with a
light bulb and a piece of wood and strangled her multiple times, according to
court documents. 

On April 22, 2025, Rooks County Prosecutor Danielle Muir filed an amended complaint with the
district court, and on April 28, Moran accepted a plea agreement.

Under the plea agreement, Moran agreed to plead guilty to
rape, aggravated sexual battery and aggravated domestic battery, all felonies. The
other charges were dropped.

With only one prior misdemeanor battery conviction, Moran faced
a total of 161 months, or about 13 years and five months, in prison with the Kansas Department of
Corrections.

According to the amended complaint, Moran, on two occasions,
raped or forced the victim to engage in sexual intercourse.

Moran also committed sexual battery on the victim when she
was unable to give consent during the same two incidents. 

The final count, aggravated domestic battery, combined all
of the prior reported crimes, from Aug. 23-26, 2024, into one charge. 

Friday, Moran appeared in the Ellis County Courthouse in
front of District Judge Curtis Brown, who handed down the 161-month sentence. 

“What you have done, the sentence doesn’t make it any better.
It doesn’t heal,” Brown said. “But it does serve justice.”

Moran was remanded back into the custody of the Rooks County
Sheriff's Department and will be transferred to the Kansas Department of
Corrections. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749837135827.png" alt="Moran photo Rooks Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Moran photo Rooks Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostA 30-year-old Plainville man was sentenced to more than 13
years in prison Friday in Rooks County District Court for rape and sexual assault.Bryan Moran was initially arrested in September 2024 for eight
felony counts and two misdemeanor charges for a series of incidents that occurred
Aug. 23-26 in Plainville.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation assisted with the investigation.According to court documents, Moran held the victim, with
whom he was in a relationship, against her will on multiple occasions. He kicked
and hit the victim in the head, threatened her with an axe, struck her with a
light bulb and a piece of wood and strangled her multiple times, according to
court documents. On April 22, 2025, Rooks County Prosecutor Danielle Muir filed an amended complaint with the
district court, and on April 28, Moran accepted a plea agreement.Under the plea agreement, Moran agreed to plead guilty to
rape, aggravated sexual battery and aggravated domestic battery, all felonies. The
other charges were dropped.With only one prior misdemeanor battery conviction, Moran faced
a total of 161 months, or about 13 years and five months, in prison with the Kansas Department of
Corrections.According to the amended complaint, Moran, on two occasions,
raped or forced the victim to engage in sexual intercourse.Moran also committed sexual battery on the victim when she
was unable to give consent during the same two incidents. The final count, aggravated domestic battery, combined all
of the prior reported crimes, from Aug. 23-26, 2024, into one charge. Friday, Moran appeared in the Ellis County Courthouse in
front of District Judge Curtis Brown, who handed down the 161-month sentence. “What you have done, the sentence doesn’t make it any better.
It doesn’t heal,” Brown said. “But it does serve justice.”Moran was remanded back into the custody of the Rooks County
Sheriff's Department and will be transferred to the Kansas Department of
Corrections.

Plainville man sentenced to 13 years for rape, sexual assault

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The National Weather Service in Dodge City reports fog, heat and the possibility of severe storms in Friday’s forecast, with strong storms possible overnight.

Severe storms are possible in the late evening, including parts of Ellis County. The greatest risk for strong storms is around midnight in Logan, Gove, Trego, Scott, Lane, Ness, Hodgeman and Gray counties.

Today’s high is expected to reach 92 with a low of 65 and a 20% chance of thunderstorms. Thunderstorm chances continue Saturday night and Sunday night, with both days forecast to be mostly sunny and highs in the 90s.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749831039636.jpeg" alt="National Weather Service, Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>National Weather Service, Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostThe National Weather Service in Dodge City reports fog, heat and the possibility of severe storms in Friday’s forecast, with strong storms possible overnight.Severe storms are possible in the late evening, including parts of Ellis County. The greatest risk for strong storms is around midnight in Logan, Gove, Trego, Scott, Lane, Ness, Hodgeman and Gray counties.Today’s high is expected to reach 92 with a low of 65 and a 20% chance of thunderstorms. Thunderstorm chances continue Saturday night and Sunday night, with both days forecast to be mostly sunny and highs in the 90s.

Ellis County under risk of severe storms in late evening

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/925f00e0-e00a-49cb-98b3-acfc1aeb3dd3">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas Originals faces demolition of its building, fears closure</a>

For 34 years, Kansas Originals has proudly showcased the largest selection of Kansas-made and Kansas-grown products anywhere in the world—supporting the creative work of over 200 artists, craftsmen, authors, photographers, and food producers from across the state. Now, Kansas Originals is seeking the community’s help as they’re now at risk of losing their longtime home along Highway 232.&nbsp;

&nbsp;After their 30-year lease expired, the land changed ownership, and the organization has been ordered to vacate and demolish their building by November 30th. Without immediate funds to relocate or rebuild, this vital hub of Kansas creativity and heritage could be closed.&nbsp;

“We are devastated. We sell the creative work of more than 200 Kansans to people from across the United States and around the world. The Post Rock Opportunities Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation,” the GoFundMe reads.&nbsp;

You can find more details about Kansas Originals, including contact information, on their&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasoriginals.com/">website</a>.&nbsp;For your convenience, photos shared on the GoFundMe are public and available for use with attribution to the GoFundMe fundraiser.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749831502377.png" alt="Courtesy of Kansas Originals GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Kansas Originals GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/925f00e0-e00a-49cb-98b3-acfc1aeb3dd3">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas Originals faces demolition of its building, fears closure</a>SubmittedFor 34 years, Kansas Originals has proudly showcased the largest selection of Kansas-made and Kansas-grown products anywhere in the world—supporting the creative work of over 200 artists, craftsmen, authors, photographers, and food producers from across the state. Now, Kansas Originals is seeking the community’s help as they’re now at risk of losing their longtime home along Highway 232.&nbsp;&nbsp;After their 30-year lease expired, the land changed ownership, and the organization has been ordered to vacate and demolish their building by November 30th. Without immediate funds to relocate or rebuild, this vital hub of Kansas creativity and heritage could be closed.&nbsp;“We are devastated. We sell the creative work of more than 200 Kansans to people from across the United States and around the world. The Post Rock Opportunities Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation,” the GoFundMe reads.&nbsp;You can find more details about Kansas Originals, including contact information, on their&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasoriginals.com/">website</a>.&nbsp;For your convenience, photos shared on the GoFundMe are public and available for use with attribution to the GoFundMe fundraiser.&nbsp;

Longtime Wilson market, gallery seeks help to stay open; GoFundMe created

The Hays citywide garage sales are underway from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday.

