Democrats could lose one of the two seats they currently hold in the eight-member U.S. House delegation. They vow to do what they can to derail a redistricting plan

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Momentum is building for a special session of the Missouri Legislature to redraw the state’s eight congressional districts with the aim of&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">gaining a seat for Republicans</a>.

Democrats will fight it, but a united Republican majority with more than two-thirds of the seats in both chambers can force it through if they wish.

Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin,&nbsp;<a href="https://post.futurimedia.com/kssz/playlist/40/listen-15530.html?cb=1754062642.475917" target="_blank">speaking Friday on KSSZ-93.9</a>&nbsp;in Columbia, said it is “likely” that lawmakers will be called in. She was in Jefferson City for discussions about a special session, but she had seen no map proposals and was unsure on the timing.

She first heard that President Donald Trump was urging Republicans to redistrict the state from discussion of social media posts by Republican members of Congress, O’Laughlin said.

“Lots of things run downhill,” O’Laughlin said. “So I thought, ‘well, this will be ending up in our neighborhood here before long.’ And it has.”

Gov. Mike Kehoe would need to convene a special session. His office did not respond to an email inquiry asking for comment on Friday.

In a little more than a week, the idea of redrawing Missouri’s congressional district lines has gained enough momentum to seem inevitable, House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, said in an interview with The Independent.

Republican members are “gung-ho,” she said, while Democrats are looking for ways to derail it. The chances of that are slim, she added.

“I’m kind of just waiting, I suppose, but I fully expect it to happen,” Aune said. “Everyone I’ve talked to, especially on my side of the aisle, expects to go down and get steamrolled on the issue during a special session.”

Missouri has eight seats in the U.S. House, six held by Republicans and two held by Democrats — the same total and partisan division it has had since a seat was lost after the 2010 census. Of the eight members, only U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a St. Louis County Republican, has won with less than 60% support in the two elections since the maps were redrawn to reflect the 2020 census.

Wagner represents the 2nd District, which has portions of St. Louis, St. Charles and adjacent counties.

The target for Republicans is the 5th District, held since 2005 by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat. He won his two most recent elections with 61% in 2022 and 60% last year. The two adjacent districts, the 4th and the 6th, are held by Republican U.S. Reps. Mark Alford and Sam Graves, who each received more than 70% of the vote for the past two elections.

A major hurdle for any special session on redistricting is that it will have a purely partisan intent, to gain an advantage for the Republican Party. This year saw a major break between Republicans and Democrats in the state Senate when&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/16/missouri-senate-bitterness-halts-action-as-lawmakers-prepare-for-final-day-of-chaotic-session/">partisan priorities were slammed through</a>&nbsp;with a motion, rarely used in the upper chamber, to shut off debate.

The previous question, or PQ, was invoked to overturn the voter-passed initiative providing minimum standards for paid sick leave at most businesses and to send voters a constitutional amendment repealing the abortion rights measure approved in November.

It would almost certainly have to be used again to bring a redistricting bill to a vote because, otherwise, Democrats could use the rules that put no limit on how long a member can hold the floor to block it.

After the Senate adjourned at the regular session, Democrats vowed to punish Republicans by clogging up the chamber so little work can be accomplished as a way to prevent a repetition. State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, forced Republicans to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/29/bipartisan-resistance-building-against-missouri-governors-stadium-funding-plan/">bring 17 senators from their homes</a>&nbsp;in late May for what was supposed to be a largely ceremonial day of final paperwork from the session.

A truce of sorts prevailed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/05/missouri-governor-allows-more-spending-property-tax-cap-as-he-pursues-stadium-deal/">in the Senate during a special session</a>&nbsp;in June that approved stadium financing for professional sports teams and aid to storm victims in St. Louis.&nbsp;

A redistricting special session would&nbsp;

&nbsp;“The point is to discourage future PQs and get us back on track to functioning and working together,” Webber said. “The more times that the process is abused, probably the stronger the correction has to be, which would mean that, for a larger correction, you need more consequence, more intervention.”

Some Republicans aren’t enthusiastic about redistricting now. The only time Missouri lawmakers have revised maps between census-determined allocations was in the 1960s following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that districts must be nearly equal in population.

State Sen. Mike Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, in 2022 was an enthusiastic supporter of drawing a map that made it likely Republicans would win seven of the state’s seats. He’s not sure he wants to vote for a bill to do that now.

