KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a series of homicides over the past week in Kansas City, Missouri

Just before 2p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the VA hospital in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.

Upon officers arrival, they contacted several individuals who had stated the shooting occurred in the 2900 block of Brighton Avenue. The victim, later identified as 46-year-old Richard Ennis was transported by private conveyance to the VA hospital for medical treatment. VA hospital staff advised officers he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary information provided by a witness stated that she was inside of her residence when she heard several sounds of shots outside of her home. She exited the residence and located Ennis lying in the street suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. An adult male suspect was seen entering an unknown vehicle and left the area in an unknown direction.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area of 28th and Southwest Boulevard working off duty for a nightclub/bar business there when they heard the sound of gunfire inside the bar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

At the same time 911 received calls for a shooting inside the business.&nbsp;On arrival officers were led inside the business where they located 3 adult female shooting victims.&nbsp;

Officers began rendering aid and called for EMS to come in.&nbsp;EMS declared one shooting victim deceased at the scene. EMS&nbsp; then transported the other two victims to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital one of the two victims was declared deceased, and the other victim has what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries, according to Becchina.&nbsp; The women who died have been identified as 29-year-old Eboni Silas and 24-year-old Tishauna Ballard, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

While officers were at the scene they were notified of a 4th shooting victim, an adult male, who arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. That victim was reported to be in critical condition.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates the victims were inside the business when there was an interaction with one or more suspects that escalated and led to shots being fired which struck the victims.&nbsp; Police have not released any details on a possible suspect.

Just after 5:30p.m. Feb 12, police were dispatched to 20th and Monroe on a sound of shots call in the area. 911 received multiple additional calls of sound of shots and eventually one call reporting a shooting victim down in a wooded area of a series of vacant lots in the 2000 block of Monroe.

On arrival officers made their way into the vacant lots and located a male shooting victim later identified as 25-year-old Terrion M. Johnson. unresponsive there. Officers rendered aid and called for EMS. EMS responded and took over aid. They eventually declared the victim deceased here at the scene.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Preliminary indication indicates the shooting occurred on 20th street between Askew and Monroe and Johnson ran to the south where he was located.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just after 8p.m. Feb. 11, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a shooting in 1500 block of E 59th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina.&nbsp; The caller advised there was a person outside that appeared to be injured and needed help.&nbsp;

On arrival officers located a victim later identified as 28-year-old&nbsp;Jamon Norfleet in front of a residence there. Norfleet told officers he had been shot at a nearby location near an apartment complex in the 6000 block of Blue Hills Road.

The victim was unable to provide any additional information regarding suspects.&nbsp;Officers called for EMS who transported the victim to the hospital with life threatening injuries.&nbsp;

Additional officers responded to the area described by the victim in the 6000 block of Blue Hills Road and located evidence of a crime scene at that location.&nbsp;

Detectives and Crime Scene investigators began conducing investigation and processing the scene for evidence.&nbsp;Later in the evening detectives were notified from the hospital that&nbsp;Jamon Norfleet had died.

At 9:30p.m. Feb. 10, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of E. Armour Blvd. in Kansas City, Missouri, on a sound of shots call, according to KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina.

Multiple callers reported the sound of gunfire from behind an apartment building there. On arrival officers were directed to a parking lot in the back of an apartment building where they located a vehicle with shooting victims identified as 26-year-old Brittnee McMillon and and 28-year-old Jerrell Westmoreland.unresponsive inside.&nbsp;

Officers called for EMS who declared both victims deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Homicide detectives responded to the scene to conduct their investigation along with crime scene investigators processed the scene for available evidence.&nbsp; Police have not released details on possible suspects.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770981892242.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation near&nbsp;20th and Monroe on Thursday-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation near&nbsp;20th and Monroe on Thursday-photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a series of homicides over the past week in Kansas City, Missouri<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">As our community grieves the loss of Eboni Silas and Tishauna Ballard and prays for the recovery of other victims, the City’s multidisciplinary public safety task force will work to investigate any violations that evening that could have helped prevent what happened. I also ask… <a href="https://t.co/8dapWNDcip">pic.twitter.com/8dapWNDcip</a>&mdash; Mayor Quinton Lucas (@MayorLucasKC) <a href="https://twitter.com/MayorLucasKC/status/2023871889882419646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Just before 2p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the VA hospital in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.Upon officers arrival, they contacted several individuals who had stated the shooting occurred in the 2900 block of Brighton Avenue. The victim, later identified as 46-year-old Richard Ennis was transported by private conveyance to the VA hospital for medical treatment. VA hospital staff advised officers he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary information provided by a witness stated that she was inside of her residence when she heard several sounds of shots outside of her home. She exited the residence and located Ennis lying in the street suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. An adult male suspect was seen entering an unknown vehicle and left the area in an unknown direction.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest.Just after 2a.m. Sunday Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area of 28th and Southwest Boulevard working off duty for a nightclub/bar business there when they heard the sound of gunfire inside the bar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.At the same time 911 received calls for a shooting inside the business.&nbsp;On arrival officers were led inside the business where they located 3 adult female shooting victims.&nbsp;Officers began rendering aid and called for EMS to come in.&nbsp;EMS declared one shooting victim deceased at the scene. EMS&nbsp; then transported the other two victims to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital one of the two victims was declared deceased, and the other victim has what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries, according to Becchina.&nbsp; The women who died have been identified as 29-year-old Eboni Silas and 24-year-old Tishauna Ballard, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.While officers were at the scene they were notified of a 4th shooting victim, an adult male, who arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. That victim was reported to be in critical condition.&nbsp;&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates the victims were inside the business when there was an interaction with one or more suspects that escalated and led to shots being fired which struck the victims.&nbsp; Police have not released any details on a possible suspect.Just after 5:30p.m. Feb 12, police were dispatched to 20th and Monroe on a sound of shots call in the area. 911 received multiple additional calls of sound of shots and eventually one call reporting a shooting victim down in a wooded area of a series of vacant lots in the 2000 block of Monroe.On arrival officers made their way into the vacant lots and located a male shooting victim later identified as 25-year-old Terrion M. Johnson. unresponsive there. Officers rendered aid and called for EMS. EMS responded and took over aid. They eventually declared the victim deceased here at the scene.&nbsp;&nbsp;Preliminary indication indicates the shooting occurred on 20th street between Askew and Monroe and Johnson ran to the south where he was located.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just after 8p.m. Feb. 11, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a shooting in 1500 block of E 59th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina.&nbsp; The caller advised there was a person outside that appeared to be injured and needed help.&nbsp;On arrival officers located a victim later identified as 28-year-old&nbsp;Jamon Norfleet in front of a residence there. Norfleet told officers he had been shot at a nearby location near an apartment complex in the 6000 block of Blue Hills Road.The victim was unable to provide any additional information regarding suspects.&nbsp;Officers called for EMS who transported the victim to the hospital with life threatening injuries.&nbsp;Additional officers responded to the area described by the victim in the 6000 block of Blue Hills Road and located evidence of a crime scene at that location.&nbsp;Detectives and Crime Scene investigators began conducing investigation and processing the scene for evidence.&nbsp;Later in the evening detectives were notified from the hospital that&nbsp;Jamon Norfleet had died.At 9:30p.m. Feb. 10, police were dispatched to the 1300 block of E. Armour Blvd. in Kansas City, Missouri, on a sound of shots call, according to KCPD Sergeant Jake Becchina.Multiple callers reported the sound of gunfire from behind an apartment building there. On arrival officers were directed to a parking lot in the back of an apartment building where they located a vehicle with shooting victims identified as 26-year-old Brittnee McMillon and and 28-year-old Jerrell Westmoreland.unresponsive inside.&nbsp;Officers called for EMS who declared both victims deceased at the scene.&nbsp;Homicide detectives responded to the scene to conduct their investigation along with crime scene investigators processed the scene for available evidence.&nbsp; Police have not released details on possible suspects.

KCPD: 7 dead after violent week in Kansas City

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate overrode Gov Laura Kelly’s veto on Tuesday, putting the state one step closer to forcing people to use bathrooms in government buildings that match their biological sex at birth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb244/" target="_blank">Senate Substitute for House Bill 244</a>&nbsp;was overturned by the Senate, with votes falling along party lines.&nbsp;

As the vote was finalized in the Senate, Rabbi Moti Rieber shouted in anger from the gallery.&nbsp;

“First they came for the trans people, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t trans,” he yelled.&nbsp;

Rieber was referring to a&nbsp;<a href="https://hmd.org.uk/resource/first-they-came-by-pastor-martin-niemoller/" target="_blank">well-known writing</a>&nbsp;by a German minister after the Holocaust.&nbsp;

As he was escorted out, Rieber continued to shout, telling the Senate, “Shame on you.”&nbsp;

Sen. Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said the bill is the result of a “culture war” and does not serve Kansans well.&nbsp;

“Issues like this bill make us a less attractive place for businesses to relocate and start,” she said. “We are poised to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in just over 100 days. The World Cup is supposed to bring millions of dollars to our region, and we should not be putting that economic impact at risk by playing political games in fighting culture wars.”

