CAMDEN COUNTY —A Kansas City man drowned just after 12:15a.m. Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the 52-year-old was observed falling into the water off a dock at Fan Hollow Cove.&nbsp; He did not resurface. He was pulled from the water at 4:16a.m.&nbsp; and pronounced deceased and transported to Alee Holman-Howe Funeral Home.

He was not wearing a life jacket, according to the Patrol. The Patrol no longer releases names of drowning victims.

CAMDEN COUNTY —A Kansas City man drowned just after 12:15a.m. Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported the 52-year-old was observed falling into the water off a dock at Fan Hollow Cove.&nbsp; He did not resurface. He was pulled from the water at 4:16a.m.&nbsp; and pronounced deceased and transported to Alee Holman-Howe Funeral Home.He was not wearing a life jacket, according to the Patrol. The Patrol no longer releases names of drowning victims.

Kansas City man fell off dock, drowns at Lake of the Ozarks

The Trump administration is considering placing marijuana in the same federal classification as codeine, instead of where it currently is alongside heroin

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri has won&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/11/missouris-1-4-billion-cannabis-market-outpaces-states-with-older-programs/">praise</a>&nbsp;for having one of the nation’s most robust cannabis markets.&nbsp;But buzz about the president’s interest in relaxing federal marijuana restrictions is raising questions about the potential impact on that economic success.

Last year in Missouri, a pound of wholesale marijuana sold for about $2,000 on average, according to the nation’s leading wholesale cannabis platform LeafLink. That put Missouri in the company’s top five highest prices.

It’s still profitable to sell a marijuana facility license in Missouri, said Ben Burstein, corporate development manager at LeafLink —&nbsp; a dynamic that is not true in many other states.&nbsp;

“You have tons of licensed operators that put millions of dollars into their businesses over time,” Burstein said of the experience in many other states. “And not only are they not making money, they have to pay to get rid of those licenses and all the closing costs associated with it.”&nbsp;

Experts agree the success is due, at least in part, to Missouri’s limited number of facility licenses.&nbsp;

Capping the number of businesses that can partake in the cannabis industry has drawn pointed criticism that it has encouraged a monopoly in the program and created the appearance of corruption. But the cap also keeps supply and demand in balance, experts say, protecting Missouri from the pitfalls others states are facing.&nbsp;

Oregon-based cannabis economist Beau Whitney says in other states there’s a “massive amount of oversupply” that has made it difficult for marijuana businesses to stay afloat.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/business-issues-benchmarks/cannabis-business-profit-trends/news/15686501/only-27-of-us-cannabis-operators-profitable-in-2024-whitney-economics-reports" target="_blank">survey</a>&nbsp;Whitney Economics released last year found that only 27% of cannabis companies nationwide on average were profitable in the cannabis space. And 73% were either breaking even or losing money.

Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/when-will-president-donald-trump-reclassify-marijuana/" target="_blank">President Donald Trump told reporters</a>&nbsp;he plans to revisit a proposal to reschedule marijuana that started under President Joe Biden, which has been on pause since January. The plan would place marijuana in the same federal classification as codeine, instead of where it currently is alongside heroin.

“We’re looking at it,” said Trump last Monday, noting that he expects to determine whether cannabis will be reclassified in the next few weeks.

So would a push by the president to restart the plan disrupt Missouri’s ecosystem?

The short answer is yes, Whitney said, but it wouldn’t be immediate.&nbsp;

The process to reschedule a drug requires going through multiple drafts of administrative rules, hearings and public comment periods that could take years to accomplish.&nbsp;

“It’s a long process,” Whitney said. “It’s not a snap of the finger.”

It’s currently a federal crime for marijuana to cross over state lines. Would rescheduling open up the borders and allow states to sell to each other, also allowing the oversupply to bottom out Missouri’s prices?

That depends on the details in the federal rules, said St. Louis attorney Eric Walter, who represents a number of cannabis operators and the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association.

But a provision in the Missouri constitutional amendment that voters approved in 2022 legalizing marijuana was designed to control that scenario, Walter said. It states that if federal law is amended to allow interstate commerce, then only licensed cultivators could import marijuana from other states.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“They couldn’t just sell directly to dispensaries or sell directly to consumers,” Walter said. “It would still need to run through the regulated licensees, and the product would be subject to all of our specific requirements, including our testing panel.”

While it could upset Missouri’s economic impact, Walter said the financial impact nationwide would be “massive.”&nbsp;

Rescheduling marijuana means that the substance would be moved from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act to Schedule 3.&nbsp;

“Marijuana has been on 1 since the [act] was created in the early 70s,” he said, “and it never belonged.”

Medical benefits and susceptibility of addiction are taken into account when scheduling, Walter said, and Schedule 1 is for the most addictive substances with no known medical benefits, such as heroin. Cocaine is Schedule 2 because it has some medical benefits, such as numbing properties.&nbsp;

“It would further erode some of the anti-marijuana bias and perceptions, and open the door to banks and financial institutions interacting with industry operators more sensibly,” Walter said.

Rescheduling would also provide tax relief to businesses, he said.

Whitney calculated that this year cannabis businesses will pay about $2.7 billion more in taxes than a normal business would have paid because they can’t write off deductions on their federal taxes.&nbsp;

“They’re paying huge taxes to the federal government, even though it’s federally illegal,” Whitney said.&nbsp;

In Missouri, Burstein estimates the annual impact of rescheduling in terms of taxes to be more than $150 million in additional cash flows to operators, based on current market sales.

While rescheduling would give tax breaks, it may also increase the burden on operators to get certain certifications and occur other expenses in compliance, Whitney said. With so few operators profitable as it is, “not everybody is going to be able to survive,” he said.

The rules will have different impacts in each state. In Oregon, Whitney said all Schedule 3 drugs must be sold at pharmacies, meaning dispensaries could be out of business.&nbsp;

“That tax break doesn’t really help if you’re out of business,” Whitney said. “Rescheduling is maybe not the greatest thing from an economic perspective and for the industry. Even though reform is always welcome, the question then becomes, well, is the reform going to do more harm than good? I just don’t know because the reform is still in concept. It’s not even on paper.”

While President Trump said he’d take a look at it, the timing is unclear. Many Republicans, including the DEA chief Terrance Cole, are opposed to marijuana, he said.