“I started thinking about, what if the tables were turned and the Democrats had the majority?” Moon said. “If we’re honest with ourselves, I would say that we would not want the tables turned the other way. And you won’t get many people to say that publicly.”

The other danger, House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowling Green said, is that voters the GOP takes for granted may not be so firm.

“I don’t know that a 7-1 map ever existed,” Perkins said. “I think a 7-1 map is easily a 5-3 map in a year that doesn’t go the way that conservatives want it to go.”

State Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance, said that is not something that worries him. Schroer, the leader of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, said he wants to change district lines on the eastern side of the state as well, to put all of St. Charles County into the 2nd District with portions of St. Louis County.&nbsp;

But cutting off discussion won’t make next year worse, he said.

“It’s politics. You’re going to have fighting no matter what. You’re going to have some strange moments,” Schroer said. “But look, the use of the PQ is not a new thing. I mean, it comes and goes. It’s like a roller coaster.”

Texas lawmakers are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-redistricting-congressional-maps-house-republicans/" target="_blank">in special session</a>&nbsp;looking at redrawing districts in that state to give Republicans an additional five seats. Democratic governors in California, Illinois and New Jersey have suggested they would do the same in response.

If Missouri Democrats are upset about a new redistricting plan at home, they should also be saying Democratic states shouldn’t do it, either, Perkins said.

“To someone on the left, your fury and outrage needs to be directed equally to Illinois and California for doing the same thing,” Perkins said

Vice President J.D. Vance, in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JDVance/status/1950581570173354396?t=H6fvVOFmopQtBgn5mkcROw&amp;s=03" target="_blank">social media post</a>, attacked the way California is currently drawn.

“The gerrymander in California is outrageous. Of their 52 congressional districts, 9 of them are Republican. That means 17 percent of their delegation is Republican when Republicans regularly win 40 percent of the vote in that state,” Vance wrote. “How can this possibly be allowed?”

In the November election, no&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/2024GeneralElection.pdf" target="_blank">Democrat running statewide</a>&nbsp;received less than 37.9% of the vote, and Democrats hold 25% of the U.S. House seats, which would fall to 12.5% if the 5th District became Republican.

Vance’s criticism of California could be applied to Missouri, Perkins said.

“Do I think that it’s ethical to be the same across the board, to have your opinion applied the same to all things?,” he said. “Yeah, I think it probably is right.”

With Republicans holding a slim majority in the U.S. House, Republicans at the state level have a responsibility to their voters to do what they can to shore it up, Schroer said.

“It’d be a disservice to them to not revisit this issue to see if we can make the manual cleaver spot a competitive seat,” Schroer said.

O’Laughlin, in the radio interview, said she understands the criticism from Democrats.

“The biggest concern that people have, first of all, is that the Senate doesn’t like to do something out of the ordinary like that, because it’s viewed as just not listening to the other side, not working with other people,” O’Laughlin said. “And I understand why they would feel that way.”

But with Democratic states preparing to redistrict, she said, Republicans need to rally to protect the Trump presidency and what they view as its achievements.

If Kehoe issues the call, Democrats intend to paint him as Trump’s puppet.

“I don’t think anybody that I’m aware of was talking about redrawing maps in the middle of the census until Trump started pushing it,” Webber said.

In a video&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MoDemParty/status/1951026985099997331?t=HFtPO45CC7JjSZJmOXqZAA&amp;s=19" target="_blank">shared on social media</a>&nbsp;by the Missouri Democratic Party, Webber bluntly assessed the push for redistricting as a distraction from the biggest issue plaguing the president right now, the demands from his supporters to release files on child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

“This entire thing is to make sure there (are) not investigations into the Epstein files,” Webber said. “Because if you’re a pedophile that raped kids on Epstein island, the biggest winner of this would be those people.”

Aune, who said Moon’s comments give her a small hope Republicans will resist Trump’s demands, said Kehoe’s actions will show who he is.

