CASS COUNTY —The  Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal officer shooting involving a member of the Belton Police Department.

Just after 10a.m. Friday, police in the Kansas City suburb of Belton responded to a the 16,000 Block of Rebecca Lane to check the welfare of a subject possibly experiencing&nbsp; mental health issues, according to a media release from the&nbsp; MSHP. Officers made contact with the subject at the residence. The subject refused any assistance from officers.

Just before 12:30p.m. Officers were called to the same address a second time on a re port the original subject&nbsp; threatening a member of the residence with a&nbsp; knife. Officer arrived and contacted the reporting party in the front of the home. During the conversation, the subject exited the residence and was armed with a knife. The subject ran toward the officers and they retreated.&nbsp; The subject continued to chase an officer. At 12:35p.m., the officer fired shots striking the subject. EMS transported the subject to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

No officers were injured during the incident. Investigators recovered a knife at the scene.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation. Their final report on the incident will forwarded to the Cass County Attorney for review.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766181673996.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY —The Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal officer shooting involving a member of the Belton Police Department.Just after 10a.m. Friday, police in the Kansas City suburb of Belton responded to a the 16,000 Block of Rebecca Lane to check the welfare of a subject possibly experiencing&nbsp; mental health issues, according to a media release from the&nbsp; MSHP. Officers made contact with the subject at the residence. The subject refused any assistance from officers.Just before 12:30p.m. Officers were called to the same address a second time on a re port the original subject&nbsp; threatening a member of the residence with a&nbsp; knife. Officer arrived and contacted the reporting party in the front of the home. During the conversation, the subject exited the residence and was armed with a knife. The subject ran toward the officers and they retreated.&nbsp; The subject continued to chase an officer. At 12:35p.m., the officer fired shots striking the subject. EMS transported the subject to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased.&nbsp;No officers were injured during the incident. Investigators recovered a knife at the scene.The Missouri State Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation. Their final report on the incident will forwarded to the Cass County Attorney for review.

Patrol: Suspect shot, killed after chasing officers with a knife

BUTLER COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 2p.m. Thursday in Butler County.

According to Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff, a 1998 Harley Davidson driven by 53-year-old Salvador J. Tovar Jr., of Augusta was&nbsp;northbound in the 4000 Block of SW Haverhill Road in El Dorado. The driver lost control of the motorcycle as it entered the curve just north of SW 50th Street and was ejected. 

Tovar was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; He was not wearing a helmet, according to Cundiff.&nbsp; High winds are believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

BUTLER COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 2p.m. Thursday in Butler County.According to Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff, a 1998 Harley Davidson driven by 53-year-old Salvador J. Tovar Jr., of Augusta was&nbsp;northbound in the 4000 Block of SW Haverhill Road in El Dorado. The driver lost control of the motorcycle as it entered the curve just north of SW 50th Street and was ejected. Tovar was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; He was not wearing a helmet, according to Cundiff.&nbsp; High winds are believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

Sheriff: High winds contributed to fatal Kan. motorcycle crash

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>

WASHINGTON — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a prestigious cultural hub in the nation’s capital, will be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday.

<a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/about-us/leadership/trustees/">Click here to see the</a> Center's Board of Trustees

The renaming comes after President Donald Trump named himself chair of the board in February in a major shake-up. He later fired the Kennedy Center president as well as board members appointed by President Joe Biden before appointing his own members.

Leavitt said the board unanimously approved the name change. However, a federal statute appears to prohibit the renaming of portions of the center, which is considered a living memorial to Kennedy.

“After December 2, 1983, no additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,”&nbsp;<a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title20/chapter3/subchapter5&amp;edition=prelim" target="_blank">according to the U.S. code.&nbsp;</a>

Congress likely would need to change the law for the center to be renamed officially.&nbsp;

The Kennedy Center was renamed in 1964 to honor President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated.

Leavitt said the renaming was “because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building. Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation.”

“Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!,” she wrote.

Since the president’s takeover of the center, major artists and performers have canceled performances or boycotted performing. The artist Issa Rae, and the musical “Hamilton” will no longer perform at the center and dozens of cast members of “Les Misérables” refused to perform for Trump officials earlier this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766113484318.png" alt="The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which the White House said will be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center. (Photo courtesy of Kennedy Center) " />
 <figcaption>The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which the White House said will be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center. (Photo courtesy of Kennedy Center) </figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>WASHINGTON — The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, a prestigious cultural hub in the nation’s capital, will be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday.<a href="https://www.kennedy-center.org/about-us/leadership/trustees/">Click here to see the</a> Center's Board of TrusteesThe renaming comes after President Donald Trump named himself chair of the board in February in a major shake-up. He later fired the Kennedy Center president as well as board members appointed by President Joe Biden before appointing his own members.Leavitt said the board unanimously approved the name change. However, a federal statute appears to prohibit the renaming of portions of the center, which is considered a living memorial to Kennedy.“After December 2, 1983, no additional memorials or plaques in the nature of memorials shall be designated or installed in the public areas of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts,”&nbsp;<a href="https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title20/chapter3/subchapter5&amp;edition=prelim" target="_blank">according to the U.S. code.&nbsp;</a>Congress likely would need to change the law for the center to be renamed officially.&nbsp;The Kennedy Center was renamed in 1964 to honor President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated.Leavitt said the renaming was “because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building. Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation.”“Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future!,” she wrote.Since the president’s takeover of the center, major artists and performers have canceled performances or boycotted performing. The artist Issa Rae, and the musical “Hamilton” will no longer perform at the center and dozens of cast members of “Les Misérables” refused to perform for Trump officials earlier this year.

Controversy: Kennedy Center to be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center

RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement investigating a homicide that occurred&nbsp; in the 800 Block of Colorado Street in Manhattan on December 6, have made additional arrests.

On Thursday, police arrested Danielle Sanchez, 47, of Manhattan, in the 1000 block of Pottawatomie Court on requested charges of interference with a law enforcement officer; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case and attempted obstruction of apprehension of prosecution; committed or charged with a felony, according to al media release from the Riley County Police Department.

On December 10, police arrested Joleann Killham, 24, and Eli Smith, 22, both of Manhattan on requested charges of interference with a&nbsp;law enforcement officer; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case and obstructing apprehension of prosecution; committed or charged with a felony. 

Sanchez and Killham and Smith met the requirement of a $10,000 bond and are no longer in custody. Smith remains confined, according to the RCPD.

These arrests are the results of continued investigative efforts following the apprehension of Erick Sanchez-Chavez, 29, of Manhattan, who was arrested on Dec. 8 and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal threat in the death of 36-year-old Mark Rickenbaker. Sanchez-Chavez is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.

RILEY COUNTY – Law enforcement investigating a homicide that occurred&nbsp; in the 800 Block of Colorado Street in Manhattan on December 6, have made additional arrests.On Thursday, police arrested Danielle Sanchez, 47, of Manhattan, in the 1000 block of Pottawatomie Court on requested charges of interference with a law enforcement officer; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case and attempted obstruction of apprehension of prosecution; committed or charged with a felony, according to al media release from the Riley County Police Department.On December 10, police arrested Joleann Killham, 24, and Eli Smith, 22, both of Manhattan on requested charges of interference with a&nbsp;law enforcement officer; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case and obstructing apprehension of prosecution; committed or charged with a felony. Sanchez and Killham and Smith met the requirement of a $10,000 bond and are no longer in custody. Smith remains confined, according to the RCPD.These arrests are the results of continued investigative efforts following the apprehension of Erick Sanchez-Chavez, 29, of Manhattan, who was arrested on Dec. 8 and charged with second-degree murder, aggravated assault and criminal threat in the death of 36-year-old Mark Rickenbaker. Sanchez-Chavez is being held on a $1,000,000 bond.

3 more accused in connection with homicide in Manhattan

On Thursday at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters, according to a statement from the U.S. Southern Command.

 Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of five male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second vessel. No U.S. military forces were harmed.

On Thursday at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters, according to a statement from the U.S. Southern Command.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">On Dec. 18, at the direction of <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecWar</a> Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted lethal kinetic strikes on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations in international waters. Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known… <a href="https://t.co/CcCyOgYRto">pic.twitter.com/CcCyOgYRto</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2001840669313135099?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> Intelligence confirmed that the vessels were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and were engaged in narco-trafficking operations. A total of five male narco-terrorists were killed during these actions - three in the first vessel and two in the second vessel. No U.S. military forces were harmed.

🎥 US strikes 2 more drug boats killing 5 'narco-terrorists'

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/nancy-lavin/">Nancy Lavin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/alexcastro/">Alexander Castro</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>

With those three words from Ted Docks, FBI special agent in charge, the six-day manhunt for the person believed to be responsible for a mass shooting at Brown University ended. The suspect and former Brown graduate student, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, Docks confirmed at a press conference in Providence.

