TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported four new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 87 cases in 11 counties.

On July 4, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. is having its worst year for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-vaccination-rfk-mmr-e5d928e41fd6b3dc6ade087662d61c5c">measles spread</a>&nbsp;in more than three decades, with a total of 1,288 cases nationally and another six months to go in 2025.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the national case count surpassed 2019, when there were 1,274 cases for the year and the country almost lost its status of having eliminated the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-measles-polio-whooping-cough-rubella-af4cd1aef8f408a960601df6372f9c32">vaccine-preventable illness.</a>&nbsp;That could happen this year if the virus has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">nonstop spread for 12 months</a>.

This year's outbreaks, some of them interconnected, started five months ago in undervaccinated communities in West Texas. Three people have died — two children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico — and dozens of people have been hospitalized. Public health experts maintain the true case count may be higher than state health departments have confirmed.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">North America</a>&nbsp;has three other major measles outbreaks, with 2,966 cases in Chihuahua state, Mexico, 2,223 cases in Ontario, Canada and 1,230 in Alberta, Canada. Thirteen other states have current confirmed outbreaks of three or more people — Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Utah — and four other states saw their outbreaks end.

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles after two doses.

The World Health Organization said in 2000 that measles had been eliminated from the U.S.

The CDC identified 22 outbreaks in 2019, the largest being two separate clusters in New York — 412 in New York state and 702 in New York City. These were linked because as measles was spreading through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6840e2.htm">close-knit Orthodox Jewish communities</a>, the CDC said.

It's a similar situation in North America this year, where the Canada, Mexico and Texas outbreaks stem from large Mennonite communities in the regions. Mennonite churches do not formally discourage vaccination, though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">more conservative Mennonite communities</a>&nbsp;historically have low vaccination rates and a distrust of government.

A recent study found childhood vaccination rates against measles fell after the COVID-19 pandemic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-vaccine-mmr-covid-exemptions-87cbfe44d8599b68408861f9b62421ed">in nearly 80% of the more than 2,000 U.S. counties</a>&nbsp;with available data, including in states that are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccination-us-rfk-mmr-8fb86f56b0892408680daae4a52047e6">battling outbreaks</a>&nbsp;this year.

Only&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccinations-kindergarten-exemptions-cdc-1c0f9a196a70491fccf48b9125090de0">92.7%</a>&nbsp;of kindergarteners in the U.S. had the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in the 2023-2024 school year, below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks. In Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of the Texas outbreak, only 82% of kindergarteners were up-to-date with MMR vaccines.

State and federal leaders have for years kept funding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">stagnant</a>&nbsp;for local public health departments' vaccination programs that are tasked with reversing the trend.

“What we’re seeing with measles is a little bit of a ‘canary in a coal mine,'" said Lauren Gardner, leader of Johns Hopkins University's independent measles and COVID tracking databases. "It’s indicative of a problem that we know exists with vaccinatio

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported four new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 87 cases in 11 counties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752083381391.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On July 4, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.<ol>
 <li>Location:&nbsp;Fifth-Floor Pediatric Unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center</li><li>Address:&nbsp;550 N Hillside St, Wichita, KS 67214</li><li>Dates and times:&nbsp;Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 10 p.m. until Thursday, July 3, 2025, 4:45 p.m.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>According to the Associated Press, the U.S. is having its worst year for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-vaccination-rfk-mmr-e5d928e41fd6b3dc6ade087662d61c5c">measles spread</a>&nbsp;in more than three decades, with a total of 1,288 cases nationally and another six months to go in 2025.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that the national case count surpassed 2019, when there were 1,274 cases for the year and the country almost lost its status of having eliminated the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-measles-polio-whooping-cough-rubella-af4cd1aef8f408a960601df6372f9c32">vaccine-preventable illness.</a>&nbsp;That could happen this year if the virus has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">nonstop spread for 12 months</a>.This year's outbreaks, some of them interconnected, started five months ago in undervaccinated communities in West Texas. Three people have died — two children in Texas and an adult in New Mexico — and dozens of people have been hospitalized. Public health experts maintain the true case count may be higher than state health departments have confirmed.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">North America</a>&nbsp;has three other major measles outbreaks, with 2,966 cases in Chihuahua state, Mexico, 2,223 cases in Ontario, Canada and 1,230 in Alberta, Canada. Thirteen other states have current confirmed outbreaks of three or more people — Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma and Utah — and four other states saw their outbreaks end.The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles after two doses.The World Health Organization said in 2000 that measles had been eliminated from the U.S.The CDC identified 22 outbreaks in 2019, the largest being two separate clusters in New York — 412 in New York state and 702 in New York City. These were linked because as measles was spreading through&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6840e2.htm">close-knit Orthodox Jewish communities</a>, the CDC said.It's a similar situation in North America this year, where the Canada, Mexico and Texas outbreaks stem from large Mennonite communities in the regions. Mennonite churches do not formally discourage vaccination, though&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">more conservative Mennonite communities</a>&nbsp;historically have low vaccination rates and a distrust of government.A recent study found childhood vaccination rates against measles fell after the COVID-19 pandemic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-vaccine-mmr-covid-exemptions-87cbfe44d8599b68408861f9b62421ed">in nearly 80% of the more than 2,000 U.S. counties</a>&nbsp;with available data, including in states that are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccination-us-rfk-mmr-8fb86f56b0892408680daae4a52047e6">battling outbreaks</a>&nbsp;this year.Only&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccinations-kindergarten-exemptions-cdc-1c0f9a196a70491fccf48b9125090de0">92.7%</a>&nbsp;of kindergarteners in the U.S. had the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in the 2023-2024 school year, below the 95% needed to prevent outbreaks. In Gaines County, Texas, the epicenter of the Texas outbreak, only 82% of kindergarteners were up-to-date with MMR vaccines.State and federal leaders have for years kept funding&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">stagnant</a>&nbsp;for local public health departments' vaccination programs that are tasked with reversing the trend.“What we’re seeing with measles is a little bit of a ‘canary in a coal mine,'" said Lauren Gardner, leader of Johns Hopkins University's independent measles and COVID tracking databases. "It’s indicative of a problem that we know exists with vaccinatio

US having worst year for measles in decades; more cases in Kansas

BOURBON COUNTY—One person died in a fire in Bourbon County.

Just before 5p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas State Fire Marshal (KSFM) Investigation Division was requested to assist with a fatality fire in the 2200 block of Osage Road, Fort Scott, according to a media release.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Local authorities requested Kansas State Fire Marshal Special Agents after they responded to house fire with a fatality.&nbsp; Two Special Agents/Certified Fire Investigators were sent to assist with this fire.

