KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 6p.m. Thursday, police&nbsp;responded to an injury accident in the 3700 block of East 51st&nbsp;Street, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

When officers arrived, they located a man later identified as 50-year-old&nbsp;Terry Lindsey suffering from life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Lindsey was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.&nbsp;

Originally, Accident Investigation Unit detectives responded to the scene to handle the investigation.&nbsp; However, preliminary findings revealed the Lindsey appeared to have been struck intentionally by a vehicle.&nbsp; Homicide Detectives have taken over the case and this is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp;

A subject of interest was taken into custody a short time later, pending further investigation.&nbsp; Detectives conducted area canvasses for witnesses and surveillance footage.&nbsp; 

Crime Scene responded to the scene and processed all available physical evidence.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 6p.m. Thursday, police&nbsp;responded to an injury accident in the 3700 block of East 51st&nbsp;Street, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.When officers arrived, they located a man later identified as 50-year-old&nbsp;Terry Lindsey suffering from life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Lindsey was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.&nbsp;Originally, Accident Investigation Unit detectives responded to the scene to handle the investigation.&nbsp; However, preliminary findings revealed the Lindsey appeared to have been struck intentionally by a vehicle.&nbsp; Homicide Detectives have taken over the case and this is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp;A subject of interest was taken into custody a short time later, pending further investigation.&nbsp; Detectives conducted area canvasses for witnesses and surveillance footage.&nbsp; Crime Scene responded to the scene and processed all available physical evidence.&nbsp;

KCPD: Homicide victim intentionally run over by a vehicle

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri’s first confirmed measles case of the year involves a child in Taney County, the health department announced Friday afternoon.

The child’s vaccination status “has not yet been verified,” according to the press release.

The child, who is not a Missouri resident, was visiting Taney County and was diagnosed “soon after arrival,” Lisa Cox, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/58f781a5-e996-4c78-918c-07b00af263cf/case-of-measles-confirmed-in-traveler-to-missouri" target="_blank">press release</a>.

Taney County is in southwest Missouri, and its largest city is Branson.&nbsp;

“Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts have been identified and contacted,” Cox said, adding that the state is supporting Taney County’s health department to investigate possible exposure.&nbsp;

The case is “associated with recent international travel,” Cox said.

Measles is a highly-contagious virus the country&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html" target="_blank">declared eliminated</a>&nbsp;25 years ago, but that has resurged with falling vaccination rates.&nbsp;

“For those unvaccinated or those unsure of their vaccination status, now is the time to review records and get caught up if needed,” Dr. George Turabelidze, state epidemiologist with DHSS, said in the press release.

The percent of Missouri kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella has declined over the last several years, from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year to 91% in the 2023-2024 school year, in public schools, per&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/schoolhealth/dashboard.php" target="_blank">DHHS data</a>. In private schools, the drop has been even larger, from 92% to 85% in the same period.

Nationally, there are at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html" target="_blank">800 reported cases of measles across 25 states,&nbsp;</a>according to Center for Disease Control data as of Friday. That doesn’t include Missouri’s case, Cox said, because the state received lab test results Thursday night, after the federal reporting deadline for this week.&nbsp;

That is the highest number for a single year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-outbreak-us-map/" target="_blank">since 2019</a>&nbsp;and is still growing.

The majority of measles infections nationally have been reported in a West Texas outbreak. There have been two confirmed deaths, both in Texas.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2314/Measles-Data" target="_blank">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has reported 37 cases,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html" target="_blank">possibly linked</a>&nbsp;to the Texas outbreak.

There are outbreaks in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/health/measles-texas-mexico-canada.html" target="_blank">Canada and Mexico</a>, too, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html" target="_blank">several states have reported</a>&nbsp;isolated cases as the result of international travel.

At the same time, the federal government has cut grant funding set aside for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to encourage vaccinations,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/health-science-environment/2025-04-16/federal-government-cuts-missouri-vaccine-funds-as-immunizations-dip" target="_blank">according to St. Louis Public Radio.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741908251964.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s first confirmed measles case of the year involves a child in Taney County, the health department announced Friday afternoon.The child’s vaccination status “has not yet been verified,” according to the press release.The child, who is not a Missouri resident, was visiting Taney County and was diagnosed “soon after arrival,” Lisa Cox, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/58f781a5-e996-4c78-918c-07b00af263cf/case-of-measles-confirmed-in-traveler-to-missouri" target="_blank">press release</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Measles has been diagnosed in Missouri for the first time this year. The case is in a child who visited Taney county after traveling internationally. Luckily, there is no evidence of widespread public exposure, so there is no need to panic. <a href="https://t.co/kP0QydyipI">pic.twitter.com/kP0QydyipI</a>&mdash; Missouri Department of Health &amp; Senior Services (@HealthyLivingMo) <a href="https://twitter.com/HealthyLivingMo/status/1913290649522045239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Taney County is in southwest Missouri, and its largest city is Branson.&nbsp;“Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts have been identified and contacted,” Cox said, adding that the state is supporting Taney County’s health department to investigate possible exposure.&nbsp;The case is “associated with recent international travel,” Cox said.Measles is a highly-contagious virus the country&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/history.html" target="_blank">declared eliminated</a>&nbsp;25 years ago, but that has resurged with falling vaccination rates.&nbsp;“For those unvaccinated or those unsure of their vaccination status, now is the time to review records and get caught up if needed,” Dr. George Turabelidze, state epidemiologist with DHSS, said in the press release.The percent of Missouri kindergarteners fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella has declined over the last several years, from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year to 91% in the 2023-2024 school year, in public schools, per&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/living/families/schoolhealth/dashboard.php" target="_blank">DHHS data</a>. In private schools, the drop has been even larger, from 92% to 85% in the same period.Nationally, there are at least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html" target="_blank">800 reported cases of measles across 25 states,&nbsp;</a>according to Center for Disease Control data as of Friday. That doesn’t include Missouri’s case, Cox said, because the state received lab test results Thursday night, after the federal reporting deadline for this week.&nbsp;That is the highest number for a single year&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/measles-outbreak-us-map/" target="_blank">since 2019</a>&nbsp;and is still growing.The majority of measles infections nationally have been reported in a West Texas outbreak. There have been two confirmed deaths, both in Texas.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/2314/Measles-Data" target="_blank">Kansas</a>&nbsp;has reported 37 cases,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html" target="_blank">possibly linked</a>&nbsp;to the Texas outbreak.There are outbreaks in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/health/measles-texas-mexico-canada.html" target="_blank">Canada and Mexico</a>, too, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/measles-kansas-ohio-texas.html" target="_blank">several states have reported</a>&nbsp;isolated cases as the result of international travel.At the same time, the federal government has cut grant funding set aside for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to encourage vaccinations,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/health-science-environment/2025-04-16/federal-government-cuts-missouri-vaccine-funds-as-immunizations-dip" target="_blank">according to St. Louis Public Radio.</a>

Missouri reports first measles case of 2025

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department has positively identified the body pulled Thursday from the Missouri River&nbsp; as 39-year-old, Brandon Anfinson, according to a statement from the department.

On March 21, Anfinson’s family reported him missing from his home in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas. Since that time law enforcement, family, friends and the community conducted extensive searches of the area for him. 

On Thursday, the Kansas City, Missouri Police and Fire Departments were called to 7808 E. Levee Road on a report of a body in the Missouri River. The missing persons case has now become an active death investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. 