You can find the most updated city garage sale locations and items for sale <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11SV5oIXzYD7DTX432r_NwXd4YdgAC0PexB7Pq5V-aao/edit?fbclid=IwY2xjawK5JuVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkQmREQkc1cGVuaUo4TVZsAR5vSG7YgcHB2men4xzPLClnAyhnMIsgH9E0N11kS8YwuflSSHkKxFzDR8DovA_aem_86qg1OQMvBUO7APtFw97NQ&amp;gid=0#gid=0">here</a>&nbsp;and follow the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/haysgaragesales.surroundingtowns">Hays Garage Sales &amp; Surrounding Towns Facebook page</a>.

A limited number of printed lists with all garage sale locations are available at the Hays Welcome Center at 2700 Vine St.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685627466474.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Hays PostThe Hays citywide garage sales are underway from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Saturday.You can find the most updated city garage sale locations and items for sale <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11SV5oIXzYD7DTX432r_NwXd4YdgAC0PexB7Pq5V-aao/edit?fbclid=IwY2xjawK5JuVleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFkQmREQkc1cGVuaUo4TVZsAR5vSG7YgcHB2men4xzPLClnAyhnMIsgH9E0N11kS8YwuflSSHkKxFzDR8DovA_aem_86qg1OQMvBUO7APtFw97NQ&amp;gid=0#gid=0">here</a>&nbsp;and follow the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/haysgaragesales.surroundingtowns">Hays Garage Sales &amp; Surrounding Towns Facebook page</a>.A limited number of printed lists with all garage sale locations are available at the Hays Welcome Center at 2700 Vine St.

Hays citywide garage sales underway today, Saturday; link to list here

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen convicted of her role in a violent acid attack was sentenced on Friday.&nbsp;

Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced&nbsp;Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, who was 18, at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen convicted of her role in a violent acid attack will learn her fate Friday.

In May, a jury found Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, 18, guilty of aggravated battery and she will learn her sentence in the courtroom of&nbsp; Judge Tyler Rousch, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a fight.&nbsp;

Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for the suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested Hollins and accomplice&nbsp;Tayronnia Jontashia West. In March of 2025, police also arrested a 17-year-old girl in connection with the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717690911383.png" alt="Hollins photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hollins photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen convicted of her role in a violent acid attack was sentenced on Friday.&nbsp;Judge Tyler Rousch sentenced&nbsp;Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, who was 18, at the time of the crime, to 34 months in prison and 24 months of post-release supervision, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.---------------------SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen convicted of her role in a violent acid attack will learn her fate Friday.In May, a jury found Ye'Kira Acoya Hollins, 18, guilty of aggravated battery and she will learn her sentence in the courtroom of&nbsp; Judge Tyler Rousch, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In May of 2024, police responded to a disturbance in the 400 block of N Dodge in Wichita, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses. The victim in this case, an 18-year-old girl later arrived at an area hospital with second degree burns to the face and neck believed to be caused by a suspect throwing an acidic liquid on her during a fight.&nbsp;Immediately following the incident, investigators with the Wichita Police Felony Assault unit along with patrol officers began looking for the suspects. On June 5, officers with the Patrol North Community Response Team located and arrested Hollins and accomplice&nbsp;Tayronnia Jontashia West. In March of 2025, police also arrested a 17-year-old girl in connection with the case.

Sentencing day for acid attack on Kansas girl

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Flying off the top rope and into the Ellis County Fair for the first time is Midget Wrestling Warriors, a new addition to this year’s lineup.

The fair runs from July 11 to 19 and includes car races, rodeos, family-friendly fun and now wrestling.

Midget Wrestling Warriors will perform at 8 p.m. July 18 at the Rodeo Arena. Ellis County Fair Vice President Jill Pfannenstiel said the show is meant for anyone eager to see jaw-dropping stunts.

"We wanted a show that was something new and not offered a whole lot in the community," Pfannenstiel said.

These warriors are ready to deliver a high-flying show that pushes limits and redefines live entertainment. The lineup features Short Sleeve Sampson, Rob the Giant, Demus, Mascarita Divina and Potro Romano.

The show will be two hours long with a 20-minute intermission. You can learn more about Midget Wrestling Warriors <a href="https://www.midgetwarriors.com/">here</a>.

Tickets for the fair can be purchased in advance <a href="https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/36944/ellis-county-fair?fbclid=IwY2xjawKujTRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6VFdJNnVTa0NYYk82ZUp4AR44_gw2XjWFjbazSFQJZE4y3MXwLLePpTZO8DU_vIYc0eKGGESB4xXlYUunwA_aem_v9FbcbBjuUHs1yaGOY1NgA">here</a>&nbsp;or at the gate. A pass covering seven events costs $40, and a single-night admission costs $20. Children age 5 and younger get in free.

You can follow the Ellis County Fair on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063657276403">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749061009768.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostFlying off the top rope and into the Ellis County Fair for the first time is Midget Wrestling Warriors, a new addition to this year’s lineup.The fair runs from July 11 to 19 and includes car races, rodeos, family-friendly fun and now wrestling.Midget Wrestling Warriors will perform at 8 p.m. July 18 at the Rodeo Arena. Ellis County Fair Vice President Jill Pfannenstiel said the show is meant for anyone eager to see jaw-dropping stunts."We wanted a show that was something new and not offered a whole lot in the community," Pfannenstiel said.These warriors are ready to deliver a high-flying show that pushes limits and redefines live entertainment. The lineup features Short Sleeve Sampson, Rob the Giant, Demus, Mascarita Divina and Potro Romano.The show will be two hours long with a 20-minute intermission. You can learn more about Midget Wrestling Warriors <a href="https://www.midgetwarriors.com/">here</a>.Tickets for the fair can be purchased in advance <a href="https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/36944/ellis-county-fair?fbclid=IwY2xjawKujTRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF6VFdJNnVTa0NYYk82ZUp4AR44_gw2XjWFjbazSFQJZE4y3MXwLLePpTZO8DU_vIYc0eKGGESB4xXlYUunwA_aem_v9FbcbBjuUHs1yaGOY1NgA">here</a>&nbsp;or at the gate. A pass covering seven events costs $40, and a single-night admission costs $20. Children age 5 and younger get in free.You can follow the Ellis County Fair on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063657276403">Facebook</a>.

