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

Just before 9p.m. on March 8, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1500 block of Topeka Avenue in Lyndon for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

Devin G. Davis, 36, of Lyndon was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges that include Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Possession of marijuana.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for burglary and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741633500529.png" alt="Davis photo Osage County" />
 <figcaption>Davis photo Osage County</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 9p.m. on March 8, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop in the 1500 block of Topeka Avenue in Lyndon for a traffic violation, according to Osage County Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, the deputy found illegal narcotics.Devin G. Davis, 36, of Lyndon was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges that include Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of drug paraphernalia and Possession of marijuana.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for burglary and drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kan. man with history of crime caught with meth, marijuana

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;shopped for a new Tesla on the White House driveway on Tuesday, selecting a shiny red sedan to show his support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;'s electric vehicle company as it faces blowback because of his work to advance the president's political agenda and downsize the federal government.

“Wow," Trump said as he eased his way into the drivers seat of a Model S. “That's beautiful.”

Musk got in on the passenger side and joked about “giving the Secret Service a heart attack” as they talked about how to start a vehicle that can reach 60 miles per hour in a few seconds.

Trump told reporters that he would write a check for the car, which retails for roughly $80,000, and leave it at the White House so his staff can drive it. The president also said he hopes his purchase will boost Tesla's fortunes.

“It's a great product,” he said. Referring to Musk, Trump said “we have to celebrate him.”

It was the latest — and most unusual — example of how Trump has demonstrated loyalty to Musk, who spent heavily on his comeback campaign last year and has been a key figure in his second administration. Musk is leading Trump's efforts to overhaul federal agencies and reduce the workforce.

The Republican president announced on social media early Tuesday that he was going to buy a new Tesla as “a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”

Musk continues to run Tesla — as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-cyber-attack-musk-trump-77f48ea813482de03272136121ea2f5c">the social media platform X</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">the rocket manufacturer SpaceX</a>&nbsp;— while also serving as Trump's adviser.

“Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" Trump wrote. "But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.”

Others have also rallied to Musk's defense. Alex Jones, a prominent conspiracy theorist, said that he bought a customized version of a Cybertruck that he'll give away to a customer of his online store next month.

In addition to Tesla's struggles, Musk has faced other challenges too. He said X was targeted by a “massive cyberattack”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-cyber-attack-musk-trump-77f48ea813482de03272136121ea2f5c">that disrupted the social media platform</a>&nbsp;on Monday, and the last two test launches of his Starship rocket&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">ended in explosions</a>.

Tesla has faced sagging sales and declining stock prices as Musk devotes his time to overhauling and downsizing the federal government as an adviser to the president.

The White House did not immediately elaborate on Trump’s plans for buying a Tesla, such as how the purchase would be handled or where the car would be kept.

Presidents almost never drive for security reasons. Joe Biden got behind the wheel of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-b272cb9b4effa902406fb08e6505fb7a">an electric truck</a>&nbsp;while promoting domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama took a spin with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show.

But regardless of the practicality of Trump's purchase, his overnight announcement about buying a Tesla represented another step in how the president has blurred lines between private and public interests.

During his first term, top adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kellyanne-conway-memoir-fdea673fecf56f08e2fdec0b20556bec">Kellyanne Conway</a>&nbsp;urged people to show their support for Trump’s daughter Ivanka by purchasing her retail products.

“Go buy Ivanka’s stuff,” she said. “I’m going to give it a free commercial here.”

Trump's wealth and business savvy is core to his political appeal.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-god-bless-usa-bible-greenwood-2713fda3efdfa297d0f024efb1ca3003">The president promoted his products</a>&nbsp;while running for office last year, and he attached his name to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-watch-sneakers-memecoin-2b49fd975e2cce7a6f61e068f6fd04af">a cryptocurrency meme coin</a>&nbsp;that launched shortly before he took office.

However, it's rare to see Trump use his own money to support an ally, no matter how important they are.

Musk is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/worlds-first-trillionaire-richest-person-list-b00cef4c743eb3417678e8ef5beeeae2">the world's richest person</a>, with billions of dollars in government contracts. He's also exerting sweeping influence over Trump's administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.

During an interview with the Fox Business Network on Monday, host Larry Kudlow asked Musk “how are you running your other businesses” while also advising Trump.

“But there’s no turning back, you say?” Kudlow responded.

“I’m just here trying to make government more efficient, eliminate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste and fraud</a>,” Musk said.

Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism. Police are investigating gunshots fired at a dealership in Oregon, and fire officials are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-cybertruck-fire-seattle-7cd720096694b8455684db31159ed666">examining a blaze</a>&nbsp;that destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.

At times, the White House has needed to play cleanup for Musk, who had never worked in public service before and has admitted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-downsizing-federal-workers-doge-00683abc4de44a151f26aaa6cb0d0f30">he'll make mistakes along the way</a>.

For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-b21b74f56f30012a6450a629e7232a1a">Musk presented inflated estimates of fraud</a>&nbsp;in government benefits like Social Security on Monday, leading Democrats to argue that he was planning cuts to the popular programs.

“Most of the federal spending is entitlements,” Musk said in the interview. “That’s the big one to eliminate.”

The next morning, a White House account on X criticized news organizations as “lying hacks” and told Democrats to “spare us the fake outrage" about reducing benefits.

“He was clearly talking about the WASTE in the programs," the White House posted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741724524957.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;shopped for a new Tesla on the White House driveway on Tuesday, selecting a shiny red sedan to show his support for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Elon Musk</a>&nbsp;'s electric vehicle company as it faces blowback because of his work to advance the president's political agenda and downsize the federal government.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump and Elon Musk get in Telsa at White House ... <a href="https://t.co/U97BJwH8T0">pic.twitter.com/U97BJwH8T0</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1899553788236562523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 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">Trump and Elon Musk get in Telsa at White House ... <a href="https://t.co/U97BJwH8T0">pic.twitter.com/U97BJwH8T0</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1899553788236562523?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Wow," Trump said as he eased his way into the drivers seat of a Model S. “That's beautiful.”Musk got in on the passenger side and joked about “giving the Secret Service a heart attack” as they talked about how to start a vehicle that can reach 60 miles per hour in a few seconds.Trump told reporters that he would write a check for the car, which retails for roughly $80,000, and leave it at the White House so his staff can drive it. The president also said he hopes his purchase will boost Tesla's fortunes.“It's a great product,” he said. Referring to Musk, Trump said “we have to celebrate him.”It was the latest — and most unusual — example of how Trump has demonstrated loyalty to Musk, who spent heavily on his comeback campaign last year and has been a key figure in his second administration. Musk is leading Trump's efforts to overhaul federal agencies and reduce the workforce.The Republican president announced on social media early Tuesday that he was going to buy a new Tesla as “a show of confidence and support for Elon Musk, a truly great American.”Musk continues to run Tesla — as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-cyber-attack-musk-trump-77f48ea813482de03272136121ea2f5c">the social media platform X</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">the rocket manufacturer SpaceX</a>&nbsp;— while also serving as Trump's adviser.“Elon Musk is ‘putting it on the line’ in order to help our Nation, and he is doing a FANTASTIC JOB!" Trump wrote. "But the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla, one of the World’s great automakers, and Elon’s ‘baby,’ in order to attack and do harm to Elon, and everything he stands for.”Others have also rallied to Musk's defense. Alex Jones, a prominent conspiracy theorist, said that he bought a customized version of a Cybertruck that he'll give away to a customer of his online store next month.In addition to Tesla's struggles, Musk has faced other challenges too. He said X was targeted by a “massive cyberattack”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/x-cyber-attack-musk-trump-77f48ea813482de03272136121ea2f5c">that disrupted the social media platform</a>&nbsp;on Monday, and the last two test launches of his Starship rocket&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-0c260a324f597a172300315c6486b9df">ended in explosions</a>.Tesla has faced sagging sales and declining stock prices as Musk devotes his time to overhauling and downsizing the federal government as an adviser to the president.The White House did not immediately elaborate on Trump’s plans for buying a Tesla, such as how the purchase would be handled or where the car would be kept.Presidents almost never drive for security reasons. Joe Biden got behind the wheel of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-b272cb9b4effa902406fb08e6505fb7a">an electric truck</a>&nbsp;while promoting domestic manufacturing, and Barack Obama took a spin with Jerry Seinfeld in the White House driveway for a comedy show.But regardless of the practicality of Trump's purchase, his overnight announcement about buying a Tesla represented another step in how the president has blurred lines between private and public interests.During his first term, top adviser&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kellyanne-conway-memoir-fdea673fecf56f08e2fdec0b20556bec">Kellyanne Conway</a>&nbsp;urged people to show their support for Trump’s daughter Ivanka by purchasing her retail products.“Go buy Ivanka’s stuff,” she said. “I’m going to give it a free commercial here.”Trump's wealth and business savvy is core to his political appeal.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-god-bless-usa-bible-greenwood-2713fda3efdfa297d0f024efb1ca3003">The president promoted his products</a>&nbsp;while running for office last year, and he attached his name to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-crypto-watch-sneakers-memecoin-2b49fd975e2cce7a6f61e068f6fd04af">a cryptocurrency meme coin</a>&nbsp;that launched shortly before he took office.However, it's rare to see Trump use his own money to support an ally, no matter how important they are.Musk is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/worlds-first-trillionaire-richest-person-list-b00cef4c743eb3417678e8ef5beeeae2">the world's richest person</a>, with billions of dollars in government contracts. He's also exerting sweeping influence over Trump's administration through the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, and traveling frequently with the president.During an interview with the Fox Business Network on Monday, host Larry Kudlow asked Musk “how are you running your other businesses” while also advising Trump.“With great difficulty,” he said.“But there’s no turning back, you say?” Kudlow responded.“I’m just here trying to make government more efficient, eliminate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-waste-fraud-abuse-635b1419014a43e061f548c9713860c4">waste and fraud</a>,” Musk said.Tesla has recently faced protests and vandalism. Police are investigating gunshots fired at a dealership in Oregon, and fire officials are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-cybertruck-fire-seattle-7cd720096694b8455684db31159ed666">examining a blaze</a>&nbsp;that destroyed four Cybertrucks at a Tesla lot in Seattle.At times, the White House has needed to play cleanup for Musk, who had never worked in public service before and has admitted that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-downsizing-federal-workers-doge-00683abc4de44a151f26aaa6cb0d0f30">he'll make mistakes along the way</a>.For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-doge-b21b74f56f30012a6450a629e7232a1a">Musk presented inflated estimates of fraud</a>&nbsp;in government benefits like Social Security on Monday, leading Democrats to argue that he was planning cuts to the popular programs.“Most of the federal spending is entitlements,” Musk said in the interview. “That’s the big one to eliminate.”The next morning, a White House account on X criticized news organizations as “lying hacks” and told Democrats to “spare us the fake outrage" about reducing benefits.“He was clearly talking about the WASTE in the programs," the White House posted.

