JEFFERSON COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Sunday in Jefferson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Hyundai Kona SUV driven by Shelby D. Copp, 33,&nbsp;Oskaloosa, was southbound on K-237 Highway at U.S. 24.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign and struck a westbound 2008 Chevy Suburban driven by Douglas K.&nbsp;Gould, 68, Topeka, in the passenger side.&nbsp; The Suburban was pulling a boat trailer. The boat detached and continued westbound on U.S. 24 and struck the front of a 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Deegan K.&nbsp;Fraizer, 16, Topeka.

Copp and a passenger in the Surburban identified as Connie J. Gould, 66, Topeka were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Barnett Family Funeral Home.

EMS transported Douglas Gould and two passengers in the Hyundai identified as a 6-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl to&nbsp;Stormont Vail Health in Topeka.&nbsp; Fraizer and a passenger in the pickup were not injured. The drivers and adult passengers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP. The KHP did not have information on whether the children were properly restrained.

JEFFERSON COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Sunday in Jefferson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Hyundai Kona SUV driven by Shelby D. Copp, 33,&nbsp;Oskaloosa, was southbound on K-237 Highway at U.S. 24.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign and struck a westbound 2008 Chevy Suburban driven by Douglas K.&nbsp;Gould, 68, Topeka, in the passenger side.&nbsp; The Suburban was pulling a boat trailer. The boat detached and continued westbound on U.S. 24 and struck the front of a 2008 Chevy Silverado driven by Deegan K.&nbsp;Fraizer, 16, Topeka.Copp and a passenger in the Surburban identified as Connie J. Gould, 66, Topeka were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Barnett Family Funeral Home.EMS transported Douglas Gould and two passengers in the Hyundai identified as a 6-year-old girl and an 8-year-old girl to&nbsp;Stormont Vail Health in Topeka.&nbsp; Fraizer and a passenger in the pickup were not injured. The drivers and adult passengers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP. The KHP did not have information on whether the children were properly restrained.

2 Kan. women dead, 2 children injured in 3-vehicle crash

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two members of the 2nd&nbsp;American Militia were sentenced last week in federal court for their roles in a 2022 conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and, related to their shooting at FBI agents during the execution of a search warrant, of attempting to murder federal agents, according to the United State's Attorney.

Bryan C. Perry, 39, of Clarksville, Tenn., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 15 consecutive life terms in federal prison without parole for his convictions for one count of conspiracy to murder a federal officer and fourteen counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

The court also sentenced Perry to concurrent terms of imprisonment of 20 years for his convictions for seven counts of attempted murder of a federal officer, seven counts of assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and one count of assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury. Perry further received concurrent sentences of varying terms of imprisonment for his convictions for conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that involves physical contact, depredation of government property, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of body armor by a violent felon, and communicating a threat to injure. The court also sentenced Perry to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $3,717.98.

Jonathan S. O’Dell, 35, of Warsaw, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 165 years in federal prison without parole for one count each of conspiracy to murder a federal officer, conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury, depredation of government property, possession of a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, communicating a threat to injure, making a false statement, escape from custody, two counts of assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, seven counts each of attempted murder of a federal officer and assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and 14 counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The Court also sentenced O’Dell to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $19,234.63.

On Nov. 7, 2024, Perry and O’Dell were found guilty after a 9-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo. The jury deliberated for about two hours and 23 minutes before returning guilty verdicts, ending a trial that began on Oct. 28, 2024. On the morning of the first day of trial, O’Dell pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, one count of making a false statement to a federal agent, and one count of escaping from custody.

Evidence introduced during the trial showed that, throughout the summer, and fall of 2022, Perry and O’Dell recruited and attempted to recruit other individuals to join the 2nd&nbsp;American Militia, a group they co-founded, and join in their plan to travel to the United States-Mexico border to go to war with U.S. Border Patrol. Perry posted several videos on TikTok in an attempt to recruit other members into their conspiracy and they advertised a recruitment event in Warsaw.

On Sept. 5, 2022, Perry, bringing at least two stolen firearms, body armor, and gas masks with him, traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw to live with O’Dell. They used O’Dell’s residence as a staging site as they prepared for their trip to the border and collected firearms, paramilitary gear, ammunition, and other supplies.

On Sept. 12, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he discussed illegal immigrants coming into the United States from Mexico. Perry stated that the U.S. Border Patrol was committing treason by allowing these illegal immigrants to enter the United States, and that the penalty for treason was death. Perry posted another video on TikTok the next day in which he stated that he was “ready to go to war against this government.”

On Sept. 22, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we’re out to shoot to kill” and that “our group is gonna go protect this country.” On Oct. 3, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we were going out huntin’,” that his group was taking their “full kits,” and that they were leaving for the United States – Mexico border on Oct. 8, 2022.

O’Dell and Perry continued to conduct preparatory steps to further their conspiracy, including continuing to recruit others, attempting to acquire other gear, and practicing shooting at targets with firearms.

On Oct. 7, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s residence. Federal agents approached the property at about 6 a.m. in vehicles with red and blue lights activated. As the FBI approached, an agent utilized a loudspeaker in the lead armored vehicle, the “Bearcat,” to announce they were with the FBI and that they had a search warrant for the residence. Seven agents were inside or behind the Bearcat. The FBI agent began to repeat the announcement, again stating that they were with the FBI, when gunshots were fired from a front window at the lead FBI vehicle. Perry fired 11 shots from his Voodoo Innovations multi-caliber rifle with an AM-15 lower receiver. Several rounds hit the lead FBI vehicle.

Agents responded by deploying flash bangs around the residence. Agents used the Bearcat to conduct a breach of the front door of the residence using an affixed ram. Agents did not return fire and, after the gunshots ceased, the FBI established a perimeter and began communicating with the persons inside the residence to come out.

O’Dell and his girlfriend came out of the residence and surrendered to authorities. Perry eventually came out of the residence. Perry took down an American flag from the front porch of the residence and walked down the steps while waving the flag. After beginning to walk to the agents, Perry then turned around and moved back to the residence. Agents pursued Perry, who began to fight and swing his fists, striking the agents several times and causing injury to at least one agent before he was taken into custody.

Agents then searched the residence and found six firearms, 23 magazines filled with ammunition, 1,770 rounds of various other ammunition, 11 spent casings, two sets of body armor with corresponding plate carrier vests, one handheld radio, two sniper rests, two gas masks, two ballistic helmets, multiple containers of a binary explosive mixture commonly sold as an exploding target, zip ties, medical supplies, and two 2nd American Militia patches. Agents also found two go-bags that contained food, provisions, and other gear.