Midget wrestling set to shake up Ellis County Fair

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close both northbound and southbound I-135 in Wichita for construction from Saturday, June 14, through Monday, June 16.

Beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, southbound I-135 will be closed from the K-254 interchange to just past the K-96 interchange. The following ramps will also be closed:

Southbound I-135 is expected to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, June 16.

Northbound I-135 will be closed at the K-96/I-135 interchange. Traffic will be diverted to eastbound K-96, where drivers will exit at Hillside Street and use westbound K-96 to return to northbound I-135. Northbound I-135 is anticipated to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, June 16. Motorists will not be able to turn north or south onto Hillside Street from the detour route on K-96.

In addition, northbound I-135 will be reduced to one lane north of the K-96 interchange due to bridge deck repair work on the northbound I-135 bridge over 37th Street. This work is anticipated to take both Saturday and Sunday to complete and will impact all northbound detoured traffic.

Motorists should allow extra travel time, follow posted detour signs and use alternate routes. Please exercise caution while traveling through the area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749778686582.png" alt="-The&nbsp;map outlines the project area and the detour route." />
 <figcaption>-The&nbsp;map outlines the project area and the detour route.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will close both northbound and southbound I-135 in Wichita for construction from Saturday, June 14, through Monday, June 16.Beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, southbound I-135 will be closed from the K-254 interchange to just past the K-96 interchange. The following ramps will also be closed:<ul>
 <li>The I-235 ramps to southbound I-135, including the newly constructed I-235 connector ramp to K-96</li><li>The ramp from westbound K-96 to southbound I-135</li><li>The exit loop ramp to North Broadway Avenue from southbound I-235</li><li>The ramp from Hydraulic Avenue to southbound I-135.</li>
 </ul>Southbound I-135 is expected to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, June 16.Northbound I-135 will be closed at the K-96/I-135 interchange. Traffic will be diverted to eastbound K-96, where drivers will exit at Hillside Street and use westbound K-96 to return to northbound I-135. Northbound I-135 is anticipated to reopen by 6 a.m. Monday, June 16. Motorists will not be able to turn north or south onto Hillside Street from the detour route on K-96.In addition, northbound I-135 will be reduced to one lane north of the K-96 interchange due to bridge deck repair work on the northbound I-135 bridge over 37th Street. This work is anticipated to take both Saturday and Sunday to complete and will impact all northbound detoured traffic.Motorists should allow extra travel time, follow posted detour signs and use alternate routes. Please exercise caution while traveling through the area.

KDOT: Wichita weekend road closure alert

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Paradise Flats Theatre Collective will present the first of two performances this morning, featuring local students.

The program started as a theater program for Plainville elementary students as part of its summer school program.

Last year, USD 270 opened the program to all students and added a section for students in grades 3 through 12. The program has more than doubled since the expansion, with students coming from six schools, as well as home-schooled students participating, music teacher Adam Flax said.

This year, the young student program had 63 enrolled students, and the older student session had 30 enrolled students.

"It's been exciting to see it grow," Flax said.

In addition to practicing for their performance, the students have been learning about theater traditions and superstitions this week, Flax said.

The younger students' program will culminate at 10:30 a.m. today with a "Peter Pan" performance at the Plainville High School auditorium. All are welcome. Admission is through a free-will donation.

The older students' session will begin on Monday and culminate with a "Broadway Ever After" performance at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27, also at the Plainville High School auditorium. The show is a compilation of Broadway favorites, all with fairy tale themes.

"I think the program emphasizes teamwork when you have to put a show together, especially in a short time," Flax said.

The students are also encouraged to flex their imaginations and put themselves in other people's shoes.

"They also get exposure to theater and the arts," Flax said. "They don't get a lot of access to that, especially in this area. They latch onto it and come back summer after summer to be a part of it."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749761997400.png" alt="Paradise Flats Theatre Collective practice for "Peter Pan." Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Paradise Flats Theatre Collective practice for "Peter Pan." Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Paradise Flats Theatre Collective will present the first of two performances this morning, featuring local students.The program started as a theater program for Plainville elementary students as part of its summer school program.Last year, USD 270 opened the program to all students and added a section for students in grades 3 through 12. The program has more than doubled since the expansion, with students coming from six schools, as well as home-schooled students participating, music teacher Adam Flax said.This year, the young student program had 63 enrolled students, and the older student session had 30 enrolled students."It's been exciting to see it grow," Flax said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749762041884.jpeg" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>In addition to practicing for their performance, the students have been learning about theater traditions and superstitions this week, Flax said.The younger students' program will culminate at 10:30 a.m. today with a "Peter Pan" performance at the Plainville High School auditorium. All are welcome. Admission is through a free-will donation.The older students' session will begin on Monday and culminate with a "Broadway Ever After" performance at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 27, also at the Plainville High School auditorium. The show is a compilation of Broadway favorites, all with fairy tale themes."I think the program emphasizes teamwork when you have to put a show together, especially in a short time," Flax said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749762072484.jpeg" alt="Cast of "Peter Pan."&nbsp;&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Cast of "Peter Pan."&nbsp;&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The students are also encouraged to flex their imaginations and put themselves in other people's shoes."They also get exposure to theater and the arts," Flax said. "They don't get a lot of access to that, especially in this area. They latch onto it and come back summer after summer to be a part of it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749762545989.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

Plainville theater camp's first of 2 performance this morning

CLOUD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Cloud County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013&nbsp;GMC Acadia driven by Kathy A. Hansen, 72, Smith Center, was eastbound on U.S. 24 just north of 130th Road.

The SUV crossed the center line and collided with a westbound 2012 Ford Taurus driven by Harry L&nbsp;Hodge, 18,&nbsp;Canandaigua, New York.&nbsp;&nbsp;After impact, the the Ford rolled and struck the guard rail, and came to rest in the north ditch.

Hodge was pronounced pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia. EMS transported Hansen to Wesley Medical Center. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

CLOUD COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 5:00 pm on Wednesday in Cloud County.

The Patrol reported a&nbsp; vehicle&nbsp; was eastbound on U.S. 24 just north of 130th Road. The vehicle crossed the center line, colliding with another vehicle head-on. After impact, the westbound vehicle rolled and struck the guard rail, coming to rest in the north ditch.

