KANSAS CITY—One person died in a house fire Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 8a.m., crews responded to a reported house fire in the 3200 block of E 26th Street, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. 

On arrival crews reported smoke from the front of a single-story home. Fire crews found a victim during a search of the home. The victim is a man approximately in his mid-fifties, according to Hopkins.&nbsp; The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead at the hospital. 

KCPD Bomb and Arson have been requested to the scene and will conduct the investigation due to the fatality and as a part of&nbsp; standard procedure. 

Dangerous buildings and city planning have also been requested. No other injuries were reported at this incident. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764712570895.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—One person died in a house fire Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.Just before 8a.m., crews responded to a reported house fire in the 3200 block of E 26th Street, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. On arrival crews reported smoke from the front of a single-story home. Fire crews found a victim during a search of the home. The victim is a man approximately in his mid-fifties, according to Hopkins.&nbsp; The victim was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and pronounced dead at the hospital. KCPD Bomb and Arson have been requested to the scene and will conduct the investigation due to the fatality and as a part of&nbsp; standard procedure. Dangerous buildings and city planning have also been requested. No other injuries were reported at this incident. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Man dies after found in Kansas City house fire

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Pornography sites that wish to operate in Missouri must now verify that users are adults before granting access to explicit content, under a new rule that went into effect Monday.&nbsp;

The change caused the porn industry’s largest website, Pornhub, to block access &nbsp;in Missouri, issuing a statement calling the new rule ineffective and a potential risk to user privacy.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who took over the policy after it was initiated by her predecessor, celebrated the news, calling Pornhub’s decision proof that the rule is needed.

“If a billion-dollar corporation would rather leave Missouri than verify that children are not accessing graphic sexual content,” she said, “that tells you everything you need to know about its priorities.”

It’s already illegal to show children pornography under federal law, however it’s rarely enforced. Various measures exist to verify a person’s age online, such as uploading a government ID or consent to facial recognition software.

The new Missouri rule requires any commercial website or platform to implement some form of age-verification measure if at least a third of the content it offers is pornographic. Platforms that refuse to comply are subject to penalties, injunctive relief, and enforcement actions for engaging in unfair and deceptive practices.

“If you want to operate in Missouri, you must prove your users are adults,” Hanaway said. “If that is too much to ask, then you will not operate here,”&nbsp;

In September, a trade association representing the adult entertainment industry told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_fe4edd38-a70e-4253-bcb0-38e8f7454a86.html" target="_blank">considering a legal challenge to the rule</a>, since they were created outside the legislative process.&nbsp;

The legislature has tried to pass age-verification laws, with little success.&nbsp;

A bill nearly identical to the new rule received initial approval from the Missouri House in February but was never brought up for a final vote in the chamber.&nbsp;

The bill faced criticism that it would ultimately do more harm than good by driving traffic to lesser-known sites that don’t comply with the law and have fewer&nbsp;safeguards and rules around adult content than Pornhub. The law is also hard to enforce since users can turn to VPNs, which connect a computer to a server in a different part of the world to make it look like it is located somewhere other than where it actually is.

Privacy is another concern raised by critics of age verification laws, arguing that&nbsp;it is impossible to ensure websites aren’t retaining user data in a way that makes it susceptible to exposure. The regulations could also lead to censorship, critics warn, specifically regarding information about sexuality.&nbsp;

Pornhub has called for user ages to be verified at the device level, perhaps through the app stores managed by Apple and Google.

“While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting users,” Pornhub said in its statement, “and in fact, it will put children and your privacy at risk.”

Hanaway said Pornhub is “welcome to leave Missouri.”

“What is not welcome,” she said, “is any company that puts profit above the safety of our children,”

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Pornography sites that wish to operate in Missouri must now verify that users are adults before granting access to explicit content, under a new rule that went into effect Monday.&nbsp;The change caused the porn industry’s largest website, Pornhub, to block access &nbsp;in Missouri, issuing a statement calling the new rule ineffective and a potential risk to user privacy.Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who took over the policy after it was initiated by her predecessor, celebrated the news, calling Pornhub’s decision proof that the rule is needed.“If a billion-dollar corporation would rather leave Missouri than verify that children are not accessing graphic sexual content,” she said, “that tells you everything you need to know about its priorities.”It’s already illegal to show children pornography under federal law, however it’s rarely enforced. Various measures exist to verify a person’s age online, such as uploading a government ID or consent to facial recognition software.The new Missouri rule requires any commercial website or platform to implement some form of age-verification measure if at least a third of the content it offers is pornographic. Platforms that refuse to comply are subject to penalties, injunctive relief, and enforcement actions for engaging in unfair and deceptive practices.“If you want to operate in Missouri, you must prove your users are adults,” Hanaway said. “If that is too much to ask, then you will not operate here,”&nbsp;In September, a trade association representing the adult entertainment industry told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that it was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_fe4edd38-a70e-4253-bcb0-38e8f7454a86.html" target="_blank">considering a legal challenge to the rule</a>, since they were created outside the legislative process.&nbsp;The legislature has tried to pass age-verification laws, with little success.&nbsp;A bill nearly identical to the new rule received initial approval from the Missouri House in February but was never brought up for a final vote in the chamber.&nbsp;The bill faced criticism that it would ultimately do more harm than good by driving traffic to lesser-known sites that don’t comply with the law and have fewer&nbsp;safeguards and rules around adult content than Pornhub. The law is also hard to enforce since users can turn to VPNs, which connect a computer to a server in a different part of the world to make it look like it is located somewhere other than where it actually is.Privacy is another concern raised by critics of age verification laws, arguing that&nbsp;it is impossible to ensure websites aren’t retaining user data in a way that makes it susceptible to exposure. The regulations could also lead to censorship, critics warn, specifically regarding information about sexuality.&nbsp;Pornhub has called for user ages to be verified at the device level, perhaps through the app stores managed by Apple and Google.“While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting users,” Pornhub said in its statement, “and in fact, it will put children and your privacy at risk.”Hanaway said Pornhub is “welcome to leave Missouri.”“What is not welcome,” she said, “is any company that puts profit above the safety of our children,”

New age verification rule causes Pornhub to shut down access in Missouri

MCPHERSON COUNTY—Businesses and homes in portions of McPherson have been evacuated after a&nbsp;hazardous material leak in the community.

Just after 9a.m. Tuesday, McPherson County 911 received call reporting an overturned semi-truck leaking hazardous fluid, according to Fire Chief Chad Mayberry.

 The fluid has been identified as Hydrochloric Acid. The semi-truck was hauling 34,000lb of the fluid. As of noon, officials did not know the quantity spilled.

All residents and businesses in the area have been evacuated and roads near the intersection of Kansas and Old 81. Streets closed for a mile in each&nbsp; direction. The closures include.

 The truck driver self-extricated from the semi-truck and was evaluated at the scene by McPherson EMS and refused treatment and transport. 

