By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Nebraska Corrections officials update McCook leaders on plans

McCOOK, Neb. — Business has slumped at the Carniceria CB mini market and Mexican restaurant, its owners said, since Gov. Jim Pillen’s announcement last month that Nebraska is bringing a federal immigration detention facility to town.

Miguel and Mayra Camacho said they’ve heard other area&nbsp;merchants describe similar commercial declines. Some Latinos they know have uprooted from southwest Nebraska, spurred by what the couple believes is fear and uneasiness over an increased ICE presence.

“And it’s not even open yet,” said Miguel Camacho, of the facility branded the “Cornhusker Clink” by federal officials. “Of all the 50 states, why here?”

Comments the Camachos made this week from their Carniceria — a few miles from where a state prison that holds up to 200 beds is being converted into a 300-bed ICE jail — reflected the sentiment of dozens who spoke against the project during a Friday hearing at the Capitol so full it required an overflow area.

The meeting was hosted by the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee. Chairman Terrell McKinney of Omaha offered the space after the chair of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee declined to hold a public hearing, calling the request premature.

McKinney, a member of both committees, said that while he had been offered a private briefing by the Pillen administration, he opted for a broader discussion open to the public.

He and other committee members said they were concerned about scant information shared about the state-federal plan to repurpose the McCook-based Work Ethic Camp into an ICE detention center for migrants. The state is still trying to relocate the camp’s remaining 155 inmates to different state prisons. Officials said they expect to start housing federal detainees in October.

“Our people want to know, and they’re asking,” said State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, who also sits on both committees.&nbsp;

“What happens is that when there’s no information provided, negativity and misinformation run rampant,” said State Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney, the lone Republican committee member who attended the hearing.

On Friday afternoon, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services issued a statement saying that Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys had spoken Thursday with McCook Mayor Linda Taylor and City Manager Nate Schneider about public safety and community impact.

Among the answers Corrections said it provided:

A formal contract between Nebraska and the federal government is still being hammered out, Correctional Services officials said.&nbsp;

At the four-hour Urban Affairs hearing, about 40 people testified, none in support of the prison conversion that many worry could exacerbate state prison crowding elsewhere to accommodate the feds’ deportation push.&nbsp;

Many said they were embarrassed. Some choked back tears. Others said they were angry to learn in news reports that the state had invited the Trump administration to consider Nebraska for such a facility.

Not present were members of the Pillen administration, which told the committee in a Thursday letter it would not participate, arguing that the the Judiciary Committee and not the Urban Affairs Committee had the legal jurisdiction and oversight authority to examine the issues at hand.&nbsp;Pillen’s staff did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

McKinney said he plans to ask the Judiciary Committee chair once again to hold a public hearing that he hopes Pillen’s staff would attend.&nbsp;

Kenny Zoeller, Pillen’s policy research director, wrote in the Thursday’s letter that McKinney had wrongly suggested that the future migrant population at the center would trigger an overcrowding of the correctional system. Zoeller wrote that an emergency declaration is required when the prison population systemwide is over 140% of operational capacity. He said the average now is about 115%.

“We have flexibility within our current corrections facilities to accommodate this new mission,” Zoeller wrote.

Spike Eickholt, representing ACLU Nebraska, said Nebraska leaders for a decade have debated what to do about state prison crowding. Currently, Nebraska is building a new $310 million-plus prison in Lincoln.

“Why are we committing to an investment of a new prison while giving up a current one?” he asked.

Other speakers lamented the loss of the Work Ethic Camp’s rehabilitative focus and programming aimed at transitioning criminal offenders for successful re-entry into society.

But most of Friday’s testimony centered on Nebraska’s role in Trump’s push for mass deportations. Pillen has said he is proud to be part of the president’s effort to “make sure we keep our community safe.”

“This stuff hits close to home and hits every corner of this state and country,” the governor has said.

Holly Burns said her grandparents, Jose Flores Arsiaga and Margarita Martinez Arsiaga, farmed in Mitchell, Neb., and raised an extended family that’s part of the state’s rich history and multicultural landscape.

“Are we willing to risk that and be made a joke nationally as the ‘Cornhusker Clink’ — for money that we may or may not get — and that breaks all values of Nebraska?” she asked.

Guillermo Enrique Peña Valladares of Grand Island said he comes from a family of immigrants and that federal enforcement tactics have created anxiety and intimidation even among those legally in the country for generations.

“Should I fear saying my name?” he asked, voice cracking. He said his family works in meatpacking plants and his mom speaks broken English. “Every day we have to ask ourselves, ‘Are we going to be alright?’”

As his family’s first college graduate, Peña said, he felt a responsibility to speak out.

“You are trying to imprison the agricultural hands of Nebraska. They are already battered and bruised,” he said.

Anne Wurth, associate legal director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, said a worry is the “lack of planning” and demeaning behavior by ICE toward migrants.

She said her nonprofit saw it first hand, representing several of the 78 workers detained in the June 10 immigration raid at Omaha’s Glenn Valley Foods. Wurth described, for example, the early 48 hours when some families did not know where relatives were being held and said some wounds went untreated.

“Their goal is to terrorize immigrants,” she said of the federal government. “They continue to demean and dehumanize a population that is integral to the state of Nebraska … We must not do this for them.”

Don Hooper, a retired educator, was among several who decried the politics. He said he does not want “Cornhusker Clink” to join Nebraska’s “good life” and “home of Arbor Day” signs on the highway.

If the facility comes, he said: “It should be named … ‘Pillen’s prison’ in honor of the individual who wants this in Nebraska.”

McKinney said he appreciated a petition opposing the immigration detention center coordinated by Nebraska Appleseed, as it reflected statewide opinions. Appleseed’s Ruby Mendez said the effort collected more than 18,000 signatures from people in nearly 400 Nebraska communities.

Faith Colburn said she drove in from North Platte with concerns about legal and other services that migrants would have available in McCook.&nbsp;

“I’m here representing 50 people,” she said. “Many of them are furious, pissed off grandmas.”

About 650 people also submitted written testimony to the Urban Affairs committee. Because it was for an interim hearing, McKinney said, the correspondence had not been categorized into opponents, proponents or neutral.

In McCook, Miguel and Mayra Camacho said they would not close shop, and hope that business picks up.

The family’s move six years ago from Kansas to the Nebraska community of about 7,200 people was calculated, they said. The area has a Walmart and other key stores that draw residents of surrounding towns.

Their two kids attend local schools, and have felt a sting from the proposed ICE facility. A classmate asked their daughter if she had seen her “new house,” said Camacho.

The small business owners said they are trying to form a group to provide information and support to Latinos in the community. They said they’ve enjoyed the McCook area and their patrons.&nbsp;

The couple rode out the COVID-19 slump, opening the Carniceria’s doors every day. Gesturing toward the empty store and restaurant, Camacho said the plan now is to do the same: “Stay here, protect it, survive.”