🎥 Trump turns the White House lawn into a Tesla showroom to show support for Musk

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September, providing critical momentum as the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to get it over the finish line.

Republicans needed overwhelming support from their members to pass the funding measure, and they got it in the 217-213 House vote. GOP members of the Kansas delegation voted with the majority.

In the Senate, they'll need support from at least eight Democrats to get the bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;desk. It's one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican president's second term, prompting Vice President JD Vance to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to rally support.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., moved ahead on the bill, essentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-spending-shutdown-house-senate-426823710920756447076d15077c33d7">daring Democrats to oppose it</a>&nbsp;and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers failed to act on the continuing resolution, often referred to by lawmakers as a CR.

“Here’s the bottom line. If congressional Democrats refuse to support this clean CR, they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck, for every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA, for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government,” Johnson said.

Johnson's strategy had the backing of Trump, who called on Republicans to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”

Lawmakers said the bill would trim $13 billion in non-defense spending from the levels in the 2024 budget year and increase defense spending by $6 billion, which are rather flat changes for both categories when compared with an overall topline of nearly $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending. The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs is on autopilot and not regularly reviewed by Congress.

Democrats are mostly worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. They are already alarmed by the administration's efforts to make major cuts through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-federal-workforce-doge-cuts-republicans-03c307112ebf247a71a7ad54aea6fa6d">the Department of Government Efficiency</a>, or DOGE, run by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. And they say the spending bill would fuel the effort.

Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the legislation. So the administration will have more leeway to reshape priorities.

For example, a Democratic memo said the bill would allow the administration to steer money away from combating fentanyl and instead use it on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-deportations-border-immigration-bcd2737e6f9b482ec500238c6caa4f35">mass deportation initiatives</a>.

“This is not a clean CR. This bill is a blank check,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. “It’s a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump.”

Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the continuing resolution was not the outcome he sought but said it was time to end the cycle of short-term funding extensions. This will be the third in recent months. He blamed Democrats for trying to rein in Trump’s authority on spending.

“We’re not going to have a Republican Senate and a Republican House restrict a Republican president from the legitimate exercise of executive authority," Cole said. "And then, oh, by the way, ask him to sign the bill.”

Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. That’s because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.

Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., and chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said he supported this one because it would not lead to a massive, catch-all spending bill and would reduce spending.

"This is not your grandfather’s continuing resolution," Harris said.

Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/thomas-massie">Thomas Massie</a>, R-Ky., was still a holdout, though. He was the only Republican to vote no on the procedural vote, and said he would vote against the bill, too.

Trump went after Massie on social media, calling him a “GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble.”

"HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him," Trump posted online.

Massie responded by saying Trump was “attacking me and Canada today. The difference is: Canada will eventually cave.”

House Democratic leaders came out strongly against the legislation. Less clear was how strongly they would push members in competitive battleground districts to follow their lead.

“This Republican shutdown bill does nothing to enhance the American dream. It undermines it,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said ahead of the vote.

Democratic leaders in the Senate generally seemed to be emphasizing patience at this stage and were waiting to see if Republicans can muscle the bill through the House before taking a stand.

“We're going to see what the House does first,” said top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.

Still, several rank-and-file Democrats criticized the measure. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was stunned that Republicans were “trying to jam through something that is their way or the highway.”

Democrats also introduced an alternative bill Monday night funding the government through April 11. The bill could serve as a Plan B if the GOP-led effort falters.

Both parties prepared to blame the other if the bill failed.

“It looks like they're going to try to shut down the government,” Johnson said of Democrats.

“If the government shuts down with a Republican House, Republican Senate and Republican president, it will be solely because the Republicans have moved forward with a terrible, partisan, take-it-or-leave-it bill,” said Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.

The spending bill could also have major ramifications for the District of Columbia's government.

Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said the proposal would require the district to cut $1.1 billion in spending in the next six months since it has already passed a balanced budget and is midway through its fiscal year. That means, officials said, cuts to critical services such as education and public safety.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741730320465.png" alt="House Speaker Mike Johnson during a news briefing Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Mike Johnson during a news briefing Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The House passed legislation Tuesday to avert a partial government shutdown and fund federal agencies through September, providing critical momentum as the measure now moves to the Senate, where bipartisan support will be needed to get it over the finish line.Republicans needed overwhelming support from their members to pass the funding measure, and they got it in the 217-213 House vote. GOP members of the Kansas delegation voted with the majority.In the Senate, they'll need support from at least eight Democrats to get the bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;desk. It's one of the biggest legislative tests so far of the Republican president's second term, prompting Vice President JD Vance to visit Capitol Hill on Tuesday morning to rally support.Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., moved ahead on the bill, essentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-spending-shutdown-house-senate-426823710920756447076d15077c33d7">daring Democrats to oppose it</a>&nbsp;and risk a shutdown that would begin Saturday if lawmakers failed to act on the continuing resolution, often referred to by lawmakers as a CR.“Here’s the bottom line. If congressional Democrats refuse to support this clean CR, they will be responsible for every troop who misses a paycheck, for every flight delay from reduced staffing at TSA, for every negative consequence that comes from shutting down the government,” Johnson said.Johnson's strategy had the backing of Trump, who called on Republicans to “remain UNITED — NO DISSENT — Fight for another day when the timing is right.”Lawmakers said the bill would trim $13 billion in non-defense spending from the levels in the 2024 budget year and increase defense spending by $6 billion, which are rather flat changes for both categories when compared with an overall topline of nearly $1.7 trillion in discretionary spending. The bill does not cover the majority of government spending, including Social Security and Medicare. Funding for those two programs is on autopilot and not regularly reviewed by Congress.Democrats are mostly worried about the discretion the bill gives the Trump administration on spending decisions. They are already alarmed by the administration's efforts to make major cuts through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-federal-workforce-doge-cuts-republicans-03c307112ebf247a71a7ad54aea6fa6d">the Department of Government Efficiency</a>, or DOGE, run by billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk. And they say the spending bill would fuel the effort.Spending bills typically come with specific funding directives for key programs, but hundreds of those directives fall away under the legislation. So the administration will have more leeway to reshape priorities.For example, a Democratic memo said the bill would allow the administration to steer money away from combating fentanyl and instead use it on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-deportations-border-immigration-bcd2737e6f9b482ec500238c6caa4f35">mass deportation initiatives</a>.“This is not a clean CR. This bill is a blank check,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. “It’s a blank check for Elon Musk and President Trump.”Rep. Tom Cole, the Republican chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the continuing resolution was not the outcome he sought but said it was time to end the cycle of short-term funding extensions. This will be the third in recent months. He blamed Democrats for trying to rein in Trump’s authority on spending.“We’re not going to have a Republican Senate and a Republican House restrict a Republican president from the legitimate exercise of executive authority," Cole said. "And then, oh, by the way, ask him to sign the bill.”Normally, when it comes to keeping the government fully open for business, Republicans have had to work with Democrats to craft a bipartisan measure that both sides can support. That’s because Republicans almost always lack the votes to pass spending bills on their own.Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., and chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said he supported this one because it would not lead to a massive, catch-all spending bill and would reduce spending."This is not your grandfather’s continuing resolution," Harris said.Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/thomas-massie">Thomas Massie</a>, R-Ky., was still a holdout, though. He was the only Republican to vote no on the procedural vote, and said he would vote against the bill, too.Trump went after Massie on social media, calling him a “GRANDSTANDER, who’s too much trouble.”"HE SHOULD BE PRIMARIED, and I will lead the charge against him," Trump posted online.Massie responded by saying Trump was “attacking me and Canada today. The difference is: Canada will eventually cave.”House Democratic leaders came out strongly against the legislation. Less clear was how strongly they would push members in competitive battleground districts to follow their lead.“This Republican shutdown bill does nothing to enhance the American dream. It undermines it,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said ahead of the vote.Democratic leaders in the Senate generally seemed to be emphasizing patience at this stage and were waiting to see if Republicans can muscle the bill through the House before taking a stand.“We're going to see what the House does first,” said top Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.Still, several rank-and-file Democrats criticized the measure. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said he was stunned that Republicans were “trying to jam through something that is their way or the highway.”Democrats also introduced an alternative bill Monday night funding the government through April 11. The bill could serve as a Plan B if the GOP-led effort falters.Both parties prepared to blame the other if the bill failed.“It looks like they're going to try to shut down the government,” Johnson said of Democrats.“If the government shuts down with a Republican House, Republican Senate and Republican president, it will be solely because the Republicans have moved forward with a terrible, partisan, take-it-or-leave-it bill,” said Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y.The spending bill could also have major ramifications for the District of Columbia's government.Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said the proposal would require the district to cut $1.1 billion in spending in the next six months since it has already passed a balanced budget and is midway through its fiscal year. That means, officials said, cuts to critical services such as education and public safety.___

Kan. GOP lawmakers help House pass bill to fund gov't  through September

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly knife attack have made an arrest.

Just before 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a report of a stabbing in the 4100 block of East Whitney Lane, according to Wichita Police Lt. Aaron Moses. The caller reported someone had been stabbed in the street.

Officers from the Wichita Police Department responded to the scene and located 51- year-old Brian Edwards from Wichita suffering from stab wound to the torso.&nbsp; EMS transported Edwards to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Officers at the scene quickly identified a 24-year-old man as the suspect in this case and took William Ball, according to Sedgwick County jail records, into custody without incident. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide investigators. 

At this point in the investigation, it is believed that all parties involved are known to each other and this is an isolated incident. Early Tuesday, police booked Ball into the Sedgwick County Jail on a requested charge of Second Degree Murder. 

This is the third criminal homicide in Wichita in 2025. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741706450913.png" alt="Ball photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ball photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly knife attack have made an arrest.Just before 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sedgwick County Emergency Communications received a report of a stabbing in the 4100 block of East Whitney Lane, according to Wichita Police Lt. Aaron Moses. The caller reported someone had been stabbed in the street.Officers from the Wichita Police Department responded to the scene and located 51- year-old Brian Edwards from Wichita suffering from stab wound to the torso.&nbsp; EMS transported Edwards to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Officers at the scene quickly identified a 24-year-old man as the suspect in this case and took William Ball, according to Sedgwick County jail records, into custody without incident. There were multiple individuals at the scene who were later interviewed by Wichita Police Department Homicide investigators. At this point in the investigation, it is believed that all parties involved are known to each other and this is an isolated incident. Early Tuesday, police booked Ball into the Sedgwick County Jail on a requested charge of Second Degree Murder. This is the third criminal homicide in Wichita in 2025.

Man accused in deadly Kansas knife attack

ELLIS COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol reports traffic is flowing well through the U.S. 183 Bypass bridge tear down that began Tuesday on Interstate 70 in Ellis County.

The Kansas Department of Transportation is temporarily closing both directions of Interstate 70 near Hays for the removal of the U.S. 183 bypass bridge over I-70 at Exit 157.

Eastbound and westbound traffic is being diverted on to the U.S. 183 bypass exit ramp at Exit 157 and re-enter I-70 via the entrance ramp. Stop signs on both exit ramps will be covered to allow for continuous traffic flow through the detour, and no right or left turns will be allowed.

Additional closures will also be in place on the U.S. 183 bypass and 230th&nbsp;Avenue.

Northbound lanes on the U.S. 183 bypass are closed north of the intersection at Fairground and Frontier Roads, and southbound 230th&nbsp;Avenue will be closed immediately south of the 55th&nbsp;Street intersection.

Access to I-70 from the U.S. 183 bypass and 230th&nbsp;Avenue will not be available during the closure.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741722985753.png" alt="Photo KHP Trooper Tod Heilman" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP Trooper Tod Heilman</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLIS COUNTY —The Kansas Highway Patrol reports traffic is flowing well through the U.S. 183 Bypass bridge tear down that began Tuesday on Interstate 70 in Ellis County.The Kansas Department of Transportation is temporarily closing both directions of Interstate 70 near Hays for the removal of the U.S. 183 bypass bridge over I-70 at Exit 157.Eastbound and westbound traffic is being diverted on to the U.S. 183 bypass exit ramp at Exit 157 and re-enter I-70 via the entrance ramp. Stop signs on both exit ramps will be covered to allow for continuous traffic flow through the detour, and no right or left turns will be allowed.Additional closures will also be in place on the U.S. 183 bypass and 230th&nbsp;Avenue.Northbound lanes on the U.S. 183 bypass are closed north of the intersection at Fairground and Frontier Roads, and southbound 230th&nbsp;Avenue will be closed immediately south of the 55th&nbsp;Street intersection.Access to I-70 from the U.S. 183 bypass and 230th&nbsp;Avenue will not be available during the closure.&nbsp;

KHP: Traffic flowing well as I-70 bridge removal work begins near Hays

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark wanted the league's postseason tournament to reflect his idealized version of the league — young, hip, upscale and current — and that spilled like a bucket of paint onto the floor this week.

Goodbye, clean and traditional hardwood. Welcome, a court emblazoned with hundreds of "XII" logos that stretch from baseline to baseline and result in a polarizing Louis Vuitton-like look to some fans and an abhorrent eyesore to others.

"That court isn't about me. It's about our student-athletes," Yormark said Tuesday, shortly before Cincinnati and Oklahoma State stepped onto it for the first game in the newly expanded 16-team Big 12 Tournament.

"When I first got here," Yormark continued, "it was all about modernizing and contemporizing our brand, and connecting to the culture of current and future student-athletes, and that's what we're doing."

The gray-hued floor actually debuted during last week's women's Big 12 Tournament, featuring black baselines and sidelines and the Big 12 logo splashed across center court. The product is cool or crass, awesome or ugly, depending on who you ask, yet there appeared to be precious little middle ground among basketball fans.