McPherson Fire Department Hazmat Team has made entry to the semi-truck and placed booms around a storm drain to prevent the leaking acid from entering the sewage system. An environmental remediation contractor is en-route to the scene to handle the clean-up and removal of the spilled product.&nbsp; There are no reports of injury.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764701824032.png" alt="Photo McPherson County Fire" />
 <figcaption>Photo McPherson County Fire</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY—Businesses and homes in portions of McPherson have been evacuated after a&nbsp;hazardous material leak in the community.Just after 9a.m. Tuesday, McPherson County 911 received call reporting an overturned semi-truck leaking hazardous fluid, according to Fire Chief Chad Mayberry. The fluid has been identified as Hydrochloric Acid. The semi-truck was hauling 34,000lb of the fluid. As of noon, officials did not know the quantity spilled.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764701800784.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>All residents and businesses in the area have been evacuated and roads near the intersection of Kansas and Old 81. Streets closed for a mile in each&nbsp; direction. The closures include.<ol>
 <li>Highway 56 at 8th Avenue</li><li>Kansas Avenue at Hickory&nbsp;</li><li>Old Highway 81 at the 153 Spur from K-61</li><li>Old Highway 81 at First Avenue</li>
 </ol> The truck driver self-extricated from the semi-truck and was evaluated at the scene by McPherson EMS and refused treatment and transport. McPherson Fire Department Hazmat Team has made entry to the semi-truck and placed booms around a storm drain to prevent the leaking acid from entering the sewage system. An environmental remediation contractor is en-route to the scene to handle the clean-up and removal of the spilled product.&nbsp; There are no reports of injury.

Hydrochloric acid spill leads to evacuations in McPherson

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026, according to a media release from the TSA.

Travelers will be able to pay $45 to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period. TSA urges travelers who do not have a REAL ID to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible.

All travelers without an acceptable ID, including those who present a non-REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license or ID, will be referred to the optional TSA Confirm.ID process for identity verification upon TSA check-in and prior to entering the security line. This process will differ airport to airport, and TSA is working with private industry to proactively offer online payment options prior to arrival at the airport.

The REAL ID law was signed more than 20 years ago, but previous presidential administrations failed to properly implement it. Under President Trump’s leadership, the law was finally implemented and enforced by Secretary Kristi Noem as of May 7, 2025.

Currently, more than 94% of passengers already use their REAL ID or other acceptable forms of identification.&nbsp;TSA expects increased wait times for passengers who do not provide an acceptable ID.

“Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems such as rail,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA Adam Stahl. “The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are. Beginning February 1, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID at our security checkpoints and still want to fly can pay a $45 fee and undergo the TSA Confirm.ID process. This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer. The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights.”

TSA urges all travelers who do not have a REAL ID to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers who arrive at the airport without paying the fee, information about how to pay for the TSA Confirm.ID option will be available at marked locations at or near the checkpoint in most airports. Travelers who undergo TSA Confirm.ID processing at an airport should expect delays. &nbsp;&nbsp;

TSA’s list of acceptable forms of ID can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tsa.gov%2Ftravel%2Fsecurity-screening%2Fidentification/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/OolXH2EJrqwNHp8pKwLnzpPoLnVSLa90uiGmDJ_m-Hs=433" target="_blank">TSA.gov/travel/security-screening/identification</a>.

For more information on REAL ID, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tsa.gov%2Freal-id/2/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/rlIgRwnDC3uSOyUcWNwGNdpedz0TxGUsS1KTWjAvEcY=433" target="_blank">TSA.gov/real-id</a>&nbsp;or text 275-872 (“AskTSA”) or&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fx.com%2FAskTSA/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/XvKffNzS8IXJ4xe-y1peIboZCAJl7_cg6SQCb5jM5n8=433">@AskTSA</a>&nbsp;with questions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764636170272.png" alt="Real ID -photo KCI" />
 <figcaption>Real ID -photo KCI</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;– The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced today that it will refer all passengers who do not present an acceptable form of ID and still want to fly an option to pay a $45 fee to use a modernized alternative identity verification system, TSA Confirm.ID, to establish identity at security checkpoints beginning on February 1, 2026, according to a media release from the TSA.Travelers will be able to pay $45 to use TSA Confirm.ID for a 10-day travel period. TSA urges travelers who do not have a REAL ID to schedule an appointment at their local DMV to update their ID as soon as possible.Acceptable forms of ID include:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tsa.gov%2Freal-id/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/WDYagsF_q2ZnJz9Pg_z9jbEWD0vyCJOgUmyJ0lY23lM=433">REAL ID</a>-compliant driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)</li><li>If you are not sure if your ID complies with REAL ID, check with your state Department of Motor Vehicles.</li><li>A temporary driver’s license is not an acceptable form of identification.</li><li>State-issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) or Enhanced ID (EID)</li><li><a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Ftravel.state.gov%2Fcontent%2Ftravel%2Fen%2Fpassports.html/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/DcixX7IgNLMrahll1IM8m7IKRalC57koKuBiR1HFe3s=433">U.S. passport</a></li><li><a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Ftravel.state.gov%2Fcontent%2Ftravel%2Fen%2Fpassports%2Fneed-passport%2Fcard.html/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/2rqVGIsFCRyG_7doKiIekytKvboeVp86mbnum1hsHRM=433">U.S. passport card</a></li><li>DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)</li><li>U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents</li><li>Permanent resident card</li><li>Border crossing card</li><li>An acceptable photo ID issued by a&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2021%2F01%2F29%2F2021-01606%2Findian-entities-recognized-by-and-eligible-to-receive-services-from-the-united-states-bureau-of/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/_tboMwFfofecM3DEMNqmD_nDIMATmi8_XCjI1NPoteo=433">federally recognized</a>&nbsp;Tribal Nation/Indian Tribe, including Enhanced Tribal Cards (ETCs)</li><li>HSPD-12 PIV card</li><li>Foreign government-issued passport</li><li>Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card</li><li>Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)</li><li>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)</li><li>U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential</li><li>Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)</li>
 </ul>All travelers without an acceptable ID, including those who present a non-REAL ID-compliant state driver’s license or ID, will be referred to the optional TSA Confirm.ID process for identity verification upon TSA check-in and prior to entering the security line. This process will differ airport to airport, and TSA is working with private industry to proactively offer online payment options prior to arrival at the airport.The REAL ID law was signed more than 20 years ago, but previous presidential administrations failed to properly implement it. Under President Trump’s leadership, the law was finally implemented and enforced by Secretary Kristi Noem as of May 7, 2025.Currently, more than 94% of passengers already use their REAL ID or other acceptable forms of identification.&nbsp;TSA expects increased wait times for passengers who do not provide an acceptable ID.“Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems such as rail,” said Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA Adam Stahl. “The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are. Beginning February 1, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID at our security checkpoints and still want to fly can pay a $45 fee and undergo the TSA Confirm.ID process. This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer. The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights.”TSA urges all travelers who do not have a REAL ID to pay the fee online before traveling. For passengers who arrive at the airport without paying the fee, information about how to pay for the TSA Confirm.ID option will be available at marked locations at or near the checkpoint in most airports. Travelers who undergo TSA Confirm.ID processing at an airport should expect delays. &nbsp;&nbsp;TSA’s list of acceptable forms of ID can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tsa.gov%2Ftravel%2Fsecurity-screening%2Fidentification/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/OolXH2EJrqwNHp8pKwLnzpPoLnVSLa90uiGmDJ_m-Hs=433" target="_blank">TSA.gov/travel/security-screening/identification</a>.For more information on REAL ID, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.tsa.gov%2Freal-id/2/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/rlIgRwnDC3uSOyUcWNwGNdpedz0TxGUsS1KTWjAvEcY=433" target="_blank">TSA.gov/real-id</a>&nbsp;or text 275-872 (“AskTSA”) or&nbsp;<a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fx.com%2FAskTSA/1/0101019adaed595c-96865191-bcc2-43a1-965f-d5ac642ae099-000000/XvKffNzS8IXJ4xe-y1peIboZCAJl7_cg6SQCb5jM5n8=433">@AskTSA</a>&nbsp;with questions.