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745025874467.png" alt="Brandon Anfinson courtesy p hoto" />
 <figcaption>Brandon Anfinson courtesy p hoto</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department has positively identified the body pulled Thursday from the Missouri River&nbsp; as 39-year-old, Brandon Anfinson, according to a statement from the department.On March 21, Anfinson’s family reported him missing from his home in the Argentine neighborhood of Kansas City, Kansas. Since that time law enforcement, family, friends and the community conducted extensive searches of the area for him. On Thursday, the Kansas City, Missouri Police and Fire Departments were called to 7808 E. Levee Road on a report of a body in the Missouri River. The missing persons case has now become an active death investigation by the KCKPD Major Case Unit. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477). All tips remain anonymous and may qualify for a cash reward.There is nothing further to report at this time.

Police: Body pulled from river was missing Kansas man

WASHINGTON (AP) —The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Saturday blocked, for now, the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law.

In a brief order, the court directed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center “until further order of this court.”

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">Alien Enemies Act</a>&nbsp;of 1798. The Supreme Court had said earlier in April that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given “a reasonable time” to contest their pending removals.

“We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process," ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email.

On Friday, two federal judges refused to step in as lawyers for the men launched a desperate legal campaign to prevent their deportation, even as one judge said the case raised legitimate concerns. Early Saturday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to issue an order protecting the detainees from being deported.

The administration is expected to return to the Supreme Court quickly in an effort to persuade the justices to lift their temporary order.

The ACLU had already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act.

In an emergency filing early Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which would make them subject to President Donald Trump's use of the act.

The act has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration contended it gave them power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status.

Following the unanimous high court order on April 9, federal judges in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-deportation-colorado-venezuelan-gang-c8b4e376539125e46ee16971c8a0f4be">Colorado</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-alien-enemies-act-5eb0e061b4cc0d929f0050d7adb9b133">New York and southern Texas</a>&nbsp;promptly issued orders barring removal of detainees under the AEA until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court.

But there had been no such order issued in the area of Texas that covers Bluebonnet, which is located 24 miles north of Abilene in the far northern end of the state.

U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, this week declined to bar the administration from removing the two men identified in the ACLU lawsuit because Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed sworn declarations that they would not be immediately deported. He also balked at issuing a broader order prohibiting removal of all Venezuelans in the area under the act because he said removals hadn't started yet.

But the ACLU's Friday filing included sworn declarations from three separate immigration lawyers who said their clients in Bluebonnet were given paperwork indicating they were members of Tren de Aragua and could be deported by Saturday. In one case, immigration lawyer Karene Brown said her client, identified by initials, was told to sign papers in English even though the client only spoke Spanish.

“ICE informed F.G.M. that these papers were coming from the President, and that he will be deported even if he did not sign it,” Brown wrote.

Gelernt said in a Friday evening hearing before District Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., that the administration initially moved Venezuelans to its south Texas immigration facility for deportation. But since a judge banned deportations in that area, it has funneled them to the Bluebonnet facility, where no such order exists. He said witnesses reported the men were being loaded on buses Friday evening to be taken to the airport.

With Hendrix not agreeing to the ACLU's request for an emergency order, the group turned to Boasberg, who initially halted deportations in March. The Supreme Court ruled the orders against deportation could only come from judges in jurisdictions where immigrants were held, which Boasberg said made him powerless Friday.

“I’m sympathetic to everything you’re saying,” Boasberg told Gelernt. “I just don’t think I have the power to do anything about it.”

Boasberg this week found there's probable cause that the Trump administration committed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportees-el-salvador-contempt-boasberg-da282511ac6f5c8dd19af620995ca440">criminal contempt</a>&nbsp;by disobeying his initial deportation ban. He was concerned that the paper that ICE was giving those held did not make clear they had a right to challenge their removal in court, which he believed the Supreme Court mandated.

Drew Ensign, an attorney for the Justice Department, disagreed, saying that people slated for deportation would have a “minimum” of 24 hours to challenge their removal in court. He said no flights were scheduled for Friday night and he was unaware of any Saturday, but the Department of Homeland Security said it reserved the right to remove people then.

ICE said it would not comment on the litigation.

Also Friday, a Massachusetts judge made permanent his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-immigration-deportations-third-countries-89eb617cb350bfeb2114f7b4a4e07aef">temporary ban</a>&nbsp;on the administration deporting immigrants who have exhausted their appeals to countries other than their home countries unless they are informed of their destination and given a chance to object if they'd face torture or death there.

Some Venezuelans subject to Trump's Alien Enemies Act have been sent to El Salvador and housed in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">notorious</a>&nbsp;main prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742866027364.png" alt="Image from video provided by U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt" />
 <figcaption>Image from video provided by U.S. Senator from Missouri Eric Schmitt</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Saturday blocked, for now, the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745067407505.png" alt="U.S. Supreme Court" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Supreme Court</figcaption>
 </figure>In a brief order, the court directed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center “until further order of this court.”Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">Alien Enemies Act</a>&nbsp;of 1798. The Supreme Court had said earlier in April that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given “a reasonable time” to contest their pending removals.“We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process," ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email.On Friday, two federal judges refused to step in as lawyers for the men launched a desperate legal campaign to prevent their deportation, even as one judge said the case raised legitimate concerns. Early Saturday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to issue an order protecting the detainees from being deported.The administration is expected to return to the Supreme Court quickly in an effort to persuade the justices to lift their temporary order.The ACLU had already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act.In an emergency filing early Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which would make them subject to President Donald Trump's use of the act.The act has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration contended it gave them power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status.Following the unanimous high court order on April 9, federal judges in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-alien-enemies-deportation-colorado-venezuelan-gang-c8b4e376539125e46ee16971c8a0f4be">Colorado</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-alien-enemies-act-5eb0e061b4cc0d929f0050d7adb9b133">New York and southern Texas</a>&nbsp;promptly issued orders barring removal of detainees under the AEA until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court.But there had been no such order issued in the area of Texas that covers Bluebonnet, which is located 24 miles north of Abilene in the far northern end of the state.U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, this week declined to bar the administration from removing the two men identified in the ACLU lawsuit because Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed sworn declarations that they would not be immediately deported. He also balked at issuing a broader order prohibiting removal of all Venezuelans in the area under the act because he said removals hadn't started yet.But the ACLU's Friday filing included sworn declarations from three separate immigration lawyers who said their clients in Bluebonnet were given paperwork indicating they were members of Tren de Aragua and could be deported by Saturday. In one case, immigration lawyer Karene Brown said her client, identified by initials, was told to sign papers in English even though the client only spoke Spanish.“ICE informed F.G.M. that these papers were coming from the President, and that he will be deported even if he did not sign it,” Brown wrote.Gelernt said in a Friday evening hearing before District Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., that the administration initially moved Venezuelans to its south Texas immigration facility for deportation. But since a judge banned deportations in that area, it has funneled them to the Bluebonnet facility, where no such order exists. He said witnesses reported the men were being loaded on buses Friday evening to be taken to the airport.With Hendrix not agreeing to the ACLU's request for an emergency order, the group turned to Boasberg, who initially halted deportations in March. The Supreme Court ruled the orders against deportation could only come from judges in jurisdictions where immigrants were held, which Boasberg said made him powerless Friday.“I’m sympathetic to everything you’re saying,” Boasberg told Gelernt. “I just don’t think I have the power to do anything about it.”Boasberg this week found there's probable cause that the Trump administration committed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportees-el-salvador-contempt-boasberg-da282511ac6f5c8dd19af620995ca440">criminal contempt</a>&nbsp;by disobeying his initial deportation ban. He was concerned that the paper that ICE was giving those held did not make clear they had a right to challenge their removal in court, which he believed the Supreme Court mandated.Drew Ensign, an attorney for the Justice Department, disagreed, saying that people slated for deportation would have a “minimum” of 24 hours to challenge their removal in court. He said no flights were scheduled for Friday night and he was unaware of any Saturday, but the Department of Homeland Security said it reserved the right to remove people then.ICE said it would not comment on the litigation.Also Friday, a Massachusetts judge made permanent his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-immigration-deportations-third-countries-89eb617cb350bfeb2114f7b4a4e07aef">temporary ban</a>&nbsp;on the administration deporting immigrants who have exhausted their appeals to countries other than their home countries unless they are informed of their destination and given a chance to object if they'd face torture or death there.Some Venezuelans subject to Trump's Alien Enemies Act have been sent to El Salvador and housed in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-trump-prison-immigrants-4ab3fc3c0474efb308084604b61f8a37">notorious</a>&nbsp;main prison.

