CHEROKEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Cherokee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Toyota Tacoma driven by Dale L.&nbsp;Fillenwarth, 70, Carl Junction, Missouri, was northbound on SE 118th Street.&nbsp; The driver failed to yield at SE Old 96 Road. As eastbound 2020&nbsp; Peterbilt semi driven by Matthew A&nbsp;Mussati, 38, Jay, Oklahoma, struck the the Toyota.

Fillenwarth was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical.&nbsp;Mussati was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

CHEROKEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Cherokee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Toyota Tacoma driven by Dale L.&nbsp;Fillenwarth, 70, Carl Junction, Missouri, was northbound on SE 118th Street.&nbsp; The driver failed to yield at SE Old 96 Road. As eastbound 2020&nbsp; Peterbilt semi driven by Matthew A&nbsp;Mussati, 38, Jay, Oklahoma, struck the the Toyota.Fillenwarth was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical.&nbsp;Mussati was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Missouri man dies after crash with a semi on Kansas highway

RENO COUNTY — A former USD 309 Nickerson school district employee is in custody for alleged child sex crimes.

Authorities arrested Ryan Stoecklein, 29, on Wednesday and just before 11a.m., booked him into the Reno County jail on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child under 18 and attempted unlawful sexual relations, according to the county arrest report.

According to the complaint, "Between January 1 and March 24, 2025, in Reno County, Kansas, Ryan James Stoecklein did unlawfully and feloniously attempt to engage in consensual sexual intercourse and lewd fondling or touching with a person who was a student enrolled at the school where the offender was employed, to wit: Nickerson High School, who was 16 or more years of age, to-wit: JMFG (DOB: xx/xx/2007), and who was not married to the offender, while the offender was a teacher or other person in a position of authority, by completing an overt act towards the perpetration of the crime, done by a person who intended to commit such crime but failed in the perpetration thereof or was prevented or intercepted in executing such crime, a severity level 7 person felony."

<a href="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/kake.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/b8/4b85d371-d587-4e69-ba84-ad3cc6e6dfa4/6893e1163ec77.pdf.pdf">Click here to read the full complaint.</a>

Stoecklein is being held on a $120,000 bond and will make a court appearance on Thursday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754530743944.png" alt="Stoecklein photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Stoecklein photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — A former USD 309 Nickerson school district employee is in custody for alleged child sex crimes.Authorities arrested Ryan Stoecklein, 29, on Wednesday and just before 11a.m., booked him into the Reno County jail on requested charges of sexual exploitation of a child under 18 and attempted unlawful sexual relations, according to the county arrest report.According to the complaint, "Between January 1 and March 24, 2025, in Reno County, Kansas, Ryan James Stoecklein did unlawfully and feloniously attempt to engage in consensual sexual intercourse and lewd fondling or touching with a person who was a student enrolled at the school where the offender was employed, to wit: Nickerson High School, who was 16 or more years of age, to-wit: JMFG (DOB: xx/xx/2007), and who was not married to the offender, while the offender was a teacher or other person in a position of authority, by completing an overt act towards the perpetration of the crime, done by a person who intended to commit such crime but failed in the perpetration thereof or was prevented or intercepted in executing such crime, a severity level 7 person felony."<a href="https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/kake.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/b8/4b85d371-d587-4e69-ba84-ad3cc6e6dfa4/6893e1163ec77.pdf.pdf">Click here to read the full complaint.</a>Stoecklein is being held on a $120,000 bond and will make a court appearance on Thursday.

Former Kan. school employee accused of sex crimes with student 

OKLAHOMA CITY – A woman is going to spend time in a federal prison for forgery. Amanda Christine Dailey, 37,&nbsp;of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve six months in federal prison for forging the signature of a federal judge, according to&nbsp; U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.

According to public records, in August 2022, Dailey filed a petition for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. A year later, in August 2023, Dailey purchased a vehicle from a car dealership, which she financed in part with a loan from a federal credit union. Public records reflect that, in order to be approved for financing, Dailey presented a false order which purported to show the discharge of her Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. In reality, Dailey had not been granted a discharge, and the false order she presented included the forged signature of Judge Sarah A. Hall, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma.

On October 1, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Dailey with forging a signature of a federal judge. Dailey pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025, and admitted she forged a court order with Judge Hall’s signature.

At the sentencing hearing on July 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Dailey to serve six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted the seriousness of the offense, and the need to deter Dailey and others from perpetrating similar offenses in the future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698688483875.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY – A woman is going to spend time in a federal prison for forgery. Amanda Christine Dailey, 37,&nbsp;of Oklahoma City, has been sentenced to serve six months in federal prison for forging the signature of a federal judge, according to&nbsp; U.S. Attorney Robert J. Troester.According to public records, in August 2022, Dailey filed a petition for Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. A year later, in August 2023, Dailey purchased a vehicle from a car dealership, which she financed in part with a loan from a federal credit union. Public records reflect that, in order to be approved for financing, Dailey presented a false order which purported to show the discharge of her Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. In reality, Dailey had not been granted a discharge, and the false order she presented included the forged signature of Judge Sarah A. Hall, Chief United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma.On October 1, 2024, a federal grand jury charged Dailey with forging a signature of a federal judge. Dailey pleaded guilty on January 16, 2025, and admitted she forged a court order with Judge Hall’s signature.At the sentencing hearing on July 31, 2025, U.S. District Judge Charles Goodwin sentenced Dailey to serve six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. In announcing his sentence, Judge Goodwin noted the seriousness of the offense, and the need to deter Dailey and others from perpetrating similar offenses in the future.

Forging judge's signature lands woman in federal prison

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</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

LENEXA — Melanie Arroyo lives in two worlds.

There’s the one where the Lenexa City Council member has to “assimilate and perform” like her white counterparts, she said. Then there’s the authentic world, where she is aware of how vulnerable she is in this country, “simply because I’m brown and because I have an accent.”

At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, which was packed with residents who were upset about last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-07-31/released-immigration-raids-el-toro-loco-restaurant-lenexa-kansas-city-homeland-security" target="_blank">raid by federal authorities</a>&nbsp;at El Toro Loco restaurants in Lenexa and Kansas City, Kansas, Arroyo revealed that city police had recently investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship.

It started with someone complaining to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation about testimony Arroyo submitted in February to a state Senate committee in opposition to a bill that would eliminate in-state tuition for immigrants. The individual — whom the KBI declined to identify — questioned whether Arroyo was a U.S. citizen and eligible to hold public office.

The KBI referred the complaint to Lenexa police, who questioned Arroyo. She hired an attorney and presented documentation from her 2018 naturalization. Police closed the case last week, two days before the El Toro Loco raids.

For Arroyo, the police inquiry was a painful reminder that a single disgruntled resident can disrupt her life by making a false allegation.

Arroyo told Kansas Reflector she decided to talk about her experience after the unrelated federal raid in Lenexa, which raised questions about whether agents had violated the rights of workers who were detained without regard for whether they had committed a crime, had a lawful immigration status, or were U.S. citizens.

Arroyo said the two situations were connected only by the underlying motive, “which is xenophobia.”

“I felt like I had this obligation to come forward with my story, to let people know in Kansas City that everybody needs to wake the f*** up,” Arroyo said. “You guys are still living in 2024, thinking that our judicial processes are intact, and they’re not. I’m living in the summer of 2025, being directly impacted by this, and so we need to adapt to the circumstances that we’re in. And I don’t know what that looks like. I don’t know what the solutions are.”

Those who attended Tuesday night’s council meeting gasped when Arroyo revealed the police inquiry. They responded to her remarks with a standing ovation that lasted 20 seconds before Mayor Julie Sayers restored order with her gavel.

Councilwoman Courtney Eiterich expressed solidarity with Arroyo. Eiterich said her husband is an immigrant and that they have had conversations about whether he needs to keep naturalization papers with him.

In Lenexa and across the country, Eiterich said, authorities carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations are violating constitutional rights with the support of federal courts.

“I teach high school government, and this is really difficult for me to wrap my head around and try to explain to my students how this is happening and what is our role in trying to fix it. And I don’t have any answers,” Eiterich said.

Lenexa city attorney Sean McLaughlin defended the police investigation of Arroyo.

He said Arroyo’s testimony before the Legislature indicated she had overstayed her visa and didn’t acknowledge her naturalization. He pointed to a city ordinance that requires office holders to be citizens.

“We felt we had no choice but to investigate the matter because it is the city’s obligation to ensure compliance with our own ordinances,” McLaughlin told the council.

“We stand behind our actions,” he added.

Arroyo submitted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_fed_st_1/documents/testimony/20250227_25.pdf" target="_blank">written testimony</a>&nbsp;in opposition to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb254/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 254</a>, which was supported by Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach. A Senate committee held&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/03/kansas-republicans-punt-immigration-bill-after-kicking-opponents-out-of-hearing/">a contentious hearing on the proposal</a>&nbsp;in February and advanced the bill in March, but the full Senate never gave it consideration.

The testimony describes her experience growing up as “an undocumented immigrant girl” in the Kansas City area who didn’t speak fluent English. She said she was able to enroll in Kansas universities “with the condition that I resolved my immigration status.” She studied studio art and psychology at the University of Saint Mary and Johnson County Community College, then earned master’s degrees in clinical counseling and art therapy at Emporia State University.

Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the KBI, said a Johnson County resident referenced Arroyo’s testimony in a voicemail left at the agency’s Lenexa office. The KBI referred the matter to city police, Underwood said, because the state agency typically doesn’t investigate immigration-related matters. Underwood said the complaint didn’t come from Kobach.

“The information was sent to the Lenexa Police Department for follow-up as they deemed appropriate,” Underwood said.

In a brief interview after the city council meeting, McLaughlin acknowledged there was no evidence to support a complaint about Arroyo’s citizenship status.

But, he said, “just because evidence doesn’t exist doesn’t mean we don’t investigate.”

Two dozen community members voiced concerns to the council about the investigation of Arroyo and the raid on a local restaurant.

They included Kansas Rep. Susan Ruiz, LGBTQ+ activist Jae Moyer, immigration attorney Anne Parelkar, two pastors, and Roeland Park City Council member Jen Hill, who was Arroyo’s 8th grade English teacher in 2005.

Even then, Hill said, Arroyo’s “voice carried strength, clarity and purpose.”

“It’s because I know her so well that I’m both saddened and outraged by the recent false allegations questioning her citizenship,” Hill said. “These claims are not only entirely unfounded, they are a blatant attempt to discredit her based on her ethnicity, rather than recognizing the immense value of her service and her character.”

Sara Rohleder told the council this was the first local government meeting she had ever attended, and “that’s saying a lot.” She referenced the approximately 150 people who attended the meeting and pointed out that many of them were in the 18-25 age range.

“I’m very concerned,” Rohleder&nbsp; said. “I don’t know what future I have. I don’t know what future my cousins have, who are younger than me. I think this sets a very dangerous precedent. I think this is very, very serious, and I really strongly feel — I honestly feel comfort in knowing that it’s not just me who’s feeling this, because it’s a very isolating time. Look at all these people. Everyone’s here because they care about what’s going on.”

Muñeca Nieves described herself as a proud Afro-Caribbean woman who works for the federal government. She said she had lost 40 pounds by walking to work every day, but&nbsp;“I don’t do it anymore, because I’m brown.”

“Every time a black SUV comes by, I get scared,” Nieves said.

She also said she was “extremely disappointed” in the Lenexa city attorney’s insistence that police were just “following the rules” when they investigated Arroyo.

“Those rules equate to racial profiling,” Nieves said, “which is against the law.”

Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman addressed the council at the end of the meeting and&nbsp;acknowledged the hurt expressed by Arroyo.

“I apologize if I made you feel that way,” Layman told her.

Layman said Homeland Security Investigations notified her a week in advance that they would execute a criminal search warrants, authorized by a federal judge, at the El Toro Loco in Lenexa. They mutually agreed that Lenexa police officers would not be on site, she said.

She said the federal raids were related to an ongoing investigation into labor exploitation.

Layman said her department is focused on public safety and serving all who live, work and visit Lenexa, regardless of immigration status.

“Our responsibility is to protect the public, uphold the law, maintain public order and serve our community with honor, integrity and professionalism, and that is in regardless of our personal beliefs or opinion,” Layman said.

In an interview, Arroyo said Layman was unaware of the political and historical weight of asking someone for their papers. But Arroyo also stressed that she doesn’t think Lenexa police are the problem.

“My concern is that we are not aware of the times that we’re living in,” Arroyo said, “and we’re failing to meet the moment.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754508240926.png" alt=" Lenexa City Council member Melanie Arroyo talks with supporters after the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting. Arroyo revealed city police investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Lenexa City Council member Melanie Arroyo talks with supporters after the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting. Arroyo revealed city police investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</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>rLENEXA — Melanie Arroyo lives in two worlds.There’s the one where the Lenexa City Council member has to “assimilate and perform” like her white counterparts, she said. Then there’s the authentic world, where she is aware of how vulnerable she is in this country, “simply because I’m brown and because I have an accent.”“It feels lonely,” she said.At Tuesday night’s city council meeting, which was packed with residents who were upset about last week’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-07-31/released-immigration-raids-el-toro-loco-restaurant-lenexa-kansas-city-homeland-security" target="_blank">raid by federal authorities</a>&nbsp;at El Toro Loco restaurants in Lenexa and Kansas City, Kansas, Arroyo revealed that city police had recently investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship.It started with someone complaining to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation about testimony Arroyo submitted in February to a state Senate committee in opposition to a bill that would eliminate in-state tuition for immigrants. The individual — whom the KBI declined to identify — questioned whether Arroyo was a U.S. citizen and eligible to hold public office.The KBI referred the complaint to Lenexa police, who questioned Arroyo. She hired an attorney and presented documentation from her 2018 naturalization. Police closed the case last week, two days before the El Toro Loco raids.For Arroyo, the police inquiry was a painful reminder that a single disgruntled resident can disrupt her life by making a false allegation.Arroyo told Kansas Reflector she decided to talk about her experience after the unrelated federal raid in Lenexa, which raised questions about whether agents had violated the rights of workers who were detained without regard for whether they had committed a crime, had a lawful immigration status, or were U.S. citizens.Arroyo said the two situations were connected only by the underlying motive, “which is xenophobia.”“I felt like I had this obligation to come forward with my story, to let people know in Kansas City that everybody needs to wake the f*** up,” Arroyo said. “You guys are still living in 2024, thinking that our judicial processes are intact, and they’re not. I’m living in the summer of 2025, being directly impacted by this, and so we need to adapt to the circumstances that we’re in. And I don’t know what that looks like. I don’t know what the solutions are.”Those who attended Tuesday night’s council meeting gasped when Arroyo revealed the police inquiry. They responded to her remarks with a standing ovation that lasted 20 seconds before Mayor Julie Sayers restored order with her gavel.Councilwoman Courtney Eiterich expressed solidarity with Arroyo. Eiterich said her husband is an immigrant and that they have had conversations about whether he needs to keep naturalization papers with him.In Lenexa and across the country, Eiterich said, authorities carrying out President Donald Trump’s campaign promise of mass deportations are violating constitutional rights with the support of federal courts.“I teach high school government, and this is really difficult for me to wrap my head around and try to explain to my students how this is happening and what is our role in trying to fix it. And I don’t have any answers,” Eiterich said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754508202926.png" alt=" Lenexa city attorney Sean McLaughlin during the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting defends the police investigation of a councilwoman. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Lenexa city attorney Sean McLaughlin during the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting defends the police investigation of a councilwoman. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>No evidence for inquiry</h2>Lenexa city attorney Sean McLaughlin defended the police investigation of Arroyo.He said Arroyo’s testimony before the Legislature indicated she had overstayed her visa and didn’t acknowledge her naturalization. He pointed to a city ordinance that requires office holders to be citizens.“We felt we had no choice but to investigate the matter because it is the city’s obligation to ensure compliance with our own ordinances,” McLaughlin told the council.“We stand behind our actions,” he added.Arroyo submitted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_fed_st_1/documents/testimony/20250227_25.pdf" target="_blank">written testimony</a>&nbsp;in opposition to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb254/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 254</a>, which was supported by Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach. A Senate committee held&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/03/kansas-republicans-punt-immigration-bill-after-kicking-opponents-out-of-hearing/">a contentious hearing on the proposal</a>&nbsp;in February and advanced the bill in March, but the full Senate never gave it consideration.The testimony describes her experience growing up as “an undocumented immigrant girl” in the Kansas City area who didn’t speak fluent English. She said she was able to enroll in Kansas universities “with the condition that I resolved my immigration status.” She studied studio art and psychology at the University of Saint Mary and Johnson County Community College, then earned master’s degrees in clinical counseling and art therapy at Emporia State University.Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the KBI, said a Johnson County resident referenced Arroyo’s testimony in a voicemail left at the agency’s Lenexa office. The KBI referred the matter to city police, Underwood said, because the state agency typically doesn’t investigate immigration-related matters. Underwood said the complaint didn’t come from Kobach.“The information was sent to the Lenexa Police Department for follow-up as they deemed appropriate,” Underwood said.In a brief interview after the city council meeting, McLaughlin acknowledged there was no evidence to support a complaint about Arroyo’s citizenship status.But, he said, “just because evidence doesn’t exist doesn’t mean we don’t investigate.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754508157109.png" alt="Overland Park resident Sara Rohleder speaks at the Aug. 5, 2025, Lenexa City Council meeting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Overland Park resident Sara Rohleder speaks at the Aug. 5, 2025, Lenexa City Council meeting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Public outcry</h2>Two dozen community members voiced concerns to the council about the investigation of Arroyo and the raid on a local restaurant.They included Kansas Rep. Susan Ruiz, LGBTQ+ activist Jae Moyer, immigration attorney Anne Parelkar, two pastors, and Roeland Park City Council member Jen Hill, who was Arroyo’s 8th grade English teacher in 2005.Even then, Hill said, Arroyo’s “voice carried strength, clarity and purpose.”“It’s because I know her so well that I’m both saddened and outraged by the recent false allegations questioning her citizenship,” Hill said. “These claims are not only entirely unfounded, they are a blatant attempt to discredit her based on her ethnicity, rather than recognizing the immense value of her service and her character.”Sara Rohleder told the council this was the first local government meeting she had ever attended, and “that’s saying a lot.” She referenced the approximately 150 people who attended the meeting and pointed out that many of them were in the 18-25 age range.“I’m very concerned,” Rohleder&nbsp; said. “I don’t know what future I have. I don’t know what future my cousins have, who are younger than me. I think this sets a very dangerous precedent. I think this is very, very serious, and I really strongly feel — I honestly feel comfort in knowing that it’s not just me who’s feeling this, because it’s a very isolating time. Look at all these people. Everyone’s here because they care about what’s going on.”Muñeca Nieves described herself as a proud Afro-Caribbean woman who works for the federal government. She said she had lost 40 pounds by walking to work every day, but&nbsp;“I don’t do it anymore, because I’m brown.”“Every time a black SUV comes by, I get scared,” Nieves said.She also said she was “extremely disappointed” in the Lenexa city attorney’s insistence that police were just “following the rules” when they investigated Arroyo.“Those rules equate to racial profiling,” Nieves said, “which is against the law.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754508115025.png" alt=" Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman addressed the city council during an Aug. 5, 2025, meeting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman addressed the city council during an Aug. 5, 2025, meeting. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Police chief responds</h2>Lenexa Police Chief Dawn Layman addressed the council at the end of the meeting and&nbsp;acknowledged the hurt expressed by Arroyo.“I apologize if I made you feel that way,” Layman told her.Layman said Homeland Security Investigations notified her a week in advance that they would execute a criminal search warrants, authorized by a federal judge, at the El Toro Loco in Lenexa. They mutually agreed that Lenexa police officers would not be on site, she said.She said the federal raids were related to an ongoing investigation into labor exploitation.Layman said her department is focused on public safety and serving all who live, work and visit Lenexa, regardless of immigration status.“Our responsibility is to protect the public, uphold the law, maintain public order and serve our community with honor, integrity and professionalism, and that is in regardless of our personal beliefs or opinion,” Layman said.In an interview, Arroyo said Layman was unaware of the political and historical weight of asking someone for their papers. But Arroyo also stressed that she doesn’t think Lenexa police are the problem.“My concern is that we are not aware of the times that we’re living in,” Arroyo said, “and we’re failing to meet the moment.”