Sykes yielded to Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overand Park, taking away the chance for Republicans to “call the question,” a term that would stop debate and put the bill directly to a vote.&nbsp;

Someone from the Republican side of the Senate called the question after Sykes began talking, but Senate President Ty Masterson said she could continue.&nbsp;

Holscher challenged the Republican-led majority to show evidence that sexual assaults occur in bathrooms by trans people. She quoted various studies to back up her calculations that Kansans have a .00083% chance of being assaulted by a trans person in a restroom.&nbsp;

“You are eight times more likely to get struck by lightning,” Holscher said. “You’re 50 times more likely to die in a car crash, you’re 100 times more likely to be killed by gun violence, and you are 3,500 times more likely to be sexually assaulted by a man.”

Sens. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, and David Haley, D-Kansas City, both Democrats from Wyandotte County that will host the World Cup, said they are concerned about economic development impacts.&nbsp;

“This body continues to debate and pass legislation that places a heavy financial burden on our communities without providing them with additional resources,” Pettey said. “We are hosting the World Cup this summer. We are being put in a global spotlight. The Kansas Legislature should be focused on job creation, strengthening our workforce and attracting and retaining top talent. Where one goes to the bathroom does not grow our economy.”

Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, closed the short debate expressing concerns about children seeing someone of the opposite sex in the bathroom or locker room.&nbsp;

“That’s what this bill is about. It’s not about economic impact,” she said.

In a statement, Senate President Ty Masterson said the Senate “restored sanity” in overturning Kelly’s veto.&nbsp;

“Kansas Democrats are for They/Them,” he said.&nbsp;

After the veto was overturned, Rieber expressed his frustration at the danger he believes the bill creates for trans people. He referred to a section of the bill that requires all gender markers on driver’s licenses and birth certificates to match a person’s biological sex at birth.

“This bill is gratuitous. This bill is absolutely unnecessary,” he said. “Think about when you take out your driver’s license — at the liquor store, when you’re cashing a check, voting, if a cop pulls you over. You’re outing yourself every time somebody sees your driver’s license. It’s very dangerous for trans people to be outed, and we’re putting them at risk.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771422834835.png" alt=" Sen. Cindy Holscher gave the Kansas Senate a rough estimate of how likely they were to be assaulted in a bathroom by a trans person, determining their risk was .00083%. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Cindy Holscher gave the Kansas Senate a rough estimate of how likely they were to be assaulted in a bathroom by a trans person, determining their risk was .00083%. (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate overrode Gov Laura Kelly’s veto on Tuesday, putting the state one step closer to forcing people to use bathrooms in government buildings that match their biological sex at birth.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb244/" target="_blank">Senate Substitute for House Bill 244</a>&nbsp;was overturned by the Senate, with votes falling along party lines.&nbsp;As the vote was finalized in the Senate, Rabbi Moti Rieber shouted in anger from the gallery.&nbsp;“First they came for the trans people, and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t trans,” he yelled.&nbsp;Rieber was referring to a&nbsp;<a href="https://hmd.org.uk/resource/first-they-came-by-pastor-martin-niemoller/" target="_blank">well-known writing</a>&nbsp;by a German minister after the Holocaust.&nbsp;As he was escorted out, Rieber continued to shout, telling the Senate, “Shame on you.”&nbsp;Sen. Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said the bill is the result of a “culture war” and does not serve Kansans well.&nbsp;“Issues like this bill make us a less attractive place for businesses to relocate and start,” she said. “We are poised to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in just over 100 days. The World Cup is supposed to bring millions of dollars to our region, and we should not be putting that economic impact at risk by playing political games in fighting culture wars.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771422794802.png" alt="Kansas Senate security personnel remove Rabbi Moti Rieber from a Senate hearing after. he shouted, “Shame on you” when the Senate overturned the veto of a “bathroom bill.” (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Senate security personnel remove Rabbi Moti Rieber from a Senate hearing after. he shouted, “Shame on you” when the Senate overturned the veto of a “bathroom bill.” (Photo by Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sykes yielded to Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overand Park, taking away the chance for Republicans to “call the question,” a term that would stop debate and put the bill directly to a vote.&nbsp;Someone from the Republican side of the Senate called the question after Sykes began talking, but Senate President Ty Masterson said she could continue.&nbsp;Holscher challenged the Republican-led majority to show evidence that sexual assaults occur in bathrooms by trans people. She quoted various studies to back up her calculations that Kansans have a .00083% chance of being assaulted by a trans person in a restroom.&nbsp;“You are eight times more likely to get struck by lightning,” Holscher said. “You’re 50 times more likely to die in a car crash, you’re 100 times more likely to be killed by gun violence, and you are 3,500 times more likely to be sexually assaulted by a man.”Sens. Pat Pettey, D-Kansas City, and David Haley, D-Kansas City, both Democrats from Wyandotte County that will host the World Cup, said they are concerned about economic development impacts.&nbsp;“This body continues to debate and pass legislation that places a heavy financial burden on our communities without providing them with additional resources,” Pettey said. “We are hosting the World Cup this summer. We are being put in a global spotlight. The Kansas Legislature should be focused on job creation, strengthening our workforce and attracting and retaining top talent. Where one goes to the bathroom does not grow our economy.”Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, closed the short debate expressing concerns about children seeing someone of the opposite sex in the bathroom or locker room.&nbsp;“That’s what this bill is about. It’s not about economic impact,” she said.In a statement, Senate President Ty Masterson said the Senate “restored sanity” in overturning Kelly’s veto.&nbsp;“Kansas Democrats are for They/Them,” he said.&nbsp;After the veto was overturned, Rieber expressed his frustration at the danger he believes the bill creates for trans people. He referred to a section of the bill that requires all gender markers on driver’s licenses and birth certificates to match a person’s biological sex at birth.“This bill is gratuitous. This bill is absolutely unnecessary,” he said. “Think about when you take out your driver’s license — at the liquor store, when you’re cashing a check, voting, if a cop pulls you over. You’re outing yourself every time somebody sees your driver’s license. It’s very dangerous for trans people to be outed, and we’re putting them at risk.”

Kansas Senate overrides governor’s veto of anti-trans ‘bathroom bill’

Firefighters across Kansas were very busy Tuesday. Many fires were suppressed without state assistance. Kansas Forest Service and partners assisted with the following fires. 

Burned from Texas Co Ok into Seward Co. Located southwest of Liberal, forward progress is stopped for now and crews are actively working to extinguish hot spots. 

Located southeast Liberal is actively burning. Johnson County Task Force and KFS DFMO Williams is engaged with the local fire departments. The head fire is approaching Meade Co. 

This fire continues to burn actively and Kansas Forest Service DFMO Brad Ilonummi and other state resources are working with local responders on this fire.

Continues to burn actively moving east and is located south of Protection, KS. 

The Sedgwick Co Task Force is engaged on this fire along with KFS Assistant Fire Management Officer Dennis Carlson. 

Aviation and additional Kansas Task Forces will be available Wednesday to assist the local fire departments. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771375217006.png" alt="Image from video from Sublette Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Image from video from Sublette Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Forest ServiceFirefighters across Kansas were very busy Tuesday. Many fires were suppressed without state assistance. Kansas Forest Service and partners assisted with the following fires. &nbsp;Stevens Fire (Seward CO Fire)Burned from Texas Co Ok into Seward Co. Located southwest of Liberal, forward progress is stopped for now and crews are actively working to extinguish hot spots. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F756755310498118%2F&show_text=true&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="591" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Seward CoFire #2Located southeast Liberal is actively burning. Johnson County Task Force and KFS DFMO Williams is engaged with the local fire departments. The head fire is approaching Meade Co. Garden City FireThis fire continues to burn actively and Kansas Forest Service DFMO Brad Ilonummi and other state resources are working with local responders on this fire.Ranger Road Fire - (fromBeaver Co. OK) Continues to burn actively moving east and is located south of Protection, KS. The Sedgwick Co Task Force is engaged on this fire along with KFS Assistant Fire Management Officer Dennis Carlson. Aviation and additional Kansas Task Forces will be available Wednesday to assist the local fire departments.

Kansas Forest Service update on wildfires in Kansas

THOMAS COUNTY —One person died in a multi-vehicle accident during a dust storm just after 1p.m. Tuesday in Thomas County.

&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Volvo semi driven by Ihor Batiuk, 53, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was eastbound on Interstate 70 approximately four miles west of the U.S. 83 exit in the right lane. The driver entered a blowing dust storm crossing the interstate from south to north. This storm caused little to zero visibility across the roadway. Due to the low visibility, the driver slowed his speed down.

A 2023 Toyota Highlander driven by Craig I. Goodman, 70, Ness City rear-ended the semi. After impact, the semi continued to the J&amp;J Truck Stop. The Toyota stopped in the right lane of travel.&nbsp; An eastsbound 2024 Freightliner semi driven by Dennis E. Graham, 65,&nbsp; Henryetta, Oklahoma, was behind the Toyota. The Freightliner's on-board forward crash detection sensor stopped the semi&nbsp; prior to impacting the vehicles in front involved in a separate collision and disabled in the roadway.

A eastbound 2014 Ford Explorer driven by Gary L&nbsp;Stoll, 75, Oakley, rear-ended the Freightliner. After impact the Explorer traveled to the left and stopped in the median facing south.

