KANSAS CITY —A second person injured in a crash that occurred October 29, in Kansas City, Missouri has died.

Just before 12:30p.m. on that Wednesday, a silver Dodge Journey was southbound on Broadway in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. The driver of the Dodge suffered a possible medical emergency and accelerated through the intersection of Linwood and Broadway. 

The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right, struck an unoccupied parked Lexus and traveled up onto the sidewalk. The Dodge then struck a steel light pole, the Vietnam Memorial and continued traveling southbound through the grass and struck the side of the VFW building.

EMS transported both the driver and front seat passenger of the of the Dodge to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Both were reported in very critical condition.

The passenger of the Dodge Journey, an adult female,  was pronounced deceased on the night of October 29, according to Becchina.&nbsp;&nbsp;

On Monday, the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office reported the involved driver had succumbed to the injuries sustained in the crash and the driver was pronounced deceased by St. Lukes Hospital staff.

 Police released no additional details including the name of the victim. This is fatality #57 compared to #80 last year in Kansas City, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761833620367.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A second person injured in a crash that occurred October 29, in Kansas City, Missouri has died.Just before 12:30p.m. on that Wednesday, a silver Dodge Journey was southbound on Broadway in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. The driver of the Dodge suffered a possible medical emergency and accelerated through the intersection of Linwood and Broadway. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right, struck an unoccupied parked Lexus and traveled up onto the sidewalk. The Dodge then struck a steel light pole, the Vietnam Memorial and continued traveling southbound through the grass and struck the side of the VFW building.EMS transported both the driver and front seat passenger of the of the Dodge to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Both were reported in very critical condition.The passenger of the Dodge Journey, an adult female, was pronounced deceased on the night of October 29, according to Becchina.&nbsp;&nbsp;On Monday, the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office reported the involved driver had succumbed to the injuries sustained in the crash and the driver was pronounced deceased by St. Lukes Hospital staff. Police released no additional details including the name of the victim. This is fatality #57 compared to #80 last year in Kansas City, Missouri.

KCPD: Driver dies days after crash that killed passenger 

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a search in Lawrence.

During the noon hour on Monday,&nbsp; police&nbsp; were attempting to find a man who witnesses say threatened a couple with a firearm, then took off, according to a social media report from the Lawrence Police Department.

Officers were dispatched to 23rd and Louisiana just before noon and got a description of the suspect and additional evidence.

About an hour after the initial call, the suspect was spotted near 23rd and Naismith Drive. When officers attempted to approach him, he ran into a nearby grocery store. 

 Officers set up a perimeter, while others entered the business and located the suspect. Officers safely arrested him, took him to the hospital to get checked out because he was complaining of stomach issues, and then to the Douglas County Correctional Facility. 

There were no injuries reported during the entire incident.

Police did not release the name of the suspect or possible charges.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a search in Lawrence.During the noon hour on Monday,&nbsp; police&nbsp; were attempting to find a man who witnesses say threatened a couple with a firearm, then took off, according to a social media report from the Lawrence Police Department.Officers were dispatched to 23rd and Louisiana just before noon and got a description of the suspect and additional evidence.About an hour after the initial call, the suspect was spotted near 23rd and Naismith Drive. When officers attempted to approach him, he ran into a nearby grocery store. Officers set up a perimeter, while others entered the business and located the suspect. Officers safely arrested him, took him to the hospital to get checked out because he was complaining of stomach issues, and then to the Douglas County Correctional Facility. There were no injuries reported during the entire incident.Police did not release the name of the suspect or possible charges.

Police capture wanted Kansas suspect inside grocery store

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a robbery that occurred on Halloween are asking for help to identify the suspect.

On October 31, the suspect, shown in a security camera image released on Monday, robbed a business in the 300 block of S. Hwy 291 while armed with a handgun, according to Liberty Police.

The suspect was wearing the white shoes. If you recognize this individual or have any information about this robbery, please contact detectives at 816-439-4730 or call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).You may remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762809150189.png" alt="Photo LIberty Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo LIberty Police</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a robbery that occurred on Halloween are asking for help to identify the suspect.On October 31, the suspect, shown in a security camera image released on Monday, robbed a business in the 300 block of S. Hwy 291 while armed with a handgun, according to Liberty Police.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762809123628.png" alt="Photo Liberty Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Liberty Police</figcaption>
 </figure>The suspect was wearing the white shoes. If you recognize this individual or have any information about this robbery, please contact detectives at 816-439-4730 or call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (8477).You may remain anonymous and could receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.

Police working to ID KC area Halloween robbery suspect

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved a stopgap spending bill Monday that will end the longest government shutdown in American history once the measure becomes law later this week.

The&nbsp;60-40 vote sends the updated funding package back to the House, where lawmakers in that chamber are expected sometime during the next few days to clear the legislation for President Donald Trump’s signature.&nbsp;

Shortly before the vote, Trump said he plans to follow the agreements included in the revised measure, including the reinstatement of thousands of federal workers who received layoff notices during the shutdown.&nbsp;

“I’ll abide by the deal,” Trump said. “The deal is very good.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Republicans, he added, will soon begin work on legislation to provide direct payments to Americans to help them afford the rising cost of health insurance, one of the core disagreements between the political parties that led to the shutdown.&nbsp;

“We want a health care system where we pay the money to the people instead of the insurance companies,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “And I tell you, we are going to be working on that very hard over the next short period of time.”

Earlier in the day, House Speaker Mike Johnson urged representatives to begin traveling back to Capitol Hill as soon as possible to ensure they arrive in time to vote on the bill to reopen the government, after the measure arrives from the Senate.&nbsp;

The Louisiana Republican’s request came as airlines were forced to delay or cancel thousands of flights on the 41st day of the shutdown, a situation that could potentially impact a House vote on the stopgap spending bill if members don’t follow his advice.&nbsp;

“The problem we have with air travel is that our air traffic controllers are overworked and unpaid. And many of them have called in sick,” Johnson said. “That’s a very stressful job and even more stressful, exponentially, when they’re having trouble providing for their families. And so air travel has been grinding to a halt in many places.”

Johnson then told his colleagues in the House, which hasn’t been in session since mid-September, that lawmakers from both political parties “need to begin right now returning to the Hill.”

Trump took a markedly different tone over the challenges air traffic controllers have faced during the shutdown in&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115526123205979749" target="_blank">a social media post</a>&nbsp;that he published several hours before he spoke to reporters about the deal to reopen government.&nbsp;

“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’” Trump wrote, without explaining what that would mean for workers who had to take time off since the shutdown began Oct. 1.&nbsp;

Trump added that he would like to find a way to provide $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who didn’t require any time off during the past six weeks.

“For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country,” Trump wrote. “You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind!”&nbsp;

The Senate-passed package will provide stopgap funding for much of the federal government through January 30, giving lawmakers a couple more months to work out agreement on nine of the dozen full-year spending bills.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The package holds several other provisions, including the full-year appropriations bills for the Agriculture Department, the Legislative Branch, military construction projects and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.&nbsp;

Seven Democrats and one independent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-advances-bill-end-record-breaking-government-shutdown" target="_blank">broke ranks Sunday</a>&nbsp;on a procedural vote that advanced the package, drawing condemnation from some House members and outside advocacy groups unhappy that no solution was arrived at to counter skyrocketing health insurance premium increases for people in the Affordable Care Act marketplace.

Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, where bipartisanship is required for major bills to move forward under the 60-vote legislative filibuster.&nbsp;

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said during a floor speech Monday he was “grateful that the end” of the stalemate was in sight.&nbsp;

“We’re on the 41st day of this shutdown — nutrition benefits are in jeopardy; air travel is in an extremely precarious situation; our staffs and many, many other government workers have been working for nearly six weeks without pay,” Thune said. “I could spend an hour talking about all of the problems we’ve seen, which have snowballed the longer the shutdown has gone on. But all of us, Democrat and Republican, who voted for last night’s bill are well aware of the facts.”

Schumer bid for deal on health care costs fails

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was far less celebratory after his bid to get Republicans to negotiate a deal on health care costs by forcing a shutdown failed.&nbsp;

“The past few weeks have exposed with shocking clarity how warped Republican priorities truly are. While people’s health care costs have gone up, Republicans have come across as a party preoccupied with ballrooms, Argentina bailouts and private jets,” Schumer said. “Republicans’ breach of trust with the American people is deep and perhaps irreversible.”&nbsp;

“And now that they have failed to do anything to prevent premiums from going up, the anger that Americans feel against Donald Trump and the Republicans is going to get worse,” Schumer added. “Republicans had their chance to fix this and they blew it. Americans will remember Republican intransigence every time they make a sky-high payment on health insurance.”&nbsp;

Schumer was insistent throughout the shutdown that Democrats would only vote to advance a funding bill after lawmakers brokered a bipartisan deal to extend tax credits that are set to expire at the end of December for people who purchase their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace.&nbsp;

That all changed on Sunday when Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada voted to move the bill toward a final passage vote.