Police investigate a Kansas city council member’s citizenship after a complaint left via voicemail

Five soldiers were shot but are in stable condition

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/author/ross-williams/">Ross Williams</a> <a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/">Georgia Recorder</a>

An Army sergeant who is accused of opening fire on five of his fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia Wednesday used his personal weapon in the shooting, according to the installation’s commanding general.

Sgt. Quornelius Radford, who was assigned to a unit within the second Brigade Combat Team, allegedly shot five soldiers late Wednesday morning, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the installation’s commanding general. All five victims were in stable condition.

Lubas, the installation’s commanding general, said other soldiers were able to physically subdue Radford until law enforcement officers arrived and took Radford into custody nearly 40 minutes later.

“The shooting occurred at the soldier’s place of work. It did involve his co-workers,” Lubas told reporters Wednesday afternoon. “We’re still not certain about the motivations, but again, he’s been interviewed by Army investigators, and we believe we’ll gain more information here shortly.”

Lubas said the weapon used in the shooting is believed to be a personal handgun, but he said how the firearm ended up at the workplace is still under investigation.

“I’m very confident in the security of this installation. We’ve got a great partnership with local law enforcement,” Lubas said. “As you can see here at our gates, we have armed guards in protective equipment.

“This one’s a bit difficult, and we’re going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of place of duty,” he said.

Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting at 10:56 a.m., the base was placed on lock down at 11:04, medical personnel were dispatched at 11:09 and a suspect was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.

Fort Stewart is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River and is home to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and about 10,000 troops and family members. It is located in Hinesville about 40 miles southwest of Savannah.

Georgia leaders including Gov. Brian Kemp denounced the shooter and offered thanks for the law enforcement and emergency personnel.

“As we remain in close contact with law enforcement on the ground, Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by today’s tragedy at Ft. Stewart,” Kemp said in a statement on social media. “We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers, and we ask that Georgians everywhere do the same.”

The base is represented by Republican Congressman Buddy Carter, who offered a statement in support of the victims and first responders.

Georgia Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop said the effects of the attack will reverberate beyond Georgia.

“The events today will not only be felt at Fort Stewart but across our entire military,” Bishop said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the casualties and all those impacted by this unfortunate occurrence.”

President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal law enforcement agents are providing support.

Georgia Recorder Editor Jill Nolin contributed to this report.&nbsp;

FORT STEWART, Georgia– Five Soldiers were shot Wednesday in an active shooter incident in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, according to a media release from the base. All Soldiers were treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment. There was no active threat to the community.

Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting in the 2nd ABCT complex at 10:56 a.m. The shooter was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.

The installation was locked down at 11:04 a.m. and Fort Stewart lifted the lockdown of the main cantonment area at 12:10 p.m. 2nd ABCT complex is still locked down.

 Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to treat the wounded Soldiers at 11:09 a.m.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754497102931.png" alt="Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Five soldiers were shot but are in stable condition</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/author/ross-williams/">Ross Williams</a> <a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/">Georgia Recorder</a>An Army sergeant who is accused of opening fire on five of his fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia Wednesday used his personal weapon in the shooting, according to the installation’s commanding general.Sgt. Quornelius Radford, who was assigned to a unit within the second Brigade Combat Team, allegedly shot five soldiers late Wednesday morning, according to Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the installation’s commanding general. All five victims were in stable condition.Lubas, the installation’s commanding general, said other soldiers were able to physically subdue Radford until law enforcement officers arrived and took Radford into custody nearly 40 minutes later.“The shooting occurred at the soldier’s place of work. It did involve his co-workers,” Lubas told reporters Wednesday afternoon. “We’re still not certain about the motivations, but again, he’s been interviewed by Army investigators, and we believe we’ll gain more information here shortly.”Lubas said the weapon used in the shooting is believed to be a personal handgun, but he said how the firearm ended up at the workplace is still under investigation.“I’m very confident in the security of this installation. We’ve got a great partnership with local law enforcement,” Lubas said. “As you can see here at our gates, we have armed guards in protective equipment.“This one’s a bit difficult, and we’re going to have to determine how he was able to get a handgun to his place of place of duty,” he said.Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting at 10:56 a.m., the base was placed on lock down at 11:04, medical personnel were dispatched at 11:09 and a suspect was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.Fort Stewart is the largest Army installation east of the Mississippi River and is home to the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division and about 10,000 troops and family members. It is located in Hinesville about 40 miles southwest of Savannah.Georgia leaders including Gov. Brian Kemp denounced the shooter and offered thanks for the law enforcement and emergency personnel.“As we remain in close contact with law enforcement on the ground, Marty, the girls, and I are saddened by today’s tragedy at Ft. Stewart,” Kemp said in a statement on social media. “We are keeping the victims, their families, and all those who answer the call to serve in our hearts and prayers, and we ask that Georgians everywhere do the same.”The base is represented by Republican Congressman Buddy Carter, who offered a statement in support of the victims and first responders.Georgia Democratic Congressman Sanford Bishop said the effects of the attack will reverberate beyond Georgia.“The events today will not only be felt at Fort Stewart but across our entire military,” Bishop said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the casualties and all those impacted by this unfortunate occurrence.”President Donald Trump has been briefed on the shooting, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said federal law enforcement agents are providing support.Georgia Recorder Editor Jill Nolin contributed to this report.&nbsp;-----------------FORT STEWART, Georgia– Five Soldiers were shot Wednesday in an active shooter incident in the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team area, according to a media release from the base. All Soldiers were treated on-site and moved to Winn Army Community Hospital for further treatment. There was no active threat to the community.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The President has been briefed on the shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia. The White House is monitoring the situation.&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/1953135134665802048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our federal law enforcement agents in Georgia are coordinating to provide support as the situation at Fort Stewart develops. I am praying for all the victims and for our troops at the base.&mdash; Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) <a href="https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/1953137964168405387?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FFortStewartHunterArmyAirfield%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0696cnEND7m9ujYRCsx5nonjp4fmurusZBqGcSzKdntmdhoWDX67gD57gysUrbLCLl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="679" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Law enforcement was dispatched for a possible shooting in the 2nd ABCT complex at 10:56 a.m. The shooter was apprehended at 11:35 a.m.The installation was locked down at 11:04 a.m. and Fort Stewart lifted the lockdown of the main cantonment area at 12:10 p.m. 2nd ABCT complex is still locked down. Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to treat the wounded Soldiers at 11:09 a.m.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Army sergeant accused of using personal handgun in shooting at Fort Stewart in Georgia

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — Nebraska reportedly is being considered as a home to one of the state-run, federally funded migrant detention centers that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem hopes to launch across the country in the likeness of “Alligator Alcatraz.”

Noem, in an interview with CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alligator-alcatraz-model-kristi-noem-homeland-security/" target="_blank">published Monday</a>, said she hopes to establish a handful of similar detention centers near airports and jails in other states in the coming months, using Florida’s so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades as a model. She said she had already appealed to governors and state leaders.&nbsp;

And CBS said potential sites already under consideration include Nebraska, Arizona and Louisiana.

Many states that support President Donald Trump’s mission of securing the border have empty or underused prison-like facilities, Noem noted. She said locations Homeland Security is considering are by airports and runways, which she said would help cut costs through “quick turnarounds.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates under the umbrella of Homeland Security.

State-owned property that could fit her site preferences could include land near the Omaha Correctional Center by Eppley Airfield and the Nebraska National Guard base near the Lincoln airport.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s office shared a statement Tuesday, saying that his team “continues to be in communication with federal partners on how Nebraska can best assist in these efforts.”

Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple said the governor is “<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/24/pillen-orders-nebraska-agencies-to-fall-in-line-with-trump-immigration-crackdown/">staunchly committed&nbsp;</a>to keeping Americans safe, our nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-visits-nebraska-national-guard-on-texas-mexico-border-with-speaker-arch-sen-tom-brewer/">borders secure”</a>&nbsp;and getting criminals “off our streets.”

She said it was premature to comment on potential detention operations, adding: “Gov. Pillen will make details public at the appropriate time.”

An ICE spokesperson told the Examiner in a statement Tuesday that the agency could not confirm “individual pre-decisional conversations” but said it would “confirm that ICE is exploring all options to meet its current and future detention requirements.”

The agency blamed the Biden administration’s border policies, and added: “ICE is proud to say we have enhanced enforcement and routine daily operations that have resulted in a significant number of arrests” necessitating greater detention capacity.

Noem’s strategy reportedly builds upon the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center that opened last month at a jetport in the South Florida marshlands. It was built in just days and has the capacity to house at least 3,000 migrants.

The effort would be assisted by the $45 billion set aside for ICE in President Donald Trump’s recently adopted “big beautiful bill.”

Nebraska State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, a legislative watchdog on criminal justice issues, criticized the notion of Nebraska as a host site.&nbsp;

“The idea of Nebraska operating a state-run detention facility is crazy and should not move forward,” he said. “Our focus should be on addressing the current budget deficit and reversing the decline of our state’s economy, both of which will only worsen with proposals like this.”

McKinney said that under the Trump administration, “enforcement efforts have expanded far beyond individuals labeled as criminals.”

“Many law-abiding immigrants are being unjustly detained and torn away from their families,” he said.

Nebraska State Sen. Margo Juarez was terse in her reaction. Her South Omaha area district includes the worksite where a June 10 high-profile immigration raid took place, the largest enforcement operation in Nebraska since Trump took office the second time.

“There is no way we will welcome an Alcatraz,” Juarez said. “Look elsewhere.”

More than 70 undocumented immigrants were apprehended during the ICE-led raid at Glenn Valley Foods. Roughly 25 of the workers are still being detained at a North Platte jail, hours from where their families live. That jail contracts with the federal government to hold ICE detainees who are in removal proceedings.

Douglas County officials had previously opted not to renew a federal contract under which it was paid to hold ICE detainees at its Omaha jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751400984359.png" alt="White House image" />
 <figcaption>White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/cindygonzalez/">Cindy Gonzalez</a> <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/02/08/state-approved-use-of-pesticide-coated-seed-corn-for-ethanol-plant-a-decade-ago/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — Nebraska reportedly is being considered as a home to one of the state-run, federally funded migrant detention centers that U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem hopes to launch across the country in the likeness of “Alligator Alcatraz.”Noem, in an interview with CBS News&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alligator-alcatraz-model-kristi-noem-homeland-security/" target="_blank">published Monday</a>, said she hopes to establish a handful of similar detention centers near airports and jails in other states in the coming months, using Florida’s so-called “Alligator Alcatraz” in the Everglades as a model. She said she had already appealed to governors and state leaders.&nbsp;And CBS said potential sites already under consideration include Nebraska, Arizona and Louisiana.Many states that support President Donald Trump’s mission of securing the border have empty or underused prison-like facilities, Noem noted. She said locations Homeland Security is considering are by airports and runways, which she said would help cut costs through “quick turnarounds.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operates under the umbrella of Homeland Security.State-owned property that could fit her site preferences could include land near the Omaha Correctional Center by Eppley Airfield and the Nebraska National Guard base near the Lincoln airport.Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen’s office shared a statement Tuesday, saying that his team “continues to be in communication with federal partners on how Nebraska can best assist in these efforts.”Pillen spokeswoman Laura Strimple said the governor is “<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/01/24/pillen-orders-nebraska-agencies-to-fall-in-line-with-trump-immigration-crackdown/">staunchly committed&nbsp;</a>to keeping Americans safe, our nation’s&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/pillen-visits-nebraska-national-guard-on-texas-mexico-border-with-speaker-arch-sen-tom-brewer/">borders secure”</a>&nbsp;and getting criminals “off our streets.”She said it was premature to comment on potential detention operations, adding: “Gov. Pillen will make details public at the appropriate time.”An ICE spokesperson told the Examiner in a statement Tuesday that the agency could not confirm “individual pre-decisional conversations” but said it would “confirm that ICE is exploring all options to meet its current and future detention requirements.”The agency blamed the Biden administration’s border policies, and added: “ICE is proud to say we have enhanced enforcement and routine daily operations that have resulted in a significant number of arrests” necessitating greater detention capacity.Noem’s strategy reportedly builds upon the “Alligator Alcatraz” immigration detention center that opened last month at a jetport in the South Florida marshlands. It was built in just days and has the capacity to house at least 3,000 migrants.The effort would be assisted by the $45 billion set aside for ICE in President Donald Trump’s recently adopted “big beautiful bill.”Nebraska State Sen. Terrell McKinney of North Omaha, a legislative watchdog on criminal justice issues, criticized the notion of Nebraska as a host site.&nbsp;“The idea of Nebraska operating a state-run detention facility is crazy and should not move forward,” he said. “Our focus should be on addressing the current budget deficit and reversing the decline of our state’s economy, both of which will only worsen with proposals like this.”McKinney said that under the Trump administration, “enforcement efforts have expanded far beyond individuals labeled as criminals.”“Many law-abiding immigrants are being unjustly detained and torn away from their families,” he said.Nebraska State Sen. Margo Juarez was terse in her reaction. Her South Omaha area district includes the worksite where a June 10 high-profile immigration raid took place, the largest enforcement operation in Nebraska since Trump took office the second time.“There is no way we will welcome an Alcatraz,” Juarez said. “Look elsewhere.”More than 70 undocumented immigrants were apprehended during the ICE-led raid at Glenn Valley Foods. Roughly 25 of the workers are still being detained at a North Platte jail, hours from where their families live. That jail contracts with the federal government to hold ICE detainees who are in removal proceedings.Douglas County officials had previously opted not to renew a federal contract under which it was paid to hold ICE detainees at its Omaha jail.

Will Nebraska be home to the next ‘Alligator Alcatraz?’

Union leaders say more than 3,000 members went on strike because the agreement offered by the aerospace manufacturing company doesn’t equally benefit all employees

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

BERKELEY — Christy Williams stood outside the Boeing facility in St. Louis for hours on Tuesday next to her handwritten sign declaring: “We aren’t building toasters!”

For the last three years, Williams and her son have helped build F-15 fighter jets at Boeing in the St. Louis area — something she called her life’s dream.&nbsp;

“We’re putting our bodies at risk with the physical and strenuous (work), and on top of all the chemicals and other just the dirty air that we’re in there breathing,” said Williams, an assembly mechanic. “We signed on for this because we wanted to build the best fighter jet in the world.”

On Monday, Williams walked out from her job alongside 3,200 workers at Boeing’s three facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles and Mascoutah, Ill., after her fellow members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted Sunday to reject a four-year labor agreement.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-district-837-members-in-st-louis-reject-latest-boeing-offer-strike-for-fair-contract/" target="_blank">union statement</a>&nbsp;announcing the strike, its members “assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18, and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies.”

Chad Stevenson, a plant chairman for the union at the St. Louis facility, said the company’s offer was rejected because it wouldn’t equally benefit the longtime workers who endured pay freezes when the company’s contracts were “lean” over the last several years.

“Our members took concessions to help this company and continued to produce the same amount and the same quality of work,” said Stevenson, who works as an assembly mechanic. “So really it was over eight years, top-scale wasn’t raised. And we’re ready for them to make a competitive, fair offer in these negotiations and take it back before membership and let them decide again.”

The company issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/specialty/iam837#fact-sheets" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;in response to the strike, stating that the employees rejected an offer that “featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules.”&nbsp;

“We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers,” said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president, general manager and senior St. Louis site executive.

Williams called the 40% number “a farce” because it was nearly impossible to meet the criteria to earn it.

“If everybody was going to get 40%, we would already be on the floor,” she said. “Just quit playing with the math, give us something fair and let us get back to work.”

The company’s rejected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Contract-Summary.pdf?v=2" target="_blank">offer</a>&nbsp;included a 20% wage increase over four years and $5,000 ratification bonuses. However, top-scale wage earners wouldn’t see that same increase, Stevenson said.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Wage-Growth-Max.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;Boeing posted regarding the labor agreement, entry-level workers making $34.25 per hour could potentially go from making $71,240 to $108,222 annually after the four-year contract.

For “max rate” employees, the growth would go from $95,326 to $110,718 after four years, according to a fact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Wage-Growth-Max.pdf" target="_blank">sheet</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Stevenson said the numbers on the entry-level fact sheet didn’t add up, and the pay progression to get to top-scale pay is much slower than other Boeing sites and other aerospace manufacturers. He explained that in some cases, it takes 20 years to reach top-scale pay, and union members become “highly skilled and versatile” well before that time. The union is looking to decrease the amount of time, he said, which is called auto progression.&nbsp;

“They act like maybe St Louis is less important, in their opinion,” he said, “but it is just important to this company. It’s their hub for the defense sector, and it’s also a matter of national security. We build the aircraft and munitions that defend this country with several of our products.”