The Freightliner's rear end protection was damaged in the crash. An eastbound 2026 Acura MDX driven by Bradley A. Stout, 65, Wichita, struck the rear of the Freightliner's trailer. The Acura under-rode the trailer. An eastbound 2022 Subaru Ascent driven by William J.&nbsp;Burt, 66, Springdale, Arkansas, struck the Acura.

EMS transported Stoll to Citizen's Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

Batiuk, Goodman, a passenger in the Toyota and Graham were not injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;Stout and a passenger in the Acura Catherine W. Stout, 63, Wichita, were transported to Wesley Medical Center.

THOMAS COUNTY —One person died in a multi-vehicle accident during a dust storm just after 1p.m. Tuesday in Thomas County.&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Volvo semi driven by Ihor Batiuk, 53, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was eastbound on Interstate 70 approximately four miles west of the U.S. 83 exit in the right lane. The driver entered a blowing dust storm crossing the interstate from south to north. This storm caused little to zero visibility across the roadway. Due to the low visibility, the driver slowed his speed down.A 2023 Toyota Highlander driven by Craig I. Goodman, 70, Ness City rear-ended the semi. After impact, the semi continued to the J&amp;J Truck Stop. The Toyota stopped in the right lane of travel.&nbsp; An eastsbound 2024 Freightliner semi driven by Dennis E. Graham, 65,&nbsp; Henryetta, Oklahoma, was behind the Toyota. The Freightliner's on-board forward crash detection sensor stopped the semi&nbsp; prior to impacting the vehicles in front involved in a separate collision and disabled in the roadway.A eastbound 2014 Ford Explorer driven by Gary L&nbsp;Stoll, 75, Oakley, rear-ended the Freightliner. After impact the Explorer traveled to the left and stopped in the median facing south.The Freightliner's rear end protection was damaged in the crash. An eastbound 2026 Acura MDX driven by Bradley A. Stout, 65, Wichita, struck the rear of the Freightliner's trailer. The Acura under-rode the trailer. An eastbound 2022 Subaru Ascent driven by William J.&nbsp;Burt, 66, Springdale, Arkansas, struck the Acura.EMS transported Stoll to Citizen's Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.Batiuk, Goodman, a passenger in the Toyota and Graham were not injured.&nbsp;&nbsp;Stout and a passenger in the Acura Catherine W. Stout, 63, Wichita, were transported to Wesley Medical Center.

Kansas man dies in chain-reaction I-70 crash in a dust storm

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY —Due to a high number of student and staff illnesses across the district, USD 286 Sedan canceled classes for Wednesday, February 18, according to a statement from the school district social media page.

"This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to allow students and staff time to recover and to help prevent further spread of illness. During this time, our custodial team will complete a deep cleaning and sanitization of all district buildings."

All school activities and practices scheduled for this date are also canceled and&nbsp;The Chautauqua County Spelling Bee scheduled for Wednesday will not take place due to illness.

On February 4, Centre School District USD 397 announced they would not have class the rest of the week due to illness.

On Feb. 2, USD 511 Attica reported there would be no school or other activities for two days due to sickness.&nbsp;&nbsp;On January 14, Fairfield USD 310 canceled classes and participation in activities due to illness.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770075788368.png" alt="Image USD 501" />
 <figcaption>Image USD 501</figcaption>
 </figure>CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY —Due to a high number of student and staff illnesses across the district, USD 286 Sedan canceled classes for Wednesday, February 18, according to a statement from the school district social media page."This decision was made out of an abundance of caution to allow students and staff time to recover and to help prevent further spread of illness. During this time, our custodial team will complete a deep cleaning and sanitization of all district buildings."All school activities and practices scheduled for this date are also canceled and&nbsp;The Chautauqua County Spelling Bee scheduled for Wednesday will not take place due to illness.On February 4, Centre School District USD 397 announced they would not have class the rest of the week due to illness.On Feb. 2, USD 511 Attica reported there would be no school or other activities for two days due to sickness.&nbsp;&nbsp;On January 14, Fairfield USD 310 canceled classes and participation in activities due to illness.

Another Kansas school district cancels classes due to illness

Late Monday at the direction of U.S. Southern Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three deadly kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by 'Designated Terrorist Organizations', according to a social media report from the U.S. Southern Command.

 Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean. No U.S. military forces were harmed.&nbsp;

Late Monday at the direction of U.S. Southern Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three deadly kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by 'Designated Terrorist Organizations', according to a social media report from the U.S. Southern Command.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Late on Feb. 16, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOUTHCOM?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SOUTHCOM</a> commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted three lethal kinetic strikes on three vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known… <a href="https://t.co/mib9XtptSB">pic.twitter.com/mib9XtptSB</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2023791027383890240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> Intelligence confirmed the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Eleven male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions, 4 on the first vessel in the Eastern Pacific, 4 on the second vessel in the Eastern Pacific, and 3 on the third vessel in the Caribbean. No U.S. military forces were harmed.&nbsp;

🎥 11 killed after three new U.S. strikes on drug boats

On Tuesday, Rolling Hills Zoo announce the birth of a male southern white rhinoceros calf on February 8, 2026. The calf and his mother, Evey, are doing well and bonding as animal care staff continue to monitor the pair from a respectful distance.

Evey, 19, and the calf’s father, Kengele, 27, were both previously part of a 15-member white rhino herd, known as a “crash,” at The Wilds Safari Park and Conservation Center in Cumberland, Ohio. Evey arrived at Rolling Hills Zoo in 2020, and Kengele joined the Zoo in 2024. White rhino gestation lasts approximately 16 to 18 months.

Evey and Kengele’s pairing was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan? (SSP), a cooperative population management program designed to ensure the long-term sustainability and genetic health of species in accredited zoos. Rolling Hills Zoo is proud to be an AZA-accredited institution, the gold standard for zoos, and an active participant in this important conservation work.

At this time, the rhino barn is closed to public viewing. The Zoo asks for patience and understanding as Evey and her calf are given time to bond and adjust. Animal care staff are entering the building only as necessary, and the pair is being closely monitored via camera.

The southern white rhino is the second-largest land mammal after the elephant and represents one of conservation’s most remarkable comeback stories, having once been brought back from the brink of extinction. However, the species continues to face serious threats. A surge in poaching for rhino horn, particularly in South Africa, has led to record losses in recent years. As of 2025, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reported a 9.8% decrease in white rhino populations, bringing the global estimate to approximately 15,752 individuals in protected areas. The species is currently classified as Near Threatened.

“This birth is not only a joyful milestone for Rolling Hills Zoo, but also an important contribution to the conservation of this incredible species,” said Mark Echevarria, RHZ Curator. “Every calf born under AZA’s Species Survival Plan represents hope for the future of white rhinos and long-term sustainability of the animals within AZA facilities, while also maintaining their genetic diversity. Rolling Hills Zoo is very proud to be a part of and contributing to that mission.”

Rolling Hills Zoo will share updates, photos, and eventual public viewing information on its website and social media channels as the calf continues to grow and thrive.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771368547417.jpeg" alt="Photo Rolling Hills Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Photo Rolling Hills Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>On Tuesday, Rolling Hills Zoo announce the birth of a male southern white rhinoceros calf on February 8, 2026. The calf and his mother, Evey, are doing well and bonding as animal care staff continue to monitor the pair from a respectful distance.Evey, 19, and the calf’s father, Kengele, 27, were both previously part of a 15-member white rhino herd, known as a “crash,” at The Wilds Safari Park and Conservation Center in Cumberland, Ohio. Evey arrived at Rolling Hills Zoo in 2020, and Kengele joined the Zoo in 2024. White rhino gestation lasts approximately 16 to 18 months.Evey and Kengele’s pairing was recommended by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan? (SSP), a cooperative population management program designed to ensure the long-term sustainability and genetic health of species in accredited zoos. Rolling Hills Zoo is proud to be an AZA-accredited institution, the gold standard for zoos, and an active participant in this important conservation work.At this time, the rhino barn is closed to public viewing. The Zoo asks for patience and understanding as Evey and her calf are given time to bond and adjust. Animal care staff are entering the building only as necessary, and the pair is being closely monitored via camera.The southern white rhino is the second-largest land mammal after the elephant and represents one of conservation’s most remarkable comeback stories, having once been brought back from the brink of extinction. However, the species continues to face serious threats. A surge in poaching for rhino horn, particularly in South Africa, has led to record losses in recent years. As of 2025, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reported a 9.8% decrease in white rhino populations, bringing the global estimate to approximately 15,752 individuals in protected areas. The species is currently classified as Near Threatened.“This birth is not only a joyful milestone for Rolling Hills Zoo, but also an important contribution to the conservation of this incredible species,” said Mark Echevarria, RHZ Curator. “Every calf born under AZA’s Species Survival Plan represents hope for the future of white rhinos and long-term sustainability of the animals within AZA facilities, while also maintaining their genetic diversity. Rolling Hills Zoo is very proud to be a part of and contributing to that mission.”Rolling Hills Zoo will share updates, photos, and eventual public viewing information on its website and social media channels as the calf continues to grow and thrive.