Maine independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, also voted to advance the legislation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said during a press conference Monday afternoon that he still believes Schumer is effective and should keep his role in leadership, despite the outcome.&nbsp;

“Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats over the last seven weeks have waged a valiant fight on behalf of the American people. And I’m not going to explain what a handful of Senate Democrats have decided to do. That’s their explanation to offer to the American people,” Jeffries said.&nbsp;

“What we’re going to continue to do as House Democrats, partnered with our allies throughout America, is to wage the fight, to stay in the coliseum, to win victories in the arena on behalf of the American people notwithstanding whatever disappointments may arise,” he said. “That’s the reality of life, that’s certainly the reality of this place. But we’re in this fight for all the right reasons.”&nbsp;

Speaker Johnson said earlier in the day that the “people’s government cannot be held hostage to further anyone’s political agenda. That was never right. And shutting down the government never produces anything.”

Johnson reiterated that GOP lawmakers are “open to finding solutions to reduce the oppressive costs of health care,” though he didn’t outline any plans to do that in the weeks and months ahead.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762828310820.png" alt="Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt presided over the Senate Monday night-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Missouri U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt presided over the Senate Monday night-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved a stopgap spending bill Monday that will end the longest government shutdown in American history once the measure becomes law later this week.The&nbsp;60-40 vote sends the updated funding package back to the House, where lawmakers in that chamber are expected sometime during the next few days to clear the legislation for President Donald Trump’s signature.&nbsp;Shortly before the vote, Trump said he plans to follow the agreements included in the revised measure, including the reinstatement of thousands of federal workers who received layoff notices during the shutdown.&nbsp;“I’ll abide by the deal,” Trump said. “The deal is very good.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Republicans, he added, will soon begin work on legislation to provide direct payments to Americans to help them afford the rising cost of health insurance, one of the core disagreements between the political parties that led to the shutdown.&nbsp;“We want a health care system where we pay the money to the people instead of the insurance companies,” Trump said from the Oval Office. “And I tell you, we are going to be working on that very hard over the next short period of time.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">41 days of ridiculous political posturing by the Democrats ended tonight. Finally the American people will no longer be pawns in their political games. <a href="https://t.co/KFr1w8OXSt">pic.twitter.com/KFr1w8OXSt</a>&mdash; Senator Eric Schmitt (@SenEricSchmitt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenEricSchmitt/status/1988091017061691526?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>House members told to head to D.C.</h2>Earlier in the day, House Speaker Mike Johnson urged representatives to begin traveling back to Capitol Hill as soon as possible to ensure they arrive in time to vote on the bill to reopen the government, after the measure arrives from the Senate.&nbsp;The Louisiana Republican’s request came as airlines were forced to delay or cancel thousands of flights on the 41st day of the shutdown, a situation that could potentially impact a House vote on the stopgap spending bill if members don’t follow his advice.&nbsp;“The problem we have with air travel is that our air traffic controllers are overworked and unpaid. And many of them have called in sick,” Johnson said. “That’s a very stressful job and even more stressful, exponentially, when they’re having trouble providing for their families. And so air travel has been grinding to a halt in many places.”Johnson then told his colleagues in the House, which hasn’t been in session since mid-September, that lawmakers from both political parties “need to begin right now returning to the Hill.”<h2>Trump threatens air traffic controllers</h2>Trump took a markedly different tone over the challenges air traffic controllers have faced during the shutdown in&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115526123205979749" target="_blank">a social media post</a>&nbsp;that he published several hours before he spoke to reporters about the deal to reopen government.&nbsp;“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked,’” Trump wrote, without explaining what that would mean for workers who had to take time off since the shutdown began Oct. 1.&nbsp;Trump added that he would like to find a way to provide $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who didn’t require any time off during the past six weeks.“For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU. You didn’t step up to help the U.S.A. against the FAKE DEMOCRAT ATTACK that was only meant to hurt our Country,” Trump wrote. “You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record. If you want to leave service in the near future, please do not hesitate to do so, with NO payment or severance of any kind!”&nbsp;<h2>An end in sight</h2>The Senate-passed package will provide stopgap funding for much of the federal government through January 30, giving lawmakers a couple more months to work out agreement on nine of the dozen full-year spending bills.&nbsp;&nbsp;The package holds several other provisions, including the full-year appropriations bills for the Agriculture Department, the Legislative Branch, military construction projects and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.&nbsp;Seven Democrats and one independent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-advances-bill-end-record-breaking-government-shutdown" target="_blank">broke ranks Sunday</a>&nbsp;on a procedural vote that advanced the package, drawing condemnation from some House members and outside advocacy groups unhappy that no solution was arrived at to counter skyrocketing health insurance premium increases for people in the Affordable Care Act marketplace.Republicans hold 53 seats in the Senate, where bipartisanship is required for major bills to move forward under the 60-vote legislative filibuster.&nbsp;Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said during a floor speech Monday he was “grateful that the end” of the stalemate was in sight.&nbsp;“We’re on the 41st day of this shutdown — nutrition benefits are in jeopardy; air travel is in an extremely precarious situation; our staffs and many, many other government workers have been working for nearly six weeks without pay,” Thune said. “I could spend an hour talking about all of the problems we’ve seen, which have snowballed the longer the shutdown has gone on. But all of us, Democrat and Republican, who voted for last night’s bill are well aware of the facts.”<h2>Schumer bid for deal on health care costs fails</h2>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was far less celebratory after his bid to get Republicans to negotiate a deal on health care costs by forcing a shutdown failed.&nbsp;“The past few weeks have exposed with shocking clarity how warped Republican priorities truly are. While people’s health care costs have gone up, Republicans have come across as a party preoccupied with ballrooms, Argentina bailouts and private jets,” Schumer said. “Republicans’ breach of trust with the American people is deep and perhaps irreversible.”&nbsp;“And now that they have failed to do anything to prevent premiums from going up, the anger that Americans feel against Donald Trump and the Republicans is going to get worse,” Schumer added. “Republicans had their chance to fix this and they blew it. Americans will remember Republican intransigence every time they make a sky-high payment on health insurance.”&nbsp;Schumer was insistent throughout the shutdown that Democrats would only vote to advance a funding bill after lawmakers brokered a bipartisan deal to extend tax credits that are set to expire at the end of December for people who purchase their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace.&nbsp;That all changed on Sunday when Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada voted to move the bill toward a final passage vote.Maine independent Sen. Angus King of Maine, who caucuses with Democrats, also voted to advance the legislation.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Jeffries still supports Schumer</h2>House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said during a press conference Monday afternoon that he still believes Schumer is effective and should keep his role in leadership, despite the outcome.&nbsp;“Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats over the last seven weeks have waged a valiant fight on behalf of the American people. And I’m not going to explain what a handful of Senate Democrats have decided to do. That’s their explanation to offer to the American people,” Jeffries said.&nbsp;“What we’re going to continue to do as House Democrats, partnered with our allies throughout America, is to wage the fight, to stay in the coliseum, to win victories in the arena on behalf of the American people notwithstanding whatever disappointments may arise,” he said. “That’s the reality of life, that’s certainly the reality of this place. But we’re in this fight for all the right reasons.”&nbsp;Speaker Johnson said earlier in the day that the “people’s government cannot be held hostage to further anyone’s political agenda. That was never right. And shutting down the government never produces anything.”Johnson reiterated that GOP lawmakers are “open to finding solutions to reduce the oppressive costs of health care,” though he didn’t outline any plans to do that in the weeks and months ahead.&nbsp;

US Senate in bipartisan vote passes bill to end record-breaking shutdown, House up next

WABAUNSEE COUNTY— Two people died in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Monday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Jeep Liberty driven by Cheryl A. Martin, 63, Junction City,&nbsp;was eastbound on Interstate 70 at McFarland.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Jeep drifted into the median, struck a culvert and rolled. A 2007 Peterbilt semi driven by Robert Arnold, 53, Hays was entering the Interstate from an entrance ramp and struck the Jeep.