“Operators need to remain disciplined and realize that there’s not going to be change overnight,” he said, “but be flexible enough in their processes to be able to pivot quickly once those changes happen.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692273868300.png" alt="&nbsp;Last week, President Donald Trump told reporters he plans to revisit a proposal to reschedule marijuana that started under President Joe Biden, which has been on pause since January (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Last week, President Donald Trump told reporters he plans to revisit a proposal to reschedule marijuana that started under President Joe Biden, which has been on pause since January (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Trump administration is considering placing marijuana in the same federal classification as codeine, instead of where it currently is alongside heroin</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri has won&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/11/missouris-1-4-billion-cannabis-market-outpaces-states-with-older-programs/">praise</a>&nbsp;for having one of the nation’s most robust cannabis markets.&nbsp;But buzz about the president’s interest in relaxing federal marijuana restrictions is raising questions about the potential impact on that economic success.Last year in Missouri, a pound of wholesale marijuana sold for about $2,000 on average, according to the nation’s leading wholesale cannabis platform LeafLink. That put Missouri in the company’s top five highest prices.It’s still profitable to sell a marijuana facility license in Missouri, said Ben Burstein, corporate development manager at LeafLink —&nbsp; a dynamic that is not true in many other states.&nbsp;“You have tons of licensed operators that put millions of dollars into their businesses over time,” Burstein said of the experience in many other states. “And not only are they not making money, they have to pay to get rid of those licenses and all the closing costs associated with it.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755949969533.png" alt="This guide used data from orders placed on the LeafLink marketplace between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024." />
 <figcaption>This guide used data from orders placed on the LeafLink marketplace between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024.</figcaption>
 </figure>Experts agree the success is due, at least in part, to Missouri’s limited number of facility licenses.&nbsp;Capping the number of businesses that can partake in the cannabis industry has drawn pointed criticism that it has encouraged a monopoly in the program and created the appearance of corruption. But the cap also keeps supply and demand in balance, experts say, protecting Missouri from the pitfalls others states are facing.&nbsp;Oregon-based cannabis economist Beau Whitney says in other states there’s a “massive amount of oversupply” that has made it difficult for marijuana businesses to stay afloat.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cannabisbusinesstimes.com/business-issues-benchmarks/cannabis-business-profit-trends/news/15686501/only-27-of-us-cannabis-operators-profitable-in-2024-whitney-economics-reports" target="_blank">survey</a>&nbsp;Whitney Economics released last year found that only 27% of cannabis companies nationwide on average were profitable in the cannabis space. And 73% were either breaking even or losing money.Last week,&nbsp;<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/when-will-president-donald-trump-reclassify-marijuana/" target="_blank">President Donald Trump told reporters</a>&nbsp;he plans to revisit a proposal to reschedule marijuana that started under President Joe Biden, which has been on pause since January. The plan would place marijuana in the same federal classification as codeine, instead of where it currently is alongside heroin.“We’re looking at it,” said Trump last Monday, noting that he expects to determine whether cannabis will be reclassified in the next few weeks.So would a push by the president to restart the plan disrupt Missouri’s ecosystem?The short answer is yes, Whitney said, but it wouldn’t be immediate.&nbsp;The process to reschedule a drug requires going through multiple drafts of administrative rules, hearings and public comment periods that could take years to accomplish.&nbsp;“It’s a long process,” Whitney said. “It’s not a snap of the finger.”It’s currently a federal crime for marijuana to cross over state lines. Would rescheduling open up the borders and allow states to sell to each other, also allowing the oversupply to bottom out Missouri’s prices?That depends on the details in the federal rules, said St. Louis attorney Eric Walter, who represents a number of cannabis operators and the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association.But a provision in the Missouri constitutional amendment that voters approved in 2022 legalizing marijuana was designed to control that scenario, Walter said. It states that if federal law is amended to allow interstate commerce, then only licensed cultivators could import marijuana from other states.&nbsp;&nbsp;“They couldn’t just sell directly to dispensaries or sell directly to consumers,” Walter said. “It would still need to run through the regulated licensees, and the product would be subject to all of our specific requirements, including our testing panel.”While it could upset Missouri’s economic impact, Walter said the financial impact nationwide would be “massive.”&nbsp;Rescheduling marijuana means that the substance would be moved from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substance Act to Schedule 3.&nbsp;“Marijuana has been on 1 since the [act] was created in the early 70s,” he said, “and it never belonged.”Medical benefits and susceptibility of addiction are taken into account when scheduling, Walter said, and Schedule 1 is for the most addictive substances with no known medical benefits, such as heroin. Cocaine is Schedule 2 because it has some medical benefits, such as numbing properties.&nbsp;“It would further erode some of the anti-marijuana bias and perceptions, and open the door to banks and financial institutions interacting with industry operators more sensibly,” Walter said.Rescheduling would also provide tax relief to businesses, he said.Whitney calculated that this year cannabis businesses will pay about $2.7 billion more in taxes than a normal business would have paid because they can’t write off deductions on their federal taxes.&nbsp;“They’re paying huge taxes to the federal government, even though it’s federally illegal,” Whitney said.&nbsp;In Missouri, Burstein estimates the annual impact of rescheduling in terms of taxes to be more than $150 million in additional cash flows to operators, based on current market sales.While rescheduling would give tax breaks, it may also increase the burden on operators to get certain certifications and occur other expenses in compliance, Whitney said. With so few operators profitable as it is, “not everybody is going to be able to survive,” he said.The rules will have different impacts in each state. In Oregon, Whitney said all Schedule 3 drugs must be sold at pharmacies, meaning dispensaries could be out of business.&nbsp;“That tax break doesn’t really help if you’re out of business,” Whitney said. “Rescheduling is maybe not the greatest thing from an economic perspective and for the industry. Even though reform is always welcome, the question then becomes, well, is the reform going to do more harm than good? I just don’t know because the reform is still in concept. It’s not even on paper.”While President Trump said he’d take a look at it, the timing is unclear. Many Republicans, including the DEA chief Terrance Cole, are opposed to marijuana, he said.“Operators need to remain disciplined and realize that there’s not going to be change overnight,” he said, “but be flexible enough in their processes to be able to pivot quickly once those changes happen.”

How will Missouri’s cannabis market change if the feds reschedule marijuana? 

WASHINGTON —During a presentation and press conference with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office on Friday, President Trump held up a photo sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin: "I'm going to sign this for him . That's a man named Vladimir Putin who I believe will be coming to 2026 FIFA World Cup depending on what happens."

WASHINGTON —During a presentation and press conference with FIFA President Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office on Friday, President Trump held up a photo sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin: "I'm going to sign this for him . That's a man named Vladimir Putin who I believe will be coming to 2026 FIFA World Cup depending on what happens."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump holds up photo sent by Russian President Vladimir Putin: &quot;I&#39;m going to sign this for him ... That&#39;s a man named Vladimir Putin who I believe will be coming (to 2026 FIFA World Cup) depending on what happens.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/K3nGniRbPN">pic.twitter.com/K3nGniRbPN</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1958948441586839821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President Trump shows off photo sent from Putin

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Black Hills Energy Corp. announced it will merge with NorthWestern Energy Group, pending regulatory approval.

Black Hills offers natural gas services in Kansas, primarily in the southwest and south-central part of the state. It is regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission.

Company leaders said in a joint investor call this week that merger approval is needed in the three states in which both companies currently operate, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota, and possibly in Arkansas.

The all-stock transaction is expected to close in 12 to 15 months.

In the agreement, NorthWestern shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.98 shares of Black Hills for each share of NorthWestern they own at the close of the transaction, a press release said.

Black Hills shareholders will continue to hold the same number of shares of the combined company that they hold of Black Hills immediately before the closing of the transaction, the press release said. Once the merger is completed, Black Hills shareholders will own approximately 56% and NorthWestern shareholders will own approximately 44% of the combined company.

In an investor call, Black Hills CEO Linn Evans said the merger strengthens both companies, which have been operating in the same areas for the past 20 years.

“We’ve talked about potentially combining these two companies, and given the organic growth opportunities we have before us and the impact on customer affordability, the benefits of scale,&nbsp;we would argue, have never been more relevant, and merging our businesses now has never made more sense,” Evans said.

Upon closing, the company will have a new name and trade under a new stock ticker, Evans said. NorthWestern president and CEO Brian Bird will lead the merged company, and Evans said he will retire after the merger concludes.

