TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) executed numerous search warrants in cities across the state at vape shops and CBD dispensaries to seize products being sold illegally in Kansas, according to a media release from the agency.

On Wednesday,&nbsp; Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and KBI Director Tony Mattivi announced KBI agents began a statewide enforcement operation, along with law enforcement partners, to seize marijuana vegetation, THC vape cartridges, and other items containing suspected illegal concentrations of THC (as prohibited in KSA 21-5705, and KSA 2-3908). In some instances, weapons and currency were also seized.

When these investigations conclude, the KBI will submit case findings to the prosecutor of jurisdiction for each charging decisions. Possible charges could include unlawful distribution of controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with the intent to sell.

“These illegal substances are in our homes, in our schools, and in the hands of our children. They are so widely-accessible that some Kansans are under the impression they are safe,” said KBI Director Tony Mattivi. “Anyone who sells illicit products poses a direct and unacceptable threat to the health and safety of our most vulnerable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove these poisons from our streets.”

“These are brazen illegal activities. Not only are many of these stores selling illegal THC vapes, they are also selling pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes. The law is the law in Kansas, and it will be enforced,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. "A young teen attempting to purchase tobacco would meet more resistance than they would if buying marijuana from one of the shops included in today’s operation."

<p>TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) executed numerous search warrants in cities across the state at vape shops and CBD dispensaries to seize products being sold illegally in Kansas, according to a media release from the agency.</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741774631945.png" alt="Google image" />
                        <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>On Wednesday,&nbsp; Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and KBI Director Tony Mattivi announced KBI agents began a statewide enforcement operation, along with law enforcement partners, to seize marijuana vegetation, THC vape cartridges, and other items containing suspected illegal concentrations of THC (as prohibited in KSA 21-5705, and KSA 2-3908). In some instances, weapons and currency were also seized.</p><p>When these investigations conclude, the KBI will submit case findings to the prosecutor of jurisdiction for each charging decisions. Possible charges could include unlawful distribution of controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with the intent to sell.</p><p>“These illegal substances are in our homes, in our schools, and in the hands of our children. They are so widely-accessible that some Kansans are under the impression they are safe,” said KBI Director Tony Mattivi. “Anyone who sells illicit products poses a direct and unacceptable threat to the health and safety of our most vulnerable. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove these poisons from our streets.”</p><p>“These are brazen illegal activities. Not only are many of these stores selling illegal THC vapes, they are also selling pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes. The law is the law in Kansas, and it will be enforced,” said Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach. "A young teen attempting to purchase tobacco would meet more resistance than they would if buying marijuana from one of the shops included in today’s operation."</p>

KBI conducts statewide marijuana enforcement operation

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshmerchant/">Josh Merchant</a>

A large majority of Jackson County voters have&nbsp;cast ballots to recall County Executive Frank White Jr. Preliminary results from Sept. 30 reveal 85% of voters supported the recall.

The open question is whether those results will stand up against ongoing legal challenges.

As soon as the vote is certified, White’s position will be considered immediately vacant and the campaign for the next county executive — which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/24/jackson-county-executive-frank-white-recall-replacement/" target="_blank">quietly happening behind the scenes for weeks</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;will kick into high gear.

But it’s possible that the election result may not be certified soon.

You may have noticed that this year’s recall election was scheduled for an unusual September election date — instead of the normal schedule in early April, June, August or November. (Special bond elections sometimes happen in February, as well.)

Elections are almost always on those regularly scheduled election days.

That could explain why voter turnout was relatively low. White was voted out of office yesterday by just 16% of Jackson County voters — compared to the 48% that turned out in the 2022 general election where White won reelection. In Kansas City specifically, turnout for the Frank White recall was even lower at 11%.

White and the Kansas City and Jackson County election boards argue that a Sept. 30 election is not just unusual, but illegal. And that could spell doom for the recall vote if a judge agrees with them.

A judge initially set the Sept. 30 date as a compromise with the recall campaign, which initially wanted to set the date for Aug. 26. The election boards argued in court that scheduling an August election on such short notice would disenfranchise military and overseas voters, who would not have received their ballots in time.

Now, White’s lawyer is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=SC101299&amp;inputVO.courtId=OSCDB0024_SUP#docket" target="_blank">asking the Missouri Supreme Court directly</a>&nbsp;to stop the election boards from certifying the vote until they hear the case.

Here’s how that could affect Tuesday’s vote.

Why did the election boards sue to reschedule the election?

The Jackson County Legislature initially ordered the election to be held on Aug. 26 after approving the ballot language in early July.

That’s based on a requirement set by an&nbsp;<a href="https://jacksonco.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6313464&amp;GUID=48E9CAB8-5E5B-4FF1-9C1B-E6FEB76EC474&amp;Options=ID%7CText%7C&amp;Search=5782&amp;FullText=1" target="_blank">ordinance in 2023</a>&nbsp;that a special recall election be held within 60 days after signatures are filed.

But both the Kansas City Election Board and the Jackson County Election Board objected.

Those offices, which operate independently from White and the rest of county government, said that wasn’t enough time to prepare an election.

Military ballots would have needed to be mailed out just days later, and the boards would have had only about a week to prepare for absentee voting to begin.

DaRon McGee, chair of the county Legislature, was not sympathetic. McGee is one of the candidates vying to replace White now that he has been recalled.

“I am deeply concerned by reports that this election may not move forward on the timeline the law requires,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-07-08/jackson-county-election-board-frank-white-recall-election-almost-impossible-legislature-voting" target="_blank">he told KCUR in a statement at the time</a>. “The Legislature has done its part. We now look to the executive branch and the election board(s) to fulfill their roles.”

They argued that Missouri law only allows counties to schedule elections on regular election days — in February, April, August or November, unless otherwise specified in a city or county charter. The Aug. 5 election was already underway, so they asked a judge to reschedule the election for Nov. 4.

Notably,&nbsp;<a href="https://jcebmo.org/election-information/election-results/" target="_blank">every countywide Jackson County election for the past 27 years</a>&nbsp;has occurred the Tuesday after the first Monday of February, April, August or November.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kceb.org/elections/election-results/" target="_blank">same generally goes for elections in Kansas City</a>, which also schedules City Council elections in April and June under the city’s charter. The only recent exceptions were elections related to the streetcar in October 2017, December 2012 and on a Friday in August 2008.

The Jackson County circuit judge, Marty W. Seaton, ultimately&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2516-CV21560-Order%20and%20Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=28506132" target="_blank">disagreed with the election boards</a>.

He said that Missouri statute&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.123" target="_blank">carves out an exception</a>&nbsp;for elections that are authorized by a county’s charter. He argued that meant the 2023 Jackson County ordinance allowed a recall to happen outside of those dates in order to meet the 60-day requirement.

But he said an Aug. 26 election would still be too soon because military and overseas voters wouldn’t get their ballots in time, which would be unconstitutional. So he set a compromise date of Sept. 30.

The election boards wanted to appeal, but a procedural move made that impossible.

Weeks earlier, while the case was playing out, White joined the lawsuit, arguing that the recall petition signatures themselves were illegal because some of the signature gatherers were not Missouri residents.

The judge heard arguments on the election date, but he set aside the issue of the out-of-state signature gatherers.

And because that issue remains unresolved, Seaton&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2516-CV21560-Order%20On%20Rule%2074_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=28780431" target="_blank">has not certified his ruling yet</a>. That locked the election boards out of immediately appealing to a higher court.

So on Sept. 26, White’s lawyers tried a different maneuver.

They filed a lawsuit directly with the Western District Court of Appeals asking it to postpone the election until November because the election boards have not been able to appeal the circuit judge’s interpretation of the law.

“The election is imminent, and the trial court refused to certify its ruling for appeal,” White’s lawyers wrote. “Unless this Court intervenes, an unlawful election will proceed, wasting taxpayer resources, confusing voters, and undermining public confidence in Missouri elections.”

If this legal precedent stands, they argued, it would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Statement%20In%20Support%20of%20Petition%20for%20Writ%20of%20Prohibition%20and%20or%20Mandamus.PDF?courtCode=WA&amp;di=500996" target="_blank">waste taxpayer dollars and confuse voters</a>. If Jackson County can set an election for any day of the year, voters who are less tuned in to county politics may not even know that they’re missing an election.

The judge at the Western District Court of Appeals declined to take up the case. So now they’re taking it to the Missouri Supreme Court.

White’s lawyers filed a lawsuit against Seaton, the Jackson County circuit judge, just hours before the polls closed on Sept. 30, arguing that the election was illegally scheduled. They argued that proceeding with the election before the legal challenges are resolved would create chaos and distrust.

“Once results are released, the damage to public confidence cannot be undone,”<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Statement%20in%20Support%20of%20Petition%20for%20Writ%20of%20Prohibition%20andor%20Mandamus.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=212794" target="_blank">&nbsp;the lawyers argued in their lawsuit filed with the Missouri Supreme Court</a>. “Securing ballots until this Court resolves the legal issues preserves the integrity of both the vote and the judicial process.”

Phil LeVota, an attorney representing the recall effort in court who is also a candidate to become county executive if White is recalled, believes that Seaton’s ruling is strong enough to hold up in an appeal.

“He made a pretty good order where he really cited a lot of case law,” he said. “The charter says 60 days, and I’m going to err on the side of getting it in front of people sooner than later. And there’s no downside to having (the election) on Sept. 30.”

But White’s lawyers point to a 2002 precedent when a court ruled that a “floating timeframe” (like the 60-day requirement set by the 2023 ordinance) does not qualify as a specific election date authorized by law.

The Jackson County Circuit Court judge believes that the Sept. 30 election date was legal. But no other judges have given a legal opinion to back it up.

There are still a couple of legal avenues for White and the election boards to challenge the results.