Later, on Sept. 29, 2023, while O’Dell was in custody awaiting trial on the charges, he escaped from the Phelps County, Mo. Jail and eventually led authorities on a high-speed chase in Ray County, Mo., before being apprehended.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756688125002.png" alt="Perry photo Dept. of Justice" />
 <figcaption>Perry photo Dept. of Justice</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Two members of the 2nd&nbsp;American Militia were sentenced last week in federal court for their roles in a 2022 conspiracy to murder U.S. Border Patrol agents and, related to their shooting at FBI agents during the execution of a search warrant, of attempting to murder federal agents, according to the United State's Attorney.Bryan C. Perry, 39, of Clarksville, Tenn., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 15 consecutive life terms in federal prison without parole for his convictions for one count of conspiracy to murder a federal officer and fourteen counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756688021668.png" alt="O'Dell photo Cole Co." />
 <figcaption>O'Dell photo Cole Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The court also sentenced Perry to concurrent terms of imprisonment of 20 years for his convictions for seven counts of attempted murder of a federal officer, seven counts of assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and one count of assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury. Perry further received concurrent sentences of varying terms of imprisonment for his convictions for conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that involves physical contact, depredation of government property, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of body armor by a violent felon, and communicating a threat to injure. The court also sentenced Perry to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $3,717.98.Jonathan S. O’Dell, 35, of Warsaw, Mo., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes to a total of 165 years in federal prison without parole for one count each of conspiracy to murder a federal officer, conspiracy to assault a federal officer, conspiracy to injure an officer, assault of a federal officer that inflicts bodily injury, depredation of government property, possession of a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, communicating a threat to injure, making a false statement, escape from custody, two counts of assault of a federal officer involving physical contact, seven counts each of attempted murder of a federal officer and assault of a federal officer with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and 14 counts of use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. The Court also sentenced O’Dell to five years of supervised release following his incarceration and a restitution amount of $19,234.63.On Nov. 7, 2024, Perry and O’Dell were found guilty after a 9-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court in Jefferson City, Mo. The jury deliberated for about two hours and 23 minutes before returning guilty verdicts, ending a trial that began on Oct. 28, 2024. On the morning of the first day of trial, O’Dell pleaded guilty to one count of illegally possessing a firearm while subject to a court order of protection, one count of making a false statement to a federal agent, and one count of escaping from custody.Evidence introduced during the trial showed that, throughout the summer, and fall of 2022, Perry and O’Dell recruited and attempted to recruit other individuals to join the 2nd&nbsp;American Militia, a group they co-founded, and join in their plan to travel to the United States-Mexico border to go to war with U.S. Border Patrol. Perry posted several videos on TikTok in an attempt to recruit other members into their conspiracy and they advertised a recruitment event in Warsaw.On Sept. 5, 2022, Perry, bringing at least two stolen firearms, body armor, and gas masks with him, traveled from Tennessee to Warsaw to live with O’Dell. They used O’Dell’s residence as a staging site as they prepared for their trip to the border and collected firearms, paramilitary gear, ammunition, and other supplies.On Sept. 12, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he discussed illegal immigrants coming into the United States from Mexico. Perry stated that the U.S. Border Patrol was committing treason by allowing these illegal immigrants to enter the United States, and that the penalty for treason was death. Perry posted another video on TikTok the next day in which he stated that he was “ready to go to war against this government.”On Sept. 22, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we’re out to shoot to kill” and that “our group is gonna go protect this country.” On Oct. 3, 2022, Perry posted a video on TikTok in which he stated, “we were going out huntin’,” that his group was taking their “full kits,” and that they were leaving for the United States – Mexico border on Oct. 8, 2022.O’Dell and Perry continued to conduct preparatory steps to further their conspiracy, including continuing to recruit others, attempting to acquire other gear, and practicing shooting at targets with firearms.On Oct. 7, 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at O’Dell’s residence. Federal agents approached the property at about 6 a.m. in vehicles with red and blue lights activated. As the FBI approached, an agent utilized a loudspeaker in the lead armored vehicle, the “Bearcat,” to announce they were with the FBI and that they had a search warrant for the residence. Seven agents were inside or behind the Bearcat. The FBI agent began to repeat the announcement, again stating that they were with the FBI, when gunshots were fired from a front window at the lead FBI vehicle. Perry fired 11 shots from his Voodoo Innovations multi-caliber rifle with an AM-15 lower receiver. Several rounds hit the lead FBI vehicle.Agents responded by deploying flash bangs around the residence. Agents used the Bearcat to conduct a breach of the front door of the residence using an affixed ram. Agents did not return fire and, after the gunshots ceased, the FBI established a perimeter and began communicating with the persons inside the residence to come out.O’Dell and his girlfriend came out of the residence and surrendered to authorities. Perry eventually came out of the residence. Perry took down an American flag from the front porch of the residence and walked down the steps while waving the flag. After beginning to walk to the agents, Perry then turned around and moved back to the residence. Agents pursued Perry, who began to fight and swing his fists, striking the agents several times and causing injury to at least one agent before he was taken into custody.Agents then searched the residence and found six firearms, 23 magazines filled with ammunition, 1,770 rounds of various other ammunition, 11 spent casings, two sets of body armor with corresponding plate carrier vests, one handheld radio, two sniper rests, two gas masks, two ballistic helmets, multiple containers of a binary explosive mixture commonly sold as an exploding target, zip ties, medical supplies, and two 2nd American Militia patches. Agents also found two go-bags that contained food, provisions, and other gear.Later, on Sept. 29, 2023, while O’Dell was in custody awaiting trial on the charges, he escaped from the Phelps County, Mo. Jail and eventually led authorities on a high-speed chase in Ray County, Mo., before being apprehended.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Casey Clark and Ashley Turner. It was investigated by the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the Phelps County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Ray County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, the Caldwell County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department, and the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department.

Prison for conspiracy to kill U.S. Border Patrol officers

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting near Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 1 a.m. Sunday, police were called to a disturbance at an apartment building near 11600 E. Truman Road in the city of Independence, Missouri, according to a media release.

Officers observed a man alone in the back seat of a car and made contact with him. According to police, the man became aggressive and pulled out a gun.&nbsp; Officers told the man to drop the weapon. When he did not comply, officers shot him.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released his name or if he was involved in the initial disturbance. The Jackson County Police-Involved Incident Team is in charge of the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732640321247.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal officer involved shooting near Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 1 a.m. Sunday, police were called to a disturbance at an apartment building near 11600 E. Truman Road in the city of Independence, Missouri, according to a media release.Officers observed a man alone in the back seat of a car and made contact with him. According to police, the man became aggressive and pulled out a gun.&nbsp; Officers told the man to drop the weapon. When he did not comply, officers shot him.The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released his name or if he was involved in the initial disturbance. The Jackson County Police-Involved Incident Team is in charge of the investigation.

Police: Man dies in KC area officer shooting

LAWRENCE —the KU community rededicated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium as a World War I memorial.

Originally dedicated in 1922 to honor the 129 students, faculty, staff, and alumni who died in WWI, Memorial Stadium will continue to honor these Jayhawks’ legacies.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756587626734.png" alt="Photos University of Kansas" />
 <figcaption>Photos University of Kansas</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE —the KU community rededicated David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium as a World War I memorial.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756587599829.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Originally dedicated in 1922 to honor the 129 students, faculty, staff, and alumni who died in WWI, Memorial Stadium will continue to honor these Jayhawks’ legacies.&nbsp;

KU rededicates stadium as a World War I memorial

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting that sent a man to the hospital.

the Clay County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred within the Kansas City limits around the 5200 block of North Oak Trafficway.This afternoon, 

Just before 2:30p.m. Saturday, Kansas City Missouri Police Officers were called to a reported disturbance involving a man armed with a large knife in the shopping center at the intersection of NE Englewood Road and N. Oak Trafficway, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez. 

The man had left the scene prior to police arrival. A suspect description was obtained, provided to dispatch via police radio, and broadcasted out to other patrol officers, to include the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.

At approximately 2:27PM, a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy was patrolling the area of NE 50th St and N. Oak Trafficway and located the described suspect involved in the disturbance. The Deputy attempted to contact the man for further investigation. The man presented a large knife from within his waistband and began running northbound on N. Oak Trafficway. A foot chase was initiated, and additional deputies were called to assist with apprehending the armed individual. 

The&nbsp; suspect refused to comply with verbal commands and ran into a wooded area while being pursued by multiple Clay County Sheriff’s Deputies. The man stopped and was given further verbal commands to drop the knife. The man charged at the deputies before coming to a stop again. Additional resources, to include Sheriff K-9’s, were being called to the scene to deescalate the situation, according to Gonzalez

Deputies continued giving verbal commands for the man to drop the knife and peacefully surrender. The man refused to comply and ran towards the deputies a second time while armed with a weapon. At 2:33PM, two Clay County Sheriff’s Deputies discharged their duty weapons striking the man.

 Deputies on scene immediately began rendering medical aid until EMS responded and transported the man to an area hospital for medical treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

A large knife was recovered from the scene where the suspect had been shot. No deputies were injured during this incident.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756606382239.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting that sent a man to the hospital.the Clay County Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of the Kansas City Missouri Police Department to investigate an officer involved shooting that occurred within the Kansas City limits around the 5200 block of North Oak Trafficway.This afternoon, Just before 2:30p.m. Saturday, Kansas City Missouri Police Officers were called to a reported disturbance involving a man armed with a large knife in the shopping center at the intersection of NE Englewood Road and N. Oak Trafficway, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez. The man had left the scene prior to police arrival. A suspect description was obtained, provided to dispatch via police radio, and broadcasted out to other patrol officers, to include the Clay County Sheriff’s Department.At approximately 2:27PM, a Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy was patrolling the area of NE 50th St and N. Oak Trafficway and located the described suspect involved in the disturbance. The Deputy attempted to contact the man for further investigation. The man presented a large knife from within his waistband and began running northbound on N. Oak Trafficway. A foot chase was initiated, and additional deputies were called to assist with apprehending the armed individual. The&nbsp; suspect refused to comply with verbal commands and ran into a wooded area while being pursued by multiple Clay County Sheriff’s Deputies. The man stopped and was given further verbal commands to drop the knife. The man charged at the deputies before coming to a stop again. Additional resources, to include Sheriff K-9’s, were being called to the scene to deescalate the situation, according to GonzalezDeputies continued giving verbal commands for the man to drop the knife and peacefully surrender. The man refused to comply and ran towards the deputies a second time while armed with a weapon. At 2:33PM, two Clay County Sheriff’s Deputies discharged their duty weapons striking the man. Deputies on scene immediately began rendering medical aid until EMS responded and transported the man to an area hospital for medical treatment of non-life threatening injuries.A large knife was recovered from the scene where the suspect had been shot. No deputies were injured during this incident.

KCPD: Deputies shot man who threatened them with a large knife

CAMDEN COUNTY —Authorities are investigating a drowning that occurred just before 11:30p.m. Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 19-year-old Glenwood, Illinois man entered the water at a public beach and did not resurface.

The county coroner pronounced him deceased just before 2a.m. and he was transported to Hedges-Scott Funeral Home.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of drowning victims.

CAMDEN COUNTY —Authorities are investigating a drowning that occurred just before 11:30p.m. Saturday at Lake of the Ozarks.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 19-year-old Glenwood, Illinois man entered the water at a public beach and did not resurface.The county coroner pronounced him deceased just before 2a.m. and he was transported to Hedges-Scott Funeral Home.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of drowning victims.

Teen drowns at Lake of the Ozarks

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sofia-resnick/">Sofia Resnick</a> <a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/">States Newsroom</a>

A federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.93.0.pdf" target="_blank">ruled Friday</a>&nbsp;against the Trump administration’s efforts to strip Medicaid funds from primarily Planned Parenthood-affiliated abortion providers.

Massachusetts U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani denied the federal government’s motion to lift a block on a new law, rejecting the U.S. Department of Justice’s argument that allowing Planned Parenthood to continue to bill for Medicaid while their lawsuit plays out would cause the government “irreparable injury.” She said the plaintiffs were more likely to suffer injury if the provision went into effect, such as having to close clinics and reduce services.