The company will be headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Black Hills headquarters are currently located.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755887917194.png" alt=" In its investors report on a planned merger with NorthWestern Energy, Black Corp. explained the territories the two companies cover. (Black Hills Corp. – NorthWestern Energy merger report)" />
 <figcaption> In its investors report on a planned merger with NorthWestern Energy, Black Corp. explained the territories the two companies cover. (Black Hills Corp. – NorthWestern Energy merger report)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Black Hills Energy Corp. announced it will merge with NorthWestern Energy Group, pending regulatory approval.Black Hills offers natural gas services in Kansas, primarily in the southwest and south-central part of the state. It is regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission.Company leaders said in a joint investor call this week that merger approval is needed in the three states in which both companies currently operate, Montana, Nebraska and South Dakota, and possibly in Arkansas.The all-stock transaction is expected to close in 12 to 15 months.In the agreement, NorthWestern shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 0.98 shares of Black Hills for each share of NorthWestern they own at the close of the transaction, a press release said.Black Hills shareholders will continue to hold the same number of shares of the combined company that they hold of Black Hills immediately before the closing of the transaction, the press release said. Once the merger is completed, Black Hills shareholders will own approximately 56% and NorthWestern shareholders will own approximately 44% of the combined company.In an investor call, Black Hills CEO Linn Evans said the merger strengthens both companies, which have been operating in the same areas for the past 20 years.“We’ve talked about potentially combining these two companies, and given the organic growth opportunities we have before us and the impact on customer affordability, the benefits of scale,&nbsp;we would argue, have never been more relevant, and merging our businesses now has never made more sense,” Evans said.Upon closing, the company will have a new name and trade under a new stock ticker, Evans said. NorthWestern president and CEO Brian Bird will lead the merged company, and Evans said he will retire after the merger concludes.The company will be headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, where Black Hills headquarters are currently located.

Natural gas, electric companies Black Hills, NorthWestern Energy plan merger

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 10a.m. Friday crews responded to a reported apartment fire located at Truman Road.and Woodland, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. Crews reported heavy fire and smoke from two story vacant structure. Interior operations were initiated using multiple handlines.

Searches of the structure came back all clear. There were no injuries reported at this incident. The KCFD has run multiple fires in this vacant complex over the past several months.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755875984440.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City, Missouri.Just before 10a.m. Friday crews responded to a reported apartment fire located at Truman Road.and Woodland, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. Crews reported heavy fire and smoke from two story vacant structure. Interior operations were initiated using multiple handlines.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755875962708.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Searches of the structure came back all clear. There were no injuries reported at this incident. The KCFD has run multiple fires in this vacant complex over the past several months.

Another fire at the same apartment building in Kansas City

In the interest of transparency, the United State's Department of Justice on Friday released the complete transcript and audio of&nbsp; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's interview of&nbsp; Ghislaine  Maxwell.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/maxwell-interview">Click here</a>&nbsp;to listen to and or read the transcripts

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755895048179.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>In the interest of transparency, the United State's Department of Justice on Friday released the complete transcript and audio of&nbsp; Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche's interview of&nbsp; Ghislaine Maxwell.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/maxwell-interview">Click here</a>&nbsp;to listen to and or read the transcripts<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein photo - New York Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein photo - New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎙Read, listen to the DOJ interview with Epstein's girlfriend

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a pedestrian accident that occurred just 5:30a.m. Friday in Douglas County.

A 27-year-old Lawrence man who was running eastbound on N 1400 Road&nbsp; suffered serious injuries when a westbound 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier struck him, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman George&nbsp;Diepenbrock.

The accident occurred in the 1900 block of N 1400 Road, between Lawrence and Eudora.

Medics transported the injured runner via ground ambulance to a Kansas City-area hospital. 

The driver of the Cavalier, a 70-year-old Eudora man, suffered injuries believed to be minor, and medics transported him to LMH Health, where he was later released.

Deputies closed the road in the area for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office&nbsp; Crash Reconstruction Team to examine the scene. They reopened the road at 9:25 a.m.

DOUGLAS COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a pedestrian accident that occurred just 5:30a.m. Friday in Douglas County.A 27-year-old Lawrence man who was running eastbound on N 1400 Road&nbsp; suffered serious injuries when a westbound 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier struck him, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman George&nbsp;Diepenbrock.The accident occurred in the 1900 block of N 1400 Road, between Lawrence and Eudora.Medics transported the injured runner via ground ambulance to a Kansas City-area hospital. The driver of the Cavalier, a 70-year-old Eudora man, suffered injuries believed to be minor, and medics transported him to LMH Health, where he was later released.Deputies closed the road in the area for the Douglas County Sheriff's Office&nbsp; Crash Reconstruction Team to examine the scene. They reopened the road at 9:25 a.m.

Runner seriously injured after struck by car on rural Kan. road 

Gov. Mike Kehoe hasn’t called a special session but a statement after the president’s social media post indicates he is moving closer to convening lawmakers

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri “is IN” for redrawing the state’s congressional districts in a special legislative session, President Donald Trump proclaimed Thursday on his&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115066304815869662" target="_blank">social media platform</a>.

With&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/texas-house-vote-congressional-map-redistricting-democrats-trump/" target="_blank">Texas moving quickly</a>&nbsp;toward a mid-decade revision of its congressional map to tilt five districts toward the Republican Party, Missouri would now be expected to follow suit to help the GOP gain one more.

Missouri has eight congressional districts, and Democrats hold two. Any proposal is likely to split the 5th District, which is mainly in Kansas City, by adding Republican voters in sufficient numbers to take it away from incumbent Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

That would give Republicans seven of the state’s seats in the U.S. House.

For&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/24/weve-already-done-that-missouri-lawmakers-show-little-enthusiasm-for-new-congressional-maps/">nearly a month</a>, Trump has been pressuring Gov. Mike Kehoe and legislative leaders, with calls to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">at least one Republican lawmaker</a>&nbsp;who expressed reluctance to go along.

“The Great State of Missouri is now IN,” Trump wrote. “I’m not surprised. It is a great State with fabulous people. I won it, all 3 times, in a landslide. We’re going to win the Midterms in Missouri again, bigger and better than ever before!”

And Kehoe, in a statement responding to Trump, inched closer to saying he intended to call a special session. At a news conference in his office Tuesday, Kehoe said no decision had been made.

“Governor Kehoe continues to have conversations with House and Senate leadership to assess options for a special session that would allow the General Assembly to provide congressional districts that best represent Missourians,” a statement sent by spokeswoman Gabby Picard read. “Governor Kehoe appreciates President Trump’s attention to this issue on behalf of Missourians.”

No proposed map that would favor Republicans has been revealed, and a top Republican on Wednesday told The Independent she has been unable to get a look at one circulating privately.

“I’ve tried to get a hold of the map that I’ve heard about,” said Jennifer Bukowsky of Columbia, vice chair of the Republican State Committee. “I guess I’m not important enough to be consulted.”

The push for redistricting in Republican-led states is an effort to shore up the thin Republican majority in Congress. With a 219-212 majority — four seats are vacant, including three previously held by Democrats — Republicans are worried that a small shift in voter sentiment could put them again in the minority.

Redistricting is usually done in the first legislative session after census data is released, and the districts remain in place for 10 years.

Missouri’s current congressional map was approved by lawmakers in 2022 after a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/14/battle-lines-remain-fixed-in-missouri-senate-republican-factional-fights-as-session-ends/">bitter GOP factional dispute</a>&nbsp;that centered on efforts to draw seven Republican-controlled districts. And with Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/07/black-missouri-lawmakers-vow-to-block-missouri-gop-push-for-new-congressional-districts/">promising to filibuster</a>&nbsp;any redistricting bill in the Senate, getting a new map approved will also be difficult.