Martin and a passenger Perry A. Martin, 65, Junction City, were prononced dead at the scene and were transported Forensic Medical. Arnold was not injured.&nbsp; Perry Martin was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762858980303.png" alt="Photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>WABAUNSEE COUNTY— Two people died in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Monday in Wabaunsee County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Jeep Liberty driven by Cheryl A. Martin, 63, Junction City,&nbsp;was eastbound on Interstate 70 at McFarland.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Jeep drifted into the median, struck a culvert and rolled. A 2007 Peterbilt semi driven by Robert Arnold, 53, Hays was entering the Interstate from an entrance ramp and struck the Jeep.Martin and a passenger Perry A. Martin, 65, Junction City, were prononced dead at the scene and were transported Forensic Medical. Arnold was not injured.&nbsp; Perry Martin was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas couple killed in Jeep, semi crash on Interstate 70

CASS COUNTY—Five people were injured in a fire on Sunday night in the Kansas City suburb of Belton&nbsp;

Crews responded to a house fire in the area of 187th and Y Highway, acording to a media release from the Belton Fire Department

The residence suffered significant damage throughout. EMS transported&nbsp; 4 people to Belton Regional and 1 person to Research Medical Center due to injuries from the fire.

Three others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The fire is considered accidental and was caused by improperly charged/stored lithium-ion batteries.

So<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064678484611&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXM8u1TDxuJy5UuHHdnzEi7pi1FJuuK0r4qw-TtByURTTVTQkO_EAuA6V4cEJHERprHWqpTnrTF_pVoOpmJEmDmDXHsYgMqVF1gpLlSKiP90iBUVfWz03hXGU96am8tbIB5SWeD7O7B_k_iqlyS2EWFX9zZ1Z44JTR9f8aaSReTjR0RdUBAUhRQD6yNYVyCIqc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">uth Metro Fire District</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WPFPD?__cft__[0]=AZXM8u1TDxuJy5UuHHdnzEi7pi1FJuuK0r4qw-TtByURTTVTQkO_EAuA6V4cEJHERprHWqpTnrTF_pVoOpmJEmDmDXHsYgMqVF1gpLlSKiP90iBUVfWz03hXGU96am8tbIB5SWeD7O7B_k_iqlyS2EWFX9zZ1Z44JTR9f8aaSReTjR0RdUBAUhRQD6yNYVyCIqc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">West Peculiar Fire Protection District</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GrandviewMOFD?__cft__[0]=AZXM8u1TDxuJy5UuHHdnzEi7pi1FJuuK0r4qw-TtByURTTVTQkO_EAuA6V4cEJHERprHWqpTnrTF_pVoOpmJEmDmDXHsYgMqVF1gpLlSKiP90iBUVfWz03hXGU96am8tbIB5SWeD7O7B_k_iqlyS2EWFX9zZ1Z44JTR9f8aaSReTjR0RdUBAUhRQD6yNYVyCIqc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Grandview Fire Department</a>&nbsp;assisted with mutual aid to this event.

1. When purchasing devices, look for the Underwriter Laboratories (UL) Mark. The UL mark shows that the product has been tested to nationally recognized safety standards.

2.  Follow the device manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage. Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the device.

3.  When purchasing a new battery, buy the manufacturer’s battery that is compatible with your device. Do not seek alternative battery options.

We would also like to remind you to use heaters safely. 

1.  Portable propane heaters should never be used indoors.  

2.  Ensure safe space (3ft) around electric space heaters. 

3.  Never plug a space heater into a power strip or extension cord.

4.  Ensure every residence has a working smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762811752010.png" alt="Photo Belton Fire Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photo Belton Fire Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>CASS COUNTY—Five people were injured in a fire on Sunday night in the Kansas City suburb of Belton&nbsp;Crews responded to a house fire in the area of 187th and Y Highway, acording to a media release from the Belton Fire Department<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762811776327.png" alt="Photo Belton Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photo Belton Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>The residence suffered significant damage throughout. EMS transported&nbsp; 4 people to Belton Regional and 1 person to Research Medical Center due to injuries from the fire.Three others were treated at the scene for minor injuries. The fire is considered accidental and was caused by improperly charged/stored lithium-ion batteries.So<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064678484611&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXM8u1TDxuJy5UuHHdnzEi7pi1FJuuK0r4qw-TtByURTTVTQkO_EAuA6V4cEJHERprHWqpTnrTF_pVoOpmJEmDmDXHsYgMqVF1gpLlSKiP90iBUVfWz03hXGU96am8tbIB5SWeD7O7B_k_iqlyS2EWFX9zZ1Z44JTR9f8aaSReTjR0RdUBAUhRQD6yNYVyCIqc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">uth Metro Fire District</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/WPFPD?__cft__[0]=AZXM8u1TDxuJy5UuHHdnzEi7pi1FJuuK0r4qw-TtByURTTVTQkO_EAuA6V4cEJHERprHWqpTnrTF_pVoOpmJEmDmDXHsYgMqVF1gpLlSKiP90iBUVfWz03hXGU96am8tbIB5SWeD7O7B_k_iqlyS2EWFX9zZ1Z44JTR9f8aaSReTjR0RdUBAUhRQD6yNYVyCIqc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">West Peculiar Fire Protection District</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GrandviewMOFD?__cft__[0]=AZXM8u1TDxuJy5UuHHdnzEi7pi1FJuuK0r4qw-TtByURTTVTQkO_EAuA6V4cEJHERprHWqpTnrTF_pVoOpmJEmDmDXHsYgMqVF1gpLlSKiP90iBUVfWz03hXGU96am8tbIB5SWeD7O7B_k_iqlyS2EWFX9zZ1Z44JTR9f8aaSReTjR0RdUBAUhRQD6yNYVyCIqc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Grandview Fire Department</a>&nbsp;assisted with mutual aid to this event.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762831704027.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>General Safety Tips:1. When purchasing devices, look for the Underwriter Laboratories (UL) Mark. The UL mark shows that the product has been tested to nationally recognized safety standards.2. Follow the device manufacturer’s instructions for charging and storage. Always use the manufacturer’s cord and power adapter made specifically for the device.3. When purchasing a new battery, buy the manufacturer’s battery that is compatible with your device. Do not seek alternative battery options.We would also like to remind you to use heaters safely. 1. Portable propane heaters should never be used indoors. 2. Ensure safe space (3ft) around electric space heaters. 3. Never plug a space heater into a power strip or extension cord.4. Ensure every residence has a working smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.

5 hospitalized after lithium-ion battery fire at KC area home

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman for an alleged violent crime.

On Saturday morning, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a home in the 200 block of N. Phillips in Salina on the report of woman who allegedly attacked a man, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler,

A 31-year old man told police a woman broke a window and entered his home.&nbsp; The woman allegedly struck the man with a broom, causing some injuries.

Officers arrested 28-year-old Shealynn Klinkerman and booked her into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of: Battery, Criminal Damage to Property and Interference with Law Enforcement.

The victim did not need any medical treatment for his injuries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762798928778.png" alt="Klinkerman Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Klinkerman Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman for an alleged violent crime.On Saturday morning, police&nbsp;were dispatched to a home in the 200 block of N. Phillips in Salina on the report of woman who allegedly attacked a man, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler,A 31-year old man told police a woman broke a window and entered his home.&nbsp; The woman allegedly struck the man with a broom, causing some injuries.Officers arrested 28-year-old Shealynn Klinkerman and booked her into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of: Battery, Criminal Damage to Property and Interference with Law Enforcement.The victim did not need any medical treatment for his injuries.

Police: Woman attacked Kansas man with a broom

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a>): &quot;The FDA is initiating the removal of broad black box warnings from hormone replacement therapy products for menopause.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xcqVHCpn4E">pic.twitter.com/xcqVHCpn4E</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1987920133160141115?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DrMakaryFDA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrMakaryFDA</a>: “50 million women since that study 23 years ago have been denied, or never offered, or talked out of the life-changing, life-saving benefits of hormone replacement therapy.” <a href="https://t.co/q5cr82jsDM">pic.twitter.com/q5cr82jsDM</a>&mdash; HHS Rapid Response (@HHSResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSResponse/status/1987923777498288585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥FDA will lift warnings on hormone therapy for menopause 

WILSON COUNTY —Two adults and a child died in an accident just before 6a.m. Monday in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Hyundia Sonata driven by Adam Lane&nbsp;Brooks, 21, Fredonia, was westbound on Granby Avenue at U.S. 400.&nbsp; The driver failed to stop at the stop sign. A northbound Peterbilt semi driven by Marvin Leroy&nbsp; Lea, 59, El Dorado struck the car.

A passenger identified as Kylie Michelle&nbsp;Brooks, 21, Neodesha, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was transported to&nbsp;Country Side Funeral Home. EMS transported a 2-year-old male passenger to Wesley Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported the driver to Wilson Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.