US air travelers without REAL IDs will soon be charged a hefty fee

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a missing persons case say it is now a homicide investigation.

The victim, according to Independence police, Elayjah Murray, was reported missing on Nov. 28. Police learned Murray had possibly been shot. He was found dead in South Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday.

Police want to speak with 28-year-old Eric Phillips II in connection with the homicide investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764469003746.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a missing persons case say it is now a homicide investigation.The victim, according to Independence police, Elayjah Murray, was reported missing on Nov. 28. Police learned Murray had possibly been shot. He was found dead in South Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday.Police want to speak with 28-year-old Eric Phillips II in connection with the homicide investigation.

Search continues: Missing person case now KC homicide investigation

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The State of Kansas ends November 2025 with total tax collections at $687.0 million. That is $1.9 million, or 0.3%, below the estimate. Total tax collections were up 1.7% from November 2024, according to a media release from the governor's office.

Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FKSOG%2F2025%2F12%2F01%2Ffile_attachments%2F3477830%2F05_November_Revenue_FY2026_12-01-2025_Final.pdf/1/0101019adb79f0c5-7a9f1fbe-6801-41de-a747-3369c8ea9658-000000/kNcVtjhbLgOnlnkMo6TKHmxoELownFjgIxcTnGG8mmg=433">here</a>&nbsp;to view the November 2025 revenue numbers.

“November’s tax collections were nearly on target overall. While individual income tax collections were up, corporate income tax collections were again below estimates and significantly below November 2024 levels,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“As I develop my next budget proposal I am not considering just Fiscal Year 2027, I am also looking on to the out-years to keep our state on solid financial footing.”

Individual income tax collections were $368.5 million. That is $7.9 million, or 2.2% above the estimate. Individual income tax collections were up 9.9% from November 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $18.7 million. That is $968,253, or 4.9% below the estimate, and down 23.5% from November 2024.

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $276.2 million, which is $9.0 million, or 3.1% below the estimate, and down 3.9% from November 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The State of Kansas ends November 2025 with total tax collections at $687.0 million. That is $1.9 million, or 0.3%, below the estimate. Total tax collections were up 1.7% from November 2024, according to a media release from the governor's office.Click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fcontent.govdelivery.com%2Fattachments%2FKSOG%2F2025%2F12%2F01%2Ffile_attachments%2F3477830%2F05_November_Revenue_FY2026_12-01-2025_Final.pdf/1/0101019adb79f0c5-7a9f1fbe-6801-41de-a747-3369c8ea9658-000000/kNcVtjhbLgOnlnkMo6TKHmxoELownFjgIxcTnGG8mmg=433">here</a>&nbsp;to view the November 2025 revenue numbers.“November’s tax collections were nearly on target overall. While individual income tax collections were up, corporate income tax collections were again below estimates and significantly below November 2024 levels,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“As I develop my next budget proposal I am not considering just Fiscal Year 2027, I am also looking on to the out-years to keep our state on solid financial footing.”Individual income tax collections were $368.5 million. That is $7.9 million, or 2.2% above the estimate. Individual income tax collections were up 9.9% from November 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $18.7 million. That is $968,253, or 4.9% below the estimate, and down 23.5% from November 2024.Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $276.2 million, which is $9.0 million, or 3.1% below the estimate, and down 3.9% from November 2024. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Governor: Not great news in Kan. November tax collection report

ALLEN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Monday in Allen County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reporrted a 2015 Ford F150 driven by Jerri Linn Francis, 58, Chanute, was southbound on U.S. 169 just east of 150th Street. The pickup crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2019 GMC Sierra driven by Rogers II, Charles Edward&nbsp; Rogers II, 19, Iola, head-on.

Francis was pronounced at the scene. EMS transported Rogers to Wesley Medical Center. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the crash, according to the KHP.

ALLEN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Monday in Allen County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reporrted a 2015 Ford F150 driven by Jerri Linn Francis, 58, Chanute, was southbound on U.S. 169 just east of 150th Street. The pickup crossed the center line and struck a northbound 2019 GMC Sierra driven by Rogers II, Charles Edward&nbsp; Rogers II, 19, Iola, head-on.Francis was pronounced at the scene. EMS transported Rogers to Wesley Medical Center. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the crash, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman killed in head-on pickup crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy is in jail on felony charges out of St. Charles County, Missouri.

On Sunday, Derby police conducted a traffic stop on Deputy Kadin Scritchfield, 20, of Derby, for an alleged traffic violation. During the stop, officers confirmed Scritchfield had an active felony warrant, according to sheriff's department spokesman Branden Stitt.

Scritchfield was taken into custody on allegations of Threatening Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images and First-Degree Harassment from an incident reported in December 2024.

Although the allegations against Scritchfield are reported to have occurred in December 2024, the felony warrant was not signed by a St. Charles County judge until Oct. 1, 2025.

The deputy completed a full background investigation before being hired in August 2025 and had already entered the training academy prior to the issuance of the warrant, according to the sheriff's office. At the time of the background check, Scritchfield did not have any active warrants and was not listed as a suspect in any case.

The Sheriff’s Office was not notified of the Missouri charges or the warrant when it was issued in October. Sedgwick County officials first became aware of the situation during the deputy’s arrest on Sunday.

All applicants are required to report any law enforcement contact during the hiring and background investigation process. The deputy did not report any law enforcement contact related to this matter, as required by policy.

Scritchfield joined the Sheriff’s Office as a probationary employee in September 2025. His employment has since been terminated.

Scritchfield is being held without bond in the Sedgwick County Jail pending extradition to Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764607289893.png" alt="Scritchfield photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Scritchfield photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy is in jail on felony charges out of St. Charles County, Missouri.On Sunday, Derby police conducted a traffic stop on Deputy Kadin Scritchfield, 20, of Derby, for an alleged traffic violation. During the stop, officers confirmed Scritchfield had an active felony warrant, according to sheriff's department spokesman Branden Stitt.Scritchfield was taken into custody on allegations of Threatening Nonconsensual Dissemination of Private Sexual Images and First-Degree Harassment from an incident reported in December 2024.Although the allegations against Scritchfield are reported to have occurred in December 2024, the felony warrant was not signed by a St. Charles County judge until Oct. 1, 2025.The deputy completed a full background investigation before being hired in August 2025 and had already entered the training academy prior to the issuance of the warrant, according to the sheriff's office. At the time of the background check, Scritchfield did not have any active warrants and was not listed as a suspect in any case.The Sheriff’s Office was not notified of the Missouri charges or the warrant when it was issued in October. Sedgwick County officials first became aware of the situation during the deputy’s arrest on Sunday.All applicants are required to report any law enforcement contact during the hiring and background investigation process. The deputy did not report any law enforcement contact related to this matter, as required by policy.Scritchfield joined the Sheriff’s Office as a probationary employee in September 2025. His employment has since been terminated.Scritchfield is being held without bond in the Sedgwick County Jail pending extradition to Missouri.