The first option is the most recent Missouri Supreme Court case. White asked the judge to prevent the election boards from certifying the election results until the legal questions are resolved. That would keep White in office as county executive until the judges decide whether the election was legal.

The second option is that the election boards appeal the case once the circuit judge certifies his ruling. At that point, the Western District Court of Appeals — and potentially the Missouri Supreme Court —&nbsp;would hear the case and decide whether Seaton was correct in setting the election for Sept. 30.

The third option is for White to challenge the election results by suing the election boards. He could argue that there is reason to believe the election was unlawfully administered, and he could cite the election boards’ own argument in court earlier this year that Sept. 30 was not a legal date for an election.

If any of those judges decides that Sept. 30 was an illegal date to hold an election, the court could order another election for a redo. At this point, that likely would not happen until April 2026.

This wouldn’t be the first time that a ballot question had to go to voters for a redo.

In November 2022, Missouri voters voted on a constitutional amendment to force Kansas City to increase its level of police funding from 20% of its budget to 25%.

That constitutional amendment, put on the ballot by the Missouri General Assembly, passed by a wide margin —&nbsp;nearly two-thirds of Missourians voted “yes.”

But then the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the ballot language was misleading. So a judge struck down the measure and ordered a new election with updated ballot language.

It still passed, but by a much smaller margin —&nbsp;by about 24,000 votes, or 2.2%.

With these legal questions looming, a messy scenario rests on the horizon.

Imagine that the election boards certify the vote later this week or next week. The county executive position is vacated, and the county Legislature appoints a replacement.

Meanwhile, the appeals court or the Missouri Supreme Court takes up White’s case about whether Sept. 30 was a legal date to hold an election.

And suppose they rule in White’s favor —&nbsp;that elections must be scheduled only on days that are specifically outlined by Missouri statute or the county charter.

That would mean that legally, White never should have been removed from office. And Jackson County would then have two county executives.

LeVota believes the circuit judge’s ruling is compelling enough that an appeals court or the state Supreme Court would back it up. But he acknowledged the possibility of a political crisis as a result of the ongoing litigation around the recall.

“The appeals court could come back,” LeVota said, “and say, ‘You know what, we don’t think the trial judge was right. We think it should have been a November election. We’re throwing that entire election out, and we’ll have to do a new one.’ That could definitely, definitely happen.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/30/frank-white-recall-results-legal-challenges/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752668060379.png" alt="Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. (Courtesy of Jackson County)" />
                        <figcaption>Jackson County Executive Frank White Jr. (Courtesy of Jackson County)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/joshmerchant/">Josh Merchant</a></p><p>A large majority of Jackson County voters have&nbsp;cast ballots to recall County Executive Frank White Jr. Preliminary results from Sept. 30 reveal 85% of voters supported the recall.</p><p>The open question is whether those results will stand up against ongoing legal challenges.</p><p>As soon as the vote is certified, White’s position will be considered immediately vacant and the campaign for the next county executive — which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/24/jackson-county-executive-frank-white-recall-replacement/" target="_blank">quietly happening behind the scenes for weeks</a>&nbsp;—&nbsp;will kick into high gear.</p><p>But it’s possible that the election result may not be certified soon.</p><p>You may have noticed that this year’s recall election was scheduled for an unusual September election date — instead of the normal schedule in early April, June, August or November. (Special bond elections sometimes happen in February, as well.)</p><p>Elections are almost always on those regularly scheduled election days.</p><p>That could explain why voter turnout was relatively low. White was voted out of office yesterday by just 16% of Jackson County voters — compared to the 48% that turned out in the 2022 general election where White won reelection. In Kansas City specifically, turnout for the Frank White recall was even lower at 11%.</p><p>White and the Kansas City and Jackson County election boards argue that a Sept. 30 election is not just unusual, but illegal. And that could spell doom for the recall vote if a judge agrees with them.</p><p>A judge initially set the Sept. 30 date as a compromise with the recall campaign, which initially wanted to set the date for Aug. 26. The election boards argued in court that scheduling an August election on such short notice would disenfranchise military and overseas voters, who would not have received their ballots in time.</p><p>Now, White’s lawyer is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=SC101299&amp;inputVO.courtId=OSCDB0024_SUP#docket" target="_blank">asking the Missouri Supreme Court directly</a>&nbsp;to stop the election boards from certifying the vote until they hear the case.</p><p>Here’s how that could affect Tuesday’s vote.</p><h2>Why did the election boards sue to reschedule the election?</h2><p>The Jackson County Legislature initially ordered the election to be held on Aug. 26 after approving the ballot language in early July.</p><p>That’s based on a requirement set by an&nbsp;<a href="https://jacksonco.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6313464&amp;GUID=48E9CAB8-5E5B-4FF1-9C1B-E6FEB76EC474&amp;Options=ID%7CText%7C&amp;Search=5782&amp;FullText=1" target="_blank">ordinance in 2023</a>&nbsp;that a special recall election be held within 60 days after signatures are filed.</p><p>But both the Kansas City Election Board and the Jackson County Election Board objected.</p><p>Those offices, which operate independently from White and the rest of county government, said that wasn’t enough time to prepare an election.</p><p>Military ballots would have needed to be mailed out just days later, and the boards would have had only about a week to prepare for absentee voting to begin.</p><p>DaRon McGee, chair of the county Legislature, was not sympathetic. McGee is one of the candidates vying to replace White now that he has been recalled.</p><p>“I am deeply concerned by reports that this election may not move forward on the timeline the law requires,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-07-08/jackson-county-election-board-frank-white-recall-election-almost-impossible-legislature-voting" target="_blank">he told KCUR in a statement at the time</a>. “The Legislature has done its part. We now look to the executive branch and the election board(s) to fulfill their roles.”</p><p>So the election boards sued.</p><p>They argued that Missouri law only allows counties to schedule elections on regular election days — in February, April, August or November, unless otherwise specified in a city or county charter. The Aug. 5 election was already underway, so they asked a judge to reschedule the election for Nov. 4.</p><p>Notably,&nbsp;<a href="https://jcebmo.org/election-information/election-results/" target="_blank">every countywide Jackson County election for the past 27 years</a>&nbsp;has occurred the Tuesday after the first Monday of February, April, August or November.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kceb.org/elections/election-results/" target="_blank">same generally goes for elections in Kansas City</a>, which also schedules City Council elections in April and June under the city’s charter. The only recent exceptions were elections related to the streetcar in October 2017, December 2012 and on a Friday in August 2008.</p><p>The Jackson County circuit judge, Marty W. Seaton, ultimately&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2516-CV21560-Order%20and%20Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=28506132" target="_blank">disagreed with the election boards</a>.</p><p>He said that Missouri statute&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.123" target="_blank">carves out an exception</a>&nbsp;for elections that are authorized by a county’s charter. He argued that meant the 2023 Jackson County ordinance allowed a recall to happen outside of those dates in order to meet the 60-day requirement.</p><p>But he said an Aug. 26 election would still be too soon because military and overseas voters wouldn’t get their ballots in time, which would be unconstitutional. So he set a compromise date of Sept. 30.</p><h2>The legal battle continues</h2><p>The election boards wanted to appeal, but a procedural move made that impossible.</p><p>Weeks earlier, while the case was playing out, White joined the lawsuit, arguing that the recall petition signatures themselves were illegal because some of the signature gatherers were not Missouri residents.</p><p>The judge heard arguments on the election date, but he set aside the issue of the out-of-state signature gatherers.</p><p>And because that issue remains unresolved, Seaton&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2516-CV21560-Order%20On%20Rule%2074_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=28780431" target="_blank">has not certified his ruling yet</a>. That locked the election boards out of immediately appealing to a higher court.</p><p>So on Sept. 26, White’s lawyers tried a different maneuver.</p><p>They filed a lawsuit directly with the Western District Court of Appeals asking it to postpone the election until November because the election boards have not been able to appeal the circuit judge’s interpretation of the law.</p><p>“The election is imminent, and the trial court refused to certify its ruling for appeal,” White’s lawyers wrote. “Unless this Court intervenes, an unlawful election will proceed, wasting taxpayer resources, confusing voters, and undermining public confidence in Missouri elections.”</p><p>If this legal precedent stands, they argued, it would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Statement%20In%20Support%20of%20Petition%20for%20Writ%20of%20Prohibition%20and%20or%20Mandamus.PDF?courtCode=WA&amp;di=500996" target="_blank">waste taxpayer dollars and confuse voters</a>. If Jackson County can set an election for any day of the year, voters who are less tuned in to county politics may not even know that they’re missing an election.</p><p>The judge at the Western District Court of Appeals declined to take up the case. So now they’re taking it to the Missouri Supreme Court.</p><p>White’s lawyers filed a lawsuit against Seaton, the Jackson County circuit judge, just hours before the polls closed on Sept. 30, arguing that the election was illegally scheduled. They argued that proceeding with the election before the legal challenges are resolved would create chaos and distrust.</p><p>“Once results are released, the damage to public confidence cannot be undone,”<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Statement%20in%20Support%20of%20Petition%20for%20Writ%20of%20Prohibition%20andor%20Mandamus.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=212794" target="_blank">&nbsp;the lawyers argued in their lawsuit filed with the Missouri Supreme Court</a>. “Securing ballots until this Court resolves the legal issues preserves the integrity of both the vote and the judicial process.”</p><p>Phil LeVota, an attorney representing the recall effort in court who is also a candidate to become county executive if White is recalled, believes that Seaton’s ruling is strong enough to hold up in an appeal.</p><p>“He made a pretty good order where he really cited a lot of case law,” he said. “The charter says 60 days, and I’m going to err on the side of getting it in front of people sooner than later. And there’s no downside to having (the election) on Sept. 30.”</p><p>But White’s lawyers point to a 2002 precedent when a court ruled that a “floating timeframe” (like the 60-day requirement set by the 2023 ordinance) does not qualify as a specific election date authorized by law.</p><h2>Election outcome could be reversed</h2><p>The Jackson County Circuit Court judge believes that the Sept. 30 election date was legal. But no other judges have given a legal opinion to back it up.</p><p>There are still a couple of legal avenues for White and the election boards to challenge the results.</p><p>The first option is the most recent Missouri Supreme Court case. White asked the judge to prevent the election boards from certifying the election results until the legal questions are resolved. That would keep White in office as county executive until the judges decide whether the election was legal.</p><p>The second option is that the election boards appeal the case once the circuit judge certifies his ruling. At that point, the Western District Court of Appeals — and potentially the Missouri Supreme Court —&nbsp;would hear the case and decide whether Seaton was correct in setting the election for Sept. 30.</p><p>The third option is for White to challenge the election results by suing the election boards. He could argue that there is reason to believe the election was unlawfully administered, and he could cite the election boards’ own argument in court earlier this year that Sept. 30 was not a legal date for an election.</p><p>If any of those judges decides that Sept. 30 was an illegal date to hold an election, the court could order another election for a redo. At this point, that likely would not happen until April 2026.</p><p>This wouldn’t be the first time that a ballot question had to go to voters for a redo.</p><p>In November 2022, Missouri voters voted on a constitutional amendment to force Kansas City to increase its level of police funding from 20% of its budget to 25%.</p><p>That constitutional amendment, put on the ballot by the Missouri General Assembly, passed by a wide margin —&nbsp;nearly two-thirds of Missourians voted “yes.”</p><p>But then the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the ballot language was misleading. So a judge struck down the measure and ordered a new election with updated ballot language.</p><p>It still passed, but by a much smaller margin —&nbsp;by about 24,000 votes, or 2.2%.</p><p>With these legal questions looming, a messy scenario rests on the horizon.</p><p>Imagine that the election boards certify the vote later this week or next week. The county executive position is vacated, and the county Legislature appoints a replacement.</p><p>Meanwhile, the appeals court or the Missouri Supreme Court takes up White’s case about whether Sept. 30 was a legal date to hold an election.</p><p>And suppose they rule in White’s favor —&nbsp;that elections must be scheduled only on days that are specifically outlined by Missouri statute or the county charter.</p><p>That would mean that legally, White never should have been removed from office. And Jackson County would then have two county executives.</p><p>LeVota believes the circuit judge’s ruling is compelling enough that an appeals court or the state Supreme Court would back it up. But he acknowledged the possibility of a political crisis as a result of the ongoing litigation around the recall.</p><p>“The appeals court could come back,” LeVota said, “and say, ‘You know what, we don’t think the trial judge was right. We think it should have been a November election. We’re throwing that entire election out, and we’ll have to do a new one.’ That could definitely, definitely happen.”</p><p>This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/30/frank-white-recall-results-legal-challenges/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.</p>