He added, ‘If the community tells me I’m not welcome, we’ll move.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757876399224.png" alt=" Miguel and Mayra Camacho, owners of Carniceria mini market and restaurant in McCook, Nebraska, say business has declined sharply in the past month since Gov. Jim Pillen announced that the Work Ethic Camp in town will be converted to an ICE facility under a contract with the Department of Homeland Security. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Miguel and Mayra Camacho, owners of Carniceria mini market and restaurant in McCook, Nebraska, say business has declined sharply in the past month since Gov. Jim Pillen announced that the Work Ethic Camp in town will be converted to an ICE facility under a contract with the Department of Homeland Security. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/03/17/lincoln-senators-clash-over-nebraska-school-retirement-bill-as-school-leaders-weigh-in/">Nebraska Examiner</a><h2>Nebraska Corrections officials update McCook leaders on plans</h2>McCOOK, Neb. — Business has slumped at the Carniceria CB mini market and Mexican restaurant, its owners said, since Gov. Jim Pillen’s announcement last month that Nebraska is bringing a federal immigration detention facility to town.Miguel and Mayra Camacho said they’ve heard other area&nbsp;merchants describe similar commercial declines. Some Latinos they know have uprooted from southwest Nebraska, spurred by what the couple believes is fear and uneasiness over an increased ICE presence.“And it’s not even open yet,” said Miguel Camacho, of the facility branded the “Cornhusker Clink” by federal officials. “Of all the 50 states, why here?”<h2>‘People want to know’</h2>Comments the Camachos made this week from their Carniceria — a few miles from where a state prison that holds up to 200 beds is being converted into a 300-bed ICE jail — reflected the sentiment of dozens who spoke against the project during a Friday hearing at the Capitol so full it required an overflow area.The meeting was hosted by the Legislature’s Urban Affairs Committee. Chairman Terrell McKinney of Omaha offered the space after the chair of the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee declined to hold a public hearing, calling the request premature.McKinney, a member of both committees, said that while he had been offered a private briefing by the Pillen administration, he opted for a broader discussion open to the public.He and other committee members said they were concerned about scant information shared about the state-federal plan to repurpose the McCook-based Work Ethic Camp into an ICE detention center for migrants. The state is still trying to relocate the camp’s remaining 155 inmates to different state prisons. Officials said they expect to start housing federal detainees in October.“Our people want to know, and they’re asking,” said State Sen. Victor Rountree of Bellevue, who also sits on both committees.&nbsp;“What happens is that when there’s no information provided, negativity and misinformation run rampant,” said State Sen. Stan Clouse of Kearney, the lone Republican committee member who attended the hearing.On Friday afternoon, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services issued a statement saying that Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys had spoken Thursday with McCook Mayor Linda Taylor and City Manager Nate Schneider about public safety and community impact.Among the answers Corrections said it provided:<ul>
 <li>The converted ICE detention center will house an adult population with minor criminal records and nonviolent felonies.&nbsp;</li><li>Up to 65 staff positions will be added, all state positions, including additional medical personnel.</li><li>The state is exploring options for electronic translation services to assist non-English speaking detainees.</li><li>A perimeter fence and intruder petition system will be added, as well as armed patrols around the perimeter.</li>
 </ul>A formal contract between Nebraska and the federal government is still being hammered out, Correctional Services officials said.&nbsp;<h2>Four hours of testimony</h2>At the four-hour Urban Affairs hearing, about 40 people testified, none in support of the prison conversion that many worry could exacerbate state prison crowding elsewhere to accommodate the feds’ deportation push.&nbsp;Many said they were embarrassed. Some choked back tears. Others said they were angry to learn in news reports that the state had invited the Trump administration to consider Nebraska for such a facility.Not present were members of the Pillen administration, which told the committee in a Thursday letter it would not participate, arguing that the the Judiciary Committee and not the Urban Affairs Committee had the legal jurisdiction and oversight authority to examine the issues at hand.&nbsp;Pillen’s staff did not respond to a request for comment Friday.McKinney said he plans to ask the Judiciary Committee chair once again to hold a public hearing that he hopes Pillen’s staff would attend.&nbsp;Kenny Zoeller, Pillen’s policy research director, wrote in the Thursday’s letter that McKinney had wrongly suggested that the future migrant population at the center would trigger an overcrowding of the correctional system. Zoeller wrote that an emergency declaration is required when the prison population systemwide is over 140% of operational capacity. He said the average now is about 115%.“We have flexibility within our current corrections facilities to accommodate this new mission,” Zoeller wrote.Spike Eickholt, representing ACLU Nebraska, said Nebraska leaders for a decade have debated what to do about state prison crowding. Currently, Nebraska is building a new $310 million-plus prison in Lincoln.“Why are we committing to an investment of a new prison while giving up a current one?” he asked.Other speakers lamented the loss of the Work Ethic Camp’s rehabilitative focus and programming aimed at transitioning criminal offenders for successful re-entry into society.<h2>Nebraska’s role in deportation</h2>But most of Friday’s testimony centered on Nebraska’s role in Trump’s push for mass deportations. Pillen has said he is proud to be part of the president’s effort to “make sure we keep our community safe.”“This stuff hits close to home and hits every corner of this state and country,” the governor has said.Holly Burns said her grandparents, Jose Flores Arsiaga and Margarita Martinez Arsiaga, farmed in Mitchell, Neb., and raised an extended family that’s part of the state’s rich history and multicultural landscape.“Are we willing to risk that and be made a joke nationally as the ‘Cornhusker Clink’ — for money that we may or may not get — and that breaks all values of Nebraska?” she asked.Guillermo Enrique Peña Valladares of Grand Island said he comes from a family of immigrants and that federal enforcement tactics have created anxiety and intimidation even among those legally in the country for generations.“Should I fear saying my name?” he asked, voice cracking. He said his family works in meatpacking plants and his mom speaks broken English. “Every day we have to ask ourselves, ‘Are we going to be alright?’”As his family’s first college graduate, Peña said, he felt a responsibility to speak out.“You are trying to imprison the agricultural hands of Nebraska. They are already battered and bruised,” he said.Anne Wurth, associate legal director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Advancement, said a worry is the “lack of planning” and demeaning behavior by ICE toward migrants.She said her nonprofit saw it first hand, representing several of the 78 workers detained in the June 10 immigration raid at Omaha’s Glenn Valley Foods. Wurth described, for example, the early 48 hours when some families did not know where relatives were being held and said some wounds went untreated.“Their goal is to terrorize immigrants,” she said of the federal government. “They continue to demean and dehumanize a population that is integral to the state of Nebraska … We must not do this for them.”<h2>‘Pissed off grandmas’</h2>Don Hooper, a retired educator, was among several who decried the politics. He said he does not want “Cornhusker Clink” to join Nebraska’s “good life” and “home of Arbor Day” signs on the highway.If the facility comes, he said: “It should be named … ‘Pillen’s prison’ in honor of the individual who wants this in Nebraska.”McKinney said he appreciated a petition opposing the immigration detention center coordinated by Nebraska Appleseed, as it reflected statewide opinions. Appleseed’s Ruby Mendez said the effort collected more than 18,000 signatures from people in nearly 400 Nebraska communities.Faith Colburn said she drove in from North Platte with concerns about legal and other services that migrants would have available in McCook.&nbsp;“I’m here representing 50 people,” she said. “Many of them are furious, pissed off grandmas.”About 650 people also submitted written testimony to the Urban Affairs committee. Because it was for an interim hearing, McKinney said, the correspondence had not been categorized into opponents, proponents or neutral.<h2>Carniceria survival plan&nbsp;</h2>In McCook, Miguel and Mayra Camacho said they would not close shop, and hope that business picks up.The family’s move six years ago from Kansas to the Nebraska community of about 7,200 people was calculated, they said. The area has a Walmart and other key stores that draw residents of surrounding towns.Their two kids attend local schools, and have felt a sting from the proposed ICE facility. A classmate asked their daughter if she had seen her “new house,” said Camacho.The small business owners said they are trying to form a group to provide information and support to Latinos in the community. They said they’ve enjoyed the McCook area and their patrons.&nbsp;The couple rode out the COVID-19 slump, opening the Carniceria’s doors every day. Gesturing toward the empty store and restaurant, Camacho said the plan now is to do the same: “Stay here, protect it, survive.”He added, ‘If the community tells me I’m not welcome, we’ll move.”

Conversion of Neb. facility into ICE detention hub draws overflow hearing, statewide concerns

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">Cami Koons</a>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it had improved and expanded its Farm to School Grant program and would invest up to $18 million to connect locally grown food to child nutrition programs.&nbsp;

The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants program was initiated in 2013, but according to a news release, the fiscal year 2026 investment represents the “largest total amount” the department has offered in a given year.&nbsp;

The Farm to School Grant announcement was made alongside U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s latest&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/09/repub/rfk-jr-lists-100-recommendations-to-make-america-healthy-again/" target="_blank">Make America Healthy Again report</a>, which called for more whole, unprocessed foods in children’s diets.

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the grants are “one of the best ways we can deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to children, while also strengthening local agriculture.”&nbsp;

“These grants will open new doors for small family farms, expand access to healthy food in schools, and inspire the next generation of Great American Farmers,” Rollins said in the news release.&nbsp;

State agencies, tribal organizations, child nutrition programs, nonprofits, agricultural producers and groups of producers can apply for grants from $100,000 to $500,000 to support new and existing farm to school projects, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/grant/f2s/fy26?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">grant website</a>.&nbsp;

Eligible projects are those that: incorporate more unprocessed and locally produced foods in school meals, encourage the consumption of fresh foods, train producers on food safety and procurement requirements or educate students on agriculture and nutrition.

The release from USDA said updates to the program will also streamline the application process, remove barriers to innovation and emphasize partnerships.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is proud to streamline this program, so it works better for families, farmers, and communities across our nation,” Rollins said in the release. “Putting America’s Farmers First starts with putting our children first.”

According to USDA’s latest&nbsp;<a href="https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/census-results/states/ia" target="_blank">Farm to School Census</a>, more than 440 Iowa school food authorities, the entities that manage school food service, have participated in the program.

The grants can also be used to support agriculture education at schools through things like ag and nutrition classes, or school gardening programs. According to the census, nearly 50% of Iowa school food authorities had classroom programs and slightly more than 15% of Iowa school food authorities had edible gardens.&nbsp;

According to USDA, Farm to School Grant awards totaled $100 million since 2013.&nbsp;

The millions in Farm to School Grant dollars are significantly less than the billions of dollars that schools and food banks used under a pandemic-era program to support local food purchases.&nbsp;

These programs, Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance, were&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/03/11/usda-cuts-programs-bringing-local-food-into-schools-food-banks/" target="_blank">canceled in March</a>&nbsp;after USDA announced in October 2024 over a $1 billion in funds to continue the programs across the country.&nbsp;

Tommy Hexter, the policy director for Iowa Farmers Union, said the new investment from USDA is positive, but said it doesn’t make up for the loss of programs that provided “vital government support” to food farmers and players in the local food system.

Hexter said the canceled programs created relationships between farmers, food hubs, the state department of agriculture, schools and community, that are “fundamental to our food system in Iowa.”

“The first and foremost thing with this announcement is like, yes, let’s see how we can take advantage of this new announcement and make these programs come to Iowa,” Hexter said. “But we also are acknowledging that this investment does not replace the major loss of funding that happened earlier this year.”