Lea was not injured. The occupants of the Hyundai were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

WILSON COUNTY —Two adults and a child died in an accident just before 6a.m. Monday in Wilson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Hyundia Sonata driven by Adam Lane&nbsp;Brooks, 21, Fredonia, was westbound on Granby Avenue at U.S. 400.&nbsp; The driver failed to stop at the stop sign. A northbound Peterbilt semi driven by Marvin Leroy&nbsp; Lea, 59, El Dorado struck the car.A passenger identified as Kylie Michelle&nbsp;Brooks, 21, Neodesha, was pronounced dead at the scene. She was transported to&nbsp;Country Side Funeral Home. EMS transported a 2-year-old male passenger to Wesley Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; &nbsp;EMS transported the driver to Wilson Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.Lea was not injured. The occupants of the Hyundai were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kan. man, woman and 2-year-old killed in car, semi crash

WASHINGTON —Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reported more deadly strikes on an alleged drug boats.

On social media, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced,&nbsp; On Sunday, at the direction of President Trump, two lethal kinetic strikes were conducted on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations."

"These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and were transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route in the Eastern Pacific." "Both strikes were conducted in international waters and 3 male narco-terrorists were aboard each vessel. All 6 were killed. No U.S. forces were harmed." "Under President Trump, we are protecting the homeland and killing these cartel terrorists who wish to harm our country and its people.

This was the 19 reported U.S. attack on drug vessels with the death toll at 75 since the Trump administration launched a campaign against drug trafficking in South American waters.

WASHINGTON —Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reported more deadly strikes on an alleged drug boats.On social media, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced,&nbsp; On Sunday, at the direction of President Trump, two lethal kinetic strikes were conducted on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, two lethal kinetic strikes were conducted on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and… <a href="https://t.co/ocUoGzwwDO">pic.twitter.com/ocUoGzwwDO</a>&mdash; Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecWar/status/1987863821868732447?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>"These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and were transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route in the Eastern Pacific." "Both strikes were conducted in international waters and 3 male narco-terrorists were aboard each vessel. All 6 were killed. No U.S. forces were harmed." "Under President Trump, we are protecting the homeland and killing these cartel terrorists who wish to harm our country and its people.This was the 19 reported U.S. attack on drug vessels with the death toll at 75 since the Trump administration launched a campaign against drug trafficking in South American waters.---------------

🎥US military kills 6 in new attacks on drug-running boats

CALLAWAY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Sunday in Callaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy S-10 driven by a 61-year-old Maryland Heights man was westbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Route A / Route Z&nbsp; exit.

The pickup traveled off the right side of the road, rolled and the unrestrained driver was ejected.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CALLAWAY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 8p.m. Sunday in Callaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Chevy S-10 driven by a 61-year-old Maryland Heights man was westbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Route A / Route Z&nbsp; exit.The pickup traveled off the right side of the road, rolled and the unrestrained driver was ejected.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased at the scene. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after ejected in rollover accident

HENRY COUNTY —A Kansas woman was injured just after 3p.m. Saturday when her kayak capsized on Truman Lake.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 45-year-old Olathe woman&nbsp; &nbsp;was overcome by wind and waves&nbsp;about two miles south of the Sparrow Foot Boat Ramp. The boat capsized and she fell into the water. She swam to the nearest shoreline. EMS transported her to Golden Valley Hospital in Clinton.&nbsp;

She was not wearing a safety device, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HENRY COUNTY —A Kansas woman was injured just after 3p.m. Saturday when her kayak capsized on Truman Lake.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 45-year-old Olathe woman&nbsp; &nbsp;was overcome by wind and waves&nbsp;about two miles south of the Sparrow Foot Boat Ramp. The boat capsized and she fell into the water. She swam to the nearest shoreline. EMS transported her to Golden Valley Hospital in Clinton.&nbsp;She was not wearing a safety device, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kan. woman hospitalized after kayak capsized on Mo. lake

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">Ashley Murray</a>

WASHINGTON — Seven U.S. Senate Democrats and one independent&nbsp;joined Republicans on Sunday night in advancing legislation to reopen the government and temporarily keep it afloat until the end of January, after a record-breaking shutdown that began Oct. 1.

Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada voted with most of the GOP to advance the stopgap measure through a 60-40 procedural vote.&nbsp;

Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, also voted in support.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Fetterman, King and Cortez Masto had already voted with Republicans on the previous 14 votes to reopen the government. Until Sunday, Republicans who control the chamber did not have the 60 votes needed to clear the filibuster threshold.

GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has consistently voted against the temporary funding measure, again cast a “no” vote.

The deal would also unlock full-year funding for a vital food aid program that serves 42 million Americans and bring back federal workers fired by President Donald Trump when the government was closed.

It does not include language addressing skyrocketing premiums for those enrolled in individual health insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act marketplace, a major sticking point for Democrats. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said late Sunday on the Senate floor that he commits to holding a separate vote on health insurance subsidies no later than the second week of December.

In a press conference following the vote, Rosen said Democrats have “an opportunity also to put Republicans on the record on the ACA.”

“Are they committed to doing this? Are they committed leaders who said, ‘You can come to the table on health care once the government was open’? And now he must follow through. If Republicans want to join us in lowering costs for working families, they have the perfect opportunity to show the American public,” Rosen said.

New text of a temporary stopgap funding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/continuing_appropriations_act_2026_bill_text.pdf" target="_blank">deal</a>&nbsp;released Sunday night proposes to keep the government open until Jan. 30. The bill would also reinstate all federal employees who were fired after the shutdown began, restoring their jobs with back pay, and prohibit any further layoffs until the temporary funding expires.

As part of the agreement, three fiscal year 2026 funding bills will ride along with the package, including the appropriations bills for agriculture programs, veterans benefits, military construction and Congress.

Several Senate Democrats left a lengthy closed-door meeting earlier Sunday night upset that the deal does not include anything to address rising health care premiums, on which the party has staked the 40-day shutdown.&nbsp;

Subsidies for those who buy insurance on the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace expire at the end of this year.

“So far as I’m concerned, health care isn’t included, so I’ll be a no,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin also issued statements following the caucus meeting declaring they would vote no. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also told reporters on his way out of the meeting that he’s opposed to the deal.

Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey said on social media he would oppose it. ”I’ve been clear that we need real action to stop the devastating health care cost increases that are hurting millions of families,” he said.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., issued a statement expressing support for the agreement, highlighting that Senate Republicans have promised a vote on extending the health care subsidies.

“This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren’t willing to do. Lawmakers know their constituents expect them to vote for it, and if they don’t, they could very well be replaced at the ballot box by someone who will,” Kaine said.

The Sunday night vote does not mean the government will reopen right away.

The legislation must make its way through Senate procedural steps and then gain approval from the U.S. House, which hasn’t been in session since Sept. 19. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, attended the Washington Commanders football game with Trump Sunday night in Landover, Maryland.

Trump briefly spoke to reporters upon news of the deal after leaving the NFL game, telling them, “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.”

Nearly a million federal workers have missed paychecks during the shutdown, and food benefits for the poorest Americans stopped flowing at the beginning of November.&nbsp;

Air travel has also become snarled as the shutdown has dragged on, and air traffic controllers are under pressure without pay. The Federal Aviation Administration began&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/here-are-airports-hit-faa-pullback-air-traffic-3300-flights-daily-be-canceled" target="_blank">cutting flights</a>&nbsp;Friday at 40 major airports across the U.S. The cuts are set to ramp up to a 10% decrease in air traffic.

The deal includes provisions that Democrats say the Trump administration sought to shrink or cut altogether, including fresh fruit and vegetable subsidies for mothers with children and monthly food boxes for low-income seniors.

The legislation would direct $8.2 billion to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, otherwise known as WIC, a roughly $600 million increase over last year’s program amount.

During the shutdown, the administration used $150 million from a U.S. Department of Agriculture rainy day fund to keep the program going. The bill would replenish the contingency money.

The bill also fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and children’s nutrition programs, including subsidized school breakfast and lunch, and the availability of food during summer school breaks.

Democrats on the Senate Committee on Appropriations say it included “key funding for SNAP and other critical nutrition programs as President Trump fights in court during the government shutdown to cut off benefits for 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to feed their families,” according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FY26%20Ag-FDA%20Conference%20Bill%20Summary.pdf" target="_blank">bill summary</a>.&nbsp;

The USDA directed states to begin releasing the November SNAP benefits onto recipients’ benefits debit cards after a Rhode Island federal district judge and circuit court ordered the Trump administration to do so last week.&nbsp;

Trump appealed the order to the Supreme Court, which stayed the decision. A department memo Saturday told states that released the full benefits to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/states-told-trump-administration-undo-full-snap-benefits-paid-november" target="_blank">take back</a>&nbsp;a portion of them.

The bill would also direct money to the SNAP emergency contingency fund.

Hemp farmers are sounding the alarm about a provision in the bill that they say would “effectively eliminate the legal hemp industry built under the 2018 farm bill,” according to a Sunday statement from the Hemp Industry and Farmers of America.