Voters recalled  Jackson Co. Executive Frank White. Will that hold up in court?

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

TOPEKA — A Kansas district court judge on Tuesday dismissed a case filed by Attorney General Kris Kobach that challenged the right of Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration to withhold Kansans’ personal data from the federal government.

In a 21-page order, Judge Teresa Watson sided with Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard, citing multiple issues with Kobach’s request to force the release of data related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The federal government’s Food and Nutrition Services program in May began demanding the release of personal information of people who have applied for or used the SNAP program.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/30/state-officials-again-refuse-to-release-kansans-personal-data-to-usda/">Howard repeatedly denied the release</a>, pointing to regulations guiding how data should be shared between agencies.

Kobach took&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/19/sad-political-stunt-lawsuit-between-kobach-kansas-governor-heats-up/">Howard and the state to court</a>&nbsp;to force the release of the data, indicating in court filings that he believes compliance is required by state and federal law. He also expressed concern that $10.4 million related to SNAP administrative funding would be withheld from Kansas by the federal government because of the failure to turn over the data.

“We disagree with the judge’s interpretation of ripeness and are considering an appeal. Regardless, the governor continues to defy Kansas law,” Kobach said in a statement to Kansas Reflector. “Needy Kansans have now lost $10.4 million in food assistance because of her political theatrics. That money is not coming back.”

Ripeness refers to part of Watson’s reasoning for choosing to dismiss the case and refers to whether a case is developed and appropriate to be heard.

Watson said the ripeness requirement prevents courts from becoming entangled in abstract disagreements. In this case, she found that because the state has filed an appeal and the full administrative review process has not been completed, the case is not “ripe.”

Kelly, in a news release, accused Kobach of engaging in “low-rent political theater, wasting taxpayer dollars, and spreading misinformation.” She emphasized that no money has been lost from federal funding for SNAP administrative costs.

“I appreciate the court granting my administration’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that the Attorney General’s actions were premature as we continue through the USDA’s administrative review process and that my administration does not have a legal duty to turn over Kansans’ personal information at this time,” Kelly said.

Watson stated in her decision that considering the duties of Howard and the Kansas administration to work with the federal program doesn’t mean that they must “perform in a prescribed manner without regard to the exercise of judgment.”

The Food and Nutrition Services department offers a multi-step administrative process to appeal the decisions to withhold any dollars from Kansas, and the state has filed an appeal, Watson said.

“The comprehensive administrative review available for the disallowance itself (suggests) that the state agency has some discretion in deciding how to respond to the request for SNAP participant data — or at least gives rise to the possibility of a ‘substantial dispute’ about how to respond,” Watson wrote.

Kelly’s news release said Kobach has&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/22/kansas-governors-office-disputes-accuracy-of-kobachs-claims-about-snap-funding/">made false claims</a>&nbsp;multiple times that the state has lost $10.4 million in administrative funding.

“After the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) rejected the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Corrective Action Proposal, DCF filed an appeal with the USDA,” the news release said. “The filing of that appeal immediately prevented the USDA from withholding the $10.4 million.”

“It is laughable to suggest that she will be able to persuade the USDA to change its decision,” he said. “And now, because of the governor’s desire to thumb her nose at the Trump administration, needy Kansans will lose another $10.4 million of food assistance in December.”

The $10.4 million funding loss, if upheld after the appeal, will occur quarterly until the state turns over the data, according to a USDA letter sent to the state. The dollars are designated for administrative cost and do not affect SNAP recipients.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759281317592.png" alt=" A Kansas District Court Judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kris Kobach attempting to force Gov. Laura Kelly's administration to turn over food program data to the federal government. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
                        <figcaption> A Kansas District Court Judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Kris Kobach attempting to force Gov. Laura Kelly's administration to turn over food program data to the federal government. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p><b>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a><br></b><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a></p><p>TOPEKA — A Kansas district court judge on Tuesday dismissed a case filed by Attorney General Kris Kobach that challenged the right of Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration to withhold Kansans’ personal data from the federal government.</p><p>In a 21-page order, Judge Teresa Watson sided with Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard, citing multiple issues with Kobach’s request to force the release of data related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.</p><p>The federal government’s Food and Nutrition Services program in May began demanding the release of personal information of people who have applied for or used the SNAP program.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/30/state-officials-again-refuse-to-release-kansans-personal-data-to-usda/">Howard repeatedly denied the release</a>, pointing to regulations guiding how data should be shared between agencies.</p><p>Kobach took&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/19/sad-political-stunt-lawsuit-between-kobach-kansas-governor-heats-up/">Howard and the state to court</a>&nbsp;to force the release of the data, indicating in court filings that he believes compliance is required by state and federal law. He also expressed concern that $10.4 million related to SNAP administrative funding would be withheld from Kansas by the federal government because of the failure to turn over the data.</p><p>“We disagree with the judge’s interpretation of ripeness and are considering an appeal. Regardless, the governor continues to defy Kansas law,” Kobach said in a statement to Kansas Reflector. “Needy Kansans have now lost $10.4 million in food assistance because of her political theatrics. That money is not coming back.”</p><p>Ripeness refers to part of Watson’s reasoning for choosing to dismiss the case and refers to whether a case is developed and appropriate to be heard.</p><p>Watson said the ripeness requirement prevents courts from becoming entangled in abstract disagreements. In this case, she found that because the state has filed an appeal and the full administrative review process has not been completed, the case is not “ripe.”</p><p>Kelly, in a news release, accused Kobach of engaging in “low-rent political theater, wasting taxpayer dollars, and spreading misinformation.” She emphasized that no money has been lost from federal funding for SNAP administrative costs.</p><p>“I appreciate the court granting my administration’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that the Attorney General’s actions were premature as we continue through the USDA’s administrative review process and that my administration does not have a legal duty to turn over Kansans’ personal information at this time,” Kelly said.</p><p>Watson stated in her decision that considering the duties of Howard and the Kansas administration to work with the federal program doesn’t mean that they must “perform in a prescribed manner without regard to the exercise of judgment.”</p><p>The Food and Nutrition Services department offers a multi-step administrative process to appeal the decisions to withhold any dollars from Kansas, and the state has filed an appeal, Watson said.</p><p>“The comprehensive administrative review available for the disallowance itself (suggests) that the state agency has some discretion in deciding how to respond to the request for SNAP participant data — or at least gives rise to the possibility of a ‘substantial dispute’ about how to respond,” Watson wrote.</p><p>Kelly’s news release said Kobach has&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/22/kansas-governors-office-disputes-accuracy-of-kobachs-claims-about-snap-funding/">made false claims</a>&nbsp;multiple times that the state has lost $10.4 million in administrative funding.</p><p>“After the (U.S. Department of Agriculture) rejected the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) Corrective Action Proposal, DCF filed an appeal with the USDA,” the news release said. “The filing of that appeal immediately prevented the USDA from withholding the $10.4 million.”</p><p>Kobach disagreed.&nbsp;</p><p>“It is laughable to suggest that she will be able to persuade the USDA to change its decision,” he said. “And now, because of the governor’s desire to thumb her nose at the Trump administration, needy Kansans will lose another $10.4 million of food assistance in December.”</p><p>The $10.4 million funding loss, if upheld after the appeal, will occur quarterly until the state turns over the data, according to a USDA letter sent to the state. The dollars are designated for administrative cost and do not affect SNAP recipients.&nbsp;</p>

Kansas judge dismisses lawsuit over governor’s refusal to give food program data to feds

The government shutdown has begun after Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline. Several members of the Missouri Congressional delegation responded to the stalemate on social media.