Neves Valente, 48, is also the suspect in Monday’s fatal shooting of Massachusetts Institute of Technology physics professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in Brookline, Massachusetts, Rhode Island public officials confirmed Thursday. U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah B. Foley said Valente was found with a satchel when investigators arrived to execute a search warrant at a press conference in Boston&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-nh/pr/us-attorneys-offices-fbi-and-atf-announce-death-brown-university-and-mit-professor" target="_blank">Thursday night</a>.

It’s a marked turnaround from one day earlier, when clues appeared, at least publicly, scarce about the man captured on grainy video footage and still images around the Ivy League campus before and after the Saturday afternoon shooting. Frustration, criticism, and fear mounted as the university and the capital city desperately searched for answers and investigators searched for justice.

But just as Attorney General Peter Neronha promised, the seemingly unending case “cracked wide open,” swiftly Thursday thanks largely to public assistance that helped connect the man captured on area security camera footage to a rental car agency in Massachusetts, and ultimately, 85 miles north to the storage unit where he took his own life Thursday night.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/affidavit.pdf">state arrest warrant</a>&nbsp;issued by Rhode Island state court earlier Thursday charges Neves Valente with two counts of murder and 23 felony counts of assault and firearms offenses.&nbsp;

Evidence is still being processed, but Neronha added, “There won’t be a prosecution now, of course.”

“I don’t think we have any idea why now, or why, why Brown, why these students, why this classroom, that that is really unknown to us, and it may become clear, I hope that it does, but it hasn’t as of right now,” Neronha said.

What is known is that Neves Valente was a Brown University student from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2001, admitted to a master’s graduate program in physics. He took a leave of absence in April 2001, before formally withdrawing in July 2003. During his time at the university, most physics classes were held in the Barus and Holley engineering building where the shooting took place, though the university course schedule for that time period is not available, Christina Paxson, university president said.

He was also described as a Portuguese national, whose last known address was in Miami. He is believed to have traveled by plane to Providence in October, moving throughout the region over the intervening months. Officials said Loureiro, 47, and Valente attended the same academic program in Portugal between 1995 and 2000.

“This was a highly dangerous individual capable of extreme violence,” said Tom Greco, special agent in charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms’ Boston division.

The thread that unraveled the mystery of who and where he was: a second person, identified in the affidavit as John, who was captured on property security camera footage in the East Side residential neighborhood at the same time as Neves Valente on the day of the shooting. Officials on Wednesday released photos of John, asking for tips or for him to come forward for questioning.&nbsp;

John previously posted on a popular reddit forum relaying a piece of what he observed, according to the affidavit of a Providence police detective.

“The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental,” John, then still anonymous, wrote on the subreddit r/Providence on Dec. 15. “That was the car he was driving. It was parked in front of the little shack behind the Rhode Island Historical Society on the Cooke St side. I know because he used his key fob to open the car, approached it and then something prompted him to back away.”

John spoke briefly with Neves Valente in the bathroom of the engineering building, following him out and asking him about his presence in the university building. He came forward to Providence police within an hour of his photo being released publicly Wednesday.

“He was as outstanding a witness as I’ve seen, and he deserves a lot of credit,” Neronha said, adding that he would “vote” for the witness to receive the $50,000 reward previously offered by the FBI.

John’s interview and written tips helped investigators identify and trace the vehicle to the Boston car rental where he rented the car, in his own name, Neronha said.&nbsp;

The New Hampshire storage unit was also in his name, and evidence recovered in the car and the unit, including two firearms, confirmed he was responsible for the shooting, Neronha said.

“We are 100% confident that this is our target ,and this case is closed from a perspective of pursuing people involved,” Neronha said.

Perez later professed pride for the city, whose residents, students and public safety officials succeeded in the complex and winding investigation.

“In this nation, when horrific incidents happen, law enforcement steps up,” Col. Oscar Perez, Providence police chief, said during the late evening press conference.&nbsp;

The sense of accomplishment and relief was also met with continued grief for the two students killed and nine wounded, along with the wider community. Six of the injured students remained at Rhode Island Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition Thursday.

“We hope this outcome tonight brings an increased sense of safety for Brown and our surrounding area,” Paxson, university president, said. “This has been a period of great fear and anxiety for many people and now, perhaps some form of relief. Truly, this week has been devastating for our community in a number of ways.”

Including public doxxing, misinformation and rampant conspiracies that filled the void of facts on social media over the last six days.&nbsp;

“The endless barrage of misinformation, disinformation, rumors, leaks and click bait were not helpful in this investigation, distractions and unfounded criticisms do not support this work,” said Col Darnell Weaver, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. “They complicate it and threaten to undermine the justice we seek for the victims and the grieving families.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766142171994.png" alt="Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez is shown at the right of the podium before the start of the press conference announcing the identify of the Brown University mass shooting suspect who was found dead in New Hampshire on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)" />
 <figcaption>Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez is shown at the right of the podium before the start of the press conference announcing the identify of the Brown University mass shooting suspect who was found dead in New Hampshire on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/nancy-lavin/">Nancy Lavin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/alexcastro/">Alexander Castro</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>“We got him.”With those three words from Ted Docks, FBI special agent in charge, the six-day manhunt for the person believed to be responsible for a mass shooting at Brown University ended. The suspect and former Brown graduate student, Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, was found dead in a storage unit in Salem, New Hampshire, shortly before 9 p.m. Thursday, Docks confirmed at a press conference in Providence.Neves Valente, 48, is also the suspect in Monday’s fatal shooting of Massachusetts Institute of Technology physics professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro in Brookline, Massachusetts, Rhode Island public officials confirmed Thursday. U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Leah B. Foley said Valente was found with a satchel when investigators arrived to execute a search warrant at a press conference in Boston&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-nh/pr/us-attorneys-offices-fbi-and-atf-announce-death-brown-university-and-mit-professor" target="_blank">Thursday night</a>.It’s a marked turnaround from one day earlier, when clues appeared, at least publicly, scarce about the man captured on grainy video footage and still images around the Ivy League campus before and after the Saturday afternoon shooting. Frustration, criticism, and fear mounted as the university and the capital city desperately searched for answers and investigators searched for justice.But just as Attorney General Peter Neronha promised, the seemingly unending case “cracked wide open,” swiftly Thursday thanks largely to public assistance that helped connect the man captured on area security camera footage to a rental car agency in Massachusetts, and ultimately, 85 miles north to the storage unit where he took his own life Thursday night.A&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/affidavit.pdf">state arrest warrant</a>&nbsp;issued by Rhode Island state court earlier Thursday charges Neves Valente with two counts of murder and 23 felony counts of assault and firearms offenses.&nbsp;Evidence is still being processed, but Neronha added, “There won’t be a prosecution now, of course.”A motive remains elusive.“I don’t think we have any idea why now, or why, why Brown, why these students, why this classroom, that that is really unknown to us, and it may become clear, I hope that it does, but it hasn’t as of right now,” Neronha said.What is known is that Neves Valente was a Brown University student from the fall of 2000 to the spring of 2001, admitted to a master’s graduate program in physics. He took a leave of absence in April 2001, before formally withdrawing in July 2003. During his time at the university, most physics classes were held in the Barus and Holley engineering building where the shooting took place, though the university course schedule for that time period is not available, Christina Paxson, university president said.He was also described as a Portuguese national, whose last known address was in Miami. He is believed to have traveled by plane to Providence in October, moving throughout the region over the intervening months. Officials said Loureiro, 47, and Valente attended the same academic program in Portugal between 1995 and 2000.“This was a highly dangerous individual capable of extreme violence,” said Tom Greco, special agent in charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms’ Boston division.The thread that unraveled the mystery of who and where he was: a second person, identified in the affidavit as John, who was captured on property security camera footage in the East Side residential neighborhood at the same time as Neves Valente on the day of the shooting. Officials on Wednesday released photos of John, asking for tips or for him to come forward for questioning.&nbsp;John previously posted on a popular reddit forum relaying a piece of what he observed, according to the affidavit of a Providence police detective.“The police need to look into a grey Nissan with Florida plates, possibly a rental,” John, then still anonymous, wrote on the subreddit r/Providence on Dec. 15. “That was the car he was driving. It was parked in front of the little shack behind the Rhode Island Historical Society on the Cooke St side. I know because he used his key fob to open the car, approached it and then something prompted him to back away.”John spoke briefly with Neves Valente in the bathroom of the engineering building, following him out and asking him about his presence in the university building. He came forward to Providence police within an hour of his photo being released publicly Wednesday.“He was as outstanding a witness as I’ve seen, and he deserves a lot of credit,” Neronha said, adding that he would “vote” for the witness to receive the $50,000 reward previously offered by the FBI.John’s interview and written tips helped investigators identify and trace the vehicle to the Boston car rental where he rented the car, in his own name, Neronha said.&nbsp;The New Hampshire storage unit was also in his name, and evidence recovered in the car and the unit, including two firearms, confirmed he was responsible for the shooting, Neronha said.“We are 100% confident that this is our target ,and this case is closed from a perspective of pursuing people involved,” Neronha said.Perez later professed pride for the city, whose residents, students and public safety officials succeeded in the complex and winding investigation.“In this nation, when horrific incidents happen, law enforcement steps up,” Col. Oscar Perez, Providence police chief, said during the late evening press conference.&nbsp;The sense of accomplishment and relief was also met with continued grief for the two students killed and nine wounded, along with the wider community. Six of the injured students remained at Rhode Island Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition Thursday.“We hope this outcome tonight brings an increased sense of safety for Brown and our surrounding area,” Paxson, university president, said. “This has been a period of great fear and anxiety for many people and now, perhaps some form of relief. Truly, this week has been devastating for our community in a number of ways.”Including public doxxing, misinformation and rampant conspiracies that filled the void of facts on social media over the last six days.&nbsp;“The endless barrage of misinformation, disinformation, rumors, leaks and click bait were not helpful in this investigation, distractions and unfounded criticisms do not support this work,” said Col Darnell Weaver, superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. “They complicate it and threaten to undermine the justice we seek for the victims and the grieving families.”

