&nbsp; MANHATTAN, Kan. — Manhattan Parks and Recreation&nbsp;is excited to announce the grand opening of Steel &amp; Pipe Supply Ballpark at CiCo Park on Saturday, March 28.

The community is invited to attend the celebration beginning at 9:00 a.m., when the ballpark will officially open to the public. Guests are encouraged to walk the complex, explore the new amenities, and visit with Parks and Recreation staff who will be available to answer questions about the facility. Opening remarks and a ceremonial first pitch will take place at 9:15 a.m., and inaugural games beginning at 10:00 a.m.To celebrate the grand opening, free hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be available while supplies last, along with a limited giveaway of Steel &amp; Pipe Supply Ballpark inaugural season T-shirts.

Steel &amp; Pipe Supply Ballpark represents a significant investment in Manhattan’s recreational amenities and will serve as a hub for baseball and softball for years to come.Community members are encouraged to bring their friends and family to explore the new complex and help kick off a new era of baseball and softball at Steel &amp; Pipe Supply Ballpark.

More information about the City can be found online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=82fcb04952&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">www.manhattanks.gov</a>, or by following us on Facebook&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=b9b6150866&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">@cityofmanhattan</a> or X/Twitter <a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=3dcc33ad36&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">@cityofmhk</a>.

The Parks and Recreation Department website is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=7a9e4967ab&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">www.mhkprd.com</a>. Find the latest information about Rec programs on Facebook&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cityofmhk.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e92cc4cc1e09dc1dafa7ba9da&amp;id=7f6f392f6c&amp;e=8c33f27c6f">@manhattanparksandrec</a>.

Manhattan Parks and Recreation: Grand Opening of Steel & Pipe Supply Ballpark

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

As property taxes continue to frustrate Kansans, a tax policy expert says many of the relief options being discussed in Topeka have significant drawbacks.

Chris Courtwright, a member of Gov. Laura Kelly's Council on Tax Reform, spoke to Rotary attendees on Monday at the Venue in Hays. He is the author of "Kansas Tax Facts," a guide on Kansas state and local tax policy.&nbsp;

"There aren't any great solutions, regardless of what the politicians suggest," Courtwright said.

Courtwright retired after 34 years as the Kansas Legislature’s principal economist and a member of the Consensus Revenue Estimating Group. He is an author with the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/chris-w-courtwright/">Kansas Reflector</a>.

He began his presentation by citing the Kansas Constitution, which requires the Legislature to provide adequate and equitable funding for public schools.

Courtwright said about 40% of all property tax revenue goes to schools. While he supports funding education, he said the overall property tax burden still needs to be addressed.

He also provided background on the history of property taxes and why they have long been unpopular with taxpayers.

"The last time we amended the Kansas constitution in a meaningful way when it came to property taxes was the early 1990s. The taxes on our residential houses were about a third of all property taxes. It's now two-thirds of the property tax base," he said.

Courtwright said that reducing property taxes for one group often shifts the burden onto others. He compared it to squeezing a balloon; when one side shrinks, another side expands.

There are more than 4,000 property tax subdivisions in Kansas. Courtwright said state and local taxes combined are $21 billion, with local governments contributing about 42% and property taxes about 34%. Property taxes are about 80% of local taxes.

"Property taxes have always been the workhorse of local finances," Courtwright said. "Locals get all their money from property taxes. ... They're the bread and butter."

According to Courtwright, the median residential sales price in Ellis County is $230,000 for a house. As of January, the mean residential value is about $160,000.

Courtwright said the two kinds of relief are under discussion right now.

Option one is to reduce the statewide school property tax that helps fund public schools. Lowering that rate would decrease property taxes for all property owners, but the state would have to replace every dollar lost with money from the state general fund.

Option two would reduce property taxes specifically for homeowners by increasing the amount of a home’s value that is exempt from the statewide school property tax. Businesses, agriculture and other properties would not be included.

In 2024, lawmakers gave property tax relief exclusively to homeowners by keeping the mill levy at 20 mills while increasing the residential exemption from about $44,000 to $75,000.

Courtwright said the change only provided about a $71 tax cut for every home in the state valued at least $75,000.

He also cautioned against valuation caps, saying those policies can create inequities and may lead to higher taxes elsewhere over time.

"There are generational equity issues. It makes it harder for young people to buy homes. We become the land of aristocracy," he said.