Lawmakers are “slamming the door on 325,000 American jobs and forcing consumers back to dangerous black markets,” the industry group’s executive director Brian Swensen said.&nbsp;

Swensen also added: “The hemp industry has been ready and willing to work on responsible regulations – age restrictions, testing requirements, proper labeling — but instead of collaboration, the industry is getting a misguided prohibition through backdoor appropriations deals.”&nbsp;

Several House Democrats, including a top appropriator, criticized the deal.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blamed Republicans for the proposal Sunday night in a statement, saying House and Senate Democrats have “waged a valiant fight” for the last seven weeks.

“It now appears that Senate Republicans will send the House of Representatives a spending bill that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. As a result of the Republicans refusal to address the healthcare crisis that they have created, tens of millions of everyday Americans are going to see their costs skyrocket,” Jeffries said.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top House Democratic appropriator, said she did not agree to the release of the veterans and military construction bill as an attachment to the deal.

“Congress must invest in veterans, address the health care crisis that is raising costs on more than 20 million Americans, and prevent President Trump from not spending appropriated dollars in our communities,” DeLauro, D-Conn., said in a statement.

Rep. Angie Craig joined other House Democrats in slamming the Senate negotiations on social media.

“If people believe this is a ‘deal,’ I have a bridge to sell you. I’m not going to put 24 million Americans at risk of losing their health care. I’m a no,” said Craig, of Minnesota.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762772315218.jpeg" alt="Counting votes late Sunday in the U.S. Senate" />
 <figcaption>Counting votes late Sunday in the U.S. Senate</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">Ashley Murray</a>WASHINGTON — Seven U.S. Senate Democrats and one independent&nbsp;joined Republicans on Sunday night in advancing legislation to reopen the government and temporarily keep it afloat until the end of January, after a record-breaking shutdown that began Oct. 1.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">U.S. Senate advances bill to reopen the government, 60-40. <a href="https://t.co/r2CfPUReJV">pic.twitter.com/r2CfPUReJV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1987730780114817278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada voted with most of the GOP to advance the stopgap measure through a 60-40 procedural vote.&nbsp;Sen. Angus King of Maine, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, also voted in support.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fetterman, King and Cortez Masto had already voted with Republicans on the previous 14 votes to reopen the government. Until Sunday, Republicans who control the chamber did not have the 60 votes needed to clear the filibuster threshold.GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has consistently voted against the temporary funding measure, again cast a “no” vote.The deal would also unlock full-year funding for a vital food aid program that serves 42 million Americans and bring back federal workers fired by President Donald Trump when the government was closed.It does not include language addressing skyrocketing premiums for those enrolled in individual health insurance plans in the Affordable Care Act marketplace, a major sticking point for Democrats. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said late Sunday on the Senate floor that he commits to holding a separate vote on health insurance subsidies no later than the second week of December.In a press conference following the vote, Rosen said Democrats have “an opportunity also to put Republicans on the record on the ACA.”“Are they committed to doing this? Are they committed leaders who said, ‘You can come to the table on health care once the government was open’? And now he must follow through. If Republicans want to join us in lowering costs for working families, they have the perfect opportunity to show the American public,” Rosen said.New text of a temporary stopgap funding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/continuing_appropriations_act_2026_bill_text.pdf" target="_blank">deal</a>&nbsp;released Sunday night proposes to keep the government open until Jan. 30. The bill would also reinstate all federal employees who were fired after the shutdown began, restoring their jobs with back pay, and prohibit any further layoffs until the temporary funding expires.As part of the agreement, three fiscal year 2026 funding bills will ride along with the package, including the appropriations bills for agriculture programs, veterans benefits, military construction and Congress.<h2>Divided Democrats</h2>Several Senate Democrats left a lengthy closed-door meeting earlier Sunday night upset that the deal does not include anything to address rising health care premiums, on which the party has staked the 40-day shutdown.&nbsp;Subsidies for those who buy insurance on the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace expire at the end of this year.“So far as I’m concerned, health care isn’t included, so I’ll be a no,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Wisconsin’s Tammy Baldwin also issued statements following the caucus meeting declaring they would vote no. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also told reporters on his way out of the meeting that he’s opposed to the deal.Sen. Andy Kim of New Jersey said on social media he would oppose it. ”I’ve been clear that we need real action to stop the devastating health care cost increases that are hurting millions of families,” he said.Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., issued a statement expressing support for the agreement, highlighting that Senate Republicans have promised a vote on extending the health care subsidies.“This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren’t willing to do. Lawmakers know their constituents expect them to vote for it, and if they don’t, they could very well be replaced at the ballot box by someone who will,” Kaine said.<h2>Government reopening will take time</h2>The Sunday night vote does not mean the government will reopen right away.The legislation must make its way through Senate procedural steps and then gain approval from the U.S. House, which hasn’t been in session since Sept. 19. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, attended the Washington Commanders football game with Trump Sunday night in Landover, Maryland.Trump briefly spoke to reporters upon news of the deal after leaving the NFL game, telling them, “It looks like we’re getting very close to the shutdown ending.”Nearly a million federal workers have missed paychecks during the shutdown, and food benefits for the poorest Americans stopped flowing at the beginning of November.&nbsp;Air travel has also become snarled as the shutdown has dragged on, and air traffic controllers are under pressure without pay. The Federal Aviation Administration began&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/here-are-airports-hit-faa-pullback-air-traffic-3300-flights-daily-be-canceled" target="_blank">cutting flights</a>&nbsp;Friday at 40 major airports across the U.S. The cuts are set to ramp up to a 10% decrease in air traffic.<h2>SNAP funding</h2>The deal includes provisions that Democrats say the Trump administration sought to shrink or cut altogether, including fresh fruit and vegetable subsidies for mothers with children and monthly food boxes for low-income seniors.The legislation would direct $8.2 billion to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, otherwise known as WIC, a roughly $600 million increase over last year’s program amount.During the shutdown, the administration used $150 million from a U.S. Department of Agriculture rainy day fund to keep the program going. The bill would replenish the contingency money.The bill also fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and children’s nutrition programs, including subsidized school breakfast and lunch, and the availability of food during summer school breaks.Democrats on the Senate Committee on Appropriations say it included “key funding for SNAP and other critical nutrition programs as President Trump fights in court during the government shutdown to cut off benefits for 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to feed their families,” according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/FY26%20Ag-FDA%20Conference%20Bill%20Summary.pdf" target="_blank">bill summary</a>.&nbsp;The USDA directed states to begin releasing the November SNAP benefits onto recipients’ benefits debit cards after a Rhode Island federal district judge and circuit court ordered the Trump administration to do so last week.&nbsp;Trump appealed the order to the Supreme Court, which stayed the decision. A department memo Saturday told states that released the full benefits to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/states-told-trump-administration-undo-full-snap-benefits-paid-november" target="_blank">take back</a>&nbsp;a portion of them.The bill would also direct money to the SNAP emergency contingency fund.<h2>Hemp ban</h2>Hemp farmers are sounding the alarm about a provision in the bill that they say would “effectively eliminate the legal hemp industry built under the 2018 farm bill,” according to a Sunday statement from the Hemp Industry and Farmers of America.Lawmakers are “slamming the door on 325,000 American jobs and forcing consumers back to dangerous black markets,” the industry group’s executive director Brian Swensen said.&nbsp;Swensen also added: “The hemp industry has been ready and willing to work on responsible regulations – age restrictions, testing requirements, proper labeling — but instead of collaboration, the industry is getting a misguided prohibition through backdoor appropriations deals.”&nbsp;<h2>House trepidation</h2>Several House Democrats, including a top appropriator, criticized the deal.House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries blamed Republicans for the proposal Sunday night in a statement, saying House and Senate Democrats have “waged a valiant fight” for the last seven weeks.“It now appears that Senate Republicans will send the House of Representatives a spending bill that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. As a result of the Republicans refusal to address the healthcare crisis that they have created, tens of millions of everyday Americans are going to see their costs skyrocket,” Jeffries said.Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the top House Democratic appropriator, said she did not agree to the release of the veterans and military construction bill as an attachment to the deal.“Congress must invest in veterans, address the health care crisis that is raising costs on more than 20 million Americans, and prevent President Trump from not spending appropriated dollars in our communities,” DeLauro, D-Conn., said in a statement.Rep. Angie Craig joined other House Democrats in slamming the Senate negotiations on social media.“If people believe this is a ‘deal,’ I have a bridge to sell you. I’m not going to put 24 million Americans at risk of losing their health care. I’m a no,” said Craig, of Minnesota.

US Senate advances bill to end record-breaking government shutdown

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run that killed a KU student have made an arrest.

After an extensive investigation, which included examining evidence and responding to numerous tips from the public, on Sunday, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the suspected vehicle and driver involved in Thursday’s hit-and-run crash outside of Lawrence that killed 20-year-old University of Kansas student Elsa McGrain, according to sheriff's department spokesman Officer&nbsp;George Diepenbrock.