<p>The government shutdown has begun after Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline. Several members of the Missouri Congressional delegation responded to the stalemate on social media.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🔥 HOT NEW SINGLE JUST DROPPED 🔥<br><br>🎵 “THE SCHUMER SHUTDOWN” <a href="https://t.co/KwQuAUhS6a">pic.twitter.com/KwQuAUhS6a</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Eric Burlison (@RepEricBurlison) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepEricBurlison/status/1973236435621720381?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The House passed the funding bill on September 19th. We did our work to keep the government open.</p>&mdash; Rep. Sam Graves (@RepSamGraves) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepSamGraves/status/1973177999861358597?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Republicans control both Congress and the White House. If the government shuts down, it’s on their watch. Democrats are ready to work on funding the government—but we will not be idle and let health care premiums soar for hardworking Americans.<br><br>If this shutdown has you worried… <a href="https://t.co/43XUCpkQOO">pic.twitter.com/43XUCpkQOO</a></p>&mdash; Congressman Wesley Bell (@RepWesleyBellMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepWesleyBellMO/status/1973195494475116918?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I just voted YES to keep the government open and fight for the American people. <a href="https://t.co/1Lc0U7PuVx">pic.twitter.com/1Lc0U7PuVx</a></p>&mdash; Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenEricSchmitt/status/1973162473579749867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Democrats would rather fight <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and Republicans than fight for Americans.👇 <a href="https://t.co/EWXWJBSOoM">pic.twitter.com/EWXWJBSOoM</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Mark Alford (@RepMarkAlford) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMarkAlford/status/1973181558766129287?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Another demonstration of the administration’s lack of seriousness.<br><br>Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House.<br><br>And with a government shutdown approaching, they’re using government websites to mislead the American people instead of negotiating a bipartisan deal. <a href="https://t.co/2doCkXHk0I">https://t.co/2doCkXHk0I</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (@repcleaver) <a href="https://twitter.com/repcleaver/status/1973119586867487052?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">RELEASE: Wagner Slams Democrats for Shutting Down Government<br><br>Read the full statement here ⬇️⬇️⬇️<a href="https://t.co/XJLMlmlIX8">https://t.co/XJLMlmlIX8</a></p>&mdash; Ann Wagner (@RepAnnWagner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAnnWagner/status/1973371276715590005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Democrats are rejecting a straightforward plan to keep the government open.<br><br>Instead they are demanding over $1 trillion in new spending on items like free health care for illegal aliens while cutting $50 billion in investments for rural health care.<br><br>Washington Democrats would…</p>&mdash; Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJasonSmith/status/1973066350043251084?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Missouri lawmakers respond to government shutdown

The government shutdown has begun after Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline. Members of the Nebraska Congressional delegation responded to the stalemate.

<p>The government shutdown has begun after Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline. Members of the Nebraska Congressional delegation responded to the stalemate.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today, I voted for a clean funding resolution that keeps the government open so Congress can continue working on our full-year funding bills. <br><br>The Democrats, instead, voted for a $1 trillion increase in new spending and to eliminate the $50 billion Rural Hospital Stabilization…</p>&mdash; Senator Deb Fischer (@SenatorFischer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorFischer/status/1973168744441495601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My full statement after Democrat Leadership failed to pass a clean CR ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/AG7PlmwlGG">pic.twitter.com/AG7PlmwlGG</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸✈️🏍️⭐️🎖️ (@RepDonBacon) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDonBacon/status/1973210532833533982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Democrats just voted to shutdown government.<br><br>They voted against a clean continuing resolution (CR) that would have funded government for seven weeks. Previously, they had voted for this exact budget. In fact, Democrats voted for a clean CR 13 times under Joe Biden. This…</p>&mdash; Senator Pete Ricketts (@SenatorRicketts) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenatorRicketts/status/1973167795832758634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEW: The Democrat government shutdown will have big consequences for the National Flood Insurance Program. <br><br>Here are a couple of things I want you to know from my perspective as the Chairman of the Housing and Insurance Subcommittee 👇 <a href="https://t.co/9vYQid40eO">pic.twitter.com/9vYQid40eO</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Mike Flood (@USRepMikeFlood) <a href="https://twitter.com/USRepMikeFlood/status/1973183509612339208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Earlier this month <a href="https://twitter.com/HouseGOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HouseGOP</a> passed a clean CR to provide time to responsibly address spending--the reasonable way forward. Let’s be clear, this is an avoidable shutdown. <a href="https://t.co/NWXQSqNz7l">pic.twitter.com/NWXQSqNz7l</a></p>&mdash; Rep. Adrian Smith (@RepAdrianSmith) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAdrianSmith/status/1973151417801253098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Nebraska lawmakers respond to government shutdown

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are&nbsp;investigating an aggravated battery at a memory care facility involving residents of the facility. 

Shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, emergency services were called to a long-term care facility near 75th and Switzer Road in Overland Park, according to Officer John Lacy. 

Upon arrival, Johnson County Emergency Medical Services determined there were two residents who were in need of medical care. EMS responders transported them to a local hospital. One of the involved residents, a 66-year-old man, received life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. A second resident, a 71-year-old man, had non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation led detectives to believe a third resident was responsible for the injuries to the other two residents. The suspect, an 84-year-old man, is being evaluated at a local hospital and is pending disposition. He is cooperating with investigators.

Staff from the long-term care facility are cooperating with the investigation. The families of the involved subjects have been notified and requested privacy at this time. 

<p>JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are&nbsp;investigating an aggravated battery at a memory care facility involving residents of the facility. </p><p>Shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday, emergency services were called to a long-term care facility near 75th and Switzer Road in Overland Park, according to Officer John Lacy. </p><p>Upon arrival, Johnson County Emergency Medical Services determined there were two residents who were in need of medical care. EMS responders transported them to a local hospital. One of the involved residents, a 66-year-old man, received life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital. A second resident, a 71-year-old man, had non-life-threatening injuries.</p><p>The investigation led detectives to believe a third resident was responsible for the injuries to the other two residents. The suspect, an 84-year-old man, is being evaluated at a local hospital and is pending disposition. He is cooperating with investigators.</p><p>Staff from the long-term care facility are cooperating with the investigation. The families of the involved subjects have been notified and requested privacy at this time. </p>

Police: 2 injured after assault at Kan. memory care facility 

WASHINGTON&nbsp;—On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt released the following statement blasting Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats for voting&nbsp;against a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government and prevent a government shut down.

“Democrats just rejected a funding bill to keep the government open and instead chose to yield to their base of radical leftists and shut the government down. This is political theater at the expense of hardworking American families we swore an oath to represent. The American people deserve a government that puts their interests first, not one that shuts the government down to score petty partisan points. The ball remains in their court. Republicans will continue to fight for a responsible, commonsense path forward, while Democrats continue to grandstand,”&nbsp;said Senator Schmitt.

<p>WASHINGTON&nbsp;—On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt released the following statement blasting Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats for voting&nbsp;against a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government and prevent a government shut down.</p><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I just voted YES to keep the government open and fight for the American people. <a href="https://t.co/1Lc0U7PuVx">pic.twitter.com/1Lc0U7PuVx</a></p>&mdash; Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenEricSchmitt/status/1973162473579749867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>“Democrats just rejected a funding bill to keep the government open and instead chose to yield to their base of radical leftists and shut the government down. This is political theater at the expense of hardworking American families we swore an oath to represent. The American people deserve a government that puts their interests first, not one that shuts the government down to score petty partisan points. The ball remains in their court. Republicans will continue to fight for a responsible, commonsense path forward, while Democrats continue to grandstand,”&nbsp;said Senator Schmitt.</p>

🎥Mo. U.S. Senator blasts Dems for shutting down the government

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>-

WASHINGTON — The federal government started shutting down early Wednesday after Congress failed to approve a funding bill before the beginning of the new fiscal year — resulting in widespread ramifications for hundreds of programs and giving the Trump administration an avenue to fire federal workers en masse.

The U.S. Senate was unable to advance two short-term government funding bills Tuesday when Democrats and Republicans deadlocked for the second time this month, with just hours to go before the midnight Tuesday shutdown deadline.

Senators voted<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00535.htm" target="_blank">&nbsp;55-45</a>&nbsp;on Republicans’ bill that would fund the government for seven weeks and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00534.htm" target="_blank">47-53</a>&nbsp;on a Democratic stopgap proposal that would keep the lights on for a month and included several health care provisions that they said were needed for their support. Neither had the 60 votes needed to advance.&nbsp;

Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman and Maine independent Sen. Angus King voted with GOP senators on their stopgap bill. Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul voted against it.

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said in a<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/M-25-35-Status-of-Agency-Operations.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;memo</a>&nbsp;to departments and agencies Tuesday night after the Senate vote that “affected agencies should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown.” Vought said federal employees should report for their next regularly scheduled tour of duty to undertake shutdown activities.

The consequences of a shutdown will be sweeping in the nation’s capital and across the country, where states are&nbsp;<a href="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2025/09/30/arkansas-agencies-directed-to-furlough-employees-if-federal-government-shuts-down/" target="_blank">bracing for the impact.</a>&nbsp;About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/about-750000-federal-workers-will-be-furloughed-shutdown-nonpartisan-cbo-projects" target="_blank">750,000 federal workers</a>&nbsp;could be furloughed, leading to a $400 million impact a day, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported. All federal employees would go unpaid until the shutdown is over.