Kansas zoo announces birth of Southern White Rhino

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City man is facing multiple charges in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred earlier this month.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2809/Willingham-Lucas---Complaint-Packet-1">Lucas Willingham</a>, 44, is charged with 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2810/Willingham---Statement-of-Probable-Cause_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a reported shooting on Feb. 11. When officers contacted the victim, he advised officers he had been shot by Willingham outside the apartment building. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was later confirmed deceased.&nbsp;

Detectives located a spent shell casing inside the defendant’s apartment, which matched the shell casings found at the crime scene outside the apartment building.&nbsp;

Video footage from the incident captured the victim running through the apartment complex and Willingham following the victim. Willingham can be seen raising a firearm and firing it in the direction of the victim.&nbsp;

Willingham turned himself in to police on Feb. 12. During an interview with detectives, he said he was under the influence of PCP around the time of the shooting and did not know what happened and couldn’t comprehend what was going on.&nbsp;

Willingham is being held on $150,000 cash only bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771365987276.png" alt="Willimgham" />
 <figcaption>Willimgham</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City man is facing multiple charges in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred earlier this month.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2809/Willingham-Lucas---Complaint-Packet-1">Lucas Willingham</a>, 44, is charged with 2nd Degree Murder, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Use of a Weapon, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2810/Willingham---Statement-of-Probable-Cause_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police responded to a reported shooting on Feb. 11. When officers contacted the victim, he advised officers he had been shot by Willingham outside the apartment building. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was later confirmed deceased.&nbsp;Detectives located a spent shell casing inside the defendant’s apartment, which matched the shell casings found at the crime scene outside the apartment building.&nbsp;Video footage from the incident captured the victim running through the apartment complex and Willingham following the victim. Willingham can be seen raising a firearm and firing it in the direction of the victim.&nbsp;Willingham turned himself in to police on Feb. 12. During an interview with detectives, he said he was under the influence of PCP around the time of the shooting and did not know what happened and couldn’t comprehend what was going on.&nbsp;Willingham is being held on $150,000 cash only bond.&nbsp;

Suspect turned himself in after killing man in KC apartment complex

OSAGE COUNTY –Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 3:30p.m. February 13, a&nbsp;Sheriff’s Office Investigator conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of K-68 &amp; K-268 Highways in rural Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

 During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. The deputy arrested 46-year-old Chance D. Eastman of Vassar and transported him to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Osage County arrest warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770945894752.png" alt="Eastman photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Eastman photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY –Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 3:30p.m. February 13, a&nbsp;Sheriff’s Office Investigator conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of K-68 &amp; K-268 Highways in rural Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. The deputy arrested 46-year-old Chance D. Eastman of Vassar and transported him to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Osage County arrest warrant.

Wanted Kansas suspect captured transporting meth

DNA from gloves found a few miles from the Arizona home of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Nancy Guthrie</a>&nbsp;did not match any entries in a national database, authorities said Tuesday, the 17th day of her disappearance.

“There were no DNA hits in CODIS," the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said, referring to the national Combined DNA Index System.

"At this point, there have been no confirmed CODIS matches in this investigation,” the department said, suggesting that other DNA samples had been put through the system.

CODIS is a storehouse of DNA taken from crime suspects or people with convictions. Any hits could identify possible suspects in Guthrie's disappearance.

The 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson-area home on Feb. 1 after spending the previous night with family, police said. Her blood was detected on the porch.

A porch camera&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-guthrie-nest-camera-footage-kidnapper-bd5f1d886543e23f2d105535031c9445">recorded video</a>&nbsp;of a man with a backpack who was wearing a ski mask, long pants, a jacket and gloves. The FBI said the suspect is about 5 feet, 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall with a medium build.

Gloves were found about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Guthrie's home. The FBI has said that the gloves appeared to match those worn by the man in the video.

“There is additional DNA evidence that was found at the residence, and that is also being analyzed,” the sheriff's department said.

In addition, the department said it's working with experts to try to locate Guthrie by detecting her heart pacemaker.

Parsons Corp. said its BlueFly device, which weighs less than a pound (.45 kilograms) and has a range of up to 218 yards (200 meters), can detect signals from wearable electronics and medical devices. The company said the technology has been used from the air and on the ground in Arizona. It declined further comment about the search.

Savannah Guthrie posted an Instagram video Sunday in which she issued an appeal to anyone with information about what happened to her mother.

"It is never too late to do the right thing,” she said. “And we are here. And we believe in the essential goodness of every human being, that it’s never too late.”

By ED WHITE Associated PressDNA from gloves found a few miles from the Arizona home of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Nancy Guthrie</a>&nbsp;did not match any entries in a national database, authorities said Tuesday, the 17th day of her disappearance.“There were no DNA hits in CODIS," the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said, referring to the national Combined DNA Index System.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The DNA that was submitted to CODIS was from the set of gloves found 2 miles away. It did not trigger a match in CODIS &amp; did not match DNA found at the property. The DNA found at the property is being analyzed &amp; further testing needs to be done as part of the investigation.&mdash; Pima County Sheriff&#39;s Department (@PimaSheriff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PimaSheriff/status/2023843455706034483?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">DNA evidence from gloves found approximately 2 miles from Nancy Guthrie&#39;s residence was submitted to CODIS &amp; produced no matches. There is additional DNA evidence that was found at the residence that is also being analyzed.&mdash; Pima County Sheriff&#39;s Department (@PimaSheriff) <a href="https://twitter.com/PimaSheriff/status/2023831510651204069?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">REMINDER: FBI reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance. The suspect is described as a male, approximately 5’9” - 5’10” tall of average build. Report tips to… <a href="https://t.co/PrFkHPj9Ac">pic.twitter.com/PrFkHPj9Ac</a>&mdash; FBI Phoenix (@FBIPhoenix) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIPhoenix/status/2023817455756283921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"At this point, there have been no confirmed CODIS matches in this investigation,” the department said, suggesting that other DNA samples had been put through the system.CODIS is a storehouse of DNA taken from crime suspects or people with convictions. Any hits could identify possible suspects in Guthrie's disappearance.The 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie was reported missing from her Tucson-area home on Feb. 1 after spending the previous night with family, police said. Her blood was detected on the porch.A porch camera&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-guthrie-nest-camera-footage-kidnapper-bd5f1d886543e23f2d105535031c9445">recorded video</a>&nbsp;of a man with a backpack who was wearing a ski mask, long pants, a jacket and gloves. The FBI said the suspect is about 5 feet, 9 inches (1.75 meters) tall with a medium build.Gloves were found about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from Guthrie's home. The FBI has said that the gloves appeared to match those worn by the man in the video.“There is additional DNA evidence that was found at the residence, and that is also being analyzed,” the sheriff's department said.In addition, the department said it's working with experts to try to locate Guthrie by detecting her heart pacemaker.Parsons Corp. said its BlueFly device, which weighs less than a pound (.45 kilograms) and has a range of up to 218 yards (200 meters), can detect signals from wearable electronics and medical devices. The company said the technology has been used from the air and on the ground in Arizona. It declined further comment about the search.Savannah Guthrie posted an Instagram video Sunday in which she issued an appeal to anyone with information about what happened to her mother."It is never too late to do the right thing,” she said. “And we are here. And we believe in the essential goodness of every human being, that it’s never too late.”

DNA results from glove found near Nancy Guthrie’s home revealed

SEWARD COUNTY—Authorities have opened emergency shelters in Seward and Comanche Counties in southwest Kansas due to wildfires, according to the Seward County Sheriff's office.

Shelter locations is the city of Liberal include the Seward County Activity Center, 810 Stadium Avenue in Liberal and&nbsp;CrossPoint Church, 204 N Sherman Avenue in Liberal.

An evacuation center in Coldwater is available for residents of Ashland at the USD 300 Gymnasium, 600 East Garfield Street. There are no reports of injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771367813402.png" alt="Image NWS Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>Image NWS Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>SEWARD COUNTY—Authorities have opened emergency shelters in Seward and Comanche Counties in southwest Kansas due to wildfires, according to the Seward County Sheriff's office.Shelter locations is the city of Liberal include the Seward County Activity Center, 810 Stadium Avenue in Liberal and&nbsp;CrossPoint Church, 204 N Sherman Avenue in Liberal.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">344pm CST Update: Strong gusty winds and blowing dust, reducing visibility at times, is ongoing across all of southwest Kansas. These conditions will continue until around 6 PM. Use extra caution when traveling today as visibility reductions may rapidly occur. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/2023876838658109801?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>An evacuation center in Coldwater is available for residents of Ashland at the USD 300 Gymnasium, 600 East Garfield Street. There are no reports of injuries.

Evacuation centers opened in SW Kansas due to wildfires

RAWLINS COUNTY —Just after 7p.m. Tuesday, the evacuation order was lifted for city of Herndon, according to the Rawlins County Sheriff's office.

According to the Fire Chief, the fire is 80 % contained and no longer a threat to the city of Herndon. Those who evacuated are safe to return home

RAWLINS COUNTY —The town of Herndon has been placed under an evacuation order. A large grass fire is headed toward the community, according to the Rawlins County Sheriff's office. Just after 4p.m. the fire was approximately 4-5 miles northwest of Herndon moving southeast, according to Rawlins County Emergency Management.