"Doing this makes it that much harder for younger people to stay in the state and find housing. There are a bunch of reasons not to do this. The right-of-center Tax Foundation says don't do this," he said.

Courtwright said lawmakers are discussing putting a valuation cap on the ballot in 2026.

He emphasized property tax cuts involve trade-offs and money used to reduce property taxes could instead go toward priorities such as education, Medicaid expansion or social services.

Courtwright's recommendation to cut property taxes would be to lower the residential assessment rate in the Kansas Constitution from 11.5% to 9%. However, he noted passing such a change would be difficult because other property groups would likely oppose it.

"If you put that on the ballot, homeowners would vote for it, but then the balloon would get squeezed in a different direction. Some of the other classes of property... those lobbies aren't gonna let that get on the ballot," he said in response to a question about possible legislation that can balance residential property taxes.

Other ideas, he said, lawmakers could consider are&nbsp;

• Expanding “circuit breaker” or programs that give property tax refunds to seniors, disabled residents and low-income homeowners.

• Give local governments more types of taxes, such as liquor, cigarette or fuel taxes, so they rely less on property taxes.

When asked about proposals by some lawmakers to eliminate property taxes, Courtwright called the idea “a cruel hoax.”

"There is no way in so many areas of the state that it would work," he said. "It's absurd. They're just doing it because it's an election year and because they can't afford to do any of the stuff I've been talking about."

Courtwright also suggested if the state has extra money available for tax cuts, lawmakers should consider other types of tax relief rather than focusing solely on property taxes.

Tax expert outlines challenges of property tax relief in Kansas 

The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responding to an incident involving a fuel tank on a commercial barge at Tuttle Creek Lake. The contractor involved is expected to begin work on Tuesday to recover the tank.

According to a a media release from Corp of Engineers, the incident occurred just before 2p.m. Sunday when a fuel cell holding approximately 1,800 gallons of diesel fuel became submerged in 20 feet of water.

High winds and wave action from the lake are suspected to be the cause of the incident. No foul play is suspected. 

The Corp of Engineers activated their emergency response plan and are working closely with the contractor who owns the barge, the National Response Center and the state of Kansas to assess and contain the situation.

Response crews and equipment, including a dive team, are deploying to the site to mitigate any potential environmental impact. 

The public is advised to avoid boating in Tuttle Creek Cove until further notice.We are committed to providing timely and transparent updates as more information becomes available. "The safety of the public and the protection of the environment are our top priorities," the Corp reminded.

Work continues to recover fuel tank that fell into Tuttle Creek Lake

KSU Division of Communications and Marketing

MANHATTAN — Kansas State University will host the internationally acclaimed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/events/2025-2026/2026-03-28-bill-jones.html">Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company</a>&nbsp;for a collaborative performance with K‑State dance program students on Saturday, March 28, as part of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">McCain Performance Series</a>.

The Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company was born in 1982 out of an 11-year collaboration between Bill T. Jones and Arnie Zane. During this time, they redefined the duet form and foreshadowed issues of identity, form and social commentary that would change the face of American dance.

The repertoire of the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company is widely varied in its subject matter, visual imagery and stylistic approach to movement, voice and stagecraft and includes musically driven works as well as works using a variety of texts. The company has performed worldwide in more than 200 cities in 40 countries on every major continent, and it is recognized as one of the most innovative and powerful forces in the dance-theater world.The company excels in community outreach and education, collaborating with U.S. university dance programs to reconstruct notable works for students. 

It offers intensive workshops for dancers and hosts discussion events to engage ideas.At its K‑State visit, the company will perform two classic pieces:

At 74 years old and still creating new work with the Company, Jones remains one of the most decorated and influential choreographers in the world, collaborating with boundary-pushing artists, advocating for their vision and fortifying a creative future in his roles as artistic director, co-founder and choreographer for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company and artistic director of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://newyorklivearts.org/">New York Live Arts</a>

<a target="_blank" href="https://newyorklivearts.org/"></a>Special ticket discount available for Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane CompanyK‑State's McCain Auditorium is committed to ensuring that communities across Kansas have access to world-class entertainment and cultural experiences.To celebrate that mission, McCain is offering special community pricing for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company's performance at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 28. Starting Monday, adult tickets are only $10 and youth tickets are $5, plus taxes and fees.