Man was wanted in Missouri when he was hired as Kan. jail deputy

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Donald J. Trump&#39;s Advanced Imaging Results: &quot;His cardiovascular system shows excellent health... and confirms that he remains at excellent overall health.&quot; — Capt Sean P. Barbabella, D.O. Physician to the President <a href="https://t.co/WJxdZEBUFS">pic.twitter.com/WJxdZEBUFS</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1995569253748211743?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764616418997.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Read the report: President Trump shares his MRI results

SALINE COUNTY —An electrical issue caused a rural Kansas house fire on Sunday.&nbsp;

Just after 10a.m., the owner of a home in the&nbsp;400 block of West 2nd Street in Brookville heard a popping sound coming from a breaker box, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

Reportedly, the 39-year old male owner of the home reported he was in his house and suddenly heard a "popping sound." The man went to check his breaker box in a utility room and noticed sparks and smoke.

Rural Fire District #5 responded to the scene and found fire coming from the attic. Firefighters needed to break down parts of the ceiling in order to successfully extinguish the fire. There was smoke and water damage to the house and its contents. There were no injuries, according to Soldan.

 Value of the home is about a $140,000 not including personal property that was damaged, according to soldan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764612691693.jpeg" alt="Brookville house fire on Sunday, November 30. Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office" />
 <figcaption>Brookville house fire on Sunday, November 30. Photo Saline County Sheriff's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY —An electrical issue caused a rural Kansas house fire on Sunday.&nbsp;Just after 10a.m., the owner of a home in the&nbsp;400 block of West 2nd Street in Brookville heard a popping sound coming from a breaker box, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764614442814.png" alt="Photo Saline Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Saline Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Reportedly, the 39-year old male owner of the home reported he was in his house and suddenly heard a "popping sound." The man went to check his breaker box in a utility room and noticed sparks and smoke.Rural Fire District #5 responded to the scene and found fire coming from the attic. Firefighters needed to break down parts of the ceiling in order to successfully extinguish the fire. There was smoke and water damage to the house and its contents. There were no injuries, according to Soldan. Value of the home is about a $140,000 not including personal property that was damaged, according to soldan.

Crews remove portion of roof to extinguish rural Kan. house fire

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

TOPEKA — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Topeka’s St. Francis hospital have failed to reach a contract agreement, leaving insurance customers out of network beginning Jan. 1 for one of Topeka’s major health care systems.

Officials with both organizations say discussions are ongoing. The current contract ends Dec. 31.

“We’re having productive talks,” said Matt All, president and CEO of BCBS of Kansas. “It’s a little complicated because they have an out-of-state owner, so we’re not just talking to people here on the ground.”

“I’m not in the business of making predictions, but our expectation is that we’ll work this out and that they’ll be in network,” he added.

Topeka’s St. Francis campus is owned by Ardent Health, which manages operations, and the University of Kansas Health System. Ardent is based in Brentwood, Tennessee.

People covered by BCBS of Kansas have been posting social media messages, upset about the possible loss of their doctors.

“I refuse to abandon my primary care provider whom I trust with my care, so Blue Cross Blue Shield just lost another customer,” said Topekan Carol Baldwin on her personal Facebook page.

In an emailed statement to Kansas Reflector, hospital officials said: “The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus is committed to protecting access to high-quality care for our community. We have made repeated efforts to engage directly with senior decision-makers at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair resolution.”

Rising costs in health care are causing the challenge in reaching agreement, both sides said. For All, the discussions are indicative of broader problems throughout the health care system.

“We are seeking an agreement that reimburses St. Francis Campus at rates consistent with rising costs due to inflation and supply chain pressures,” the hospital’s statement said. “Equitable reimbursement rates are critical to supporting the high-quality care that our patients deserve.”

All said BCBS, which is a mutual nonprofit that is created to benefit its members, must negotiate so that reimbursements to the hospital are reasonable and don’t translate into premiums that members can’t afford.

“For the whole 19 years I’ve been with Blue Cross, and basically our whole history, we’ve had every hospital in our service area in network, and we want St. Francis in network,” he said.

There are many good things about the country’s health care, All said, but the availability of resources isn’t evenly spread out.

“We have too many people that can’t afford coverage,” All said. “The big problem in American health care that’s existed for as long as any of us have been thinking about this is that it doesn’t control costs very well, and so there’s this steady rise in costs over the decades, and some decades are faster than others.”

For the years 2024 through 2033, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/national-health-expenditure-data/nhe-fact-sheet" target="_blank">predicts that national health expenditures</a>&nbsp;will grow 5.8%.

“Across the industry, in every market, whether you’re talking about commercial plans, the public programs and so forth, costs are rising really quickly right now,” All said. “We’ve seen it in our plan and when you combine that with possibly losing some of the subsidies in the (Affordable Care Act) market, you’re going to have some consumers that are just going to be priced out of the market.”

“That should be unacceptable to us,” All added. “In 2025, in a nation as prosperous as ours, we should be able to make sure that everybody can afford good health care.”

The health care system needs a major overhaul, All said, but having what he called an “adult conversation” on the topic is difficult.

“We need to really talk about the root causes of higher costs and the toll that takes, but also the consequences of controlling costs, because there’s another side to this,” he said. “The fact that we’re able to have two beautiful hospitals in Topeka, two great hospitals in Wichita, a beautiful hospital in Lawrence, and you can actually go there and get care — that is partly because we fund our health care system really lavishly.”

But that system isn’t working if people don’t have access to it, All said.

“If we solve the cost problem, we can solve all of the other problems,” he said. “The other problems are just technical. At that point, we have to get the cost problem solved, and we just haven’t been willing to do it yet as a country.”

The Commonwealth Fund, a foundation that focuses on affordable health care,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2023/oct/high-us-health-care-spending-where-is-it-all-going" target="_blank">compared U.S. health care costs</a>&nbsp;to those in 12 countries. It found the U.S. pays more for:

The U.S. industry is highly concentrated, All said, with about 20% of health care dollars spent on 1% of the population and more than half of health care dollars on about 5% of the population. Those are patients with chronic diseases, people with metastatic cancer, babies born prematurely and others, he said.

“In some ways that makes it easier to address because you’re talking about a smaller set of the population, but I think it actually makes it much harder to address because these are people who very much need care, and we want them to have the best care that’s available,” he said. “So how do you make that less expensive? That is the conundrum that we face in American health care.”

It’s important to make sure healthy people are covered by insurance, which was the point of the ACA mandate that required everyone to have insurance, All said. That mandate was struck down but the ACA covers about one in every six people under age 65, or about 44 million people,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/affordable-care-act-marketplace-and-medicaid-expansion-enrollment-reached-a-combined-44-million-in-2024/#:~:text=A%20new%20KFF%20analysis%20finds,age%2065%2C%20or%2016.4%25." target="_blank">according to KFF,</a>&nbsp;which tracks health policies.&nbsp;

“If you only cover people who have the costliest care then, then they won’t be able to afford it at all. None of us could,” he said.&nbsp;

All said it’s frustrating to hear people against ACA subsidies say that “most people don’t use the care anyway.”

“You would never have auto insurance, for example, where only people who get into wrecks pay their auto premium,” he said.

All said smaller towns, in particular, could be in jeopardy of losing access to local health care services with Medicaid cuts and the possibility of ACA subsidies not being renewed.