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/11/usda-to-invest-up-to-18-m-in-farm-to-school-grants/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757765534936.png" alt="USDA announced funding for its Farm to School Grant program. (Photo by Brandon O’Connor, NRCS/USDA )" />
 <figcaption>USDA announced funding for its Farm to School Grant program. (Photo by Brandon O’Connor, NRCS/USDA )</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">Cami Koons</a>The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it had improved and expanded its Farm to School Grant program and would invest up to $18 million to connect locally grown food to child nutrition programs.&nbsp;The Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grants program was initiated in 2013, but according to a news release, the fiscal year 2026 investment represents the “largest total amount” the department has offered in a given year.&nbsp;The Farm to School Grant announcement was made alongside U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s latest&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/09/repub/rfk-jr-lists-100-recommendations-to-make-america-healthy-again/" target="_blank">Make America Healthy Again report</a>, which called for more whole, unprocessed foods in children’s diets.USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said the grants are “one of the best ways we can deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to children, while also strengthening local agriculture.”&nbsp;“These grants will open new doors for small family farms, expand access to healthy food in schools, and inspire the next generation of Great American Farmers,” Rollins said in the news release.&nbsp;State agencies, tribal organizations, child nutrition programs, nonprofits, agricultural producers and groups of producers can apply for grants from $100,000 to $500,000 to support new and existing farm to school projects, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/grant/f2s/fy26?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">grant website</a>.&nbsp;Eligible projects are those that: incorporate more unprocessed and locally produced foods in school meals, encourage the consumption of fresh foods, train producers on food safety and procurement requirements or educate students on agriculture and nutrition.The release from USDA said updates to the program will also streamline the application process, remove barriers to innovation and emphasize partnerships.“Under President Trump’s leadership, USDA is proud to streamline this program, so it works better for families, farmers, and communities across our nation,” Rollins said in the release. “Putting America’s Farmers First starts with putting our children first.”According to USDA’s latest&nbsp;<a href="https://farmtoschoolcensus.fns.usda.gov/census-results/states/ia" target="_blank">Farm to School Census</a>, more than 440 Iowa school food authorities, the entities that manage school food service, have participated in the program.The grants can also be used to support agriculture education at schools through things like ag and nutrition classes, or school gardening programs. According to the census, nearly 50% of Iowa school food authorities had classroom programs and slightly more than 15% of Iowa school food authorities had edible gardens.&nbsp;According to USDA, Farm to School Grant awards totaled $100 million since 2013.&nbsp;The millions in Farm to School Grant dollars are significantly less than the billions of dollars that schools and food banks used under a pandemic-era program to support local food purchases.&nbsp;These programs, Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance, were&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/03/11/usda-cuts-programs-bringing-local-food-into-schools-food-banks/" target="_blank">canceled in March</a>&nbsp;after USDA announced in October 2024 over a $1 billion in funds to continue the programs across the country.&nbsp;Tommy Hexter, the policy director for Iowa Farmers Union, said the new investment from USDA is positive, but said it doesn’t make up for the loss of programs that provided “vital government support” to food farmers and players in the local food system.Hexter said the canceled programs created relationships between farmers, food hubs, the state department of agriculture, schools and community, that are “fundamental to our food system in Iowa.”“The first and foremost thing with this announcement is like, yes, let’s see how we can take advantage of this new announcement and make these programs come to Iowa,” Hexter said. “But we also are acknowledging that this investment does not replace the major loss of funding that happened earlier this year.”This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/11/usda-to-invest-up-to-18-m-in-farm-to-school-grants/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

USDA to invest up to $18 million in farm to school grants

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man&nbsp; who admitted to vandalizing a&nbsp; church in Wichita was to learn his fate on Friday.

Sentencing was delayed for 23-year-old Michael Gonzalez of Saline County, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp; The case was continued until October 10.

In July Gonzalez pleaded guilty to felony charges: of burglary and criminal desecration and two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal damage to property.

Just after 8:30a.m. March 15, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.

Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.

Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.

Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. March 16, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.

&nbsp;Gonzalez remains jailed on bonds totaling over $500,000, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742206082557.png" alt="GONZALEZ photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>GONZALEZ photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man&nbsp; who admitted to vandalizing a&nbsp; church in Wichita was to learn his fate on Friday.Sentencing was delayed for 23-year-old Michael Gonzalez of Saline County, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.&nbsp; The case was continued until October 10.In July Gonzalez pleaded guilty to felony charges: of burglary and criminal desecration and two misdemeanor charges of theft and criminal damage to property.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fkscathconf%2Fposts%2Fpfbid026eKsJvXV69VEGsohrDBXEqgNBZTzKu7Cj7ps1ZDko1i6pe3eG8iNdZ1LAwzeXr4Cl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="819" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Just after 8:30a.m. March 15, police responded to a reported burglary at St. Patrick Catholic Church, located in the 2000 block of N. Arkansas Street in Wichita, according to Wichita Police spokesman Brad Wright.Officers discovered significant vandalism, including hate speech and damage to items such as statues, candles, and glass. Notably, a United States flag had been burned.Recognizing the severity of this crime, Wichita Police and investigators—alongside federal law enforcement partners including the FBI and ATF—immediately launched a full-scale investigation. The Wichita Police dedicated Crime Scene Investigation team worked diligently to analyze evidence, leading to the swift identification of a suspect.Officers from the Wichita Police Field Community Response Teams were provided with critical intelligence and began searching for the suspect. At approximately 2:20 a.m. March 16, officers located and arrested Gonzalez in the 2800 block of N. Hillside in Wichita without incident.&nbsp;Gonzalez remains jailed on bonds totaling over $500,000, according to online jail records.

Sentencing delayed for extreme vandalism at Kansas church

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend returned to court Thursday.

Matthew Wayne Criscenzo, 20,&nbsp; pleaded not guilty in Judge Jeffrey Goering's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He was&nbsp; charged with 1st degree murder and aggravated battery, in the shooting death of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby.

On May 25, police arrested&nbsp; Criscenzo in the 700 Block of Laura Street in Wichita in connection with the shooting death. At the time of the incident,&nbsp;Oglesby was pregnant, according to Officer Rick Pena. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she was pronounced deceased.

Doctors were able to deliver her infant who was transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;A jury trial status hearing in the case is scheduled for October 8. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748259337812.png" alt="Criscenzo-photo Sedgwick Counthy" />
 <figcaption>Criscenzo-photo Sedgwick Counthy</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas man charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend returned to court Thursday.Matthew Wayne Criscenzo, 20,&nbsp; pleaded not guilty in Judge Jeffrey Goering's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He was&nbsp; charged with 1st degree murder and aggravated battery, in the shooting death of 20-year-old Naomi Oglesby.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748340707658.png" alt="Naomi Oglesby photo GoFundMe" />
 <figcaption>Naomi Oglesby photo GoFundMe</figcaption>
 </figure>On May 25, police arrested&nbsp; Criscenzo in the 700 Block of Laura Street in Wichita in connection with the shooting death. At the time of the incident,&nbsp;Oglesby was pregnant, according to Officer Rick Pena. Despite the efforts of medical personnel, she was pronounced deceased.Doctors were able to deliver her infant who was transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at a Wichita hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;A jury trial status hearing in the case is scheduled for October 8.

Kan. man accused of killing pregnant girlfriend enters plea 

Devota 'Dee' Irene
(Byfield) Nunn, 83, of Park City, KS, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at
the Westview of Derby Nursing Home in Derby, KS.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dee was born on October
28, 1941, in the Old Rock House in rural Webster, Kansas, to Freeman and Violet
(Walker) Byfield. She graduated from Stockton High School in 1959. Dee retired
from Southwestern Bell and AT&amp;T after more than 20 years of service. She was
a member of the Master Gardeners and found joy in both reading and gardening
throughout her life.

She is
survived by her sons, Frank Brown of Stockton and Eric L. Brown of Park City;
daughter, Angela “Angie” (Randy) Veatch of Hutchinson, KS; brother, Gary
Byfield of Tulsa, OK; sister, Deberta Hutchison of Stockton; six grandsons; and
many nieces and nephews.

Dee was preceded in death
by her parents; husband, James Nunn; son, Tracy Brown; three brothers; one sister;
and her former husbands, Franklin Thayer and Robert L. Brown.

A Graveside Service
will be held&nbsp;on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 12:30PM at the Stockton
Cemetery in Stockton KS.

Memorials are
suggested to Stockton Library and Arbor Day Foundation and may be sent to
Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669. 

Online condolences
may be left for the family at <a href="http://www.plumeroverlease.com">www.plumeroverlease.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757445407758.jpeg" alt="Devota 'Dee' Irene (Byfield) Nunn" />
 <figcaption>Devota 'Dee' Irene (Byfield) Nunn</figcaption>
 </figure>Devota 'Dee' Irene
(Byfield) Nunn, 83, of Park City, KS, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at
the Westview of Derby Nursing Home in Derby, KS.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dee was born on October
28, 1941, in the Old Rock House in rural Webster, Kansas, to Freeman and Violet
(Walker) Byfield. She graduated from Stockton High School in 1959. Dee retired
from Southwestern Bell and AT&amp;T after more than 20 years of service. She was
a member of the Master Gardeners and found joy in both reading and gardening
throughout her life.She is
survived by her sons, Frank Brown of Stockton and Eric L. Brown of Park City;
daughter, Angela “Angie” (Randy) Veatch of Hutchinson, KS; brother, Gary
Byfield of Tulsa, OK; sister, Deberta Hutchison of Stockton; six grandsons; and
many nieces and nephews.Dee was preceded in death
by her parents; husband, James Nunn; son, Tracy Brown; three brothers; one sister;
and her former husbands, Franklin Thayer and Robert L. Brown.A Graveside Service
will be held&nbsp;on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 12:30PM at the Stockton
Cemetery in Stockton KS.Memorials are
suggested to Stockton Library and Arbor Day Foundation and may be sent to
Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669. Online condolences
may be left for the family at <a href="http://www.plumeroverlease.com">www.plumeroverlease.com</a>

Devota 'Dee' Irene (Byfield) Nunn

DOWNS — The Kansas Storytelling Festival is holding three qualifying events for the 2026 Tall Tales storytelling contest. 