Suspected Brown mass shooter found dead in N.H. storage facility

HOWELL COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Thursday in Howell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Ford F250 driven by a 40-year-old Marionville man was southbound in the northbound lane of U.S. 63 four miles north of West Plains. The pickup struck a 1991 Ford F250 driven by a 48-year-old West Plains man head-on.

The West Plains man was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Drago Funeral Home. EMS transported the other driver to Ozark Health. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

HOWELL COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Thursday in Howell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Ford F250 driven by a 40-year-old Marionville man was southbound in the northbound lane of U.S. 63 four miles north of West Plains. The pickup struck a 1991 Ford F250 driven by a 48-year-old West Plains man head-on.The West Plains man was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Drago Funeral Home. EMS transported the other driver to Ozark Health. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man dead after wrong-way, head-on crash

Due to recent delays in heating propane, on Dec. 17 Governor Laura Kelly signed a proclamation of State of Disaster Emergency for all 105 Kansas counties, according to a media release from Kelly's office.

“As every Kansan knows, our winters can become dangerously cold at times,” said Governor Kelly. “We want to make sure every person has access to a steady supply of heating fuel throughout the winter months, particularly those in rural areas who depend on propane to warm their homes.”

The proclamation states “Areas within Kansas and surrounding state are experiencing a delay in delivery of propane for residential heating, causing long lines at fuel terminals thereby causing a disruption in supply delivery and a need for drivers to increase the number of hours of service to deliver product.”

In response, Governor Kelly ordered the adjutant general, director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, to activate the disaster response and recovery portions of the Kansas Response Plan. The governor also temporarily suspended any regulatory statutes that would hinder or delay timely response to heating fuel deliveries.

The proclamation covers dates through Dec. 31, 2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573129144676.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Due to recent delays in heating propane, on Dec. 17 Governor Laura Kelly signed a proclamation of State of Disaster Emergency for all 105 Kansas counties, according to a media release from Kelly's office.“As every Kansan knows, our winters can become dangerously cold at times,” said Governor Kelly. “We want to make sure every person has access to a steady supply of heating fuel throughout the winter months, particularly those in rural areas who depend on propane to warm their homes.”The proclamation states “Areas within Kansas and surrounding state are experiencing a delay in delivery of propane for residential heating, causing long lines at fuel terminals thereby causing a disruption in supply delivery and a need for drivers to increase the number of hours of service to deliver product.”In response, Governor Kelly ordered the adjutant general, director of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, to activate the disaster response and recovery portions of the Kansas Response Plan. The governor also temporarily suspended any regulatory statutes that would hinder or delay timely response to heating fuel deliveries.The proclamation covers dates through Dec. 31, 2025.

Kan. Governor declares state of emergency over propane delays

Legislators will consider public funding package in hopes of luring the NFL team to Kansas. The Royals will not be discussed Monday, leaving the MLB team’s future uncertain.

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/peggylowe/">Peggy Lowe</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">Sherman Smith</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/stevekraske/">Steve Kraske</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflecto</a>r

Kansas legislative leaders will meet Monday to take one of the final steps toward luring the Kansas City Chiefs across the state line, floating bonds worth hundreds of millions so the team can build a domed stadium and an entertainment district.

With a year-end deadline looming, the Legislative Coordinating Council will consider approving Sales Tax and Revenue Bond agreements with the Chiefs. Monday is the council’s last scheduled meeting of the year.

With the bonds’ approval, the Kansas City Chiefs could move closer to uprooting six decades of NFL history in Missouri and relocate to Kansas. The deal is said to call for placing the new stadium near the Legends, a regional shopping mall and commercial area in the Village West development in Kansas City, Kansas.

The council will not consider any deals with the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

Legislative and state leaders refused to offer specifics about the meeting and would say only that the Chiefs will be on the agenda. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican running for governor, said he has worked diligently to explore the change to bring the Chiefs to Kansas without raising taxes.

“He remains fully committed to these efforts and will continue working tirelessly up to and through the upcoming Legislative Coordinating Council meeting to facilitate this exciting opportunity for Kansas,” said Megan Stookey, Masterson’s spokesperson.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said she was told the council, which is composed of legislative leadership from both parties, would be talking about the Chiefs on Monday — but not the Royals.

“We will be talking about the Chiefs,” Sykes said. “It sounds like there is some proposal that we will be looking at.”

The Kansas Department of Commerce, which handles such deals, posted on Facebook that the state is in active discussions with the Chiefs about “building a new stadium and other facilities in Kansas.”

“No final agreement has been reached, but this would be a massive economic win for Kansas and benefit Kansans for generations to come,” the statement said. “We are aggressively pursuing this opportunity.”

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t return an email seeking comment.

In an interview Tuesday, Gov. Laura Kelly declined to say whether the Chiefs or Royals were coming to Kansas.

“You really think I’m going to answer that question?” Kelly said.

Missouri Gov, Mike Kehoe said his team remains in frequent communication with the Royals and the Chiefs and wants to keep the teams in Missouri.

“He believes Missouri is the best home for both teams and continues working with the teams to make the right decision to grow and invest in the Show-Me State,” said his communications director, Gabby Picard.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a statement Thursday saying the city doesn’t negotiate in public.

“As the city and our Missouri partners continue discussions with our long-term partners at the Chiefs and the Royals, we remain steadfast in working toward an arrangement in the best interest of our community and the greatest success of our teams on and off the field,” Lucas said.

After a ping-pong of public-financing proposals offered by the two states, the Chiefs face a decision on&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/hb2001/" target="_blank">Kansas’ deal</a>, which could&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-lawmakers-extend-deadline-for-chiefs-royals-to-accept-stadium-incentives/">cover up to 70% of the project</a>&nbsp;through bonds. Missouri’s plan offered 50%.

Missouri hit a wall in its bid to keep the Chiefs after voters rejected a sales tax extension in April 2024, throwing in jeopardy a plan that would have helped fund a new $2 billion downtown ballpark for the Royals and $800 million in renovations to Arrowhead Stadium. That’s when Kansas lawmakers aggressively stepped in, authorizing STAR bonds to finance 70% of development projects with a minimum investment of a billion dollars.

Kansas Sen. David Haley, a Democrat from Wyandotte County, said Thursday he’s hearing talk that the team is headed to the Legends.

The site of the new stadium could be west of the Kansas Speedway, at the junction of Interstate 435 and Interstate 70. The potential entertainment district surrounding the stadium would be placed near other existing businesses, like Legends Outlets, the Hollywood Casino, and Sporting KC’s soccer stadium.

The Kansas Legislature during a special session last summer created a financial incentive package designed to lure the Chiefs and Royals across state lines. The law allows for STAR bonds to pay for 70% of a development project with a minimum investment of a billion dollars. The bonds would be paid through liquor sales and retail sales tax revenue in the development area, with a window up to 30 years.

Reaching a deal now could allow a stadium to open by 2031, when the team’s leases with Jackson County, Missouri, expire.

The Chiefs began playing in Kansas City in 1963 after owner Lamar Hunt moved the franchise from Dallas. The team first played at Municipal Stadium, at 22nd Street and Brooklyn Avenue, then moved to Arrowhead in 1971. The Truman Sports Complex, on the city’s east side, is also home to the Royals and the teams share parking lots.

The Chiefs sold naming rights in 2021 to the Government Employees Health Association and the official name became&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-home-field-now-geha-field-at-arrowhead-stadium" target="_blank">GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium</a>.

The Chiefs’ negotiations with Kansas intensified last month when the team floated a request for proposals from firms to design a domed stadium, which would be available for use during the Super Bowl and other winter events. The team was said to be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2025-11-11/chiefs-kansas-stadium-speedway-rfp" target="_blank">negotiating with NASCAR&nbsp;</a>for land near the Speedway.

Five months earlier, in June, the<a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2025-06-27/chiefs-kansas-stadium-extension" target="_blank">&nbsp;Chiefs requested an extension</a>&nbsp;to a deadline for a stadium financing package from the state of Kansas, which was an indication the NFL franchise’s move across the state line was a real possibility.