Additionally, the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-threatens-mass-firings-federal-employees-government-shutdown" target="_blank">plans to lay off</a>&nbsp;thousands of federal employees, which would reshape the federal workforce. President Donald Trump again vowed Tuesday to undertake layoffs and a major government employee union filed suit in federal court in advance of such a move.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said hours before the votes there wouldn’t be any talks with Democrats during a shutdown.&nbsp;

“The negotiation happens when the government is open. So let’s keep the government open and then we will have the negotiations,” Thune said.&nbsp;

“We’re happy to sit down and talk about these issues that they’re interested in,” he said. “But it should not have anything to do with whether or not for a seven-week period we keep the government open, so that this government can continue to do its work and that we can do our work through the regular appropriations process to fund the government.”&nbsp;

After the votes failed, Thune expressed his frustration with Democrats during a press conference.&nbsp;

“This is so unnecessary and uncalled for,” he said.&nbsp;

Thune said he plans to bring up a vote on the continuing resolution again. He said as soon as Wednesday the federal government can be funded if five Democrats voted with Republicans.&nbsp;

“Democrats may have chosen to shut down the government, but we can reopen it tomorrow,” Thune said.&nbsp;

Republican Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming said the “cracks in the Democrats are already showing,” noting that three Democrats voted with Republicans Tuesday night.&nbsp;

“There is bipartisan support for keeping the government open,” Barrasso said. “We’re happy to see that the Democrats are already starting to break from (Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer) and we’re going to continue to offer a clean (continuing resolution) on the floor of the Senate to open the government for the next seven weeks.”

Health care tax credits at center of standoff

The disagreement isn’t entirely about GOP lawmakers writing their short-term funding bill behind closed doors and then expecting Democrats to help advance it in the Senate, where bipartisanship is required for major legislation.

Democratic leaders have raised concerns for weeks about the end-of-year sunset of enhanced tax credits for people who buy their health insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, arguing a solution is needed now ahead of the open enrollment period starting on Nov. 1.&nbsp;

Democrats have also grown increasingly frustrated with the White House budget office’s unilateral actions on spending, arguing Vought is significantly eroding Congress’ constitutional power of the purse.&nbsp;Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the Republican chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/maine-gop-sen-collins-says-trump-should-be-sued-gao-illegally-canceling-funds" target="_blank">said Tuesday&nbsp;</a>the Government Accountability Office should sue the Trump administration over its efforts to freeze or unilaterally cancel spending approved by Congress.&nbsp;

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats need an agreement with Republicans to extend the enhanced tax credits.&nbsp;

Schumer said people will begin getting notices in October telling them how much the cost of their ACA plans will increase during the next year, which he expects will ratchet up pressure on Republican leaders to broker a bipartisan agreement.&nbsp;

“We’re going to be right there explaining to them it’s because the Republicans wouldn’t negotiate with us,” Schumer said, referring to consumers. “We’re ready to do it anytime. And there will be huge heat on (Republicans) on this issue.”

People who buy health insurance on the ACA marketplace and receive subsidies through enhanced ACA tax credits could expect to pay on average more than double for annual premiums in 2026 if the credits expire as scheduled at the end of this year, according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/aca-marketplace-premium-payments-would-more-than-double-on-average-next-year-if-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-expire/" target="_blank">analysis</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday by the nonprofit health policy research organization KFF.&nbsp;

The analysis found premiums could increase from an average of $888 this year to $1,904 in 2026.

Schumer also rebuffed GOP leaders saying that Democrats want to include people without legal immigration status in federal health care programs.&nbsp;

“They say that undocumented people are going to get these credits. That is absolutely false. That is one of the big lies they tell, so they don’t have to discuss the issues,” Schumer said. “The federal government by law that we passed does not fund health insurance for undocumented immigrants in Medicaid, nor the ACA nor Medicare. Undocumented immigrants do not get federal health insurance premiums.”&nbsp;

Immigrants in the country without legal authorization&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/5-key-facts-about-immigrants-and-medicaid/" target="_blank">are not eligible</a>&nbsp;for Medicaid, and neither are most immigrants with legal status, such as those with student visas or enrollment in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.&nbsp;

Only immigrants with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2024-04-1.pdf" target="_blank">“qualified status,”</a>&nbsp;such as legal permanent residents, asylees and refugees, are able to get Medicaid benefits, and they usually have to wait five years before their coverage can even begin.&nbsp;

Democrats explain why they voted with GOP&nbsp;

Cortez Masto of Nevada wrote in a statement explaining her vote to advance the GOP stopgap bill that she could not support “a costly shutdown that would hurt Nevada families and hand even more power to this reckless administration.”

“We need a bipartisan solution to address this impending health care crisis, but we should not be swapping the pain of one group of Americans for another,” she added. “I remain focused on protecting health care for working families, and I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together to tackle this problem.”

Pennsylvania’s Fetterman wrote in a statement of his own that his vote on the Republican bill “was for our country over my party.

“Together, we must find a better way forward.”

Collins said during a brief interview before the vote she is worried about the broad authority the White House holds during a shutdown and how the Office of Management and Budget has indicated it will use that power.&nbsp;

“I’m much more concerned about OMB sending signals that there should be mass firings of federal employees who have the misfortune to be designated as non-essential, when in fact they’re performing very essential work, they’re just not being paid,” Collins said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven, chairman of the Agriculture spending subcommittee, said lawmakers will have to sort through how various departments implement their contingency plans as well as the possibility of mass layoffs during a shutdown.&nbsp;

“We’ll have to work through those things and figure out how we do keep things going as best we can during this Democrat shutdown,” Hoeven said.

West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Republicans are “unified in the belief that this is an easy choice” to fund the government with a stopgap bill that doesn’t include any contentious or political provisions.&nbsp;

Capito — who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor — said there are several programs that will be “missed” during a shutdown.&nbsp;

“And that’s concerning. So I think the option is to keep the government open so we can avoid this pain,” Capito said.&nbsp;

‘I’m not optimistic that we’re going to get a path forward’

Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said he is worried about the possible impacts of a shutdown on his home state and that keeping the government open is the only way to avoid that.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I’m sure the administration will do everything they can,” Hawley said. “But the solution is to not shut the government down. I mean, why would you punish working people because you’re not getting what you want on any issue, whatever it is.”

South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said he doesn’t expect a shutdown will end until after Democrats have sent a message to their voters.&nbsp;

“I’m not optimistic that we’re going to get a path forward until they’ve had a shutdown,” he said.&nbsp;

Rounds, who negotiated a handshake agreement with the White House budget director this summer to preserve some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/tribal-radio-stations-wait-9m-pledged-congressional-handshake-deal" target="_blank">funding for rural tribal radio stations</a>&nbsp;after Congress eliminated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, said that deal could be affected by a shutdown.&nbsp;

“They’re putting the administration in a position where they can pick and choose what they’re going to do, and a shutdown is not going to be beneficial to these Native American radio stations,” Rounds said.&nbsp;

Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said she wants Democrats and Republicans to negotiate on health care provisions.

“I’ve been making the case constantly, that (it) is literally my obligation to try and fight for health care, and I’m willing to talk to anyone,” she said. “I’m willing to accept that I certainly will not get everything I want.”

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois said that while Democrats agreed to help advance what’s known as a continuing resolution in March, they can’t now because of “what President Trump is doing to this country, particularly when it comes to health care costs for families.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The shutdown will significantly affect the operations of the federal government as lawmakers have not passed any of the dozen full-year appropriations bills that finance agency operations. Oct. 1 is the beginning of the new fiscal year for the federal government.

Departments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/hundreds-thousands-federal-employees-face-furloughs-under-trump-shutdown-plans" target="_blank">began releasing updated contingency plans</a>&nbsp;this weekend, detailing how many of their employees would work during a government shutdown and how many would be furloughed.

The Interior Department, which includes the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/shutdown" target="_blank">posted its updated plans</a>&nbsp;late Tuesday.&nbsp;

The National Park Service plans to furlough 9,300 of its 14,500 workers.&nbsp;

The Trump administration will allow several activities necessary for the protection of life or property to continue, including fire suppression for active fires, permitting and monitoring First Amendment activities, border and coastal protection and surveillance, and law enforcement and emergency response.

The contingency plan says that roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors,” but it adds that if “access becomes a safety, health or resource protection issue … the area must be closed.”

In anticipation of layoffs by the Trump administration, labor unions representing more than 1 million federal workers&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.457131/gov.uscourts.cand.457131.1.0.pdf" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in the Northern District of California on Tuesday to block the Trump administration from carrying out mass firings. The suit argues that there is no statutory authority to fire federal employees during a government shutdown.