Anyone (amateur) is welcome to enter these preliminary events to become one of four finalists at the Storytelling Festival on April 24-25, 2026 in Downs. All qualifier events are free to attend.

The first qualifier will be held Saturday, September 13 at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, 201 W. Washington St., Tonganoxie, beginning at 5:00pm. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tonganoxieartscouncil.org/copy-of-story-telling-festival">Art Events &amp; Workshops | Arts Council</a> Following the Tall Tale contest at about 7:35 p.m., Professional Storyteller Paul Strickland will perform.

The second qualifier will be held Saturday, September 20 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca St., Wichita, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Following the contest, previous Kansas Tall Tale champions and historical Legends will perform. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-545-5285.

The final qualifier will be held in Downs, the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas” on Saturday, October 11, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1018 Blunt Street, Downs. The Downs event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-454-1177.

A tall tale is a unique form of American Story Telling in which the narrator usually has a part in the story. Telling a tall tale uses exaggerated detail describing things larger than they really are.&nbsp; A tall tale is a story based on a fact, or facts, and filled with unbelievable elements told as if they were true and factual. A tall tale has just enough truth to make a good story and to incite the imagination. 

Professional storytellers cannot compete. 

Information and rules for the Tall Tale Competition are posted at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">kansasstorytellingfestival.com</a>&nbsp;

Interested individuals can enter any of the events, or all of them if not selected as top qualifier. For more information or to register for each event, please go to the Kansas Storytelling Festival website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/</a>&nbsp;or the Kansas Storytelling FaceBook page at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival">https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757428030972.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedDOWNS — The Kansas Storytelling Festival is holding three qualifying events for the 2026 Tall Tales storytelling contest. Anyone (amateur) is welcome to enter these preliminary events to become one of four finalists at the Storytelling Festival on April 24-25, 2026 in Downs. All qualifier events are free to attend.The first qualifier will be held Saturday, September 13 at the Tonganoxie Community Historical Society, 201 W. Washington St., Tonganoxie, beginning at 5:00pm. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.tonganoxieartscouncil.org/copy-of-story-telling-festival">Art Events &amp; Workshops | Arts Council</a> Following the Tall Tale contest at about 7:35 p.m., Professional Storyteller Paul Strickland will perform.The second qualifier will be held Saturday, September 20 at the Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca St., Wichita, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Following the contest, previous Kansas Tall Tale champions and historical Legends will perform. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-545-5285.The final qualifier will be held in Downs, the “Storytelling Capital of Kansas” on Saturday, October 11, at the Zion Lutheran Church, 1018 Blunt Street, Downs. The Downs event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kansasstorytelling@gmail.com">kansasstorytelling@gmail.com</a>&nbsp;or contacting Mike at 785-454-1177.A tall tale is a unique form of American Story Telling in which the narrator usually has a part in the story. Telling a tall tale uses exaggerated detail describing things larger than they really are.&nbsp; A tall tale is a story based on a fact, or facts, and filled with unbelievable elements told as if they were true and factual. A tall tale has just enough truth to make a good story and to incite the imagination. Professional storytellers cannot compete. Information and rules for the Tall Tale Competition are posted at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">kansasstorytellingfestival.com</a>&nbsp;Interested individuals can enter any of the events, or all of them if not selected as top qualifier. For more information or to register for each event, please go to the Kansas Storytelling Festival website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/">https://www.kansasstorytellingfestival.com/</a>&nbsp;or the Kansas Storytelling FaceBook page at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival">https://www.facebook.com/KansasStorytellingFestival</a>.

Storytelling festival's Tall Tale preliminaries begin Saturday

WASHINGTON­—Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets Chairwoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) delivered opening remarks at Tuesday’s hearing titled “<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/restoring-public-trust-through-uap-transparency-and-whistleblower-protection/">Restoring Public Trust Through UFO/UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection</a>.”

In her opening statement, Task Force Chairwoman Luna highlighted the lack of transparency from the federal government and intelligence communities on the research and disclosure of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Task Force Chairwoman Luna also reiterated the importance of addressing threats to U.S. national security by (UFOs or now known as UAPs and the need for the federal government to acknowledge them.

Read the Congresswoman's full statement below:

Good morning, and welcome to this hearing regarding UAP disclosures.

For too long, the issue of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena – commonly known as UAPs – has been shrouded in secrecy, stigma, and in some cases outright dismissal.&nbsp;

Today, I want to state clearly: this is not science fiction or creating speculation.&nbsp;

This is about national security, government accountability, and the American people’s right to the truth.

I have now spoken to a number of whistleblowers from the military, to include at the infamous Eglin AFB incident that occurred when myself and former Rep Matt Gaetz as well as Rep Burchett followed up on a lead from multiple active-duty air force pilot whistleblowers that alleged that the USAF was covering up UAP activity at Eglin AFB.&nbsp;

We have heard from a number of whistleblowers, specifically military pilots, that the reason for not coming forward publicly is out of fear that speaking out would cost them their flight status, and potentially their careers.&nbsp;

We cannot protect our airspace if our best-trained observers are silenced.&nbsp;

We cannot advance science if we refuse to ask questions.&nbsp;

And we cannot maintain trust in government if we keep the American people in the dark.

Now, Congress has tried to fix this problem.

Congress tried to create formal channels – through the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, also known as AARO and the Intelligence Community Inspector General – for service members and officials to make disclosures.

But the reality: the reports that come in are too often brushed aside, slow-walked, or met with skepticism rather than serious investigation. Recently, the former AARO director known as Sean Kirpatrick attacked our witness and members on this committee. It should be noted that he is a documented liar and brings into question what his purpose at AARO really was if it was not to follow up on investigations and disclose his findings to Members of Congress.&nbsp;

A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Chris Mellon, described a report published by ARRO that “found no evidence that any USG investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology,” as “the most error-ridden and unsatisfactory government report I can recall reading during or after decades of government service.” Mellon further noted that this was the first ARRO report submitted to Congress without the Director of National Intelligence’s sign-off and seemingly excluded input from “any of the scholars or experts who have studied and written extensively on this topic as would normally be the case in another field.” Mellon determined that the report failed to fulfill the congressional mandate under which it was required, omitted entire agencies with “known investigations or activities relating to UAP,” and omitted any discussion of efforts to hide classified or unclassified information about UAP. Such efforts were unaddressed by the report despite the existence of agency records and investigations concerning them, including at US Customs and Border Protection.

If we set up offices and oversight bodies only to let them become graveyards for testimony or worse yet, ruses for pretending to investigate when in actuality, there was no follow up, then we are not doing our jobs.

In recent months, Congress has also been presented with evidence that points to technologies that to our knowledge, are beyond our current capabilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It is our duty as elected representatives to follow the facts, wherever they lead, and to ensure those facts are not buried under classification stamps or bureaucratic excuses.&nbsp;

Let me be clear: whether UAPs represent adversarial technology, natural phenomena, or something beyond current human understanding, Congress has a responsibility to investigate.&nbsp;

If these objects are foreign in origin, they pose a direct threat to our national security.&nbsp;

If they represent something unknown, they demand rigorous scientific inquiry – not ridicule, not secrecy, and not silence.&nbsp;

Adversarial nations are not waiting for us to catch up – they are studying these phenomena aggressively as well and multiple nations have also announced their own parliamentary investigation into this very topic.

If we continue to hide information from ourselves, we risk strategic surprises.&nbsp;

If we continue to ignore our pilots and service members as well as the countless government whistleblowers, we risk losing their trust.&nbsp;

And if we continue to shield the truth from the public, we risk eroding the very foundation of democratic accountability.&nbsp;

This is about demanding basic transparency from the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community and/or military contractors.&nbsp;

It is about asking the questions every American has the right to ask: What do we know? What don’t we know? And why, in a free society are we still being told so little?&nbsp;

A major barrier to the Committee’s inquiry into UAPs has been a lack of cooperation and transparency from the DoD and the Intelligence Community (IC). In preparation for previous UAP hearings, the Committee repeatedly asked DoD to allow Members to view videos and files relating to UAP incidents. Unfortunately, DoD notified Committee staff that due to the Department’s special access program (SAP) rules, only members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee (HAC-D) were allowed to be “read in” on such programs. For a non-committee Member to be allowed to view these documents and videos, individual Members must be approved by the Chairman and Ranking Member of both HASC and HAC-D. Independent SAP oversight has presented a consistent problem for Congress as the program’s budgets are classified. Additionally, oversight reporting to Congress is classified, and is only provided to the authorizing and appropriations committees of jurisdiction.

They do not need to be shielded like children from reality.

What they cannot tolerate – what they will not forgive – is a government that withholds the truth and punishes those who dare to speak out.

Future generations will look back on this moment and ask what we did when presented with the unknown.&nbsp;

Did we look away, embarrassed or afraid? Or did we pursue the truth with courage?&nbsp;

I intend to be on the side of truth, transparency, and accountability, and I hope my colleagues on this Task Force will be as well.&nbsp;

Senator Schumer: “Multiple credible sources” allege a constitutional crisis over UFOs.