But that same month, Missouri’s Kehoe called lawmakers into a special session to offer a competing stadium financing deal, hoping for something that could keep both the Chiefs and the Royals on that side of the state line. The Missouri Legislature approved the plan, which authorized bonds covering up to half of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million in tax credits for each stadium and more aid from local governments.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766107972886.png" alt="Kansas legislative leaders will meet Monday to consider using STAR bonds to finance a stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs that could be built near the Legends shopping area. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas legislative leaders will meet Monday to consider using STAR bonds to finance a stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs that could be built near the Legends shopping area. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Legislators will consider public funding package in hopes of luring the NFL team to Kansas. The Royals will not be discussed Monday, leaving the MLB team’s future uncertain.</h2>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/peggylowe/">Peggy Lowe</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">Sherman Smith</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/stevekraske/">Steve Kraske</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflecto</a>rKansas legislative leaders will meet Monday to take one of the final steps toward luring the Kansas City Chiefs across the state line, floating bonds worth hundreds of millions so the team can build a domed stadium and an entertainment district.With a year-end deadline looming, the Legislative Coordinating Council will consider approving Sales Tax and Revenue Bond agreements with the Chiefs. Monday is the council’s last scheduled meeting of the year.With the bonds’ approval, the Kansas City Chiefs could move closer to uprooting six decades of NFL history in Missouri and relocate to Kansas. The deal is said to call for placing the new stadium near the Legends, a regional shopping mall and commercial area in the Village West development in Kansas City, Kansas.The council will not consider any deals with the Kansas City Royals on Monday.Legislative and state leaders refused to offer specifics about the meeting and would say only that the Chiefs will be on the agenda. Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican running for governor, said he has worked diligently to explore the change to bring the Chiefs to Kansas without raising taxes.“He remains fully committed to these efforts and will continue working tirelessly up to and through the upcoming Legislative Coordinating Council meeting to facilitate this exciting opportunity for Kansas,” said Megan Stookey, Masterson’s spokesperson.Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, said she was told the council, which is composed of legislative leadership from both parties, would be talking about the Chiefs on Monday — but not the Royals.“We will be talking about the Chiefs,” Sykes said. “It sounds like there is some proposal that we will be looking at.”The Kansas Department of Commerce, which handles such deals, posted on Facebook that the state is in active discussions with the Chiefs about “building a new stadium and other facilities in Kansas.”“No final agreement has been reached, but this would be a massive economic win for Kansas and benefit Kansans for generations to come,” the statement said. “We are aggressively pursuing this opportunity.”The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t return an email seeking comment.In an interview Tuesday, Gov. Laura Kelly declined to say whether the Chiefs or Royals were coming to Kansas.“You really think I’m going to answer that question?” Kelly said.Missouri Gov, Mike Kehoe said his team remains in frequent communication with the Royals and the Chiefs and wants to keep the teams in Missouri.“He believes Missouri is the best home for both teams and continues working with the teams to make the right decision to grow and invest in the Show-Me State,” said his communications director, Gabby Picard.Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a statement Thursday saying the city doesn’t negotiate in public.“As the city and our Missouri partners continue discussions with our long-term partners at the Chiefs and the Royals, we remain steadfast in working toward an arrangement in the best interest of our community and the greatest success of our teams on and off the field,” Lucas said.After a ping-pong of public-financing proposals offered by the two states, the Chiefs face a decision on&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li_2024s/b2023_24/measures/hb2001/" target="_blank">Kansas’ deal</a>, which could&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-lawmakers-extend-deadline-for-chiefs-royals-to-accept-stadium-incentives/">cover up to 70% of the project</a>&nbsp;through bonds. Missouri’s plan offered 50%.Missouri hit a wall in its bid to keep the Chiefs after voters rejected a sales tax extension in April 2024, throwing in jeopardy a plan that would have helped fund a new $2 billion downtown ballpark for the Royals and $800 million in renovations to Arrowhead Stadium. That’s when Kansas lawmakers aggressively stepped in, authorizing STAR bonds to finance 70% of development projects with a minimum investment of a billion dollars.Kansas Sen. David Haley, a Democrat from Wyandotte County, said Thursday he’s hearing talk that the team is headed to the Legends.The site of the new stadium could be west of the Kansas Speedway, at the junction of Interstate 435 and Interstate 70. The potential entertainment district surrounding the stadium would be placed near other existing businesses, like Legends Outlets, the Hollywood Casino, and Sporting KC’s soccer stadium.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766108108718.png" alt="The Kansas City Chiefs could build a stadium on land near the Kansas Speedway in the Village West development of Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>The Kansas City Chiefs could build a stadium on land near the Kansas Speedway in the Village West development of Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Grace Hills for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Legislature during a special session last summer created a financial incentive package designed to lure the Chiefs and Royals across state lines. The law allows for STAR bonds to pay for 70% of a development project with a minimum investment of a billion dollars. The bonds would be paid through liquor sales and retail sales tax revenue in the development area, with a window up to 30 years.Reaching a deal now could allow a stadium to open by 2031, when the team’s leases with Jackson County, Missouri, expire.The Chiefs began playing in Kansas City in 1963 after owner Lamar Hunt moved the franchise from Dallas. The team first played at Municipal Stadium, at 22nd Street and Brooklyn Avenue, then moved to Arrowhead in 1971. The Truman Sports Complex, on the city’s east side, is also home to the Royals and the teams share parking lots.The Chiefs sold naming rights in 2021 to the Government Employees Health Association and the official name became&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/news/chiefs-home-field-now-geha-field-at-arrowhead-stadium" target="_blank">GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium</a>.The Chiefs’ negotiations with Kansas intensified last month when the team floated a request for proposals from firms to design a domed stadium, which would be available for use during the Super Bowl and other winter events. The team was said to be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2025-11-11/chiefs-kansas-stadium-speedway-rfp" target="_blank">negotiating with NASCAR&nbsp;</a>for land near the Speedway.Five months earlier, in June, the<a href="https://www.kcur.org/sports/2025-06-27/chiefs-kansas-stadium-extension" target="_blank">&nbsp;Chiefs requested an extension</a>&nbsp;to a deadline for a stadium financing package from the state of Kansas, which was an indication the NFL franchise’s move across the state line was a real possibility.But that same month, Missouri’s Kehoe called lawmakers into a special session to offer a competing stadium financing deal, hoping for something that could keep both the Chiefs and the Royals on that side of the state line. The Missouri Legislature approved the plan, which authorized bonds covering up to half of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million in tax credits for each stadium and more aid from local governments.

Kan. legislators to meet Monday about deal to bring KC Chiefs across the state line

BOONE COUNTY —Authorities in Missouri canceled an Amber Alert Thursday afternoon after two missing children were located and safe.

Just after 4p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol issued the Alert for&nbsp; a blue 2005 Lincoln Aviator with Missouri license plate GL7B2S. The vehicle was believed to be driving westbound on Interstate 70.

The suspect identified as 24-year-old Joy Ariel Smith was taken into custody at 4:42 p.m., according to the Patrol. Authorities

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766107646385.png" alt="Smith photo MSHP" />
 <figcaption>Smith photo MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>BOONE COUNTY —Authorities in Missouri canceled an Amber Alert Thursday afternoon after two missing children were located and safe.Just after 4p.m., the Missouri State Highway Patrol issued the Alert for&nbsp; a blue 2005 Lincoln Aviator with Missouri license plate GL7B2S. The vehicle was believed to be driving westbound on Interstate 70.The suspect identified as 24-year-old Joy Ariel Smith was taken into custody at 4:42 p.m., according to the Patrol. Authorities

Patrol: Amber Alert suspect captured, children are safe

<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/cl62lochkdzdalbzzqgq8/ADJIDEfLD1oQZrKmNeae2So?dl=0&amp;e=2&amp;rlkey=y7529bx9tl7db6zf279jp3cyu&amp;st=8o7kizhr">Click&nbsp;here&nbsp;</a>to view the additional photos

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766094706592.png" alt="Photo House Oversight Committee" />
 <figcaption>Photo House Oversight Committee</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NEW: Oversight Dems are releasing additional photos from Jeffrey Epstein&#39;s estate to the public. We will continue releasing photographs and documents to provide transparency for the American people. It’s time for the Department of Justice to release the files. <a href="https://t.co/ZGAvxVLCUq">pic.twitter.com/ZGAvxVLCUq</a>&mdash; Oversight Dems (@OversightDems) <a href="https://twitter.com/OversightDems/status/2001699758449082476?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/cl62lochkdzdalbzzqgq8/ADJIDEfLD1oQZrKmNeae2So?dl=0&amp;e=2&amp;rlkey=y7529bx9tl7db6zf279jp3cyu&amp;st=8o7kizhr">Click&nbsp;here&nbsp;</a>to view the additional photos

See the pics: Dems drop new Epstein photos ahead of DOJ  deadline

President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that would&nbsp;reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug&nbsp;and open new avenues for medical research, a major shift in federal drug policy that inches closer to what many states have done.