Many Kansas hospitals are in difficult financial condition with rising costs. The Kansas Hospital Association said non-reimbursed care costs continue to rise for community hospitals. In 2023, the amount was over $26 billion, and since 2015 non-reimbursed care has increased by 77%.

All said insurance companies have a responsibility to be stewards of the health care industry and work to make sure care is affordable and available.

“I think there’s a lot of criticism that’s fair of the insurance industry, but it’s not really the reason why health care costs keep going up,” All said. “It is really because we have decided that we’re going to have a system that is really rich for some people and not so rich for others and unavailable for others. Until we make a real commitment to universal coverage that’s affordable, we’re going to be in this fix.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764610665564.png" alt="Matt All, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (Photo by BCBS of Kansas)" />
 <figcaption>Matt All, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (Photo by BCBS of Kansas)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and Topeka’s St. Francis hospital have failed to reach a contract agreement, leaving insurance customers out of network beginning Jan. 1 for one of Topeka’s major health care systems.Officials with both organizations say discussions are ongoing. The current contract ends Dec. 31.“We’re having productive talks,” said Matt All, president and CEO of BCBS of Kansas. “It’s a little complicated because they have an out-of-state owner, so we’re not just talking to people here on the ground.”“I’m not in the business of making predictions, but our expectation is that we’ll work this out and that they’ll be in network,” he added.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/12/1764610620731.png" alt=" Topeka’s St. Francis hospital system and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas are struggling to reach agreement, which could leave insurance customers out of network. (Submitted)" />
 <figcaption> Topeka’s St. Francis hospital system and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas are struggling to reach agreement, which could leave insurance customers out of network. (Submitted)</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka’s St. Francis campus is owned by Ardent Health, which manages operations, and the University of Kansas Health System. Ardent is based in Brentwood, Tennessee.People covered by BCBS of Kansas have been posting social media messages, upset about the possible loss of their doctors.“I refuse to abandon my primary care provider whom I trust with my care, so Blue Cross Blue Shield just lost another customer,” said Topekan Carol Baldwin on her personal Facebook page.In an emailed statement to Kansas Reflector, hospital officials said: “The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus is committed to protecting access to high-quality care for our community. We have made repeated efforts to engage directly with senior decision-makers at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and remain committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a fair resolution.”Rising costs in health care are causing the challenge in reaching agreement, both sides said. For All, the discussions are indicative of broader problems throughout the health care system.“We are seeking an agreement that reimburses St. Francis Campus at rates consistent with rising costs due to inflation and supply chain pressures,” the hospital’s statement said. “Equitable reimbursement rates are critical to supporting the high-quality care that our patients deserve.”All said BCBS, which is a mutual nonprofit that is created to benefit its members, must negotiate so that reimbursements to the hospital are reasonable and don’t translate into premiums that members can’t afford.“For the whole 19 years I’ve been with Blue Cross, and basically our whole history, we’ve had every hospital in our service area in network, and we want St. Francis in network,” he said.<h2>Changes needed</h2>There are many good things about the country’s health care, All said, but the availability of resources isn’t evenly spread out.“We have too many people that can’t afford coverage,” All said. “The big problem in American health care that’s existed for as long as any of us have been thinking about this is that it doesn’t control costs very well, and so there’s this steady rise in costs over the decades, and some decades are faster than others.”For the years 2024 through 2033, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/data-research/statistics-trends-and-reports/national-health-expenditure-data/nhe-fact-sheet" target="_blank">predicts that national health expenditures</a>&nbsp;will grow 5.8%.“Across the industry, in every market, whether you’re talking about commercial plans, the public programs and so forth, costs are rising really quickly right now,” All said. “We’ve seen it in our plan and when you combine that with possibly losing some of the subsidies in the (Affordable Care Act) market, you’re going to have some consumers that are just going to be priced out of the market.”“That should be unacceptable to us,” All added. “In 2025, in a nation as prosperous as ours, we should be able to make sure that everybody can afford good health care.”The health care system needs a major overhaul, All said, but having what he called an “adult conversation” on the topic is difficult.“We need to really talk about the root causes of higher costs and the toll that takes, but also the consequences of controlling costs, because there’s another side to this,” he said. “The fact that we’re able to have two beautiful hospitals in Topeka, two great hospitals in Wichita, a beautiful hospital in Lawrence, and you can actually go there and get care — that is partly because we fund our health care system really lavishly.”But that system isn’t working if people don’t have access to it, All said.“If we solve the cost problem, we can solve all of the other problems,” he said. “The other problems are just technical. At that point, we have to get the cost problem solved, and we just haven’t been willing to do it yet as a country.”<h2>Health expenses</h2>The Commonwealth Fund, a foundation that focuses on affordable health care,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2023/oct/high-us-health-care-spending-where-is-it-all-going" target="_blank">compared U.S. health care costs</a>&nbsp;to those in 12 countries. It found the U.S. pays more for:<ul>
 <li>Insurance administrative costs, responsible for about 15% of the excess costs.</li><li>Administrative activities, 15% of excess.</li><li>Prescription drugs, 10% of excess.</li><li>Physician salaries, 10% of excess.</li><li>Registered nurse salaries, 5% of excess.</li><li>Investments in medical machinery and equipment, less than 5%.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>The U.S. industry is highly concentrated, All said, with about 20% of health care dollars spent on 1% of the population and more than half of health care dollars on about 5% of the population. Those are patients with chronic diseases, people with metastatic cancer, babies born prematurely and others, he said.“In some ways that makes it easier to address because you’re talking about a smaller set of the population, but I think it actually makes it much harder to address because these are people who very much need care, and we want them to have the best care that’s available,” he said. “So how do you make that less expensive? That is the conundrum that we face in American health care.”It’s important to make sure healthy people are covered by insurance, which was the point of the ACA mandate that required everyone to have insurance, All said. That mandate was struck down but the ACA covers about one in every six people under age 65, or about 44 million people,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/affordable-care-act-marketplace-and-medicaid-expansion-enrollment-reached-a-combined-44-million-in-2024/#:~:text=A%20new%20KFF%20analysis%20finds,age%2065%2C%20or%2016.4%25." target="_blank">according to KFF,</a>&nbsp;which tracks health policies.&nbsp;“If you only cover people who have the costliest care then, then they won’t be able to afford it at all. None of us could,” he said.&nbsp;All said it’s frustrating to hear people against ACA subsidies say that “most people don’t use the care anyway.”“You would never have auto insurance, for example, where only people who get into wrecks pay their auto premium,” he said.All said smaller towns, in particular, could be in jeopardy of losing access to local health care services with Medicaid cuts and the possibility of ACA subsidies not being renewed.Many Kansas hospitals are in difficult financial condition with rising costs. The Kansas Hospital Association said non-reimbursed care costs continue to rise for community hospitals. In 2023, the amount was over $26 billion, and since 2015 non-reimbursed care has increased by 77%.All said insurance companies have a responsibility to be stewards of the health care industry and work to make sure care is affordable and available.“I think there’s a lot of criticism that’s fair of the insurance industry, but it’s not really the reason why health care costs keep going up,” All said. “It is really because we have decided that we’re going to have a system that is really rich for some people and not so rich for others and unavailable for others. Until we make a real commitment to universal coverage that’s affordable, we’re going to be in this fix.”