The residents of the community are asked to shelter in Atwood at the Redeemer Lutheran Church,&nbsp;808 1st Street. There were no injuries reported as of 3:30p.m. Tuesday. Check the post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771364231172.png" alt="Fire danger image NWS Goodland" />
 <figcaption>Fire danger image NWS Goodland</figcaption>
 </figure>RAWLINS COUNTY —Just after 7p.m. Tuesday, the evacuation order was lifted for city of Herndon, according to the Rawlins County Sheriff's office.According to the Fire Chief, the fire is 80 % contained and no longer a threat to the city of Herndon. Those who evacuated are safe to return home----------------RAWLINS COUNTY —The town of Herndon has been placed under an evacuation order. A large grass fire is headed toward the community, according to the Rawlins County Sheriff's office. Just after 4p.m. the fire was approximately 4-5 miles northwest of Herndon moving southeast, according to Rawlins County Emergency Management.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Frawlinscountysheriff%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0uVQRcHBcsS5uFkf1WptjUVQs7i1i2aZAacQHiZafMyQX6q759YqWBWT416kLyeXml&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="189" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The residents of the community are asked to shelter in Atwood at the Redeemer Lutheran Church,&nbsp;808 1st Street. There were no injuries reported as of 3:30p.m. Tuesday. Check the post for additional details as they become available.

Evacuation order lifted for NW Kansas community after wildfire

&nbsp;WASHINGTON —Officers arrested a person with a gun near the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Tuesday afternoon, according to an online statement from the U.S. Capitol Police.

Maryland Avenue was temporarily closed between First and Third Streets, SW, while officers investigated

At this time, there does not appear to be any other suspects or ongoing threat. Out of an abundance of caution, Capitol police asked the public to stay away from the area while they investigate and collect evidence.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771359947371.png" alt="Police on the scene near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday -photo courtesy WJLA" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene near the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday -photo courtesy WJLA</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;WASHINGTON —Officers arrested a person with a gun near the West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Tuesday afternoon, according to an online statement from the U.S. Capitol Police.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">U.S. <a href="https://twitter.com/CapitolPolice?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CapitolPolice</a> on incident today: &quot;A gentleman parked...he exited the vehicle with a shotgun and began running up towards the Capitol...Capitol police officers observed this individual, challenged him and ordered him to drop the weapon and get on ground which he did comply… <a href="https://t.co/7EhRK1hTmL">pic.twitter.com/7EhRK1hTmL</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2023848973208113535?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Maryland Avenue was temporarily closed between First and Third Streets, SW, while officers investigatedAt this time, there does not appear to be any other suspects or ongoing threat. Out of an abundance of caution, Capitol police asked the public to stay away from the area while they investigate and collect evidence.&nbsp;

🎥Man with loaded shotgun arrested after running toward the US Capitol

Both sides agree 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, needs regulation, but opponents say kratom shouldn’t be included

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A bill heard Monday would list kratom as a Schedule 1 drug, moving the previously unclassified substance into the same category as methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.&nbsp;

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb497/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 497</a>&nbsp;classifies both Kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, as controlled substances. Proponents and opponents Monday before the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee agreed that 7-OH — the opioid-like compound derived from kratom — is hurting Kansans, but opponents argued the bill wrongly equates the two substances.&nbsp;

Several proponents came from state organizations. One was Sara Hortenstine, youth services division chief for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.&nbsp;

“If we continue to allow widespread retail access to substances that act like opioids, we will see opioid-type consequences that include more addiction and overdoses and preventable deaths in our state,” Hortenstine said.&nbsp;

David Kuntz works for the Clinical Reference Laboratory in Lenexa. He said he’s seen more 7-OH recently than oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl combined.&nbsp;

If the bill passes, Kansas would join a&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/08/11/kratom-faces-increasing-scrutiny-from-states-and-the-feds/" target="_blank">growing number of states</a>&nbsp;in banning kratom or 7-OH. Kratom and 7-OH aren’t considered a controlled substance in Kansas, but there have been regional bans.&nbsp;

On Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2026-02-13/kansas-city-kratom-ban-7oh-addiction-gas-station-drugs" target="_blank">Kansas City, Missouri barred</a>&nbsp;the sale of synthetic kratom — known as 7-OH — and restricted kratom sales to adults older than 21.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/hb2230_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2230</a>&nbsp;from last session would have taken a similar path in Kansas, but was never heard by the House.&nbsp;

Kratom&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/kratom/art-20402171" target="_blank">is marketed as</a>&nbsp;a stimulant if used in low dosages, and a sedative at higher ones. It’s also been used to ease the symptoms of withdrawal from opioids. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom" target="_blank">Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;</a>said 7-OH naturally occurs in trace amounts in kratom, but when synthesized it acts more like an opioid, and increases the chance of addiction.&nbsp;

Kelly Gray owns two shops that sell kratom in Salina and Derby. He broke his back 10 years ago, and was prescribed opioids. He became addicted and decided to quit.&nbsp;

“I was still going through daily pain with my back as well as my hips being bone on bone when I heard about and tried kratom, after much research. It completely changed my life for the better,” Gray said.

Jason Todack runs a similar business in Topeka. He also uses kratom.

“I’ve seen addicts from fentanyl. I’ve seen alcoholics use it. I’ve seen people hooked on pain pills,” Todack said. “This is an all-natural, whole leaf product, this product gives people choices and options to be able to get off of these other heinous drugs that are out there. I see this literally every day.”&nbsp;

Nearly every opponent asked legislators not to lump kratom and 7-OH in the same group.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-steps-restrict-7-oh-opioid-products-threatening-american-consumers" target="_blank">FDA recommended</a>&nbsp;scheduling 7-OH as a controlled substance, and specified they are “not focused on natural kratom leaf products.”&nbsp;

Mac Haddow, a senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association based in Virginia, said the bill should be amended to focus solely on 7-OH.&nbsp;

Bob Stuart is an executive officer for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He said it’s difficult for KBI officers to differentiate between the two substances. Haddow disagreed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764210048130.jpeg" alt="Photo by Mike Courson Great Bend Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Mike Courson Great Bend Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Both sides agree 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, needs regulation, but opponents say kratom shouldn’t be included</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A bill heard Monday would list kratom as a Schedule 1 drug, moving the previously unclassified substance into the same category as methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb497/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 497</a>&nbsp;classifies both Kratom and 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH, as controlled substances. Proponents and opponents Monday before the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee agreed that 7-OH — the opioid-like compound derived from kratom — is hurting Kansans, but opponents argued the bill wrongly equates the two substances.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764210017608.jpeg" alt="Photo by Mike Courson" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Mike Courson</figcaption>
 </figure>Several proponents came from state organizations. One was Sara Hortenstine, youth services division chief for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.&nbsp;“If we continue to allow widespread retail access to substances that act like opioids, we will see opioid-type consequences that include more addiction and overdoses and preventable deaths in our state,” Hortenstine said.&nbsp;David Kuntz works for the Clinical Reference Laboratory in Lenexa. He said he’s seen more 7-OH recently than oxycodone, hydrocodone and fentanyl combined.&nbsp;If the bill passes, Kansas would join a&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/08/11/kratom-faces-increasing-scrutiny-from-states-and-the-feds/" target="_blank">growing number of states</a>&nbsp;in banning kratom or 7-OH. Kratom and 7-OH aren’t considered a controlled substance in Kansas, but there have been regional bans.&nbsp;On Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2026-02-13/kansas-city-kratom-ban-7oh-addiction-gas-station-drugs" target="_blank">Kansas City, Missouri barred</a>&nbsp;the sale of synthetic kratom — known as 7-OH — and restricted kratom sales to adults older than 21.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/hb2230_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2230</a>&nbsp;from last session would have taken a similar path in Kansas, but was never heard by the House.&nbsp;Kratom&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/in-depth/kratom/art-20402171" target="_blank">is marketed as</a>&nbsp;a stimulant if used in low dosages, and a sedative at higher ones. It’s also been used to ease the symptoms of withdrawal from opioids. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/fda-and-kratom" target="_blank">Food and Drug Administration&nbsp;</a>said 7-OH naturally occurs in trace amounts in kratom, but when synthesized it acts more like an opioid, and increases the chance of addiction.&nbsp;Kelly Gray owns two shops that sell kratom in Salina and Derby. He broke his back 10 years ago, and was prescribed opioids. He became addicted and decided to quit.&nbsp;“I was still going through daily pain with my back as well as my hips being bone on bone when I heard about and tried kratom, after much research. It completely changed my life for the better,” Gray said.Jason Todack runs a similar business in Topeka. He also uses kratom.“I’ve seen addicts from fentanyl. I’ve seen alcoholics use it. I’ve seen people hooked on pain pills,” Todack said. “This is an all-natural, whole leaf product, this product gives people choices and options to be able to get off of these other heinous drugs that are out there. I see this literally every day.”&nbsp;Nearly every opponent asked legislators not to lump kratom and 7-OH in the same group.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-steps-restrict-7-oh-opioid-products-threatening-american-consumers" target="_blank">FDA recommended</a>&nbsp;scheduling 7-OH as a controlled substance, and specified they are “not focused on natural kratom leaf products.”&nbsp;Mac Haddow, a senior fellow on public policy for the American Kratom Association based in Virginia, said the bill should be amended to focus solely on 7-OH.&nbsp;Bob Stuart is an executive officer for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He said it’s difficult for KBI officers to differentiate between the two substances. Haddow disagreed.