“Here, Defendants suffer no irreparable harm where Plaintiffs are substantially likely to succeed in establishing that Section 71113 violates several constitutional provisions,” Talwani wrote in an order, denying the federal government’s request to stay two preliminary injunctions. “[I]t is precisely because Congress targeted only a ‘certain’ group of entities for exclusion from Medicaid programs — all but two of which are Planned Parenthood Federation Members — that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in establishing that Section 71113 is unconstitutional.”

Late last month Talwani ordered a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/one-big-beautiful-law-provision-planned-parenthood-funding-partly-blocked-judge" target="_blank">partial</a>&nbsp;and then a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-issues-new-order-protecting-all-planned-parenthood-clinics-medicaid-defunding" target="_blank">full preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/planned-parenthood-sues-trump-administration-officials-over-defunding-provision-budget-bill" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its Massachusetts and Utah affiliates sued</a>&nbsp;in early July over the new federal reproductive health restriction. After unsuccessfully asking the district court to lift the block, the federal government&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.75.0_1.pdf" target="_blank">appealed the preliminary injunctions</a>&nbsp;to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Shortly after, the DOJ&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.85.0.pdf" target="_blank">filed a motion</a>&nbsp;asking the district court to reconsider the preliminary injunctions. Last week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.89.0_1.pdf" target="_blank">appellate court declined</a>&nbsp;the government’s request, pending the district court’s decision. Defendants are now expected to re-appeal the injunction to the First Circuit.&nbsp;

The provision, set to expire July 4, 2026, would primarily affect health clinics affiliated with Planned Parenthood, which has estimated it could lose 200 of its 600 clinics, many of which are in rural areas and others that are critical abortion-access points.&nbsp;

But two other affected organizations are Health Imperatives in Massachusetts, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/08/05/massachusetts-abortion-womens-health-federal-cuts?emci=d5dd797b-0b7e-f011-b481-6045bda9d23e&amp;emdi=4fdfb31e-7e7e-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&amp;ceid=519099" target="_blank">according to WBUR</a>, operates seven clinics and serves about 10,000 patients, and Maine Family Planning, which has also sued over the provision. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Lance Walker in Maine, an appointee of President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/MFP-Decision-August-2025.pdf" target="_blank">denied Maine Family Planning’s motion for a preliminary injunction</a>, despite the organization facing losses up to nearly $2 million, potential layoffs, and disruption of care for about 8,000 patients.

“This ruling is a devastating setback for Mainers who depend on us for basic primary care,” said George Hill, president and CEO of Maine Family Planning, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-oks-medicaid-defunding-maines-largest-reproductive-health-care-provider" target="_blank">Maine Morning Star</a>. “The loss of Medicaid funds — which nearly half our patients rely on — threatens our ability to provide life-saving services to communities across the state. Mainers’ health should never be jeopardized by political decisions, and we will continue to fight for them.”

Does the new federal Medicaid rule unlawfully target Planned Parenthood?

Federal funding of abortion is already prohibited in most cases under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/the-hyde-amendment-and-coverage-for-abortion-services-under-medicaid-in-the-post-roe-era/" target="_blank">Hyde Amendment</a>. But the new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text" target="_blank">funding rule</a>&nbsp;would bar from the Medicaid program reproductive health clinics that provide abortions and received more than $800,000 in federal and state Medicaid funding in fiscal year 2023 for health services like birth control, cancer and gender-affirming care.&nbsp;

The legislation has caused confusion throughout the Planned Parenthood network because its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.pdf#page=230" target="_blank">definition of “prohibited entity”</a>&nbsp;includes a barred organization’s “affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, and clinics.”

The nonprofit health network comprises its national membership and advocacy organization, PPFA, and nearly 50 independently structured and operated&nbsp;affiliates, some of which do not offer abortion, such as co-plaintiff Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. These organizations are reimbursed after the fact for specific health services covered by Medicaid.&nbsp;

Even though the provision is currently blocked, several Planned Parenthood clinics around the country have already closed, both because of the new rule and the Trump administration’s other restrictions stripping abortion providers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/limited-judicial-relief-fallout-begins-planned-parenthood-clinics-facing-medicaid-cuts" target="_blank">federal family planning grants</a>.&nbsp;

Many of the recently shuttered clinics did not provide abortion, like in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ohio-planned-parenthoods-will-remain-closed-despite-federal-success-ongoing-lawsuit" target="_blank">Ohio</a>, and some are in states where abortion is illegal, like in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/planned-parenthood-close-louisiana-clinics-landry-murrill-applaud-news" target="_blank">Louisiana</a>.&nbsp;

Planned Parenthood’s attorneys have argued that the new federal Medicaid rule violates their equal protection, speech and association rights, because it excludes their clinics from the Medicaid program on the basis of their association to other organizations — in this case organizations that provide abortions and advocate for abortion rights.

“[S]ince this Court issued its decision, the government has now admitted that Section 71113 (the “Defund Provision”) was intended to punish Planned Parenthood for its ‘political advocacy,’” the plaintiffs wrote in a recent brief&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.92.0.pdf" target="_blank">opposing defendants’ motion</a>&nbsp;to lift the injunction.&nbsp;

Plaintiffs referred to a recent public statement made by Andrew G. Nixon, a spokesperson for co-defendant U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.&nbsp;

“States should not be forced to fund organizations that have chosen political advocacy over patient care,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/us/politics/trump-planned-parenthood.html" target="_blank">Nixon said</a>, after the district court’s initial preliminary injunction on July 22.&nbsp;

But in court, the federal government argued the tax and spending cuts law excludes large abortion providers only because they provide abortions. They say they are also excluding smaller or non-abortion-providing affiliates, not because of their speech or advocacy, but because of their “non-expressive activities of corporate control and financing.” Their basic argument is that money to any Planned Parenthood clinic — even for health services unrelated to abortion — is money for abortion.&nbsp;

“[B]ecause money is fungible, extending the funding restriction to affiliates prevents an organization from undermining federal policy not to subsidize abortion providers by shifting funds between entities that do not perform abortions and entities that do,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.85.0.pdf#page=6" target="_blank">defendants wrote</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The DOJ has also rejected plaintiffs’ claim that the federal legislation is a&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C3-1/ALDE_00013186/" target="_blank">bill of attainder</a>, which refers to legislation that unconstitutionally imposes punishment on a specific person or group of people without a judicial trial.&nbsp;

“Halting the flow of federal Medicaid funds to those entities bears no resemblance to the forms of punishment that implicate the Bill of Attainder Clause,” reads the DOJ’s motion. “Historically, bills of attainder involved punishments such as ‘death,’ ‘banishment,’ and ‘imprisonment.’”

But Talwani disagrees with the DOJ’s reasoning.

“[T]here is no indication in the record that Planned Parenthood Members share revenues from Medicaid reimbursements,” she wrote. “The result is a restriction on associational freedom that is in no way ‘essential to the furtherance of [Defendants’] interest’ in withholding funds from certain abortion providers … and instead imposes a wholly unwarranted burden.”

While the new federal tax and spending cuts law does not mention Planned Parenthood by name, a bill introduced this year with similar language is explicitly titled, “<a href="https://click.everyaction.com/k/113700862/564667045/-4655086?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9TTldTUi9TTldTUi8xLzEwNTEzMSIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICI0ZmRmYjMxZS03ZTdlLWYwMTEtYjQ4NC02MDQ1YmRlYjc0MTMiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogInNyZXNuaWNrQHN0YXRlc25ld3Nyb29tLmNvbSINCn0%3D&amp;hmac=VzdAbS6Oa98XA62IADfNGZ3_6dvqDEvTmiY8Ar8EoZo=&amp;emci=d5dd797b-0b7e-f011-b481-6045bda9d23e&amp;emdi=4fdfb31e-7e7e-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&amp;ceid=519099" target="_blank">Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025</a>.” Meanwhile, several state legislatures have successfully stripped funding from the organization. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed South Carolina to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program in late June after a long legal fight, but the state’s affiliate just&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/planned-parenthood-files-new-challenge-stay-scs-medicaid-list-non-abortion-services" target="_blank">sued again</a>&nbsp;over Medicaid eligibility.

“You have to be living in a cave to believe this isn’t about Planned Parenthood,” said abortion law expert Mary Ziegler. “The reason Planned Parenthood is a target is because it’s a twofer. It’s both the nation’s largest abortion provider and also the nation’s best advocate for abortion rights. … But I think the problem for Planned Parenthood is that disaggregating the two is hard, and proving congressional intent to target one rather than the other is challenging.”

Anti-abortion activists and conservative commentators have accused Talwani, an Obama appointee, of judicial activism.

“Now the abortion industry is suing to block the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jun/23/poll-shows-voters-support-defunding-planned-parenthood-told/?utm_medium=SocialFlow&amp;utm_campaign=twtnl_x&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank">will of the voters</a>, duly passed by Congress,” wrote Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, in a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/08/judicial-activism-wont-restore-planned-parenthoods-federal-funding/" target="_blank">op-ed for National Review</a>. “They argue they’re constitutionally entitled to our tax dollars in perpetuity, and they’ve&nbsp;<a href="https://sbaprolife.org/newsroom/press-releases/sba-slams-activist-ruling-forcing-americans-to-fund-abortion-giant-planned-parenthood" target="_blank">found a single activist judge</a>&nbsp;willing to take their side and impose that view on the entire nation — for now.”