A special session will show that Republicans in Missouri take “marching orders from the federal government,” State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia, wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/s_webber/status/1958541213566468277?t=OiFM7XIgc5f6_ez0wsDkXA&amp;s=03" target="_blank">social media post</a>. “Pathetic to watch grown adult ‘leaders’ flop around like caught fish when a New Yorker that thinks the Chiefs play in Kansas tweets at them how to run Missouri.”

When he spoke to reporters on Tuesday, Kehoe said the biggest consideration for him is maintaining the Republican majority in Congress.

“Our goal, if we move forward — and there’s no decision to move forward — is to make sure Missouri’s values are reflected in Washington, D.C.,” Kehoe said. “And I’ve said many times that I think our current speaker does a very good job of matching the values of Missourians.”

Republican members of the Missouri House have been told there will be two caucus meetings scheduled to coincide with the annual veto session, which starts Sept. 10, state Rep. Barry Hovis, a Republican from Cape Girardeau said Wednesday in an interview with The Independent.

One meeting, he said, is presumably to discuss whether there are any vetoes the House wants to override. In the other, Hovis expects an in-depth discussion of redistricting.

For Hovis, one consideration on whether to redraw Missouri’s map will be if Democratic states&nbsp; California, Illinois or New York revise their maps in response to the action in Texas. Gerrymandered districts that give one party far more representation than their share of the overall vote can be seen in every state dominated by a single party, he said. Illinois has a district that looks like a snake, he said, while Massachusetts — where Republicans get about the same share of the vote as Democrats in Missouri — has no GOP congressional seats.

Democrats will complain they are being denied representation, Hovis said.

“If they’re going to bring (Texas) up, I’m going to say, ‘Well, we’re just doing what you guys taught us to do,’” Hovis said.

Until Kehoe makes the call, Hovis said, the whole discussion is speculation.

“For me to tell you that I know exactly what we’re going to do here, I truly don’t,” he said.

The biggest challenge for Republicans, Hovis said, will be to draw a map that doesn’t put districts the party currently holds at risk with large numbers of new Democratic votes.&nbsp;

“If we go to the Kansas City model, the one that I saw when we did this several years ago, we’re going to have some districts that could be more purple than red, and we could end up being 5-3, real easy, or worst case scenario, 4-4.”

The people most interested in redistricting, Bukowsky said, are incumbents. They want a map that retains the voters who have come to know their name, while potential opponents want a map that includes voters who share their ideology.

“Whenever they’re doing redistricting,” Bukowsky said, “it’s like the two parties are incumbents and challengers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753559628377.png" alt="Missouri Congressional districts (Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.)" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Congressional districts (Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Gov. Mike Kehoe hasn’t called a special session but a statement after the president’s social media post indicates he is moving closer to convening lawmakers</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri “is IN” for redrawing the state’s congressional districts in a special legislative session, President Donald Trump proclaimed Thursday on his&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115066304815869662" target="_blank">social media platform</a>.With&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/20/texas-house-vote-congressional-map-redistricting-democrats-trump/" target="_blank">Texas moving quickly</a>&nbsp;toward a mid-decade revision of its congressional map to tilt five districts toward the Republican Party, Missouri would now be expected to follow suit to help the GOP gain one more.Missouri has eight congressional districts, and Democrats hold two. Any proposal is likely to split the 5th District, which is mainly in Kansas City, by adding Republican voters in sufficient numbers to take it away from incumbent Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.That would give Republicans seven of the state’s seats in the U.S. House.For&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/24/weve-already-done-that-missouri-lawmakers-show-little-enthusiasm-for-new-congressional-maps/">nearly a month</a>, Trump has been pressuring Gov. Mike Kehoe and legislative leaders, with calls to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">at least one Republican lawmaker</a>&nbsp;who expressed reluctance to go along.“The Great State of Missouri is now IN,” Trump wrote. “I’m not surprised. It is a great State with fabulous people. I won it, all 3 times, in a landslide. We’re going to win the Midterms in Missouri again, bigger and better than ever before!”And Kehoe, in a statement responding to Trump, inched closer to saying he intended to call a special session. At a news conference in his office Tuesday, Kehoe said no decision had been made.“Governor Kehoe continues to have conversations with House and Senate leadership to assess options for a special session that would allow the General Assembly to provide congressional districts that best represent Missourians,” a statement sent by spokeswoman Gabby Picard read. “Governor Kehoe appreciates President Trump’s attention to this issue on behalf of Missourians.”No proposed map that would favor Republicans has been revealed, and a top Republican on Wednesday told The Independent she has been unable to get a look at one circulating privately.“I’ve tried to get a hold of the map that I’ve heard about,” said Jennifer Bukowsky of Columbia, vice chair of the Republican State Committee. “I guess I’m not important enough to be consulted.”The push for redistricting in Republican-led states is an effort to shore up the thin Republican majority in Congress. With a 219-212 majority — four seats are vacant, including three previously held by Democrats — Republicans are worried that a small shift in voter sentiment could put them again in the minority.Redistricting is usually done in the first legislative session after census data is released, and the districts remain in place for 10 years.Missouri’s current congressional map was approved by lawmakers in 2022 after a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/14/battle-lines-remain-fixed-in-missouri-senate-republican-factional-fights-as-session-ends/">bitter GOP factional dispute</a>&nbsp;that centered on efforts to draw seven Republican-controlled districts. And with Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/07/black-missouri-lawmakers-vow-to-block-missouri-gop-push-for-new-congressional-districts/">promising to filibuster</a>&nbsp;any redistricting bill in the Senate, getting a new map approved will also be difficult.A special session will show that Republicans in Missouri take “marching orders from the federal government,” State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia, wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/s_webber/status/1958541213566468277?t=OiFM7XIgc5f6_ez0wsDkXA&amp;s=03" target="_blank">social media post</a>. “Pathetic to watch grown adult ‘leaders’ flop around like caught fish when a New Yorker that thinks the Chiefs play in Kansas tweets at them how to run Missouri.”When he spoke to reporters on Tuesday, Kehoe said the biggest consideration for him is maintaining the Republican majority in Congress.“Our goal, if we move forward — and there’s no decision to move forward — is to make sure Missouri’s values are reflected in Washington, D.C.,” Kehoe said. “And I’ve said many times that I think our current speaker does a very good job of matching the values of Missourians.”Republican members of the Missouri House have been told there will be two caucus meetings scheduled to coincide with the annual veto session, which starts Sept. 10, state Rep. Barry Hovis, a Republican from Cape Girardeau said Wednesday in an interview with The Independent.One meeting, he said, is presumably to discuss whether there are any vetoes the House wants to override. In the other, Hovis expects an in-depth discussion of redistricting.For Hovis, one consideration on whether to redraw Missouri’s map will be if Democratic states&nbsp; California, Illinois or New York revise their maps in response to the action in Texas. Gerrymandered districts that give one party far more representation than their share of the overall vote can be seen in every state dominated by a single party, he said. Illinois has a district that looks like a snake, he said, while Massachusetts — where Republicans get about the same share of the vote as Democrats in Missouri — has no GOP congressional seats.Democrats will complain they are being denied representation, Hovis said.“If they’re going to bring (Texas) up, I’m going to say, ‘Well, we’re just doing what you guys taught us to do,’” Hovis said.Until Kehoe makes the call, Hovis said, the whole discussion is speculation.“For me to tell you that I know exactly what we’re going to do here, I truly don’t,” he said.The biggest challenge for Republicans, Hovis said, will be to draw a map that doesn’t put districts the party currently holds at risk with large numbers of new Democratic votes.&nbsp;“If we go to the Kansas City model, the one that I saw when we did this several years ago, we’re going to have some districts that could be more purple than red, and we could end up being 5-3, real easy, or worst case scenario, 4-4.”The people most interested in redistricting, Bukowsky said, are incumbents. They want a map that retains the voters who have come to know their name, while potential opponents want a map that includes voters who share their ideology.“Whenever they’re doing redistricting,” Bukowsky said, “it’s like the two parties are incumbents and challengers.”