"I think the Big 12 Tournament floor is going to give me a panic attack," hoops analytics expert Erik Haslam wrote on X, while others joked about staring at the floor long enough to see hidden messages. Some complained that it was causing problems for TV cameras trying to focus, especially for those streaming games, or that it might cause them to have a seizure.

Other fans thought it was daring and fashionable, or at least palatable.

Such avant-garde court designs certainly are the rage these days. FAU has an array of palm trees painted across its floor, slash marks cut across the floor at Memphis, and the NBA Cup has become known for its decorated playing surfaces.

The Big 12 court also reflects its partnership with trendy sportswear brand UNDEFEATED, whose "5-strike" logo runs along the baseline. The boutique is known for its collaborations with a focus on sports, art, music and street culture.

"I got here early and Iowa State practiced and the entire team said they loved it, loved being here. I think it's aspirational. We wanted to make a profound statement," Yormark explained. "In life, you never get it perfectly correct, but I think the people that matter the most that are weighing in love it, and that's what matters to me."

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 this season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741717627847.png" alt="File image Big 12 Conference from ESPN video" />
 <figcaption>File image Big 12 Conference from ESPN video</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE SKRETTA AP Basketball WriterKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark wanted the league's postseason tournament to reflect his idealized version of the league — young, hip, upscale and current — and that spilled like a bucket of paint onto the floor this week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741717734613.png" alt="-File image Big 12 Conference from ESPN video" />
 <figcaption>-File image Big 12 Conference from ESPN video</figcaption>
 </figure>Goodbye, clean and traditional hardwood. Welcome, a court emblazoned with hundreds of "XII" logos that stretch from baseline to baseline and result in a polarizing Louis Vuitton-like look to some fans and an abhorrent eyesore to others."That court isn't about me. It's about our student-athletes," Yormark said Tuesday, shortly before Cincinnati and Oklahoma State stepped onto it for the first game in the newly expanded 16-team Big 12 Tournament."When I first got here," Yormark continued, "it was all about modernizing and contemporizing our brand, and connecting to the culture of current and future student-athletes, and that's what we're doing."The gray-hued floor actually debuted during last week's women's Big 12 Tournament, featuring black baselines and sidelines and the Big 12 logo splashed across center court. The product is cool or crass, awesome or ugly, depending on who you ask, yet there appeared to be precious little middle ground among basketball fans."I think the Big 12 Tournament floor is going to give me a panic attack," hoops analytics expert Erik Haslam wrote on X, while others joked about staring at the floor long enough to see hidden messages. Some complained that it was causing problems for TV cameras trying to focus, especially for those streaming games, or that it might cause them to have a seizure.Other fans thought it was daring and fashionable, or at least palatable.Such avant-garde court designs certainly are the rage these days. FAU has an array of palm trees painted across its floor, slash marks cut across the floor at Memphis, and the NBA Cup has become known for its decorated playing surfaces.The Big 12 court also reflects its partnership with trendy sportswear brand UNDEFEATED, whose "5-strike" logo runs along the baseline. The boutique is known for its collaborations with a focus on sports, art, music and street culture."I got here early and Iowa State practiced and the entire team said they loved it, loved being here. I think it's aspirational. We wanted to make a profound statement," Yormark explained. "In life, you never get it perfectly correct, but I think the people that matter the most that are weighing in love it, and that's what matters to me."___Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 this season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

Crass or cool, awesome or eyesore: Big 12 Tournament's logo'd court makes a statement either way

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s threat on Tuesday to double his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">planned tariffs</a>&nbsp;on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada led the provincial government of Ontario to suspend its planned surcharges on electricity sold to the United States.

As a result, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said the U.S. president pulled back on his doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs, even as the federal government still plans to place a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports starting Wednesday.

The drama on Tuesday delivered a win for Trump but also amplified concerns about tariffs that have roiled the stock market and stirred recession risks. Tuesday’s escalation and cooling in the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada only compounded the rising sense of uncertainty of how Trump’s tariff hikes will affect the economies of both countries.

Trump shocked markets Tuesday morning by saying that the increase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">the tariffs</a>&nbsp;set to take effect on Wednesday had been a response to the 25% price hike that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-ontario-us-trump-tariffs-electricity-834dc3d9defd314923912f9bd8540e31">Ontario put on electricity</a>&nbsp;sold to the United States.

“I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called him and Ford agreed to remove the surcharge. He said he was confident that the U.S. president would also stand down on his own plans for 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.

“He has to bounce it off the president but I’m pretty confident he will pull back,” Ford said on Trump’s steel and aluminum tariff threat. “By no means are we just going to roll over. What we are going to do is have a constructive conversation.”

After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-economy-tariffs-trump-rates-174603e75feb9d5cca96c08817e0c7c2">brutal stock market selloff</a>&nbsp;on Monday and further jitters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-wall-street-trump-tariffs-33b8562c7b76fe3b967ea6cd9d61719b">Tuesday</a>, Trump faces increased pressure to show he has a solid plan to grow the economy. So far the president is doubling down on tariffs and can point to Tuesday’s drama as evidence that taxes on imports are a valuable negotiating tool, even if they can generate turmoil in the stock market.

Trump suggested Tuesday that tariffs were critical for changing the U.S. economy, regardless of stock market gyrations.

The U.S. president has given a variety of explanations for his antagonism of Canada. He has said that his separate 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada, some of which are suspended for a month, are about fentanyl smuggling and voicing objections to Canada putting high taxes on dairy imports that penalize U.S. farmers. He also continued to call for Canada&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88">to become part of the United States</a>&nbsp;as a solution, which has infuriated Canadian leaders.

“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State,” Trump posted Tuesday. “This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741704423999.png" alt="File photo courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;‘s threat on Tuesday to double his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-b19e004dddb579c373b247037e04424b">planned tariffs</a>&nbsp;on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50% for Canada led the provincial government of Ontario to suspend its planned surcharges on electricity sold to the United States.As a result, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said the U.S. president pulled back on his doubling of steel and aluminum tariffs, even as the federal government still plans to place a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports starting Wednesday.The drama on Tuesday delivered a win for Trump but also amplified concerns about tariffs that have roiled the stock market and stirred recession risks. Tuesday’s escalation and cooling in the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada only compounded the rising sense of uncertainty of how Trump’s tariff hikes will affect the economies of both countries.Trump shocked markets Tuesday morning by saying that the increase of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-economy-imports-inflation-62d52742c0bb0a5b8304755c6ee9af4d">the tariffs</a>&nbsp;set to take effect on Wednesday had been a response to the 25% price hike that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-ontario-us-trump-tariffs-electricity-834dc3d9defd314923912f9bd8540e31">Ontario put on electricity</a>&nbsp;sold to the United States.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741703315509.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25% Tariff, to 50%, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD,” Trump posted on Truth Social.Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick called him and Ford agreed to remove the surcharge. He said he was confident that the U.S. president would also stand down on his own plans for 50% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum.“He has to bounce it off the president but I’m pretty confident he will pull back,” Ford said on Trump’s steel and aluminum tariff threat. “By no means are we just going to roll over. What we are going to do is have a constructive conversation.”After a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-economy-tariffs-trump-rates-174603e75feb9d5cca96c08817e0c7c2">brutal stock market selloff</a>&nbsp;on Monday and further jitters&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-wall-street-trump-tariffs-33b8562c7b76fe3b967ea6cd9d61719b">Tuesday</a>, Trump faces increased pressure to show he has a solid plan to grow the economy. So far the president is doubling down on tariffs and can point to Tuesday’s drama as evidence that taxes on imports are a valuable negotiating tool, even if they can generate turmoil in the stock market.Trump suggested Tuesday that tariffs were critical for changing the U.S. economy, regardless of stock market gyrations.The U.S. president has given a variety of explanations for his antagonism of Canada. He has said that his separate 25% tariffs on all imports from Canada, some of which are suspended for a month, are about fentanyl smuggling and voicing objections to Canada putting high taxes on dairy imports that penalize U.S. farmers. He also continued to call for Canada&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-canada-could-become-us-state-42360e10ded96c0046fd11eaaf55ab88">to become part of the United States</a>&nbsp;as a solution, which has infuriated Canadian leaders.“The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State,” Trump posted Tuesday. “This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.”