The switch would move marijuana away from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. Cannabis would instead be a Schedule III substance, like ketamine and some anabolic steroids.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation responded to the President's Executive Order and reminded the public, "rescheduling is not the same as legalization."

"The cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana-derived THC products remains illegal under state and federal law, and the KBI will continue to enforce existing laws. "

"The marijuana products sold today are highly potent and pose a direct threat to public health. Rescheduling will allow qualified scientists to conduct reliable research on the long-term impact on the human brain of the use of high-concentration THC products. We believe this will conclusively prove the connection between marijuana use and mental health disorders, especially in children and teens."

"Marijuana products remain just as illegal today as they were yesterday. The KBI will continue our efforts to protect Kansans, especially Kansas children, from those who sell these illegal and dangerous products."

President Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that would&nbsp;reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug&nbsp;and open new avenues for medical research, a major shift in federal drug policy that inches closer to what many states have done.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">JUST NOW: President Trump signs an Executive Order to reschedule marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III alongside doctors, cancer patients, veterans, and law enforcement <a href="https://t.co/4BBaVMlosm">pic.twitter.com/4BBaVMlosm</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2001732404420268366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The switch would move marijuana away from its current classification as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD. Cannabis would instead be a Schedule III substance, like ketamine and some anabolic steroids.The Kansas Bureau of Investigation responded to the President's Executive Order and reminded the public, "rescheduling is not the same as legalization."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump signs executive order rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule 1 to a Schedule 3 controlled substance <a href="https://t.co/GaIRreRT60">pic.twitter.com/GaIRreRT60</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2001732000810451189?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"The cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana-derived THC products remains illegal under state and federal law, and the KBI will continue to enforce existing laws. ""The marijuana products sold today are highly potent and pose a direct threat to public health. Rescheduling will allow qualified scientists to conduct reliable research on the long-term impact on the human brain of the use of high-concentration THC products. We believe this will conclusively prove the connection between marijuana use and mental health disorders, especially in children and teens.""Marijuana products remain just as illegal today as they were yesterday. The KBI will continue our efforts to protect Kansans, especially Kansas children, from those who sell these illegal and dangerous products."

KBI responds to Trump's move to reclassify marijuana

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

Quest for November special session fell short, but Republicans may try again in January

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly predicted Tuesday the 2026 Legislature wouldn’t muster enough political support to implement a new congressional district map splitting Johnson County and making it easier to defeat Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids in the midterm election.

Kelly, the two-term Democrat entering her final year as governor, said the political landscape in Kansas appeared unchanged since House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, conceded in November he lacked enough signatures from Kansas House members to trigger a special session on redistricting.

While Hawkins fell about 10 signatures short of the required supermajority needed to convene in special session, enough Kansas Senate Republicans signed a petition to authorize a special session devoted to congressional mapping. The GOP leadership’s objective has been to implement a Kansas map to oust Davids, the state’s lone Democrat in the federal delegation, without threatening the three incumbent Kansas Republicans in Congress.

The administration of President Donald Trump urged GOP-led states to gerrymander enough districts so Republicans could remain in control of the U.S. House.

Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said their strategy would be to consider redistricting when the 2026 Legislature convened Jan. 12 for its regular session.

“In some ways, I’ll be surprised if they even really bring it up,” Kelly said in an interview with Kansas Reflector. “I don’t think a lot has changed in terms of where legislators stand on the issue.”

Kelly said it was interesting Hawkins couldn’t convince the minimum of 84 House members to sign a special session petition, because her years serving as a state senator demonstrated legislators were more inclined to authorize debate on a topic than to vote for an actual bill. While it would take simple majorities of 63 votes in the House and 21 votes in the Senate to pass a new map, a veto by Kelly would lead to a scramble for 84 votes in the House and 27 votes in the Senate to secure the supermajority required for a veto override of the governor.

“There are times when legislators will vote for a process and then turn around and vote against the action,” Kelly said. “I would be very surprised if they were able to get that passed with the veto-proof majority.”

The governor said the political appetite for mid-decade redistricting in Kansas resembled that of Indiana, where&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/11/repub/indiana-senate-republicans-reject-trumps-plea-for-gerrymandered-maps/">Republicans recently defeated</a>&nbsp;a push by Trump to change that state’s congressional map.

“The people spoke out very loudly there,” Kelly said. “While we haven’t had people in the rotunda discussing redistricting, all the polling has shown that it’s not popular in Kansas. It’s not something people are interested in. People really want the Legislature to deal with the issues that impact them day-to-day.”

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/08/kansas-legislative-leadership-wobbly-on-redistricting-as-january-session-draws-near/">In a recent interview</a>&nbsp;at a meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council, Masterson said he was confident the Legislature would work through redistricting challenges in the upcoming session.

“We’ll have no trouble for sure passing a new map with majorities,” said Masterson, who is a GOP candidate for governor.

Hawkins, who is seeking the GOP nomination for state insurance commissioner, said he was less confident the Legislature would cobble together the GOP coalition necessary to implement a new congressional map.

Davids, a four-term Democrat serving the Kansas City area, has condemned the attempt by Republicans to cave to special interests demanding mid-decade redistricting in Kansas. The current congressional district boundaries in Kansas were changed in 2022 to reflect population shifts and the GOP’s desire to undercut Davids, but the new approach would seek to weaken Davids’ reelection odds by cutting Johnson County in half.

In anticipation of the remapping battle, the Legislature spent $43,000 to acquire software and training to prepare for redrawing to congressional boundaries.

“It’s outrageous that politicians in Topeka secretly used Kansans’ hard-earned tax dollars to silence the very people footing the bill — all for a map folks haven’t seen and a process they’ve been cut out of,” she said.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansaspublicradio.org/daily-headlines/2025-12-08/headlines-for-monday-december-8-2025" target="_blank">told KMUW</a>&nbsp;the tradition of amending congressional maps once each decade to comply with population changes should be retained in Kansas.

“There’s a bit of fairness that I think ought to be preserved about this issue,” Moran told KMUW. “We have a practice that we’ve utilized for a long period of time. We reapportion at that census moment, and that makes sense to me.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1765981463102.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions from Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter during a Dec. 16, 2025, interview at her office in the Statehouse. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly answers questions from Kansas Reflector senior reporter Tim Carpenter during a Dec. 16, 2025, interview at her office in the Statehouse. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Quest for November special session fell short, but Republicans may try again in January</h2>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly predicted Tuesday the 2026 Legislature wouldn’t muster enough political support to implement a new congressional district map splitting Johnson County and making it easier to defeat Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids in the midterm election.Kelly, the two-term Democrat entering her final year as governor, said the political landscape in Kansas appeared unchanged since House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, conceded in November he lacked enough signatures from Kansas House members to trigger a special session on redistricting.While Hawkins fell about 10 signatures short of the required supermajority needed to convene in special session, enough Kansas Senate Republicans signed a petition to authorize a special session devoted to congressional mapping. The GOP leadership’s objective has been to implement a Kansas map to oust Davids, the state’s lone Democrat in the federal delegation, without threatening the three incumbent Kansas Republicans in Congress.The administration of President Donald Trump urged GOP-led states to gerrymander enough districts so Republicans could remain in control of the U.S. House.Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, said their strategy would be to consider redistricting when the 2026 Legislature convened Jan. 12 for its regular session.“In some ways, I’ll be surprised if they even really bring it up,” Kelly said in an interview with Kansas Reflector. “I don’t think a lot has changed in terms of where legislators stand on the issue.”Kelly said it was interesting Hawkins couldn’t convince the minimum of 84 House members to sign a special session petition, because her years serving as a state senator demonstrated legislators were more inclined to authorize debate on a topic than to vote for an actual bill. While it would take simple majorities of 63 votes in the House and 21 votes in the Senate to pass a new map, a veto by Kelly would lead to a scramble for 84 votes in the House and 27 votes in the Senate to secure the supermajority required for a veto override of the governor.“There are times when legislators will vote for a process and then turn around and vote against the action,” Kelly said. “I would be very surprised if they were able to get that passed with the veto-proof majority.”The governor said the political appetite for mid-decade redistricting in Kansas resembled that of Indiana, where&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/11/repub/indiana-senate-republicans-reject-trumps-plea-for-gerrymandered-maps/">Republicans recently defeated</a>&nbsp;a push by Trump to change that state’s congressional map.“The people spoke out very loudly there,” Kelly said. “While we haven’t had people in the rotunda discussing redistricting, all the polling has shown that it’s not popular in Kansas. It’s not something people are interested in. People really want the Legislature to deal with the issues that impact them day-to-day.”<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/08/kansas-legislative-leadership-wobbly-on-redistricting-as-january-session-draws-near/">In a recent interview</a>&nbsp;at a meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council, Masterson said he was confident the Legislature would work through redistricting challenges in the upcoming session.“We’ll have no trouble for sure passing a new map with majorities,” said Masterson, who is a GOP candidate for governor.Hawkins, who is seeking the GOP nomination for state insurance commissioner, said he was less confident the Legislature would cobble together the GOP coalition necessary to implement a new congressional map.Davids, a four-term Democrat serving the Kansas City area, has condemned the attempt by Republicans to cave to special interests demanding mid-decade redistricting in Kansas. The current congressional district boundaries in Kansas were changed in 2022 to reflect population shifts and the GOP’s desire to undercut Davids, but the new approach would seek to weaken Davids’ reelection odds by cutting Johnson County in half.In anticipation of the remapping battle, the Legislature spent $43,000 to acquire software and training to prepare for redrawing to congressional boundaries.“It’s outrageous that politicians in Topeka secretly used Kansans’ hard-earned tax dollars to silence the very people footing the bill — all for a map folks haven’t seen and a process they’ve been cut out of,” she said.U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansaspublicradio.org/daily-headlines/2025-12-08/headlines-for-monday-december-8-2025" target="_blank">told KMUW</a>&nbsp;the tradition of amending congressional maps once each decade to comply with population changes should be retained in Kansas.“There’s a bit of fairness that I think ought to be preserved about this issue,” Moran told KMUW. “We have a practice that we’ve utilized for a long period of time. We reapportion at that census moment, and that makes sense to me.”