Democratic state Rep. Doug Clemens, who represents a district that partially includes St. Louis Lambert International Airport, visited with the workers on the picket line on Tuesday afternoon.&nbsp;

He told them that his father worked for McDonnell Douglas, which was a major&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_manufacturer" target="_blank">aerospace manufacturing</a>&nbsp;corporation and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_contractor" target="_blank">defense contractor</a>&nbsp;headquartered in St. Louis and was later acquired by Boeing in 1997.&nbsp;

His father retired shortly after Boeing took over, he said, and the first thing the company did was cut health-care benefits to retirees.

“As far as the strike goes, it’s high time to have a strike,” Clemens said. “It’s high time that Boeing is put in its place when it comes to supporting its own workers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754496573660.png" alt=" Mechanical engineer Christy Williams strikes outside of her employer, Boeing aerospace company, in Berkeley, Mo. She joined 3,200 other union members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers who went on strike at midnight on Sunday to get better wages and retirement plans (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Mechanical engineer Christy Williams strikes outside of her employer, Boeing aerospace company, in Berkeley, Mo. She joined 3,200 other union members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers who went on strike at midnight on Sunday to get better wages and retirement plans (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Union leaders say more than 3,000 members went on strike because the agreement offered by the aerospace manufacturing company doesn’t equally benefit all employees</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>BERKELEY — Christy Williams stood outside the Boeing facility in St. Louis for hours on Tuesday next to her handwritten sign declaring: “We aren’t building toasters!”For the last three years, Williams and her son have helped build F-15 fighter jets at Boeing in the St. Louis area — something she called her life’s dream.&nbsp;“We’re putting our bodies at risk with the physical and strenuous (work), and on top of all the chemicals and other just the dirty air that we’re in there breathing,” said Williams, an assembly mechanic. “We signed on for this because we wanted to build the best fighter jet in the world.”On Monday, Williams walked out from her job alongside 3,200 workers at Boeing’s three facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles and Mascoutah, Ill., after her fellow members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted Sunday to reject a four-year labor agreement.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goiam.org/news/iam-district-837-members-in-st-louis-reject-latest-boeing-offer-strike-for-fair-contract/" target="_blank">union statement</a>&nbsp;announcing the strike, its members “assemble and maintain advanced aircraft and weapons systems, including the F-15, F/A-18, and cutting-edge missile and defense technologies.”Chad Stevenson, a plant chairman for the union at the St. Louis facility, said the company’s offer was rejected because it wouldn’t equally benefit the longtime workers who endured pay freezes when the company’s contracts were “lean” over the last several years.“Our members took concessions to help this company and continued to produce the same amount and the same quality of work,” said Stevenson, who works as an assembly mechanic. “So really it was over eight years, top-scale wasn’t raised. And we’re ready for them to make a competitive, fair offer in these negotiations and take it back before membership and let them decide again.”The company issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/specialty/iam837#fact-sheets" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;in response to the strike, stating that the employees rejected an offer that “featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules.”&nbsp;“We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers,” said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president, general manager and senior St. Louis site executive.Williams called the 40% number “a farce” because it was nearly impossible to meet the criteria to earn it.“If everybody was going to get 40%, we would already be on the floor,” she said. “Just quit playing with the math, give us something fair and let us get back to work.”The company’s rejected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Contract-Summary.pdf?v=2" target="_blank">offer</a>&nbsp;included a 20% wage increase over four years and $5,000 ratification bonuses. However, top-scale wage earners wouldn’t see that same increase, Stevenson said.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Wage-Growth-Max.pdf" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;Boeing posted regarding the labor agreement, entry-level workers making $34.25 per hour could potentially go from making $71,240 to $108,222 annually after the four-year contract.For “max rate” employees, the growth would go from $95,326 to $110,718 after four years, according to a fact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.boeing.com/content/dam/boeing/boeingdotcom/specialty/pdf/iam837/lbafo/STL-IAM-837-LBAFO-Wage-Growth-Max.pdf" target="_blank">sheet</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Stevenson said the numbers on the entry-level fact sheet didn’t add up, and the pay progression to get to top-scale pay is much slower than other Boeing sites and other aerospace manufacturers. He explained that in some cases, it takes 20 years to reach top-scale pay, and union members become “highly skilled and versatile” well before that time. The union is looking to decrease the amount of time, he said, which is called auto progression.&nbsp;“They act like maybe St Louis is less important, in their opinion,” he said, “but it is just important to this company. It’s their hub for the defense sector, and it’s also a matter of national security. We build the aircraft and munitions that defend this country with several of our products.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754496537827.png" alt=" Missouri Democratic state Rep. Doug Clemens of St. Ann spoke with Boeing employees on strike on Aug. 5 outside of company facility in Berkeley (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri Democratic state Rep. Doug Clemens of St. Ann spoke with Boeing employees on strike on Aug. 5 outside of company facility in Berkeley (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Democratic state Rep. Doug Clemens, who represents a district that partially includes St. Louis Lambert International Airport, visited with the workers on the picket line on Tuesday afternoon.&nbsp;He told them that his father worked for McDonnell Douglas, which was a major&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_manufacturer" target="_blank">aerospace manufacturing</a>&nbsp;corporation and&nbsp;<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_contractor" target="_blank">defense contractor</a>&nbsp;headquartered in St. Louis and was later acquired by Boeing in 1997.&nbsp;His father retired shortly after Boeing took over, he said, and the first thing the company did was cut health-care benefits to retirees.“As far as the strike goes, it’s high time to have a strike,” Clemens said. “It’s high time that Boeing is put in its place when it comes to supporting its own workers.”

‘Give us something fair’: Workers in Mo. picket outside Boeing facilities

NEW YORK and BURBANK, Calif. —&nbsp;ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), and the National Football League (NFL) on Tuesday announced a non-binding agreement under which ESPN will acquire NFL Network and certain other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL – including NFL’s linear RedZone Channel, and NFL Fantasy – &nbsp;in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. In addition to the sale of NFL Network, the NFL and ESPN are also entering into a second non-binding agreement, under which the NFL will license to ESPN certain NFL content and other intellectual property to be used by NFL Network and other assets, according to a media release from the league.

These transactions between America’s most popular sporting league and the world’s most innovative sports media leader are designed to set a new standard for how professional football is delivered, experienced and celebrated by fans.&nbsp;

“Today’s announcement paves the way for&nbsp;the world's leading sports media brand&nbsp;and America’s most popular sport to deliver an&nbsp;even more compelling experience for NFL fans, in a way that only ESPN and Disney can,” said Robert A. Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Commissioner Goodell and the NFL have built outstanding media assets,&nbsp;and these transactions will add to consumer choice, provide&nbsp;viewers with even greater convenience and quality, and expand the breadth&nbsp;and value&nbsp;proposition of Disney’s streaming ecosystem."

“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Whether it was debuting Thursday Night Football, televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. The Network’s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways.”

“This is an exciting day for sports fans,” said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN. “By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN’s reach and innovation, we’re creating a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game—anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN’s digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.”

This new relationship brings together some of the NFL’s premier media brands and fan-engagement platforms with ESPN’s deep experience in producing and distributing high-quality and innovative sports programming. ESPN intends to deploy its resources and expertise in the development of NFL Network, distribution of the RedZone Channel and fantasy, to expand audience reach, increase accessibility and flexibility for consumers, drive innovation, and offer even more high-quality content to fans at highly competitive prices. As a result of this sale, NFL programming will be available on more platforms than ever before, including ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) service, while remaining on cable, satellite and leading streaming providers. ESPN’s DTC offering will deliver an array of NFL content to subscribers.

The transactions are subject to the parties’ negotiation of definitive agreements, various approvals including by the NFL team owners, and customary closing conditions.

ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The terms “Company,” “we,” and “our” below and “Disney” above are used to refer collectively to The Walt Disney Company and the subsidiaries through which our various businesses are actually conducted.

Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward‐looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs and business plans; transactions for which conditions to close have not been satisfied, including entering into definitive agreements, regulatory or other approvals or other conditions; content, benefits and timing of future product offerings; consumer sentiment; and other statements that are not historical in nature. Any information that is not historical in nature is subject to change. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Management does not undertake any obligation to update these statements.&nbsp; Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company or the discovery of additional information, as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including: failure to enter into definitive agreements, obtain regulatory or other approvals or satisfy other conditions; other regulatory and legal developments; the availability of, and competition for, as applicable, programming, subscribers, talent and distribution channels; and consumer preferences and product acceptance. Additional factors are set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