The special community discount is available online 24/7 at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">mccain.k-state.edu</a>&nbsp;by using promo code WILDCAT, or at the ticket office in the McCain lobby from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays.Tickets are also available by phone at 785-532-6428 during the same hours.Please note that the McCain ticket office is closed for K‑State's spring break and will resume normal business hours on Wednesday, March 25.For discount details, contact the box office or visit the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://mccain.k-state.edu/">McCain Performance Series website</a>.

K-State's McCain Performance Series features Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company

Approximately 65 people learned about storm safety and identification during the annual spotter training drill Monday evening at the Geary County 4-H / Senior Center.

National Weather Service meteorologist Chad Omitt touched on supercells during his presentation. He noted that&nbsp; they can rotate counter clockwise. At some point they will likely produce golf ball or larger size hail but usually not a tornado. A lot of rain often occurs. Omitt explained a wall cloud is not a tornado.

Omitt provided other storm related information.

--In 2025 there were about 30 tornadoes in Kansas compared to a more typical number of approximately 80.&nbsp;

--Falling debris is the greatest danger in a tornado.

--The last F-5&nbsp; tornado in Kansas occurred in Greensburg in 2007. The last 10-15 years have been quieter for tornadoes but Omitt does not expect it to last. He expects the state to be around average this year.

--Most tornadoes occur in the late afternoon or evening in Kansas.

--More than 50% of fatalities are in mobile homes," said Omitt. "Have a safety plan."

--You should have a mobile device to receive a storm warning.

--Flooding is the leading thunderstorm killer.

Severe Weather - Storm Spotter Drill

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Riley County Arrest Report March  17

The 1st&nbsp;Infantry Division and Fort Riley will host a welcome home ceremony for elements of the 1st&nbsp;Armored Brigade Combat team as they return from deployment to Europe.

&nbsp;The ceremony was set for&nbsp;March 17, at 5:15 p.m. but has now been moved to Wednesday March 18 at 12:30 a.m.

Welcome home ceremony is scheduled for soldiers

Power Hits 97.5 morning show DJ Rick Thomas (Scott Menzies) passed away Saturday after suffering an apparent heart attack. Eagle Radio Operations Director Dan Engle confirmed that Thomas had collapsed while shopping at a Dillon's Store in Manhattan Saturday afternoon. Emergency personnel could not revive him. 

Rick Thomas was the Kansas Association of Broadcasters 2024 Medium Market Air Personality of the Year.&nbsp;

Engle stated, "It was a huge loss for both Eagle and Kansas broadcasting. He was well loved and we will miss him a lot."

Prominent DJ Rick Thomas passes away

Click the video below to watch the press conference.

🎥K-State introduces new men's basketball coach

RILEY COUNTY— Two people injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Sunday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Deparatment activity report, a 2005 Nissan Maxima driven by Morgan Saul, 28, Manhattan, collided with a 2005 Toyota Camry driven by Ivan Perry, 21, Manhattan, near Tuttle Creek Blvd. and Lincoln Drive.

EMS transported Saul and a passenger in the Camry Leah Perry, 18, of Manhattan, to Via Christi Hospital for treatment of injuries.&nbsp; Saul was also issued a citation for failure to yield right of way and for not having a valid driver’s license.

2 from Manhattan hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

Riley County Arrest Report March 16

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

TOPEKA — A banking official told lawmakers Monday about an elderly customer who was scammed into giving tens of thousands of dollars to what she believed would be a scholarship honoring her dead husband.

Tony Weingartner, manager of the financial intelligence unit at Topeka-based Capitol Federal Savings Bank, said the bank engaged with the woman, and law enforcement and social workers met with her, but she “could not believe that that would occur illegitimately and that she was defrauded.”

“She couldn’t accept it,” he said. “And now, my understanding is, even with a conservator over her finances, she still believes that there’s a scholarship out there for her husband. There isn’t one.”

Weingartner used the anecdote to demonstrate the need for legislation that would hold telecommunications providers and social media platforms liable for fraudulent activity that results in losses for banks.

In another example, he said, the bank lost $45,000 last month after a customer was tricked by a fraudster who appeared by caller ID to be a bank employee. The customer provided account information.

The fraudster then convinced the victim’s phone service provider that the victim needed calls transferred to a new number. When the bank called to verify the legitimacy of checks from the victim’s account, fraudsters answered the phone and provided a green light.