Kansas Blue Cross, Topeka hospital system struggle to reach agreement

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for allegedly selling drugs near a school.

Just after 1p.m. November 28, 2025, around 1 p.m., the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop in the 2900 block of SE Freemont Street on a black 2015 Volkswagen, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

A subsequent narcotics related search warrant was then conducted in the 3200 block of SE Bryant Street.

During the investigation, distribution amounts of illegal narcotics were located. Jason D. Sweet, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges: of Distribute opiate/narcotic/certain stimulant/heroin within 1000’ of a school, Distribute/possess with intent drug paraphernalia to a minor or within 1000’ of a school, Distribute/possess with intent to distribute marijuana within 1000’ of a school and Possession of a hallucinogenic drug

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763589462944.png" alt="Sweet photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Sweet photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for allegedly selling drugs near a school.Just after 1p.m. November 28, 2025, around 1 p.m., the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop in the 2900 block of SE Freemont Street on a black 2015 Volkswagen, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.A subsequent narcotics related search warrant was then conducted in the 3200 block of SE Bryant Street.During the investigation, distribution amounts of illegal narcotics were located. Jason D. Sweet, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges: of Distribute opiate/narcotic/certain stimulant/heroin within 1000’ of a school, Distribute/possess with intent drug paraphernalia to a minor or within 1000’ of a school, Distribute/possess with intent to distribute marijuana within 1000’ of a school and Possession of a hallucinogenic drug

Kansas man accused of selling meth near a school

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacobtukker/">Jacob Tukker</a>

Launch-day promotions and celebrity bets are right around the corner for Missouri sports betting, which began Monday at the stroke of midnight.

For those inclined to bet on sports, the earliest days after a state launch can be the only time they actually have a statistical edge on the house if they take advantage of promotions.

Multiple sportsbooks announced opening-day celebrations, including Caesar’s Sportsbook, DraftKings and Fanatics.

At the closest casino to Columbia, the Isle of Capri Boonville, former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green will make a stop on his trip to promote Caesar’s-branded sportsbooks. Green will first make a bet at Horseshoe St. Louis, then travel to Boonville, and finally hit Harrah’s Kansas City later in the day, where he will meet up with another Chiefs legend, former running back Christian Okoye.

Although Isle of Capri Boonville will not have its own retail sportsbook, the casino is welcoming members to place mobile sports bets while visiting.

DraftKings has assembled a star-studded cast of characters for its launch event at The Palladium in St. Louis.

Missouri sports legends, including St. Louis Rams receiver Isaac Bruce, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez and St. Louis Blues right-winger Brett Hull, will place celebrity bets for the sportsbook’s launch event.

DraftKings’ event will also feature Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson.

Ex-Royals outfielder Alex Gordon will be promoting Fanatics’ launch by placing a ceremonial first bet at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City. Fanatics also has a retail sportsbook across the state at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles.

Two sportsbooks left the Missouri market in the previous weeks. The partnership between ESPN and PENN Entertainment, which created ESPN Bet, announced on Nov. 6 it would disband by Dec. 1, which means Missourians won’t be placing bets there.

However, since PENN still has its mobile-betting license, it will rebrand as theScore Bet, which is based in Ontario.

PENN will also rebrand its retail sportsbooks in two physical casinos, the River City Casino and the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis.

Steve Bittenbender, a gambling analyst for Gambling.com Group, says the move likely won’t change much for consumers.

“It would be like Kohl’s buying Target, and on a certain date, Target is rebranded to something else,” Bittenbender said. “It’s basically a rebrand. A very expensive rebrand.”

Customers who had previously downloaded the ESPN Bet app won’t even have to get a new app — it will be changed to theScore Bet automatically.

The second mover is Underdog Sports, which originally won one of the state’s nine mobile betting licenses. It also announced it would no longer operate a traditional online sportsbook in the state earlier in November.

Instead, it will focus on prediction markets in the same vein as Kalshi and Polymarket that aren’t taxed or heavily regulated by states, according to FOX2Now.

Last-minute early sign-up promotions, revenue projections

Here are some promotions bettors can still receive by signing up to various apps before the launch:

• DraftKings: Sign up and receive $300 in bonus bets, without a deposit required.

• BetMGM: If your first bet loses, receive bonus bets back equal to up to $1,500.

• FanDuel: Sign up and receive $100 in bonus bets, then up to $400 in bonus bets once you place your first bet of $5 or more.

• Caesar’s Sportsbook: Bet $5, get $150 if you win, plus five more profit boosts on future bets.

These promotions all require you to gamble the bonus bets again, and win, before they can be cashed out. If you miss the pre-launch registration, many sportsbooks will still have promotions, but they will likely be smaller.

Experts will be eyeing this first month of gambling closely to see what the Missouri handle will look like.

“The next six weeks will be fascinating to watch for operators and for customers, just to see how explosive the Missouri sports betting market is in actuality,” Christopher Boan of BetMissouri.com said. “I think it’s important to watch these first couple months, especially, because you’ve got NFL, you’ve got NBA, you’ve got a bunch of stuff that people want to bet on right away.”

BetMissouri projects the state’s overall handle (total bets placed) to be $65,652,274 during the first week, and $262,609,095 during the first month of operations. The total will be key for policymakers who could look to adjust taxes, regulations and more depending on the total handle. Missouri takes 10% of the sportsbooks’ adjusted gross revenue.

Boan expects the raw betting figures to be big, as revenues in other states around Missouri continue to rise.

“There’s a very strong interest in sports betting in the Show-Me State,” Boan said.