NEW YORK and BURBANK, Calif. —&nbsp;ESPN, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), and the National Football League (NFL) on Tuesday announced a non-binding agreement under which ESPN will acquire NFL Network and certain other media assets owned and controlled by the NFL – including NFL’s linear RedZone Channel, and NFL Fantasy – &nbsp;in exchange for a 10% equity stake in ESPN. In addition to the sale of NFL Network, the NFL and ESPN are also entering into a second non-binding agreement, under which the NFL will license to ESPN certain NFL content and other intellectual property to be used by NFL Network and other assets, according to a media release from the league.These transactions between America’s most popular sporting league and the world’s most innovative sports media leader are designed to set a new standard for how professional football is delivered, experienced and celebrated by fans.&nbsp;“Today’s announcement paves the way for&nbsp;the world's leading sports media brand&nbsp;and America’s most popular sport to deliver an&nbsp;even more compelling experience for NFL fans, in a way that only ESPN and Disney can,” said Robert A. Iger, chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company. “Commissioner Goodell and the NFL have built outstanding media assets,&nbsp;and these transactions will add to consumer choice, provide&nbsp;viewers with even greater convenience and quality, and expand the breadth&nbsp;and value&nbsp;proposition of Disney’s streaming ecosystem."“Since its launch in 2003, NFL Network has provided millions of fans unprecedented access to the sport they love,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Whether it was debuting Thursday Night Football, televising the Combine, or telling incredible football stories through original shows and breaking news, NFL Network has delivered. The Network’s sale to ESPN will build on this remarkable legacy, providing more NFL football for more fans in new and innovative ways.”“This is an exciting day for sports fans,” said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN. “By combining these NFL media assets with ESPN’s reach and innovation, we’re creating a premier destination for football fans. Together, ESPN and the NFL are redefining how fans engage with the game—anytime, anywhere. This deal helps fuel ESPN’s digital future, laying the foundation for an even more robust offering as we prepare to launch our new direct-to-consumer service.”Additional DetailsThis new relationship brings together some of the NFL’s premier media brands and fan-engagement platforms with ESPN’s deep experience in producing and distributing high-quality and innovative sports programming. ESPN intends to deploy its resources and expertise in the development of NFL Network, distribution of the RedZone Channel and fantasy, to expand audience reach, increase accessibility and flexibility for consumers, drive innovation, and offer even more high-quality content to fans at highly competitive prices. As a result of this sale, NFL programming will be available on more platforms than ever before, including ESPN’s upcoming direct-to-consumer (“DTC”) service, while remaining on cable, satellite and leading streaming providers. ESPN’s DTC offering will deliver an array of NFL content to subscribers.Under the terms of these agreements:<ul>
 <li>NFL Network, including both linear and digital rights, would be owned and operated by ESPN and fully integrated into ESPN DTC, alongside traditional pay television distribution, increasing accessibility and flexibility for consumers and promoting innovation in sports programming.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>ESPN would own broad rights to the RedZone brand and distribute the NFL RedZone Channel to pay TV operators for continued inclusion into their sports packages.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>NFL Fantasy Football&nbsp;would merge with&nbsp;ESPN Fantasy Football, creating the official Fantasy season-long game of the NFL and one best-in-class digital experience, driving innovation and enabling broader reach to meet global demand.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>In total, ESPN’s platforms will license an additional three NFL games per season to air on NFL Network as a result of today’s news. In addition, ESPN will adjust its overall NFL game schedule, with four games (including some from overlapping windows) shifting to NFL Network, which will continue to present seven games per season.</li><li>The NFL will continue to own and operate its retained media businesses including properties such as NFL Films and key fan-facing platforms such as NFL+, NFL.com, the NFL Podcast Network, the NFL FAST Channel and the official sites for the league’s 32 clubs. It will also continue to own, operate, and produce NFL RedZone, and retain the rights to distribute NFL RedZone digitally.</li>
 </ul>The transactions are subject to the parties’ negotiation of definitive agreements, various approvals including by the NFL team owners, and customary closing conditions.ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by Hearst.&nbsp;&nbsp;Forward-Looking StatementsThe terms “Company,” “we,” and “our” below and “Disney” above are used to refer collectively to The Walt Disney Company and the subsidiaries through which our various businesses are actually conducted.Certain statements in this press release may constitute “forward‐looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding our expectations, beliefs and business plans; transactions for which conditions to close have not been satisfied, including entering into definitive agreements, regulatory or other approvals or other conditions; content, benefits and timing of future product offerings; consumer sentiment; and other statements that are not historical in nature. Any information that is not historical in nature is subject to change. These statements are made on the basis of management’s views and assumptions regarding future events and business performance as of the time the statements are made. Management does not undertake any obligation to update these statements.&nbsp; Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied. Such differences may result from actions taken by the Company or the discovery of additional information, as well as from developments beyond the Company’s control, including: failure to enter into definitive agreements, obtain regulatory or other approvals or satisfy other conditions; other regulatory and legal developments; the availability of, and competition for, as applicable, programming, subscribers, talent and distribution channels; and consumer preferences and product acceptance. Additional factors are set forth in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

ESPN agrees to buy NFL Network, RedZone Channel

WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, the Justice Department published a list of states, cities, and counties identified as having policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws, according to a media release from the agency.

“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.”

On April 28, 2025, President Trump signed&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2025%2F05%2F02%2F2025-07789%2Fprotecting-american-communities-from-criminal-aliens%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001987a7f581e-e7ba96f7-3157-46ed-b636-9a18a633f11b-000000/KqcWxCq5txkjLj4FN3wILy9JnLN0UPfYHgFEmGFB8jg=416" target="_blank">Executive Order 14287</a>: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens. The Executive Order recognized that “some State and local officials .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws” and “[i]t is imperative that the Federal Government restore the enforcement of United States law.” The Executive Order directed the Justice Department, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, to publish a list of such jurisdictions. Accordingly, the following states, cities, and counties have been identified as sanctuary jurisdictions:

In recent months, the Justice Department has filed several lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions seeking to compel compliance with federal law, including one against&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Ftrump-doj-sues-new-york-city-long-standing-sanctuary-immigration-policies%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001987a7f581e-e7ba96f7-3157-46ed-b636-9a18a633f11b-000000/J_vdm5wT7ACLngM1BP_E4yGI1aPj55iPtx9Xz4ZFeOc=416" target="_blank">New York City</a>&nbsp;on July 24th. Recently, the Mayor of Louisville agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fspectrumnews1.com%2Fky%2Flouisville%2Fnews%2F2025%2F07%2F22%2Flouisville-removed-sanctuary-city%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001987a7f581e-e7ba96f7-3157-46ed-b636-9a18a633f11b-000000/rdsDrqtgQU1MJpmKMMWuPdGGClU33IubYdGyRG92SLw=416" target="_blank">revoke their sanctuary policies</a>&nbsp;following a letter from the Justice Department threatening legal action.

Read more about the sanctuary jurisdiction list and the criteria for inclusion&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fag%2Fus-sanctuary-jurisdiction-list-following-executive-order-14287-protecting-american-communities%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001987a7f581e-e7ba96f7-3157-46ed-b636-9a18a633f11b-000000/oBy4iz3avRksViU27GTgcrYPIC4Rivpct3fYWGaxmDU=416" target="_blank">here</a>. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated as federal authorities gather further information. The federal government will assist any jurisdiction that desires to be taken off this list to identify and eliminate their sanctuary policies, so they no longer stand in opposition to federal immigration enforcement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754485085876.png" alt="U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi-courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi-courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, the Justice Department published a list of states, cities, and counties identified as having policies, laws, or regulations that impede enforcement of federal immigration laws, according to a media release from the agency.“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.”On April 28, 2025, President Trump signed&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.federalregister.gov%2Fdocuments%2F2025%2F05%2F02%2F2025-07789%2Fprotecting-american-communities-from-criminal-aliens%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001987a7f581e-e7ba96f7-3157-46ed-b636-9a18a633f11b-000000/KqcWxCq5txkjLj4FN3wILy9JnLN0UPfYHgFEmGFB8jg=416" target="_blank">Executive Order 14287</a>: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens. The Executive Order recognized that “some State and local officials .&nbsp;.&nbsp;. continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws” and “[i]t is imperative that the Federal Government restore the enforcement of United States law.” The Executive Order directed the Justice Department, in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security, to publish a list of such jurisdictions. Accordingly, the following states, cities, and counties have been identified as sanctuary jurisdictions:STATES:<ul>
 <li>California</li><li>Colorado</li><li>Connecticut</li><li>Delaware</li><li>District of Columbia</li><li>Illinois</li><li>Minnesota</li><li>Nevada</li><li>New York</li><li>Oregon</li><li>Rhode Island</li><li>Vermont</li><li>Washington</li>
 </ul>COUNTIES:<ul>
 <li>Baltimore County, MD</li><li>Cook County, IL</li><li>San Diego County, CA</li><li>San Francisco County, CA</li>
 </ul>CITIES:<ul>
 <li>Albuquerque, NM</li><li>Berkeley, CA</li><li>Boston, MA</li><li>Chicago, IL</li><li>Denver, CO</li><li>East Lansing, MI</li><li>Hoboken, NJ</li><li>Jersey City, NJ</li><li>Los Angeles, CA</li><li>New Orleans, LA</li><li>New York City, NY</li><li>Newark, NJ</li><li>Paterson, NJ</li><li>Philadelphia, PA</li><li>Portland, OR</li><li>Rochester, NY</li><li>Seattle, WA</li><li>San Francisco City, CA</li>
 </ul>In recent months, the Justice Department has filed several lawsuits against sanctuary jurisdictions seeking to compel compliance with federal law, including one against&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Ftrump-doj-sues-new-york-city-long-standing-sanctuary-immigration-policies%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001987a7f581e-e7ba96f7-3157-46ed-b636-9a18a633f11b-000000/J_vdm5wT7ACLngM1BP_E4yGI1aPj55iPtx9Xz4ZFeOc=416" target="_blank">New York City</a>&nbsp;on July 24th. Recently, the Mayor of Louisville agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fspectrumnews1.com%2Fky%2Flouisville%2Fnews%2F2025%2F07%2F22%2Flouisville-removed-sanctuary-city%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001987a7f581e-e7ba96f7-3157-46ed-b636-9a18a633f11b-000000/rdsDrqtgQU1MJpmKMMWuPdGGClU33IubYdGyRG92SLw=416" target="_blank">revoke their sanctuary policies</a>&nbsp;following a letter from the Justice Department threatening legal action.Read more about the sanctuary jurisdiction list and the criteria for inclusion&nbsp;<a href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fag%2Fus-sanctuary-jurisdiction-list-following-executive-order-14287-protecting-american-communities%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/010001987a7f581e-e7ba96f7-3157-46ed-b636-9a18a633f11b-000000/oBy4iz3avRksViU27GTgcrYPIC4Rivpct3fYWGaxmDU=416" target="_blank">here</a>. This list is not exhaustive and will be updated as federal authorities gather further information. The federal government will assist any jurisdiction that desires to be taken off this list to identify and eliminate their sanctuary policies, so they no longer stand in opposition to federal immigration enforcement.