Representatives for the banking industry appeared before a joint committee of House and Senate lawmakers to initiate conversation about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2648/" target="_blank">House Bill 2648</a>. The bill would require social media platforms such as Meta, which operates Facebook, to verify the identity of advertisers, give users a clear and conspicuous tool to report suspected fraud, and investigate reports of fraud within 72 hours.

Social media platforms would be liable for damages caused by fraudulent ads if they knowingly allow such ads on their platform or ignore credible reports of fraud.

The bill also would prohibit telecommunication companies from transmitting a call that falsely identifies a caller’s name or phone number.

Rep. Nick Hoheisel, a Wichita Republican who chairs the House Financial Institutions and Pensions Committee, said he wanted to hold an informational hearing on the bill, even though it won’t advance this year.

Kelly VanZwoll, of the Kansas Bankers Association, introduced the bill in early February. She told the joint committee that banks have been on the front lines of protecting consumers, and they want regulators and industry to work with them.

“It really is a team sport,” she said. “We can’t do it alone, and that’s what we need your help.”

She presented information she attributed to reporting by the Wall Street Journal and Reuters news service about fraudulent ads on Meta: 50% of scams for one large bank were traced to Meta, 70% of new Meta advertisers are flagged for fraud, and 96% of valid user scam reports are ignored. Additionally, she said, Meta earned $16 billion — 10% of its 2024 revenue — from ads that were scams or for banned goods. When Meta detects fraud, she said, the penalty is to charge bad actors a higher rate.

A Meta representative didn’t immediately respond to a request to comment for this story.

Megan Stokes, state policy director for the Computer and Communications Industry Association, of which Meta is a member, said in written testimony that the bill is unconstitutional because it regulates interstate services that are under federal domain and would criminalize protected free expression in violation of the First Amendment.

She objected to a private right of action in the bill that would allow individuals to sue companies for violations. She predicted courthouses would be flooded with “frivolous claims with little evidence of actual injury.”

Gerry Keegan, who represents CTIA, a trade association for the wireless industry, said telecommunication providers share a goal of protecting residents from fraud. They are actively developing new technology, he said, including an effective framework called “STIR/SHAKEN,” to combat bad actors.

“This legislation would impractically and improperly establish that providers of voice and messaging services would be liable for the actions of bad actors on their networks,” Keegan said. “While well-intentioned, this legislation would do little to deter bad actors who are already violating existing laws and would instead impose new requirements on law-abiding companies who are hard at work in the fight against unwanted and illegal robocalls and texts.”

Kansas banking officials ask lawmakers to hold social media, phone companies liable for fraud

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A suspect accused of sneaking into a school and making unauthorized with a 13-year-old girl made his first court appearance in the case on Monday.&nbsp;

Michael D. Arnold, 36, was charged with stalking, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Police have arrested Arnold after investigating two incidents at Gordon Parks Academy,&nbsp;2201 E 25th Street N. Wichita, in which he entered the school and made unauthorized contact with a 13-year-old girl, according to a media release from Wichita Police.

The first incident happened around 9:30 a.m. Monday, March 9, at Gordon Parks Academy. Investigators learned Arnold gained access to the building and had contact with the 13-year-old girl speaking with her without parental authorization.

The second incident happened Tuesday, March 10, when Arnold returned to the school entered the building where school staff told him to leave immediately and called police.

Detectives with the Wichita Police Department’s Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit worked the case and took Arnold into custody March 12.

USD 259 has banned Arnold from all district schools.

Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan said, “Our concern is first and foremost with this young girl and her family. This incident is deeply troubling, and I know it has also caused concern throughout the school community and across Wichita. Any situation involving the safety of a child demands our full attention. I am grateful for the officers whose work brought this man into custody. I want the family, the school, and the public to know that our Exploited and Missing Children’s Unit and our entire department remains committed to protecting children and ensure the individual involved in this incident is held accountable.”

Kan. man faces a judge for 'unauthorized contact' with student at school

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating the death of a couple found dead in a Kansas City apartment have identified the victims as&nbsp;

22-year-old Yasmene Herrera and 21-year-old Victor Campos, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shoosting in the 2600 block of NE. 42nd Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.