The story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/sports-betting-goes-live-monday-sports-celebrities-and-promotions-abound/article_cbbae30b-1bb1-47cc-b41e-b84b0b4266a0.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763937121412.png" alt="File photo Kansas City Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>File photo Kansas City Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacobtukker/">Jacob Tukker</a>Launch-day promotions and celebrity bets are right around the corner for Missouri sports betting, which began Monday at the stroke of midnight.For those inclined to bet on sports, the earliest days after a state launch can be the only time they actually have a statistical edge on the house if they take advantage of promotions.<h2>Celebrity bets</h2>Multiple sportsbooks announced opening-day celebrations, including Caesar’s Sportsbook, DraftKings and Fanatics.At the closest casino to Columbia, the Isle of Capri Boonville, former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green will make a stop on his trip to promote Caesar’s-branded sportsbooks. Green will first make a bet at Horseshoe St. Louis, then travel to Boonville, and finally hit Harrah’s Kansas City later in the day, where he will meet up with another Chiefs legend, former running back Christian Okoye.Although Isle of Capri Boonville will not have its own retail sportsbook, the casino is welcoming members to place mobile sports bets while visiting.DraftKings has assembled a star-studded cast of characters for its launch event at The Palladium in St. Louis.Missouri sports legends, including St. Louis Rams receiver Isaac Bruce, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez and St. Louis Blues right-winger Brett Hull, will place celebrity bets for the sportsbook’s launch event.DraftKings’ event will also feature Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson.Ex-Royals outfielder Alex Gordon will be promoting Fanatics’ launch by placing a ceremonial first bet at Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City. Fanatics also has a retail sportsbook across the state at Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles.<h2>Late sportsbook shifts</h2>Two sportsbooks left the Missouri market in the previous weeks. The partnership between ESPN and PENN Entertainment, which created ESPN Bet, announced on Nov. 6 it would disband by Dec. 1, which means Missourians won’t be placing bets there.However, since PENN still has its mobile-betting license, it will rebrand as theScore Bet, which is based in Ontario.PENN will also rebrand its retail sportsbooks in two physical casinos, the River City Casino and the Hollywood Casino in St. Louis.Steve Bittenbender, a gambling analyst for Gambling.com Group, says the move likely won’t change much for consumers.“It would be like Kohl’s buying Target, and on a certain date, Target is rebranded to something else,” Bittenbender said. “It’s basically a rebrand. A very expensive rebrand.”Customers who had previously downloaded the ESPN Bet app won’t even have to get a new app — it will be changed to theScore Bet automatically.The second mover is Underdog Sports, which originally won one of the state’s nine mobile betting licenses. It also announced it would no longer operate a traditional online sportsbook in the state earlier in November.Instead, it will focus on prediction markets in the same vein as Kalshi and Polymarket that aren’t taxed or heavily regulated by states, according to FOX2Now.<h2>Last-minute early sign-up promotions, revenue projections</h2>Here are some promotions bettors can still receive by signing up to various apps before the launch:• DraftKings: Sign up and receive $300 in bonus bets, without a deposit required.• BetMGM: If your first bet loses, receive bonus bets back equal to up to $1,500.• FanDuel: Sign up and receive $100 in bonus bets, then up to $400 in bonus bets once you place your first bet of $5 or more.• Caesar’s Sportsbook: Bet $5, get $150 if you win, plus five more profit boosts on future bets.These promotions all require you to gamble the bonus bets again, and win, before they can be cashed out. If you miss the pre-launch registration, many sportsbooks will still have promotions, but they will likely be smaller.Experts will be eyeing this first month of gambling closely to see what the Missouri handle will look like.“The next six weeks will be fascinating to watch for operators and for customers, just to see how explosive the Missouri sports betting market is in actuality,” Christopher Boan of BetMissouri.com said. “I think it’s important to watch these first couple months, especially, because you’ve got NFL, you’ve got NBA, you’ve got a bunch of stuff that people want to bet on right away.”BetMissouri projects the state’s overall handle (total bets placed) to be $65,652,274 during the first week, and $262,609,095 during the first month of operations. The total will be key for policymakers who could look to adjust taxes, regulations and more depending on the total handle. Missouri takes 10% of the sportsbooks’ adjusted gross revenue.Boan expects the raw betting figures to be big, as revenues in other states around Missouri continue to rise.“There’s a very strong interest in sports betting in the Show-Me State,” Boan said.The story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/sports-betting-goes-live-monday-sports-celebrities-and-promotions-abound/article_cbbae30b-1bb1-47cc-b41e-b84b0b4266a0.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Sports betting goes live in Missouri, as sports celebrities and promotions abound

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Sunday in Kansas City.

A Ford F150 was southbound on Sterling through the intersection of the eastbound Interstate 70 exit ramp with a green traffic control signal, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

A pedestrian was running east to west across Sterling and ran directly into the travel path of the pickup. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and was subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital staff. 

The driver, front seat passenger and rear seat passenger of the Ford were not injured. This is fatality #62 compared to #86 at this time in 2024, according to DiMartino.&nbsp; Police did not released the name of the victim.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 8p.m. Sunday in Kansas City.A Ford F150 was southbound on Sterling through the intersection of the eastbound Interstate 70 exit ramp with a green traffic control signal, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.A pedestrian was running east to west across Sterling and ran directly into the travel path of the pickup. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and was subsequently pronounced deceased by hospital staff. The driver, front seat passenger and rear seat passenger of the Ford were not injured. This is fatality #62 compared to #86 at this time in 2024, according to DiMartino.&nbsp; Police did not released the name of the victim.

KCPD: Pedestrian struck, killed near I-70 exit ramp

MIAMI COUNTY —A Kansas teen faces several charges after a weekend arrest.

Just after 2 a.m. Saturday, the Miami Sheriff’s Office Communications Division received a 911 call reporting a burglary in the 29000 block of Old KC Road, according to a media release.

The reporting party stated that a partially naked man had entered a structure where their dogs are kept. As deputies arrived, the homeowner directed them to the individual, who was wearing only pants. Deputies took him into custody without incident.

The individual was identified as Ayden Christopher Leach, 18, of Leavenworth, Kansas. He was arrested on requested charges of Pedestrian Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, and Consumption of Liquor by a Minor. Residents in the area were awakened by Leach yelling and by his friend attempting to get him into a vehicle safely.

MIAMI COUNTY —A Kansas teen faces several charges after a weekend arrest.Just after 2 a.m. Saturday, the Miami Sheriff’s Office Communications Division received a 911 call reporting a burglary in the 29000 block of Old KC Road, according to a media release.The reporting party stated that a partially naked man had entered a structure where their dogs are kept. As deputies arrived, the homeowner directed them to the individual, who was wearing only pants. Deputies took him into custody without incident.The individual was identified as Ayden Christopher Leach, 18, of Leavenworth, Kansas. He was arrested on requested charges of Pedestrian Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs, and Consumption of Liquor by a Minor. Residents in the area were awakened by Leach yelling and by his friend attempting to get him into a vehicle safely.

Kan. homeowner found 'partially naked man' on their property

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> nukes the Fake News on his MRI: &quot;It&#39;s perfect. It&#39;s like my phone call where I got impeached, it&#39;s absolutely perfect... It wasn&#39;t the brain because I took a cognitive test and I aced it. I got a perfect mark, which you would be incapable of doing.&quot; 😂🤣 <a href="https://t.co/gK6FLfkKr8">pic.twitter.com/gK6FLfkKr8</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1995270338826076313?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump responds to Democrats’ demands to release his MRI results

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man accused of kidnapping his nephew after killing his sister and father has been deemed unfit to stand trial, according to Shawnee County District Court records.

Christopher Barnstall, 32, was charged with&nbsp; first degree murder and kidnapping in the deaths of&nbsp; 55-year-old Sean Thornton, and 29-year-old Ashley Brown in July

On August 30, Christopher K. Barnshaw, 32, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, according to online jail records.

He was being held on a $10,000,000 bond on requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated, Aggravated burglary; Dwelling for felony, theft, DV, or sexually motivated crime and Endangering A Child and Kidnapping; In Flight Or The Commission Of Any Crime, according to online jail records.

Just after noon on July 22, police in Mattoon, Illinois, were notified that a suspect in a kidnapping incident in Topeka was possibly in their city, according to a media release from police.

Police in Topeka reported that Barshaw was believed to be a suspect in the death of a man and woman the 500 Block of NE Wabash in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Daniel Garrett. Barnshaw was also believed to have taken a child of one of the victims and fled the area. He was reported to be driving a Lexus passenger vehicle bearing Kansas License 4003AHF.

At 12:16p.m. a police officer in Mattoon, who was actively on a traffic stop on Route 16 observed the suspect vehicle pass him.&nbsp; The officer cleared from the traffic stop and began following the suspect in the Lexus eastboun toward Charleston, Illinois. After several other officers arrived in the area, they conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Route 16 and Beechtree Road.&nbsp; Barnshaw was take into custody without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;

During the arrest, officers found a firearm concealed on Barnshaw.&nbsp; The 2-year-old boy who was the subject of the Amber Alert was in the back seat unharmed.