Supreme Court blocks, for now, new deportations under 1798 law

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

TOPEKA — Approval of a last-minute addition to Kansas’ state budget took the gambling and sports betting sphere by surprise, leaving the future of the industry in the state uncertain.

The Kansas Legislature Friday passed the&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb125/" target="_blank">state budget bill</a>, which included a provision that bans the Kansas Lottery, the agency that oversees gambling in the state, from spending state money to negotiate any renewals, extensions or new contracts with sports wagering operators until July 2026.

Jeremy Kudon, a lobbyist who had a hand in ushering in gambling’s new era of sports wagering in the United States, took to the social media platform X to assure bettors that their online sports betting operators would remain in Kansas — for now.

“Just want to clarify: None of the leading OSB operators in Kansas will go dark as a result of today’s vote,” Kudon wrote in a post.

Most contracts with the state lottery are valid until 2027, he said.

“But I wouldn’t let the Kansas legislature off so easy. They had no idea when these contracts expired and were willing to take your favorite OSB apps away from Kansans. We’re not going to let that happen,” Kudon wrote.

Kansans over 21 years old can bet on badminton, bull riding and 50 other categories of live and virtual sports. Since 2022, after the passage of&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/sb84/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 84</a>, the state recruited six sports wager operators: BetMGM, Caesar’s, DraftKings, ESPNBet, FanDuel and Fanatics. Each of those contracts, which include retail and mobile betting, are set to expire at the same time in August 2027.

Historically, the Kansas Lottery negotiated the contracts and went through an approval process with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

The Legislature’s moratorium, which will apply to fiscal years 2025 and 2026, could open up Kansas’ sports betting market to new regulations or more influence from state lawmakers if they decide to take up the issue in the 2026 session. Among possible changes, one option is an increase in the share of money the state collects from sports wagering revenues. The state currently collects 10% of all revenue from both mobile and retail platforms.&nbsp;

Sports wagering is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Missouri voters narrowly approved in November a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting online, in casinos and in certain districts near major sports arenas. The rollout was scheduled for this summer, but the state has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/24/launch-of-missouri-sports-betting-delayed-until-fall-after-emergency-rules-were-rejected/" target="_blank">delayed it until the fall</a>&nbsp;to allow for time to straighten out licensing rules.

Legalized gambling in Kansas dates back to 1986, when more than 60% of voters approved a constitutional amendment to establish a state-run lottery. A year later, the Legislature passed the Kansas Lottery Act.&nbsp;

The Legislature this year authorized a gaming compact between the governor’s office and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska to allow sports betting at the Sac &amp; Fox Casino in Powhattan. In 2024, the Legislature approved a sports betting compact for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska’s White Cloud Casino in White Cloud and did the same in 2023 for the Prairie Band Casino Resort in Mayetta, which is owned by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662056609748.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly, who signed a bill in May 2022 legalizing sports betting in Kansas, placed the state's first bet in September of that year on the Kansas City Chiefs.(Submitted)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly, who signed a bill in May 2022 legalizing sports betting in Kansas, placed the state's first bet in September of that year on the Kansas City Chiefs.(Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Approval of a last-minute addition to Kansas’ state budget took the gambling and sports betting sphere by surprise, leaving the future of the industry in the state uncertain.The Kansas Legislature Friday passed the&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb125/" target="_blank">state budget bill</a>, which included a provision that bans the Kansas Lottery, the agency that oversees gambling in the state, from spending state money to negotiate any renewals, extensions or new contracts with sports wagering operators until July 2026.Jeremy Kudon, a lobbyist who had a hand in ushering in gambling’s new era of sports wagering in the United States, took to the social media platform X to assure bettors that their online sports betting operators would remain in Kansas — for now.“Just want to clarify: None of the leading OSB operators in Kansas will go dark as a result of today’s vote,” Kudon wrote in a post.Most contracts with the state lottery are valid until 2027, he said.“But I wouldn’t let the Kansas legislature off so easy. They had no idea when these contracts expired and were willing to take your favorite OSB apps away from Kansans. We’re not going to let that happen,” Kudon wrote.Kansans over 21 years old can bet on badminton, bull riding and 50 other categories of live and virtual sports. Since 2022, after the passage of&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li_2022/b2021_22/measures/sb84/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 84</a>, the state recruited six sports wager operators: BetMGM, Caesar’s, DraftKings, ESPNBet, FanDuel and Fanatics. Each of those contracts, which include retail and mobile betting, are set to expire at the same time in August 2027.Historically, the Kansas Lottery negotiated the contracts and went through an approval process with the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.The Legislature’s moratorium, which will apply to fiscal years 2025 and 2026, could open up Kansas’ sports betting market to new regulations or more influence from state lawmakers if they decide to take up the issue in the 2026 session. Among possible changes, one option is an increase in the share of money the state collects from sports wagering revenues. The state currently collects 10% of all revenue from both mobile and retail platforms.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744994370822.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sports wagering is legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Missouri voters narrowly approved in November a constitutional amendment to legalize sports betting online, in casinos and in certain districts near major sports arenas. The rollout was scheduled for this summer, but the state has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/24/launch-of-missouri-sports-betting-delayed-until-fall-after-emergency-rules-were-rejected/" target="_blank">delayed it until the fall</a>&nbsp;to allow for time to straighten out licensing rules.Legalized gambling in Kansas dates back to 1986, when more than 60% of voters approved a constitutional amendment to establish a state-run lottery. A year later, the Legislature passed the Kansas Lottery Act.&nbsp;The Legislature this year authorized a gaming compact between the governor’s office and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska to allow sports betting at the Sac &amp; Fox Casino in Powhattan. In 2024, the Legislature approved a sports betting compact for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska’s White Cloud Casino in White Cloud and did the same in 2023 for the Prairie Band Casino Resort in Mayetta, which is owned by the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation.

Last-minute moratorium on Kansas sports betting contract negotiations provokes uncertainty

SEDGWICK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Thursday in Wichita.

According to Wichita Police, a motorcycle driven by Richard Daniels was eastbound in the 1000 Block of East MacArthur in Wichita.&nbsp; A USD 259 Wichita school bus with 18 students on board made a left turn in front of the motorcycle resulting in the collision.