Kan. governor doubtful GOP legislators can pull off congressional redistricting

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/elisha-brown/">Elisha Brown</a>

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning four major retailers about compliance with a recall of infant formula that has been linked to botulism.&nbsp;

Ann Oxenham, the FDA’s top compliance officer for the human foods program, sent letters to Albertsons, Kroger, Target and Walmart Friday about ByHeart Whole Nutrition formula products remaining on some store’s retail shelves as late as Nov. 26.&nbsp;

“These warning letters highlight the critical responsibility that retailers have in effectuating a recall, particularly when dealing with products that pose serious health risks to our most vulnerable populations, such as infants,” the agency said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-action-improve-recall-effectiveness-following-infant-botulism-outbreak-investigation" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;released Monday.&nbsp;

No infant deaths attributed to the outbreak have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/outbreaks-investigations/infant-formula-nov-2025/index.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. At least 51 cases across 19 states resulted in infant hospitalizations as of Dec. 10, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-cdcs-rapid-response-helps-solve-first-infant-botulism-outbreak-linked-to-formula.html" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.

ByHeart issued a recall of the formula on Nov. 8. The company expanded the recall three days later to include all of its products, including unexpired formula cans and single-serve “anywhere pack” sticks, according to an agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-action-improve-recall-effectiveness-following-infant-botulism-outbreak-investigation" target="_blank">news release</a>.&nbsp;

When the agency’s state and local partners made 4,000 visits to retail stores in the weeks after the initial recall, they found the formula stocked at more than 175 locations across 36 states.&nbsp;

“Food safety is a shared responsibility, and it is of utmost importance that all parties in the supply chain act swiftly and vigilantly to protect our nation’s children from unsafe food,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-action-improve-recall-effectiveness-following-infant-botulism-outbreak-investigation" target="_blank">statement</a>.&nbsp;

Botulism in babies occurs when a baby swallows Clostridium botulinum bacteria, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/outbreaks-investigations/infant-formula-nov-2025/index.html" target="_blank">CDC</a>. Symptoms can take weeks to develop, but they include constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control and difficulty swallowing.&nbsp;

The ByHeart formula products were found at Walmart stores in 21 states from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26, according to the FDA warning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/walmart-inc-720400-12122025" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to CEO Doug McMillon.&nbsp;

“As a participant in the supply chain, your firm should take prompt and effective action when notified of a product recall,” Oxenham wrote.&nbsp;

A Walmart spokesperson told States Newsroom that the health and safety of their customers is “always a top priority.”&nbsp;

“When notified of the recall, we moved swiftly to issue a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores and clubs and online. We take all reports of inaction seriously and will respond to the letter,” the spokesperson said.&nbsp;

Even though Target told the FDA that the big-box store put a block on bar codes for cans of ByHeart formula and the single-serve packs on Nov. 11, an investigator found the formula at a New Hampshire location five days later, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/target-corporation-720399-12122025" target="_blank">warning letter</a>.&nbsp;

A larger agency audit discovered the recalled formula was still on Target shelves across 20 states from Nov. 12 to Nov. 20. Associates told state and local FDA partners that they were not aware of the recall or confused about the scope of which products were potentially affected by the contamination, among other explanations.&nbsp;

An auditor even found the single-serve formula packs marked down at an Arkansas Target with a $2 discount weeks after the nationwide recall, the letter states.&nbsp;

Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

The recalled formula was found at several Albertsons stores, including Acme and Safeway, across 11 states from Nov. 12 to Nov. 19, according to an FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/albertsons-companies-incorporated-720465-12122025" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;sent to CEO Susan Morris.

Agency officials had a call with the company’s leadership on Nov. 20 asking for a plan about the issue, but Oxenham wrote that the company did not deliver one.

In a statement provided to States Newsroom, a spokesperson for the company said “they are committed to the health and safety of our customers.”&nbsp;

“We have procedures to address product recalls, including working closely with suppliers and regulators to identify and remove affected items and communicate guidance to customers,” a spokesperson said. “ByHeart infant formula products have been removed from our store shelves.”&nbsp;

The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/kroger-company-720464-12122025" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;to Kroger interim CEO Ronald Sargent on Friday, too, saying that the formula was found at the company’s stores across 10 states “well after the recall was initiated and subsequently expanded.” Kroger did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

ByHeart is issuing refunds for all products purchased on or after Aug. 1 from their website, and parents or caregivers can also get their money back if they purchased the formula from retailers, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://byheart.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopkBi2iv35zHMHcBDwt-rPRyDbkPv4SGFQXfFmeRMyJNPDBwS-C" target="_blank">statement</a>.&nbsp;

The company has had safety issues recently: A Pennsylvania plant closed this year after inspectors found mold, dead insects and a leaking roof in a formula production area,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/health/infant-formula-botulism.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9E8.jBCf.M35fWHv5QoeC&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>&nbsp;reported last month.&nbsp;

Two years ago, a hazardous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/cronobacter-sakazakii" target="_blank">bacterium that can cause sepsis and meningitis in infants</a>&nbsp;was found in a processing area of the same plant and in finished formula shortly after, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/health/infant-formula-botulism.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9E8.jBCf.M35fWHv5QoeC&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">Times</a>.&nbsp;

Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/idaho-infant-hospitalized-suspected-botulism-after-baby-formula-recall" target="_blank">Idaho</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/louisiana-health-officials-say-stop-using-byhealth-baby-formula" target="_blank">Louisiana</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/byheart-baby-formula-linked-13-cases-infant-botulism-including-1-minnesota" target="_blank">Minnesota</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nm-health-department-issues-botulism-warning-over-infant-formula" target="_blank">New Mexico</a>&nbsp;and countless other states have issued warnings about the ByHeart formula recall.