The Scott Township Fire Department, with mutual aid from the Fort Scott Fire Department and the Bourbon County Fire District #3, responded to&nbsp; working fire. A woman with a mobility issues was trapped.&nbsp; Fire crews found her deceased in her bed in the front living room.

The fire incident classification will be made after the preliminary autopsy report becomes available. There is nothing suspicious about the fire, according to the Fire Marshal's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752090277875.png" alt="Photo Scott Township Fire" />
 <figcaption>Photo Scott Township Fire</figcaption>
 </figure>BOURBON COUNTY—One person died in a fire in Bourbon County.Just before 5p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas State Fire Marshal (KSFM) Investigation Division was requested to assist with a fatality fire in the 2200 block of Osage Road, Fort Scott, according to a media release.&nbsp;&nbsp;Local authorities requested Kansas State Fire Marshal Special Agents after they responded to house fire with a fatality.&nbsp; Two Special Agents/Certified Fire Investigators were sent to assist with this fire.The Scott Township Fire Department, with mutual aid from the Fort Scott Fire Department and the Bourbon County Fire District #3, responded to&nbsp; working fire. A woman with a mobility issues was trapped.&nbsp; Fire crews found her deceased in her bed in the front living room.The fire incident classification will be made after the preliminary autopsy report becomes available. There is nothing suspicious about the fire, according to the Fire Marshal's office.

Woman dies in rural Kansas house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s former White House physician refused on Wednesday to answer questions as part of the House Republican investigation into Biden’s health in office.

Dr. Kevin O’Connor invoked his rights under the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee, his attorney and lawmakers said.

Republicans on the Oversight Committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-fitness-investigation-trump-republicans-congress-oversight-c10b31a4087ddccc5b214e024656ee6d">subpoenaed O'Connor</a>&nbsp;last month as part of a their sweeping investigation into Biden’s health and his mental fitness as president. They claim some policies carried out during Biden's term through the use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-autopen-investigation-pardons-9095684acf3c31189f03295a9e9de7e1">the White House autopen</a>&nbsp;may be illegitimate if it's proven the Democrat was mentally incapacitated for some of his term.

Biden has strongly denied that he was not in a right state of mind at any point while in office, calling the claims&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-investigation-autopen-james-comer-ae7013baea1f3da5417d02a6e83811ec">“ridiculous and false.”</a>

David Schertler, one of O’Connor’s lawyers, said the doctor had “no choice” but to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights in testimony before the committee. Schertler cited both O'Connor's responsibilities to protect patient privacy as a doctor and the Justice Department's ongoing investigation into Biden's use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-pardons-autopen-capitol-riot-1956c5dcb44ecba10cd9b01171ca9efa">the autopen</a>.

Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the Oversight chair, said O’Connor’s refusal to testify made it “clear there was a conspiracy.”

“The American people demand transparency, but Dr. O’Connor would rather conceal the truth,” Comer said in a statement.

Witnesses routinely invoke their Fifth Amendment rights in testimony to Congress. Allies of President Donald Trump, for example,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-bannon-roger-stone-capitol-siege-subpoenas-congress-1286e3017eead8967cd7cf25c5e596cc">invoked their rights</a>&nbsp;when refusing to testify to the committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">a mob of his supporters</a>.

Comer has has sought testimony from nearly a dozen former Biden aides as he conducts his investigation, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams.

He has also issued a subpoena for Anthony Bernal, the former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden.

Trump's White House has waived executive privilege, a right that protects many communications between the president and staff from Congress and the courts, for almost all of those senior staffers. That clears the way for those staffers to discuss their conversations with Biden while he was president.

Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, dismissed the Republican investigation as a waste of time.

“Oversight Republicans could be working to lower costs for American families and conducting oversight of President Trump’s corruption, but instead are obsessed with the past," he said.

Dr. Kevin O’Connor invoked doctor-client privilege and his rights under the Fifth Amendment during an appearance Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee, his attorneys said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727691434816.png" alt="File photo Former President Joe Biden-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Former President Joe Biden-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s former White House physician refused on Wednesday to answer questions as part of the House Republican investigation into Biden’s health in office.Dr. Kevin O’Connor invoked his rights under the Fifth Amendment during a closed-door interview with the House Oversight Committee, his attorney and lawmakers said.Republicans on the Oversight Committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-fitness-investigation-trump-republicans-congress-oversight-c10b31a4087ddccc5b214e024656ee6d">subpoenaed O'Connor</a>&nbsp;last month as part of a their sweeping investigation into Biden’s health and his mental fitness as president. They claim some policies carried out during Biden's term through the use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-autopen-investigation-pardons-9095684acf3c31189f03295a9e9de7e1">the White House autopen</a>&nbsp;may be illegitimate if it's proven the Democrat was mentally incapacitated for some of his term.Biden has strongly denied that he was not in a right state of mind at any point while in office, calling the claims&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-investigation-autopen-james-comer-ae7013baea1f3da5417d02a6e83811ec">“ridiculous and false.”</a>David Schertler, one of O’Connor’s lawyers, said the doctor had “no choice” but to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights in testimony before the committee. Schertler cited both O'Connor's responsibilities to protect patient privacy as a doctor and the Justice Department's ongoing investigation into Biden's use of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-pardons-autopen-capitol-riot-1956c5dcb44ecba10cd9b01171ca9efa">the autopen</a>.Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the Oversight chair, said O’Connor’s refusal to testify made it “clear there was a conspiracy.”“The American people demand transparency, but Dr. O’Connor would rather conceal the truth,” Comer said in a statement.Witnesses routinely invoke their Fifth Amendment rights in testimony to Congress. Allies of President Donald Trump, for example,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/steve-bannon-roger-stone-capitol-siege-subpoenas-congress-1286e3017eead8967cd7cf25c5e596cc">invoked their rights</a>&nbsp;when refusing to testify to the committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">a mob of his supporters</a>.Comer has has sought testimony from nearly a dozen former Biden aides as he conducts his investigation, including former White House chiefs of staff Ron Klain and Jeff Zients; former senior advisers Mike Donilon and Anita Dunn; former deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed, former counselor to the president Steve Ricchetti, former deputy chief of staff Annie Tomasini and a former assistant to the president, Ashley Williams.He has also issued a subpoena for Anthony Bernal, the former chief of staff to former first lady Jill Biden.Trump's White House has waived executive privilege, a right that protects many communications between the president and staff from Congress and the courts, for almost all of those senior staffers. That clears the way for those staffers to discuss their conversations with Biden while he was president.Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, dismissed the Republican investigation as a waste of time.“Oversight Republicans could be working to lower costs for American families and conducting oversight of President Trump’s corruption, but instead are obsessed with the past," he said.Dr. Kevin O’Connor invoked doctor-client privilege and his rights under the Fifth Amendment during an appearance Wednesday before the House Oversight Committee, his attorneys said.