Emergency medical personnel rendered aid at the scene and transported Daniels to Wesley Medical Center in critical condition. He died of his injuries on Friday morning, according to police.

There were no injuries reported among the students or the bus driver.

This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the WPD Accident Follow-Up Unit at (316) 350-3685 or Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111. Anonymous tips are welcome.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745012293024.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Thursday in Wichita.According to Wichita Police, a motorcycle driven by Richard Daniels was eastbound in the 1000 Block of East MacArthur in Wichita.&nbsp; A USD 259 Wichita school bus with 18 students on board made a left turn in front of the motorcycle resulting in the collision.Emergency medical personnel rendered aid at the scene and transported Daniels to Wesley Medical Center in critical condition. He died of his injuries on Friday morning, according to police.There were no injuries reported among the students or the bus driver.This incident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is urged to contact the WPD Accident Follow-Up Unit at (316) 350-3685 or Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111. Anonymous tips are welcome.

Kan. motorcyclist dies from injuries in crash with a school bus

KANSAS CITY—A suspect faces charges in connection with a shooting in a Kansas City suburg.

According to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson, 19-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2582/HunleyDeShawn---Complaint-Redacted">De’Shawn Hunley</a>&nbsp;faces one count of 1st Degree Assault and one count of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2581/HunleyDeShawn---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Grain Valley police were dispatched to the 1700 block of Buckner Tarsney Road on April 14 regarding a shooting. Officers located the victim standing near his vehicle with severe trauma from a gunshot wound to his face. He was transported to an area trauma center and was in stable condition.

Based on witness reports and surveillance footage, Hunley shot at the victim who was in his vehicle fleeing after an argument about a potential marijuana sale. Hunley fled from the scene on foot to his residence and hid the gun and his clothes.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence and with the help of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents and an ATF K9, they found the handgun used in the shooting and the clothes the defendant was wearing at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;

Hunley is in custody on a $100,000 cash only bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744834860672.png" alt="Hunley photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Hunley photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—A suspect faces charges in connection with a shooting in a Kansas City suburg.According to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson, 19-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2582/HunleyDeShawn---Complaint-Redacted">De’Shawn Hunley</a>&nbsp;faces one count of 1st Degree Assault and one count of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2581/HunleyDeShawn---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Grain Valley police were dispatched to the 1700 block of Buckner Tarsney Road on April 14 regarding a shooting. Officers located the victim standing near his vehicle with severe trauma from a gunshot wound to his face. He was transported to an area trauma center and was in stable condition.Based on witness reports and surveillance footage, Hunley shot at the victim who was in his vehicle fleeing after an argument about a potential marijuana sale. Hunley fled from the scene on foot to his residence and hid the gun and his clothes.Detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence and with the help of Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents and an ATF K9, they found the handgun used in the shooting and the clothes the defendant was wearing at the time of the shooting.&nbsp;Hunley is in custody on a $100,000 cash only bond.&nbsp;

KC man shot victim in the face in dispute over marijuana sale

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Two people were killed and six others were injured&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooting-c9a33f571466ce1ab1045dafebb30b82">when a gunman opened fire</a>&nbsp;at Florida State University, sending students fleeing from the student union and putting the Tallahassee, Florida, campus under lockdown.

Authorities have identified the shooter as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old Florida State student who is the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy. He began firing with his stepmother’s former service weapon before he was shot and wounded by officers when he refused to comply with commands, investigators said.

Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-campus-university-shootings-america-0a9229257e46f4c9ff7a1440bef8ded1">shooting</a>, which began around lunchtime Thursday just outside the student union.

Officials have also not identified the victims who died. A family member said that university employee Robert Morales was one of those who were killed. Attorneys for the family of the second victim identified him as Tiru Chabba, a food service vendor executive. Here is what we know about Morales and Chabba.

Robert Morales was a university dining coordinator who had worked at Florida State since 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile.

“Today we lost my younger Brother, he was one of the victims killed at FSU,” Ricardo Morales Jr. posted on social media late Thursday. “He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful Wife and Daughter. I’m glad you were in my life.”

Morales had studied criminology at the school in the early 1990s, according to the LinkedIn profile.

The profile also said he was CEO of Black Bean Food Group, though state records show that the business was dissolved a decade ago.

Morales developed innovative menus, especially Cuban food, and was a former assistant football coach at nearby Leon High School, Kyle Clark, a senior vice president at FSU, said Friday afternoon at a vigil.

“He didn’t just do a job. He lived the job,” Clark said. “He was a stellar person."

The Morales brothers' father, Ricardo Morales, was a Cuban exile turned CIA operative in South Florida with the nickname “Monkey.” Ricardo Morales Jr. describes his father's work as a contract agent for the CIA in the forthcoming book, “Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad,” which is expected to be published later this year.

“Dubbed ‘The Monkey’ for his disruptive and unpredictable escapades, Morales grabbed headlines for decades as tales of his bombings, arrests, assassination attempts (both those he executed and those he suffered), and testimony constructed a real-life spy adventure unlike anything brought to page or screen,” reads promotional material from publisher Simon &amp; Schuster.

The elder Morales was fatally shot in a bar brawl in 1982 at the age of 43.

Tiru Chabba was working for food service vendor Aramark when he was killed on the Florida State campus, said Michael Wukela, a spokesperson for attorneys hired by the family.

A LinkedIn profile listed Chabba as a regional vice president of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality who had worked for the company for more than two decades. The 45-year-old Greenville, South Carolina, resident was a married father of two children who had earned an MBA from The Citadel in South Carolina.