The Patrol released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

CLOUD COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Cloud County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013&nbsp;GMC Acadia driven by Kathy A. Hansen, 72, Smith Center, was eastbound on U.S. 24 just north of 130th Road.The SUV crossed the center line and collided with a westbound 2012 Ford Taurus driven by Harry L&nbsp;Hodge, 18,&nbsp;Canandaigua, New York.&nbsp;&nbsp;After impact, the the Ford rolled and struck the guard rail, and came to rest in the north ditch.Hodge was pronounced pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home in Concordia. EMS transported Hansen to Wesley Medical Center. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.-----------CLOUD COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 5:00 pm on Wednesday in Cloud County.The Patrol reported a&nbsp; vehicle&nbsp; was eastbound on U.S. 24 just north of 130th Road. The vehicle crossed the center line, colliding with another vehicle head-on. After impact, the westbound vehicle rolled and struck the guard rail, coming to rest in the north ditch.The Patrol released no additional details. Check the Post for more information as it becomes available.

KHP IDs teen victim in fatal head-on crash

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health this week reported five new case of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 76 cases in 11 counties.

Health officials in Arizona say there are four linked measles cases in Navajo County, marking the state's first outbreak this year.

The U.S. logged 122 more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-vaccine-mmr-covid-exemptions-87cbfe44d8599b68408861f9b62421ed">cases of measles</a>&nbsp;last week — but only four of them in Texas — while the outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Michigan officially ended.

There were 1,168 confirmed measles cases in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak</a>&nbsp;raged during the late winter and spring, said they'll now post case counts only once a week — yet another sign the outbreak is slowing.

There are three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">major outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in North America. 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">2,009 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through June 3. The province logged its first death Thursday in a baby that got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.

Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">761 as of Thursday</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 1,940 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.

Other U.S.&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 Colorado, Illinois,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">In the U.S., two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">epicenter in 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>&nbsp;have died of measles this year. All were unvaccinated.

<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>, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

How many measles cases are there in Texas?

There were a total of 744 cases across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">35 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>, state health officials said Tuesday.

Throughout the outbreak, 96 people have been hospitalized.

<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 — are actively infectious. Fifty-five percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 411 cases since late January — just under 2% of the county’s residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&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 held steady Tuesday with a total of 81 cases.

Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state’s cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two. Chaves, Curry and San Juan counties have one each.

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.

Oklahoma added one case Tuesday for a total of 16 confirmed and three probable cases.

The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.

Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. The cases are linked to a single source, the county health department said Monday. All four are unvaccinated and have a history of recent international travel.

Colorado has seen a total of 14 measles cases in 2025, which includes one outbreak of eight related cases.

The outbreak is linked to a Turkish Airlines flight that landed at Denver International Airport in mid-May, and includes four cases in Arapahoe County, three in El Paso County and one in Denver, plus a person who doesn't live in Colorado.

Other counties that have seen measles this year include Archuleta and Pueblo.

Illinois health officials confirmed a four-case outbreak on May 5 in the far southern part of the state, and it's grown to eight cases as of June 6, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The state's other two cases so far this year were in Cook County, and are unrelated to the southern Illinois outbreak.

Montana had 17 measles cases as of Thursday. Ten were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana’s first in 35 years.

Flathead and Yellowstone counties had two cases each, and Hill County had three case.

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

How many cases are there in North Dakota?

North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, was up to 34 cases as of Friday. Two of the people have been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated.

There were 16 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. On the eastern side of the state on the Minnesota border, there were 10 cases in Grand Forks County and seven cases in Cass County. Burke County, in northwest North Dakota on the border of Saskatchewan, Canada, had one case.

Ohio remained steady for a third week at 34 measles cases and one hospitalization, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That count includes only Ohio residents.

The state has two outbreaks: Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases, and Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 — 14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors. Allen, Cuyahoga, Holmes and Defiance counties have one case each.

Tennessee has had six measles cases since early May, but no change since. Tennessee’s outbreak appears to be over, as health officials say there have not been any new cases in six weeks.

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

Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Earlier outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania were declared over by health officials after six weeks of no new cases.

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, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;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.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741908251964.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health this week reported five new case of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 76 cases in 11 counties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749773152463.png" alt="KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Health officials in Arizona say there are four linked measles cases in Navajo County, marking the state's first outbreak this year.The U.S. logged 122 more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-vaccine-mmr-covid-exemptions-87cbfe44d8599b68408861f9b62421ed">cases of measles</a>&nbsp;last week — but only four of them in Texas — while the outbreaks in Pennsylvania and Michigan officially ended.There were 1,168 confirmed measles cases in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak</a>&nbsp;raged during the late winter and spring, said they'll now post case counts only once a week — yet another sign the outbreak is slowing.There are three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">major outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in North America. 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">2,009 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through June 3. The province logged its first death Thursday in a baby that got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">761 as of Thursday</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 1,940 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.Other U.S.&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 Colorado, Illinois,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">In the U.S., two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">epicenter in 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>&nbsp;have died of measles this year. All were unvaccinated.<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>, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.<h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas?</h2>There were a total of 744 cases across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">35 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>, state health officials said Tuesday.Throughout the outbreak, 96 people have been hospitalized.<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 — are actively infectious. Fifty-five percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 411 cases since late January — just under 2% of the county’s residents.The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&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 held steady Tuesday with a total of 81 cases.Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state’s cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two. Chaves, Curry and San Juan counties have one each.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.<h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2>Oklahoma added one case Tuesday for a total of 16 confirmed and three probable cases.The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.<h2>How many cases are there in Arizona?</h2>Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. The cases are linked to a single source, the county health department said Monday. All four are unvaccinated and have a history of recent international travel.<h2>How many cases are there in Colorado?</h2>Colorado has seen a total of 14 measles cases in 2025, which includes one outbreak of eight related cases.The outbreak is linked to a Turkish Airlines flight that landed at Denver International Airport in mid-May, and includes four cases in Arapahoe County, three in El Paso County and one in Denver, plus a person who doesn't live in Colorado.Other counties that have seen measles this year include Archuleta and Pueblo.<h2>How many cases are there in Illinois?</h2>Illinois health officials confirmed a four-case outbreak on May 5 in the far southern part of the state, and it's grown to eight cases as of June 6, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.The state's other two cases so far this year were in Cook County, and are unrelated to the southern Illinois outbreak.<h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2>Montana had 17 measles cases as of Thursday. Ten were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana’s first in 35 years.Flathead and Yellowstone counties had two cases each, and Hill County had three case.There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.<h2>How many cases are there in North Dakota?</h2>North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, was up to 34 cases as of Friday. Two of the people have been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated.There were 16 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. On the eastern side of the state on the Minnesota border, there were 10 cases in Grand Forks County and seven cases in Cass County. Burke County, in northwest North Dakota on the border of Saskatchewan, Canada, had one case.<h2>How many cases are there in Ohio?</h2>Ohio remained steady for a third week at 34 measles cases and one hospitalization, according to the Ohio Department of Health. That count includes only Ohio residents.The state has two outbreaks: Ashtabula County near Cleveland has 16 cases, and Knox County in east-central Ohio has 20 — 14 among Ohio residents and the rest among visitors. Allen, Cuyahoga, Holmes and Defiance counties have one case each.<h2>How many cases are there in Tennessee?</h2>Tennessee has had six measles cases since early May, but no change since. Tennessee’s outbreak appears to be over, as health officials say there have not been any new cases in six weeks.<h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2>Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.Earlier outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania were declared over by health officials after six weeks of no new cases.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, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.<h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;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.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Number of measles cases in Kansas continues to climb