Biden's former doctor refuses to answer questions in House GOP probe

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 — Most members of the Kansas State Board of Education voted to increase their pay to equal state legislators, which was commonplace until legislators doubled their pay this year, leaving board members behind.

In a 9-1 vote on Tuesday, the board approved a request for around $126,000 beginning July 1, 2026, to fund the salaries of the 10 board members and make them commensurate with legislator pay.

The last time the board received a raise was nearly two decades ago.

A handful of board members viewed the raises as the right thing to do for future generations. Others were emboldened by the principle of the matter, emphasizing the equivalence of their public service to that of state legislators.

Beryl New, a former Topeka public school administrator and educator, said it was important to look beyond the current board members, many of whom said they didn’t need the pay.

“There are other people who may come on and take my seat who need to know that whatever they’re putting out is honored, appreciated and respected, just as a legislator is,” she said.

The Legislature created a commission that approved raises for lawmakers in 2024. Those raises went into effect in January. The current average annual legislator salary is $43,000, and lawmakers budgeted for an additional 4.4% increase next year. Before legislators raised their pay independently of the board, their salary rates were intertwined. They passed a law in April that permits the state board to set their compensation. It was attached to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2382/" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;requiring school districts to show videos in classes on human growth, development and sexuality that depict fetal development. &nbsp;

Board members currently make $88.66 per day in addition to a subsistence allowance of $166 daily. The $126,000 members approved would bring them up to par with legislative pay, including the future 4.4% raise.

The Legislature’s rationale for pay increases was rooted in its standing as a citizen legislature, said Frank Harwood, deputy education commissioner. Lawmakers argued in 2024 that higher pay would attract more people to the job.

“The question is, does that same logic apply to the state board?” he asked the board.

Board members represent the equivalent of four state Senate districts, or around 270,000 people each, Harwood said.

Jim Porter, a longtime educator and administrator from Fredonia, said the board will soon need younger people who can occupy seats long term and offer different perspectives.

“I’m ambivalent when it comes to me, but I’m not ambivalent for the future,” he said.

Betty Arnold, a former state auditor from Wichita, agreed. Education often gets passed over, she said.

“It’s looking to the future. It’s increasing the field of people that could care about education but can’t afford to sit in these seats,” Arnold said.

The vote came at a time when the Kansas State Department of Education is reckoning with a smaller budget and higher costs. The budget crafted by the Legislature didn’t leave the department any wiggle room, so board members approved a slate of requests for budget enhancements. One was so the department could continue to pay rent in the state building it leases for employees.

The U.S. Department of Education is also holding $42.9 million of Kansas funds in limbo.

Debby Potter, a conservative board member from Great Plains, was the only member who voted against the raises. Earlier in the day’s meeting, she also voted to cut funds for teacher professional development.

“If I’m willing to cut professional development, I am willing to cut this,” she said.

Cathy Hopkins, board chair, said: “I am not.”

Hopkins said she lobbied the Legislature this year for board raises to no avail. Her decision was based on principle, she said.

Melanie Haas, an executive from Overland Park, mentioned an old comment from Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican who in 2022 called the board “monolithic” as the Legislature was approving a redrawn state education district map that favored more conservative candidates, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article259917870.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">reporting</a>&nbsp;from the Kansas City Star.

To Porter, it boils down to a matter of respect.

He said Masterson’s 2022 comment was a direct insult to the board because it “didn’t do what the Senate president wanted them to do.”

The pay inequity is akin to disrespect toward the board and public education, Porter said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752081445188.png" alt="Michelle Dombrosky and Jim Porter, members of the Kansas State Board of Education, at a July 8, 2025, meeting in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Dombrosky and Jim Porter, members of the Kansas State Board of Education, at a July 8, 2025, meeting in Topeka. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</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 — Most members of the Kansas State Board of Education voted to increase their pay to equal state legislators, which was commonplace until legislators doubled their pay this year, leaving board members behind.In a 9-1 vote on Tuesday, the board approved a request for around $126,000 beginning July 1, 2026, to fund the salaries of the 10 board members and make them commensurate with legislator pay.The last time the board received a raise was nearly two decades ago.A handful of board members viewed the raises as the right thing to do for future generations. Others were emboldened by the principle of the matter, emphasizing the equivalence of their public service to that of state legislators.Beryl New, a former Topeka public school administrator and educator, said it was important to look beyond the current board members, many of whom said they didn’t need the pay.“There are other people who may come on and take my seat who need to know that whatever they’re putting out is honored, appreciated and respected, just as a legislator is,” she said.The Legislature created a commission that approved raises for lawmakers in 2024. Those raises went into effect in January. The current average annual legislator salary is $43,000, and lawmakers budgeted for an additional 4.4% increase next year. Before legislators raised their pay independently of the board, their salary rates were intertwined. They passed a law in April that permits the state board to set their compensation. It was attached to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2382/" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;requiring school districts to show videos in classes on human growth, development and sexuality that depict fetal development. &nbsp;Board members currently make $88.66 per day in addition to a subsistence allowance of $166 daily. The $126,000 members approved would bring them up to par with legislative pay, including the future 4.4% raise.The Legislature’s rationale for pay increases was rooted in its standing as a citizen legislature, said Frank Harwood, deputy education commissioner. Lawmakers argued in 2024 that higher pay would attract more people to the job.“The question is, does that same logic apply to the state board?” he asked the board.It appeared it did.Board members represent the equivalent of four state Senate districts, or around 270,000 people each, Harwood said.Jim Porter, a longtime educator and administrator from Fredonia, said the board will soon need younger people who can occupy seats long term and offer different perspectives.“I’m ambivalent when it comes to me, but I’m not ambivalent for the future,” he said.Betty Arnold, a former state auditor from Wichita, agreed. Education often gets passed over, she said.“It’s looking to the future. It’s increasing the field of people that could care about education but can’t afford to sit in these seats,” Arnold said.The vote came at a time when the Kansas State Department of Education is reckoning with a smaller budget and higher costs. The budget crafted by the Legislature didn’t leave the department any wiggle room, so board members approved a slate of requests for budget enhancements. One was so the department could continue to pay rent in the state building it leases for employees.The U.S. Department of Education is also holding $42.9 million of Kansas funds in limbo.Debby Potter, a conservative board member from Great Plains, was the only member who voted against the raises. Earlier in the day’s meeting, she also voted to cut funds for teacher professional development.“If I’m willing to cut professional development, I am willing to cut this,” she said.Cathy Hopkins, board chair, said: “I am not.”Hopkins said she lobbied the Legislature this year for board raises to no avail. Her decision was based on principle, she said.Melanie Haas, an executive from Overland Park, mentioned an old comment from Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican who in 2022 called the board “monolithic” as the Legislature was approving a redrawn state education district map that favored more conservative candidates, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article259917870.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">reporting</a>&nbsp;from the Kansas City Star.To Porter, it boils down to a matter of respect.He said Masterson’s 2022 comment was a direct insult to the board because it “didn’t do what the Senate president wanted them to do.”The pay inequity is akin to disrespect toward the board and public education, Porter said.“We need to be respected,” he said.