"Tiru Chabba’s family is going through the unimaginable now,” Bakari Sellers, one of the attorneys hired by the family, said in a statement. “Instead of hiding Easter eggs and visiting with friends and family, they’re living a nightmare where this loving father and devoted husband was stolen from them in an act of senseless and preventable violence.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744916940669.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation at FSU -photo courtesy WCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation at FSU -photo courtesy WCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Two people were killed and six others were injured&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooting-c9a33f571466ce1ab1045dafebb30b82">when a gunman opened fire</a>&nbsp;at Florida State University, sending students fleeing from the student union and putting the Tallahassee, Florida, campus under lockdown.Authorities have identified the shooter as Phoenix Ikner, a 20-year-old Florida State student who is the stepson of a sheriff’s deputy. He began firing with his stepmother’s former service weapon before he was shot and wounded by officers when he refused to comply with commands, investigators said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745026211201.png" alt="This undated photo provided by the Strom Law Firm on Friday, April 18, 2025, shows Tiru Chaba, one of the people fatally shot on Florida State University campus. (Strom Law Firm via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This undated photo provided by the Strom Law Firm on Friday, April 18, 2025, shows Tiru Chaba, one of the people fatally shot on Florida State University campus. (Strom Law Firm via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>Authorities have not yet revealed a motive for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-campus-university-shootings-america-0a9229257e46f4c9ff7a1440bef8ded1">shooting</a>, which began around lunchtime Thursday just outside the student union.Officials have also not identified the victims who died. A family member said that university employee Robert Morales was one of those who were killed. Attorneys for the family of the second victim identified him as Tiru Chabba, a food service vendor executive. Here is what we know about Morales and Chabba.<h2>Robert Morales</h2>Robert Morales was a university dining coordinator who had worked at Florida State since 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile.“Today we lost my younger Brother, he was one of the victims killed at FSU,” Ricardo Morales Jr. posted on social media late Thursday. “He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful Wife and Daughter. I’m glad you were in my life.”Morales had studied criminology at the school in the early 1990s, according to the LinkedIn profile.The profile also said he was CEO of Black Bean Food Group, though state records show that the business was dissolved a decade ago.Morales developed innovative menus, especially Cuban food, and was a former assistant football coach at nearby Leon High School, Kyle Clark, a senior vice president at FSU, said Friday afternoon at a vigil.“He didn’t just do a job. He lived the job,” Clark said. “He was a stellar person."The Morales brothers' father, Ricardo Morales, was a Cuban exile turned CIA operative in South Florida with the nickname “Monkey.” Ricardo Morales Jr. describes his father's work as a contract agent for the CIA in the forthcoming book, “Monkey Morales: The True Story of a Mythic Cuban Exile, Assassin, CIA Operative, FBI Informant, Smuggler, and Dad,” which is expected to be published later this year.“Dubbed ‘The Monkey’ for his disruptive and unpredictable escapades, Morales grabbed headlines for decades as tales of his bombings, arrests, assassination attempts (both those he executed and those he suffered), and testimony constructed a real-life spy adventure unlike anything brought to page or screen,” reads promotional material from publisher Simon &amp; Schuster.The elder Morales was fatally shot in a bar brawl in 1982 at the age of 43.<h2>Tiru Chabba</h2>Tiru Chabba was working for food service vendor Aramark when he was killed on the Florida State campus, said Michael Wukela, a spokesperson for attorneys hired by the family.A LinkedIn profile listed Chabba as a regional vice president of Aramark Collegiate Hospitality who had worked for the company for more than two decades. The 45-year-old Greenville, South Carolina, resident was a married father of two children who had earned an MBA from The Citadel in South Carolina."Tiru Chabba’s family is going through the unimaginable now,” Bakari Sellers, one of the attorneys hired by the family, said in a statement. “Instead of hiding Easter eggs and visiting with friends and family, they’re living a nightmare where this loving father and devoted husband was stolen from them in an act of senseless and preventable violence.”___

Details on the victims who died in shooting at Florida State University

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on a bicycle.

Just after 11:30 p.m. April 15, , a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist near NW Taylor Street and NW Lyman Road in rural Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, the deputy found illegal drugs and arrested 49-year-old Donald W. St Clair of Topeka. He was&nbsp; booked into the Shawnee County Department on&nbsp;charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana and the bicycle was not equipped with lamp when in use at night

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744897598539.png" alt="St. Clair photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>St. Clair photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop on a bicycle.Just after 11:30 p.m. April 15, , a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a bicyclist near NW Taylor Street and NW Lyman Road in rural Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, the deputy found illegal drugs and arrested 49-year-old Donald W. St Clair of Topeka. He was&nbsp; booked into the Shawnee County Department on&nbsp;charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Possession of marijuana and the bicycle was not equipped with lamp when in use at night

Kansas bicyclist caught transporting illegal drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) — Approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were released Friday, continuing the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/rfk">Click here to view the files.</a>

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages to its public website. Many files related to the senator’s assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitized and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government.

“Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement.

Gabbard also said the files release “shine a long-overdue light on the truth.”

The release of the RFK files comes a month after unredacted files related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-assassination-documents-release-trump-c56ed5075b38af809f36a6388797d4ca">the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;were disclosed.

Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But he’s also been deeply suspicious for years of the government’s intelligence agencies, and his administration’s release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questioning about the conclusions and operations of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a son of the Democratic New York senator who now serves as the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, commended Trump and Gabbard for their “courage” and “dogged efforts” to release the files.

“Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,” the health secretary said in a statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744988598872.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Approximately 10,000 pages of records related to the 1968 assassination of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were released Friday, continuing the disclosure of national secrets ordered by President Donald Trump.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/rfk">Click here to view the files.</a>The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration posted roughly 229 files containing the pages to its public website. Many files related to the senator’s assassination had been previously released, but others had not been digitized and sat for decades in storage facilities maintained by the federal government.“Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal government’s investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump,” Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, said in a statement.Gabbard also said the files release “shine a long-overdue light on the truth.”The release of the RFK files comes a month after unredacted files related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-assassination-documents-release-trump-c56ed5075b38af809f36a6388797d4ca">the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy</a>&nbsp;were disclosed.Trump, a Republican, has championed in the name of transparency the release of documents related to high-profile assassinations and investigations. But he’s also been deeply suspicious for years of the government’s intelligence agencies, and his administration’s release of once-hidden files opens the door for additional public scrutiny and questioning about the conclusions and operations of institutions such as the CIA and the FBI.Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a son of the Democratic New York senator who now serves as the U.S. Health and Human Services secretary, commended Trump and Gabbard for their “courage” and “dogged efforts” to release the files.“Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,” the health secretary said in a statement.

Read the just released files: 1968 Robert F. Kennedy assassination 

ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-us-trump-biden-meloni-874d84df75e6a73188a38e7551735824">Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni</a>&nbsp;in Rome on Friday for a second day of talks on tariffs and then attended Good Friday services at the Vatican amid speculation of a possible pope greeting this weekend.

“I’ve been missing you,” Meloni jokingly told Vance as he entered the courtyard of Chigi Palace, the premier's office.

They had seen each other just the previous day in the Oval Office, where Trump lavished praise on the Italian leader for her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-albania-migrants-centers-meloni-eu-courts-34d15e7628a6c2fdf20aeb49bcd794f5">crackdown on migration</a>&nbsp;but didn't yield on tariff plans that have increased tensions with the European Union and stoked fears of recession.

The White House and Meloni's office on Friday issued a joint statement that said Trump would visit Italy “in the very near future.”

"There is also consideration to hold, on such occasion, a meeting between U.S. and Europe,” the statement said.

Vance having Vatican meetings after tangle with pope

Vance, a Catholic convert, later attended Good Friday services with his wife and three children in St. Peter’s Basilica and was scheduled to meet Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

No meeting with Pope Francis was officially announced and the pontiff didn’t attend the solemn, two-hour Good Friday service or the nighttime Way of the Cross procession at Rome's Colosseum. The 88-year-old pope has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-easter-pneumonia-7fc3e1c6ebc191987e7d4c9162bf6a98">cut back his work</a>&nbsp;schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia, and his participation in the weekend’s Easter services is uncertain.

Francis, however, recently met with King Charles III and officials haven’t ruled out a possible audience with Vance, who has criticized Francis on social media in the past, though more recently offered prayers for his recovery.

Francis and Vance have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">tangled sharply over migration</a>&nbsp;and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative U.S. Catholic Church.

Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration’s deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-theology-migration-e868af574fb2e742c6ed3d756c569769">claimed that Catholic doctrine justified</a>&nbsp;such policies.

Vance had defended the administration’s America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as “ordo amoris.” He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care — to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his Feb. 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.

“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,” he wrote. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”

Vance has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vice-president-jd-vance-pope-francis-immigration-4f05693320524f9976d3b9ebe31b3f97">acknowledged Francis’ criticism</a>&nbsp;but has said he would continue to defend his views.

“I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,” Vance posted on X. “I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.”

Good Friday commemorates Christ’s crucifixion and is marked by the Vatican with a Latin-filled service in St. Peter’s and a nighttime, torchlit procession at the Colosseum.

Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe and was the lone EU leader to attend his inauguration. As the head of a far-right party, she is ideologically aligned with Trump on issues such as curbing migration and promoting traditional values. But Italy and the United States have diverged over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-g7-meloni-putin-ukraine-78cdbaa0d45f9b11a190ee647063eb5f">Meloni's strong support for Ukraine</a>, while Trump's tariff threat has put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU's trade interests on behalf of the bloc.

A bond market panic led Trump to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">partially pull back on his tariffs</a>&nbsp;by pausing his 20% import taxes on the EU for 90 days and charge a baseline 10% instead. But Trump said Thursday he was in no rush to reach any trade deals.

Vance on Friday reaffirmed the U.S.-Italy friendship and told Meloni that he would brief her on some “interesting” developments in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. “Big trade negotiations” would continue, he said.

Like Trump, Vance seemed dazzled by Meloni's Italian language even though he didn't understand what she was saying.

“Of course, she could have called me a jerk and I wouldn’t know, but it would be in the most beautiful language imaginable, so I wouldn’t even get offended,” he said at the start of their talks.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

ROME (AP) — U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-us-trump-biden-meloni-874d84df75e6a73188a38e7551735824">Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni</a>&nbsp;in Rome on Friday for a second day of talks on tariffs and then attended Good Friday services at the Vatican amid speculation of a possible pope greeting this weekend.“I’ve been missing you,” Meloni jokingly told Vance as he entered the courtyard of Chigi Palace, the premier's office.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">JD Vance and Usha Vance and family attend Good Friday services at St. Peter&#39;s Basilica - The Vatican Rome Italy <a href="https://t.co/Xg8rmsdeCG">pic.twitter.com/Xg8rmsdeCG</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1913390609294828031?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">.<a href="https://twitter.com/VP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VP</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/SLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SLOTUS</a> attend the Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. 🇻🇦 <a href="https://t.co/jgFfoM8Kea">pic.twitter.com/jgFfoM8Kea</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1913252022041670070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Italy Prime Minister Meloni greets JD Vance at Palazzo Chigi Palace Rome Italy <a href="https://t.co/VajQO0Wk7S">pic.twitter.com/VajQO0Wk7S</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1913391657866739778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>They had seen each other just the previous day in the Oval Office, where Trump lavished praise on the Italian leader for her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-albania-migrants-centers-meloni-eu-courts-34d15e7628a6c2fdf20aeb49bcd794f5">crackdown on migration</a>&nbsp;but didn't yield on tariff plans that have increased tensions with the European Union and stoked fears of recession.The White House and Meloni's office on Friday issued a joint statement that said Trump would visit Italy “in the very near future.”"There is also consideration to hold, on such occasion, a meeting between U.S. and Europe,” the statement said.<h2>Vance having Vatican meetings after tangle with pope</h2>Vance, a Catholic convert, later attended Good Friday services with his wife and three children in St. Peter’s Basilica and was scheduled to meet Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.No meeting with Pope Francis was officially announced and the pontiff didn’t attend the solemn, two-hour Good Friday service or the nighttime Way of the Cross procession at Rome's Colosseum. The 88-year-old pope has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-easter-pneumonia-7fc3e1c6ebc191987e7d4c9162bf6a98">cut back his work</a>&nbsp;schedule as he recovers from a near-fatal case of double pneumonia, and his participation in the weekend’s Easter services is uncertain.Francis, however, recently met with King Charles III and officials haven’t ruled out a possible audience with Vance, who has criticized Francis on social media in the past, though more recently offered prayers for his recovery.Francis and Vance have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-trump-migration-09a89091f8e7dc3270099f0947d04e90">tangled sharply over migration</a>&nbsp;and the Trump administration’s plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative U.S. Catholic Church.Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration’s deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-catholic-theology-migration-e868af574fb2e742c6ed3d756c569769">claimed that Catholic doctrine justified</a>&nbsp;such policies.Vance had defended the administration’s America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as “ordo amoris.” He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care — to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.In his Feb. 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance’s understanding of the concept.“Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,” he wrote. “The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the ‘Good Samaritan,’ that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.”Vance has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vice-president-jd-vance-pope-francis-immigration-4f05693320524f9976d3b9ebe31b3f97">acknowledged Francis’ criticism</a>&nbsp;but has said he would continue to defend his views.“I’m grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,” Vance posted on X. “I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.”Good Friday commemorates Christ’s crucifixion and is marked by the Vatican with a Latin-filled service in St. Peter’s and a nighttime, torchlit procession at the Colosseum.<h2>Meloni as a bridge between the US and EU</h2>Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe and was the lone EU leader to attend his inauguration. As the head of a far-right party, she is ideologically aligned with Trump on issues such as curbing migration and promoting traditional values. But Italy and the United States have diverged over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/italy-g7-meloni-putin-ukraine-78cdbaa0d45f9b11a190ee647063eb5f">Meloni's strong support for Ukraine</a>, while Trump's tariff threat has put pressure on Meloni to defend the EU's trade interests on behalf of the bloc.A bond market panic led Trump to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">partially pull back on his tariffs</a>&nbsp;by pausing his 20% import taxes on the EU for 90 days and charge a baseline 10% instead. But Trump said Thursday he was in no rush to reach any trade deals.Vance on Friday reaffirmed the U.S.-Italy friendship and told Meloni that he would brief her on some “interesting” developments in Russia-Ukraine negotiations. “Big trade negotiations” would continue, he said.Like Trump, Vance seemed dazzled by Meloni's Italian language even though he didn't understand what she was saying.“Of course, she could have called me a jerk and I wouldn’t know, but it would be in the most beautiful language imaginable, so I wouldn’t even get offended,” he said at the start of their talks.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

🎥Vice President Vance attends Good Friday service at the Vatican

SEDGWICK COUNTY –Homicide detectives are investigating a deadly shooting outside a motel in Wichita.

On Thursday evening, police were in the area of Harry and Broadway on an unrelated call when they heard gunshots nearby, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. Officers immediately responded to the area and located a man with a gunshot wound who was in front of the Frontier Motel at 1623 S. Broadway.

&nbsp;The victim was later identified as 33-year-old Eric Lopez-Morales from Wichita.

Despite the life-saving efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:04 p.m.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Lopez-Morales was involved in a physical altercation with unknown males in the parking lot of the motel before the shooting.&nbsp;

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4407. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745003725186.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY –Homicide detectives are investigating a deadly shooting outside a motel in Wichita.On Thursday evening, police were in the area of Harry and Broadway on an unrelated call when they heard gunshots nearby, according to police spokesman Andrew Ford. Officers immediately responded to the area and located a man with a gunshot wound who was in front of the Frontier Motel at 1623 S. Broadway.&nbsp;The victim was later identified as 33-year-old Eric Lopez-Morales from Wichita.Despite the life-saving efforts of first responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:04 p.m.Preliminary investigations indicate that Lopez-Morales was involved in a physical altercation with unknown males in the parking lot of the motel before the shooting.&nbsp;Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Wichita Police Department at (316) 268-4407. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

Police: Fight outside Kansas motel led to fatal shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge who blocked the Trump administration from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-doge-cfpb-elon-musk-456b747c367fccbcf3b74d2893cd1a35">dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau</a>&nbsp;ruled Friday that the bureau can’t go forward immediately with plans to mass fire hundreds of employees.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she is “deeply concerned” that administration officials aren’t complying with her earlier order that maintains the bureau’s existence until she rules on the merits of a lawsuit seeking to preserve it.