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/major-retailers-slow-remove-recalled-infant-formula-shelves-fda-says" target="_blank">News From The States</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Nebraska Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762681537657.png" alt="FDA image" />
 <figcaption>FDA image</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/elisha-brown/">Elisha Brown</a>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning four major retailers about compliance with a recall of infant formula that has been linked to botulism.&nbsp;Ann Oxenham, the FDA’s top compliance officer for the human foods program, sent letters to Albertsons, Kroger, Target and Walmart Friday about ByHeart Whole Nutrition formula products remaining on some store’s retail shelves as late as Nov. 26.&nbsp;“These warning letters highlight the critical responsibility that retailers have in effectuating a recall, particularly when dealing with products that pose serious health risks to our most vulnerable populations, such as infants,” the agency said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-action-improve-recall-effectiveness-following-infant-botulism-outbreak-investigation" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;released Monday.&nbsp;No infant deaths attributed to the outbreak have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/outbreaks-investigations/infant-formula-nov-2025/index.html" target="_blank">reported</a>. At least 51 cases across 19 states resulted in infant hospitalizations as of Dec. 10, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/2025-cdcs-rapid-response-helps-solve-first-infant-botulism-outbreak-linked-to-formula.html" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>.ByHeart issued a recall of the formula on Nov. 8. The company expanded the recall three days later to include all of its products, including unexpired formula cans and single-serve “anywhere pack” sticks, according to an agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-action-improve-recall-effectiveness-following-infant-botulism-outbreak-investigation" target="_blank">news release</a>.&nbsp;When the agency’s state and local partners made 4,000 visits to retail stores in the weeks after the initial recall, they found the formula stocked at more than 175 locations across 36 states.&nbsp;“Food safety is a shared responsibility, and it is of utmost importance that all parties in the supply chain act swiftly and vigilantly to protect our nation’s children from unsafe food,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-takes-action-improve-recall-effectiveness-following-infant-botulism-outbreak-investigation" target="_blank">statement</a>.&nbsp;Botulism in babies occurs when a baby swallows Clostridium botulinum bacteria, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/outbreaks-investigations/infant-formula-nov-2025/index.html" target="_blank">CDC</a>. Symptoms can take weeks to develop, but they include constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control and difficulty swallowing.&nbsp;The ByHeart formula products were found at Walmart stores in 21 states from Nov. 12 to Nov. 26, according to the FDA warning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/walmart-inc-720400-12122025" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;to CEO Doug McMillon.&nbsp;“As a participant in the supply chain, your firm should take prompt and effective action when notified of a product recall,” Oxenham wrote.&nbsp;A Walmart spokesperson told States Newsroom that the health and safety of their customers is “always a top priority.”&nbsp;“When notified of the recall, we moved swiftly to issue a sales restriction and removed this product from our impacted stores and clubs and online. We take all reports of inaction seriously and will respond to the letter,” the spokesperson said.&nbsp;Even though Target told the FDA that the big-box store put a block on bar codes for cans of ByHeart formula and the single-serve packs on Nov. 11, an investigator found the formula at a New Hampshire location five days later, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/target-corporation-720399-12122025" target="_blank">warning letter</a>.&nbsp;A larger agency audit discovered the recalled formula was still on Target shelves across 20 states from Nov. 12 to Nov. 20. Associates told state and local FDA partners that they were not aware of the recall or confused about the scope of which products were potentially affected by the contamination, among other explanations.&nbsp;An auditor even found the single-serve formula packs marked down at an Arkansas Target with a $2 discount weeks after the nationwide recall, the letter states.&nbsp;Target did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;The recalled formula was found at several Albertsons stores, including Acme and Safeway, across 11 states from Nov. 12 to Nov. 19, according to an FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/albertsons-companies-incorporated-720465-12122025" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;sent to CEO Susan Morris.Agency officials had a call with the company’s leadership on Nov. 20 asking for a plan about the issue, but Oxenham wrote that the company did not deliver one.In a statement provided to States Newsroom, a spokesperson for the company said “they are committed to the health and safety of our customers.”&nbsp;“We have procedures to address product recalls, including working closely with suppliers and regulators to identify and remove affected items and communicate guidance to customers,” a spokesperson said. “ByHeart infant formula products have been removed from our store shelves.”&nbsp;The FDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/inspections-compliance-enforcement-and-criminal-investigations/warning-letters/kroger-company-720464-12122025" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;to Kroger interim CEO Ronald Sargent on Friday, too, saying that the formula was found at the company’s stores across 10 states “well after the recall was initiated and subsequently expanded.” Kroger did not immediately respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;ByHeart is issuing refunds for all products purchased on or after Aug. 1 from their website, and parents or caregivers can also get their money back if they purchased the formula from retailers, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://byheart.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopkBi2iv35zHMHcBDwt-rPRyDbkPv4SGFQXfFmeRMyJNPDBwS-C" target="_blank">statement</a>.&nbsp;The company has had safety issues recently: A Pennsylvania plant closed this year after inspectors found mold, dead insects and a leaking roof in a formula production area,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/health/infant-formula-botulism.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9E8.jBCf.M35fWHv5QoeC&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>&nbsp;reported last month.&nbsp;Two years ago, a hazardous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/cronobacter-sakazakii" target="_blank">bacterium that can cause sepsis and meningitis in infants</a>&nbsp;was found in a processing area of the same plant and in finished formula shortly after, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/health/infant-formula-botulism.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9E8.jBCf.M35fWHv5QoeC&amp;smid=url-share" target="_blank">Times</a>.&nbsp;Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/idaho-infant-hospitalized-suspected-botulism-after-baby-formula-recall" target="_blank">Idaho</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/louisiana-health-officials-say-stop-using-byhealth-baby-formula" target="_blank">Louisiana</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/byheart-baby-formula-linked-13-cases-infant-botulism-including-1-minnesota" target="_blank">Minnesota</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nm-health-department-issues-botulism-warning-over-infant-formula" target="_blank">New Mexico</a>&nbsp;and countless other states have issued warnings about the ByHeart formula recall.This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/major-retailers-slow-remove-recalled-infant-formula-shelves-fda-says" target="_blank">News From The States</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Nebraska Examiner, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

FDA: Major retailers slow to remove recalled infant formula from shelves

Officials are now looking for a person who walked by the person of interest in Brown University mass shooting

By:<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/nancy-lavin/">Nancy Lavin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/janine-weisman/">Janine L. Weisman</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>

Investigators are widening their search as the hunt for the man believed responsible for the Brown University mass shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/15/two-brown-university-students-who-lost-their-lives-in-campus-shooting-identified/">killed two students</a>&nbsp;and injured nine others enters its fifth day.

Providence Police on Wednesday released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.providenceri.gov/tips/" target="_blank">new images</a>&nbsp;of a&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ID-4.png">second person</a>&nbsp;who was walking through the East Side neighborhood at the same time as the suspected shooter on Saturday, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/map.png">a map</a>&nbsp;of a focus area stretching 10 blocks south of the Barus and Holley engineering building where the fatal shooting occurred.

Officials&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/16/investigators-are-counting-on-the-public-to-id-their-person-of-interest-so-far-theyre-getting-it/">are again</a>&nbsp;calling upon the public for help in identifying the second person, shown wearing a dark jacket with a tan sweatshirt underneath, hood pulled up, and carrying a tan bag, believed to have been close to the 5-foot-8 man with a stocky build previously identified as the main “person of interest” in the shooting.

“Videos don’t speak,” Col. Oscar Perez, Providence Police chief, said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “I wish the video could speak, and then I’d have the answers I need.”

Perez declined to answer whether the second person was connected to the person of interest.&nbsp;

Nearly 100 hours have passed since the fatal shooting at the campus engineering building at 4 p.m. Saturday. More than 200 tips, including photo and video evidence from property security systems and vehicle dash cameras, have poured in as local, state, and federal investigators searched for physical evidence in the surrounding neighborhood.

“This is a very intensive investigation,” Perez said. “It’s going to take public assistance. It’s going to take 21st century policing involving technology, but it’s also going to take good old fashioned police work, which is knocking on doors, going through yards.”

Perez said later, “A person is going to get caught. We’re not going to stop until they do.”

The area of focus has expanded beyond the intersection of Ives and Pitman streets, where the gunman was last detected on video footage after the crime, stretching south into Fox Point, almost reaching the Washington Bridge, according to the new map.

“We want to make sure we don’t miss anything,” Perez said.

Concentric circles growing outward is standard practice for investigations, and Perez said the team is ready to follow tips and leads across and beyond state lines, too.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha offered new insight into officials’ decision to keep key details of the investigation under wraps, including videos from inside the building that show students fleeing after the gunman opened fire with what officials have said was a 9 millimeter gun. They have not confirmed whether the weapon has been found.

“These are not facts that advance the investigation,” Neronha said of the video recorded inside Barus and Holley showing students fleeing. “As we interview witnesses, we don’t want them to learn facts from these press conferences. We’re being careful about the facts that we are sharing for that reason.”

The collaboration of nine federal agencies and state and local investigators appears somewhat disjointed, with the FBI releasing videos and images separately from Providence police on Tuesday. Yet officials presented a united front, stressing teamwork and partnership, including with Brown University.

University officials faced more questions from reporters Wednesday about the lack of camera footage in the part of the academic building where the shooting took place at the end of a review session for an economics final. University Provost Francis Doyle in response said that all evidence had been turned over to law enforcement, while noting that it would be “counterproductive” to reveal the locations of the university’s 1,200 camera security system.

The vacuum of information and images has left the&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/a-community-in-grief-gathers-to-hold-light-in-one-of-providences-darkest-times/">capital city on edge</a>&nbsp;and fueled speculation and misinformation on social media. Brown in a statement Tuesday night warned about harmful doxxing activity toward at least one member of the university.

“Accusations, speculation and conspiracies we’re seeing on social media and in some news reports are irresponsible, harmful, and in some cases dangerous for the safety of individuals in our community” the university said. “It is not unusual as a safety measure to take steps to protect an individual’s safety when this kind of activity happens, including in regard to their online presence.

Mayor Brett Smiley cautioned against AI-generated images being circulated online. Officials have created an online repository of verified photos and videos of the suspect, the second person, and the map area, available on the&nbsp;<a href="http://providenceri.gov/tips" target="_blank">city website</a>.