At the scene, officers heard the sound of a gunshot coming from inside an upstairs apartment. Officers made entry inside of the residence to search for any victims and render any necessary medical aid. An adult male was located suffering from gunshot trauma. He was unresponsive. An additional adult female was located. She unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and declared both individuals deceased.&nbsp;The case is now being investigated as an apparent murder-suicide.

Police ID couple found dead in Kansas City apartment

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that would require&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/midterms-voting-laws-photo-id-citizenship-republicans-feecb51a6efa41cf32d18fe4b15c08ce">proof of U.S. citizenship</a>&nbsp;for new voters has become a rallying cry for President Donald Trump, who claims that passage of the bill will “guarantee the midterms” for his Republican Party in November.

The bill, which the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-trump-midterms-citizenship-republican-filibuster-b83df9d9d92f82aded39c0859750ae9f">Senate will take up as early as Tuesday</a>, would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when they register and to present approved identification when they go to the polls, among other new rules that Trump and his most loyal supporters are pushing as part of an effort to assert more federal control over elections.

Federal law already requires that voters in national elections be U.S. citizens. But the legislation would lay out strict new requirements for voters to prove their status.

Democrats are uniformly opposed to the legislation and expected to block its passage through the Senate. They say the legislation would disenfranchise millions of American voters who don’t have birth certificates or other documents readily available — both Republicans and Democrats who would be newly registering to vote.

Despite the long odds of success, Trump has been pushing Senate Majority Leader John Thune to move ahead with the bill and suggested Republicans eliminate the filibuster or find another workaround to pass it. Thune has repeatedly said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-save-america-act-congress-voting-midterms-e4223827fff131d9b8f0afabccd56325">there isn’t enough support in the Senate to do that</a>.

Instead, Republicans plan to hold an extended debate on the bill for a week or more, an effort to try and appease Trump and make Democrats defend their position.

The bill would “require Americans to demonstrate that they’re eligible to vote,” Thune said last week. “And that they are who they say they are.”

Proof of citizenship would be needed for new voters

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-save-act-citizenship-voting-elections-a37c139461d11eb5f82086680b67ffe7">Safeguard American Voter Eligibility</a>, or SAVE America Act, would force Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/save-act-documents-requirements-citizenship-voting-congress-dfb43bcdd0255d3665da588a60286b4e">prove they are citizens when they register to vote</a>, mostly through a valid U.S. passport or birth certificate.

Driver's licenses in many states would not be enough. The legislation says that the identification must be compliant with new REAL ID rules and also indicate that the applicant is a citizen of the United States — which few state licenses do.

A person registering to vote could also present a passport or a birth certificate. U.S. military members could present a military ID along with a record of service that shows where they were born.

Most people registering to vote would have to present the documents in person at an elections office, including people who vote by mail. Advocacy groups that oppose the legislation say that the bill would crush voter registration efforts ahead of this year's elections.

The bill would create new penalties for election officials who register applicants who have not presented documentary proof of citizenship. Opponents say that provision could potentially scare workers into turning away valid applicants while also discouraging people from working or volunteering at polling locations. It would also allow private individuals to sue election officials in some circumstances.

Voter identification expansion would include mail-in ballots

While federal law requires that voters are U.S. citizens, there is not currently a nationwide requirement that voters must show identification when they go to vote. Currently, 36 states have voter identification laws in place, some stricter than others, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

The bill would require voters in all states to present valid identification, and those voting by mail would have to send a photocopy. Overseas military and some qualified disabled individuals would be exempt from those rules.

Republican supporters most frequently highlight this section of the bill when pushing for its passage. Thune said last week that if you have to show an ID to get a library card, “it’s not too much to ask voters to show ID to vote in federal elections.”

States would be required to share their voter rolls

The legislation would require states to share voters' information with the Department of Homeland Security as a way to verify the citizenship of the names on the voter rolls — giving the federal government unprecedented access to state voter data. Many states are already embroiled in legal fights with the Trump administration over demands that they provide voter information.

Supporters of the state-federal sharing say that it would enable DHS to compare the state information with their own databases that are used to verify immigration status.

But Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer predicted that handing over names to the federal government would allow DHS to ”purge tens of millions of people from the voter rolls.”

Trump pushes for Republicans to add his other priorities

Senate Republicans are expected to offer amendments on the floor as part of their talkathon in support of the bill. Trump has said he wants more provisions added, including a ban on mail-in ballots, which are used by many states.