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alex-padilla">Alex Padilla</a>&nbsp;on Thursday was forcefully removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles and handcuffed by officers as he tried to speak up about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-crackdown-us-protests-049a611d47d0fc7656731e4f4c714e93">immigration raids that have led to protests</a>&nbsp;in California and around the country.

Video shows a Secret Service agent on Noem’s security detail grabbing Padilla, who represents California, by his jacket and shoving him from the room as he tried to interrupt Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles.

“I’m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” he shouted in a halting voice.

Scuffling with officers outside the room, he can be heard bellowing, “Hands off!” He is later seen on his knees and then pushed to the ground and handcuffed in a hallway, with several officers atop him.

The shocking scene of a U.S. senator being aggressively removed from a Cabinet secretary’s news conference prompted immediate outrage from his Democratic colleagues. Images and video of the scuffle ricocheted through the halls of Congress, where stunned lawmakers demanded an immediate investigation and characterized the episode as another in a line of mounting threats to democracy by President Donald Trump’s administration.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said what he saw “sickened my stomach.”

“We need immediate answers to what the hell went on,” the New York senator said from the Senate floor. “It’s despicable, it’s disgusting, it’s so un-American.”

In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said Padilla “chose disrespectful political theater and interrupted a live news conference.” They claimed erroneously that Padilla did not identify himself and said Secret Service believed him to be an attacker.

“Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands,” the statement said, adding that “officers acted appropriately.”

Emerging afterward, Padilla said he was demanding answers about the Trump administration’s “increasingly extreme immigration enforcement actions” from Noem when he was removed. He said he and his colleagues had received little to no response to their questions in recent weeks, so he attended the briefing for more information.

“If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question … I can only imagine what they are doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers throughout the Los Angeles community, and throughout California and throughout the country,” he said.

Noem told Fox LA afterward that she had a “great” conversation with Padilla after the scuffle, but called his approach “something that I don’t think was appropriate at all.”

The fracas in Los Angeles came just days after Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lamonica-mciver-assault-charge-alina-habba-immigration-7b6a5b0fc8079a9efd0606ab68e3f02d">indicted</a>&nbsp;on federal charges alleging she assaulted and interfered with immigration officers outside a detention center in New Jersey while Newark’s mayor was being arrested after he tried to join a congressional oversight visit at the facility. Democrats have framed the charges as intimidation efforts by the Trump administration.

Padilla, the son of immigrants from Mexico, has been a harsh Trump critic and his mass deportations agenda. In a post on the social platform X, he said of recent federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, “Trump isn’t targeting criminals in his mass deportation agenda, he is terrorizing communities, breaking apart families and putting American citizens in harm’s way.”

Democratic senators quickly gathered in the Senate chamber denouncing the treatment of their colleague — a well-liked and respected senator — and urged Americans to understand what was happening.

“If this is how a United States senator can be treated, none of our constituents are safe,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., as colleagues gathered on the Senate floor to denounce the situation. “This is a test for the country.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Trump is making this country “look more and more like a fascist state.”

“Will any Republican senator speak up for our democracy?” Warren pleaded.

Senate Republican leader John Thune said he wants to know the facts of the situation.

“Obviously we will have response,” said Thune, R-S.D., as he walked to his office at the U.S. Capitol. “But I want to know the facts, find out exactly what happened.”

Other Republicans had a more muted response, with some saying they had not yet seen the video.

The No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, said he was unaware of what happened but said Padilla should have been at work in Washington.

The stark incident comes as Congress faces increasing episodes of encroachment on its authority. As a coequal branch of the U.S. government, the Trump administration is exerting its executive powers in untested ways.

As part of their work in Congress, lawmakers are responsible for providing oversight of the administration, its agencies and actions.

Several senators and representatives have been exercising their oversight roles by surveying the treatment of immigrants and others being detained as part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation operation.

From the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said what happened to Padilla “was un-American” and those involved must be held accountable.

“This is not going to end until there is accountability and until the Trump administration changes its behavior,” he said.