President Trump says Missouri will revise congressional districts to favor Republicans

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City area elementary school teacher has been charged in federal court for child pornography offenses, according to the United State's Attorney.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/media/1411761/dl?inline">Click here to read </a>the charging documents

Dennis Adlai Hernandez, 28, was charged in a three-count federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. today.&nbsp; Hernandez is charged with transportation of child pornography, production and attempted production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.

Hernandez was arrested at his home during the execution of a federal search warrant.&nbsp; He remains in custody and is scheduled for his initial appearance today before a federal magistrate.

The complaint affidavit alleges that on Aug. 19, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigations received 19 CyberTipline Reports (“Cybertips”) from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”).&nbsp; NCMEC made the referral after it received disclosures from Google on August 18th&nbsp;indicating that multiple files of apparent child sexual abuse material had been uploaded to google photos by a particular account that had identifying information consistent with/to Hernandez.&nbsp;The affidavit further alleges that based upon the Cybertips, agents with the FBI sought and obtained a federal search warrant which was executed on the morning of August 20th.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Under federal statutes, transportation of child pornography carries a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, production and attempted production of child pornography carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment, and possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.&nbsp; The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

The FBI is seeking to identify potential victims of Hernandez.&nbsp; If you or your child believes they were a victim of Hernandez, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI. If you are under the age of 18, please have your parent/guardian call on your behalf. Your responses are voluntary. Based on your responses, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.

The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law.

The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

A redacted copy of the publicly filed complaint and affidavit is attached.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755865713784.png" alt="The suspect taught at Fairmount Elementary and at North Kansas City Schools Google image" />
 <figcaption>The suspect taught at Fairmount Elementary and at North Kansas City Schools Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City area elementary school teacher has been charged in federal court for child pornography offenses, according to the United State's Attorney.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/media/1411761/dl?inline">Click here to read </a>the charging documentsDennis Adlai Hernandez, 28, was charged in a three-count federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Mo. today.&nbsp; Hernandez is charged with transportation of child pornography, production and attempted production of child pornography, and possession of child pornography.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The FBI is seeking to identify potential victims of Hernandez. If you or your child believes they were a victim of Hernandez, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI. If you are under the age of 18, please have your parent/guardian call on your behalf. Your responses are voluntary. Based on…&mdash; FBI Kansas City (@FBIKansasCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIKansasCity/status/1958638722347319689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Hernandez was arrested at his home during the execution of a federal search warrant.&nbsp; He remains in custody and is scheduled for his initial appearance today before a federal magistrate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755908167779.png" alt="Hernandez photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Hernandez photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>The complaint affidavit alleges that on Aug. 19, 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigations received 19 CyberTipline Reports (“Cybertips”) from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (“NCMEC”).&nbsp; NCMEC made the referral after it received disclosures from Google on August 18th&nbsp;indicating that multiple files of apparent child sexual abuse material had been uploaded to google photos by a particular account that had identifying information consistent with/to Hernandez.&nbsp;The affidavit further alleges that based upon the Cybertips, agents with the FBI sought and obtained a federal search warrant which was executed on the morning of August 20th.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Under federal statutes, transportation of child pornography carries a minimum sentence of 5 years and a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment, production and attempted production of child pornography carries a minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years imprisonment, and possession of child pornography carries a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment.&nbsp; The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.The FBI is seeking to identify potential victims of Hernandez.&nbsp; If you or your child believes they were a victim of Hernandez, please call 1-800-CALL-FBI. If you are under the age of 18, please have your parent/guardian call on your behalf. Your responses are voluntary. Based on your responses, you may be contacted by the FBI and asked to provide additional information.The FBI is legally mandated to identify victims of federal crimes it investigates. Victims may be eligible for certain services, restitution, and rights under federal and/or state law.The charges contained in this complaint are simply accusations and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.A redacted copy of the publicly filed complaint and affidavit is attached.

FBI seeks victims: 1st grade teacher filmed child porn in KC area school  

BARRY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Thursday in Barry County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported an 81-year-old Monett man exited a 2005 Ford F250 on MO Z three miles east of Monett.&nbsp; The man was behind the pickup when it rolled backward over him.&nbsp; 

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Buchanan Funeral Home.&nbsp; The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

BARRY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Thursday in Barry County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported an 81-year-old Monett man exited a 2005 Ford F250 on MO Z three miles east of Monett.&nbsp; The man was behind the pickup when it rolled backward over him.&nbsp; The man was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Buchanan Funeral Home.&nbsp; The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man killed when pickup backs over him

DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted a successful raid in northern Syria on August 19, killing a senior ISIS member and key financier who planned attacks in Syria and Iraq, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

He had relationships throughout the ISIS network in the region, posing a direct threat to U.S. and Coalition forces and the new Syrian Government.

“We will continue to pursue ISIS terrorists with unwavering determination, throughout the region” said ADM Brad Cooper, Commander, Centcom. “Together with our partners and allies, Centcom remains steadfast in our commitment of ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS and the protection of the U.S. homeland.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755822794859.png" alt="A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II conducts a combat air patrol over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. John C.B. Ennis)" />
 <figcaption>A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II conducts a combat air patrol over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. John C.B. Ennis)</figcaption>
 </figure>DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted a successful raid in northern Syria on August 19, killing a senior ISIS member and key financier who planned attacks in Syria and Iraq, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.He had relationships throughout the ISIS network in the region, posing a direct threat to U.S. and Coalition forces and the new Syrian Government.“We will continue to pursue ISIS terrorists with unwavering determination, throughout the region” said ADM Brad Cooper, Commander, Centcom. “Together with our partners and allies, Centcom remains steadfast in our commitment of ensuring the lasting defeat of ISIS and the protection of the U.S. homeland.”

U.S. forces kill senior ISIS official in Syria

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement arrested four men earlier this month who were seeking to have sex with 14-year-old girls as part of a broader law enforcement operation to combat human trafficking occurring in communities north and east of Kansas City, according to a statement from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.

The following suspects have been charged with felony attempted enticement of a child.

- Nicholas M. Meisenhelter, 32, of Shawnee, Kan.

- Simon Gomez-Cruz, 22, of Kansas City, Kan. He also is under investigation by federal authorities for possible immigration law violations.

- Jorge Arguello-Benitez, 48, of Kansas City, Mo.

- Elpidio Lopez-Alonzo, 23, of Kansas City, Mo.

The suspects believed they were corresponding with a 14-year-old girl online, who turned out to be under-cover Clay County Sheriff’s Office detectives. When they attempted to meet the girl in person, deputies arrested them instead.

In the operation on Aug. 7 and 8, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office was part of a coalition of Northland law enforcement agencies who combined efforts to fight this crime. The Clay, Clinton, Platte, and Ray County sheriffs and the Kearney Police Department each hosted a proactive counter-trafficking operation in their jurisdiction. They were assisted substantially by the Cameron Police, Richmond Police, Kansas City International Airport Police, Kansas City, Kan., Police, and Riverside Police Departments, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Social Services - State Technical Assistance Team, and Homeland Security Investigations. Technical assistance was provided by the Bourbon County (KS) Sheriff, Butler County (KS) Sheriff, Goodyear (AZ) Police, Greenwood County (KS) Sheriff, Mesa (AZ) Police and Peoria (AZ) Police.