Senator Rounds: “They are brilliant individuals.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“They’re not making this stuff up.”

Our current Secretary of State Rubio: “Very high clearances and high positions within our government.”

Senator McConnell: “Sane,” “Credible”

The witnesses today are not alone, far from it. In fact, 34 senior military, government, and intelligence officials have broken their silence. This includes Senator Rubio, Senator Rounds, Senator Gillibrand, General Jim Clapper, the former director of the Government’s UAP task force, the former head of aviation security on the White House national security council, a former secretary of defense, and many more.&nbsp; To quote&nbsp;Senator Rubio in the upcoming documentary Age of Disclosure: “even presidents have been operating on a need-to-know basis but that begins to spin out of control.” And to quote Senator Gillibrand who went public in a upcoming documentary, “it’s not acceptable to have secret parts of government that no one ever sees.” It is time for the fundamental truths around UAP to be revealed to our nation’s leaders and to the public.

&nbsp;It is time for the US government to exercise transparency.

WASHINGTON­—Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets Chairwoman Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) delivered opening remarks at Tuesday’s hearing titled “<a href="https://oversight.house.gov/hearing/restoring-public-trust-through-uap-transparency-and-whistleblower-protection/">Restoring Public Trust Through UFO/UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection</a>.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Below is the video I revealed in our <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOPoversight</a> UAP hearing today, made available to the public for the first time. October 30th, 2024: MQ-9 Reaper allegedly tracking orb off coast of Yemen. Greenlight given to engage, missile appears to be ineffective against the target.… <a href="https://t.co/jxJwl0e00S">pic.twitter.com/jxJwl0e00S</a>&mdash; Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepEricBurlison/status/1965438792493355291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔴 UAP HEARING! Watch as <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLuna?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepLuna</a> and the Task Force for the Declassification of Federal Secrets hold a hearing on restoring public trust through UAP transparency and whistleblower protection. <a href="https://t.co/TOLaBHHj9Q">https://t.co/TOLaBHHj9Q</a>&mdash; Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPoversight/status/1965412144264151187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In her opening statement, Task Force Chairwoman Luna highlighted the lack of transparency from the federal government and intelligence communities on the research and disclosure of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Task Force Chairwoman Luna also reiterated the importance of addressing threats to U.S. national security by (UFOs or now known as UAPs and the need for the federal government to acknowledge them.Read the Congresswoman's full statement below:Good morning, and welcome to this hearing regarding UAP disclosures.For too long, the issue of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena – commonly known as UAPs – has been shrouded in secrecy, stigma, and in some cases outright dismissal.&nbsp;Today, I want to state clearly: this is not science fiction or creating speculation.&nbsp;This is about national security, government accountability, and the American people’s right to the truth.I have now spoken to a number of whistleblowers from the military, to include at the infamous Eglin AFB incident that occurred when myself and former Rep Matt Gaetz as well as Rep Burchett followed up on a lead from multiple active-duty air force pilot whistleblowers that alleged that the USAF was covering up UAP activity at Eglin AFB.&nbsp;We have heard from a number of whistleblowers, specifically military pilots, that the reason for not coming forward publicly is out of fear that speaking out would cost them their flight status, and potentially their careers.&nbsp;That is unacceptable.&nbsp;We cannot protect our airspace if our best-trained observers are silenced.&nbsp;We cannot advance science if we refuse to ask questions.&nbsp;And we cannot maintain trust in government if we keep the American people in the dark.Now, Congress has tried to fix this problem.Congress tried to create formal channels – through the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, also known as AARO and the Intelligence Community Inspector General – for service members and officials to make disclosures.But the reality: the reports that come in are too often brushed aside, slow-walked, or met with skepticism rather than serious investigation. Recently, the former AARO director known as Sean Kirpatrick attacked our witness and members on this committee. It should be noted that he is a documented liar and brings into question what his purpose at AARO really was if it was not to follow up on investigations and disclose his findings to Members of Congress.&nbsp;A former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, Chris Mellon, described a report published by ARRO that “found no evidence that any USG investigation, academic-sponsored research, or official review panel has confirmed that any sighting of a UAP represented extraterrestrial technology,” as “the most error-ridden and unsatisfactory government report I can recall reading during or after decades of government service.” Mellon further noted that this was the first ARRO report submitted to Congress without the Director of National Intelligence’s sign-off and seemingly excluded input from “any of the scholars or experts who have studied and written extensively on this topic as would normally be the case in another field.” Mellon determined that the report failed to fulfill the congressional mandate under which it was required, omitted entire agencies with “known investigations or activities relating to UAP,” and omitted any discussion of efforts to hide classified or unclassified information about UAP. Such efforts were unaddressed by the report despite the existence of agency records and investigations concerning them, including at US Customs and Border Protection.If we set up offices and oversight bodies only to let them become graveyards for testimony or worse yet, ruses for pretending to investigate when in actuality, there was no follow up, then we are not doing our jobs.In recent months, Congress has also been presented with evidence that points to technologies that to our knowledge, are beyond our current capabilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is our duty as elected representatives to follow the facts, wherever they lead, and to ensure those facts are not buried under classification stamps or bureaucratic excuses.&nbsp;Let me be clear: whether UAPs represent adversarial technology, natural phenomena, or something beyond current human understanding, Congress has a responsibility to investigate.&nbsp;If these objects are foreign in origin, they pose a direct threat to our national security.&nbsp;If they represent something unknown, they demand rigorous scientific inquiry – not ridicule, not secrecy, and not silence.&nbsp;The stakes are high.&nbsp;Adversarial nations are not waiting for us to catch up – they are studying these phenomena aggressively as well and multiple nations have also announced their own parliamentary investigation into this very topic.If we continue to hide information from ourselves, we risk strategic surprises.&nbsp;If we continue to ignore our pilots and service members as well as the countless government whistleblowers, we risk losing their trust.&nbsp;And if we continue to shield the truth from the public, we risk eroding the very foundation of democratic accountability.&nbsp;That is why this hearing matters.&nbsp;This is not about fueling speculation.This is about demanding basic transparency from the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community and/or military contractors.&nbsp;It is about asking the questions every American has the right to ask: What do we know? What don’t we know? And why, in a free society are we still being told so little?&nbsp;A major barrier to the Committee’s inquiry into UAPs has been a lack of cooperation and transparency from the DoD and the Intelligence Community (IC). In preparation for previous UAP hearings, the Committee repeatedly asked DoD to allow Members to view videos and files relating to UAP incidents. Unfortunately, DoD notified Committee staff that due to the Department’s special access program (SAP) rules, only members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) and the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee (HAC-D) were allowed to be “read in” on such programs. For a non-committee Member to be allowed to view these documents and videos, individual Members must be approved by the Chairman and Ranking Member of both HASC and HAC-D. Independent SAP oversight has presented a consistent problem for Congress as the program’s budgets are classified. Additionally, oversight reporting to Congress is classified, and is only provided to the authorizing and appropriations committees of jurisdiction.The American people are not fragile.They do not need to be shielded like children from reality.What they cannot tolerate – what they will not forgive – is a government that withholds the truth and punishes those who dare to speak out.I want to close with this:Future generations will look back on this moment and ask what we did when presented with the unknown.&nbsp;Did we look away, embarrassed or afraid? Or did we pursue the truth with courage?&nbsp;I intend to be on the side of truth, transparency, and accountability, and I hope my colleagues on this Task Force will be as well.&nbsp;To quote a few elected officials:Senator Schumer: “Multiple credible sources” allege a constitutional crisis over UFOs.Senator Rounds: “They are brilliant individuals.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“They’re not making this stuff up.”Our current Secretary of State Rubio: “Very high clearances and high positions within our government.”Senator McConnell: “Sane,” “Credible”The witnesses today are not alone, far from it. In fact, 34 senior military, government, and intelligence officials have broken their silence. This includes Senator Rubio, Senator Rounds, Senator Gillibrand, General Jim Clapper, the former director of the Government’s UAP task force, the former head of aviation security on the White House national security council, a former secretary of defense, and many more.&nbsp; To quote&nbsp;Senator Rubio in the upcoming documentary Age of Disclosure: “even presidents have been operating on a need-to-know basis but that begins to spin out of control.” And to quote Senator Gillibrand who went public in a upcoming documentary, “it’s not acceptable to have secret parts of government that no one ever sees.” It is time for the fundamental truths around UAP to be revealed to our nation’s leaders and to the public.&nbsp;It is time for the US government to exercise transparency.

🎥Scary: Congressman unveils video of missile bouncing off UFO

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to more records on Tuesday after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">latest update</a>&nbsp;on the job market bolstered Wall Street’s hopes for a slowdown that’s deep enough to get the Federal Reserve to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">cut interest rates</a>, but not so overwhelming that it causes a recession.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.3% and squeaked past its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-dollar-bonds-tech-6d516f33d189c8f6f82f3932eabcbc94">all-time high set last week</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 196 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.4%. They likewise set records.

Traders have become convinced that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in a week to prop up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-firing-f686eab61f7d6b702ca10b12b0250498">the slowing job market</a>. A report on Tuesday offered the latest signal of weakness, when the U.S. government said its prior count of jobs across the country through March&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">may have been too high by 911,000</a>, or 0.6%.

That was before President Donald Trump shocked the economy and financial markets in April by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933">rolling out tariffs</a>&nbsp;on countries worldwide.