Elsa was struck and killed while running in the 1700 block of E 1500 Road, on November 6.&nbsp; After striking Elsa, the suspected driver left the scene. The Sheriff’s Office worked diligently on this case and has made an arrest, according to Diepenbrock.

Detectives are working with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office on charges in the case.

The Sheriff’s Office thanked area law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this investigation, as well as members of the community who responded with possible tips and shared information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762637573361.png" alt="Elsa McGrain courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Elsa McGrain courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run that killed a KU student have made an arrest.After an extensive investigation, which included examining evidence and responding to numerous tips from the public, on Sunday, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputies located the suspected vehicle and driver involved in Thursday’s hit-and-run crash outside of Lawrence that killed 20-year-old University of Kansas student Elsa McGrain, according to sheriff's department spokesman Officer&nbsp;George Diepenbrock.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762637613576.png" alt="Security camera image of the suspect vehicle released by the&nbsp; Douglas Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image of the suspect vehicle released by the&nbsp; Douglas Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>Elsa was struck and killed while running in the 1700 block of E 1500 Road, on November 6.&nbsp; After striking Elsa, the suspected driver left the scene. The Sheriff’s Office worked diligently on this case and has made an arrest, according to Diepenbrock.Detectives are working with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office on charges in the case.The Sheriff’s Office thanked area law enforcement agencies for their assistance in this investigation, as well as members of the community who responded with possible tips and shared information.

Sheriff: Driver arrested for hit-and-run that killed KU student

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>

Following a late Friday emergency ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration has instructed states that authorized full November nutrition assistance benefits to return a portion, another unprecedented reversal for a program that helps 42 million people afford groceries.

A Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/updated-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap-november-benefit-issuance11-8" target="_blank">memo</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service said states should fund 65% of benefits for users of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, often called food stamps.&nbsp;

Those that had authorized full payments in line with earlier administration guidance should “immediately undo” that action, according to the memo.

“To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” the memo said. “Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025. Please advise the appropriate FNS Regional Office representative of steps taken to correct any actions taken that do not comply with this memorandum.”

President Donald Trump and top administration officials have said they cannot pay full SNAP benefits during the government shutdown that began Oct. 1 and instead, under court orders, are using a contingency fund to make partial payments.

Saturday’s guidance from Patrick A. Penn, the department’s deputy under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, marked the latest turnaround in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-issues-november-snap-benefits-then-asks-supreme-court-intervene" target="_blank">a chaotic few days</a>&nbsp;for the agency, states that administer SNAP and the millions of Americans who depend on it to afford food.

Penn wrote that, in light of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-november-snap-payments" target="_blank">the Supreme Court’s order pausing lower court rulings</a>&nbsp;that USDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-ordered-pay-full-9b-november-snap-benefits-amid-shutdown" target="_blank">must pay full November benefits</a>, the administration was returning to its position that SNAP benefits should be funded at 65%.&nbsp;

States — including Wisconsin and Kansas — that issued full benefits did so under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26220869-snap-november-2025-benefit-guidance-update/" target="_blank">a Friday memo</a>, also signed by Penn, that said states should authorize full payments for SNAP, consistent with a Thursday ruling in federal court.

Kansas, Wisconsin, Oregon govs express dismay

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, in a late Friday statement expressed disappointment with the administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26220987-supremecourtnov72025/" target="_blank">appeal to the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;and noted the state had authorized full payments earlier in the day for all eligible Kansans.

“These Kansans, most of them children, seniors or people with disabilities, were struggling to put food on their plates,” she said. “Why the President would petition the highest court to deny food to hungry children is beyond me. It does nothing to advance his political agenda. It does not hurt his perceived enemies. It only hurts our most vulnerable and our reputation around the globe.”

In a Sunday statement, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, flatly refused to try to claw back any authorized benefits. The state acted in compliance with a court order, he said.

“After we did so, the Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement full SNAP benefits for November and would ‘complete the processes necessary to make funds available,’” he said. “They have failed to do so to date.”

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said her state will not comply.

“Oregon acted lawfully, given the federal court’s directive and the communications with the USDA, and my decision to ensure SNAP benefits went out quickly was in direct alignment with my food emergency declaration,” said Kotek, a Democrat. “I am disgusted that President Trump has the audacity to take taxpayers’ money away from them when they are in crisis. I have a question for the President: What would he prefer to spend the money on over groceries for people in need? This is ridiculous, immoral, and Oregon will fight this every step of the way.”

U.S. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, said in a statement:&nbsp;“Let’s be clear about what this is —&nbsp; the Trump administration is demanding that food assistance be taken away from the households that have already received it. They would rather go door to door, taking away people’s food, than do the right thing and fully fund SNAP for November so that struggling veterans, seniors, and children can keep food on the table. It is incomprehensible, incompetent and inconsistent with our values as Americans.”&nbsp;

The earlier order, from U.S. District Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island, told the department to use sources outside the contingency fund to make full November payments by Friday. The order was appealed to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, acting on behalf of the high court,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26221041-25a539-admin-stay/" target="_blank">granted</a>&nbsp;the administration’s request for an emergency stay on Friday night, speeding up the process for what Jackson said would then be an “expeditious” decision by the appeals court but also changing things yet again.

No longer, for the moment, required by a court order to pay full November benefits, the administration instructed states in the Saturday memo to have the vendors that process payments to the electronic benefit transfer cards withhold part of the month’s allotment.

“States must not transmit full benefit issuance files to EBT processors,” Penn wrote. “Instead, States must continue to process and load the partial issuance files that reflect the 35 percent reduction of maximum allotments detailed in the November 5 guidance.”

SNAP funding has been a key issue during the shutdown.&nbsp;

In a plan published Sept. 30, the USDA said it would continue to pay for the roughly $9 billion per month program through its contingency fund. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-wont-shuffle-funds-extend-snap-during-shutdown-about-face-earlier-plan" target="_blank">reversed itself</a>&nbsp;10 days later, telling states there would be no SNAP available for November.

A bipartisan U.S. Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/bill-summaries-fy26-ag-fda-leg-branch-and-milcon-va" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;filed Sunday would end the shutdown. It includes provisions to fully fund SNAP, the contingency fund and the $23 billion children nutrition programs fund that may be a source of emergency funding for SNAP if the shutdown persists.

Kansas Reflector Editor in Chief Sherman Smith, Wisconsin Examiner Editor in Chief Ruth Conniff and Oregon Capital Chronicle Editor in Chief Julia Shumway &nbsp;contributed to this report.