Kansas State Board of Education votes to increase pay after being left behind by legislators

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations&nbsp;

Just before 10 p.m. July 6, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a stolen white 2000 Ford F-150 near SE 5th Street and SE Tefft Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. 

The driver, later identified as 25-year-old Anthony A. Weems of Topeka, refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. The pursuit ended in the 500 block of SE Lamar Street when Weems ran from the pickup. Investigators eventually found him inside a residence nearby.

Weems was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charge of Possession of stolen property, Flee or attempt to elude, Fail to stop at a stop sign, Operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, Reckless driving, Speeding and Failure to give signal when changing lanes or turning.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751919452150.png" alt="Weems photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Weems photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations&nbsp;Just before 10 p.m. July 6, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a stolen white 2000 Ford F-150 near SE 5th Street and SE Tefft Street in Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The driver, later identified as 25-year-old Anthony A. Weems of Topeka, refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. The pursuit ended in the 500 block of SE Lamar Street when Weems ran from the pickup. Investigators eventually found him inside a residence nearby.Weems was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charge of Possession of stolen property, Flee or attempt to elude, Fail to stop at a stop sign, Operating a motor vehicle without a valid license, Reckless driving, Speeding and Failure to give signal when changing lanes or turning.

Stolen pickup suspect found hiding in Kansas home

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates.

The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post.

The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press.

“The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently monitoring and addressing the matter,” department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. “The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously take steps to improve the department’s cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents.”

She declined to comment further due to “security reasons” and the ongoing investigation.

It’s the latest instance of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-phone-impersonation-bc6ac99e5db06ac70307ca031ab8d647">high-level Trump administration figure</a>&nbsp;targeted by an impersonator, with a similar incident revealed in May involving President Donald Trump’s chief of staff,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-susie-wiles-transition-white-house-f917aa91b030d836b3bac01659b6fab4">Susie Wiles</a>. The misuse of AI to deceive people is likely to grow as the technology improves and becomes more widely available, and the FBI warned this past spring about “malicious actors” impersonating senior U.S. government officials in a text and voice messaging campaign.

The hoaxes involving Rubio had been unsuccessful and “not very sophisticated,” one of the officials said. Nonetheless, the second official said the department deemed it “prudent” to advise all employees and foreign governments, particularly as efforts by foreign actors to compromise information security increase.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign, but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised,” the cable said.

The FBI has warned in a public service announcement about a “malicious” campaign relying on text messages and AI-generated voice messages that purport to come from a senior U.S. official and that aim to dupe other government officials as well as the victim’s associates and contacts.

This is not the first time that Rubio has been impersonated in a deepfake. This spring, someone created a bogus video of him saying he wanted to cut off Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1896893386323628172" target="_blank">Starlink internet service</a>. Ukraine’s government later&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1896893386323628172" target="_blank">rebutted the false claim</a>.

Several potential solutions have been put forward in recent years to the growing misuse of AI for deception, including criminal penalties and improved media literacy. Concerns about deepfakes have also led to a flood of new apps and AI systems designed to spot phonies that could easily fool a human.

The tech companies working on these systems are now in competition against those who would use AI to deceive, according to Siwei Lyu, a professor and computer scientist at the University at Buffalo. He said he’s seen an increase in the number of deepfakes portraying celebrities, politicians and business leaders as the technology improves.

Just a few years ago, fakes contained easy-to-spot flaws — inhuman voices or mistakes like extra fingers — but now the AI is so good, it’s much harder for a human to spot, giving deepfake makers an advantage.

“The level of realism and quality is increasing,” Lyu said. “It’s an arms race, and right now the generators are getting the upper hand.”

The Rubio hoax comes after text messages and phone calls went to elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles’ personal cellphone, The Wall Street Journal reported in May.

Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles, which may have been generated by AI, according to the newspaper. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles’ number, the report said. The government was investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752074253485.png" alt="Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday- image White House" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday- image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates.The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post.The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press.“The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently monitoring and addressing the matter,” department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. “The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously take steps to improve the department’s cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents.”She declined to comment further due to “security reasons” and the ongoing investigation.It’s the latest instance of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-phone-impersonation-bc6ac99e5db06ac70307ca031ab8d647">high-level Trump administration figure</a>&nbsp;targeted by an impersonator, with a similar incident revealed in May involving President Donald Trump’s chief of staff,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-susie-wiles-transition-white-house-f917aa91b030d836b3bac01659b6fab4">Susie Wiles</a>. The misuse of AI to deceive people is likely to grow as the technology improves and becomes more widely available, and the FBI warned this past spring about “malicious actors” impersonating senior U.S. government officials in a text and voice messaging campaign.The hoaxes involving Rubio had been unsuccessful and “not very sophisticated,” one of the officials said. Nonetheless, the second official said the department deemed it “prudent” to advise all employees and foreign governments, particularly as efforts by foreign actors to compromise information security increase.The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.“There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign, but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised,” the cable said.The FBI has warned in a public service announcement about a “malicious” campaign relying on text messages and AI-generated voice messages that purport to come from a senior U.S. official and that aim to dupe other government officials as well as the victim’s associates and contacts.This is not the first time that Rubio has been impersonated in a deepfake. This spring, someone created a bogus video of him saying he wanted to cut off Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1896893386323628172" target="_blank">Starlink internet service</a>. Ukraine’s government later&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1896893386323628172" target="_blank">rebutted the false claim</a>.Several potential solutions have been put forward in recent years to the growing misuse of AI for deception, including criminal penalties and improved media literacy. Concerns about deepfakes have also led to a flood of new apps and AI systems designed to spot phonies that could easily fool a human.The tech companies working on these systems are now in competition against those who would use AI to deceive, according to Siwei Lyu, a professor and computer scientist at the University at Buffalo. He said he’s seen an increase in the number of deepfakes portraying celebrities, politicians and business leaders as the technology improves.Just a few years ago, fakes contained easy-to-spot flaws — inhuman voices or mistakes like extra fingers — but now the AI is so good, it’s much harder for a human to spot, giving deepfake makers an advantage.“The level of realism and quality is increasing,” Lyu said. “It’s an arms race, and right now the generators are getting the upper hand.”The Rubio hoax comes after text messages and phone calls went to elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles’ personal cellphone, The Wall Street Journal reported in May.Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles, which may have been generated by AI, according to the newspaper. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles’ number, the report said. The government was investigating.