Trump has long criticized mail-in ballots and used it as a central argument in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/why-fbi-seize-georgia-ballots-fulton-county-87300edb3ea86961c69132e6a2dfd6e8">false claims of fraud in the 2020 election</a>&nbsp;he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. But voting groups — and many lawmakers in both parties — have long championed the practice as helping to make it easier for Americans to vote.

The president also wants to add two unrelated provisions around transgender rights issues — one that would ban those born as men from playing in women’s sports and another to block sex reassignment surgeries on some minors.

If the SAVE America Act were enacted, the new rules for voter registration and voter identification at the polls would take effect immediately. Trump says it’s necessary for Republicans to win in the midterm elections — even though they won both chambers of Congress and the White House without the law in 2024.

With primary elections getting underway next month, critics say it would be difficult and costly for state election officials to implement, and could confuse voters.

Marc Elias, a Democratic elections attorney, said he isn’t ”aware of any state that currently requires what this would require.”

“If it’s passed tomorrow, the day after states would need to implement this,” Elias said.

Associated Press writer Lisa Mascaro contributed to this report.

What's in the GOP voting bill co-sponsored by Kansas U.S. Senator

LYONS, Kan. — The Lyons City Council voted Monday to remove Police Chief Justin Holiday "for cause" following a weeks-long suspension and administrative review.

Following an executive session, the city council approved the decision in a 5–2 vote. Holiday had been placed on suspension on Feb. 17, with city officials stating at the time that the action was “based on the needs of the department and the community.”

City officials extended the suspension by an additional two weeks on March 2 to allow for further administrative review. No specific details regarding the reason for the suspension or removal have been released, with the city continuing to describe the situation as a “personnel matter.”

In the interim, Sgt. Cory Ryan has been appointed acting police chief. The city has also entered into an agreement with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office to assist with law enforcement coverage as needed.

Lyons city council removes police chief

WICHITA, Kan. - Police arrested a 16-year-old boy in connection with the Sunday night homicide of a 16-year-old Wichita boy.

Just after 9p.m. police responded to the 1100 block of S. Webb Road in Wichita after reports of a shooting, according to a media release.

When officers arrived, they found the teen in a vehicle with a gunshot wound to his upper body. EMS took him to a hospital, where he later died.

The preliminary investigation indicates there was a disturbance between the 16-year-old suspect and the victim, during which a shot was fired. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived.

Officers secured the scene while homicide investigators, K-9 officers and additional personnel processed evidence and followed leads. Through those efforts, investigators identified and arrested the boy.

The boy was booked into the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center on a requested charge of second-degree murder.

Police will present the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's Office.

 16-year-old Kansas boy accused of killing another teen

WASHINGTON (AP) —About 200 U.S. troups have been wounded since the start of the Iran war though more than 180 service members have returned to duty, Capt. Tim Hawkins, the spokesman for U.S. Central Command, told The Associated Press.

Hawkins said 10 service members are considered seriously wounded.

The previous update released last week by the Pentagon put the number of wounded personnel at around 140 and eight as “severely injured.”

CENTCOM has not said when or where those troops were wounded, or given details on the type of injuries.

Since the war in Iran began, 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

Number of U.S. troops wounded in Iran war continues to climb

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run identified the victim as 67-year-old&nbsp;Tommy English of Topeka. 

Just after 10p.m. March 9, police responded to a report of an injury accident at the intersection of SW 6th Street and SW Horne Street in Topeka, according to a media release.

Officers learned that a pedestrian, later identified as Tommy English had been struck by a vehicle. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

As a result of the investigation, it was determined that the incident involved a hit-and-run crash. The vehicle driver, Elizabeth A. Neal, 38, of Topeka, was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections and remains jailed on requested charges of Driving While License Suspended, Failure to Stop at an Accident Resulting in Death, Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer; Conceal/Alter/Destroy Evidence, Vehicular Homicide

Police ID victim in fatal Kansas hit-and-run

A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked federal health officials from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every child, and said U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures in revamping a key vaccine advisory committee.

The decision halted an order by Kennedy —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/childhood-vaccine-schedule-trump-rfk-hhs-9b8df9e2767c1261aaac4e2331e77fa3">announced</a>&nbsp;in January — to end broad recommendations for all children to be vaccinated against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-flu-cases-cdc-subclade-k-29cc5a68eb100585c8e0dbd2ec47b3eb">flu</a>, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV.