Trump halts doubling of tariffs on Canadian metals after Ontario folds

Charlotte O’Hara, announced Tuesday she will seek the&nbsp;Republican nomination&nbsp;for&nbsp;governor&nbsp;in 2026, according to a media release.

O’Hara, a business woman and conservative Republican, stated in the release, she "is done with Kansas being the high tax point on the prairie. As Governor, she will focus on reining in state spending and ludicrous corporate welfare, ban DEI and get schools back to education.

&nbsp;Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly's second term is nearing an end. Kelly is term-limited from running again in 2026. In January,&nbsp;Kansas Secretary of State <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ec164f8e-f8d7-4438-9c64-8f8ebaa1c7ea">Scott Schwab of Overland Park announced </a>his intention&nbsp;to run for governor.

O’Hara has long fought corporate welfare/tax incentives, which increase property taxes for homeowners and small businesses, according to the media release from her campaign. 

O’Hara is a past Republican Party 3rd District Chairwoman and served in the Kansas House (2011-2012). She voted against Governor Brownback’s 7.5% increase in the 2012 General Fund budget and blew the whistle on Brownback’s acceptance of the federal Early Innovator Grant money to build the IT infrastructure for ObamaCare in Kansas.

O’Hara (2021-2025) served as Johnson County Commissioner, District 3, "where she refused to capitulate to COVID masks and vaccine mandates." She tirelessly fought against Democrat controlled Johnson County Commission’s spending frenzy.O’Hara emphasized, “The hidden increase of taxes through inflation has become extraordinarily draconian, especially property taxes. 

"While Democrats along with Republicans support corporate welfare/tax incentives, the rest of us have to pay our property taxes in full with no shelter. This hits all of our budgets, but especially those on fixed incomes, whose disposable income shrinks with every tax increase.”

"O’Hara was raised on a family farm in Bourbon County. There her strong faith, work ethic and common sense were honed. O’Hara added, “I’ve had the opportunity to succeed in many endeavors: general contractor and developer, public servant, substitute teacher and homeschooler."

"Now, with my son, I co-own a small manufacturing company. I cannot stand silent and watch small businesses and homeowners be destroyed through high property taxes or watch our children drown in the sewer of WOKEism in our schools. It is time to have a proven conservative at the helm of our Republican super-majority.”

O’Hara, mother of 5 and grandmother of seven, finds joy in cooking for her family, on horseback, writing poetry and playing her piano and guitar. She lives in Overland Park with her two Australian Shepherds, Harvey and Bear.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741707494446.png" alt="-Charlotte O'Hara" />
 <figcaption>-Charlotte O'Hara</figcaption>
 </figure>Charlotte O’Hara, announced Tuesday she will seek the&nbsp;Republican nomination&nbsp;for&nbsp;governor&nbsp;in 2026, according to a media release.O’Hara, a business woman and conservative Republican, stated in the release, she "is done with Kansas being the high tax point on the prairie. As Governor, she will focus on reining in state spending and ludicrous corporate welfare, ban DEI and get schools back to education. &nbsp;Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly's second term is nearing an end. Kelly is term-limited from running again in 2026. In January,&nbsp;Kansas Secretary of State <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ec164f8e-f8d7-4438-9c64-8f8ebaa1c7ea">Scott Schwab of Overland Park announced </a>his intention&nbsp;to run for governor.O’Hara has long fought corporate welfare/tax incentives, which increase property taxes for homeowners and small businesses, according to the media release from her campaign. O’Hara is a past Republican Party 3rd District Chairwoman and served in the Kansas House (2011-2012). She voted against Governor Brownback’s 7.5% increase in the 2012 General Fund budget and blew the whistle on Brownback’s acceptance of the federal Early Innovator Grant money to build the IT infrastructure for ObamaCare in Kansas.O’Hara (2021-2025) served as Johnson County Commissioner, District 3, "where she refused to capitulate to COVID masks and vaccine mandates." She tirelessly fought against Democrat controlled Johnson County Commission’s spending frenzy.O’Hara emphasized, “The hidden increase of taxes through inflation has become extraordinarily draconian, especially property taxes. "While Democrats along with Republicans support corporate welfare/tax incentives, the rest of us have to pay our property taxes in full with no shelter. This hits all of our budgets, but especially those on fixed incomes, whose disposable income shrinks with every tax increase.”"O’Hara was raised on a family farm in Bourbon County. There her strong faith, work ethic and common sense were honed. O’Hara added, “I’ve had the opportunity to succeed in many endeavors: general contractor and developer, public servant, substitute teacher and homeschooler.""Now, with my son, I co-own a small manufacturing company. I cannot stand silent and watch small businesses and homeowners be destroyed through high property taxes or watch our children drown in the sewer of WOKEism in our schools. It is time to have a proven conservative at the helm of our Republican super-majority.”O’Hara, mother of 5 and grandmother of seven, finds joy in cooking for her family, on horseback, writing poetry and playing her piano and guitar. She lives in Overland Park with her two Australian Shepherds, Harvey and Bear.

Former state representative announces run for Kan. governor

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just after 3p.m. March 9, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2025 Toyota Camry at Columbine Drive on U.S. Hwy 75, just north of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver, James Leroy Parr, 46, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741294954048.png" alt="Parr Photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Parr Photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just after 3p.m. March 9, a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2025 Toyota Camry at Columbine Drive on U.S. Hwy 75, just north of Holton, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.The driver, James Leroy Parr, 46, of Centralia, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting an open container.

Sheriff: Kansas man was transporting meth, open container

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol arrested two individuals, one on multiple felony accusations after they barricaded themselves in a home in 100 block of S. 17th St. for six and a half hours over the weekend.

Shortly after 3a.m. March 8, KCKPD Special Operations Unit responded to the home to assist KHP in serving a warrant, according to a media release.

 Despite numerous commands,36-year-old Javier Silva, a resident of Kansas City, Kan. and 51-year-old Salvadore Contreras, Jr., a resident of the home, refused to exit.

At approximately 4:42a.m., Silva exited on his own and was taken into custody without incident. Then, at approximately 9:11a.m., Contreras, also exited and was taken into custody without further incident.

 In addition to the arrests, authorities confiscated a significant amount of illegal drugs from the scene that tested positive for fentanyl .Both suspects are being held without bond in the Wyandotte County Jail. Silva is being held on a probation violation. Contreras, Jr. is being held on requested felony charges of distribution of stimulants; fleeing or attempting to elude/interference with a law enforcement officer; obstruct or resist in a felony case/interference with a law enforcement officer; and a traffic violation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741486857253.png" alt="Silva-photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Silva-photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol arrested two individuals, one on multiple felony accusations after they barricaded themselves in a home in 100 block of S. 17th St. for six and a half hours over the weekend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741486931910.png" alt="Contreras photo Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Contreras photo Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Shortly after 3a.m. March 8, KCKPD Special Operations Unit responded to the home to assist KHP in serving a warrant, according to a media release. Despite numerous commands,36-year-old Javier Silva, a resident of Kansas City, Kan. and 51-year-old Salvadore Contreras, Jr., a resident of the home, refused to exit.At approximately 4:42a.m., Silva exited on his own and was taken into custody without incident. Then, at approximately 9:11a.m., Contreras, also exited and was taken into custody without further incident. In addition to the arrests, authorities confiscated a significant amount of illegal drugs from the scene that tested positive for fentanyl .Both suspects are being held without bond in the Wyandotte County Jail. Silva is being held on a probation violation. Contreras, Jr. is being held on requested felony charges of distribution of stimulants; fleeing or attempting to elude/interference with a law enforcement officer; obstruct or resist in a felony case/interference with a law enforcement officer; and a traffic violation.

Suspected Kan. fentanyl dealer jailed after 6 hour standoff 

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's attorney general is threatening to seize Chinese assets across the U.S. to collect $24.5 billion awarded in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-covid-pandemic-china-lawsuit-5aa74153fff95173e8d9d44142fa809c">a lawsuit against China</a>&nbsp;stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, but experts were skeptical Monday, with one saying, “Good luck with that.”