Mascaro reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Seung Min Kim in Washington and Jaimie Ding contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749757787923.png" alt="Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem during her Los Angeles news conferece-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem during her Los Angeles news conferece-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/alex-padilla">Alex Padilla</a>&nbsp;on Thursday was forcefully removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles and handcuffed by officers as he tried to speak up about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-crackdown-us-protests-049a611d47d0fc7656731e4f4c714e93">immigration raids that have led to protests</a>&nbsp;in California and around the country.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749757448306.png" alt="Senator Padilla asshown the video provided by U.S. Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Senator Padilla asshown the video provided by U.S. Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>Video shows a Secret Service agent on Noem’s security detail grabbing Padilla, who represents California, by his jacket and shoving him from the room as he tried to interrupt Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">During a news conference with DHS Secretary Noem, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) is removed from the room by force. <a href="https://t.co/vJryoWIVHi">pic.twitter.com/vJryoWIVHi</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1933244184581873693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Padilla pushing and shoving law enforcement officers to get his way back to the podium. Incredibly aggressive behavior from a sitting US Senator. No one knew who he was. <a href="https://t.co/yQ1GVVUF8d">https://t.co/yQ1GVVUF8d</a> <a href="https://t.co/80kBU9O8R3">pic.twitter.com/80kBU9O8R3</a>&mdash; Tricia McLaughlin (@TriciaOhio) <a href="https://twitter.com/TriciaOhio/status/1933248954260746399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I’m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” he shouted in a halting voice.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Senator Alex Padilla is a good man and principled public servant. The brazen and aggressive manhandling of Senator Padilla by the Trump administration is a sickening disgrace. Anyone who assaulted the Senator should be held accountable. No one is above the law. <a href="https://t.co/s9pHXP5tRD">pic.twitter.com/s9pHXP5tRD</a>&mdash; Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJeffries/status/1933236767680840025?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Scuffling with officers outside the room, he can be heard bellowing, “Hands off!” He is later seen on his knees and then pushed to the ground and handcuffed in a hallway, with several officers atop him.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">With regard to the incident in LA this afternoon, the Senator in question was not wearing a security pin and physically resisted law enforcement when confronted. Our FBI personnel acted completely appropriately while assisting Secret Service and we are grateful for their…&mdash; Dan Bongino (@FBIDDBongino) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDDBongino/status/1933262131346223586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The shocking scene of a U.S. senator being aggressively removed from a Cabinet secretary’s news conference prompted immediate outrage from his Democratic colleagues. Images and video of the scuffle ricocheted through the halls of Congress, where stunned lawmakers demanded an immediate investigation and characterized the episode as another in a line of mounting threats to democracy by President Donald Trump’s administration.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SenAlexPadilla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenAlexPadilla</a>: &quot;If this is how this administration responds to a Senator with a question. If this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a Senator with a question you can only imagine what they&#39;re doing to farmers, to cooks, to day laborers…&quot; <a href="https://t.co/4HQXylr1dh">pic.twitter.com/4HQXylr1dh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1933251262935388646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said what he saw “sickened my stomach.”“We need immediate answers to what the hell went on,” the New York senator said from the Senate floor. “It’s despicable, it’s disgusting, it’s so un-American.”In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security said Padilla “chose disrespectful political theater and interrupted a live news conference.” They claimed erroneously that Padilla did not identify himself and said Secret Service believed him to be an attacker.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Reporter: “Would you please address Senator Padilla’s interruption to your press conference… Will you be pressing charges from what we just witnessed here?” Secretary Kristi Noem: “I don’t even know the senator. He did not request a meeting or to speak with me. So when I leave… <a href="https://t.co/233FInB8NF">pic.twitter.com/233FInB8NF</a>&mdash; RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) <a href="https://twitter.com/RedWave_Press/status/1933229459676536930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a>: &quot;It was wildly inappropriate. You don&#39;t charge a sitting cabinet secretary...A sitting Member of Congress should not act like that...that behavior at a minimum it rises to the level of a censure.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/FzL1z4WmNi">pic.twitter.com/FzL1z4WmNi</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1933262191429292537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After he interrupted our press conference with law enforcement, I met with Senator Padilla for 15 minutes. We probably disagree on 90% of the topics but we agreed to exchanged phone numbers and we will continue to talk—that is the way it should be in this country. I wish he… <a href="https://t.co/WdDs26jyCY">pic.twitter.com/WdDs26jyCY</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1933267265849278591?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands,” the statement said, adding that “officers acted appropriately.”Emerging afterward, Padilla said he was demanding answers about the Trump administration’s “increasingly extreme immigration enforcement actions” from Noem when he was removed. He said he and his colleagues had received little to no response to their questions in recent weeks, so he attended the briefing for more information.“If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question … I can only imagine what they are doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers throughout the Los Angeles community, and throughout California and throughout the country,” he said.Noem told Fox LA afterward that she had a “great” conversation with Padilla after the scuffle, but called his approach “something that I don’t think was appropriate at all.”The fracas in Los Angeles came just days after Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lamonica-mciver-assault-charge-alina-habba-immigration-7b6a5b0fc8079a9efd0606ab68e3f02d">indicted</a>&nbsp;on federal charges alleging she assaulted and interfered with immigration officers outside a detention center in New Jersey while Newark’s mayor was being arrested after he tried to join a congressional oversight visit at the facility. Democrats have framed the charges as intimidation efforts by the Trump administration.Padilla, the son of immigrants from Mexico, has been a harsh Trump critic and his mass deportations agenda. In a post on the social platform X, he said of recent federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, “Trump isn’t targeting criminals in his mass deportation agenda, he is terrorizing communities, breaking apart families and putting American citizens in harm’s way.”Democratic senators quickly gathered in the Senate chamber denouncing the treatment of their colleague — a well-liked and respected senator — and urged Americans to understand what was happening.“If this is how a United States senator can be treated, none of our constituents are safe,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., as colleagues gathered on the Senate floor to denounce the situation. “This is a test for the country.”Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Trump is making this country “look more and more like a fascist state.”“Will any Republican senator speak up for our democracy?” Warren pleaded.Senate Republican leader John Thune said he wants to know the facts of the situation.“Obviously we will have response,” said Thune, R-S.D., as he walked to his office at the U.S. Capitol. “But I want to know the facts, find out exactly what happened.”Other Republicans had a more muted response, with some saying they had not yet seen the video.The No. 2 Republican, Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming, said he was unaware of what happened but said Padilla should have been at work in Washington.The stark incident comes as Congress faces increasing episodes of encroachment on its authority. As a coequal branch of the U.S. government, the Trump administration is exerting its executive powers in untested ways.As part of their work in Congress, lawmakers are responsible for providing oversight of the administration, its agencies and actions.Several senators and representatives have been exercising their oversight roles by surveying the treatment of immigrants and others being detained as part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation operation.From the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said what happened to Padilla “was un-American” and those involved must be held accountable.“This is not going to end until there is accountability and until the Trump administration changes its behavior,” he said.___Mascaro reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick and Seung Min Kim in Washington and Jaimie Ding contributed to this report.

🎥U.S. Senator forcibly removed from Homeland Security news conference

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday approved tuition and fee rates for the upcoming fiscal year at the state’s six public universities, emphasizing a continued focus on affordability and student success.

“The Regents’ strategic plan emphasizes affordability for Kansas families and success for students in our institutions,” said KBOR Chair Carl Ice in a statement. “These tuition rates balance those priorities by keeping costs as low as possible while ensuring that state universities can continue to help students succeed in the classroom and in their careers after graduation.”