Ziegler said the bill of attainder argument is rarely used, but is plausible in this case.&nbsp;

“Generally, with a bill of attainder, you have to show that there’s no other kind of valid legislative purpose, and that it’s selectively targeting the person who’s suing,” she said. “In this case, it seems pretty clear that there’s some targeting of Planned Parenthood happening. … But I think there being no other purpose is more complicated.”

Ziegler said the case will likely be hard to win if it gets to the majority conservative Supreme Court. But if the injunction holds, Planned Parenthood could run out the clock on the one-year Medicaid restriction. She thinks it might seem too politically risky to renew this provision right before the 2026 midterm elections to more moderate Republicans in the House, like Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.notus.org/republicans/gop-defunding-planned-parenthood-reconciliation" target="_blank">told NOTUS</a>&nbsp;in May, “from the standpoint of providing health care to women, you know, I’m not for taking away people’s health care.”

“They’ll either have to say, ‘All our boasts about defunding Planned Parenthood were not real, because Planned Parenthood is going to get funded again,’ or they’re going to have to make the funding prohibition permanent, which could have the consequences that people like Lawler were afraid of.”

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sofia-resnick/">Sofia Resnick</a> <a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/">States Newsroom</a>A federal judge&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.93.0.pdf" target="_blank">ruled Friday</a>&nbsp;against the Trump administration’s efforts to strip Medicaid funds from primarily Planned Parenthood-affiliated abortion providers.Massachusetts U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani denied the federal government’s motion to lift a block on a new law, rejecting the U.S. Department of Justice’s argument that allowing Planned Parenthood to continue to bill for Medicaid while their lawsuit plays out would cause the government “irreparable injury.” She said the plaintiffs were more likely to suffer injury if the provision went into effect, such as having to close clinics and reduce services.“Here, Defendants suffer no irreparable harm where Plaintiffs are substantially likely to succeed in establishing that Section 71113 violates several constitutional provisions,” Talwani wrote in an order, denying the federal government’s request to stay two preliminary injunctions. “[I]t is precisely because Congress targeted only a ‘certain’ group of entities for exclusion from Medicaid programs — all but two of which are Planned Parenthood Federation Members — that Plaintiffs are likely to succeed in establishing that Section 71113 is unconstitutional.”Late last month Talwani ordered a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/one-big-beautiful-law-provision-planned-parenthood-funding-partly-blocked-judge" target="_blank">partial</a>&nbsp;and then a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-issues-new-order-protecting-all-planned-parenthood-clinics-medicaid-defunding" target="_blank">full preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/planned-parenthood-sues-trump-administration-officials-over-defunding-provision-budget-bill" target="_blank">Planned Parenthood Federation of America and its Massachusetts and Utah affiliates sued</a>&nbsp;in early July over the new federal reproductive health restriction. After unsuccessfully asking the district court to lift the block, the federal government&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.75.0_1.pdf" target="_blank">appealed the preliminary injunctions</a>&nbsp;to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Shortly after, the DOJ&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.85.0.pdf" target="_blank">filed a motion</a>&nbsp;asking the district court to reconsider the preliminary injunctions. Last week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.89.0_1.pdf" target="_blank">appellate court declined</a>&nbsp;the government’s request, pending the district court’s decision. Defendants are now expected to re-appeal the injunction to the First Circuit.&nbsp;The provision, set to expire July 4, 2026, would primarily affect health clinics affiliated with Planned Parenthood, which has estimated it could lose 200 of its 600 clinics, many of which are in rural areas and others that are critical abortion-access points.&nbsp;But two other affected organizations are Health Imperatives in Massachusetts, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wbur.org/news/2025/08/05/massachusetts-abortion-womens-health-federal-cuts?emci=d5dd797b-0b7e-f011-b481-6045bda9d23e&amp;emdi=4fdfb31e-7e7e-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&amp;ceid=519099" target="_blank">according to WBUR</a>, operates seven clinics and serves about 10,000 patients, and Maine Family Planning, which has also sued over the provision. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Lance Walker in Maine, an appointee of President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://reproductiverights.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/MFP-Decision-August-2025.pdf" target="_blank">denied Maine Family Planning’s motion for a preliminary injunction</a>, despite the organization facing losses up to nearly $2 million, potential layoffs, and disruption of care for about 8,000 patients.“This ruling is a devastating setback for Mainers who depend on us for basic primary care,” said George Hill, president and CEO of Maine Family Planning, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-oks-medicaid-defunding-maines-largest-reproductive-health-care-provider" target="_blank">Maine Morning Star</a>. “The loss of Medicaid funds — which nearly half our patients rely on — threatens our ability to provide life-saving services to communities across the state. Mainers’ health should never be jeopardized by political decisions, and we will continue to fight for them.”<h2>Does the new federal Medicaid rule unlawfully target Planned Parenthood?</h2>Federal funding of abortion is already prohibited in most cases under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/the-hyde-amendment-and-coverage-for-abortion-services-under-medicaid-in-the-post-roe-era/" target="_blank">Hyde Amendment</a>. But the new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1/text" target="_blank">funding rule</a>&nbsp;would bar from the Medicaid program reproductive health clinics that provide abortions and received more than $800,000 in federal and state Medicaid funding in fiscal year 2023 for health services like birth control, cancer and gender-affirming care.&nbsp;The legislation has caused confusion throughout the Planned Parenthood network because its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/119/plaws/publ21/PLAW-119publ21.pdf#page=230" target="_blank">definition of “prohibited entity”</a>&nbsp;includes a barred organization’s “affiliates, subsidiaries, successors, and clinics.”The nonprofit health network comprises its national membership and advocacy organization, PPFA, and nearly 50 independently structured and operated&nbsp;affiliates, some of which do not offer abortion, such as co-plaintiff Planned Parenthood Association of Utah. These organizations are reimbursed after the fact for specific health services covered by Medicaid.&nbsp;Even though the provision is currently blocked, several Planned Parenthood clinics around the country have already closed, both because of the new rule and the Trump administration’s other restrictions stripping abortion providers of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/limited-judicial-relief-fallout-begins-planned-parenthood-clinics-facing-medicaid-cuts" target="_blank">federal family planning grants</a>.&nbsp;Many of the recently shuttered clinics did not provide abortion, like in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/ohio-planned-parenthoods-will-remain-closed-despite-federal-success-ongoing-lawsuit" target="_blank">Ohio</a>, and some are in states where abortion is illegal, like in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/planned-parenthood-close-louisiana-clinics-landry-murrill-applaud-news" target="_blank">Louisiana</a>.&nbsp;Planned Parenthood’s attorneys have argued that the new federal Medicaid rule violates their equal protection, speech and association rights, because it excludes their clinics from the Medicaid program on the basis of their association to other organizations — in this case organizations that provide abortions and advocate for abortion rights.“[S]ince this Court issued its decision, the government has now admitted that Section 71113 (the “Defund Provision”) was intended to punish Planned Parenthood for its ‘political advocacy,’” the plaintiffs wrote in a recent brief&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.92.0.pdf" target="_blank">opposing defendants’ motion</a>&nbsp;to lift the injunction.&nbsp;Plaintiffs referred to a recent public statement made by Andrew G. Nixon, a spokesperson for co-defendant U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.&nbsp;“States should not be forced to fund organizations that have chosen political advocacy over patient care,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/22/us/politics/trump-planned-parenthood.html" target="_blank">Nixon said</a>, after the district court’s initial preliminary injunction on July 22.&nbsp;But in court, the federal government argued the tax and spending cuts law excludes large abortion providers only because they provide abortions. They say they are also excluding smaller or non-abortion-providing affiliates, not because of their speech or advocacy, but because of their “non-expressive activities of corporate control and financing.” Their basic argument is that money to any Planned Parenthood clinic — even for health services unrelated to abortion — is money for abortion.&nbsp;“[B]ecause money is fungible, extending the funding restriction to affiliates prevents an organization from undermining federal policy not to subsidize abortion providers by shifting funds between entities that do not perform abortions and entities that do,”&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.286600/gov.uscourts.mad.286600.85.0.pdf#page=6" target="_blank">defendants wrote</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;The DOJ has also rejected plaintiffs’ claim that the federal legislation is a&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artI-S9-C3-1/ALDE_00013186/" target="_blank">bill of attainder</a>, which refers to legislation that unconstitutionally imposes punishment on a specific person or group of people without a judicial trial.&nbsp;“Halting the flow of federal Medicaid funds to those entities bears no resemblance to the forms of punishment that implicate the Bill of Attainder Clause,” reads the DOJ’s motion. “Historically, bills of attainder involved punishments such as ‘death,’ ‘banishment,’ and ‘imprisonment.’”But Talwani disagrees with the DOJ’s reasoning.“[T]here is no indication in the record that Planned Parenthood Members share revenues from Medicaid reimbursements,” she wrote. “The result is a restriction on associational freedom that is in no way ‘essential to the furtherance of [Defendants’] interest’ in withholding funds from certain abortion providers … and instead imposes a wholly unwarranted burden.”While the new federal tax and spending cuts law does not mention Planned Parenthood by name, a bill introduced this year with similar language is explicitly titled, “<a href="https://click.everyaction.com/k/113700862/564667045/-4655086?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9TTldTUi9TTldTUi8xLzEwNTEzMSIsDQogICJEaXN0cmlidXRpb25VbmlxdWVJZCI6ICI0ZmRmYjMxZS03ZTdlLWYwMTEtYjQ4NC02MDQ1YmRlYjc0MTMiLA0KICAiRW1haWxBZGRyZXNzIjogInNyZXNuaWNrQHN0YXRlc25ld3Nyb29tLmNvbSINCn0%3D&amp;hmac=VzdAbS6Oa98XA62IADfNGZ3_6dvqDEvTmiY8Ar8EoZo=&amp;emci=d5dd797b-0b7e-f011-b481-6045bda9d23e&amp;emdi=4fdfb31e-7e7e-f011-b484-6045bdeb7413&amp;ceid=519099" target="_blank">Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2025</a>.” Meanwhile, several state legislatures have successfully stripped funding from the organization. The U.S. Supreme Court allowed South Carolina to exclude Planned Parenthood from its Medicaid program in late June after a long legal fight, but the state’s affiliate just&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/planned-parenthood-files-new-challenge-stay-scs-medicaid-list-non-abortion-services" target="_blank">sued again</a>&nbsp;over Medicaid eligibility.“You have to be living in a cave to believe this isn’t about Planned Parenthood,” said abortion law expert Mary Ziegler. “The reason Planned Parenthood is a target is because it’s a twofer. It’s both the nation’s largest abortion provider and also the nation’s best advocate for abortion rights. … But I think the problem for Planned Parenthood is that disaggregating the two is hard, and proving congressional intent to target one rather than the other is challenging.”Anti-abortion activists and conservative commentators have accused Talwani, an Obama appointee, of judicial activism.“Now the abortion industry is suing to block the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2025/jun/23/poll-shows-voters-support-defunding-planned-parenthood-told/?utm_medium=SocialFlow&amp;utm_campaign=twtnl_x&amp;utm_source=Twitter" target="_blank">will of the voters</a>, duly passed by Congress,” wrote Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, in a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/08/judicial-activism-wont-restore-planned-parenthoods-federal-funding/" target="_blank">op-ed for National Review</a>. “They argue they’re constitutionally entitled to our tax dollars in perpetuity, and they’ve&nbsp;<a href="https://sbaprolife.org/newsroom/press-releases/sba-slams-activist-ruling-forcing-americans-to-fund-abortion-giant-planned-parenthood" target="_blank">found a single activist judge</a>&nbsp;willing to take their side and impose that view on the entire nation — for now.”Ziegler said the bill of attainder argument is rarely used, but is plausible in this case.&nbsp;“Generally, with a bill of attainder, you have to show that there’s no other kind of valid legislative purpose, and that it’s selectively targeting the person who’s suing,” she said. “In this case, it seems pretty clear that there’s some targeting of Planned Parenthood happening. … But I think there being no other purpose is more complicated.”Ziegler said the case will likely be hard to win if it gets to the majority conservative Supreme Court. But if the injunction holds, Planned Parenthood could run out the clock on the one-year Medicaid restriction. She thinks it might seem too politically risky to renew this provision right before the 2026 midterm elections to more moderate Republicans in the House, like Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, who&nbsp;<a href="https://www.notus.org/republicans/gop-defunding-planned-parenthood-reconciliation" target="_blank">told NOTUS</a>&nbsp;in May, “from the standpoint of providing health care to women, you know, I’m not for taking away people’s health care.”“They’ll either have to say, ‘All our boasts about defunding Planned Parenthood were not real, because Planned Parenthood is going to get funded again,’ or they’re going to have to make the funding prohibition permanent, which could have the consequences that people like Lawler were afraid of.”