A full copy of the judgment can be read&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=03c11393ad&amp;e=fe147aceeb__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!BtTkoi2PNgoGBaMBQsQpWr5gzq6koN0OFVbnxR9nhfDDAyoep6eBlOXRIaV-ludjItDMaBzsj7lh_mc6ktr8sTxJYg$">here</a>.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this week that it does not recognize a U.S. federal judge's recent ruling siding with Missouri's claim that China hoarded personal protective equipment during the pandemic, harming the state and its residents. China&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-lawsuits-ap-top-news-michael-brown-virus-outbreak-0d28f84369c35ebcd9184b3a48cad0a1">called the lawsuit “absurd”</a>&nbsp;when it was filed in 2020, during the early months of the pandemic, and it did not participate in a brief trial held in Missouri in January.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, hailed Friday's ruling from U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh as a “landmark victory” in efforts to hold China, its Communist Party and seven other government or scientific agencies responsible for the costs of the pandemic in the U.S. If China won't pay the award, the state will seize Chinese-owned assets, including farmland, Bailey said.

“Those assets are not required to be within Missouri and can be located anywhere in the United States,” Bailey said in a statement Monday. “While we have not partnered with other states on this particular suit, we encourage others to work to hold the Chinese government accountable and seek justice for victims."

International organizations typically negotiate such disagreements, or the federal government will take legal action on behalf of a state, said Paul Nolette, a Marquette University political scientist. He said a state acting on its own could be a problem because, "that can really complicate relationships between the countries.”

He added, “The prospects of money actually changing hands is very slim.”

Duncan Levin, a former federal and state prosecutor in New York City who's represented foreign nations in U.S. courts, described Bailey's comments as “press release talk.”

According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture Statistics, Chinese interests owned about 44,000 acres (17,800 hectares) of farmland in Missouri at the end of 2023 — one-tenth of 1% of the state’s 44 million acres. Bailey said he will work with President Donald Trump’s administration to identify Chinese assets in the state.

But Levin said it's not clear that the Chinese government or the other defendants in the case — as opposed to Chinese individuals or companies — actually own anything in Missouri. He doubts Bailey has the authority to seize assets outside Missouri, and even claiming assets that can be seized could take time, he said.

“Good luck with that,” Levin said. “This is a lot of sort of tough talk that will highly likely fall apart in the details once they get into a courtroom."

The lawsuit was filed by Bailey's predecessor as attorney general,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-63d743a7e29a6c03742319c4cb4fefa4">Eric Schmitt,</a>&nbsp;a conservative Republican like Bailey, who then won a U.S. Senate seat in 2022. Bailey was Republican Gov. Mike Parson's top attorney, and Parson appointed him attorney general when Schmitt left the office.

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this week that its actions during the pandemic aren't subject to the jurisdiction of American courts. It also decried what it called “malicious abuse of lawsuits" and added, "Using frivolous lawsuits to smear and defame China and shift the blame will never succeed.”

“We ask the United States to return to rationality and correct its mistakes,” the statement said. “China has the right to take reciprocal countermeasures in accordance with international law to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."

The ministry's statement wasn't more specific about the Chinese government's possible response, but Levin said it could impose sanctions on Missouri companies doing business in China or take action against them in the Chinese courts.

Nolette said, “What was surprising is just seeing such a large judgment coming down in a situation where that sort of authority is very much in question: whether a state has the sort of authority to sue and seek judgments from other countries."

Limbaugh, sitting in Cape Girardeau, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) southeast of St. Louis along the Mississippi River,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-missouri-cape-girardeau-d21087f6aa9ed088de0f58a042b142ee">initially dismissed</a>&nbsp;the lawsuit, ruling in 2022 that Missouri couldn't sue China or the other defendants under a law that generally shields foreign nations from lawsuits in U.S. courts.

However, Missouri appealed, and an appeals court said one part of its lawsuit could proceed — alleging hoarding. When Chinese officials didn’t respond, Limbaugh accepted Missouri’s estimate of past and potential future damages of more than $8 billion, tripled it as federal law allows, and added 3.91% interest until it’s collected.

“We intend to collect every penny by seizing Chinese-owned assets, including Missouri farmland,” Bailey said after the ruling.

Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Associated Press Greater China News Director Emily Wang, in Beijing, and Associated Press writer Fu Ting in Washington, D.C., also contributed reporting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681466878038.png" alt="Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey</figcaption>
 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri's attorney general is threatening to seize Chinese assets across the U.S. to collect $24.5 billion awarded in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-covid-pandemic-china-lawsuit-5aa74153fff95173e8d9d44142fa809c">a lawsuit against China</a>&nbsp;stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, but experts were skeptical Monday, with one saying, “Good luck with that.”A full copy of the judgment can be read&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=03c11393ad&amp;e=fe147aceeb__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!BtTkoi2PNgoGBaMBQsQpWr5gzq6koN0OFVbnxR9nhfDDAyoep6eBlOXRIaV-ludjItDMaBzsj7lh_mc6ktr8sTxJYg$">here</a>.China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this week that it does not recognize a U.S. federal judge's recent ruling siding with Missouri's claim that China hoarded personal protective equipment during the pandemic, harming the state and its residents. China&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-health-lawsuits-ap-top-news-michael-brown-virus-outbreak-0d28f84369c35ebcd9184b3a48cad0a1">called the lawsuit “absurd”</a>&nbsp;when it was filed in 2020, during the early months of the pandemic, and it did not participate in a brief trial held in Missouri in January.Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, hailed Friday's ruling from U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh as a “landmark victory” in efforts to hold China, its Communist Party and seven other government or scientific agencies responsible for the costs of the pandemic in the U.S. If China won't pay the award, the state will seize Chinese-owned assets, including farmland, Bailey said.“Those assets are not required to be within Missouri and can be located anywhere in the United States,” Bailey said in a statement Monday. “While we have not partnered with other states on this particular suit, we encourage others to work to hold the Chinese government accountable and seek justice for victims."International organizations typically negotiate such disagreements, or the federal government will take legal action on behalf of a state, said Paul Nolette, a Marquette University political scientist. He said a state acting on its own could be a problem because, "that can really complicate relationships between the countries.”He added, “The prospects of money actually changing hands is very slim.”Duncan Levin, a former federal and state prosecutor in New York City who's represented foreign nations in U.S. courts, described Bailey's comments as “press release talk.”According to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture Statistics, Chinese interests owned about 44,000 acres (17,800 hectares) of farmland in Missouri at the end of 2023 — one-tenth of 1% of the state’s 44 million acres. Bailey said he will work with President Donald Trump’s administration to identify Chinese assets in the state.But Levin said it's not clear that the Chinese government or the other defendants in the case — as opposed to Chinese individuals or companies — actually own anything in Missouri. He doubts Bailey has the authority to seize assets outside Missouri, and even claiming assets that can be seized could take time, he said.“Good luck with that,” Levin said. “This is a lot of sort of tough talk that will highly likely fall apart in the details once they get into a courtroom."The lawsuit was filed by Bailey's predecessor as attorney general,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-63d743a7e29a6c03742319c4cb4fefa4">Eric Schmitt,</a>&nbsp;a conservative Republican like Bailey, who then won a U.S. Senate seat in 2022. Bailey was Republican Gov. Mike Parson's top attorney, and Parson appointed him attorney general when Schmitt left the office.China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said this week that its actions during the pandemic aren't subject to the jurisdiction of American courts. It also decried what it called “malicious abuse of lawsuits" and added, "Using frivolous lawsuits to smear and defame China and shift the blame will never succeed.”“We ask the United States to return to rationality and correct its mistakes,” the statement said. “China has the right to take reciprocal countermeasures in accordance with international law to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests."The ministry's statement wasn't more specific about the Chinese government's possible response, but Levin said it could impose sanctions on Missouri companies doing business in China or take action against them in the Chinese courts.Nolette said, “What was surprising is just seeing such a large judgment coming down in a situation where that sort of authority is very much in question: whether a state has the sort of authority to sue and seek judgments from other countries."Limbaugh, sitting in Cape Girardeau, about 120 miles (193 kilometers) southeast of St. Louis along the Mississippi River,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-missouri-cape-girardeau-d21087f6aa9ed088de0f58a042b142ee">initially dismissed</a>&nbsp;the lawsuit, ruling in 2022 that Missouri couldn't sue China or the other defendants under a law that generally shields foreign nations from lawsuits in U.S. courts.However, Missouri appealed, and an appeals court said one part of its lawsuit could proceed — alleging hoarding. When Chinese officials didn’t respond, Limbaugh accepted Missouri’s estimate of past and potential future damages of more than $8 billion, tripled it as federal law allows, and added 3.91% interest until it’s collected.“We intend to collect every penny by seizing Chinese-owned assets, including Missouri farmland,” Bailey said after the ruling.___Hanna reported from Topeka, Kansas. Associated Press Greater China News Director Emily Wang, in Beijing, and Associated Press writer Fu Ting in Washington, D.C., also contributed reporting.