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>Following a late Friday emergency ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Trump administration has instructed states that authorized full November nutrition assistance benefits to return a portion, another unprecedented reversal for a program that helps 42 million people afford groceries.A Saturday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/updated-supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program-snap-november-benefit-issuance11-8" target="_blank">memo</a>&nbsp;from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service said states should fund 65% of benefits for users of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, often called food stamps.&nbsp;Those that had authorized full payments in line with earlier administration guidance should “immediately undo” that action, according to the memo.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762714399470.png" alt="USDA memo" />
 <figcaption>USDA memo</figcaption>
 </figure>“To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized,” the memo said. “Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025. Please advise the appropriate FNS Regional Office representative of steps taken to correct any actions taken that do not comply with this memorandum.”President Donald Trump and top administration officials have said they cannot pay full SNAP benefits during the government shutdown that began Oct. 1 and instead, under court orders, are using a contingency fund to make partial payments.<h2>Shutdown chaos surrounds SNAP</h2>Saturday’s guidance from Patrick A. Penn, the department’s deputy under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, marked the latest turnaround in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-issues-november-snap-benefits-then-asks-supreme-court-intervene" target="_blank">a chaotic few days</a>&nbsp;for the agency, states that administer SNAP and the millions of Americans who depend on it to afford food.Penn wrote that, in light of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-november-snap-payments" target="_blank">the Supreme Court’s order pausing lower court rulings</a>&nbsp;that USDA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-ordered-pay-full-9b-november-snap-benefits-amid-shutdown" target="_blank">must pay full November benefits</a>, the administration was returning to its position that SNAP benefits should be funded at 65%.&nbsp;States — including Wisconsin and Kansas — that issued full benefits did so under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26220869-snap-november-2025-benefit-guidance-update/" target="_blank">a Friday memo</a>, also signed by Penn, that said states should authorize full payments for SNAP, consistent with a Thursday ruling in federal court.<h2>Kansas, Wisconsin, Oregon govs express dismay</h2>Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, in a late Friday statement expressed disappointment with the administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26220987-supremecourtnov72025/" target="_blank">appeal to the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;and noted the state had authorized full payments earlier in the day for all eligible Kansans.“These Kansans, most of them children, seniors or people with disabilities, were struggling to put food on their plates,” she said. “Why the President would petition the highest court to deny food to hungry children is beyond me. It does nothing to advance his political agenda. It does not hurt his perceived enemies. It only hurts our most vulnerable and our reputation around the globe.”In a Sunday statement, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, flatly refused to try to claw back any authorized benefits. The state acted in compliance with a court order, he said.“After we did so, the Trump Administration assured Wisconsin and other states that they were actively working to implement full SNAP benefits for November and would ‘complete the processes necessary to make funds available,’” he said. “They have failed to do so to date.”Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek said her state will not comply.“Oregon acted lawfully, given the federal court’s directive and the communications with the USDA, and my decision to ensure SNAP benefits went out quickly was in direct alignment with my food emergency declaration,” said Kotek, a Democrat. “I am disgusted that President Trump has the audacity to take taxpayers’ money away from them when they are in crisis. I have a question for the President: What would he prefer to spend the money on over groceries for people in need? This is ridiculous, immoral, and Oregon will fight this every step of the way.”U.S. Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the House Agriculture Committee, said in a statement:&nbsp;“Let’s be clear about what this is —&nbsp; the Trump administration is demanding that food assistance be taken away from the households that have already received it. They would rather go door to door, taking away people’s food, than do the right thing and fully fund SNAP for November so that struggling veterans, seniors, and children can keep food on the table. It is incomprehensible, incompetent and inconsistent with our values as Americans.”&nbsp;<h2>Court action</h2>The earlier order, from U.S. District Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. in Rhode Island, told the department to use sources outside the contingency fund to make full November payments by Friday. The order was appealed to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, acting on behalf of the high court,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26221041-25a539-admin-stay/" target="_blank">granted</a>&nbsp;the administration’s request for an emergency stay on Friday night, speeding up the process for what Jackson said would then be an “expeditious” decision by the appeals court but also changing things yet again.No longer, for the moment, required by a court order to pay full November benefits, the administration instructed states in the Saturday memo to have the vendors that process payments to the electronic benefit transfer cards withhold part of the month’s allotment.“States must not transmit full benefit issuance files to EBT processors,” Penn wrote. “Instead, States must continue to process and load the partial issuance files that reflect the 35 percent reduction of maximum allotments detailed in the November 5 guidance.”<h2>Shutdown negotiations</h2>SNAP funding has been a key issue during the shutdown.&nbsp;In a plan published Sept. 30, the USDA said it would continue to pay for the roughly $9 billion per month program through its contingency fund. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-wont-shuffle-funds-extend-snap-during-shutdown-about-face-earlier-plan" target="_blank">reversed itself</a>&nbsp;10 days later, telling states there would be no SNAP available for November.A bipartisan U.S. Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/news/minority/bill-summaries-fy26-ag-fda-leg-branch-and-milcon-va" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;filed Sunday would end the shutdown. It includes provisions to fully fund SNAP, the contingency fund and the $23 billion children nutrition programs fund that may be a source of emergency funding for SNAP if the shutdown persists.Kansas Reflector Editor in Chief Sherman Smith, Wisconsin Examiner Editor in Chief Ruth Conniff and Oregon Capital Chronicle Editor in Chief Julia Shumway &nbsp;contributed to this report.

States told by Trump admin. to ‘undo’ full SNAP benefits paid for November

The rule would allow medical debt on credit reports — even in states that forbid it.

By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">Anna Claire Vollers</a>

A new Trump administration rule issued late last month would override state laws that prevent consumers’ credit reports from including medical debt, potentially weakening financial protections for millions of Americans.

In recent years,<a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2025/jul/state-protections-against-medical-debt-look-policies-across-us#:~:text=Twelve%20states%20have%20recently%20taken%20action%20to%20prevent%20medical%20debt%20from%20appearing%20on%20credit%20reports%2C%20bringing%20the%20total%20number%20of%20states%20prohibiting%20this%20practice%20to%2014.47" target="_blank">&nbsp;more than a dozen states</a>&nbsp;have taken steps to keep medical debt from hurting residents’ credit scores, passing laws with bipartisan support. But new<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/28/2025-19671/fair-credit-reporting-act-preemption-of-state-laws" target="_blank">&nbsp;guidance</a>&nbsp;from the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/28/2025-19671/fair-credit-reporting-act-preemption-of-state-laws#:~:text=The%20Bureau%20has%20reviewed%20the%202022%20interpretive%20rule%20that%20interprets%20sections%201681t(b)(1)%20and%201681t(b)(5)%20of%20the%20FCRA%2C%20and%20the%20Bureau%20now%20confirms%20the%20withdrawal%20of%20that%20rule." target="_blank">&nbsp;repeals</a>&nbsp;a Biden-era rule that allowed states to impose their own bans. The Trump administration has<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/28/2025-19671/fair-credit-reporting-act-preemption-of-state-laws#:~:text=The%20Bureau%20is%20also%20clarifying%20that%20the%20FCRA%20generally%20preempts%20State%20laws%20that%20touch%20on%20broad%20areas%20of%20credit%20reporting%2C%20consistent%20with%20Congress%27s%20intent%20to%20create%20national%20standards%20for%20the%20credit%20reporting%20system." target="_blank">&nbsp;interpreted</a>&nbsp;the 1970 Fair Credit Reporting Act to say that it overrides state laws around reporting debt to credit bureaus.

American consumers had at least<a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/the-burden-of-medical-debt-in-the-united-states/" target="_blank">&nbsp;$220 billion in unpaid medical bills</a>&nbsp;in 2024, according to an analysis from research nonprofit KFF. About 6% of American adults, or 14 million people, owe more than $1,000 in medical debt.

“Medical debt is a tremendous weight keeping so many families from financial security, and, unlike most other forms of debt, it’s not a choice,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, said last month in a<a href="https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/10/13/governor-stein-ncdhhs-announce-more-65-billion-medical-debt-erased-north-carolina-0" target="_blank">&nbsp;statement</a>&nbsp;announcing that a new state program had wiped out<a href="https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/10/13/governor-stein-ncdhhs-announce-more-65-billion-medical-debt-erased-north-carolina-0" target="_blank">&nbsp;more than $6.5 billion in medical debt</a>&nbsp;for more than 25 million North Carolinians.

People rarely plan to take on debt from medical care, as they do when they borrow money to buy a house or car.&nbsp;A<a href="https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_medical-debt-burden-in-the-united-states_report_2022-03.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;one-time or short-term expense</a>&nbsp;such as a single hospital stay causes about two-thirds of all medical debt, according to a 2022 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report.

And even though<a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/the-burden-of-medical-debt-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=Despite%20over%2090%25%20of%20the%20United%20States%20population%20having%20some%20form%20of%20health%20insurance%2C" target="_blank">&nbsp;most Americans have health insurance</a>, many get stuck with unexpected medical bills because their policies have high deductibles or don’t fully cover some treatments, procedures or drugs. People in worse health and those living with a disability are more likely to report medical debt, as are middle-aged adults, Black Americans, and people with low and middle incomes, according to KFF.

In&nbsp;the past two years,<a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2025/jul/state-protections-against-medical-debt-look-policies-across-us#:~:text=Twelve%20states%20have%20recently%20taken%20action%20to%20prevent%20medical%20debt%20from%20appearing%20on%20credit%20reports%2C%20bringing%20the%20total%20number%20of%20states%20prohibiting%20this%20practice%20to%2014." target="_blank">&nbsp;a dozen states</a>&nbsp;have passed laws forbidding medical debt from appearing on credit reports, bringing the total number of states with such laws to 14: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Another five states — Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Nevada and Utah — limit how and when medical debt can appear on credit reports, according to the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund.

Republican and Democratic legislators in other states, including<a href="https://legiscan.com/MI/text/SB0451/id/3259039" target="_blank">&nbsp;Michigan</a>,<a href="https://legiscan.com/OH/bill/HB257/2025" target="_blank">&nbsp;Ohio</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1058/2025" target="_blank">&nbsp;South Dakota</a>, have introduced similar bills this year.

Now the new state laws face an uncertain future. In January, while Biden was still in office,&nbsp; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule<a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/final-rules/prohibition-on-creditors-and-consumer-reporting-agencies-concerning-medical-information-regulation-v/" target="_blank">&nbsp;prohibiting credit reporting agencies</a>&nbsp;from reporting medical debt in certain circumstances.&nbsp;Credit bureaus and credit unions&nbsp;<a href="https://litigationtracker.law.georgetown.edu/litigation/cornerstone-credit-union-league-et-al-v-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-et-al/" target="_blank">sued to stop the rule</a>.&nbsp;The incoming Trump administration agreed with the plaintiffs and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections#:~:text=A%20lawsuit%20followed%20immediately%2C%20arguing%20CFPB%20had%20exceeded%20its%20authority%2C%20and%2C%20under%20the%20Trump%20administration%2C%20the%20agency%20changed%20direction.%20Instead%20of%20defending%20the%20rule%20in%20court%2C%20the%20agency%20agreed%20with%20plaintiffs%20that%20the%20rule%20should%20be%20blocked%2C%20and%20the%20court%20agreed." target="_blank">declined to defend the rule in court</a>, so a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txed.235173/gov.uscourts.txed.235173.52.0_1.pdf" target="_blank">blocked it</a>.