This operation was designed from the beginning to reduce the demand for victimization of victim-survivors of sex trafficking in these communities, connect to and provide critical services and support to these potential victims, and especially deter any suspect attempting to prey upon children who have been enslaved by the commercial sex industry. The total results for this operation were:

- Seven suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex with a child

- Three suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex

- Two suspects arrested for promoting prostitution for recruiting a person to engage in prostitution. One suspect in this case was ultimately booked for kidnapping and sexual assault after excellent work by the investigators revealed additional crimes that were occurring in another jurisdiction. A victim-survivor was recovered and placed into aftercare.

- Eight potential sex trafficking survivors met with local advocates from Value Unconditional and Relentless Pursuit Outreach and Recovery, with technical assistance provided by ICTSOS, a Wichita-based anti-human-trafficking organization. Many of them are now receiving advocacy and aftercare support.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755783980126.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement arrested four men earlier this month who were seeking to have sex with 14-year-old girls as part of a broader law enforcement operation to combat human trafficking occurring in communities north and east of Kansas City, according to a statement from the Clay County, Missouri Sheriff.The following suspects have been charged with felony attempted enticement of a child.- Nicholas M. Meisenhelter, 32, of Shawnee, Kan.- Simon Gomez-Cruz, 22, of Kansas City, Kan. He also is under investigation by federal authorities for possible immigration law violations.- Jorge Arguello-Benitez, 48, of Kansas City, Mo.- Elpidio Lopez-Alonzo, 23, of Kansas City, Mo.The suspects believed they were corresponding with a 14-year-old girl online, who turned out to be under-cover Clay County Sheriff’s Office detectives. When they attempted to meet the girl in person, deputies arrested them instead.In the operation on Aug. 7 and 8, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office was part of a coalition of Northland law enforcement agencies who combined efforts to fight this crime. The Clay, Clinton, Platte, and Ray County sheriffs and the Kearney Police Department each hosted a proactive counter-trafficking operation in their jurisdiction. They were assisted substantially by the Cameron Police, Richmond Police, Kansas City International Airport Police, Kansas City, Kan., Police, and Riverside Police Departments, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Department of Social Services - State Technical Assistance Team, and Homeland Security Investigations. Technical assistance was provided by the Bourbon County (KS) Sheriff, Butler County (KS) Sheriff, Goodyear (AZ) Police, Greenwood County (KS) Sheriff, Mesa (AZ) Police and Peoria (AZ) Police.This operation was designed from the beginning to reduce the demand for victimization of victim-survivors of sex trafficking in these communities, connect to and provide critical services and support to these potential victims, and especially deter any suspect attempting to prey upon children who have been enslaved by the commercial sex industry. The total results for this operation were:- Seven suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex with a child- Three suspects arrested and booked for attempting to buy sex- Two suspects arrested for promoting prostitution for recruiting a person to engage in prostitution. One suspect in this case was ultimately booked for kidnapping and sexual assault after excellent work by the investigators revealed additional crimes that were occurring in another jurisdiction. A victim-survivor was recovered and placed into aftercare.- Eight potential sex trafficking survivors met with local advocates from Value Unconditional and Relentless Pursuit Outreach and Recovery, with technical assistance provided by ICTSOS, a Wichita-based anti-human-trafficking organization. Many of them are now receiving advocacy and aftercare support.

Sex sting arrest: Mo. men thought they were meeting 14-year-old

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“You don’t want to slip and fall like somebody else I know” 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/nfEoIsg4Ko">pic.twitter.com/nfEoIsg4Ko</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1958647055464714527?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“This is a healthy, attractive looking group” 🤣 President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> thanks federal and local law enforcement helping to Make DC Safe Again 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/GmVdMyNTwR">pic.twitter.com/GmVdMyNTwR</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1958646088971559370?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 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">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> personally thanks and shakes hands with federal and local law enforcement helping to Make DC Safe Again! 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/c4FRxy4E7f">pic.twitter.com/c4FRxy4E7f</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1958651205309112704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on revitalizing Washington, D.C.: &quot;One of the things that we&#39;re going to be redoing is your parks... we&#39;re going to be regrassing all of your parks... It will look like Augusta. It will look like, more importantly, Trump National Golf Club — that&#39;s even better.&quot; 😂 <a href="https://t.co/4x0mbVrRjM">pic.twitter.com/4x0mbVrRjM</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958647420557873324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> speaks to the National Guard and law enforcement in D.C.: &quot;I just want to thank everybody very much for being here... We&#39;ve had some incredible results... It&#39;s like a different place. It&#39;s like a different city. It&#39;s the capital — it&#39;s going to be the best in the world.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/vXuQ6CK86B">pic.twitter.com/vXuQ6CK86B</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1958646085192122765?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥President Trump's field trip to thank police and troops in DC

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">Mary Sanchez</a>

Black SUVs whizzing by were the first hint an immigration raid might be imminent.

A Kansas City man riding his bike along the Trolley Track Trail felt his initial fear confirmed when a Waldo area construction site came into view.

He saw handcuffed laborers, men he assumed to be Latino, being questioned by other men in tactical gear.

“My full intent was to stop and let them know that someone was watching,” said the man, who didn’t want to be&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/editorial-standards/#unnamedsources" target="_blank">publicly identified</a>.

He wasn’t the only one who saw what many assumed was an immigration raid in the heart of Waldo in mid-July.

Others shared their outrage on social media. And the man riding his bike took photos and a video that showed some of the men wore tactical gear marked U.S. Marshals Service.

The construction workers were released when a small crowd of bystanders gathered, some drawn from businesses along Wornall Road. Tensions quickly escalated as bystanders began yelling and cursing. At least one agent who identified himself as a U.S. marshal cursed back, said the man who took photos.

The incident is now part of a growing list being documented by local advocates for immigrant rights. They’re tracking dozens of possible immigration actions, watching for patterns and trying to tamp down unsubstantiated rumors before they spread.

The Waldo incident has not been confirmed as an immigration raid.

So far, only about a dozen incidents in the Kansas City area have been verified as immigration enforcement actions since President Donald Trump took office in late January, according to Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, or&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/" target="_blank">AIRR</a>.

Many more reported incidents could not be verified, or simply turned out to be someone receiving a ticket for a traffic violation, with no issues involving immigration.

Amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, civil rights advocates nationally and locally are&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/blog/2025/02/06/how-know-your-rights-workshops-are-empowering-immigrants/" target="_blank">emphasizing training</a>&nbsp;for bystanders and a heightened attention to nonviolent protests.

Janet Murguía understands that Latinos and other allies are angry about reports of federal officials arresting people at workplaces, in their homes and even when they go, as directed, to immigration court.

“But that outrage needs to be targeted in the right ways,” said Murguía, the president and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">UnidosUS</a>. “It cannot give more fuel to this administration to … bring in more law enforcement.”

UnidosUS is the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. The group held its&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/04/mass-deportation-latino-civil-rights-kansas-city-unidosus/" target="_blank">annual convention</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City Aug. 4-7.

Training in nonviolence while advocating for immigrant rights was a recurring theme during the conference.

The actions of even one rambunctious protester can quickly escalate and incite others. Often unsubstantiated rumors spread quickly via social media.

The Department of Homeland Security reports escalating numbers of attacks on federal immigration agents and other federal partners, which can include the U.S. Marshals Service.