Justice Department publishes new list of "sanctuary" jurisdictions

COMANCHE COUNTY —A suspect wanted in North Dakota is in custody in Kansas after a traffic stop in Comanche County.

On Monday afternoon, Sheriff's Deputy Stetsen Underwood conducted a traffic stop for a speeding violation, according to a social media report from the&nbsp;Comanche County Sheriff’s Office.

 During the stop, Deputy Underwood identified the driver as a wanted fugitive with an active warrant out of North Dakota for Rape, Kidnapping, and Aggravated Assault. 

The suspect, identified from online jail records as 24-year-old Fredi Barrientos Garcia was taken into custody without incident

He is currently being held without bond pending extradition.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754420720068.png" alt="Garcia-photo Kiowa Co." />
 <figcaption>Garcia-photo Kiowa Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>COMANCHE COUNTY —A suspect wanted in North Dakota is in custody in Kansas after a traffic stop in Comanche County.On Monday afternoon, Sheriff's Deputy Stetsen Underwood conducted a traffic stop for a speeding violation, according to a social media report from the&nbsp;Comanche County Sheriff’s Office. During the stop, Deputy Underwood identified the driver as a wanted fugitive with an active warrant out of North Dakota for Rape, Kidnapping, and Aggravated Assault. The suspect, identified from online jail records as 24-year-old Fredi Barrientos Garcia was taken into custody without incidentHe is currently being held without bond pending extradition.&nbsp;

North Dakota man wanted for alleged rape, kidnapping captured in Kansas

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We reviewed the science, listened to the experts, and acted. BARDA is terminating 22 mRNA vaccine development investments because the data show these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu. We’re shifting that funding toward… <a href="https://t.co/GPKbuU7ywN">pic.twitter.com/GPKbuU7ywN</a>&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1952851097019633766?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Why RFK Jr. pulled $500 million in funding for vaccine development

KANSAS CITY —A repeat offender in Kansas City is going back to prison for a long time.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2693/Brown-Otis-2416-CR04140-01-JT-Def-Sent-Judg-Rdctd">Otis W. Brown</a>, 49, was sentenced to 18.5 years in prison&nbsp; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Dangerous Felon, Property Damage, and Interference with the Legal Process, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

On September 25, 2024,&nbsp; police arrested Brown. He reached into his waistband as he ran from police and officers later found a gun where he had run.

“When officers later attempted to obtain a court-ordered DNA sample to determine whether the firearm was his, Brown refused to comply and flipped chairs and a table inside the interview room, causing damage to the walls,” according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

Brown was previously identified as a SAVE KC individual. SAVE KC is a focused deterrence program that focuses on those involved in or at-risk of becoming involved in violent crime and offers resources and support for them to prevent them living a life of crime, while making it clear that continued participation in crime will result in swift and certain consequences.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740759587497.png" alt="Brown photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Brown photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A repeat offender in Kansas City is going back to prison for a long time.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2693/Brown-Otis-2416-CR04140-01-JT-Def-Sent-Judg-Rdctd">Otis W. Brown</a>, 49, was sentenced to 18.5 years in prison&nbsp; Unlawful Possession of a Firearm – Dangerous Felon, Property Damage, and Interference with the Legal Process, according to the Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.On September 25, 2024,&nbsp; police arrested Brown. He reached into his waistband as he ran from police and officers later found a gun where he had run.“When officers later attempted to obtain a court-ordered DNA sample to determine whether the firearm was his, Brown refused to comply and flipped chairs and a table inside the interview room, causing damage to the walls,” according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.Brown was previously identified as a SAVE KC individual. SAVE KC is a focused deterrence program that focuses on those involved in or at-risk of becoming involved in violent crime and offers resources and support for them to prevent them living a life of crime, while making it clear that continued participation in crime will result in swift and certain consequences.&nbsp;

Kansas City repeat offender refused court ordered DNA sample

CLAY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Tuesday in Clay County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Freightliner drump truck driven by a 33-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man was southbound on U.S. 69 at Cameron Road. The driver failed to yield at the intersection and struck a 2013 Ford Transit van driven by a 74-year-old Liberty, Missouri, woman.&nbsp; After impact the van traveled off the road and overturned.

The van driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. The dump truck driver was not injured. The van driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754438172374.png" alt="Image from the accident scene&nbsp; courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Image from the accident scene&nbsp; courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>CLAY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Tuesday in Clay County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Freightliner drump truck driven by a 33-year-old Kansas City, Missouri man was southbound on U.S. 69 at Cameron Road. The driver failed to yield at the intersection and struck a 2013 Ford Transit van driven by a 74-year-old Liberty, Missouri, woman.&nbsp; After impact the van traveled off the road and overturned.The van driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Forensic Medical. The dump truck driver was not injured. The van driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri woman dies after crash with a dump truck

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ashley-murray/">Ashley Murray</a>&nbsp;-

WASHINGTON — The House Committee on Oversight issued subpoenas Tuesday for testimony from former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among other ex-government officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations, regarding knowledge of Florida sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Committee Chair James Comer of Kentucky also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26040557-20250805-subpoena-and-schedule-to-doj/" target="_blank">subpoenaed</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Department of Justice for records of Epstein’s federal sex trafficking investigation. Comer gave the department until Aug. 19 to turn over the files.

Comer issued the subpoenas following bipartisan committee support in late July to compel the release of records after President Donald Trump backtracked on his promise to open the files.

Epstein, who pleaded guilty to sex crimes in Florida in 2008, died in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting federal trial on sex trafficking charges. Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of a wealthy media mogul, is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison for her role in the sex trafficking scheme.

The former financier had surrounded himself with wealthy and powerful figures, including Trump and the Clintons, among many other influential people.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26040555-20250805-subpoena-cover-letters/" target="_blank">letters</a>&nbsp;to several former government officials, Comer wrote that congressional oversight of the government’s investigation of Epstein is “imperative.”

“The Committee may use the results of this investigation to inform legislative solutions to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements in sex-crime investigations. Given your past relationships with Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell, the Committee believes that you have information regarding their activities that is relevant to the Committee’s investigation,” according to the letters.

In addition to the Clintons, Comer also subpoenaed testimony from:

Comer outlined a span of deadlines for the depositions into early October.

Comer previously subpoenaed Maxwell for an Aug. 11 deposition. The Kentucky lawmaker denied Maxwell’s request for immunity but agreed to delay her testimony to the committee, according to multiple media&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/08/01/congress/maxwell-hearing-postponed-00489019" target="_blank">reports</a>.

Attention on the federal case against Epstein swelled after the Justice Department, under current Attorney General Pam Bondi, declined to publicly release case files, as Trump had promised on the campaign trail.

According to an unsigned July 7 Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl?inline" target="_blank">memo</a>, “a systemic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list,’” and department and FBI officials concluded that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”

The declaration sparked an uproar among lawmakers and Trump’s voter base, including some in his own administration. The president’s supporters, and Trump himself, have long been fixated on what they describe as the “Epstein files,” with some perpetuating conspiracy theories.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana sent lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-gop-scatter-early-august-break-amid-pressure-epstein-files" target="_blank">home early</a>&nbsp;for August break to avoid votes compelling the release of material.&nbsp;

Details of the president’s past relationship with Epstein also surfaced, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796?mod=Searchresults_pos1&amp;page=1" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the Wall Street Journal that Trump gave the financier a 50th birthday note featuring a cryptic message and the outline of a naked woman with Trump’s signature mimicking pubic hair. The president denied making the note and swiftly sued the Journal.

The outlet also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/justice-department-told-trump-name-in-epstein-files-727a8038?mod=hp_lead_pos1" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that Bondi briefed Trump in May that his name appeared in the Epstein materials. The context in which Trump appeared in the files is unknown.

Trump has since called for the release of grand jury testimony in the case, which a Florida judge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/23/nx-s1-5477567/jeffrey-epstein-transcripts-florida" target="_blank">denied</a>.

Trump also dispatched Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense lawyer, to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/tumult-over-epstein-files-dogs-trump-both-dc-and-florida" target="_blank">interview</a>&nbsp;Maxwell in Florida where she was being held.