Judge: Planned Parenthood clinics can remain Medicaid providers while lawsuit continues

Players will have another chance to go for the billion-dollar Powerball® jackpot before the holiday weekend ends! No ticket matched all six numbers drawn Saturday night, pushing the Powerball jackpot to an estimated $1.1 billion for the next drawing on Monday night – the game’s fifth-largest prize ever,&nbsp;according to the Multi-State Lottery Association.

Monday’s jackpot has an estimated cash value of $498.4 million.

“America has waited all year for the chance to play for a billion-dollar jackpot, and what better time than Labor Day for a $1.1 billion Powerball drawing!” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “With just one $2 ticket, you could win it all – all while helping to support good causes close to home.”

The winning numbers in the Saturday, Aug 30 drawing were white balls 3, 18, 22, 27, 33 and red Powerball 17. The Power Play® multiplier was 3.

Even though the Powerball jackpot rolled, participating lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets to see if they won a lower-tier cash prize.

Nine tickets matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes in last night’s drawing. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in California (4), Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.&nbsp;Note: In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.

Three tickets matched all five white balls and increased the $1 million prize to $2 million, because the tickets included the Power Play® option for $1 more. The $2 million-winning tickets were sold in Colorado, Indiana and New Hampshire.

There were also 115 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 27 tickets that won $150,000 prizes.

Monday’s Powerball drawing will be the 40th drawing since the jackpot was last won in California on May 31, 2025. To date, the longest Powerball jackpot run has been 42 consecutive drawings, which was set on April 6, 2024, with a $1.326 billion jackpot winner in Oregon.

If a player wins Monday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.1 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $498.4 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.

Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $36 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.

Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Players will have another chance to go for the billion-dollar Powerball® jackpot before the holiday weekend ends! No ticket matched all six numbers drawn Saturday night, pushing the Powerball jackpot to an estimated $1.1 billion for the next drawing on Monday night – the game’s fifth-largest prize ever,&nbsp;according to the Multi-State Lottery Association.Monday’s jackpot has an estimated cash value of $498.4 million.“America has waited all year for the chance to play for a billion-dollar jackpot, and what better time than Labor Day for a $1.1 billion Powerball drawing!” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “With just one $2 ticket, you could win it all – all while helping to support good causes close to home.”The winning numbers in the Saturday, Aug 30 drawing were white balls 3, 18, 22, 27, 33 and red Powerball 17. The Power Play® multiplier was 3.Even though the Powerball jackpot rolled, participating lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets to see if they won a lower-tier cash prize.Nine tickets matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes in last night’s drawing. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in California (4), Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.&nbsp;Note: In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.Three tickets matched all five white balls and increased the $1 million prize to $2 million, because the tickets included the Power Play® option for $1 more. The $2 million-winning tickets were sold in Colorado, Indiana and New Hampshire.There were also 115 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 27 tickets that won $150,000 prizes.Monday’s Powerball drawing will be the 40th drawing since the jackpot was last won in California on May 31, 2025. To date, the longest Powerball jackpot run has been 42 consecutive drawings, which was set on April 6, 2024, with a $1.326 billion jackpot winner in Oregon.If a player wins Monday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.1 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $498.4 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $36 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>.The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.Top Ten Powerball® Jackpots<ol>
 <li>$2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA</li><li>$1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA</li><li>$1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN</li><li>$1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR</li><li>$1.1 Billion (estimated) – Sept 1, 2025</li><li>$1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA</li><li>$842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – MI</li><li>$768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI</li><li>$758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA</li><li>$754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - WA</li>
 </ol>

Powerball jackpot rolls to fifth-largest prize ever for Labor Day drawing

DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas felon with a previous murder conviction is accused of another murder.

On Friday, police arrested&nbsp;63-year-old Aaron Blake Wright, of Lawrence, in connection with a woman's death.

Just before 7:30a.m. Friday, Police were called to&nbsp;Massachusetts Street where they located a 35-year-old Lawrence woman behind the building. She appeared to have been stabbed multiple times and was pronounced deceased. Police believe she&nbsp;knew Wright.

Following witness interviews near the scene, Investigators quickly identified Wright as a person of interest. They located him shortly thereafter and transported him to police headquarters for questioning. After conducting an interview, detectives placed Wright under arrest. He was booked on requested charges of second-degree murder.

Douglas County District Attorney Dakota Loomis was briefed at the scene and is awaiting a charging affidavit, which investigators will submit once the information has been compiled.

Wright has previous convictions for second degree murder,&nbsp; attempted murder and criminal use of explosives, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756600798019.png" alt="Wright photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Wright photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—A Kansas felon with a previous murder conviction is accused of another murder.On Friday, police arrested&nbsp;63-year-old Aaron Blake Wright, of Lawrence, in connection with a woman's death.Just before 7:30a.m. Friday, Police were called to&nbsp;Massachusetts Street where they located a 35-year-old Lawrence woman behind the building. She appeared to have been stabbed multiple times and was pronounced deceased. Police believe she&nbsp;knew Wright.Following witness interviews near the scene, Investigators quickly identified Wright as a person of interest. They located him shortly thereafter and transported him to police headquarters for questioning. After conducting an interview, detectives placed Wright under arrest. He was booked on requested charges of second-degree murder.Douglas County District Attorney Dakota Loomis was briefed at the scene and is awaiting a charging affidavit, which investigators will submit once the information has been compiled.Wright has previous convictions for second degree murder,&nbsp; attempted murder and criminal use of explosives, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.&nbsp;

Kan. man with previous murder conviction accused of woman's death

LEE COUNTY, Florida —A homeowner in his pajamas is credited with helping fight crime in his neighborhood.

Just after 2a.m. August 27, police responded to a burglary in progress at a home in Southeast Cape Coral, Florida, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found the suspect already detained — by a neighbor wearing Batman pajamas.