The decision aligns with the Board’s strategic plan, Building a Future, which aims to improve student outcomes while expanding access to financial aid. According to KBOR, on-time graduation rates at state universities have increased by 10.2 percentage points over the last five years. Entry-level wages for graduates have risen more than 15% since 2020, and the total amount of need-based aid, grants, and scholarships has grown by 28%.

Individual tuition rate changes for each university are expected to be posted on the Board’s website.

The six state universities governed by KBOR include the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University.

You can view the&nbsp;c<a href="https://www.kansasregents.gov/resources/University_Tuition_Proposals_to_KBOR_05142025.pdf">omprehensive tables of approved tuition and fees&nbsp;at this link.&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721922122827.jpeg" alt="Kansas Board of Regents" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Board of Regents</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents on Thursday approved tuition and fee rates for the upcoming fiscal year at the state’s six public universities, emphasizing a continued focus on affordability and student success.“The Regents’ strategic plan emphasizes affordability for Kansas families and success for students in our institutions,” said KBOR Chair Carl Ice in a statement. “These tuition rates balance those priorities by keeping costs as low as possible while ensuring that state universities can continue to help students succeed in the classroom and in their careers after graduation.”The decision aligns with the Board’s strategic plan, Building a Future, which aims to improve student outcomes while expanding access to financial aid. According to KBOR, on-time graduation rates at state universities have increased by 10.2 percentage points over the last five years. Entry-level wages for graduates have risen more than 15% since 2020, and the total amount of need-based aid, grants, and scholarships has grown by 28%.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749751489597.png" alt="The table above shows resident undergraduate tuition increases at the state universities for full-time students per semester for Fiscal Year 2026" />
 <figcaption>The table above shows resident undergraduate tuition increases at the state universities for full-time students per semester for Fiscal Year 2026</figcaption>
 </figure>Individual tuition rate changes for each university are expected to be posted on the Board’s website.The six state universities governed by KBOR include the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Emporia State University, Fort Hays State University and Pittsburg State University.You can view the&nbsp;c<a href="https://www.kansasregents.gov/resources/University_Tuition_Proposals_to_KBOR_05142025.pdf">omprehensive tables of approved tuition and fees&nbsp;at this link.&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

Kansas Board of Regents approve tuition, fee rates; FHSU up 4%

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

TOPEKA — State troopers are on standby in Kansas as demonstrations against federal immigration raids crop up around the country following an increased military presence in response to protests in Los Angeles.

The Kansas Highway Patrol is aware of Kansas City-area protests this week, said April McCollum, a spokeswoman for the agency.

Protests in LA began Friday, mostly in downtown and central parts of the city, in opposition to targeted, sweeping raids from federal immigration officials that result in the arrest and detention of immigrants&nbsp;lacking permanent legal status. The demonstrations escalated once President Donald Trump ordered thousands of members of the California National Guard to the city’s streets, against the wishes of state leaders. Protesters in dozens of other cities joined their LA counterparts Tuesday.

Col. Erik Smith, superintendent of the state highway patrol, told legislators Tuesday that a protest similar to those in LA was planned in the Johnson County area, but the agency did not disclose specifics when asked. The only report of a protest in the area Tuesday occurred in Kansas City, Missouri’s downtown and Westside, drawing hundreds of attendees, according to reporting from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article308332575.html" target="_blank">The Kansas City Star</a>.

A slate of more than 1,800 protests are scheduled across the nation for Saturday. More than a dozen of them are set to occur in Kansas cities, from Garden City to Hiawatha to Arkansas City to the Kansas City area.

“We encourage those involved to maintain civility while exercising their First Amendment rights,” McCollum said.

The agency’s mobile field force is prepared to assist local law enforcement during all incidents of “civil unrest,” Smith said.

The force is&nbsp;“a specially trained and equipped unit composed of Troopers from across the state that can be deployed to support local law enforcement agencies in the event of civil disorder, natural disasters, and other public safety emergencies,” McCollum said.

Kansas Bureau of Investigation director Tony Mattivi told lawmakers Tuesday at a Senate Committee on Government Efficiency hearing that state agents are not currently trained to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials with raids and arrests in Kansas.

Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, asked Mattivi during the hearing why federal agents aren’t responsive to one-off local arrests.

“ICE, right now, is just overwhelmed,” Mattivi said. “They’re focused on busloads at a time.”

State and local officials don’t have the authority to investigate federal immigration violations, but Kansas, was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/154/1292" target="_blank">the second state</a>&nbsp;in the country to agree with the Trump administration to exercise 287(g) authority, which refers to section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Act. Once agents are trained, they will be able to make those one-off arrests and fill the gaps federal immigration officials leave behind.

Eventually, Mattivi said, he would like to examine the 48,000 people who are listed as a sex offender, drug offender or violent offender in Kansas and determine whether any of those people are in the country without permanent legal status.

As chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Gov. Laura Kelly, along with most of the rest of the country’s Democratic governors, condemned Trump’s decision to deploy a state’s National Guard as “an alarming abuse of power” and “ineffective and dangerous.”

“Further, threatening to send the U.S. Marines into American neighborhoods undermines the mission of our service members, erodes public trust, and shows the Trump administration does not trust local law enforcement,” the governors said Sunday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/statement-from-democratic-governors-on-donald-trumps-use-of-californias-national-guard/" target="_blank">joint statement</a>.

The Trump administration deployed around 700 active-duty U.S. Marines to L.A. from a nearby base to “restore order,” defense secretary Pete Hegseth said in a social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SecDef/status/1932202105361612994" target="_blank">post</a>.

Trump called for California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s arrest after Newsom expressed his disapproval of Trump’s actions. Newsom sued the Trump administration, alleging the president’s takeover of the state’s National Guard was illegal. Governors typically hold the power to deploy the guard.

The Democratic governors said they stand with Newsom, “who has made it clear that violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation.”

Kansas Republicans rebutted Democrats’ remarks with condemnations of their own.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DanHawkinsKS/status/1932474561699749990" target="_blank">series of social media posts</a>, Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins, who is also a Republican candidate for state insurance commissioner, applauded Trump’s actions.