The bet on Wall Street is that such data will convince Fed officials that the job market is the bigger problem now for the economy than the threat of inflation worsening because of Trump’s tariffs. That would push them to cut interest rates, a move that would give the economy a boost but could also send inflation higher.

A lot is riding on Wall Street’s hope that the job market is slowing by just the right amount: Investors have already sent U.S. stock prices to records because of it. Inflation also needs to stay at a reasonable level, even though it looks tough to get below the Fed’s target of 2%.

Traders are unanimously expecting a rate cut next week, but they pared their forecasts for a deeper-than-usual reduction following Tuesday’s revision for U.S. job growth. That caused a slight recovery for Treasury yields following their sharp recent slide.

“The more likely course is for the Fed to deliver an October and December cut rather than trying to deliver a catchup cut in September,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.

Coming reports on inflation due on Wednesday and Thursday could alter expectations further. Hotter-than-expected readings could put the Fed in a worst-case scenario and make a series of cuts to rates less palatable.

On Wall Street, UnitedHealth Group climbed 8.6% after saying its executives plan to tell investors and analysts that it’s sticking with its profit forecast for 2025. That helped it trim its loss for the year so far, which came into the day at 36.7%, as insurers across the industry have contended with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealth-second-quarter-health-insurers-4189fae975e4ee1c0aac88ed11b8dcf4">soaring medical costs</a>.

Nebius Group, a Dutch company working in artificial-intelligence infrastructure, saw its stock that trades in the United States soar 49.4% after announcing a contract to deliver GPU services to Microsoft. The contract could be worth between $17.4 billion and $19.4 billion, and it runs through 2031.

Fox dropped 6.1% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rupert-murdochs-children-lachlan-james-elisabeth-prudence-9f3e4b0009200110fac44f34712e322a">Rupert Murdoch’s family</a>&nbsp;said they’ve reached&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rupert-murdoch-family-media-empire-control-d6c93b1c99b2daadf03dc3faa0982e09">a deal on control</a>&nbsp;of the 94-year-old mogul’s media empire after his death. The agreement ensures that there will be no change in direction at Fox News, the most popular network for President Donald Trump and conservatives.

The deal creates a trust establishing control of the Fox Corp. for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lachlan-rupert-murdoch-fox-news-a5100d8bd20f72efe5a83eec32823f1f">Lachlan Murdoch</a>, Rupert’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/murdoch-fox-quit-emeritus-30286a4a3107b7bde612adbfc7891958">chosen heir</a>&nbsp;who has been running Fox in recent years, along with his younger sisters, Grace and Chloe.

Apple slipped 1.5% after unveiling its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-tariffs-price-increase-5b78b243daceb791e19fc6e2c2740112">next generation of iPhones.</a>

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 17.46 points to 6,512.61. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 196.39 to 45,711.34, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 80.79 to 21,879.49.

In stock markets abroad, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.2% as the market remained relatively calm even though its government is facing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-prime-minister-bayrou-macron-economy-crisis-e28574497723868f0be8b7973b84c05e">crisis of confidence</a>&nbsp;after legislators voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-macron-bayrou-budget-d60c7c0881f3c8d633f02653043c1f55">oust another prime minister</a>. It and other governments around the world, including the United States, are facing increased scrutiny on how they plan to pay for their spending.

Indexes were mixed across the rest of Europe and in Asia.

Japan’s Nikkei 225 erased early gains to finish 0.4% lower as political uncertainty continued after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said over the weekend that he planned to step down. Who will replace him is still uncertain and may take weeks to decide.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose to more records on Tuesday after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">latest update</a>&nbsp;on the job market bolstered Wall Street’s hopes for a slowdown that’s deep enough to get the Federal Reserve to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-federal-reserve-powell-287af1c758a30d67f5384d17423c5029">cut interest rates</a>, but not so overwhelming that it causes a recession.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.3% and squeaked past its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-dollar-bonds-tech-6d516f33d189c8f6f82f3932eabcbc94">all-time high set last week</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 196 points, or 0.4%, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.4%. They likewise set records.Traders have become convinced that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate for the first time this year at its next meeting in a week to prop up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-trump-firing-f686eab61f7d6b702ca10b12b0250498">the slowing job market</a>. A report on Tuesday offered the latest signal of weakness, when the U.S. government said its prior count of jobs across the country through March&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-revisions-labor-department-f4a29a2b948f7bce0d6558824ffe0fd5">may have been too high by 911,000</a>, or 0.6%.That was before President Donald Trump shocked the economy and financial markets in April by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933">rolling out tariffs</a>&nbsp;on countries worldwide.The bet on Wall Street is that such data will convince Fed officials that the job market is the bigger problem now for the economy than the threat of inflation worsening because of Trump’s tariffs. That would push them to cut interest rates, a move that would give the economy a boost but could also send inflation higher.A lot is riding on Wall Street’s hope that the job market is slowing by just the right amount: Investors have already sent U.S. stock prices to records because of it. Inflation also needs to stay at a reasonable level, even though it looks tough to get below the Fed’s target of 2%.Traders are unanimously expecting a rate cut next week, but they pared their forecasts for a deeper-than-usual reduction following Tuesday’s revision for U.S. job growth. That caused a slight recovery for Treasury yields following their sharp recent slide.“The more likely course is for the Fed to deliver an October and December cut rather than trying to deliver a catchup cut in September,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management.Coming reports on inflation due on Wednesday and Thursday could alter expectations further. Hotter-than-expected readings could put the Fed in a worst-case scenario and make a series of cuts to rates less palatable.On Wall Street, UnitedHealth Group climbed 8.6% after saying its executives plan to tell investors and analysts that it’s sticking with its profit forecast for 2025. That helped it trim its loss for the year so far, which came into the day at 36.7%, as insurers across the industry have contended with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/unitedhealth-second-quarter-health-insurers-4189fae975e4ee1c0aac88ed11b8dcf4">soaring medical costs</a>.Nebius Group, a Dutch company working in artificial-intelligence infrastructure, saw its stock that trades in the United States soar 49.4% after announcing a contract to deliver GPU services to Microsoft. The contract could be worth between $17.4 billion and $19.4 billion, and it runs through 2031.Fox dropped 6.1% after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rupert-murdochs-children-lachlan-james-elisabeth-prudence-9f3e4b0009200110fac44f34712e322a">Rupert Murdoch’s family</a>&nbsp;said they’ve reached&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rupert-murdoch-family-media-empire-control-d6c93b1c99b2daadf03dc3faa0982e09">a deal on control</a>&nbsp;of the 94-year-old mogul’s media empire after his death. The agreement ensures that there will be no change in direction at Fox News, the most popular network for President Donald Trump and conservatives.The deal creates a trust establishing control of the Fox Corp. for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lachlan-rupert-murdoch-fox-news-a5100d8bd20f72efe5a83eec32823f1f">Lachlan Murdoch</a>, Rupert’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/murdoch-fox-quit-emeritus-30286a4a3107b7bde612adbfc7891958">chosen heir</a>&nbsp;who has been running Fox in recent years, along with his younger sisters, Grace and Chloe.Apple slipped 1.5% after unveiling its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-iphone-tariffs-price-increase-5b78b243daceb791e19fc6e2c2740112">next generation of iPhones.</a>All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 17.46 points to 6,512.61. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 196.39 to 45,711.34, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 80.79 to 21,879.49.In stock markets abroad, France’s CAC 40 rose 0.2% as the market remained relatively calm even though its government is facing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-prime-minister-bayrou-macron-economy-crisis-e28574497723868f0be8b7973b84c05e">crisis of confidence</a>&nbsp;after legislators voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/france-macron-bayrou-budget-d60c7c0881f3c8d633f02653043c1f55">oust another prime minister</a>. It and other governments around the world, including the United States, are facing increased scrutiny on how they plan to pay for their spending.Indexes were mixed across the rest of Europe and in Asia.Japan’s Nikkei 225 erased early gains to finish 0.4% lower as political uncertainty continued after Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said over the weekend that he planned to step down. Who will replace him is still uncertain and may take weeks to decide.

Wall Street rises to more records

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led House turned aside Democratic objections Tuesday and passed a plan backed by President Donald Trump to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-missouri-trump-626f4e64b5686c0dd22112bb8a9d641f">redraw the state's congressional districts</a>&nbsp;so that Republicans could win almost all of them.

The rare mid-decade redistricting plan, which now heads to the state Senate, is aimed at bolstering Republicans' national prospects in next year’s U.S. House elections. It comes after a similar move by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-texas-redistricting-trump-map-congress-b6222dd39c494c9ab48beafabc66dc35">Republican-led Texas</a>&nbsp;and a counter-offensive in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-texas-redistricting-congressional-map-4c22e21d5d4022d33a257045693b6fd4">Democratic-led California</a>, which still needs voter approval.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-trump-missouri-texas-california-b1c16a00f07c8df117c2f5b685542085">Other states</a>, including Republican-led Indiana and Florida and Democratic-led Maryland and New York, could follow with their own revisions in what's emerging as a national redistricting battle.

U.S. House districts were redrawn across the country after the 2020 census to account for population changes. The current redistricting push is being done for partisan advantage, a process known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gerrymandering-texas-congress-redistricting-0c751f48a7757fc11214472944670413">gerrymandering</a>.