The neighbor, Kyle Myvett, told detectives he had gone to bed when his home security cameras alerted him to someone breaking into his vehicle. Still dressed in his Batman pajamas, Kyle went outside to investigate and saw the suspect rummaging through his truck. Moments later, he found the same suspect in his neighbor’s garage and detained him until officers arrived. 

The suspect was identified as Justin Schimpl, 21,&nbsp; who is known to law enforcement from prior investigations. Detectives determined that Schimpl broke into Kyle’s vehicle, as well as his neighbors, and stole multiple items including two pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses valued at $300 each, cash, a woman’s wristlet, and more than $500 in gift cards.

Schimpl claimed another man was with him, but the name of that man changed multiple times. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter as well as a Cape Coral Police Department K9 searched the area, but no other suspects were located.

Schimpl was arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail on requested charges:–2 counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance (Unarmed), a 3rd Degree Felony–2 counts of Petit Theft Under $750, a 1st Degree Misdemeanor–1 count of Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, a 2nd Degree FelonyThanks to a quick-thinking neighbor in his Batman pajamas, another burglary suspect was put behind bars.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756479561814.png" alt="Schimpi photo Cape Coral PD" />
 <figcaption>Schimpi photo Cape Coral PD</figcaption>
 </figure>LEE COUNTY, Florida —A homeowner in his pajamas is credited with helping fight crime in his neighborhood.Just after 2a.m. August 27, police responded to a burglary in progress at a home in Southeast Cape Coral, Florida, according to a media release. When officers arrived, they found the suspect already detained — by a neighbor wearing Batman pajamas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756479459496.png" alt="Photo Cape Coral Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Cape Coral Police</figcaption>
 </figure>The neighbor, Kyle Myvett, told detectives he had gone to bed when his home security cameras alerted him to someone breaking into his vehicle. Still dressed in his Batman pajamas, Kyle went outside to investigate and saw the suspect rummaging through his truck. Moments later, he found the same suspect in his neighbor’s garage and detained him until officers arrived. The suspect was identified as Justin Schimpl, 21,&nbsp; who is known to law enforcement from prior investigations. Detectives determined that Schimpl broke into Kyle’s vehicle, as well as his neighbors, and stole multiple items including two pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses valued at $300 each, cash, a woman’s wristlet, and more than $500 in gift cards.Schimpl claimed another man was with him, but the name of that man changed multiple times. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter as well as a Cape Coral Police Department K9 searched the area, but no other suspects were located.Schimpl was arrested and taken to the Lee County Jail on requested charges:–2 counts of Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance (Unarmed), a 3rd Degree Felony–2 counts of Petit Theft Under $750, a 1st Degree Misdemeanor–1 count of Burglary of an Occupied Dwelling, a 2nd Degree FelonyThanks to a quick-thinking neighbor in his Batman pajamas, another burglary suspect was put behind bars.

Homeowner in Batman pajamas helps catch burglary suspect

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the use of force by a State Trooper which resulted in a fatality.

Just before 1:30a.m. Saturday, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol observed a silver Chevrolet Tahoe traveling northbound on Interstate 35 south of Chouteau Trafficway in Clay County Missouri, according to a statement from the patrol.

The driver of the SUV was suspected&nbsp; of being intoxicated, as the vehicle failed to maintain a single lane and almost struck a guard rail in the area multiple times. This created a danger to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the SUV but the driver fled and a pursuit ensued.&nbsp; At 1:21a.m. on northbound Interstate 35 south of Brighton Avenue, the trooper conducted a Tactical Vehicle Intervention to end the pursuit and reduce risk to public safety.&nbsp; The SUV traveled off the right side of the road, struck a ditch and rolled. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased.

The MSHP is investigating the use of force, per Patrol policy. The MSHP's major crash investigation unit is in charge of reconstructing the crash.&nbsp; Upon completion of the investigation, the reports will be forwarded to the Clay County Attorney's office.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the use of force by a State Trooper which resulted in a fatality.Just before 1:30a.m. Saturday, a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol observed a silver Chevrolet Tahoe traveling northbound on Interstate 35 south of Chouteau Trafficway in Clay County Missouri, according to a statement from the patrol.The driver of the SUV was suspected&nbsp; of being intoxicated, as the vehicle failed to maintain a single lane and almost struck a guard rail in the area multiple times. This created a danger to the public.&nbsp;&nbsp; The trooper initiated a traffic stop on the SUV but the driver fled and a pursuit ensued.&nbsp; At 1:21a.m. on northbound Interstate 35 south of Brighton Avenue, the trooper conducted a Tactical Vehicle Intervention to end the pursuit and reduce risk to public safety.&nbsp; The SUV traveled off the right side of the road, struck a ditch and rolled. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased.The MSHP is investigating the use of force, per Patrol policy. The MSHP's major crash investigation unit is in charge of reconstructing the crash.&nbsp; Upon completion of the investigation, the reports will be forwarded to the Clay County Attorney's office.

Patrol investigating after KC area traffic stop turns deadly

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A passerby found a small plane off the roadway Saturday morning near Vinland at N 700 and E 1700 road, approximately two miles north of Baldwin City, according to the Douglas County Sheriff. Nobody was with the plane when it was found. 

The Kansas Highway Patrol arrived and according to their investigation, the incident occurred just after 2:30a.m. Saturday.&nbsp;

A 1978 Cessna&nbsp;Single Engine Fixed Wing aircraft piloted by Arnold&nbsp;Nguyen, 26, Kansas City,&nbsp; Missouri,&nbsp;landed long and failed to stop on a runway.

The aircraft then crossed the roadway to the north and struck a tree. The pilot was not injured. There were no passengers on the plane, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756559822774.png" alt="Photos Douglas County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Douglas County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —A passerby found a small plane off the roadway Saturday morning near Vinland at N 700 and E 1700 road, approximately two miles north of Baldwin City, according to the Douglas County Sheriff. Nobody was with the plane when it was found. The Kansas Highway Patrol arrived and according to their investigation, the incident occurred just after 2:30a.m. Saturday.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756559732892.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>A 1978 Cessna&nbsp;Single Engine Fixed Wing aircraft piloted by Arnold&nbsp;Nguyen, 26, Kansas City,&nbsp; Missouri,&nbsp;landed long and failed to stop on a runway.The aircraft then crossed the roadway to the north and struck a tree. The pilot was not injured. There were no passengers on the plane, according to the KHP.

KHP: Small plane lands, failed to stop and struck a tree

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

TOPEKA — Seventy percent of Kansas school districts are repaying amounts from hundreds to millions of dollars after a Medicaid calculation error by a state contractor, a Kansas official testified this week.&nbsp;

Secretary Janet Stanek from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told the Legislative Budget Committee on Tuesday that 153 of the 286 school districts had to repay funds from fiscal year 2016 to 2023.

Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_leg_budget_1/documents/testimony/20250826_03.pdf" target="_blank">school districts owe $11.2 million</a>&nbsp;to Medicaid, with most owing less than $50,000 each, Stanek said. Wichita Public Schools owes the most at $11.3 million and 19 districts owe less than $1,000.&nbsp;

The $11.2 million was 4.4% of the Medicaid payments made during that time period, Stanek said.

Districts bill Medicaid in two ways, one for claims reimbursement In which providers bill for services like physical or speech therapy, and the other for administrative claims, which cover the cost of providing services at schools, she said.

It was the second method that was incorrectly calculated by Public Consulting Group, a KDHE contractor, Stanek said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gary Menke, chief financial officer for Topeka Public Schools, said the administrative claims calculation is complicated. It involves payments for support services the district provides to students to make sure they receive Medicaid services.

“It takes an army of people to get a student that needs those services pulled away from instruction, ready if they have to move to another building or facility for services, then you’ve got to get them back from those services,” he said. “Those are the dollars they are talking about.”

Topeka Public Schools owed just more than $424,000, which Menke said the district elected to repay in four installments to be deducted from a quarterly Medicaid reimbursement the district receives.&nbsp;

While the repayment isn’t a hardship for the school district because Menke said he’s wary of budgeting Medicaid funds until final amounts are set, that $400,000 still would have covered multiple special education teacher salaries, which average about $61,000 annually.

Wichita Public Schools owed over $3 million, and the district’s Medicaid coordinator Deanna Beard told the committee that she would like to see more transparency in the process and&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_leg_budget_1/documents/testimony/20250826_04.pdf" target="_blank">Medicaid funding expanded for schools</a>.&nbsp;

“Currently, districts are excluded from key components of the calculation, such as the numerator used to verify Medicaid-eligible students who received services,” she said. “This lack of information from KDHE prevented us from validating data and any ability to identify errors early.”

In an emailed statement, a representative for the Wichita district said it elected to repay the amount in four installments.&nbsp;

“Unforeseen financial needs such as this are an example of why WPS maintains unrestricted reserves,” the statement said. “These reserves will have to backfill the shortfall the audit finding repayment has created for the 2025-26 budget year.”