Missouri plans to seize assets to make China pay a $24 billion judgment

JOHNSON COUNTY —Thanks to an observant driver, officers were alerted to a reported intoxicated wrong-way driver traveling dangerously with their lights off at night on March 8 around <a href="https://x.com/shawneeKSpolice/status/1899089660933992636?t=495">8:15</a> p.m. near Pflumm Road and Blackfish Parkway, according to a social media report from Shawnee, Kansas police.



Officers safely stopped the vehicle and took the suspect into custody before the driver could hurt themselves or anyone else. 

"Please always make a plan before drinking to have a safe ride home with a ride-share company or sober driver."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741617293633.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —Thanks to an observant driver, officers were alerted to a reported intoxicated wrong-way driver traveling dangerously with their lights off at night on March 8 around <a href="https://x.com/shawneeKSpolice/status/1899089660933992636?t=495">8:15</a> p.m. near Pflumm Road and Blackfish Parkway, according to a social media report from Shawnee, Kansas police.

Officers safely stopped the vehicle and took the suspect into custody before the driver could hurt themselves or anyone else. "Please always make a plan before drinking to have a safe ride home with a ride-share company or sober driver."

Observant Kan. driver helps police catch intoxicated wrong-way driver

SEDGWICK COUNTY- A Kansas woman is going to prison for&nbsp;a deadly shooting outside of a Wichita strip club.

On Monday, District Judge Eric Williams sentenced Autumn Metcalf, 34 of Wichita, to the Hard 50 which is life in prison with parole eligibility after 50 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. That sentence was for the charge of 1st&nbsp;degree murder.&nbsp;

Judge Williams also sentenced Metcalf to 61 months for the charge of solicitation to commit 1st&nbsp;degree murder.&nbsp; Judge ordered the sentences run consecutively which means if she is granted parole after 50 years, she must then serve the 61-month prison term.

In August, a jury found 33-year-old Autumn Metcalf guilty of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit first-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Joe Wheeler III.

In August of 2020, police responded to a shooting at Baby Dolls in the 4900 Block of North Arkansas in&nbsp; Wichita and found Wheeler dead in his vehicle,&nbsp;according to Wichita Police Captain Jason Stephens.

Investigators learned there was a disturbance in the club that spilled out into the parking lot. Wheeler was shot while inside his car which was parked in the back business parking area, according to Stephens.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1664314804304.png" alt="Metcalf photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Metcalf photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY- A Kansas woman is going to prison for&nbsp;a deadly shooting outside of a Wichita strip club.On Monday, District Judge Eric Williams sentenced Autumn Metcalf, 34 of Wichita, to the Hard 50 which is life in prison with parole eligibility after 50 years, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. That sentence was for the charge of 1st&nbsp;degree murder.&nbsp;Judge Williams also sentenced Metcalf to 61 months for the charge of solicitation to commit 1st&nbsp;degree murder.&nbsp; Judge ordered the sentences run consecutively which means if she is granted parole after 50 years, she must then serve the 61-month prison term.In August, a jury found 33-year-old Autumn Metcalf guilty of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit first-degree murder in the death of 33-year-old Joe Wheeler III.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741601452354.png" alt="-Police on the scene of the Aug. 2020 shooting investigation outside a Wichita night club-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>-Police on the scene of the Aug. 2020 shooting investigation outside a Wichita night club-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>In August of 2020, police responded to a shooting at Baby Dolls in the 4900 Block of North Arkansas in&nbsp; Wichita and found Wheeler dead in his vehicle,&nbsp;according to Wichita Police Captain Jason Stephens.Investigators learned there was a disturbance in the club that spilled out into the parking lot. Wheeler was shot while inside his car which was parked in the back business parking area, according to Stephens.

Life in prison for killing outside Kansas gentlemen's club

ELK COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a rural Kansas house fire.

Just before 10p.m. Sunday, rural tankers from Longton, Moline and Howard responded to a house fire in Longton to assist Longton Fire Department with water support.

Engines from Moline and Howard Fire Department also responded to assist. Upon arrival heavy flames were visible. An interior attack was attempted but crews had to withdraw due to structural compromise and undertook a defensive position. The dwelling was a complete loss.&nbsp; There are no reports of injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741657070685.png" alt="Photo courtesy Elk County Rural Fire" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Elk County Rural Fire</figcaption>
 </figure>ELK COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a rural Kansas house fire.Just before 10p.m. Sunday, rural tankers from Longton, Moline and Howard responded to a house fire in Longton to assist Longton Fire Department with water support.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741657011987.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Engines from Moline and Howard Fire Department also responded to assist. Upon arrival heavy flames were visible. An interior attack was attempted but crews had to withdraw due to structural compromise and undertook a defensive position. The dwelling was a complete loss.&nbsp; There are no reports of injuries.

Rural Kansas home a total loss after fire

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Senate voted Monday to confirm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-labor-secretary-lori-chavezderemer-feaa4672efac644aa60722d3a3215df1">Lori Chavez-DeRemer</a>&nbsp;as U.S. labor secretary, a Cabinet position that puts her in charge of enforcing federally mandated worker rights and protections at a time when the White House is trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-elon-musk-federal-workers-layoffs-d295d4bb2cdd5023c27d9cb03754e81b">eliminate thousands of government employees</a>.

Chavez-DeRemer will oversee the Department of Labor, one of several executive departments named&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-layoffs-government-data-13653c59c1f6fa0c5ae551f821faafb7">in lawsuits</a>&nbsp;challenging the authority of billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to order layoffs and access sensitive government data.

The Labor Department had nearly 16,000 full-time employees and a proposed budget of $13.9 billion for fiscal year 2025. Some of its vast responsibilities include reporting the U.S. unemployment rate, regulating workplace&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/occupational-safety-and-health-administration">health and safety standards</a>, investigating minimum wage, child labor and overtime pay disputes, and applying laws on union organizing and unlawful terminations.

Several prominent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-labor-secretary-lori-chavez-deremer-decd9cff41794205bd06223f939f9e7b">labor unions</a>, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, endorsed Chavez-DeRemer's nomination. The former Republican congresswoman from Oregon is the daughter of a Teamster, and during her one term in the House earned a reputation as pro-labor.

The Senate voted to confirm Chavez-DeRemer 67-32, with 17 Democrats voting yes and three Republicans, Budd, McConnell and Paul voting no. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-cabinet-confirmation-tracker/">Senate has now confirmed all but one</a>&nbsp;of Trump’s picks for his Cabinet. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-labor-secretary-nominee-chavezderemer-senate-119a7e3dde1cb9553174d1bce37871c5">Committee on Health, Education, Labor &amp; Pensions</a>&nbsp;had voted 14-9 in favor of her nomination last week, with all Republicans except Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky giving Chavez-DeRemer their support. Three Democrats on the committee — Sens. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire — voted with the majority.

During her confirmation hearing before the committee, several Republican senators grilled Chavez-DeRemer about her decision to co-sponsor legislation that would have made it easier for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-c4c8e4f4766dee7dfff4d24161e0cf3f">workers to unionize</a>&nbsp;and penalized employers who stood in the way of organizing efforts.

She declined to explicitly state whether she still backed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, also known as the PRO Act.

Chavez-DeRemer explained she had signed on as a co-sponsor because she wanted a seat at the table to discuss important labor issues. Under further questioning, she walked back some of her support of the bill, saying that she supported state “right to work” laws, which allow employees to refuse to join a union in their workplace.

The PRO Act did not come up for a vote during her time in Congress, but the legislation was reintroduced in the House and Senate last week.