During a hearing, Jackson said she will bar officials from carrying out any mass firings or cutting off employees’ access to bureau computer systems on Friday.

Jackson scheduled a hearing on April 28 to hear testimony from officials who were working on the reduction in force, or RIF, procedures.

“I’m willing to resolve it quickly, but I’m not going to let this RIF go forward until I have,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge who blocked the Trump administration from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-doge-cfpb-elon-musk-456b747c367fccbcf3b74d2893cd1a35">dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau</a>&nbsp;ruled Friday that the bureau can’t go forward immediately with plans to mass fire hundreds of employees.U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she is “deeply concerned” that administration officials aren’t complying with her earlier order that maintains the bureau’s existence until she rules on the merits of a lawsuit seeking to preserve it.During a hearing, Jackson said she will bar officials from carrying out any mass firings or cutting off employees’ access to bureau computer systems on Friday.Jackson scheduled a hearing on April 28 to hear testimony from officials who were working on the reduction in force, or RIF, procedures.“I’m willing to resolve it quickly, but I’m not going to let this RIF go forward until I have,” she said.

Judge blocks Trump admin. plans for mass layoffs at the CFPB

GREENWOOD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Friday in Greenwood County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 International concrete truck driven by Curk Bradley&nbsp;Creed, 64,&nbsp;Eureka, was&nbsp;southbound on Kansas 99 two miles north of Severy. The truck traveled off the right side of the road. The driver overcorrected back onto the highway and tipped the truck onto its side in the ditch.

Creed was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Forensics Medical in Wichita. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

GREENWOOD COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 9a.m. Friday in Greenwood County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 International concrete truck driven by Curk Bradley&nbsp;Creed, 64,&nbsp;Eureka, was&nbsp;southbound on Kansas 99 two miles north of Severy. The truck traveled off the right side of the road. The driver overcorrected back onto the highway and tipped the truck onto its side in the ditch.Creed was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Forensics Medical in Wichita. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies when concrete truck overturns

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>

GOP House leader says anyone sounding revenue alarm likely a ‘budget boogeyman’

TOPEKA — A bullish revenue picture for state government in Kansas through the current and next fiscal years couldn’t sugarcoat projections the state budget could end up with a $730 million deficit by 2029 if lawmakers continued spending more than what was collected in revenue.

The new forecast released Thursday by the Consensus Revenue Group, which is responsible for updating financial reports twice each year, indicated the treasury could expect to collect $157 million more in the current fiscal year than projected in November. In addition, the state could receive $219 million more in the 2026 fiscal year than predicted six months ago. The state general fund takes in about $10 billion annually.

The estimating group said the state’s budget ending balance could sit at $2.29 billion at close of the current fiscal year in June, but fall to $1.73 billion in 2026, $903 million in 2027 and $63 million in 2028 before going under water by $730 million in 2029.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the latest revenue estimates from university economists and state financial experts could be viewed as positive news.

“In reality, they underscore the seriousness of the financial predicament ahead,” Kelly said. “The bizarre and irresponsible budget gimmicks used by the Republican-led Legislature spend more than the state takes in by nearly $800 million per year. Ultimately, this will lead to a historically large budget deficit.”

She said the revenue update came one week after GOP House and Senate leaders adjourned the annual legislative session. Traditionally, the Legislature remained in session until the revenue forecast was updated so spending and tax policy could be refined.

“Kansans need to demand their legislators restore fiscal sanity and fairness when they return in January,” Kelly said.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita, said the Legislature successfully assumed a more direct approach to developing the new state budget and produced a plan that spent less than recommended by the governor.

He said the Legislature was confident in the wisdom of the three-year, $1.2 billion income tax cut adopted in the 2024 special session and the additional tax relief approved in the 2025 regular session.

“Be wary of those who want to make political hay by invoking the budget boogeyman and screaming that the sky is falling,” Hawkins said. “These positive consensus revenue estimates reaffirm we’re headed down a smart and sustainable path as we continue to monitor all fiscal data as it’s available.”

Adam Proffitt, secretary of the Kansas Department of administration and budget director for the governor, state tax reductions and elevated spending were significant drivers of the state’s financial prospectus.

He said the extended assessment was that state revenue could remain below expenditures during the next four years unless a different approach was taken by state lawmakers.

“We need to get more structurally balanced,” Proffitt said. “This is something we’ve been watching for a couple years. I think the governor’s been pretty consistent in her message that we need to be showing fiscal restraint and making sure we have a good handle on expenditures and don’t grow them unnecessarily.”

Proffitt said the projected $800 million decline in state budget ending balances in fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029 would leave the state in dire financial condition. An unknown for forecasters, for a couple more months after close of tax season, was the influence of retroactive income tax cuts approved by the state lawmakers in 2024, he said. In addition, he said, the forecast changes didn’t take into account the influence of tax bills on Kelly’s desk nor possible federal policy shifts.

Shirley Morrow, director of the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department, said during a news conference at the Capitol the solution to the state’s future budget predicament was obvious.

“To me,” she said, “the simple answer — and this is going to be too simple — is increase revenue and decrease expenditures.”

Morrow said forces that could influence the state’s bottom line were tied to volatility in the U.S. economy. Factors capable of altering the fiscal assessment included persistently elevated inflation, trade policy changes relevant to agriculture exports and aviation manufacturing, shifting unemployment rates, sustained high interest rates, cuts in federal funding to states, monetary policy and geopolitical dynamics, she said.

“The reoccurring theme throughout the forecast cycle is an increased volatility in the state’s economy,” Morrow said.

She said the Kansas inflation rate in 2025 was raised from 2.3% to 2.9% while the estimate for inflation in 2026 was raised from 2.2% to 2.5%. Kansas has added 3,300 jobs over the year, she said.