Stanek, who said she was offering no excuses, explained that previous administrations had cut staff and the program was “under-resourced.” In addition, schools had quite a lot of turnover at the same time the contractor PCG had turnover.&nbsp;

Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, asked whether anything in the contract allowed Kansas to hold PCG responsible for the error.&nbsp;

Stanek said nothing in the contract allows that but the state&nbsp; isworking with PCG and have asked for a corrective action plan.&nbsp;

“But I can tell you, PCG has stepped up, and we are holding them more accountable,” Stanek said. “We are going to look at adding positions to manage – even though you have a consultant or a contractor, as you know, somebody’s got to manage them too – and I would say it was loose, and that’s on us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756500055592.png" alt=" Kansas Department of Health and environment secretary Janet Stanek testified Tuesday that corrective actions are being taken to address a Medicaid calculation mistake made by a contractor. (Screenshot/Kansas Legisltive Budget Committee)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Department of Health and environment secretary Janet Stanek testified Tuesday that corrective actions are being taken to address a Medicaid calculation mistake made by a contractor. (Screenshot/Kansas Legisltive Budget Committee)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Seventy percent of Kansas school districts are repaying amounts from hundreds to millions of dollars after a Medicaid calculation error by a state contractor, a Kansas official testified this week.&nbsp;Secretary Janet Stanek from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told the Legislative Budget Committee on Tuesday that 153 of the 286 school districts had to repay funds from fiscal year 2016 to 2023.Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_leg_budget_1/documents/testimony/20250826_03.pdf" target="_blank">school districts owe $11.2 million</a>&nbsp;to Medicaid, with most owing less than $50,000 each, Stanek said. Wichita Public Schools owes the most at $11.3 million and 19 districts owe less than $1,000.&nbsp;The $11.2 million was 4.4% of the Medicaid payments made during that time period, Stanek said.Districts bill Medicaid in two ways, one for claims reimbursement In which providers bill for services like physical or speech therapy, and the other for administrative claims, which cover the cost of providing services at schools, she said.It was the second method that was incorrectly calculated by Public Consulting Group, a KDHE contractor, Stanek said.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gary Menke, chief financial officer for Topeka Public Schools, said the administrative claims calculation is complicated. It involves payments for support services the district provides to students to make sure they receive Medicaid services.“It takes an army of people to get a student that needs those services pulled away from instruction, ready if they have to move to another building or facility for services, then you’ve got to get them back from those services,” he said. “Those are the dollars they are talking about.”Topeka Public Schools owed just more than $424,000, which Menke said the district elected to repay in four installments to be deducted from a quarterly Medicaid reimbursement the district receives.&nbsp;While the repayment isn’t a hardship for the school district because Menke said he’s wary of budgeting Medicaid funds until final amounts are set, that $400,000 still would have covered multiple special education teacher salaries, which average about $61,000 annually.Wichita Public Schools owed over $3 million, and the district’s Medicaid coordinator Deanna Beard told the committee that she would like to see more transparency in the process and&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_leg_budget_1/documents/testimony/20250826_04.pdf" target="_blank">Medicaid funding expanded for schools</a>.&nbsp;“Currently, districts are excluded from key components of the calculation, such as the numerator used to verify Medicaid-eligible students who received services,” she said. “This lack of information from KDHE prevented us from validating data and any ability to identify errors early.”In an emailed statement, a representative for the Wichita district said it elected to repay the amount in four installments.&nbsp;“Unforeseen financial needs such as this are an example of why WPS maintains unrestricted reserves,” the statement said. “These reserves will have to backfill the shortfall the audit finding repayment has created for the 2025-26 budget year.”Stanek, who said she was offering no excuses, explained that previous administrations had cut staff and the program was “under-resourced.” In addition, schools had quite a lot of turnover at the same time the contractor PCG had turnover.&nbsp;“It was a perfect storm,” she said.Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, asked whether anything in the contract allowed Kansas to hold PCG responsible for the error.&nbsp;Stanek said nothing in the contract allows that but the state&nbsp; isworking with PCG and have asked for a corrective action plan.&nbsp;“But I can tell you, PCG has stepped up, and we are holding them more accountable,” Stanek said. “We are going to look at adding positions to manage – even though you have a consultant or a contractor, as you know, somebody’s got to manage them too – and I would say it was loose, and that’s on us.”

Kansas school districts repay Medicaid dollars after contractor error

‘Danny’s Law’ went into effect Thursday and guarantees immunity from prosecution to 911 callers in the event of a hazing

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/paigehayes/">Paige Hayes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/briansmoot/">Brian Smoot</a>

The parents of Danny Santulli, a former University of Missouri student who was the victim of a fraternity hazing incident his freshman year, came back to Columbia as the Mizzou school year begins and Danny’s Law goes into effect.

Mizzou’s Interfraternity Council held an event for fraternity representatives that included a screening of the first episode of “House of Horrors: Secrets of Greek Life.” The A&amp;E documentary details several hazing incidents and focuses on Santulli’s story in the first episode.

In October 2021, at a “Pledge Father Reveal” event at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Santulli was forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol with his fellow pledges. His fraternity brothers, worried about legal repercussions, left him on a couch overnight without calling 911. He is now unable to see, walk or speak.

SB 167, known as “Danny’s Law,” guarantees immunity from prosecution to 911 callers in the event of a hazing. The state law went into effect Thursday.

“The event was very moving. There were a lot of non-dry eyes in the building on the Mizzou campus,” said Tom Santulli, Danny’s father.

Each IFC organization had four representatives at the screening. IFC President Wyatt Carlson said the representatives plan to recap the event with all of their members. Additionally, all members of Mizzou’s Greek Life are required to complete a three-part hazing-prevention training at the beginning of each year, Carlson said.

Both of Santulli’s parents were present at the event. The family shared their story with the fraternity members and answered questions from the group.

Some students expressed their wish that Danny’s Law had been adopted years ago, Tom Santulli said.

“It was very powerful,” Carlson said. “They are big supporters of the Mizzou community and did a wonderful job.”

Danny’s Law was passed in the Missouri Senate on Feb. 20 and signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe on July 9.

“We’re honored that they have his name as part of something really big in the state of Missouri,” Tom Santulli said, noting he hopes this makes an immediate impact.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/santulli-family-visits-mizzou-as-dannys-law-goes-into-effect/article_c6835ac2-8b40-4439-8766-bebc3f3069df.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<h2>‘Danny’s Law’ went into effect Thursday and guarantees immunity from prosecution to 911 callers in the event of a hazing</h2>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/paigehayes/">Paige Hayes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/briansmoot/">Brian Smoot</a>The parents of Danny Santulli, a former University of Missouri student who was the victim of a fraternity hazing incident his freshman year, came back to Columbia as the Mizzou school year begins and Danny’s Law goes into effect.Mizzou’s Interfraternity Council held an event for fraternity representatives that included a screening of the first episode of “House of Horrors: Secrets of Greek Life.” The A&amp;E documentary details several hazing incidents and focuses on Santulli’s story in the first episode.In October 2021, at a “Pledge Father Reveal” event at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, Santulli was forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol with his fellow pledges. His fraternity brothers, worried about legal repercussions, left him on a couch overnight without calling 911. He is now unable to see, walk or speak.SB 167, known as “Danny’s Law,” guarantees immunity from prosecution to 911 callers in the event of a hazing. The state law went into effect Thursday.“The event was very moving. There were a lot of non-dry eyes in the building on the Mizzou campus,” said Tom Santulli, Danny’s father.Each IFC organization had four representatives at the screening. IFC President Wyatt Carlson said the representatives plan to recap the event with all of their members. Additionally, all members of Mizzou’s Greek Life are required to complete a three-part hazing-prevention training at the beginning of each year, Carlson said.Both of Santulli’s parents were present at the event. The family shared their story with the fraternity members and answered questions from the group.Some students expressed their wish that Danny’s Law had been adopted years ago, Tom Santulli said.“It was very powerful,” Carlson said. “They are big supporters of the Mizzou community and did a wonderful job.”Danny’s Law was passed in the Missouri Senate on Feb. 20 and signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe on July 9.“We’re honored that they have his name as part of something really big in the state of Missouri,” Tom Santulli said, noting he hopes this makes an immediate impact.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/santulli-family-visits-mizzou-as-dannys-law-goes-into-effect/article_c6835ac2-8b40-4439-8766-bebc3f3069df.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Family of student who inspired new anti-hazing law visits University of Missouri

KANSAS CITY—A bicyclist injured in a hit-and-run in Kansas City on Monday has died.

According to KCPD officer Phil DiMartino, a blue Raleigh bicycle was&nbsp; southbound on Brooklyn in Kansas City, Missouri just before 12:30a.m. Just north of 29th Street, a southbound vehicle struck the bicyclist.

The bicyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected off the bicycle. The unknown vehicle left the scene of the collision without stopping. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.&nbsp;

On Friday, police reported the bicyclist had died of his injuries just before 5:30p.m. Thursday, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

This is fatality #48 compared #62 at this time last year.

KANSAS CITY—A bicyclist injured in a hit-and-run in Kansas City on Monday has died.According to KCPD officer Phil DiMartino, a blue Raleigh bicycle was&nbsp; southbound on Brooklyn in Kansas City, Missouri just before 12:30a.m. Just north of 29th Street, a southbound vehicle struck the bicyclist.The bicyclist, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected off the bicycle. The unknown vehicle left the scene of the collision without stopping. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries.&nbsp;On Friday, police reported the bicyclist had died of his injuries just before 5:30p.m. Thursday, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez.This is fatality #48 compared #62 at this time last year.