“These actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious, and the cynical use of federal employees as a pawn in Congressional deliberations should be declared unlawful and enjoined by this Court,” according to the suit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Ashley Murray and Shauneen Miranda contributed to this report.&nbsp;

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759022317143.png" alt="U.S. Capitol  (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)" />
                        <figcaption>U.S. Capitol  (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>-</p><p>WASHINGTON — The federal government started shutting down early Wednesday after Congress failed to approve a funding bill before the beginning of the new fiscal year — resulting in widespread ramifications for hundreds of programs and giving the Trump administration an avenue to fire federal workers en masse.</p><p>The U.S. Senate was unable to advance two short-term government funding bills Tuesday when Democrats and Republicans deadlocked for the second time this month, with just hours to go before the midnight Tuesday shutdown deadline.</p><p>Senators voted<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00535.htm" target="_blank">&nbsp;55-45</a>&nbsp;on Republicans’ bill that would fund the government for seven weeks and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00534.htm" target="_blank">47-53</a>&nbsp;on a Democratic stopgap proposal that would keep the lights on for a month and included several health care provisions that they said were needed for their support. Neither had the 60 votes needed to advance.&nbsp;</p><p>Nevada Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman and Maine independent Sen. Angus King voted with GOP senators on their stopgap bill. Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul voted against it.</p><p>White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought said in a<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/M-25-35-Status-of-Agency-Operations.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;memo</a>&nbsp;to departments and agencies Tuesday night after the Senate vote that “affected agencies should now execute their plans for an orderly shutdown.” Vought said federal employees should report for their next regularly scheduled tour of duty to undertake shutdown activities.</p><p>The consequences of a shutdown will be sweeping in the nation’s capital and across the country, where states are&nbsp;<a href="https://arkansasadvocate.com/2025/09/30/arkansas-agencies-directed-to-furlough-employees-if-federal-government-shuts-down/" target="_blank">bracing for the impact.</a>&nbsp;About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/about-750000-federal-workers-will-be-furloughed-shutdown-nonpartisan-cbo-projects" target="_blank">750,000 federal workers</a>&nbsp;could be furloughed, leading to a $400 million impact a day, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported. All federal employees would go unpaid until the shutdown is over.</p><p>Additionally, the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-threatens-mass-firings-federal-employees-government-shutdown" target="_blank">plans to lay off</a>&nbsp;thousands of federal employees, which would reshape the federal workforce. President Donald Trump again vowed Tuesday to undertake layoffs and a major government employee union filed suit in federal court in advance of such a move.</p><h2>More votes on GOP bill planned</h2><p>Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said hours before the votes there wouldn’t be any talks with Democrats during a shutdown.&nbsp;</p><p>“The negotiation happens when the government is open. So let’s keep the government open and then we will have the negotiations,” Thune said.&nbsp;</p><p>“We’re happy to sit down and talk about these issues that they’re interested in,” he said. “But it should not have anything to do with whether or not for a seven-week period we keep the government open, so that this government can continue to do its work and that we can do our work through the regular appropriations process to fund the government.”&nbsp;</p><p>After the votes failed, Thune expressed his frustration with Democrats during a press conference.&nbsp;</p><p>“This is so unnecessary and uncalled for,” he said.&nbsp;</p><p>Thune said he plans to bring up a vote on the continuing resolution again. He said as soon as Wednesday the federal government can be funded if five Democrats voted with Republicans.&nbsp;</p><p>“Democrats may have chosen to shut down the government, but we can reopen it tomorrow,” Thune said.&nbsp;</p><p>Republican Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming said the “cracks in the Democrats are already showing,” noting that three Democrats voted with Republicans Tuesday night.&nbsp;</p><p>“There is bipartisan support for keeping the government open,” Barrasso said. “We’re happy to see that the Democrats are already starting to break from (Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer) and we’re going to continue to offer a clean (continuing resolution) on the floor of the Senate to open the government for the next seven weeks.”</p><h2>Health care tax credits at center of standoff</h2><p>The disagreement isn’t entirely about GOP lawmakers writing their short-term funding bill behind closed doors and then expecting Democrats to help advance it in the Senate, where bipartisanship is required for major legislation.</p><p>Democratic leaders have raised concerns for weeks about the end-of-year sunset of enhanced tax credits for people who buy their health insurance on the Affordable Care Act Marketplace, arguing a solution is needed now ahead of the open enrollment period starting on Nov. 1.&nbsp;</p><p>Democrats have also grown increasingly frustrated with the White House budget office’s unilateral actions on spending, arguing Vought is significantly eroding Congress’ constitutional power of the purse.&nbsp;Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the Republican chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/maine-gop-sen-collins-says-trump-should-be-sued-gao-illegally-canceling-funds" target="_blank">said Tuesday&nbsp;</a>the Government Accountability Office should sue the Trump administration over its efforts to freeze or unilaterally cancel spending approved by Congress.&nbsp;</p><p>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats need an agreement with Republicans to extend the enhanced tax credits.&nbsp;</p><p>Schumer said people will begin getting notices in October telling them how much the cost of their ACA plans will increase during the next year, which he expects will ratchet up pressure on Republican leaders to broker a bipartisan agreement.&nbsp;</p><p>“We’re going to be right there explaining to them it’s because the Republicans wouldn’t negotiate with us,” Schumer said, referring to consumers. “We’re ready to do it anytime. And there will be huge heat on (Republicans) on this issue.”</p><p>People who buy health insurance on the ACA marketplace and receive subsidies through enhanced ACA tax credits could expect to pay on average more than double for annual premiums in 2026 if the credits expire as scheduled at the end of this year, according to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/aca-marketplace-premium-payments-would-more-than-double-on-average-next-year-if-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-expire/" target="_blank">analysis</a>&nbsp;released Tuesday by the nonprofit health policy research organization KFF.&nbsp;</p><p>The analysis found premiums could increase from an average of $888 this year to $1,904 in 2026.</p><h2>Claims about immigrants&nbsp;</h2><p>Schumer also rebuffed GOP leaders saying that Democrats want to include people without legal immigration status in federal health care programs.&nbsp;</p><p>“They say that undocumented people are going to get these credits. That is absolutely false. That is one of the big lies they tell, so they don’t have to discuss the issues,” Schumer said. “The federal government by law that we passed does not fund health insurance for undocumented immigrants in Medicaid, nor the ACA nor Medicare. Undocumented immigrants do not get federal health insurance premiums.”&nbsp;</p><p>Immigrants in the country without legal authorization&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/5-key-facts-about-immigrants-and-medicaid/" target="_blank">are not eligible</a>&nbsp;for Medicaid, and neither are most immigrants with legal status, such as those with student visas or enrollment in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA.&nbsp;</p><p>Only immigrants with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nilc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/tbl1_ovrvw-fed-pgms-rev-2024-04-1.pdf" target="_blank">“qualified status,”</a>&nbsp;such as legal permanent residents, asylees and refugees, are able to get Medicaid benefits, and they usually have to wait five years before their coverage can even begin.&nbsp;</p><h2>Democrats explain why they voted with GOP&nbsp;</h2><p>Cortez Masto of Nevada wrote in a statement explaining her vote to advance the GOP stopgap bill that she could not support “a costly shutdown that would hurt Nevada families and hand even more power to this reckless administration.”</p><p>“We need a bipartisan solution to address this impending health care crisis, but we should not be swapping the pain of one group of Americans for another,” she added. “I remain focused on protecting health care for working families, and I call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to work together to tackle this problem.”</p><p>Pennsylvania’s Fetterman wrote in a statement of his own that his vote on the Republican bill “was for our country over my party.</p><p>“Together, we must find a better way forward.”</p><p>Collins said during a brief interview before the vote she is worried about the broad authority the White House holds during a shutdown and how the Office of Management and Budget has indicated it will use that power.&nbsp;</p><p>“I’m much more concerned about OMB sending signals that there should be mass firings of federal employees who have the misfortune to be designated as non-essential, when in fact they’re performing very essential work, they’re just not being paid,” Collins said.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven, chairman of the Agriculture spending subcommittee, said lawmakers will have to sort through how various departments implement their contingency plans as well as the possibility of mass layoffs during a shutdown.&nbsp;</p><p>“We’ll have to work through those things and figure out how we do keep things going as best we can during this Democrat shutdown,” Hoeven said.</p><p>West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito said Republicans are “unified in the belief that this is an easy choice” to fund the government with a stopgap bill that doesn’t include any contentious or political provisions.&nbsp;</p><p>Capito — who chairs the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Labor — said there are several programs that will be “missed” during a shutdown.&nbsp;</p><p>“And that’s concerning. So I think the option is to keep the government open so we can avoid this pain,” Capito said.&nbsp;</p><h2>‘I’m not optimistic that we’re going to get a path forward’</h2><p>Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said he is worried about the possible impacts of a shutdown on his home state and that keeping the government open is the only way to avoid that.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>“I’m sure the administration will do everything they can,” Hawley said. “But the solution is to not shut the government down. I mean, why would you punish working people because you’re not getting what you want on any issue, whatever it is.”</p><p>South Dakota Republican Sen. Mike Rounds said he doesn’t expect a shutdown will end until after Democrats have sent a message to their voters.&nbsp;</p><p>“I’m not optimistic that we’re going to get a path forward until they’ve had a shutdown,” he said.&nbsp;</p><p>Rounds, who negotiated a handshake agreement with the White House budget director this summer to preserve some&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/tribal-radio-stations-wait-9m-pledged-congressional-handshake-deal" target="_blank">funding for rural tribal radio stations</a>&nbsp;after Congress eliminated funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, said that deal could be affected by a shutdown.&nbsp;</p><p>“They’re putting the administration in a position where they can pick and choose what they’re going to do, and a shutdown is not going to be beneficial to these Native American radio stations,” Rounds said.&nbsp;</p><p>Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan said she wants Democrats and Republicans to negotiate on health care provisions.</p><p>“I’ve been making the case constantly, that (it) is literally my obligation to try and fight for health care, and I’m willing to talk to anyone,” she said. “I’m willing to accept that I certainly will not get everything I want.”</p><p>Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois said that while Democrats agreed to help advance what’s known as a continuing resolution in March, they can’t now because of “what President Trump is doing to this country, particularly when it comes to health care costs for families.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The shutdown will significantly affect the operations of the federal government as lawmakers have not passed any of the dozen full-year appropriations bills that finance agency operations. Oct. 1 is the beginning of the new fiscal year for the federal government.</p><h2>Shutdown plan for national parks</h2><p>Departments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/hundreds-thousands-federal-employees-face-furloughs-under-trump-shutdown-plans" target="_blank">began releasing updated contingency plans</a>&nbsp;this weekend, detailing how many of their employees would work during a government shutdown and how many would be furloughed.</p><p>The Interior Department, which includes the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.doi.gov/shutdown" target="_blank">posted its updated plans</a>&nbsp;late Tuesday.&nbsp;</p><p>The National Park Service plans to furlough 9,300 of its 14,500 workers.&nbsp;</p><p>The Trump administration will allow several activities necessary for the protection of life or property to continue, including fire suppression for active fires, permitting and monitoring First Amendment activities, border and coastal protection and surveillance, and law enforcement and emergency response.</p><p>The contingency plan says that roads, lookouts, trails, and open-air memorials will generally remain accessible to visitors,” but it adds that if “access becomes a safety, health or resource protection issue … the area must be closed.”</p><h2>Union files suit</h2><p>In anticipation of layoffs by the Trump administration, labor unions representing more than 1 million federal workers&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.457131/gov.uscourts.cand.457131.1.0.pdf" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;in the Northern District of California on Tuesday to block the Trump administration from carrying out mass firings. The suit argues that there is no statutory authority to fire federal employees during a government shutdown.</p><p>“These actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious, and the cynical use of federal employees as a pawn in Congressional deliberations should be declared unlawful and enjoined by this Court,” according to the suit filed by the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.</p><p>Ashley Murray and Shauneen Miranda contributed to this report.&nbsp;</p>

Federal government shutdown begins, with no easy exit in sight

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Authorities are still investigating the cause of a fire that took the life of a 15-year-old, authorities reported on Tuesday.