Kansas bill would label kratom a Schedule 1 drug alongside heroin, meth and cocaine 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;Zachary Ramirez, 22, was sentenced on Tuesday for the July 2023 shooting deaths of two people in an Old Town parking garage in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

During a hearing before Chief Judge Jeffrey Goering, Ramirez was sentenced to two consecutive "hard 25" life sentences. He also received 61 months with the Kansas Department of Corrections and six months in jail for additional counts, to be served concurrently with the life sentences.

In Kansas, a "hard 25" sentence is a mandatory life term that requires a defendant to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Because the court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, Ramirez must serve at least 50 years before he is eligible for release.

The sentencing follows an April 2024 trial in which a Sedgwick County jury convicted Ramirez of several charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, two alternative counts of second-degree murder, criminal discharge of a weapon, aggravated battery, and two counts of battery. The case had been pending sentencing while the court considered the outcome of several post-trial motions.

The charges stem from an incident on July 27, 2023. At approximately 4 a.m., Wichita police responded to a parking garage in the 300 block of North Moore after a street sweeper operator discovered two victims inside a vehicle. Josephina Lerma-Dominguez, 20, and Bryan Lara-Hernandez, 21, both of Wichita, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators used surveillance footage and the FLOCK license plate reader system to identify and apprehend Ramirez shortly after the shooting.

The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Jason Roach and Senior Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Jameson.

"We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Wichita Police Department for their thorough and diligent work on this investigation," the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. "Their commitment to the case ensured that justice could be served for the victims and their families."

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man convicted&nbsp; of killing two people in a parking garage in&nbsp;Old Town in Wichita is scheduled to learn his fate Tuesday.

&nbsp;Zachary Ramirez, 21, will appear at a sentencing hearing in Judge Jeffry Goering's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In April of 2024, a jury found him guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, two alternative counts of second-degree murder, criminal discharge of a weapon, aggravated battery and two counts of battery in the deaths of 20-year-old Josephina Lerma-Dominguez and 21-year-old Bryan Lara-Hernandez both of Wichita, according to the district attorney's office.

Just before&nbsp; 4a.m. July 27, 2023, police responded to the 300 block of North Moore after a a street sweeper operator saw two gunshot victims in a vehicle in a parking garage in Wichita's Old Town and called 911, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

EMS&nbsp; arrived on the scene and attempted life-saving measures Lerma-Dominguez and Lara-Hernandez died at the scene.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771350885552.png" alt="Police at the scene of the investigation in 2023-courtesy KWCH " />
 <figcaption>Police at the scene of the investigation in 2023-courtesy KWCH </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —&nbsp;Zachary Ramirez, 22, was sentenced on Tuesday for the July 2023 shooting deaths of two people in an Old Town parking garage in Wichita, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.During a hearing before Chief Judge Jeffrey Goering, Ramirez was sentenced to two consecutive "hard 25" life sentences. He also received 61 months with the Kansas Department of Corrections and six months in jail for additional counts, to be served concurrently with the life sentences.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690507120194.png" alt="Ramirez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ramirez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>In Kansas, a "hard 25" sentence is a mandatory life term that requires a defendant to serve a minimum of 25 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Because the court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, Ramirez must serve at least 50 years before he is eligible for release.The sentencing follows an April 2024 trial in which a Sedgwick County jury convicted Ramirez of several charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, two alternative counts of second-degree murder, criminal discharge of a weapon, aggravated battery, and two counts of battery. The case had been pending sentencing while the court considered the outcome of several post-trial motions.The charges stem from an incident on July 27, 2023. At approximately 4 a.m., Wichita police responded to a parking garage in the 300 block of North Moore after a street sweeper operator discovered two victims inside a vehicle. Josephina Lerma-Dominguez, 20, and Bryan Lara-Hernandez, 21, both of Wichita, were pronounced dead at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690507120194.png" alt="Ramirez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ramirez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>Investigators used surveillance footage and the FLOCK license plate reader system to identify and apprehend Ramirez shortly after the shooting.The case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Jason Roach and Senior Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Jameson."We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Wichita Police Department for their thorough and diligent work on this investigation," the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement. "Their commitment to the case ensured that justice could be served for the victims and their families."-------------------SEDGWICK COUNTY— A man convicted&nbsp; of killing two people in a parking garage in&nbsp;Old Town in Wichita is scheduled to learn his fate Tuesday.&nbsp;Zachary Ramirez, 21, will appear at a sentencing hearing in Judge Jeffry Goering's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In April of 2024, a jury found him guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, two alternative counts of second-degree murder, criminal discharge of a weapon, aggravated battery and two counts of battery in the deaths of 20-year-old Josephina Lerma-Dominguez and 21-year-old Bryan Lara-Hernandez both of Wichita, according to the district attorney's office.Just before&nbsp; 4a.m. July 27, 2023, police responded to the 300 block of North Moore after a a street sweeper operator saw two gunshot victims in a vehicle in a parking garage in Wichita's Old Town and called 911, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.EMS&nbsp; arrived on the scene and attempted life-saving measures Lerma-Dominguez and Lara-Hernandez died at the scene.&nbsp;

Sentencing day: Man killed Kansas couple in parking garage 

JOHNSON COUNTY —Last week, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a driver on Interstate 70 around Turner Diagonal, according to a social media report from Troop A. The trooper was stopping the driver for displaying a tag that belonged on a Dodge Charger; however, it was being displayed on a GMC truck.

The driver fled east on I-70.  The trooper was joined by another trooper equipped with a Grappler.  The trooper successfully deployed the Grappler on Interstate 70 just east of 18th Street.  

The driver was taken into custody.  It was discovered the driver had multiple felony warrants through multiple jurisdictions and was in possession of methamphetamine.&nbsp; The patrol released no additional details including the name of the suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771081397653.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Last week, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper attempted to stop a driver on Interstate 70 around Turner Diagonal, according to a social media report from Troop A. The trooper was stopping the driver for displaying a tag that belonged on a Dodge Charger; however, it was being displayed on a GMC truck.The driver fled east on I-70. The trooper was joined by another trooper equipped with a Grappler. The trooper successfully deployed the Grappler on Interstate 70 just east of 18th Street. The driver was taken into custody. It was discovered the driver had multiple felony warrants through multiple jurisdictions and was in possession of methamphetamine.&nbsp; The patrol released no additional details including the name of the suspect.

KHP used Grappler to capture wanted suspect on I-70

GRANT COUNTY —USD 214 Ulysses gave students the day off Tuesday due to the forecast sustained high winds and wind gusts exceeding 60 mph producing reduced visibility and blowing dust.

A high wind warning and red flag warning is in effect for Tuesday, according to National Weather Service in Dodge City.

The status of scheduled night activities for the school district are yet to be determined.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771340671059.png" alt="Wind forecast image NWS Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>Wind forecast image NWS Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>GRANT COUNTY —USD 214 Ulysses gave students the day off Tuesday due to the forecast sustained high winds and wind gusts exceeding 60 mph producing reduced visibility and blowing dust.A high wind warning and red flag warning is in effect for Tuesday, according to National Weather Service in Dodge City.The status of scheduled night activities for the school district are yet to be determined.

Wind warning prompts Kan. district to cancel school Tuesday

Group makes case by drawing upon dystopian horror of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Five people walked through the Kansas Capitol on Monday shrouded in long, red cloaks and with faces concealed from view by wing-like white bonnets.

The intent was to catch the attention of legislators and lobbyists, who complied with puzzled looks as they tried to comprehend the scene.

Why the outfits? Were they part of a cult? Might they be nuns? What do they want? Could they be dangerous?

Christy Allen, among the women dressed as characters from the dystopian novel and film “The Handmaid’s Tale,” said the group chose the distinctive wardrobe to emphasize frustration with the direction of state government in Kansas and Missouri as well as the dismantling of political norms by President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.

Allen and her peers carried small cloth signs that summarized their message to politicians. It said, simply: “Shame.” They were told they would be asked to leave if they displayed the signs inside the Kansas Senate chamber.

“I’m tired of people putting party over people,” Allen said. “I feel with the erosion of all people’s rights, the United States becomes a theocracy. Our uniform, and it is a uniform, and we are an army, stands for the subjugation of all people’s rights, and that’s what’s happening with the hypocrisy right now. It’s carrying over into Kansas. We are free staters, right, and we should stick with that.”

The 1985 novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood and a more recent television series based on the book described a world where fertility rates plunged and fertile women were enslaved to bear children for the ruling class. Civil war in the United States produced a totalitarian, Christian form of government led by power-hungry leaders who relied on a divine law to control women. In the Handmaid world, female residents were forced to survive under laws forbidding them from owning property, handling money or reading and writing.

Angela Korbin, another member of the Handmaid group, said she was in Topeka to protest how democracy was under attack for the benefit of white, evangelical men.

“I want people to know that women’s rights are trans rights and trans rights are human rights,” she said.