Maine state Sen. Donna Bailey, a Democrat, said in a September<a href="https://www.mainesenate.org/new-sen-bailey-law-protects-consumers-from-the-negative-impacts-of-medical-debt/" target="_blank">&nbsp;statement</a>&nbsp;that Maine’s new law barring medical debt from appearing on consumer reports was even more important in light of the demise of the federal rule.

“Although Americans no longer have the federal protection, Mainers will continue to have protection here in our state,” she said in September. “When we go to the hospital for medical care, especially for emergencies, any debt that we take on should not hold us back from buying a car, renting a home or taking out a loan.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1762514381672.png" alt=" A cancer patient’s medical bills are spread on a kitchen table in a home in Salem, Va., in this 2011 file photo. A new Trump administration rule would override more than a dozen state laws that shield consumers’ credit reports from medical debt. (Photo by Don Petersen/Associated Press)" />
 <figcaption> A cancer patient’s medical bills are spread on a kitchen table in a home in Salem, Va., in this 2011 file photo. A new Trump administration rule would override more than a dozen state laws that shield consumers’ credit reports from medical debt. (Photo by Don Petersen/Associated Press)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The rule would allow medical debt on credit reports — even in states that forbid it.</h2>By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">Anna Claire Vollers</a>A new Trump administration rule issued late last month would override state laws that prevent consumers’ credit reports from including medical debt, potentially weakening financial protections for millions of Americans.In recent years,<a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2025/jul/state-protections-against-medical-debt-look-policies-across-us#:~:text=Twelve%20states%20have%20recently%20taken%20action%20to%20prevent%20medical%20debt%20from%20appearing%20on%20credit%20reports%2C%20bringing%20the%20total%20number%20of%20states%20prohibiting%20this%20practice%20to%2014.47" target="_blank">&nbsp;more than a dozen states</a>&nbsp;have taken steps to keep medical debt from hurting residents’ credit scores, passing laws with bipartisan support. But new<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/28/2025-19671/fair-credit-reporting-act-preemption-of-state-laws" target="_blank">&nbsp;guidance</a>&nbsp;from the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/28/2025-19671/fair-credit-reporting-act-preemption-of-state-laws#:~:text=The%20Bureau%20has%20reviewed%20the%202022%20interpretive%20rule%20that%20interprets%20sections%201681t(b)(1)%20and%201681t(b)(5)%20of%20the%20FCRA%2C%20and%20the%20Bureau%20now%20confirms%20the%20withdrawal%20of%20that%20rule." target="_blank">&nbsp;repeals</a>&nbsp;a Biden-era rule that allowed states to impose their own bans. The Trump administration has<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/28/2025-19671/fair-credit-reporting-act-preemption-of-state-laws#:~:text=The%20Bureau%20is%20also%20clarifying%20that%20the%20FCRA%20generally%20preempts%20State%20laws%20that%20touch%20on%20broad%20areas%20of%20credit%20reporting%2C%20consistent%20with%20Congress%27s%20intent%20to%20create%20national%20standards%20for%20the%20credit%20reporting%20system." target="_blank">&nbsp;interpreted</a>&nbsp;the 1970 Fair Credit Reporting Act to say that it overrides state laws around reporting debt to credit bureaus.American consumers had at least<a href="https://www.kff.org/health-costs/the-burden-of-medical-debt-in-the-united-states/" target="_blank">&nbsp;$220 billion in unpaid medical bills</a>&nbsp;in 2024, according to an analysis from research nonprofit KFF. About 6% of American adults, or 14 million people, owe more than $1,000 in medical debt.“Medical debt is a tremendous weight keeping so many families from financial security, and, unlike most other forms of debt, it’s not a choice,” North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, said last month in a<a href="https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/10/13/governor-stein-ncdhhs-announce-more-65-billion-medical-debt-erased-north-carolina-0" target="_blank">&nbsp;statement</a>&nbsp;announcing that a new state program had wiped out<a href="https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/10/13/governor-stein-ncdhhs-announce-more-65-billion-medical-debt-erased-north-carolina-0" target="_blank">&nbsp;more than $6.5 billion in medical debt</a>&nbsp;for more than 25 million North Carolinians.People rarely plan to take on debt from medical care, as they do when they borrow money to buy a house or car.&nbsp;A<a href="https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_medical-debt-burden-in-the-united-states_report_2022-03.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;one-time or short-term expense</a>&nbsp;such as a single hospital stay causes about two-thirds of all medical debt, according to a 2022 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau report.And even though<a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/the-burden-of-medical-debt-in-the-united-states/#:~:text=Despite%20over%2090%25%20of%20the%20United%20States%20population%20having%20some%20form%20of%20health%20insurance%2C" target="_blank">&nbsp;most Americans have health insurance</a>, many get stuck with unexpected medical bills because their policies have high deductibles or don’t fully cover some treatments, procedures or drugs. People in worse health and those living with a disability are more likely to report medical debt, as are middle-aged adults, Black Americans, and people with low and middle incomes, according to KFF.In&nbsp;the past two years,<a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2025/jul/state-protections-against-medical-debt-look-policies-across-us#:~:text=Twelve%20states%20have%20recently%20taken%20action%20to%20prevent%20medical%20debt%20from%20appearing%20on%20credit%20reports%2C%20bringing%20the%20total%20number%20of%20states%20prohibiting%20this%20practice%20to%2014." target="_blank">&nbsp;a dozen states</a>&nbsp;have passed laws forbidding medical debt from appearing on credit reports, bringing the total number of states with such laws to 14: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.Another five states — Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Nevada and Utah — limit how and when medical debt can appear on credit reports, according to the nonprofit Commonwealth Fund.Republican and Democratic legislators in other states, including<a href="https://legiscan.com/MI/text/SB0451/id/3259039" target="_blank">&nbsp;Michigan</a>,<a href="https://legiscan.com/OH/bill/HB257/2025" target="_blank">&nbsp;Ohio</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://legiscan.com/SD/bill/HB1058/2025" target="_blank">&nbsp;South Dakota</a>, have introduced similar bills this year.Now the new state laws face an uncertain future. In January, while Biden was still in office,&nbsp; the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule<a href="https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/final-rules/prohibition-on-creditors-and-consumer-reporting-agencies-concerning-medical-information-regulation-v/" target="_blank">&nbsp;prohibiting credit reporting agencies</a>&nbsp;from reporting medical debt in certain circumstances.&nbsp;Credit bureaus and credit unions&nbsp;<a href="https://litigationtracker.law.georgetown.edu/litigation/cornerstone-credit-union-league-et-al-v-consumer-financial-protection-bureau-et-al/" target="_blank">sued to stop the rule</a>.&nbsp;The incoming Trump administration agreed with the plaintiffs and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicarerights.org/medicare-watch/2025/07/31/federal-court-reverses-federal-medical-debt-protections#:~:text=A%20lawsuit%20followed%20immediately%2C%20arguing%20CFPB%20had%20exceeded%20its%20authority%2C%20and%2C%20under%20the%20Trump%20administration%2C%20the%20agency%20changed%20direction.%20Instead%20of%20defending%20the%20rule%20in%20court%2C%20the%20agency%20agreed%20with%20plaintiffs%20that%20the%20rule%20should%20be%20blocked%2C%20and%20the%20court%20agreed." target="_blank">declined to defend the rule in court</a>, so a federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txed.235173/gov.uscourts.txed.235173.52.0_1.pdf" target="_blank">blocked it</a>.Maine state Sen. Donna Bailey, a Democrat, said in a September<a href="https://www.mainesenate.org/new-sen-bailey-law-protects-consumers-from-the-negative-impacts-of-medical-debt/" target="_blank">&nbsp;statement</a>&nbsp;that Maine’s new law barring medical debt from appearing on consumer reports was even more important in light of the demise of the federal rule.“Although Americans no longer have the federal protection, Mainers will continue to have protection here in our state,” she said in September. “When we go to the hospital for medical care, especially for emergencies, any debt that we take on should not hold us back from buying a car, renting a home or taking out a loan.”But the Trump administration’s latest order would render state laws such as Maine’s moot.Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:avollers@stateline.org">avollers@stateline.org</a>.