The administration has since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czd049y2qymo" target="_blank">moved</a>&nbsp;Maxwell to a Texas facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein photo NY Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein photo NY Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ashley-murray/">Ashley Murray</a>&nbsp;-WASHINGTON — The House Committee on Oversight issued subpoenas Tuesday for testimony from former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, among other ex-government officials from both Democratic and Republican administrations, regarding knowledge of Florida sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754412751686.png" alt="File image Hillary Clinton from the Aug. 2024 funeral for Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee-courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File image Hillary Clinton from the Aug. 2024 funeral for Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee-courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>Committee Chair James Comer of Kentucky also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26040557-20250805-subpoena-and-schedule-to-doj/" target="_blank">subpoenaed</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Department of Justice for records of Epstein’s federal sex trafficking investigation. Comer gave the department until Aug. 19 to turn over the files.Comer issued the subpoenas following bipartisan committee support in late July to compel the release of records after President Donald Trump backtracked on his promise to open the files.Epstein, who pleaded guilty to sex crimes in Florida in 2008, died in a New York City jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting federal trial on sex trafficking charges. Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, daughter of a wealthy media mogul, is serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison for her role in the sex trafficking scheme.The former financier had surrounded himself with wealthy and powerful figures, including Trump and the Clintons, among many other influential people.<h2>Subpoena list</h2>In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26040555-20250805-subpoena-cover-letters/" target="_blank">letters</a>&nbsp;to several former government officials, Comer wrote that congressional oversight of the government’s investigation of Epstein is “imperative.”“The Committee may use the results of this investigation to inform legislative solutions to improve federal efforts to combat sex trafficking and reform the use of non-prosecution agreements and/or plea agreements in sex-crime investigations. Given your past relationships with Mr. Epstein and Ms. Maxwell, the Committee believes that you have information regarding their activities that is relevant to the Committee’s investigation,” according to the letters.In addition to the Clintons, Comer also subpoenaed testimony from:<ul>
 <li>Former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland</li><li>Former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr</li><li>Former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions</li><li>Former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch</li><li>Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder</li><li>Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales</li><li>Former FBI Director James Comey</li><li>Former FBI Director Robert Mueller</li>
 </ul>Comer outlined a span of deadlines for the depositions into early October.Comer previously subpoenaed Maxwell for an Aug. 11 deposition. The Kentucky lawmaker denied Maxwell’s request for immunity but agreed to delay her testimony to the committee, according to multiple media&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/08/01/congress/maxwell-hearing-postponed-00489019" target="_blank">reports</a>.<h2>Bondi won’t release Epstein files</h2>Attention on the federal case against Epstein swelled after the Justice Department, under current Attorney General Pam Bondi, declined to publicly release case files, as Trump had promised on the campaign trail.According to an unsigned July 7 Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1407001/dl?inline" target="_blank">memo</a>, “a systemic review revealed no incriminating ‘client list,’” and department and FBI officials concluded that “no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted.”The declaration sparked an uproar among lawmakers and Trump’s voter base, including some in his own administration. The president’s supporters, and Trump himself, have long been fixated on what they describe as the “Epstein files,” with some perpetuating conspiracy theories.House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana sent lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-gop-scatter-early-august-break-amid-pressure-epstein-files" target="_blank">home early</a>&nbsp;for August break to avoid votes compelling the release of material.&nbsp;Details of the president’s past relationship with Epstein also surfaced, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/trump-jeffrey-epstein-birthday-letter-we-have-certain-things-in-common-f918d796?mod=Searchresults_pos1&amp;page=1" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from the Wall Street Journal that Trump gave the financier a 50th birthday note featuring a cryptic message and the outline of a naked woman with Trump’s signature mimicking pubic hair. The president denied making the note and swiftly sued the Journal.The outlet also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/justice-department-told-trump-name-in-epstein-files-727a8038?mod=hp_lead_pos1" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;that Bondi briefed Trump in May that his name appeared in the Epstein materials. The context in which Trump appeared in the files is unknown.Trump has since called for the release of grand jury testimony in the case, which a Florida judge&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/23/nx-s1-5477567/jeffrey-epstein-transcripts-florida" target="_blank">denied</a>.Trump also dispatched Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, his former criminal defense lawyer, to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/tumult-over-epstein-files-dogs-trump-both-dc-and-florida" target="_blank">interview</a>&nbsp;Maxwell in Florida where she was being held.The administration has since&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czd049y2qymo" target="_blank">moved</a>&nbsp;Maxwell to a Texas facility.

US House panel subpoenas DOJ’s Epstein files, Bill and Hillary Clinton

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is bringing back a physical fitness test to public schools after over a decade, but details of the new test, including timing and implementation, remain to be seen.

Trump signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/presidents-council-on-sports-fitness-and-nutrition-and-the-reesetablishment-of-the-presidential-fitness-test/" target="_blank">an executive order</a>&nbsp;July 31 that reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test — a source of both fear and achievement among youth — and committed to revitalizing the “President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition,” which would develop the test.

“Rates of obesity, chronic disease, inactivity, and poor nutrition are at crisis levels, particularly among our children,” the executive order notes. “These trends weaken our economy, military readiness, academic performance, and national morale.”

The president designated Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to administer the test.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is bringing back a physical fitness test to public schools after over a decade, but details of the new test, including timing and implementation, remain to be seen.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a> on the Presidential Fitness Test: &quot;We need to re-instill that spirit of competition and that commitment to nutrition and physical fitness — and I&#39;m so grateful to <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> for your leadership in bringing this back for our country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/f0KOxlwsdJ">pic.twitter.com/f0KOxlwsdJ</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1951020726292545607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/07/presidents-council-on-sports-fitness-and-nutrition-and-the-reesetablishment-of-the-presidential-fitness-test/" target="_blank">an executive order</a>&nbsp;July 31 that reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test — a source of both fear and achievement among youth — and committed to revitalizing the “President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition,” which would develop the test.“Rates of obesity, chronic disease, inactivity, and poor nutrition are at crisis levels, particularly among our children,” the executive order notes. “These trends weaken our economy, military readiness, academic performance, and national morale.”The president designated Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to administer the test.The council is tasked with creating “school-based programs that reward excellence in physical education and develop criteria for a Presidential Fitness Award,” according to a White House&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/07/fact-sheet-presidents-council-on-sports-fitness-and-nutrition-and-the-reestablishment-of-the-presidential-fitness-test/" target="_blank">fact sheet</a>.<h2>Expert hopes for ‘holistic’ revamp</h2>The order did not provide any details on what the test will look like or how or when it will roll out.Laura Richardson, a clinical associate professor of kinesiology at the University of Michigan, said she hoped to see an updated version of the test that focused more on level of activity than on a student’s performance.“I’m hopeful that maybe it will be reevaluated and revised and really have some tools that don’t just look at how fast you are or how strong you are, but more holistic in the tools we need to get our children to be active in childhood that should then continue through the trajectory into adulthood,” Richardson told States Newsroom.Richardson added that testing alone would not be sufficient to see improvement in kids’ physical fitness, and called for increasing resources to schools to help students be more active.“Sedentary behavior is really widespread — we’re seeing increasing obesity among all ages,” Richardson told States Newsroom. “We can test … but if we’re not giving the tools to the teachers and the students and the parents, we may continue to see the same data.”<h2>Bill would codify test</h2>Rep. Jeff Van Drew&nbsp;<a href="https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1887" target="_blank">announced last week</a>&nbsp;that he will introduce a bill to codify Trump’s executive order.In a statement, the New Jersey Republican said he coordinated with the administration, including Kennedy, when writing the bill.“Every parent wants their kid to grow up strong and healthy,” he added. “This bill is about making sure they are given the tools to do just that.”<h2>Latest version of test</h2>The Presidential Fitness Test dates back to President Dwight Eisenhower, who set up the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/executive-order-10673-fitness-american-youth" target="_blank">President’s Council on Youth Fitness</a>&nbsp;in 1956 following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vox.com/2015/4/24/8489501/presidential-fitness-test" target="_blank">alarming findings</a>&nbsp;on the state of youth fitness in the United States compared to youth in European nations.The test initially included sit-ups, a mile run, a shuttle run, pull-ups or push-ups and a sit-and-reach, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/exercise-and-fitness/taking-the-presidential-physical-fitness-test" target="_blank">Harvard Health</a>.Since then, the test has seen several versions. The most recent major revamp was in 2012, when President Barack Obama’s administration replaced the Presidential Fitness Test with the&nbsp;<a href="https://fitness.foundation/presidential-youth-fitness-program-2" target="_blank">Presidential Youth Fitness Program</a>, which aimed for a more individualized and health-focused approach.The program, which came after criticism of the Presidential Fitness Test and concerns about its psychological effects on youth, aimed to minimize “comparisons between children and instead supports students as they pursue personal fitness goals for lifelong health,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://odphp.health.gov/pcsfn/programs-awards/presidential-youth-fitness-program" target="_blank">Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion</a>&nbsp;within the Department of Health and Human Services.&nbsp;President John F. Kennedy, an uncle of the current HHS secretary, expanded on Eisenhower’s efforts. In a&nbsp;<a href="https://archive.org/stream/the-soft-american-kennedy/The%20Soft%20American%20-%20Kennedy_djvu.txt" target="_blank">1960 essay</a>, “The Soft American,” the president-elect at the time described physical fitness as a “vital prerequisite to America’s realization of its full potential as a nation.”According to HHS’&nbsp;<a href="https://odphp.health.gov/pcsfn/history-council" target="_blank">Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion</a>, President Kennedy also promoted “taking the 50 mile hikes previously required of U.S. Marine officers” in a national public service advertising campaign.President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Presidential Physical Fitness Award Program in 1966 for “exceptional achievement by 10- to 17-year-old boys and girls,” per HHS.&nbsp;