Just before 6p.m. September 25, the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department responded to the apartment fire on South 71st Street, according to a media release.

First responders observed smoke coming from the upper apartment windows and were told someone may still be inside. Firefighters found an unresponsive 15-year-old boy on the second floor of the unit.

He was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased abound 90 minutes later. A resident was transported to a hospital for treatment of lacerations from breaking a window to help another resident. That occupant was also taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.&nbsp;One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

<p>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Authorities are still investigating the cause of a fire that took the life of a 15-year-old, authorities reported on Tuesday.</p><p>Just before 6p.m. September 25, the Kansas City, Kansas, Fire Department responded to the apartment fire on South 71st Street, according to a media release.</p><p>First responders observed smoke coming from the upper apartment windows and were told someone may still be inside. Firefighters found an unresponsive 15-year-old boy on the second floor of the unit.</p><p>He was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased abound 90 minutes later. A resident was transported to a hospital for treatment of lacerations from breaking a window to help another resident. That occupant was also taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation.&nbsp;One firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.</p>

15-year-old dies in Kansas apartment fire

By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a><br><a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>

Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts has resigned from his position effective immediately, lawyers representing him said Tuesday.

Roberts, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/26/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-in-ice-custody-after-arrest/">detained by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement Friday</a>, had been&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/29/state-board-revokes-dmps-superintendent-ian-roberts-license-after-ice-arrest/">placed on unpaid administrative leave</a>&nbsp;by the Des Moines School Board Monday after the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his license. ICE agents had arrested the superintendent, who was born in Guyana, during a “targeted enforcement operation” Friday, and he allegedly evaded arrest. According to an ICE news release, Roberts’ vehicle contained a handgun, hunting knife and $3,000 in cash.

ICE stated Roberts had been given a “final order of removal by an immigration judge” in May 2024. The federal agency stated Roberts was in the country unlawfully, having first come to the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa.

Attorney Alfredo Parrish, representing Roberts, confirmed that Roberts was a citizen of Guyana and served in the country’s military, but said his office was trying to work on getting more information on the immigration case proceedings that led to his arrest by ICE. In April 2025, a Texas immigration judge had decided not to reopen Roberts’ case in absentia.

Parrish said Roberts had received a letter from the prior attorney for his immigration case in Texas which said “his case had been closed successfully, and he was under the impression that it had been.” Parrish said his firm is in the process of filing a motion to reopen Roberts’ immigration case.

The attorney said it was a “complex case.”

“There are several jurisdictions that are involved, there are several law enforcement entities that are involved,” Parrish said. “… There (are) so many entities involved that we have touched bases with to try to work through this, through the consulate in New York for Guyana, through all the many other entities we’ve been trying to work through this case with. We want you to know that Dr. Roberts’ greatest concern is about his students who he actually loves, and the students who love him back, and his staff.”

While Roberts is resigning from the superintendent position, Parrish said his law firm has filed a request for stay on behalf of Roberts in the Omaha, Nebraska, federal immigration court. Roberts is currently being held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City. Parrish said two of his staff drove to Omaha to file the motion Monday, and that earlier Tuesday, the law firm was in communication with Roberts.

“He understands that he has the support (of the community), and it really gives him inspiration,” Parrish said. “His spirits are high. He was very well-engaged in all our discussions this morning, for about the last two hours.”

District’s hiring procedures questioned

Some of the questions surrounding the case are focused on the Des Moines school district’s vetting process for hiring Roberts. DMPS officials have said Roberts completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted the required documentation showing his employment eligibility when hired.

The National School Board Coalition, a conservative K-12 advocacy organization, claimed in a news release the consultant Baker-Eubanks, one of the entities hired by DMPS to perform third-party background checks during Roberts’ hiring process, “admitted that it did not perform a basic I-9 verification.”

This claim is referring to a statement made by&nbsp;Baker-Eubanks CEO Kim Cockerham&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2025/09/28/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-background-check-ian-roberts/86375977007/" target="_blank">to the Des Moines Register</a>. Cockerham said the criminal background check performed does not confirm a person’s ability to legally work in the U.S., saying “that’s not even a service that we offer.” Cockerham said, according to the Register.

Laura Zorc, chair of the National School Board Coalition, said Roberts’ hiring process “reveals a critical oversight” in schools boards hiring search firms to fill school administration positions.

“If advising the Des Moines school board, NSBC would recommend working with their board attorney to review their contract agreement with consultants JQ Consultants and Baker-Eubanks for potential recourse, including seeking a full refund, legal, staff time, and covering the costs of rehiring a new superintendent if the contract was breached,” Zorc said in the release.

Board President Jackie Norris said Monday that the board asked Roberts’ attorney to provide documentation and verification of his citizenship status by 12 p.m. Tuesday, with plans to meet at 7:30 p.m. that day to discuss ending Roberts’ employment contract. Parrish said the letter of resignation was being sent to school officials Tuesday.

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn said late Monday the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed with the U.S. Department of Justice through a Freedom of Information Act and formal inquiry that Roberts was subject to a final removal order under the Immigration and Nationality Act. He also said in a statement it was “unacceptable that someone under a final order of deportation and without legal work authorization was allowed to lead Iowa’s largest public school system.”

“Every parent should be able to trust that school leaders are fully vetted, legally employed, and held to the highest standards of accountability,” Nunn said. “I want to thank our federal agencies for their timely response and commitment to transparency as we work to protect our communities.”

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759275598772.png" alt="Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts made remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Lincoln High School’s new athletic complex Aug. 21, 2025 in Des Moines. (Photo courtesy of Des Moines Public Schools)" />
                        <figcaption>Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts made remarks at the ribbon cutting ceremony for Lincoln High School’s new athletic complex Aug. 21, 2025 in Des Moines. (Photo courtesy of Des Moines Public Schools)</figcaption>
                    </figure><p>By:<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/author/ropshal/">Robin Opsahl</a><br><a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a></p><p>Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts has resigned from his position effective immediately, lawyers representing him said Tuesday.</p><p>Roberts, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/26/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-in-ice-custody-after-arrest/">detained by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement Friday</a>, had been&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/09/29/state-board-revokes-dmps-superintendent-ian-roberts-license-after-ice-arrest/">placed on unpaid administrative leave</a>&nbsp;by the Des Moines School Board Monday after the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners revoked his license. ICE agents had arrested the superintendent, who was born in Guyana, during a “targeted enforcement operation” Friday, and he allegedly evaded arrest. According to an ICE news release, Roberts’ vehicle contained a handgun, hunting knife and $3,000 in cash.</p><p>ICE stated Roberts had been given a “final order of removal by an immigration judge” in May 2024. The federal agency stated Roberts was in the country unlawfully, having first come to the U.S. in 1999 on a student visa.</p><p>Attorney Alfredo Parrish, representing Roberts, confirmed that Roberts was a citizen of Guyana and served in the country’s military, but said his office was trying to work on getting more information on the immigration case proceedings that led to his arrest by ICE. In April 2025, a Texas immigration judge had decided not to reopen Roberts’ case in absentia.</p><p>Parrish said Roberts had received a letter from the prior attorney for his immigration case in Texas which said “his case had been closed successfully, and he was under the impression that it had been.” Parrish said his firm is in the process of filing a motion to reopen Roberts’ immigration case.</p><p>The attorney said it was a “complex case.”</p><p>“There are several jurisdictions that are involved, there are several law enforcement entities that are involved,” Parrish said. “… There (are) so many entities involved that we have touched bases with to try to work through this, through the consulate in New York for Guyana, through all the many other entities we’ve been trying to work through this case with. We want you to know that Dr. Roberts’ greatest concern is about his students who he actually loves, and the students who love him back, and his staff.”</p><p>While Roberts is resigning from the superintendent position, Parrish said his law firm has filed a request for stay on behalf of Roberts in the Omaha, Nebraska, federal immigration court. Roberts is currently being held at the Woodbury County Jail in Sioux City. Parrish said two of his staff drove to Omaha to file the motion Monday, and that earlier Tuesday, the law firm was in communication with Roberts.</p><p>“He understands that he has the support (of the community), and it really gives him inspiration,” Parrish said. “His spirits are high. He was very well-engaged in all our discussions this morning, for about the last two hours.”</p><h2>District’s hiring procedures questioned</h2><p>Some of the questions surrounding the case are focused on the Des Moines school district’s vetting process for hiring Roberts. DMPS officials have said Roberts completed the I-9 employment eligibility verification form and submitted the required documentation showing his employment eligibility when hired.</p><p>The National School Board Coalition, a conservative K-12 advocacy organization, claimed in a news release the consultant Baker-Eubanks, one of the entities hired by DMPS to perform third-party background checks during Roberts’ hiring process, “admitted that it did not perform a basic I-9 verification.”</p><p>This claim is referring to a statement made by&nbsp;Baker-Eubanks CEO Kim Cockerham&nbsp;<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/education/2025/09/28/des-moines-public-schools-superintendent-background-check-ian-roberts/86375977007/" target="_blank">to the Des Moines Register</a>. Cockerham said the criminal background check performed does not confirm a person’s ability to legally work in the U.S., saying “that’s not even a service that we offer.” Cockerham said, according to the Register.</p><p>Laura Zorc, chair of the National School Board Coalition, said Roberts’ hiring process “reveals a critical oversight” in schools boards hiring search firms to fill school administration positions.</p><p>“If advising the Des Moines school board, NSBC would recommend working with their board attorney to review their contract agreement with consultants JQ Consultants and Baker-Eubanks for potential recourse, including seeking a full refund, legal, staff time, and covering the costs of rehiring a new superintendent if the contract was breached,” Zorc said in the release.</p><p>Board President Jackie Norris said Monday that the board asked Roberts’ attorney to provide documentation and verification of his citizenship status by 12 p.m. Tuesday, with plans to meet at 7:30 p.m. that day to discuss ending Roberts’ employment contract. Parrish said the letter of resignation was being sent to school officials Tuesday.</p><p>U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn said late Monday the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed with the U.S. Department of Justice through a Freedom of Information Act and formal inquiry that Roberts was subject to a final removal order under the Immigration and Nationality Act. He also said in a statement it was “unacceptable that someone under a final order of deportation and without legal work authorization was allowed to lead Iowa’s largest public school system.”</p><p>“Every parent should be able to trust that school leaders are fully vetted, legally employed, and held to the highest standards of accountability,” Nunn said. “I want to thank our federal agencies for their timely response and commitment to transparency as we work to protect our communities.”</p>