“As we speak, Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are stealing the American dream away from working families, rigging every lever of society in favor of the billionaire class,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. “That’s why we need the PRO Act, to empower hardworking Americans to bargain for better wages, benefits, and safer working conditions."

During her time in Congress Chavez-DeRemer also co-sponsored legislation which sought to protect public-sector workers from having their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-doge-lawsuit-data-protection-ab30a5f446914b93aff84188558c1416">Social Security</a>&nbsp;benefits docked because of government pension benefits. That bill also stalled because it didn't have enough Republican support.

Chavez-DeRemer walked a fine line&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/confirmation-hearing-labor-secretary-lori-chavezderemer-4516f1cf0ca590bc664b5577855dc96f">during her confirmation hearing</a>, attempting to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans. On the subject of whether the federal minimum wage was overdue for an increase, she said she recognized it hadn't been raised from $7.25 an hour since 2009 but that she would not want to “shock the economy.”

Some Democratic senators and workers’ rights advocates have questioned how much independence Chavez-DeRemer would have as President Donald Trump's labor secretary and where her allegiance would lie in an administration that has fired thousands of federal employees.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741655381640.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall met with Chavez-DeRemer in January-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall met with Chavez-DeRemer in January-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —The Senate voted Monday to confirm&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-labor-secretary-lori-chavezderemer-feaa4672efac644aa60722d3a3215df1">Lori Chavez-DeRemer</a>&nbsp;as U.S. labor secretary, a Cabinet position that puts her in charge of enforcing federally mandated worker rights and protections at a time when the White House is trying to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-elon-musk-federal-workers-layoffs-d295d4bb2cdd5023c27d9cb03754e81b">eliminate thousands of government employees</a>.Chavez-DeRemer will oversee the Department of Labor, one of several executive departments named&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-layoffs-government-data-13653c59c1f6fa0c5ae551f821faafb7">in lawsuits</a>&nbsp;challenging the authority of billionaire Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency to order layoffs and access sensitive government data.The Labor Department had nearly 16,000 full-time employees and a proposed budget of $13.9 billion for fiscal year 2025. Some of its vast responsibilities include reporting the U.S. unemployment rate, regulating workplace&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/occupational-safety-and-health-administration">health and safety standards</a>, investigating minimum wage, child labor and overtime pay disputes, and applying laws on union organizing and unlawful terminations.Several prominent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-labor-secretary-lori-chavez-deremer-decd9cff41794205bd06223f939f9e7b">labor unions</a>, including the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, endorsed Chavez-DeRemer's nomination. The former Republican congresswoman from Oregon is the daughter of a Teamster, and during her one term in the House earned a reputation as pro-labor.The Senate voted to confirm Chavez-DeRemer 67-32, with 17 Democrats voting yes and three Republicans, Budd, McConnell and Paul voting no. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-cabinet-confirmation-tracker/">Senate has now confirmed all but one</a>&nbsp;of Trump’s picks for his Cabinet. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-labor-secretary-nominee-chavezderemer-senate-119a7e3dde1cb9553174d1bce37871c5">Committee on Health, Education, Labor &amp; Pensions</a>&nbsp;had voted 14-9 in favor of her nomination last week, with all Republicans except Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky giving Chavez-DeRemer their support. Three Democrats on the committee — Sens. John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire — voted with the majority.During her confirmation hearing before the committee, several Republican senators grilled Chavez-DeRemer about her decision to co-sponsor legislation that would have made it easier for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-elon-musk-doge-c4c8e4f4766dee7dfff4d24161e0cf3f">workers to unionize</a>&nbsp;and penalized employers who stood in the way of organizing efforts.She declined to explicitly state whether she still backed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, also known as the PRO Act.Chavez-DeRemer explained she had signed on as a co-sponsor because she wanted a seat at the table to discuss important labor issues. Under further questioning, she walked back some of her support of the bill, saying that she supported state “right to work” laws, which allow employees to refuse to join a union in their workplace.The PRO Act did not come up for a vote during her time in Congress, but the legislation was reintroduced in the House and Senate last week.“As we speak, Donald Trump and his billionaire buddies are stealing the American dream away from working families, rigging every lever of society in favor of the billionaire class,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. “That’s why we need the PRO Act, to empower hardworking Americans to bargain for better wages, benefits, and safer working conditions."During her time in Congress Chavez-DeRemer also co-sponsored legislation which sought to protect public-sector workers from having their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-doge-lawsuit-data-protection-ab30a5f446914b93aff84188558c1416">Social Security</a>&nbsp;benefits docked because of government pension benefits. That bill also stalled because it didn't have enough Republican support.Chavez-DeRemer walked a fine line&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/confirmation-hearing-labor-secretary-lori-chavezderemer-4516f1cf0ca590bc664b5577855dc96f">during her confirmation hearing</a>, attempting to appeal to both Democrats and Republicans. On the subject of whether the federal minimum wage was overdue for an increase, she said she recognized it hadn't been raised from $7.25 an hour since 2009 but that she would not want to “shock the economy.”Some Democratic senators and workers’ rights advocates have questioned how much independence Chavez-DeRemer would have as President Donald Trump's labor secretary and where her allegiance would lie in an administration that has fired thousands of federal employees.

Moran, Marshall help Senate confirm Trump's labor secretary

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a fatal hit and run pedestrian incident that occurred just after 3p.m. Monday in Kansas City.

The pedestrian was walking on the outside shoulder of eastbound Interstate 70 near the exit ramp to Paseo, According to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

An unknown vehicle struck the pedestrian and then&nbsp; left the area without stopping. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.

 This is fatality #11 in KCMO compared to #21 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez. Police have not released the name of the&nbsp; victim or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a fatal hit and run pedestrian incident that occurred just after 3p.m. Monday in Kansas City.The pedestrian was walking on the outside shoulder of eastbound Interstate 70 near the exit ramp to Paseo, According to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.An unknown vehicle struck the pedestrian and then&nbsp; left the area without stopping. The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene. This is fatality #11 in KCMO compared to #21 at this time last year, according to Gonzalez. Police have not released the name of the&nbsp; victim or additional details.

Hit-and-run: Pedestrian dies after struck by vehicle on I-70

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man is going to prison for his role in a drug related double-homicide.

On Friday,&nbsp;Judge Kevin Smith sentenced&nbsp; 45-year-old David Baeza of Wichita to 122 months in prison for two counts of voluntary manslaughter and for cocaine possession, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In January, Baeza pled guilty for his role in the the July 2022, shooting deaths&nbsp;of&nbsp; 29-year-old Gerardo Ruvalcaba-Ulloa and&nbsp; 43-year-old Saren Perez Negrete.

Just after 5 a.m. July 3, 2022, sheriff's deputies were sent to a shooting call in the 4400 block of south Rock Road in rural Sedgwick County, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657051675461.png" alt="Baeza-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Baeza-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man is going to prison for his role in a drug related double-homicide.On Friday,&nbsp;Judge Kevin Smith sentenced&nbsp; 45-year-old David Baeza of Wichita to 122 months in prison for two counts of voluntary manslaughter and for cocaine possession, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.In January, Baeza pled guilty for his role in the the July 2022, shooting deaths&nbsp;of&nbsp; 29-year-old Gerardo Ruvalcaba-Ulloa and&nbsp; 43-year-old Saren Perez Negrete.Just after 5 a.m. July 3, 2022, sheriff's deputies were sent to a shooting call in the 4400 block of south Rock Road in rural Sedgwick County, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick.&nbsp;During a search of the rural property, deputies found the bodies of&nbsp; Ruvalcaba-Ulloam and&nbsp; Negrete-Perez of California. deceased in the backyard of a residence the 4300 block of South Rock Road. They died from apparent gunshot wounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;The shooting was drug-related, according to the district attorney's office.At the scene, first responders also found Baeza on the side of the road suffering from gunshot wounds, according to Colonel Brian White with the sheriff's department. EMS transported Baeza to an area hospital for treatment and later arrested him.Initially, Baeza and Joseph Ponse, 43 of Wichita were charged with attempted 1st degree murder in connection with the deaths.Hieu Luong, 42 of Wichita, was also originally charged with attempted 1st degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.The other two suspects are awaiting sentencing.