AI used to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State, contact foreign officials

SEDGWICK COUNTY — An inmate accused in an attack on a Kansas jail deputy is due back in court Wednesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing.

James Chavez, 21, will appear before&nbsp;Judge Chrystal Krier and could enter a plea in the case, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In Apil Chaves was charged with aggravated battery.

On April 14, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy suffered serious burns after an inmate identified as Chavez launched a targeted attack inside the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.

The incident happened while the deputy was speaking with inmates in a housing pod.&nbsp; Chavez obtained a pot of boiling water and threw it on the deputy, causing second and third-degree burns to the back part of his body.

Sedgwick County EMS transported the deputy to a local hospital, where he was admitted to the Burn Unit. The 30-year-old deputy who has served with the Sheriff’s Office for nearly two years is expected.

Chavez was originally booked into the detention facility in March 2024 on pending juvenile charges and later faced an additional charge for trafficking contraband into a correctional facility He has had 39 documented disciplinary incidents since entering the facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744743778023.png" alt="Chavez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Chavez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — An inmate accused in an attack on a Kansas jail deputy is due back in court Wednesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing.James Chavez, 21, will appear before&nbsp;Judge Chrystal Krier and could enter a plea in the case, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In Apil Chaves was charged with aggravated battery.On April 14, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy suffered serious burns after an inmate identified as Chavez launched a targeted attack inside the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.The incident happened while the deputy was speaking with inmates in a housing pod.&nbsp; Chavez obtained a pot of boiling water and threw it on the deputy, causing second and third-degree burns to the back part of his body.Sedgwick County EMS transported the deputy to a local hospital, where he was admitted to the Burn Unit. The 30-year-old deputy who has served with the Sheriff’s Office for nearly two years is expected.Chavez was originally booked into the detention facility in March 2024 on pending juvenile charges and later faced an additional charge for trafficking contraband into a correctional facility He has had 39 documented disciplinary incidents since entering the facility.-----------

Inmate in scalding water attack on Kan. deputy is due back in court 

WASHINGTON (AP)—The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical government services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs.

The justices overrode lower court orders that temporarily froze the cuts, which have been led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-donald-trump-962778979dd35ea79d6092df9cb2cb56">Department of Government Efficiency</a>.

The court said in an unsigned order that no specific cuts were in front of the justices, only an executive order issued by Trump and an administration directive for agencies to undertake job reductions.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenting vote, accusing her colleagues of a “demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this President’s legally dubious actions in an emergency posture.”

Among the agencies affected by the order are the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs.

It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

The labor unions and nonprofits that sued over the downsizing offered the justices several examples of what would happen if it were allowed to take effect, including cuts of 40% to 50% at several agencies. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco were among cities that also sued.

“Today’s decision has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy. This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution,” the parties that sued said in a joint statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752056781018.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical government services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs.The justices overrode lower court orders that temporarily froze the cuts, which have been led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-donald-trump-962778979dd35ea79d6092df9cb2cb56">Department of Government Efficiency</a>.The court said in an unsigned order that no specific cuts were in front of the justices, only an executive order issued by Trump and an administration directive for agencies to undertake job reductions.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenting vote, accusing her colleagues of a “demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this President’s legally dubious actions in an emergency posture.”Among the agencies affected by the order are the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs.It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.The labor unions and nonprofits that sued over the downsizing offered the justices several examples of what would happen if it were allowed to take effect, including cuts of 40% to 50% at several agencies. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco were among cities that also sued.“Today’s decision has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy. This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution,” the parties that sued said in a joint statement.

Groups react to court’s decision to allow mass layoffs of federal workers

HASKELL COUNTY —A heatburst occurred Wednesday morning in the southwest Kansas community of Sublette.

The National Weather Service reported the temperature jumped from 67 to 83 degrees at 3a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;This was the result of a heatburst due to a southward moving storm line that passed in the region.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752062398249.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HASKELL COUNTY —A heatburst occurred Wednesday morning in the southwest Kansas community of Sublette.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752062382531.png" alt="Radar image at 3:09 a.m. Wednesday-image National Weather Service Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>Radar image at 3:09 a.m. Wednesday-image National Weather Service Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service reported the temperature jumped from 67 to 83 degrees at 3a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;This was the result of a heatburst due to a southward moving storm line that passed in the region.

Heatburst: Temperature jumped 16 degrees in minutes in Kan. town

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as 28-year-old Destiny Voss, according to Topeka Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a local hospital in reference to a victim, later identified as Voss, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. A short time later, he died of his injuries. Investigators determined the shooting occurred in the 3200 Block of SW Randolph in Topeka.

This is the city’s 9th homicide investigation of 2025.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as 28-year-old Destiny Voss, according to Topeka Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.Just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a local hospital in reference to a victim, later identified as Voss, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. A short time later, he died of his injuries. Investigators determined the shooting occurred in the 3200 Block of SW Randolph in Topeka.This is the city’s 9th homicide investigation of 2025.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect details.

Police ID Kansas man who died in weekend shooting 

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a partial building collapse in downtown Kansas City.

Just before 8:30p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas City Fire Department crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a building collapse in the 1200 block of Wyandotte Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

Crews reported that parts of the brick facade and some of the parapet had separated from the building and fallen to the sidewalk and street below. An exclusion zone was established on the south and west sides of the building to keep pedestrians from getting near the building.