A June&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/07/dhs-releases-statement-violent-rioters-assaulting-ice-officers-los-angeles-ca-and" target="_blank">DHS release</a>&nbsp;following the outbreak of protests in Los Angeles said there had been a 413% increase in assaults against federal agents from the same time last year. It also said that agents and their families had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/11/anarchists-and-rioters-portland-illegally-dox-ice-officers-and-federal-law" target="_blank">doxed</a>, which has been a reason that the government has given to defend the use of face masks.

The fact that a bystander had a child present during the July arrests of 11 workers at two area El Toro Loco restaurants was also called out in a Homeland Security statement.

“ICE was carrying out a criminal federal search warrant to rescue victims of human trafficking. Extremists and activists, one with their child in tow, tried to interfere with law enforcement by storming the restaurant, calling law enforcement Nazis, and attempting to keep officers from leaving the scene,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.

“Unfortunately, these types of smears and obstruction to law enforcement operations are becoming more and more common. Our brave ICE law enforcement are facing an 830% increase in assaults against them as they carry out operations.”

Statements by Homeland Security consistently highlight the administration’s goal of targeting violent criminals.

But the government’s own data shows that&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/07/24/fewer-than-half-of-ice-arrests-under-trump-are-convicted-criminals/" target="_blank">less than half of people</a>&nbsp;arrested from late January through late June had been convicted of a crime, according to information gathered by the&nbsp;<a href="https://deportationdata.org/" target="_blank">Deportation Data Project</a>&nbsp;through Freedom of Information Act requests and analysis by news organizations like Stateline.

And among those who do have criminal convictions, for many it was for a less serious issue, like a traffic conviction.

Only 7% had been convicted of a violent crime, according to Stateline.

A person’s immigration status is a civil matter.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/know-your-rights" target="_blank">training sessions</a>, Kansas City area organizers seek to redirect those who might become agitated when interacting with federal immigration agents or other law enforcement.

If a volunteer demonstrates a fervent desire to fight fascism, or to accuse people of being Nazis, they probably need to reassess before becoming involved.

There’s more at stake with local organizing than what some people who want to lend support as an ally might realize, said immigrant rights advocates and immigration attorneys.

For example, videos taken by bystanders could be useful in legal cases challenging the constitutionality of the tactics being used by federal agents during arrests.

But videos with people screaming slurs at federal agents can be less useful.

Such actions can also undercut the philosophy of nonviolence.

Civil rights struggles require a consistent, long-term strategy to succeed, said Trinidad Raj Molina, an organizer with Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation.

Dramatic actions might feel good in the moment, Molina said, but aren’t a part of strategies designed to bring significant social change.

“Being a silent observer is important,” said Molina.

Murguía is leaning into her friendship with the late&nbsp;<a href="https://civilrightstrail.com/experience/rep-john-lewis/" target="_blank">civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis</a>&nbsp;for guidance.

Through the years, she heard the Georgia congressman speak about nonviolence to groups large and small, often emphasizing lessons he learned over a lifetime fighting for voting rights, desegregation and so much more.

“I remember repeatedly hearing him say that civil disobedience requires courage,” she said. “And that the part of courage that people don’t understand is being brave enough not to respond with violence, and how critically important it is to understand the role of nonviolent civil disobedience and peaceful protests.”

UnidosUS is partnering with other national organizations like the&nbsp;<a href="https://nul.org/" target="_blank">National Urban League</a>&nbsp;to call for more immigrant rights training sessions around such disciplines and to learn from the civil rights legacy of the African American community.

<a href="https://thekingcenter.org/nonviolence365-training/" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr.</a>&nbsp;taught that nonviolence is not passive. It focuses on injustice, rather than individuals. It’s a way of life, not a tactic.

People today might not realize how much training was involved in some of the most famous civil rights actions of the 1950s, Murguía said.

Murguía is especially aware that protesters today might be goaded to react, which can then be used as a pretext for a more militarized response by government officials.

Congress recently authorized more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/big-beautiful-bill-immigration-border-security/" target="_blank">$170 billion for increased immigration enforcement</a>, which is more than the combined budgets of all other federal law enforcement agencies, Murguía said.

That point was also underscored by labor rights leader David Huerta, who said it is imperative that people who protest are disciplined and committed to nonviolence and understand how to deescalate situations.

Huerta spoke on a panel during the UnidosUS conference in Kansas City.

“When you do see violence, you have to deescalate it,” he said. “Because it can escalate so quickly.”

Huerta is president of the Service Employees International Union of California and first came to prominence through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justiceforjanitors.org/" target="_blank">Justice for Janitors</a>&nbsp;campaign.

Huerta was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seiu.org/2025/06/statement-seiu-president-april-verrett-on-david-huertas-release-from-federal-custody" target="_blank">recently arrested</a>&nbsp;during immigrant rights protests in Los Angeles, spending three days in jail before being released on bond and charged with conspiracy to impede an officer.

He said it is too easy for government officials to “flip the narrative” on people who protest immigration arrests.

“We can’t let this sense of intimidation keep us from doing what we have to do,” Huerta said. “But we definitely have to be intelligent and smart about it, and we have to be really disciplined and always engaged in nonviolence.”

AIRR doesn’t want to dissuade people from getting&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/volunteer" target="_blank">involved as allies</a>. It strives to empower immigrants, in particular.

All reported information is helpful, advocates said. For instance, AIRR has noted that more foreign cars are now being used in enforcement actions.

There are also instances of federal agents being seen driving around apartment complexes in Olathe in the early morning hours, and in neighborhoods in the Northeast section of Kansas City.