In terms of agriculture, she said, crop producers continued to struggle with low commodity prices and high input costs. Livestock producers were looking to expand beef herds based on continued escalation in market prices, she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744995015357.png" alt=" Adam Proffitt, state budget director, and Shirley Morrow, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, brief reporters on revised state revenue estimates that outline unanticipated growth in revenue this year and next year. They warned of budget problems if the Legislature continued to expend more money than collected in revenue. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Adam Proffitt, state budget director, and Shirley Morrow, director of the Kansas Legislative Research Department, brief reporters on revised state revenue estimates that outline unanticipated growth in revenue this year and next year. They warned of budget problems if the Legislature continued to expend more money than collected in revenue. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>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><h2>GOP House leader says anyone sounding revenue alarm likely a ‘budget boogeyman’</h2>TOPEKA — A bullish revenue picture for state government in Kansas through the current and next fiscal years couldn’t sugarcoat projections the state budget could end up with a $730 million deficit by 2029 if lawmakers continued spending more than what was collected in revenue.The new forecast released Thursday by the Consensus Revenue Group, which is responsible for updating financial reports twice each year, indicated the treasury could expect to collect $157 million more in the current fiscal year than projected in November. In addition, the state could receive $219 million more in the 2026 fiscal year than predicted six months ago. The state general fund takes in about $10 billion annually.The estimating group said the state’s budget ending balance could sit at $2.29 billion at close of the current fiscal year in June, but fall to $1.73 billion in 2026, $903 million in 2027 and $63 million in 2028 before going under water by $730 million in 2029.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the latest revenue estimates from university economists and state financial experts could be viewed as positive news.“In reality, they underscore the seriousness of the financial predicament ahead,” Kelly said. “The bizarre and irresponsible budget gimmicks used by the Republican-led Legislature spend more than the state takes in by nearly $800 million per year. Ultimately, this will lead to a historically large budget deficit.”She said the revenue update came one week after GOP House and Senate leaders adjourned the annual legislative session. Traditionally, the Legislature remained in session until the revenue forecast was updated so spending and tax policy could be refined.“Kansans need to demand their legislators restore fiscal sanity and fairness when they return in January,” Kelly said.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Republican from Wichita, said the Legislature successfully assumed a more direct approach to developing the new state budget and produced a plan that spent less than recommended by the governor.He said the Legislature was confident in the wisdom of the three-year, $1.2 billion income tax cut adopted in the 2024 special session and the additional tax relief approved in the 2025 regular session.“Be wary of those who want to make political hay by invoking the budget boogeyman and screaming that the sky is falling,” Hawkins said. “These positive consensus revenue estimates reaffirm we’re headed down a smart and sustainable path as we continue to monitor all fiscal data as it’s available.”<h2>A structural imbalance</h2>Adam Proffitt, secretary of the Kansas Department of administration and budget director for the governor, state tax reductions and elevated spending were significant drivers of the state’s financial prospectus.He said the extended assessment was that state revenue could remain below expenditures during the next four years unless a different approach was taken by state lawmakers.“We need to get more structurally balanced,” Proffitt said. “This is something we’ve been watching for a couple years. I think the governor’s been pretty consistent in her message that we need to be showing fiscal restraint and making sure we have a good handle on expenditures and don’t grow them unnecessarily.”Proffitt said the projected $800 million decline in state budget ending balances in fiscal years 2027, 2028 and 2029 would leave the state in dire financial condition. An unknown for forecasters, for a couple more months after close of tax season, was the influence of retroactive income tax cuts approved by the state lawmakers in 2024, he said. In addition, he said, the forecast changes didn’t take into account the influence of tax bills on Kelly’s desk nor possible federal policy shifts.Shirley Morrow, director of the nonpartisan Kansas Legislative Research Department, said during a news conference at the Capitol the solution to the state’s future budget predicament was obvious.“To me,” she said, “the simple answer — and this is going to be too simple — is increase revenue and decrease expenditures.”Morrow said forces that could influence the state’s bottom line were tied to volatility in the U.S. economy. Factors capable of altering the fiscal assessment included persistently elevated inflation, trade policy changes relevant to agriculture exports and aviation manufacturing, shifting unemployment rates, sustained high interest rates, cuts in federal funding to states, monetary policy and geopolitical dynamics, she said.“The reoccurring theme throughout the forecast cycle is an increased volatility in the state’s economy,” Morrow said.She said the Kansas inflation rate in 2025 was raised from 2.3% to 2.9% while the estimate for inflation in 2026 was raised from 2.2% to 2.5%. Kansas has added 3,300 jobs over the year, she said.In terms of agriculture, she said, crop producers continued to struggle with low commodity prices and high input costs. Livestock producers were looking to expand beef herds based on continued escalation in market prices, she said.

Analysts raise Kansas’ short-term revenue forecast, warn of budget woes on horizon

Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, patrol officers were dispatched to 54th and Euclid on the report of sounds of shots, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

First responders located a man in a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. 

Medics transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.T his is being investigated as homicide. Preliminary information revealed there was a disturbance in the street that led up to the shots being fired. 

Police have not released the name of the victim or reported any suspect information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744942512869.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 5:30p.m. Thursday, patrol officers were dispatched to 54th and Euclid on the report of sounds of shots, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744942490486.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders located a man in a vehicle, suffering from a gunshot wound. Officers immediately began performing life saving measures and ordered EMS to the scene. Medics transported the victim to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased a short time later.T his is being investigated as homicide. Preliminary information revealed there was a disturbance in the street that led up to the shots being fired. Police have not released the name of the victim or reported any suspect information.

Homicide: Man found with gunshot wound in a vehicle in Kansas City

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in a house fire on Friday in Topeka.

Just before 6a.m. Friday, crews responded to report of a house fire a 419 SE Rodgers Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke coming from the home and quickly extinguished the fire. During a search of the home, firefighters found one occupant deceased, according to Stahl. There were no other occupants of the home.

Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire. The name of the victim has not been releases.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744990133110.png" alt="Crews on the scene of the Friday morning fire-photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Crews on the scene of the Friday morning fire-photo by Eric Ives courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in a house fire on Friday in Topeka.Just before 6a.m. Friday, crews responded to report of a house fire a 419 SE Rodgers Street in Topeka, according to Fire Marshal Alan Stahl.&nbsp; First arriving crews found smoke coming from the home and quickly extinguished the fire. During a search of the home, firefighters found one occupant deceased, according to Stahl. There were no other occupants of the home.Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire. The name of the victim has not been releases.

Fire Marshal: One found dead after  fire at a Kansas home

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and local health departments are working together in response to a measles outbreak in southwest Kansas. As of April 16, a total of 37 cases have been reported. KDHE is informing the public of potential measles exposure at the Clarion Inn, 1911 E Kansas Avenue in Garden City April 8, 9 and 10.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741908251964.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and local health departments are working together in response to a measles outbreak in southwest Kansas. As of April 16, a total of 37 cases have been reported. KDHE is informing the public of potential measles exposure at the Clarion Inn, 1911 E Kansas Avenue in Garden City April 8, 9 and 10.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744819510121.png" alt="Counties in yellow have a confirmed measles outbreak -KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Counties in yellow have a confirmed measles outbreak -KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The measles virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Because the measles virus is highly contagious, anyone who visited the Clarion Inn in Garden City on any of the dates and times listed above may have been exposed to measles and should take the following steps:<ul>
 <li>Understand if you are susceptible to infection.&nbsp;Check if you’ve received a measles-containing vaccine, like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, have medical documentation of past measles infection, or have laboratory evidence of immunity. People who are not vaccinated and have not previously had measles are especially vulnerable to becoming infected.</li><li>Watch for symptoms. Monitor yourself for 21 days after your exposure. Look out for any symptoms—especially a fever and a new or unexplained skin rash—and contact your healthcare provider or local health department if symptoms develop.</li><li>If you were at the hotel on:April 8, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, April 29.April 9, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, April 30.April 10, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, May 1.</li><li>April 8, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, April 29.</li><li>April 9, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, April 30.</li><li>April 10, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, May 1.</li><li>Avoid high-risk settings. If you are not immune, consider staying home to prevent the spread of measles. If you cannot remain home, stay away from large gatherings and persons that might be susceptible to measles, including those who are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants, or people who are immunocompromised. If you need medical care, call your provider ahead of time and let them know you may have been exposed to measles so they can take any necessary steps to protect others from potential measles exposure.</li><li>Talk to a healthcare provider. If you have any questions about your health or your immunity status, contact your healthcare provider. If you are not immune to measles, a healthcare provider can determine whether you need treatment to help prevent or lessen the severity of infection.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744819591987.png" alt="Cases of measles in Kansas as of April 16, 2025-KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Cases of measles in Kansas as of April 16, 2025-KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick.For questions, contact the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline by phone at 877-427-7317 (option 5) or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov">kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov</a>&nbsp;.For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019649477afa-52289caa-ee83-4396-99f0-c261a282e101-000000/pzOLx1j1VNAg9stNAjSTUxMz6rBb7a2t5YoIOiDmvOk=401">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.