“This is cheating,” said state Rep. Yolonda Fountain Henderson, one of many Democrats who denounced the measure. "It’s like when President Trump says, we jump.”

Trump wants to retain a congressional majority to advance his agenda. But historically, the party opposing the president has gained seats in the midterm elections, as Democrats did during Trump's first term and then proceeded to impeach him.

Missouri lawmakers are meeting in a two-prong special session called by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe.

The House on Tuesday also passed a measure that — if approved by the Senate and statewide voters — would make it harder to pass citizen-led initiatives amending the state constitution by requiring a majority vote from each congressional district instead of a simple statewide majority. That comes after Missouri's initiative process has been used in recent years to win voter approval of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-rights-ban-missouri-sick-leave-c4f7beb07e7b3de64f3e2460bcb539c0">amendments on abortion rights</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-marijuana-industry-donors-d97a216994afd9933d0f733b3def6742">marijuana legalization</a>&nbsp;and Medicaid expansion.

Revised Missouri map could help Republicans gain a House seat

Missouri's redistricting plan would give Republicans an improved chance to win seven of the state's eight U.S. House seats, which is one more than they currently hold.

The plan targets a Kansas City district held by Democratic U.S. Emanuel Cleaver by stretching it eastward into Republican-heavy rural areas and reducing the number of Black and minority voters in the district. Other parts of Kansas City would be added to two predominantly rural districts represented by Republicans.

Cleaver, who turns 81 in October, is a Methodist pastor who served as Kansas City's first Black mayor from 1991-1999 and won election to the U.S. House in 2004. He asserted that Republicans are creating an atmosphere of “intimidation” and “division” and pledged to challenge the new map in court.

"It’s one of those moments that, frankly, I never thought I would experience,” Cleaver said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.

Although the primary Kansas City district would expand significantly, the state's congressional districts overall would be more compact — and competitive — under the revised map, Republican lawmakers said. Kehoe has defended the revised map as a means of amplifying conservative voices in Congress.

It's "a congressional map that will better represent Missouri in Washington, D.C.,” said sponsoring state Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican.

Some Republicans join Democrats in opposing new districts

The Missouri House passed the revised districts on a 90-65 vote. Thirteen Republicans, including House Speaker Jon Patterson of suburban Kansas City, joined Democrats in voting against the revised map. But only a couple spoke against it during two days of debate.

“Using our raw political power to tilt the playing field to our side, regardless of the party, is wrong,” Republican state Rep. Bryant Wolfin said.

Leading up to the House vote, three Democratic state lawmakers staged a sit-in in House chamber for several days and nights to protest that the special session began while most members were absent. Former Vice President Kamala Harris ordered pizza and chicken wings delivered to them in a show of support.

Republicans are “bending a knee to Donald Trump and pushing through these racist, gerrymandered districts,” said Rep. Ray Reed, of St. Louis, one of those who slept in the chamber.

The Missouri NAACP has sued seeking to invalidate the special session. The state lawsuit asserts there is no extraordinary circumstance to justify the session and that the state constitution prohibits redistricting without new census data or a ruling invalidating the current districts.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who took office Monday, said she doesn't think there is any constitutional prohibition on mid-decade redistricting.

Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth contributed from Kansas City, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757444658128.png" alt="Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors / Map by Anna Sago " />
 <figcaption>Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Basemap © OpenStreetMap contributors / Map by Anna Sago </figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's Republican-led House turned aside Democratic objections Tuesday and passed a plan backed by President Donald Trump to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-missouri-trump-626f4e64b5686c0dd22112bb8a9d641f">redraw the state's congressional districts</a>&nbsp;so that Republicans could win almost all of them.The rare mid-decade redistricting plan, which now heads to the state Senate, is aimed at bolstering Republicans' national prospects in next year’s U.S. House elections. It comes after a similar move by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-texas-redistricting-trump-map-congress-b6222dd39c494c9ab48beafabc66dc35">Republican-led Texas</a>&nbsp;and a counter-offensive in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-texas-redistricting-congressional-map-4c22e21d5d4022d33a257045693b6fd4">Democratic-led California</a>, which still needs voter approval.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-trump-missouri-texas-california-b1c16a00f07c8df117c2f5b685542085">Other states</a>, including Republican-led Indiana and Florida and Democratic-led Maryland and New York, could follow with their own revisions in what's emerging as a national redistricting battle.U.S. House districts were redrawn across the country after the 2020 census to account for population changes. The current redistricting push is being done for partisan advantage, a process known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gerrymandering-texas-congress-redistricting-0c751f48a7757fc11214472944670413">gerrymandering</a>.“This is cheating,” said state Rep. Yolonda Fountain Henderson, one of many Democrats who denounced the measure. "It’s like when President Trump says, we jump.”Trump wants to retain a congressional majority to advance his agenda. But historically, the party opposing the president has gained seats in the midterm elections, as Democrats did during Trump's first term and then proceeded to impeach him.Missouri lawmakers are meeting in a two-prong special session called by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe.The House on Tuesday also passed a measure that — if approved by the Senate and statewide voters — would make it harder to pass citizen-led initiatives amending the state constitution by requiring a majority vote from each congressional district instead of a simple statewide majority. That comes after Missouri's initiative process has been used in recent years to win voter approval of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-rights-ban-missouri-sick-leave-c4f7beb07e7b3de64f3e2460bcb539c0">amendments on abortion rights</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-marijuana-industry-donors-d97a216994afd9933d0f733b3def6742">marijuana legalization</a>&nbsp;and Medicaid expansion.<h2>Revised Missouri map could help Republicans gain a House seat</h2>Missouri's redistricting plan would give Republicans an improved chance to win seven of the state's eight U.S. House seats, which is one more than they currently hold.The plan targets a Kansas City district held by Democratic U.S. Emanuel Cleaver by stretching it eastward into Republican-heavy rural areas and reducing the number of Black and minority voters in the district. Other parts of Kansas City would be added to two predominantly rural districts represented by Republicans.Cleaver, who turns 81 in October, is a Methodist pastor who served as Kansas City's first Black mayor from 1991-1999 and won election to the U.S. House in 2004. He asserted that Republicans are creating an atmosphere of “intimidation” and “division” and pledged to challenge the new map in court."It’s one of those moments that, frankly, I never thought I would experience,” Cleaver said in a recent interview with The Associated Press.Although the primary Kansas City district would expand significantly, the state's congressional districts overall would be more compact — and competitive — under the revised map, Republican lawmakers said. Kehoe has defended the revised map as a means of amplifying conservative voices in Congress.It's "a congressional map that will better represent Missouri in Washington, D.C.,” said sponsoring state Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican.<h2>Some Republicans join Democrats in opposing new districts</h2>The Missouri House passed the revised districts on a 90-65 vote. Thirteen Republicans, including House Speaker Jon Patterson of suburban Kansas City, joined Democrats in voting against the revised map. But only a couple spoke against it during two days of debate.“Using our raw political power to tilt the playing field to our side, regardless of the party, is wrong,” Republican state Rep. Bryant Wolfin said.Leading up to the House vote, three Democratic state lawmakers staged a sit-in in House chamber for several days and nights to protest that the special session began while most members were absent. Former Vice President Kamala Harris ordered pizza and chicken wings delivered to them in a show of support.Republicans are “bending a knee to Donald Trump and pushing through these racist, gerrymandered districts,” said Rep. Ray Reed, of St. Louis, one of those who slept in the chamber.The Missouri NAACP has sued seeking to invalidate the special session. The state lawsuit asserts there is no extraordinary circumstance to justify the session and that the state constitution prohibits redistricting without new census data or a ruling invalidating the current districts.Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who took office Monday, said she doesn't think there is any constitutional prohibition on mid-decade redistricting.___Associated Press writer Heather Hollingsworth contributed from Kansas City, Missouri.

Missouri Republicans advance  plan to redraw US House districts

Priscilla F. Rorstrom of Hays, Kansas passed away peacefully
in her sleep on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Via Christi Village.&nbsp; She was 88 years old.&nbsp; 

Priscilla was born on March 26, 1937 in Boston,
Massachusetts, the daughter of Ralph Irving Freeman and Ella Brewster (Cornish)
Freeman.&nbsp; Priscilla grew up on Cape Cod
in the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts at Bay View Farm, a property that had
been in her family for generations.&nbsp; As a
child she was surrounded by extended family.&nbsp;
Along with her parents and younger brother, Irving, various aunts,
uncles and grandparents also shared the house at different times.&nbsp; The home was the center of frequent family gatherings
involving the greater extended family from nearby towns on the Cape and beyond.&nbsp; There are numerous stories of childhood
adventures with her brother and cousins at the beach and on the farm.&nbsp; Her high school class had only six class
members; therefore, she played flute in the local Shawme Orchestra.&nbsp; She was also active in the Camp Fire Girls
and was the scorekeeper for the school basketball team.