Des Moines Public Schools superintendent resigns, lawyer says

<figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759249113526.png" alt="Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, President Trump, RFK, Jr. and Dr. Oz enjoy a laugh in the Oval Office during the announcement -image from White House video" />
                        <figcaption>Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, President Trump, RFK, Jr. and Dr. Oz enjoy a laugh in the Oval Office during the announcement -image from White House video</figcaption>
                    </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;For many years, Americans have paid the highest prices anywhere in the world for prescription drugs... a major reason is that American consumers have been subsidizing Research and Development costs for the entire planet... it&#39;s being changed as of today.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/T22cIT16Ws">pic.twitter.com/T22cIT16Ws</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973054472046727434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> announces that <a href="https://twitter.com/pfizer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@pfizer</a> will provide some of their most popular medications to all Americans at heavily discounted prices of between 50%-100% off — and all new medications introduced to the U.S. market will be sold at the reduced Most Favored Nation cost 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/YC0f8hzdAQ">pic.twitter.com/YC0f8hzdAQ</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973055859233034542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/pfizer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Pfizer</a> CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBourla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AlbertBourla</a>: The big winner of this deal clearly will be the American patient — there&#39;s no doubt about it. They are the ones that will see significant impact in their ability to buy medicines... We are ready to UNLEASH our investment portfolio in this country. 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/SDmcFItFKf">https://t.co/SDmcFItFKf</a> <a href="https://t.co/G9V32nxZOD">pic.twitter.com/G9V32nxZOD</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973062219211354327?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT. <a href="https://t.co/lWu3MGc9fh">https://t.co/lWu3MGc9fh</a> <a href="https://t.co/X0C3sitmDN">pic.twitter.com/X0C3sitmDN</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973072382324625602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a>: *Sneezes in the Oval Office*<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;God bless you Bobby. I hope I didn&#39;t catch COVID just there.&quot;<br><br>&quot;Give me a Paxlovid immediately,&quot; he says to the CEO of Pfizer. 🤣 <a href="https://t.co/IbsJy9x3Gr">pic.twitter.com/IbsJy9x3Gr</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973065585773674946?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DrMakaryFDA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrMakaryFDA</a>: &quot;Today marks the the beginning of the end of the great American rip off, and it also marks the beginning of the end of a great American tragedy; something I’ve seen as a physician at the bedside — patients getting spun up into a financial rage... to try to get… <a href="https://t.co/SD0iKsZR2B">pic.twitter.com/SD0iKsZR2B</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973063636395373048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT: President Trump Delivers LOWER DRUG PRICES for Americans <a href="https://t.co/nA4tPrmcXt">pic.twitter.com/nA4tPrmcXt</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973062430591692829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Pfizer is committing to offer all of their prescription medications to Medicaid and it will be at the Most Favored Nation prices. It&#39;s going to have a huge impact on bringing Medicaid prices down.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ftq4ElmZEY">pic.twitter.com/ftq4ElmZEY</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973056170777616593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a>: &quot;For the mother trying to help her child get better, for the grandmother at the pharmacy counter, and for millions of Americans who want to restore their health — today is about another promise made by <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and another promise KEPT by <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SDmcFItFKf">https://t.co/SDmcFItFKf</a> <a href="https://t.co/n3w6sQY44W">pic.twitter.com/n3w6sQY44W</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973057794178691448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DrOzCMS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrOzCMS</a>: &quot;We’re going to finally deliver on the fair drug prices that President Trump has been speaking about for two terms. We’re going to celebrate this historic day—I predict... in the medical field, for generations to come.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ojlFZOC2pm">pic.twitter.com/ojlFZOC2pm</a></p>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1973059658400022829?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Pfizer to lower prescription drug costs in a deal with Trump

<b>By TONY GUERRERO<br></b><i>Hays Post</i>

The Fort Hays State University assistant professor defended her Facebook posts about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Nuchelle Chance of the psychology department posted a TikTok video Monday saying she is being targeted online by Libs of TikTok, an X account with 4.4 million followers, and other online accounts.

On Sept. 10, the day Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a debate at Utah Valley University, Chance posted the following the same day:

"In my post, I just stated that there's karma," Chance said in the TikTok video. "There's irony associated with that, and that's by no means to celebrate someone's death."

<p><b>By TONY GUERRERO<br></b><i>Hays Post</i></p><p>The Fort Hays State University assistant professor defended her Facebook posts about the assassination of Charlie Kirk.</p><p>Nuchelle Chance of the psychology department posted a TikTok video Monday saying she is being targeted online by Libs of TikTok, an X account with 4.4 million followers, and other online accounts.</p><div><blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@drchancespeaks/video/7555678574372490527" data-video-id="7555678574372490527" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;" > <section> <a target="_blank" title="@drchancespeaks" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@drchancespeaks?refer=embed">@drchancespeaks</a> When <a title="maga" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/maga?refer=embed">#MAGA</a> attacks.... your <a title="academicfreedom" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/academicfreedom?refer=embed">#academicfreedom</a> and <a title="firstamendment" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/firstamendment?refer=embed">#firstamendment</a> rights are discarded.  <a title="charliekirk" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/charliekirk?refer=embed">#CharlieKirk</a> sympathizers think they can break me..... but my resolve is different.  Thanks @xx_shotgunmary_xx <a target="_blank" title="♬ original sound - dr.chance_speaks" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-7555678616902798111?refer=embed">♬ original sound - dr.chance_speaks</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>On Sept. 10, the day Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during a debate at Utah Valley University, Chance posted the following the same day:</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759177549706.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>"In my post, I just stated that there's karma," Chance said in the TikTok video. "There's irony associated with that, and that's by no means to celebrate someone's death."</p><p>Chance added when she thinks of karma and irony, she thinks of it in a scientific sense rather than a mythical one. Chance compared the death of Kirk to Newton's laws of physics, saying that energy is not destroyed.&nbsp;</p><p>"I believe that it's passed and transferred. The energy that one puts out, one receives," Chance said.</p><p>Chance also made the following post on her social media:</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759177637900.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>In her video response, she pointed out FBI statistics about the demographics of mass shooters.&nbsp;</p><p>"Not that I conclude that every single white American man is a terrorist or potentially violent. I mean, I come from a white home. I'm actually biracial, and I'm half white myself," Chance said.</p><p>Chance said that events like 9/11 and the Virginia Tech shooting have shaped her views on gun control and that they should not impact her work.</p><p>"Who I am as a person outside of my professional spaces should never be put under attack," she said. "The institution that I am an employee at has been put in a hard place. I'm black in America. I get hard places."</p><p>Scott Cason, FHSU’s chief communications officer, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/news/2025/09/fort-hays-state-university-statement-regarding-recent-social-media-post-about-race-and-violence#gsc.tab=0">press release</a>&nbsp;the university is aware of content on the X account Libs of TikTok linking a faculty member to social media posts about Charlie Kirk.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>"Individuals who post commentaries to their personal social media accounts do not speak for the University, nor does their commentary reflect the views or values of this university," Cason said.</p><p>Cason said FHSU is reviewing the situation as a confidential personnel matter and asks for patience as they address it.</p><p><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/67bf5501-02df-472c-a43a-a4ff11ff5305">SEE RELATED STORY: FHSU assistant professor under review for posts about Charlie Kirk</a></p><p>"Although I am mentally exhausted, I realized that no one's going to speak up for you but yourself. You have to be your own advocate," Chance said. "I refuse to be anyone's victim."</p><p>Libs of TikTok, a right-wing social media account that curates and reposts videos designed to provoke outrage among conservative followers, posted the following Sunday and tagged the FHSU X page.&nbsp;</p><figure>
                        <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759182814757.png" alt="<br>" />
                        <figcaption><br></figcaption>
                    </figure><p>The university also shared its press release on its X page, where Libs of TikTok responded with criticism.</p><p>"Sorry, but I don't have 'patience' for professors who call white Americans 'dangerous animals' and mock the murder of a young father. This statement says absolutely nothing," the X post said.</p>