KCPD assisted by blocking Wyandotte Street in both directions. DRONE 1 was ordered for aerial views of the structure, as well as to provide an interior search, which came back all clear.  Dangerous Buildings was ordered and was on scene. Wyandotte Street will remain closed from 12th Street to 13th Street throughout the night. No injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752057034367.png" alt="Photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a partial building collapse in downtown Kansas City.Just before 8:30p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas City Fire Department crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a building collapse in the 1200 block of Wyandotte Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752057051867.png" alt="Photos KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photos KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews reported that parts of the brick facade and some of the parapet had separated from the building and fallen to the sidewalk and street below. An exclusion zone was established on the south and west sides of the building to keep pedestrians from getting near the building.KCPD assisted by blocking Wyandotte Street in both directions. DRONE 1 was ordered for aerial views of the structure, as well as to provide an interior search, which came back all clear. Dangerous Buildings was ordered and was on scene. Wyandotte Street will remain closed from 12th Street to 13th Street throughout the night. No injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;

Crews respond to partial building collapse in downtown Kansas City 

The USDA on Tuesday announced the National Farm Security Action Plan and discussed actions being taken to protect American agriculture from foreign threats.&nbsp;

Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, along with&nbsp;Governors from across the country, and&nbsp;other members of Congress, at the USDA, where they unveiled their National Farm Security Action Plan to protect American agriculture from foreign threats like China.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751982493089.png" alt="Image from USDA video" />
 <figcaption>Image from USDA video</figcaption>
 </figure>The USDA on Tuesday announced the National Farm Security Action Plan and discussed actions being taken to protect American agriculture from foreign threats.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t3jAwHffO4Y?si=1DvfYPybMPwl9x6G&amp;start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In partnership with the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofDefense</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a> - USDA is TODAY announcing a National Farm Security Action Plan!<a href="https://twitter.com/USDA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USDA</a> is taking action because farm security IS national security. <a href="https://t.co/iTuomtV5AL">pic.twitter.com/iTuomtV5AL</a>&mdash; Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRollins/status/1942594106619793850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, along with&nbsp;Governors from across the country, and&nbsp;other members of Congress, at the USDA, where they unveiled their National Farm Security Action Plan to protect American agriculture from foreign threats like China.

🎥 Kan. U.S. Senator helps reveal Farm Security Action Plan

KANSAS CITY —Two Kansas City Fire Department firefighters have deployed as part of Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1), a specialized 50-member search and rescue team activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to KCFD&nbsp;Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

The team departed from Boone County Fire Protection District Headquarters in Columbia, Missouri July 7 and are traveling to Kerr County, Texas.

MO-TF1 is being deployed in response to widespread flooding in the region. Their mission will focus on swift water rescue operations and Human Remains Detection (HRD). Upon arrival, the team is expected to join Colorado Task Force 1 and begin operations later this afternoon. The deployment is anticipated to last up to 14 days.

Missouri Task Force 1 is an elite FEMA urban search and rescue team made up of firefighters, paramedics, physicians, structural engineers, canine handlers, and technical experts from across Missouri. These highly trained professionals are capable of deploying anywhere in the country at a moment’s notice to assist with disaster response, including floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and man-made incidents. Equipped to operate in challenging and hazardous environments, the team provides capabilities in search, rescue, medical care, logistics, wide area search and incident management.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752055247686.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Two Kansas City Fire Department firefighters have deployed as part of Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1), a specialized 50-member search and rescue team activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to KCFD&nbsp;Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.The team departed from Boone County Fire Protection District Headquarters in Columbia, Missouri July 7 and are traveling to Kerr County, Texas.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBooneCountyFire%2Fvideos%2F1412065403415608%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>MO-TF1 is being deployed in response to widespread flooding in the region. Their mission will focus on swift water rescue operations and Human Remains Detection (HRD). Upon arrival, the team is expected to join Colorado Task Force 1 and begin operations later this afternoon. The deployment is anticipated to last up to 14 days.Missouri Task Force 1 is an elite FEMA urban search and rescue team made up of firefighters, paramedics, physicians, structural engineers, canine handlers, and technical experts from across Missouri. These highly trained professionals are capable of deploying anywhere in the country at a moment’s notice to assist with disaster response, including floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and man-made incidents. Equipped to operate in challenging and hazardous environments, the team provides capabilities in search, rescue, medical care, logistics, wide area search and incident management.

KC first responders deploy to Texas following deadly floods

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces murder for the death of his brother over the past weekend.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2666/Ackerman-Redacted-Complaint-1">Jacob Ackerman</a>, 44,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2667/Ackerman-Probable-Cause-1]">Click here to read the probable cause s</a>tatement in the case.

On July 5, Sugar Creek, Missouri officers were dispatched to the area of M-291 and 210 Highway on a welfare check and found the victim lying on his back on the bank of a pond. He had a wound on the back of his head.&nbsp;

Detectives received reports that the victim’s brother was responsible for his death. The defendant later admitted in an interview with detectives that he stood behind the victim and shot him in the head after they got into an argument.&nbsp;

The defendant is being held on a $300,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751925759476.png" alt="Ackerman photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Ackerman photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces murder for the death of his brother over the past weekend.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2666/Ackerman-Redacted-Complaint-1">Jacob Ackerman</a>, 44,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2667/Ackerman-Probable-Cause-1]">Click here to read the probable cause s</a>tatement in the case.On July 5, Sugar Creek, Missouri officers were dispatched to the area of M-291 and 210 Highway on a welfare check and found the victim lying on his back on the bank of a pond. He had a wound on the back of his head.&nbsp;Detectives received reports that the victim’s brother was responsible for his death. The defendant later admitted in an interview with detectives that he stood behind the victim and shot him in the head after they got into an argument.&nbsp;The defendant is being held on a $300,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

Read the probable cause statement: KC man shot his brother in the head

LABETTE COUNTY&nbsp;–The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Edna man for alleged child sex crimes.

On Monday, July 7, around 12 p.m., KBI agents and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office arrested 35-year-old David Stevens, of Edna, at the Labette County Sheriff’s Office. Stevens was arrested for six counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

The KBI Child Victims Unit began investigating after a cyber tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in March. On June 2, KBI agents and deputies from the Labette County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence located at 215 N. Marks Ave., in Edna.

&nbsp;Stevens is being held in the the Labette County Jail without bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751992375310.png" alt="Stevens photo Labette County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Stevens photo Labette County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LABETTE COUNTY&nbsp;–The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Edna man for alleged child sex crimes.On Monday, July 7, around 12 p.m., KBI agents and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office arrested 35-year-old David Stevens, of Edna, at the Labette County Sheriff’s Office. Stevens was arrested for six counts of sexual exploitation of a child.The KBI Child Victims Unit began investigating after a cyber tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in March. On June 2, KBI agents and deputies from the Labette County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence located at 215 N. Marks Ave., in Edna.&nbsp;Stevens is being held in the the Labette County Jail without bond.

Cyber tip led to arrest of Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Donald Trump has leapt to the defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi amid fresh scrutiny from elements of his base over recent Justice Department revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

Trump headed off a reporter’s Epstein-related questions for Bondi at a Cabinet meeting, chiding the journalist for asking “about a guy who’s been talked about for years” and suggesting the interest in the subject was a “desecration” at a time when the country was grappling with issues like the catastrophic Texas flooding.