The assumption is that they might be searching for people to arrest on their way to work.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1755803884978.png" alt=" Immigrant rights advocates are advising allies to adopt nonviolent resistance in the face of the Trump administration’s escalating mass deportation campaign (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Immigrant rights advocates are advising allies to adopt nonviolent resistance in the face of the Trump administration’s escalating mass deportation campaign (Vaughn Wheat/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">Mary Sanchez</a>Black SUVs whizzing by were the first hint an immigration raid might be imminent.A Kansas City man riding his bike along the Trolley Track Trail felt his initial fear confirmed when a Waldo area construction site came into view.He saw handcuffed laborers, men he assumed to be Latino, being questioned by other men in tactical gear.“My full intent was to stop and let them know that someone was watching,” said the man, who didn’t want to be&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/editorial-standards/#unnamedsources" target="_blank">publicly identified</a>.He wasn’t the only one who saw what many assumed was an immigration raid in the heart of Waldo in mid-July.Others shared their outrage on social media. And the man riding his bike took photos and a video that showed some of the men wore tactical gear marked U.S. Marshals Service.But was it an immigration raid?The construction workers were released when a small crowd of bystanders gathered, some drawn from businesses along Wornall Road. Tensions quickly escalated as bystanders began yelling and cursing. At least one agent who identified himself as a U.S. marshal cursed back, said the man who took photos.The incident is now part of a growing list being documented by local advocates for immigrant rights. They’re tracking dozens of possible immigration actions, watching for patterns and trying to tamp down unsubstantiated rumors before they spread.The Waldo incident has not been confirmed as an immigration raid.So far, only about a dozen incidents in the Kansas City area have been verified as immigration enforcement actions since President Donald Trump took office in late January, according to Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation, or&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/" target="_blank">AIRR</a>.Many more reported incidents could not be verified, or simply turned out to be someone receiving a ticket for a traffic violation, with no issues involving immigration.<h2>The value of the ‘silent observer’</h2>Amid the Trump administration’s mass deportation campaign, civil rights advocates nationally and locally are&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/blog/2025/02/06/how-know-your-rights-workshops-are-empowering-immigrants/" target="_blank">emphasizing training</a>&nbsp;for bystanders and a heightened attention to nonviolent protests.Janet Murguía understands that Latinos and other allies are angry about reports of federal officials arresting people at workplaces, in their homes and even when they go, as directed, to immigration court.“But that outrage needs to be targeted in the right ways,” said Murguía, the president and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://unidosus.org/" target="_blank">UnidosUS</a>. “It cannot give more fuel to this administration to … bring in more law enforcement.”UnidosUS is the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization. The group held its&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/04/mass-deportation-latino-civil-rights-kansas-city-unidosus/" target="_blank">annual convention</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City Aug. 4-7.Training in nonviolence while advocating for immigrant rights was a recurring theme during the conference.The actions of even one rambunctious protester can quickly escalate and incite others. Often unsubstantiated rumors spread quickly via social media.The Department of Homeland Security reports escalating numbers of attacks on federal immigration agents and other federal partners, which can include the U.S. Marshals Service.A June&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/06/07/dhs-releases-statement-violent-rioters-assaulting-ice-officers-los-angeles-ca-and" target="_blank">DHS release</a>&nbsp;following the outbreak of protests in Los Angeles said there had been a 413% increase in assaults against federal agents from the same time last year. It also said that agents and their families had been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2025/07/11/anarchists-and-rioters-portland-illegally-dox-ice-officers-and-federal-law" target="_blank">doxed</a>, which has been a reason that the government has given to defend the use of face masks.The fact that a bystander had a child present during the July arrests of 11 workers at two area El Toro Loco restaurants was also called out in a Homeland Security statement.“ICE was carrying out a criminal federal search warrant to rescue victims of human trafficking. Extremists and activists, one with their child in tow, tried to interfere with law enforcement by storming the restaurant, calling law enforcement Nazis, and attempting to keep officers from leaving the scene,” said DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin.“Unfortunately, these types of smears and obstruction to law enforcement operations are becoming more and more common. Our brave ICE law enforcement are facing an 830% increase in assaults against them as they carry out operations.”Statements by Homeland Security consistently highlight the administration’s goal of targeting violent criminals.But the government’s own data shows that&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/07/24/fewer-than-half-of-ice-arrests-under-trump-are-convicted-criminals/" target="_blank">less than half of people</a>&nbsp;arrested from late January through late June had been convicted of a crime, according to information gathered by the&nbsp;<a href="https://deportationdata.org/" target="_blank">Deportation Data Project</a>&nbsp;through Freedom of Information Act requests and analysis by news organizations like Stateline.And among those who do have criminal convictions, for many it was for a less serious issue, like a traffic conviction.Only 7% had been convicted of a violent crime, according to Stateline.A person’s immigration status is a civil matter.In&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/know-your-rights" target="_blank">training sessions</a>, Kansas City area organizers seek to redirect those who might become agitated when interacting with federal immigration agents or other law enforcement.If a volunteer demonstrates a fervent desire to fight fascism, or to accuse people of being Nazis, they probably need to reassess before becoming involved.There’s more at stake with local organizing than what some people who want to lend support as an ally might realize, said immigrant rights advocates and immigration attorneys.For example, videos taken by bystanders could be useful in legal cases challenging the constitutionality of the tactics being used by federal agents during arrests.But videos with people screaming slurs at federal agents can be less useful.Such actions can also undercut the philosophy of nonviolence.Civil rights struggles require a consistent, long-term strategy to succeed, said Trinidad Raj Molina, an organizer with Advocates for Immigrant Rights and Reconciliation.Dramatic actions might feel good in the moment, Molina said, but aren’t a part of strategies designed to bring significant social change.“Being a silent observer is important,” said Molina.<h2>Lessons on nonviolence</h2>Murguía is leaning into her friendship with the late&nbsp;<a href="https://civilrightstrail.com/experience/rep-john-lewis/" target="_blank">civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis</a>&nbsp;for guidance.Through the years, she heard the Georgia congressman speak about nonviolence to groups large and small, often emphasizing lessons he learned over a lifetime fighting for voting rights, desegregation and so much more.“I remember repeatedly hearing him say that civil disobedience requires courage,” she said. “And that the part of courage that people don’t understand is being brave enough not to respond with violence, and how critically important it is to understand the role of nonviolent civil disobedience and peaceful protests.”UnidosUS is partnering with other national organizations like the&nbsp;<a href="https://nul.org/" target="_blank">National Urban League</a>&nbsp;to call for more immigrant rights training sessions around such disciplines and to learn from the civil rights legacy of the African American community.<a href="https://thekingcenter.org/nonviolence365-training/" target="_blank">Martin Luther King Jr.</a>&nbsp;taught that nonviolence is not passive. It focuses on injustice, rather than individuals. It’s a way of life, not a tactic.People today might not realize how much training was involved in some of the most famous civil rights actions of the 1950s, Murguía said.Murguía is especially aware that protesters today might be goaded to react, which can then be used as a pretext for a more militarized response by government officials.Congress recently authorized more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/big-beautiful-bill-immigration-border-security/" target="_blank">$170 billion for increased immigration enforcement</a>, which is more than the combined budgets of all other federal law enforcement agencies, Murguía said.That point was also underscored by labor rights leader David Huerta, who said it is imperative that people who protest are disciplined and committed to nonviolence and understand how to deescalate situations.Huerta spoke on a panel during the UnidosUS conference in Kansas City.“When you do see violence, you have to deescalate it,” he said. “Because it can escalate so quickly.”Huerta is president of the Service Employees International Union of California and first came to prominence through the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justiceforjanitors.org/" target="_blank">Justice for Janitors</a>&nbsp;campaign.Huerta was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.seiu.org/2025/06/statement-seiu-president-april-verrett-on-david-huertas-release-from-federal-custody" target="_blank">recently arrested</a>&nbsp;during immigrant rights protests in Los Angeles, spending three days in jail before being released on bond and charged with conspiracy to impede an officer.He said it is too easy for government officials to “flip the narrative” on people who protest immigration arrests.“We can’t let this sense of intimidation keep us from doing what we have to do,” Huerta said. “But we definitely have to be intelligent and smart about it, and we have to be really disciplined and always engaged in nonviolence.”AIRR doesn’t want to dissuade people from getting&nbsp;<a href="https://airrkc.org/volunteer" target="_blank">involved as allies</a>. It strives to empower immigrants, in particular.All reported information is helpful, advocates said. For instance, AIRR has noted that more foreign cars are now being used in enforcement actions.There are also instances of federal agents being seen driving around apartment complexes in Olathe in the early morning hours, and in neighborhoods in the Northeast section of Kansas City.The assumption is that they might be searching for people to arrest on their way to work.More than 2,400 people have been trained regionally in know-your-rights sessions. There are also guidelines on what to do if you believe you are witnessing a raid, including how to document it, while staying safe.Local training sessions are similar to those made available by UnidosUS and other national organizations.In the case of the Waldo worksite, a wrought iron fence separated the half-dozen people who tried to confront the U.S. Marshals Service.One woman, who had come from a nearby gym, was very angry, said the man who photographed the incident.He doesn’t regret his role. But he did worry that he might end up getting arrested as the tensions escalated.Still, he felt an obligation to speak up as an African American, knowing that his community also had to fight for basic civil rights.“I just felt like it’s happening right in front of my face now,” he said. “We might have kept those people from getting kidnapped.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/20/immigrant-rights-nonviolence-resistance-kansas-city/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.