She was referencing Senate Bill 244, an anti-transgender bill passed by the Republican-led House and Senate but vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Under the legislation, Kansans using public restrooms would be required to make use of facilities aligned with their sex declaration at birth rather than respect a person’s gender identity. It would establish a mechanism for people who claimed they were offended to seek $1,000 bounties from violators of the law. Government agencies not in compliance could be hit with a $25,000 fine on a first offense or $125,000 fines for subsequent incidents.

“It’s punitive,” Allen said. “Actions say a lot.”

The Handmaid contingent also voiced objections to public policy decisions in Kansas on immigration, health care, education and elections.

Outside the Capitol on Monday, a couple hundred people with colorful signs and flags conducted a protest on Presidents Day that was labeled “Not My President.” It was organized by Kansas 50501, which promotes nonviolent protests in Topeka that build relationships among people eager to defend the Constitution, respect coequal branches of government and deliver on the promise of equal rights for all.

Much of the anger on the south steps of the Statehouse centered Trump’s alleged campaign to violate rights of Americans by directing federal agents to, organizers said, “kill us.”

Teresa Gorby of Ottawa was on hand with a sign that declared “Stop ICE Now.”

“I’m here for my country,” she said. “We need funding for health care, things that help our people not rich guys.”

Topeka residents Duane and Kathy Dahm carried signs that urged people to respect the Constitution and to remind people that “silence kills democracy.”

“We’re just tired and fed up with everything that’s going on,” Duane Dahm said. “All the illegal stuff (Trump’s) doing.”

Other signs registered other concerns: “We’re not being governed, we’re being lied and looted,” “No dictator, no crown. We the people won’t kneel down” and “The darkness has got to give.”

Doug McGaw, a Vietnam veteran who earned a Purple Heart and taught at Emporia State University, said the people had to compel the three branches of the federal government to bring order to chaos.

“We have a corrupt government that will not obey the law,” he said. “We need to stiffen the spine of people who are responsible for our laws and justice system.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771292907831.png" alt=" Protesters adorned with clothing reminiscent of “the Handmaid’s Tale” carried cloth signs labeled “Shame” as they challenged Kansas legislators Monday at the Kansas Capitol to enact policies for benefit of Kansans rather than follow a path toward theocratic government. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Protesters adorned with clothing reminiscent of “the Handmaid’s Tale” carried cloth signs labeled “Shame” as they challenged Kansas legislators Monday at the Kansas Capitol to enact policies for benefit of Kansans rather than follow a path toward theocratic government. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Group makes case by drawing upon dystopian horror of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Five people walked through the Kansas Capitol on Monday shrouded in long, red cloaks and with faces concealed from view by wing-like white bonnets.The intent was to catch the attention of legislators and lobbyists, who complied with puzzled looks as they tried to comprehend the scene.Why the outfits? Were they part of a cult? Might they be nuns? What do they want? Could they be dangerous?Christy Allen, among the women dressed as characters from the dystopian novel and film “The Handmaid’s Tale,” said the group chose the distinctive wardrobe to emphasize frustration with the direction of state government in Kansas and Missouri as well as the dismantling of political norms by President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C.Allen and her peers carried small cloth signs that summarized their message to politicians. It said, simply: “Shame.” They were told they would be asked to leave if they displayed the signs inside the Kansas Senate chamber.“I’m tired of people putting party over people,” Allen said. “I feel with the erosion of all people’s rights, the United States becomes a theocracy. Our uniform, and it is a uniform, and we are an army, stands for the subjugation of all people’s rights, and that’s what’s happening with the hypocrisy right now. It’s carrying over into Kansas. We are free staters, right, and we should stick with that.”The 1985 novel by Canadian author Margaret Atwood and a more recent television series based on the book described a world where fertility rates plunged and fertile women were enslaved to bear children for the ruling class. Civil war in the United States produced a totalitarian, Christian form of government led by power-hungry leaders who relied on a divine law to control women. In the Handmaid world, female residents were forced to survive under laws forbidding them from owning property, handling money or reading and writing.Angela Korbin, another member of the Handmaid group, said she was in Topeka to protest how democracy was under attack for the benefit of white, evangelical men.“I want people to know that women’s rights are trans rights and trans rights are human rights,” she said.She was referencing Senate Bill 244, an anti-transgender bill passed by the Republican-led House and Senate but vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.Under the legislation, Kansans using public restrooms would be required to make use of facilities aligned with their sex declaration at birth rather than respect a person’s gender identity. It would establish a mechanism for people who claimed they were offended to seek $1,000 bounties from violators of the law. Government agencies not in compliance could be hit with a $25,000 fine on a first offense or $125,000 fines for subsequent incidents.“It’s punitive,” Allen said. “Actions say a lot.”The Handmaid contingent also voiced objections to public policy decisions in Kansas on immigration, health care, education and elections.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771292857650.png" alt="Doug McGaw, of Emporia, sits during a Feb. 16, 2026, protest outside the Capitol. The Vietnam veteran says he won’t follow orders of a felon, insurrectionist or traitor regardless of the individual’s official position. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Doug McGaw, of Emporia, sits during a Feb. 16, 2026, protest outside the Capitol. The Vietnam veteran says he won’t follow orders of a felon, insurrectionist or traitor regardless of the individual’s official position. (Photo by Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The outsiders</h2>Outside the Capitol on Monday, a couple hundred people with colorful signs and flags conducted a protest on Presidents Day that was labeled “Not My President.” It was organized by Kansas 50501, which promotes nonviolent protests in Topeka that build relationships among people eager to defend the Constitution, respect coequal branches of government and deliver on the promise of equal rights for all.Much of the anger on the south steps of the Statehouse centered Trump’s alleged campaign to violate rights of Americans by directing federal agents to, organizers said, “kill us.”Teresa Gorby of Ottawa was on hand with a sign that declared “Stop ICE Now.”“I’m here for my country,” she said. “We need funding for health care, things that help our people not rich guys.”Topeka residents Duane and Kathy Dahm carried signs that urged people to respect the Constitution and to remind people that “silence kills democracy.”“We’re just tired and fed up with everything that’s going on,” Duane Dahm said. “All the illegal stuff (Trump’s) doing.”Other signs registered other concerns: “We’re not being governed, we’re being lied and looted,” “No dictator, no crown. We the people won’t kneel down” and “The darkness has got to give.”Doug McGaw, a Vietnam veteran who earned a Purple Heart and taught at Emporia State University, said the people had to compel the three branches of the federal government to bring order to chaos.“We have a corrupt government that will not obey the law,” he said. “We need to stiffen the spine of people who are responsible for our laws and justice system.”

Kansas protesters argue for fundamental reform of government in both style and substance

CHICAGO (AP) — The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after the revered leader's assassination, died Tuesday. He was 84.

His daughter, Santita Jackson, confirmed that Jackson died at home, surrounded by family.