After high school, Priscilla attended Framingham State
Teachers College, where she graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Home
Economics.&nbsp; After college she worked with
special needs children at the Riverview School in Sandwich from 1959 to 1960.&nbsp; On October 15, 1960 she was united in
marriage to Eric G. Rorstrom at the Federated Church in Sandwich.&nbsp; Eric and her brother were fraternity brothers
at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which facilitated their meeting.&nbsp; After marriage, the couple rented a small
house in Holden, Massachusetts.&nbsp; Shortly
thereafter, Eric was called into the Army Reserves at the onset of the Berlin
Wall Crisis.&nbsp; She gave birth to their
first child, James, in August of 1961 while Eric was stationed at Fort Dix, New
Jersey.&nbsp; Subsequently, she returned to
the Cape with her baby to live with her parents in Sandwich until Eric was
discharged from the Reserves following the second Berlin Wall crisis in 1962.&nbsp; Being able to now resume a normal life, Eric
pursued his career as a mechanical engineer at the Riley Stoker Corporation in
Worcester, Massachusetts and they purchased a home in Holden, Massachusetts.&nbsp; Priscilla chose to continue as a stay at home
mom and was involved with the choir at the Holden Baptist Church.&nbsp; She gave birth to their second child, John,
in 1965.

In 1967, Eric began employment with the Pratt &amp; Whitney
Aircraft Corporation and the family relocated to Marlborough, Connecticut.&nbsp; They became members of the Marlborough
Congregational Church and then, in 1978, became members of Trinity Covenant
Church in Manchester, Connecticut.&nbsp; They
were active in the choir, Bible studies, prayer groups and served in various
leadership capacities at both churches.&nbsp; Priscilla
was also active in the local PTA and was a room mother for both boys as they
progressed through elementary school.&nbsp; She
enjoyed flower gardening and was an active member of the Marlborough Garden
Club for many years, receiving awards for her flower arrangements at the annual
house and garden tour.&nbsp; She was highly
skilled at sewing, embroidery, knitting and crocheting.&nbsp; She utilized her skills to produce much of
her own clothing, sport coats for Eric, costumes for the boys, Scandinavian
style sweaters and decorative items.&nbsp; Priscilla’s
love of music resulted in her embracing the recorder in the mid 1970’s.&nbsp; After becoming proficient at the instrument,
she joined the Lake Consort.&nbsp; The group
performed their repertoire of music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque
periods at churches and other venues into the late 1980’s.&nbsp; These years were also marked by the annual
family camping trips to the White Mountains and, in 1978, a month long motor
home adventure tour of the U.S.

In 1979, with the oldest son entering college, Priscilla
decided to return to work and took a position as the secretary in the high
school audio visual department.&nbsp; She
remained there until 1988, at which point she became a secretary at Trinity
Covenant Church and remained in that capacity until retirement.&nbsp; In the following years she enjoyed continuing
in her many activities and frequent visits to the family homestead on the Cape.


She also enjoyed traveling with Eric to Maine, Prince Edward
Island and England as well as trips to see her sons and their families in
Kansas and New Hampshire.&nbsp; Grandchildren
had begun to arrive a few years earlier, in 1995.&nbsp; As this next generation grew, she enjoyed
sharing her faith, wisdom, skills, life stories and extensive family history
with them. 

Throughout their 55 years in Marlborough, Priscilla was
known for her love of hospitality and entertaining - blessing family and
friends with sumptuous meals at their home, contributing to church suppers,
making meals for shut-ins and the bereaved, as well as welcoming new families
to the neighborhood with a fresh-baked loaf of bread and other goodies.

In 2022, Priscilla moved with her husband Eric to Hays, Kansas
to be closer to her family.&nbsp; In Hays they
have been involved with the North Oak Community Church and have enjoyed making
friends in the church and community.&nbsp; 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756472469112.jpeg" alt="Priscilla F. Rorstrom" />
 <figcaption>Priscilla F. Rorstrom</figcaption>
 </figure>Priscilla F. Rorstrom of Hays, Kansas passed away peacefully
in her sleep on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at Via Christi Village.&nbsp; She was 88 years old.&nbsp; Priscilla was born on March 26, 1937 in Boston,
Massachusetts, the daughter of Ralph Irving Freeman and Ella Brewster (Cornish)
Freeman.&nbsp; Priscilla grew up on Cape Cod
in the town of Sandwich, Massachusetts at Bay View Farm, a property that had
been in her family for generations.&nbsp; As a
child she was surrounded by extended family.&nbsp;
Along with her parents and younger brother, Irving, various aunts,
uncles and grandparents also shared the house at different times.&nbsp; The home was the center of frequent family gatherings
involving the greater extended family from nearby towns on the Cape and beyond.&nbsp; There are numerous stories of childhood
adventures with her brother and cousins at the beach and on the farm.&nbsp; Her high school class had only six class
members; therefore, she played flute in the local Shawme Orchestra.&nbsp; She was also active in the Camp Fire Girls
and was the scorekeeper for the school basketball team.After high school, Priscilla attended Framingham State
Teachers College, where she graduated in 1959 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Home
Economics.&nbsp; After college she worked with
special needs children at the Riverview School in Sandwich from 1959 to 1960.&nbsp; On October 15, 1960 she was united in
marriage to Eric G. Rorstrom at the Federated Church in Sandwich.&nbsp; Eric and her brother were fraternity brothers
at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, which facilitated their meeting.&nbsp; After marriage, the couple rented a small
house in Holden, Massachusetts.&nbsp; Shortly
thereafter, Eric was called into the Army Reserves at the onset of the Berlin
Wall Crisis.&nbsp; She gave birth to their
first child, James, in August of 1961 while Eric was stationed at Fort Dix, New
Jersey.&nbsp; Subsequently, she returned to
the Cape with her baby to live with her parents in Sandwich until Eric was
discharged from the Reserves following the second Berlin Wall crisis in 1962.&nbsp; Being able to now resume a normal life, Eric
pursued his career as a mechanical engineer at the Riley Stoker Corporation in
Worcester, Massachusetts and they purchased a home in Holden, Massachusetts.&nbsp; Priscilla chose to continue as a stay at home
mom and was involved with the choir at the Holden Baptist Church.&nbsp; She gave birth to their second child, John,
in 1965.In 1967, Eric began employment with the Pratt &amp; Whitney
Aircraft Corporation and the family relocated to Marlborough, Connecticut.&nbsp; They became members of the Marlborough
Congregational Church and then, in 1978, became members of Trinity Covenant
Church in Manchester, Connecticut.&nbsp; They
were active in the choir, Bible studies, prayer groups and served in various
leadership capacities at both churches.&nbsp; Priscilla
was also active in the local PTA and was a room mother for both boys as they
progressed through elementary school.&nbsp; She
enjoyed flower gardening and was an active member of the Marlborough Garden
Club for many years, receiving awards for her flower arrangements at the annual
house and garden tour.&nbsp; She was highly
skilled at sewing, embroidery, knitting and crocheting.&nbsp; She utilized her skills to produce much of
her own clothing, sport coats for Eric, costumes for the boys, Scandinavian
style sweaters and decorative items.&nbsp; Priscilla’s
love of music resulted in her embracing the recorder in the mid 1970’s.&nbsp; After becoming proficient at the instrument,
she joined the Lake Consort.&nbsp; The group
performed their repertoire of music from the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque
periods at churches and other venues into the late 1980’s.&nbsp; These years were also marked by the annual
family camping trips to the White Mountains and, in 1978, a month long motor
home adventure tour of the U.S.In 1979, with the oldest son entering college, Priscilla
decided to return to work and took a position as the secretary in the high
school audio visual department.&nbsp; She
remained there until 1988, at which point she became a secretary at Trinity
Covenant Church and remained in that capacity until retirement.&nbsp; In the following years she enjoyed continuing
in her many activities and frequent visits to the family homestead on the Cape.
She also enjoyed traveling with Eric to Maine, Prince Edward
Island and England as well as trips to see her sons and their families in
Kansas and New Hampshire.&nbsp; Grandchildren
had begun to arrive a few years earlier, in 1995.&nbsp; As this next generation grew, she enjoyed
sharing her faith, wisdom, skills, life stories and extensive family history
with them. Throughout their 55 years in Marlborough, Priscilla was
known for her love of hospitality and entertaining - blessing family and
friends with sumptuous meals at their home, contributing to church suppers,
making meals for shut-ins and the bereaved, as well as welcoming new families
to the neighborhood with a fresh-baked loaf of bread and other goodies.In 2022, Priscilla moved with her husband Eric to Hays, Kansas
to be closer to her family.&nbsp; In Hays they
have been involved with the North Oak Community Church and have enjoyed making
friends in the church and community.&nbsp; Priscilla is survived by her husband Eric of Hays, two sons
- James Rorstrom and wife Jane of Hays and John Rorstrom and wife Theresa of
Austin, TX, her brother - Irving Freeman and wife Carolyn of Sandwich, MA, four
grandchildren - Katarina Clinton and husband Mark of Southern Pines, NC, Hans
Rorstrom and wife Hannah of Claremore, OK, Eric Rorstrom of Kansas City, MO,
and Carl Rorstrom of Lawrence, KS.&nbsp; There
are three great grandchildren - Hope, Svea, and Cathan. She was preceded in
death by her parents.A memorial service will be at 2:30 pm on Saturday, September
13, 2025 at North Oak Community Church with Pastor Dave Kumer
officiating.&nbsp; The family will receive friends from 1:30 pm until service
time at the church.&nbsp; Private family inurnment will be in Spring Hill
Cemetery in Sandwich, Massachusetts.&nbsp; In lieu of flowers, memorial
donations are suggested sent to: North Oak Community Church, 3000 Oak St.,
Hays, KS&nbsp; 67601.&nbsp; Write: “Memorial – Priscilla” on the memo
line.&nbsp; Funds will be used to support mission outreaches.&nbsp; Services
are in the care of Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home and condolences and
memories of Priscilla may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com