Bicyclist injured after hit-and-run in Kansas City has died

The special legislative session will also include a proposal to change the initiative petition process in a way that would mean as few as 23% of voters could defeat a statewide ballot measure

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

Missouri lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week to gerrymander the state’s congressional map in the hopes of creating a new Republican seat.&nbsp;

They will also debate putting a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would make it harder for voters to change the constitution through the initiative petition process.&nbsp;

Both proposals were included in the special legislative session agenda crafted by Gov. Mike Kehoe and announced on Friday. The move has been expected for weeks, with Missouri Republicans f<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/21/missouri-gop-leader-says-lawmakers-will-start-with-a-congressional-map-drawn-in-d-c/">acing pressure from President Donald Trump&nbsp;</a>to redraw U.S. House districts so the GOP can win more seats in next year’s midterm elections.

&nbsp;“This is about clarity for voters and ownership of our future, and I hope the legislature will work together to pass our Missouri First Map and critically needed IP reform,” Kehoe said in a statement Friday afternoon.

Missouri has eight congressional districts, and Democrats hold two. The new map would split Kansas City, which is currently entirely in the 5th District and represented by 11-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, into three districts where Republicans would have an electoral edge.&nbsp;

The intended result is a map where the GOP holds 90% of the state’s seats in the U.S. House.

“President Trump’s unprecedented directive to redraw our maps in the middle of the decade and without an updated census is not an act of democracy — it is an unconstitutional attack against it,” Cleaver said shortly after the proposed new map was revealed. “This attempt to gerrymander Missouri will not simply change district lines, it will silence voices. It will deny representation.”

Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from St. Louis County, said the president’s motivation for the gerrymandering push is fear of voters seeing files related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“If Democrats retake the House, they will release the Epstein Files, and this scares the hell out of President Trump,” Beck said. “That’s why the President has ordered Missouri to rubber stamp a rigged map drawn in Washington D.C. because he knows Missouri Republicans would rather protect pedophiles than say ‘no’ to Donald Trump.”

As for changes to the initiative petition process, Republicans are pushing a plan that would require a statewide majority and a majority vote in five of the state’s eight congressional districts in order to approve a constitutional amendment.&nbsp;

Currently, a simple majority is all that is required.

Under that “concurrent majority” standard, analysis by The Independent last year found that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/05/as-few-as-1-in-5-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-senate-proposal/">as few as 23% of voters</a>&nbsp;could defeat a statewide ballot measure.

The gerrymandering and initiative petition push will begin in the Missouri House next week, with the expectation that bills will be sent to the Missouri Senate for it to consider them during the legislature’s annual veto session on Sept. 10.&nbsp;

Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers. The bills are unlikely to face any stumbling blocks in the House, but Senate Democrats are expected to use the filibuster and other procedural maneuvers to gum up legislative business as much as possible.&nbsp;

In order to overcome the gridlock, Senate Republicans may once again have to break a filibuster and force a vote by turning to a rule that was previously rarely-used but got deployed twice during the regular legislative session in May.&nbsp;

Doing so would create even more bad blood in a legislative chamber already teetering on the edge of full on partisan collapse and could upend the 2026 session before it even gets started.&nbsp;

There are also questions about whether redistricting now would violate Missouri’s constitution.&nbsp;

The Missouri Constitution calls for the legislature to draw new congressional districts every 10 years after new census numbers are certified to the governor.&nbsp;

That happened in 2022, which attorneys Chuck Hatfield and Alix Cossette argue means new districts cannot be drawn until the next census is complete.&nbsp;

“The plain language of the Missouri Constitution and the Missouri Supreme Court’s precedent make clear that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is prohibited,” Hatfield and Cossette, two longtime Democratic attorneys, wrote in a memo laying out issues with the GOP plan. “Any attempt to do so will draw a substantial legal challenge which will likely succeed and invalidate any map adopted by the General Assembly.”

There are also questions about whether relying on population data could also lead to a court throwing out any new map.&nbsp;

Kehoe acknowledged the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_34cd0710-36ea-4d6b-bff4-2e62c876e286.html" target="_blank">questions about the legality of the plan&nbsp;</a>while speaking to reporters Friday morning.&nbsp;

“I’ve heard opinions on both sides of that conversation,” he said. “It will get settled in due time.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756504994284.png" alt=" Proposed congressional maps released Friday by the governor’s office." />
 <figcaption> Proposed congressional maps released Friday by the governor’s office.</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The special legislative session will also include a proposal to change the initiative petition process in a way that would mean as few as 23% of voters could defeat a statewide ballot measure</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week to gerrymander the state’s congressional map in the hopes of creating a new Republican seat.&nbsp;They will also debate putting a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would make it harder for voters to change the constitution through the initiative petition process.&nbsp;Both proposals were included in the special legislative session agenda crafted by Gov. Mike Kehoe and announced on Friday. The move has been expected for weeks, with Missouri Republicans f<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/21/missouri-gop-leader-says-lawmakers-will-start-with-a-congressional-map-drawn-in-d-c/">acing pressure from President Donald Trump&nbsp;</a>to redraw U.S. House districts so the GOP can win more seats in next year’s midterm elections.&nbsp;“This is about clarity for voters and ownership of our future, and I hope the legislature will work together to pass our Missouri First Map and critically needed IP reform,” Kehoe said in a statement Friday afternoon.Missouri has eight congressional districts, and Democrats hold two. The new map would split Kansas City, which is currently entirely in the 5th District and represented by 11-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, into three districts where Republicans would have an electoral edge.&nbsp;The intended result is a map where the GOP holds 90% of the state’s seats in the U.S. House.“President Trump’s unprecedented directive to redraw our maps in the middle of the decade and without an updated census is not an act of democracy — it is an unconstitutional attack against it,” Cleaver said shortly after the proposed new map was revealed. “This attempt to gerrymander Missouri will not simply change district lines, it will silence voices. It will deny representation.”Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from St. Louis County, said the president’s motivation for the gerrymandering push is fear of voters seeing files related to the investigation of Jeffrey Epstein.&nbsp;&nbsp;“If Democrats retake the House, they will release the Epstein Files, and this scares the hell out of President Trump,” Beck said. “That’s why the President has ordered Missouri to rubber stamp a rigged map drawn in Washington D.C. because he knows Missouri Republicans would rather protect pedophiles than say ‘no’ to Donald Trump.”As for changes to the initiative petition process, Republicans are pushing a plan that would require a statewide majority and a majority vote in five of the state’s eight congressional districts in order to approve a constitutional amendment.&nbsp;Currently, a simple majority is all that is required.Under that “concurrent majority” standard, analysis by The Independent last year found that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/05/as-few-as-1-in-5-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-senate-proposal/">as few as 23% of voters</a>&nbsp;could defeat a statewide ballot measure.The gerrymandering and initiative petition push will begin in the Missouri House next week, with the expectation that bills will be sent to the Missouri Senate for it to consider them during the legislature’s annual veto session on Sept. 10.&nbsp;Republicans hold supermajorities in both chambers. The bills are unlikely to face any stumbling blocks in the House, but Senate Democrats are expected to use the filibuster and other procedural maneuvers to gum up legislative business as much as possible.&nbsp;In order to overcome the gridlock, Senate Republicans may once again have to break a filibuster and force a vote by turning to a rule that was previously rarely-used but got deployed twice during the regular legislative session in May.&nbsp;Doing so would create even more bad blood in a legislative chamber already teetering on the edge of full on partisan collapse and could upend the 2026 session before it even gets started.&nbsp;There are also questions about whether redistricting now would violate Missouri’s constitution.&nbsp;The Missouri Constitution calls for the legislature to draw new congressional districts every 10 years after new census numbers are certified to the governor.&nbsp;That happened in 2022, which attorneys Chuck Hatfield and Alix Cossette argue means new districts cannot be drawn until the next census is complete.&nbsp;“The plain language of the Missouri Constitution and the Missouri Supreme Court’s precedent make clear that mid-cycle congressional redistricting is prohibited,” Hatfield and Cossette, two longtime Democratic attorneys, wrote in a memo laying out issues with the GOP plan. “Any attempt to do so will draw a substantial legal challenge which will likely succeed and invalidate any map adopted by the General Assembly.”There are also questions about whether relying on population data could also lead to a court throwing out any new map.&nbsp;Kehoe acknowledged the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_34cd0710-36ea-4d6b-bff4-2e62c876e286.html" target="_blank">questions about the legality of the plan&nbsp;</a>while speaking to reporters Friday morning.&nbsp;“I’ve heard opinions on both sides of that conversation,” he said. “It will get settled in due time.”

Missouri governor calls lawmakers back to Capitol to gerrymander congressional map

KANSAS CITY —The Medical examiner has officially identified the victims of a small plane crash near Kansas City on Wednesday as 76-year-old Mark W. Spelts and 75-year-old Victoria "Vickie" A. Spelts of Chico, California.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756384904759.png" alt="Photo Clay County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photo Clay County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The Medical examiner has officially identified the victims of a small plane crash near Kansas City on Wednesday as 76-year-old Mark W. Spelts and 75-year-old Victoria "Vickie" A. Spelts of Chico, California.Mark Spelts’ business also announced that he and Vickie passed away in a plane crash in Clay County, Missouri.The couple had come from an airport in Washington, Missouri, and intended to land at the Midwest National Air Center.&nbsp;Just before noon Wednesday, dispatchers in Clay County, Missouri received a call about heavy smoke coming from a field near NE 140th Street and Rhodus Road, according to the sheriff's office. Callers believed it may have been from a plane crash. When deputies arrived, they located a Cessna C340 fully engulfed in flames in a soybean field. There were two occupants inside, and they were confirmed deceased.&nbsp;Sheriff's Office investigators notified the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, which have taken over the investigation into what caused the crash.