As a young organizer in Chicago, Jackson was called to meet with King&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-voting-rights-memphis-north-america-a5fa959c9c3a418d9f5eb1b1badb8db2">at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis</a>&nbsp;shortly before King was killed and he publicly positioned himself thereafter as King's successor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763387324646.png" alt="Rev.. Jesse Jackson image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Rev.. Jesse Jackson image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>CHICAGO (AP) — The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate who led the Civil Rights Movement for decades after the revered leader's assassination, died Tuesday. He was 84.His daughter, Santita Jackson, confirmed that Jackson died at home, surrounded by family.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIP</a> Jesse Jackson ... 1-14-1999 introduces Donald Trump: &quot;A friend who is deceptive ... One can miss his seriousness and his commitment ... He gave us space at 40 Wall Street ... He has this sense of the curious and a will to risk to make things better ...He&#39;s a serious person&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ITng3Gg6eG">pic.twitter.com/ITng3Gg6eG</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/2023710211710890384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: Jesse Jackson 1988 Democratic National Convention Speech<a href="https://t.co/5nXDZJXAFw">https://t.co/5nXDZJXAFw</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2023737980540559678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>As a young organizer in Chicago, Jackson was called to meet with King&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-voting-rights-memphis-north-america-a5fa959c9c3a418d9f5eb1b1badb8db2">at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis</a>&nbsp;shortly before King was killed and he publicly positioned himself thereafter as King's successor.Jackson led a lifetime of crusades in the United States and abroad, advocating for the poor and underrepresented on issues from voting rights and job opportunities to education and health care. He scored diplomatic victories with world leaders, and through his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, he channeled cries for Black pride and self-determination into corporate boardrooms,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0cfc7e215c604452be78493c000ec5c8">pressuring executives</a>&nbsp;to make America a more open and equitable society.And when he declared, “I am Somebody,” in a poem he often repeated, he sought to reach people of all colors. “I may be poor, but I am Somebody; I may be young; but I am Somebody; I may be on welfare, but I am Somebody,” Jackson intoned.It was a message he took literally and personally, having risen from obscurity in the segregated South to become America’s best-known civil rights activist since King.“Our father was a servant leader — not only to our family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked around the world,” the Jackson family said in a statement posted online. “We shared him with the world, and in return, the world became part of our extended family. His unwavering belief in justice, equality, and love uplifted millions, and we ask you to honor his memory by continuing the fight for the values he lived by.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8f3f24a221ed47b79ee04b47a789d35a">Despite profound health challenges</a>&nbsp;in his final years including a rare brain disorder that affected his ability to move and speak, Jackson continued protesting against racial injustice into the era of Black Lives Matter. In 2024, he appeared at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and at a City Council meeting to show support for a resolution backing a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chicago-israel-hamas-resolution-ceasefire-7f210b4ed091347d4137810999bdc536">ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war</a>.“Even if we win,” he told marchers in Minneapolis before the officer whose knee kept&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd">George Floyd</a>&nbsp;from breathing was convicted of murder, “it’s relief, not victory. They’re still killing our people. Stop the violence, save the children. Keep hope alive.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/VxOpIcb8gy">pic.twitter.com/VxOpIcb8gy</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2023752601380978807?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Calls to action, delivered in a memorable voice</h2>Jackson’s voice, infused with the stirring cadences and powerful insistence of the Black church, demanded attention. On the campaign trail and elsewhere, he used rhyming and slogans such as: “Hope not dope” and “If my mind can conceive it and my heart can believe it then I can achieve it,″ to deliver his messages.Jackson had his share of critics, both within and outside of the Black community. Some considered him a grandstander, too eager to seek out the spotlight. Looking back on his life and legacy, Jackson told The Associated Press in 2011 that he felt blessed to be able to continue the service of other leaders before him and to lay a foundation for those to come.“A part of our life’s work was to tear down walls and build bridges, and in a half century of work, we’ve basically torn down walls,” Jackson said. “Sometimes when you tear down walls, you’re scarred by falling debris, but your mission is to open up holes so others behind you can run through.”In his final months, as he received 24-hour care, he lost his ability to speak, communicating with family and visitors by holding their hands and squeezing.“I get very emotional knowing that these speeches belong to the ages now,” his son, Jesse Jackson Jr., told the AP in October.<h2>A student athlete drawn to the Civil Rights Movement</h2>Jesse Louis Jackson was born on Oct. 8, 1941, in Greenville, South Carolina, the son of high school student Helen Burns and Noah Louis Robinson, a married man who lived next door. Jackson was later adopted by Charles Henry Jackson, who married his mother.Jackson was a star quarterback on the football team at Sterling High School in Greenville, and accepted a football scholarship from the University of Illinois. But after he reportedly was told Black people couldn’t play quarterback, he transferred to North Carolina A&amp;T in Greensboro, where he became the first-string quarterback, an honor student in sociology and economics, and student body president.Arriving on the historically Black campus in 1960 just months after students there launched sit-ins at a whites-only diner, Jackson immersed himself in the blossoming Civil Rights Movement.By 1965, he joined the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-business-alabama-martin-luther-king-jr-race-and-ethnicity-b0d6202cf702d3ae1e487e9c0329083c">voting rights march</a>&nbsp;King led from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. King dispatched him to Chicago to launch Operation Breadbasket, a Southern Christian Leadership Conference effort to pressure companies to hire Black workers.Jackson called his time with King “a phenomenal four years of work.”Jackson was with King on April 4, 1968, when the civil rights leader was slain at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. Jackson’s account of the assassination was that King died in his arms.With his flair for the dramatic, Jackson wore a turtleneck he said was soaked with King’s blood for two days, including at a King memorial service held by the Chicago City Council, where he said: “I come here with a heavy heart because on my chest is the stain of blood from Dr. King’s head.”However, several King aides, including speechwriter Alfred Duckett, questioned whether Jackson could have gotten King’s blood on his clothing. There are no images of Jackson in pictures taken shortly after the assassination.In 1971, Jackson broke with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to form Operation PUSH, originally named People United to Save Humanity. The organization based on Chicago’s South Side declared a sweeping mission, from diversifying workforces to registering voters in communities of color nationwide. Using lawsuits and threats of boycotts, Jackson pressured top corporations to spend millions and publicly commit to diversifying their workforces.The constant campaigns often left his wife, Jacqueline Lavinia Brown, the college sweetheart he married in 1963, taking the lead in raising their five children: Santita Jackson, Yusef DuBois Jackson, Jacqueline Lavinia Jackson Jr., and two future members of Congress, U.S. Rep. Jonathan Luther Jackson and Jesse L. Jackson Jr., who resigned in 2012 but is seeking reelection in the 2026 midterms.The elder Jackson, who was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1968 and earned his Master of Divinity in 2000, also acknowledged fathering a child, Ashley Jackson, with one of his employees at Rainbow/PUSH, Karen L. Stanford. He said he understood what it means to be born out of wedlock and supported her emotionally and financially.<h2>Presidential aspirations fall short but help ‘keep hope alive’</h2>Despite once telling a Black audience he would not run for president “because white people are incapable of appreciating me,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9399c132eb6f43d28021ba0e1da1d88c/Jesse-Jackson's-decades-in-public-eye-shaped-by-many-roles">Jackson ran twice</a>&nbsp;and did better than any Black politician had before President Barack Obama, winning 13 primaries and caucuses for the Democratic nomination in 1988, four years after his first failed attempt.His successes left supporters chanting another Jackson slogan, “Keep Hope Alive.”“I was able to run for the presidency twice and redefine what was possible; it raised the lid for women and other people of color,” he told the AP. “Part of my job was to sow seeds of the possibilities.”<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4842199/representative-john-lewis-reflects-impact-jesse-jackson-1988-presidential-candidacy">U.S. Rep. John Lewis said</a>&nbsp;during a 1988 C-SPAN interview that Jackson’s two runs for the Democratic nomination “opened some doors that some minority person will be able to walk through and become president.”Jackson also pushed for cultural change, joining calls by NAACP members and other movement leaders in the late 1980s to identify Black people in the United States as African Americans.“To be called African Americans has cultural integrity — it puts us in our proper historical context,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=jesse+jackson+african+americans&amp;rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1028US1028&amp;ei=KhfEZLOoI9PJptQP0-iu2AE&amp;ved=0ahUKEwiz5fXTkbKAAxXTpIkEHVO0CxsQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=jesse+jackson+african+americans&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiH2plc3NlIGphY2tzb24gYWZyaWNhbiBhbWVyaWNhbnNInxNQlwRY4QtwAXgAkAEAmAFuoAGWDKoBAzcuObgBA8gBAPgBAeIDBBgBIEGIBgE&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&amp;vld=cid:3a6492f0,vid:qrSA6vbqC90">Jackson said at the time</a>. “Every ethnic group in this country has a reference to some base, some historical cultural base. African Americans have hit that level of cultural maturity.”Jackson’s words sometimes got him in trouble.In 1984, he apologized for what he thought were private comments to a reporter, calling New York City “Hymietown,” a derogatory reference to its large Jewish population. And in 2008, he made headlines when he complained that Obama was “talking down to Black people” in comments captured by a microphone he didn’t know was on during a break in a television taping.Still, when Jackson joined the jubilant crowd in Chicago’s Grant Park to greet Obama that election night, he had tears streaming down his face.“I wish for a moment that Dr. King or (slain civil rights leader) Medgar Evers ... could’ve just been there for 30 seconds to see the fruits of their labor,” he told the AP years later. “I became overwhelmed. It was the joy and the journey.”<h2>Exerting influence on events at home and abroad</h2>Jackson also had influence abroad, meeting world leaders and scoring diplomatic victories, including the release of Navy Lt. Robert Goodman from Syria in 1984, as well as the 1990 release of more than 700 foreign women and children held after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. In 1999, he won the freedom of three Americans imprisoned by Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.In 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civilian honor.“Citizens have the right to do something or do nothing,” Jackson said, before heading to Syria. “We choose to do something.”In 2021,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/al-sharpton-racial-injustice-georgia-brunswick-crime-d79f3ef1a8cc16ce74adc38f9e6ec0ec">Jackson joined the parents of Ahmaud Arbery</a>&nbsp;inside the Georgia courtroom where three white men were convicted of killing the young Black jogger. In 2022, he hand-delivered a letter to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, calling for federal charges against former Chicago Police Officer Jason Van Dyke in the 2014 killing of Black teenager Laquan McDonald.Jackson, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jesse-jackson-rainbow-push-stepping-down-8452b3479834d1ef7acef84419575864">stepped down as president of Rainbow/PUSH</a>&nbsp;in July 2023, disclosed in 2017 that he had sought treatment for Parkinson’s, but he continued to make public appearances even as the disease made it more difficult for listeners to understand him. Earlier this year doctors confirmed a diagnosis of progressive supranuclear palsy, a life-threatening neurological disorder. He was admitted to a hospital in November.During the coronavirus pandemic, he and his wife survived&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-religion-coronavirus-pandemic-voting-rights-fb8ce99277e00e21189f948b98d15d55">being hospitalized with COVID-19</a>. Jackson was vaccinated early, urging Black people in particular to get protected, given their higher risks for bad outcomes.“It’s America’s unfinished business — we’re free, but not equal,” Jackson told the AP. “There’s a reality check that has been brought by the coronavirus, that exposes the weakness and the opportunity.”___Former Associated Press writer Karen Hawkins, who left The Associated Press in 2012, contributed to this report. Associated Press writer Amy Forliti in Minneapolis contributed.