The president’s response appeared to signal his continued support for Bondi even as she faces questions over the Justice Department’s acknowledgment in a memo on Monday that Epstein did not maintain a “client list.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —President Donald Trump has leapt to the defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi amid fresh scrutiny from elements of his base over recent Justice Department revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?!?...I can&#39;t believe you&#39;re asking a question on Epstein at a time like this where we&#39;re having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas. It just seems like a desecration.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VlTGeEAfmC">pic.twitter.com/VlTGeEAfmC</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1942623670423158984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump headed off a reporter’s Epstein-related questions for Bondi at a Cabinet meeting, chiding the journalist for asking “about a guy who’s been talked about for years” and suggesting the interest in the subject was a “desecration” at a time when the country was grappling with issues like the catastrophic Texas flooding.The president’s response appeared to signal his continued support for Bondi even as she faces questions over the Justice Department’s acknowledgment in a memo on Monday that Epstein did not maintain a “client list.”

🎥President Trump goes off on reporter for asking about Jeffrey Epstein

HUNT, Texas (AP) — More than 160 people are believed to be missing in Texas in the aftermath of the flash floods that killed more than 100 over the July Fourth weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday.

Abbot said many of those who are not accounted for were staying in state's Hill Country but did not register at a camp or hotel. He spoke at a news conference after taking a helicopter tour of the affected area.

Abbott said President Donald Trump has pledged to provide whatever relief Texas needs to recover from the flooding, and he read what he said was a text from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in which Kennedy pledged to declare a public health emergency.

Abbott said of Trump: "He could not stop talking about how sad he was for all the little girls who have lost their lives." Trump planned to visit the state Friday.

Meanwhile, public officials in charge of finding victims of the devastating flooding pushed away intensifying questions about who was monitoring the weather and warning that floodwaters were barreling toward camps and homes.

Leaders in Kerr County, where searchers have found 87 bodies, said their first priority is recovering victims, not reviewing what happened in the hours before the flash floods inundated the state's Hill Country.

"Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home," Lt. Col. Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens, said during a sometimes tense news conference where officials were questioned about the timing of their response.

Hope of finding survivors was increasingly bleak. Four days have passed since anyone was found alive in the aftermath of the floods in Kerr County, officials said Tuesday.

Abbott planned to make another visit Tuesday to Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died during the floods. Officials said Tuesday that five campers and one counselor have still not been found.

Outside the cabins at Camp Mystic where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered on a grassy hill that slopes toward the river. Also in the debris were pink, purple and light blue luggage decorated with stickers.

Among those who died at the camp were a second grader who loved pink sparkles and bows in her curly hair, a 19-year-old counselor who enjoyed mentoring young girls and the camp's 75-year-old director.

The flash floods erupted before daybreak Friday after massive rains sent water speeding down hills into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet (8 meters) in less than an hour. The wall of water overwhelmed people in cabins, tents and trailers along the river's edge, pulling them into the water. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.

Some campers had to swim out of cabin windows to safety while others held onto a rope as they made their way to higher ground. Time-lapse videos showed how floodwaters covered roads in a matter of minutes.

Although it's difficult to attribute a single weather event to climate change, experts say a warming atmosphere and oceans make catastrophic storms more likely.

Questions mounted about what, if any, actions local officials took to warn campers and residents who were spending the July Fourth weekend in the scenic area long known to locals as "flash flood alley."

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that sending out warnings isn't "as easy as pushing a button." Answers about who did what and when will come later, public officials said.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said in the hours after the devastation that the county does not have a warning system.

Generations of families in the Hill Country have known the dangers. A 1987 flood forced the evacuation of a youth camp in the town of Comfort and swamped buses and vans. Ten teenagers were killed.

Local leaders have talked for years about the need for a warning system. Kerr County sought a nearly $1 million grant eight years ago for such a system, but the request was turned down by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Local residents balked at footing the bill themselves, Kelly said.

Some camps were aware of the dangers Friday and monitored the weather. At least one moved several hundred campers to higher ground before the floods. But many people didn't move or were caught by surprise.

The bodies of 30 children were among those that have been recovered in Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, the sheriff said.

The devastation spread across several hundred miles in central Texas all the way to just outside the capital city of Austin.

Nineteen deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, local officials said.

Aidan Duncan escaped just in time after hearing the muffled blare of a megaphone urging residents to evacuate Riverside RV Park in the Hill Country town of Ingram.

All of his belongings — a mattress, sports cards, his pet parakeet's bird cage — now sit in caked mud in front of his home.

"What's going on right now, it hurts," the 17-year-old said. "I literally cried so hard."

Search-and-rescue teams used heavy equipment to untangle trees and move large rocks as part of the massive search for missing people. Hundreds of volunteers showed up to help with one of the largest search operations in Texas history.

Along the banks of the Guadelupe, 91-year-old Charles Hanson, a resident at a senior living center, was sweeping up wood and piling pieces of concrete and stone, remnants from a playground structure.

He wanted to help clean up on behalf of his neighbors who can't get out. "We'll make do with the best we got," he said.