He said he was shocked by the Democratic governors’ statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749732670793.jpeg" alt=" Kansans rally at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansans rally at the Statehouse in Topeka as part of the 50501 national day of action on May 1, 2025. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/"></a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — State troopers are on standby in Kansas as demonstrations against federal immigration raids crop up around the country following an increased military presence in response to protests in Los Angeles.The Kansas Highway Patrol is aware of Kansas City-area protests this week, said April McCollum, a spokeswoman for the agency.Protests in LA began Friday, mostly in downtown and central parts of the city, in opposition to targeted, sweeping raids from federal immigration officials that result in the arrest and detention of immigrants&nbsp;lacking permanent legal status. The demonstrations escalated once President Donald Trump ordered thousands of members of the California National Guard to the city’s streets, against the wishes of state leaders. Protesters in dozens of other cities joined their LA counterparts Tuesday.Col. Erik Smith, superintendent of the state highway patrol, told legislators Tuesday that a protest similar to those in LA was planned in the Johnson County area, but the agency did not disclose specifics when asked. The only report of a protest in the area Tuesday occurred in Kansas City, Missouri’s downtown and Westside, drawing hundreds of attendees, according to reporting from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article308332575.html" target="_blank">The Kansas City Star</a>.A slate of more than 1,800 protests are scheduled across the nation for Saturday. More than a dozen of them are set to occur in Kansas cities, from Garden City to Hiawatha to Arkansas City to the Kansas City area.“We encourage those involved to maintain civility while exercising their First Amendment rights,” McCollum said.The agency’s mobile field force is prepared to assist local law enforcement during all incidents of “civil unrest,” Smith said.The force is&nbsp;“a specially trained and equipped unit composed of Troopers from across the state that can be deployed to support local law enforcement agencies in the event of civil disorder, natural disasters, and other public safety emergencies,” McCollum said.Kansas Bureau of Investigation director Tony Mattivi told lawmakers Tuesday at a Senate Committee on Government Efficiency hearing that state agents are not currently trained to assist U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials with raids and arrests in Kansas.Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, asked Mattivi during the hearing why federal agents aren’t responsive to one-off local arrests.“ICE, right now, is just overwhelmed,” Mattivi said. “They’re focused on busloads at a time.”State and local officials don’t have the authority to investigate federal immigration violations, but Kansas, was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/Home/Components/News/News/154/1292" target="_blank">the second state</a>&nbsp;in the country to agree with the Trump administration to exercise 287(g) authority, which refers to section 287(g) of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Act. Once agents are trained, they will be able to make those one-off arrests and fill the gaps federal immigration officials leave behind.Eventually, Mattivi said, he would like to examine the 48,000 people who are listed as a sex offender, drug offender or violent offender in Kansas and determine whether any of those people are in the country without permanent legal status.<h2>Politicians sound off</h2>As chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Gov. Laura Kelly, along with most of the rest of the country’s Democratic governors, condemned Trump’s decision to deploy a state’s National Guard as “an alarming abuse of power” and “ineffective and dangerous.”“Further, threatening to send the U.S. Marines into American neighborhoods undermines the mission of our service members, erodes public trust, and shows the Trump administration does not trust local law enforcement,” the governors said Sunday in a&nbsp;<a href="https://democraticgovernors.org/updates/statement-from-democratic-governors-on-donald-trumps-use-of-californias-national-guard/" target="_blank">joint statement</a>.The Trump administration deployed around 700 active-duty U.S. Marines to L.A. from a nearby base to “restore order,” defense secretary Pete Hegseth said in a social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SecDef/status/1932202105361612994" target="_blank">post</a>.Trump called for California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s arrest after Newsom expressed his disapproval of Trump’s actions. Newsom sued the Trump administration, alleging the president’s takeover of the state’s National Guard was illegal. Governors typically hold the power to deploy the guard.The Democratic governors said they stand with Newsom, “who has made it clear that violence is unacceptable and that local authorities should be able to do their jobs without the chaos of this federal interference and intimidation.”Kansas Republicans rebutted Democrats’ remarks with condemnations of their own.In a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DanHawkinsKS/status/1932474561699749990" target="_blank">series of social media posts</a>, Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins, who is also a Republican candidate for state insurance commissioner, applauded Trump’s actions.He said he was shocked by the Democratic governors’ statement.“It’s indefensible that Governor Kelly and other Democrat Governors would seemingly side with the rioters over law and order. Their Trump Derangement Syndrome truly knows no bounds,” Hawkins wrote.Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, who is widely expected to run for governor, criticized Kelly in a statement.“Laura Kelly is slow to condemn attacks on law enforcement, but quick to side with Gavin Newsom and rioters waving foreign flags as they try to burn down an American community. It is shameful,” he said.Conservatives in opposition to the protests have frequently used rhetoric that depicts L.A. in flames or in complete disarray. The protests have been confined to a few areas of the city, mostly around local and federal government buildings. Misinformation and doctored or fabricated photos have circulated.Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, who is a 2026 Republican candidate for governor,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ScottSchwabKS/status/1931929273180225614" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;on the social media platform X in response to the statement from the Democratic governors: “This is wrong.”In a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ScottSchwabKS/status/1931565318691832308" target="_blank">post</a>, Schwab said protesters in California were “endangering” law enforcement “because they embrace disorder and crime over civility.”He added: “Our founders are rolling in their graves.”<h2>Saturday protests</h2>Protests in 15 cities in Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri, fall under the banner of No Kings Day, a collection of anti-Trump protests. Saturday is also Flag Day.Ahead of the protest in Topeka at the Statehouse, organizers with the Kansas chapter of 50501 emphasized in a statement its desire for a peaceful demonstration.“We are committed to the safety of every protester and are exploring unforeseen and uncontrollable challenges and how to respond to them,” the statement said. “We are continuing to plan for a safe gathering.”Activists are chartering buses and establishing carpools to Topeka from Abilene, Junction City, Manhattan, Franklin County, Lawrence and the Kansas City, Kansas, area.Ahead of Wichita’s rally, organizers with Defend Democracy ICT said the protest date is symbolic, “aligning with Flag Day, President Trump’s birthday, and a controversial military parade in Washington, D.C.”“This is a stand against authoritarianism and the growing disregard for democratic norms,” organizers said in a statement. “We are here to remind our leaders that power belongs with the people — not kings, not billionaires, not dictators.”Protests are scheduled to take place in the following cities, according to the No Kings online&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nokings.org/" target="_blank">tracker</a>: Arkansas City, Emporia, Garden City, Great Bend, Hiawatha, Hutchinson,&nbsp; Lawrence, Lenexa, Manhattan, Ottawa, Overland Park, Pittsburg, Salina, Topeka, Wichita and Kansas City, Missouri.