It also stopped a meeting of a Kennedy-appointed vaccine advisory committee, which was set to convene this week in Atlanta.

The judge's order, however, is not the final word. The blocks are temporary, pending either a trial or a decision for summary judgment.

Federal health officials indicated they planned to appeal.

“HHS looks forward to this judge’s decision being overturned just like his other attempts to keep the Trump administration from governing,” said Department of Health and Human Services spokesman Andrew Nixon.

The order issued Monday is the latest development in a lawsuit filed last July by the American Academy of Pediatrics and some other medical groups. The lawsuit in federal court in Boston originally focused on Kennedy’s decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for most children and pregnant women.

The lawsuit was updated as Kennedy took more steps that alarmed medical societies, causing the plaintiffs to ask Judge Brian E. Murphy to take steps to address those policy changes too.

For example, the plaintiffs&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lawsuit-vaccines-kennedy-95a1aa23c3f015f7a35a570f5ef8da36">amended the lawsuit</a>&nbsp;to stop the scaling back of the nation’s childhood vaccination schedule. They also asked the court to look at Kennedy’s actions concerning the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises public health officials on what vaccines to recommend to doctors and patients.

Kennedy, a leading anti-vaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official, fired the entire 17-member panel last year and replaced it with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices.

Murphy, who was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden, said Kennedy’s reconstitution of ACIP likely violated federal law. He ordered the appointments — and all decisions made by the reformed committee — put on hold.

The ACIP was scheduled to meet this week to discuss COVID-19 vaccine safety, among other issues, but that gathering was postponed, officials said.

“ACIP as currently constituted cannot meet,” said Richard Hughes IV, an attorney representing the AAP. “How can a committee meet without nearly the entirety of its membership?”

Jason Schwartz, a Yale University vaccine policy expert who has studied the committee, called the halting of an ACIP meeting for legal reasons “unprecedented” in its 62-year existence.

Hughes called the judge's order “a momentous step toward restoring science-based vaccine policy,” and he was echoed by leaders of several doctors' groups and public health organizations.

When Trump administration officials overhauled the childhood vaccine schedule, they said it wouldn't result in families losing access to them or cause insurers to stop covering them. But it left many Americans confused, as doctors' groups, public health organizations and many states continued to recommend licensed vaccines, said Dr. Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Several doctors’ groups said the changes were not based on good evidence, and advised doctors and patients to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccines-aap-cdc-33896013e1d7b3ad06dbd0d99d300bff">follow guidance</a>&nbsp;that was previously in place. Health officials in 30 states have rejected at least some of the new recommendations.

The judge's order should bring clarity, Racine said.

“If anyone has any questions about what’s the appropriate vaccine schedule for their children, the best thing to do is to talk to their pediatricians,” he said.

Schwartz said he expected federal health officials to keep expressing “their deep skepticism regarding the importance of vaccination” and to keep embracing "unsupported vaccine safety allegations.”

After the ruling, one of Kennedy's appointees to the committee, Dr. Robert Malone, urged the Trump administration to keep pursuing Kennedy's vaccine policy changes.

“A district court order is a delay, not a defeat,” he wrote Monday on Substack.

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

Federal judge blocks RFK Jr.'s changes to childhood vaccine schedule

KANSAS CITY—A firefighter was injured while fighting a fire Monday evening in Kansas City.

Just after 5p.m. Monday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported fire in a multi-family townhome at 10928 E McKinley in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 On arrival crews reported heavy smoke and fire from a two-story&nbsp; townhome. Interior operations were initiated using multiple handlines. Interior searches of the structure were conducted and came back all clear.&nbsp;

 City Planning and Dangerous Buildings were requested to the scene. The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD. On firefighter was transported to a local hospital for a minor injury, according to Hopkins.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Firefighter injured battling townhome fire in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kingston Flemings scored 21 points, fellow freshman Chris Cenac Jr. had 17 points and 14 rebounds, and fifth-ranked Houston rolled past poor-shooting and lackluster No. 14 Kansas 69-47 in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday night.

The second-seeded Cougars (28-5) held the third-seeded Jayhawks without a field goal for more than 10 minutes at point in the game, ultimately breezing into another championship matchup with second-ranked Arizona on Saturday night.

Local

Region

Sports