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Joshua A. Bickel in Kerrville, Texas; Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752008737792.png" alt="Photo Texas Division of Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Photo Texas Division of Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>By NADIA LATHAN and JOHN SEEWER&nbsp;HUNT, Texas (AP) — More than 160 people are believed to be missing in Texas in the aftermath of the flash floods that killed more than 100 over the July Fourth weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday.Abbot said many of those who are not accounted for were staying in state's Hill Country but did not register at a camp or hotel. He spoke at a news conference after taking a helicopter tour of the affected area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752009039940.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Abbott said President Donald Trump has pledged to provide whatever relief Texas needs to recover from the flooding, and he read what he said was a text from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in which Kennedy pledged to declare a public health emergency.Abbott said of Trump: "He could not stop talking about how sad he was for all the little girls who have lost their lives." Trump planned to visit the state Friday.Meanwhile, public officials in charge of finding victims of the devastating flooding pushed away intensifying questions about who was monitoring the weather and warning that floodwaters were barreling toward camps and homes.Leaders in Kerr County, where searchers have found 87 bodies, said their first priority is recovering victims, not reviewing what happened in the hours before the flash floods inundated the state's Hill Country."Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home," Lt. Col. Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens, said during a sometimes tense news conference where officials were questioned about the timing of their response.Hope of finding survivors was increasingly bleak. Four days have passed since anyone was found alive in the aftermath of the floods in Kerr County, officials said Tuesday.Abbott planned to make another visit Tuesday to Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died during the floods. Officials said Tuesday that five campers and one counselor have still not been found.Scenes of devastation at Camp MysticOutside the cabins at Camp Mystic where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered on a grassy hill that slopes toward the river. Also in the debris were pink, purple and light blue luggage decorated with stickers.Among those who died at the camp were a second grader who loved pink sparkles and bows in her curly hair, a 19-year-old counselor who enjoyed mentoring young girls and the camp's 75-year-old director.The flash floods erupted before daybreak Friday after massive rains sent water speeding down hills into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet (8 meters) in less than an hour. The wall of water overwhelmed people in cabins, tents and trailers along the river's edge, pulling them into the water. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.Some campers had to swim out of cabin windows to safety while others held onto a rope as they made their way to higher ground. Time-lapse videos showed how floodwaters covered roads in a matter of minutes.Although it's difficult to attribute a single weather event to climate change, experts say a warming atmosphere and oceans make catastrophic storms more likely.Where were the warnings?Questions mounted about what, if any, actions local officials took to warn campers and residents who were spending the July Fourth weekend in the scenic area long known to locals as "flash flood alley."Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that sending out warnings isn't "as easy as pushing a button." Answers about who did what and when will come later, public officials said.Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said in the hours after the devastation that the county does not have a warning system.Generations of families in the Hill Country have known the dangers. A 1987 flood forced the evacuation of a youth camp in the town of Comfort and swamped buses and vans. Ten teenagers were killed.Local leaders have talked for years about the need for a warning system. Kerr County sought a nearly $1 million grant eight years ago for such a system, but the request was turned down by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Local residents balked at footing the bill themselves, Kelly said.Some camps were aware of the dangers Friday and monitored the weather. At least one moved several hundred campers to higher ground before the floods. But many people didn't move or were caught by surprise.Recovery and cleanup goes onThe bodies of 30 children were among those that have been recovered in Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, the sheriff said.The devastation spread across several hundred miles in central Texas all the way to just outside the capital city of Austin.Nineteen deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, local officials said.Aidan Duncan escaped just in time after hearing the muffled blare of a megaphone urging residents to evacuate Riverside RV Park in the Hill Country town of Ingram.All of his belongings — a mattress, sports cards, his pet parakeet's bird cage — now sit in caked mud in front of his home."What's going on right now, it hurts," the 17-year-old said. "I literally cried so hard."Search-and-rescue teams used heavy equipment to untangle trees and move large rocks as part of the massive search for missing people. Hundreds of volunteers showed up to help with one of the largest search operations in Texas history.Along the banks of the Guadelupe, 91-year-old Charles Hanson, a resident at a senior living center, was sweeping up wood and piling pieces of concrete and stone, remnants from a playground structure.He wanted to help clean up on behalf of his neighbors who can't get out. "We'll make do with the best we got," he said.___Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Joshua A. Bickel in Kerrville, Texas; Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.

Texas governor: Dozens still missing after deadly floods

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump's plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical government services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs.

The justices overrode lower court orders that temporarily froze the cuts, which have been led by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenting vote, accusing her colleagues of a "demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this President's legally dubious actions in an emergency posture."

Jackson warned of enormous real-world consequences. "This executive action promises mass employee terminations, widespread cancellation of federal programs and services, and the dismantling of much of the Federal Government as Congress has created it," she wrote.

The high court action continued a remarkable winning streak for Trump, who the justices have allowed to move forward with significant parts of his plan to remake the federal government. The Supreme Court's intervention so far has been on the frequent emergency appeals the Justice Department has filed objecting to lower-court rulings as improperly intruding on presidential authority.

The Republican president has repeatedly said voters gave him a mandate for the work, and he tapped billionaire ally Elon Musk to lead the charge through DOGE. Musk recently left his role.

"Today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling is another definitive victory for the President and his administration. It clearly rebukes the continued assaults on the President's constitutionally authorized executive powers by leftist judges who are trying to prevent the President from achieving government efficiency across the federal government," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement.

Tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, have left their jobs via deferred resignation programs or have been placed on leave. There is no official figure for the job cuts, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.

In May, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston found that Trump's administration needs congressional approval to make sizable reductions to the federal workforce. By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block Illston's order, finding that the downsizing could have broader effects, including on the nation's food-safety system and health care for veterans.

Illston directed numerous federal agencies to halt acting on the president's workforce executive order signed in February and a subsequent memo issued by DOGE and the Office of Personnel Management. Illston was nominated by former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

The labor unions and nonprofit groups that sued over the downsizing offered the justices several examples of what would happen if it were allowed to take effect, including cuts of 40% to 50% at several agencies. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco were among cities that also sued.

"Today's decision has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy. This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution," the parties that sued said in a joint statement.

Among the agencies affected by the order are the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs. It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

The case now continues in Illston's court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672235865420.png" alt="Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States" />
 <figcaption>Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK SHERMAN&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump's plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical government services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs.The justices overrode lower court orders that temporarily froze the cuts, which have been led by the Department of Government Efficiency.The court said in an unsigned order that no specific cuts were in front of the justices, only an executive order issued by Trump and an administration directive for agencies to undertake job reductions.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenting vote, accusing her colleagues of a "demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this President's legally dubious actions in an emergency posture."Jackson warned of enormous real-world consequences. "This executive action promises mass employee terminations, widespread cancellation of federal programs and services, and the dismantling of much of the Federal Government as Congress has created it," she wrote.The high court action continued a remarkable winning streak for Trump, who the justices have allowed to move forward with significant parts of his plan to remake the federal government. The Supreme Court's intervention so far has been on the frequent emergency appeals the Justice Department has filed objecting to lower-court rulings as improperly intruding on presidential authority.The Republican president has repeatedly said voters gave him a mandate for the work, and he tapped billionaire ally Elon Musk to lead the charge through DOGE. Musk recently left his role."Today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling is another definitive victory for the President and his administration. It clearly rebukes the continued assaults on the President's constitutionally authorized executive powers by leftist judges who are trying to prevent the President from achieving government efficiency across the federal government," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement.Tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, have left their jobs via deferred resignation programs or have been placed on leave. There is no official figure for the job cuts, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.In May, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston found that Trump's administration needs congressional approval to make sizable reductions to the federal workforce. By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block Illston's order, finding that the downsizing could have broader effects, including on the nation's food-safety system and health care for veterans.Illston directed numerous federal agencies to halt acting on the president's workforce executive order signed in February and a subsequent memo issued by DOGE and the Office of Personnel Management. Illston was nominated by former Democratic President Bill Clinton.The labor unions and nonprofit groups that sued over the downsizing offered the justices several examples of what would happen if it were allowed to take effect, including cuts of 40% to 50% at several agencies. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco were among cities that also sued."Today's decision has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy. This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution," the parties that sued said in a joint statement.Among the agencies affected by the order are the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs. It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.The case now continues in Illston's court.