No additional updates are expected until Thursday when another briefing is scheduled for 4 p.m., Smiley said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766058464325.png" alt="Providence Police on Wednesday released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.providenceri.gov/tips/" target="_blank">new images</a>&nbsp;of a&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ID-4.png">second person</a>&nbsp;who was walking through the East Side neighborhood at the same time as the suspected shooter-Photo Providence Police" />
 <figcaption>Providence Police on Wednesday released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.providenceri.gov/tips/" target="_blank">new images</a>&nbsp;of a&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ID-4.png">second person</a>&nbsp;who was walking through the East Side neighborhood at the same time as the suspected shooter-Photo Providence Police</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Officials are now looking for a person who walked by the person of interest in Brown University mass shooting</h2>By:<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/nancy-lavin/">Nancy Lavin</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/author/janine-weisman/">Janine L. Weisman</a> <a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/">Rhode Island Current</a>Investigators are widening their search as the hunt for the man believed responsible for the Brown University mass shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/15/two-brown-university-students-who-lost-their-lives-in-campus-shooting-identified/">killed two students</a>&nbsp;and injured nine others enters its fifth day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1766058449910.png" alt="Providence police released this image of a person who walked by the person of interest on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Courtesy of Providence Police)" />
 <figcaption>Providence police released this image of a person who walked by the person of interest on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Courtesy of Providence Police)</figcaption>
 </figure>Providence Police on Wednesday released&nbsp;<a href="https://www.providenceri.gov/tips/" target="_blank">new images</a>&nbsp;of a&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ID-4.png">second person</a>&nbsp;who was walking through the East Side neighborhood at the same time as the suspected shooter on Saturday, along with&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/map.png">a map</a>&nbsp;of a focus area stretching 10 blocks south of the Barus and Holley engineering building where the fatal shooting occurred.Officials&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/16/investigators-are-counting-on-the-public-to-id-their-person-of-interest-so-far-theyre-getting-it/">are again</a>&nbsp;calling upon the public for help in identifying the second person, shown wearing a dark jacket with a tan sweatshirt underneath, hood pulled up, and carrying a tan bag, believed to have been close to the 5-foot-8 man with a stocky build previously identified as the main “person of interest” in the shooting.“Videos don’t speak,” Col. Oscar Perez, Providence Police chief, said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. “I wish the video could speak, and then I’d have the answers I need.”Perez declined to answer whether the second person was connected to the person of interest.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">ENHANCED VIDEO: We are releasing an enhanced video of the person of interest in the Brown University incident. Footage was captured on the East Side of Providence on Saturday afternoon before the incident. Please share widely and contact the official tip line if you have… <a href="https://t.co/mewBSflOiO">pic.twitter.com/mewBSflOiO</a>&mdash; Providence Police (@ProvidenceRIPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProvidenceRIPD/status/2001035754898653196?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Nearly 100 hours have passed since the fatal shooting at the campus engineering building at 4 p.m. Saturday. More than 200 tips, including photo and video evidence from property security systems and vehicle dash cameras, have poured in as local, state, and federal investigators searched for physical evidence in the surrounding neighborhood.“This is a very intensive investigation,” Perez said. “It’s going to take public assistance. It’s going to take 21st century policing involving technology, but it’s also going to take good old fashioned police work, which is knocking on doors, going through yards.”Perez said later, “A person is going to get caught. We’re not going to stop until they do.”The area of focus has expanded beyond the intersection of Ives and Pitman streets, where the gunman was last detected on video footage after the crime, stretching south into Fox Point, almost reaching the Washington Bridge, according to the new map.“We want to make sure we don’t miss anything,” Perez said.<h2>Expanding circles</h2>Concentric circles growing outward is standard practice for investigations, and Perez said the team is ready to follow tips and leads across and beyond state lines, too.Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha offered new insight into officials’ decision to keep key details of the investigation under wraps, including videos from inside the building that show students fleeing after the gunman opened fire with what officials have said was a 9 millimeter gun. They have not confirmed whether the weapon has been found.“These are not facts that advance the investigation,” Neronha said of the video recorded inside Barus and Holley showing students fleeing. “As we interview witnesses, we don’t want them to learn facts from these press conferences. We’re being careful about the facts that we are sharing for that reason.”The collaboration of nine federal agencies and state and local investigators appears somewhat disjointed, with the FBI releasing videos and images separately from Providence police on Tuesday. Yet officials presented a united front, stressing teamwork and partnership, including with Brown University.University officials faced more questions from reporters Wednesday about the lack of camera footage in the part of the academic building where the shooting took place at the end of a review session for an economics final. University Provost Francis Doyle in response said that all evidence had been turned over to law enforcement, while noting that it would be “counterproductive” to reveal the locations of the university’s 1,200 camera security system.The vacuum of information and images has left the&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2025/12/14/a-community-in-grief-gathers-to-hold-light-in-one-of-providences-darkest-times/">capital city on edge</a>&nbsp;and fueled speculation and misinformation on social media. Brown in a statement Tuesday night warned about harmful doxxing activity toward at least one member of the university.“Accusations, speculation and conspiracies we’re seeing on social media and in some news reports are irresponsible, harmful, and in some cases dangerous for the safety of individuals in our community” the university said. “It is not unusual as a safety measure to take steps to protect an individual’s safety when this kind of activity happens, including in regard to their online presence.Mayor Brett Smiley cautioned against AI-generated images being circulated online. Officials have created an online repository of verified photos and videos of the suspect, the second person, and the map area, available on the&nbsp;<a href="http://providenceri.gov/tips" target="_blank">city website</a>.No additional updates are expected until Thursday when another briefing is scheduled for 4 p.m., Smiley said.

Still no name, motive or weapon: Brown University manhunt continues

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

Josh Moore is the new director of MO HealthNet Division, taking over the agency that administers Missouri’s Medicaid program, according to a press release from the state’s social services department Wednesday.&nbsp;

Moore, who has served since 2019 as MO HealthNet’s pharmacy director, succeeds Todd Richardson, the former Missouri House speaker who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-medicaid-director-slated-to-step-down-after-seven-years-in-post/">resigned</a>&nbsp;from his role in October after seven years in the job.

Moore’s appointment comes as MO HealthNet and the state’s social services department prepare to implement Medicaid eligibility changes passed by Congress in July as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Work requirements and twice-yearly eligibility recertifications beginning in 2027 could cause&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">130,000</a>&nbsp;of the 1.25 million Missourians currently on Medicaid to lose coverage, according to one Princeton University estimate.

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/squinn/">STEPH QUINN&nbsp;</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Josh Moore is the new director of MO HealthNet Division, taking over the agency that administers Missouri’s Medicaid program, according to a press release from the state’s social services department Wednesday.&nbsp;Moore, who has served since 2019 as MO HealthNet’s pharmacy director, succeeds Todd Richardson, the former Missouri House speaker who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-medicaid-director-slated-to-step-down-after-seven-years-in-post/">resigned</a>&nbsp;from his role in October after seven years in the job.Moore’s appointment comes as MO HealthNet and the state’s social services department prepare to implement Medicaid eligibility changes passed by Congress in July as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Work requirements and twice-yearly eligibility recertifications beginning in 2027 could cause&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">130,000</a>&nbsp;of the 1.25 million Missourians currently on Medicaid to lose coverage, according to one Princeton University estimate.Gov. Mike Kehoe and Jess Bax, director of the department, praised Moore’s experience in the press release and emphasized a need for MO HealthNet’s sustainability.“With his experience and proven leadership,” Kehoe said, “we are confident he will strengthen access, improve outcomes and ensure the program’s long-term sustainability.”Bax said Moore’s policy expertise and “leadership across state and federal partners” will “strengthen healthcare access statewide while better serving our most vulnerable populations.”The new federal requirements are expected to come with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/2025-10/PL-119-21-Medicaid%20_0.pdf" target="_blank">over $900 billion</a>&nbsp;in cuts to Medicaid nationwide over the next decade. Missouri could lose 14% of its federal Medicaid funding, somewhere between $11 and $18 billion over 10 years, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/allocating-cbos-estimates-of-federal-medicaid-spending-reductions-across-the-states-enacted-reconciliation-package/?utm_campaign=kff-medicaid&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;_hsenc=p2anqtz-_zm3lwumkl5wy2haxviaaes4e09yijxwjzzroomznoqveahlvn9mqj7soof2xs2eoftsce61g-s7aipaiw_kocyl4x0g&amp;_hsmi=369561629&amp;utm_content=369561629" target="_blank">KFF</a>.As pharmacy director, Moore’s responsibilities included developing policies for drug reimbursement and criteria for doctors to approve medications for prior authorization.&nbsp;Moore’s tenure as pharmacy director has seen state&nbsp;<a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/no-quick-fix-missouri-finds-managing-pain-without-opioids-isnt-fast-or-easy/" target="_blank">efforts</a>&nbsp;to provide alternatives to opioids in pain management, the COVID-19 pandemic and the introduction of GLP-1 therapies in obesity care. In October, Moore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ajmc.com/view/innovative-payment-models-holistic-medicaid-approaches-could-improve-glp-1-access-outcomes" target="_blank">presented</a>&nbsp;at the annual meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus on the potential for GLP-1s to reduce heart attacks, surgeries and emergency room visits in the long term.&nbsp;He has also served on Missouri’s Psychotropic Medication Advisory Committee, which advises the department on the use of these medications for youth in foster care.Moore said he is “honored to serve Missouri in this role.”“I look forward to working with our dedicated team, partners and stakeholders,” he said, “to strengthen access to care, ensure fiscal stewardship and improve health outcomes for Missourians who rely on the state’s Medicaid program.”