Barnstall is due back in court in February, according to the Shawnee County District Attorney's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756762591638.png" alt="Barnshaw-photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Barnshaw-photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man accused of kidnapping his nephew after killing his sister and father has been deemed unfit to stand trial, according to Shawnee County District Court records.Christopher Barnstall, 32, was charged with&nbsp; first degree murder and kidnapping in the deaths of&nbsp; 55-year-old Sean Thornton, and 29-year-old Ashley Brown in JulyOn August 30, Christopher K. Barnshaw, 32, was booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, according to online jail records.He was being held on a $10,000,000 bond on requested charges of Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated, Aggravated burglary; Dwelling for felony, theft, DV, or sexually motivated crime and Endangering A Child and Kidnapping; In Flight Or The Commission Of Any Crime, according to online jail records.Just after noon on July 22, police in Mattoon, Illinois, were notified that a suspect in a kidnapping incident in Topeka was possibly in their city, according to a media release from police.Police in Topeka reported that Barshaw was believed to be a suspect in the death of a man and woman the 500 Block of NE Wabash in Topeka, according to police spokesperson Daniel Garrett. Barnshaw was also believed to have taken a child of one of the victims and fled the area. He was reported to be driving a Lexus passenger vehicle bearing Kansas License 4003AHF.At 12:16p.m. a police officer in Mattoon, who was actively on a traffic stop on Route 16 observed the suspect vehicle pass him.&nbsp; The officer cleared from the traffic stop and began following the suspect in the Lexus eastboun toward Charleston, Illinois. After several other officers arrived in the area, they conducted a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Route 16 and Beechtree Road.&nbsp; Barnshaw was take into custody without incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;During the arrest, officers found a firearm concealed on Barnshaw.&nbsp; The 2-year-old boy who was the subject of the Amber Alert was in the back seat unharmed.Barnstall is due back in court in February, according to the Shawnee County District Attorney's office.----------<figure>
 <img src="https://ads.empowerlocal.co/adserve/;MID=181918;type=e959fb862;placementID=3077234;setID=524197;channelID=0;CID=0;BID=523385794;TAID=0;place=0;rnd=5958384218;psrtype=api;referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fhutchpost.com%2Fposts%2F63b62d04-f018-4ba4-849f-917965af0f16;mt=1756762384680849;hc=39ddbd97685f0ba9baa9f944a5544d668f26b7ea" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Court rules on Kansas Amber Alert suspect in double-murder 

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

Just before 8a.m.&nbsp;November 27, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue 1998 Chevrolet HHR, with an expired license plate that did not belong on that vehicle, near SW 18th Street and SW Urish Road, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, it was determined that the driver had a suspended driver’s license and illegal narcotics were located. Faye A. Bean, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body,&nbsp;&nbsp;Vehicles; operate vehicle without registration or with expired tag, Driving while license suspended, No vehicle liability insurance and License carried/exhibited

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1764252481808.png" alt="Bean photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Bean photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop in Shawnee County.Just before 8a.m.&nbsp;November 27, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a blue 1998 Chevrolet HHR, with an expired license plate that did not belong on that vehicle, near SW 18th Street and SW Urish Road, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, it was determined that the driver had a suspended driver’s license and illegal narcotics were located. Faye A. Bean, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body,&nbsp;&nbsp;Vehicles; operate vehicle without registration or with expired tag, Driving while license suspended, No vehicle liability insurance and License carried/exhibited

Sheriff: Kansas woman caught with drugs during traffic stop

MIAMI COUNTY—A Kansas man is in custody after a high-speed chase in a reported stolen vehicle.

Just after 1p.m. Friday, police located a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Overland Park, according to a media release.&nbsp;

Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop with the vehicle at the intersection of Holly Lane and Baptiste Drive. The vehicle fled and traveled onto U.S. 169 northbound. With the assistance of Miami&nbsp; County Sheriff deputies, the vehicle was pursued until U.S. 169 and 215th Street where stop sticks were deployed by Spring Hill police.&nbsp; The driver of the fleeing vehicle lost control and the vehicle came to a stop in the median just north of 215th Street.

Police took the driver identified as 23-year-old Skyler Chacon into custody. He is being held in the Miami County Jail on requested charges of flee and elude, reckless driving, no drivers license and other alleged traffic violations. He is expected to face additional charges. There were no injuries reported.

MIAMI COUNTY—A Kansas man is in custody after a high-speed chase in a reported stolen vehicle.Just after 1p.m. Friday, police located a vehicle that had been reported stolen from Overland Park, according to a media release.&nbsp;Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop with the vehicle at the intersection of Holly Lane and Baptiste Drive. The vehicle fled and traveled onto U.S. 169 northbound. With the assistance of Miami&nbsp; County Sheriff deputies, the vehicle was pursued until U.S. 169 and 215th Street where stop sticks were deployed by Spring Hill police.&nbsp; The driver of the fleeing vehicle lost control and the vehicle came to a stop in the median just north of 215th Street.Police took the driver identified as 23-year-old Skyler Chacon into custody. He is being held in the Miami County Jail on requested charges of flee and elude, reckless driving, no drivers license and other alleged traffic violations. He is expected to face additional charges. There were no injuries reported.

Police jail Kan. suspect after chase in reported stolen vehicle

Police: Missing person case now a KC homicide investigation

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City, Missouri, woman was sentenced this week to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for a fraud scheme in which she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jennifer L. Cabral, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to 60 months in federal prison on for one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering to run concurrently and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $306,034.28 to her former employer and to forfeit $1,393.50.

As part of her plea, Cabral admitted that she stole money from the checking account of her employer and used those funds for her personal benefit, including purchasing a 2019 Mazda CX-9 automobile, in which she has since agreed to forfeit all interests.

According to information presented in court, Cabral made unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments to herself&nbsp;using her employer’s online account at a local financial institution.&nbsp; Cabral accessed her employer’s accounting software and directed payments to&nbsp;her personal bank accounts at two other financial institutions. Once those funds were deposited in her personal accounts, she used them for various personal benefits including vehicle payments toward the purchase of her car.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grandview, Mo. Police Department.

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City, Missouri, woman was sentenced this week to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for a fraud scheme in which she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer, according to the United State's Attorney.Jennifer L. Cabral, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to 60 months in federal prison on for one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering to run concurrently and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $306,034.28 to her former employer and to forfeit $1,393.50.As part of her plea, Cabral admitted that she stole money from the checking account of her employer and used those funds for her personal benefit, including purchasing a 2019 Mazda CX-9 automobile, in which she has since agreed to forfeit all interests.According to information presented in court, Cabral made unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments to herself&nbsp;using her employer’s online account at a local financial institution.&nbsp; Cabral accessed her employer’s accounting software and directed payments to&nbsp;her personal bank accounts at two other financial institutions. Once those funds were deposited in her personal accounts, she used them for various personal benefits including vehicle payments toward the purchase of her car.This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grandview, Mo. Police Department.

KC woman admits stealing money from employer to buy a car

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7a.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7a.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas.According to Kansas City, Kansas police, an SUV driven by a man in 60s was northbound in the 1300 Block of N 38th Street. The vehicle veered off the road into a parking lot and struck two posts.First responders pronounced the man deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Police did n ot release his name of additional details.