“Who needs a governor,” Aune said, “and even who needs a Republican super-majority legislature, when we have daddy Trump in the White House pulling the strings?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754135953415.png" alt="Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, shown walking into the governor's State of the State address in January 2024. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, shown walking into the governor's State of the State address in January 2024. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Democrats could lose one of the two seats they currently hold in the eight-member U.S. House delegation. They vow to do what they can to derail a redistricting plan</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Momentum is building for a special session of the Missouri Legislature to redraw the state’s eight congressional districts with the aim of&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">gaining a seat for Republicans</a>.Democrats will fight it, but a united Republican majority with more than two-thirds of the seats in both chambers can force it through if they wish.Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin,&nbsp;<a href="https://post.futurimedia.com/kssz/playlist/40/listen-15530.html?cb=1754062642.475917" target="_blank">speaking Friday on KSSZ-93.9</a>&nbsp;in Columbia, said it is “likely” that lawmakers will be called in. She was in Jefferson City for discussions about a special session, but she had seen no map proposals and was unsure on the timing.She first heard that President Donald Trump was urging Republicans to redistrict the state from discussion of social media posts by Republican members of Congress, O’Laughlin said.“Lots of things run downhill,” O’Laughlin said. “So I thought, ‘well, this will be ending up in our neighborhood here before long.’ And it has.”Gov. Mike Kehoe would need to convene a special session. His office did not respond to an email inquiry asking for comment on Friday.In a little more than a week, the idea of redrawing Missouri’s congressional district lines has gained enough momentum to seem inevitable, House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, said in an interview with The Independent.Republican members are “gung-ho,” she said, while Democrats are looking for ways to derail it. The chances of that are slim, she added.“I’m kind of just waiting, I suppose, but I fully expect it to happen,” Aune said. “Everyone I’ve talked to, especially on my side of the aisle, expects to go down and get steamrolled on the issue during a special session.”Missouri has eight seats in the U.S. House, six held by Republicans and two held by Democrats — the same total and partisan division it has had since a seat was lost after the 2010 census. Of the eight members, only U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, a St. Louis County Republican, has won with less than 60% support in the two elections since the maps were redrawn to reflect the 2020 census.Wagner represents the 2nd District, which has portions of St. Louis, St. Charles and adjacent counties.The target for Republicans is the 5th District, held since 2005 by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat. He won his two most recent elections with 61% in 2022 and 60% last year. The two adjacent districts, the 4th and the 6th, are held by Republican U.S. Reps. Mark Alford and Sam Graves, who each received more than 70% of the vote for the past two elections.A major hurdle for any special session on redistricting is that it will have a purely partisan intent, to gain an advantage for the Republican Party. This year saw a major break between Republicans and Democrats in the state Senate when&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/16/missouri-senate-bitterness-halts-action-as-lawmakers-prepare-for-final-day-of-chaotic-session/">partisan priorities were slammed through</a>&nbsp;with a motion, rarely used in the upper chamber, to shut off debate.The previous question, or PQ, was invoked to overturn the voter-passed initiative providing minimum standards for paid sick leave at most businesses and to send voters a constitutional amendment repealing the abortion rights measure approved in November.It would almost certainly have to be used again to bring a redistricting bill to a vote because, otherwise, Democrats could use the rules that put no limit on how long a member can hold the floor to block it.After the Senate adjourned at the regular session, Democrats vowed to punish Republicans by clogging up the chamber so little work can be accomplished as a way to prevent a repetition. State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, forced Republicans to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/29/bipartisan-resistance-building-against-missouri-governors-stadium-funding-plan/">bring 17 senators from their homes</a>&nbsp;in late May for what was supposed to be a largely ceremonial day of final paperwork from the session.A truce of sorts prevailed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/05/missouri-governor-allows-more-spending-property-tax-cap-as-he-pursues-stadium-deal/">in the Senate during a special session</a>&nbsp;in June that approved stadium financing for professional sports teams and aid to storm victims in St. Louis.&nbsp;A redistricting special session would&nbsp;&nbsp;“The point is to discourage future PQs and get us back on track to functioning and working together,” Webber said. “The more times that the process is abused, probably the stronger the correction has to be, which would mean that, for a larger correction, you need more consequence, more intervention.”Some Republicans aren’t enthusiastic about redistricting now. The only time Missouri lawmakers have revised maps between census-determined allocations was in the 1960s following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that districts must be nearly equal in population.State Sen. Mike Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, in 2022 was an enthusiastic supporter of drawing a map that made it likely Republicans would win seven of the state’s seats. He’s not sure he wants to vote for a bill to do that now.“I started thinking about, what if the tables were turned and the Democrats had the majority?” Moon said. “If we’re honest with ourselves, I would say that we would not want the tables turned the other way. And you won’t get many people to say that publicly.”The other danger, House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowling Green said, is that voters the GOP takes for granted may not be so firm.“I don’t know that a 7-1 map ever existed,” Perkins said. “I think a 7-1 map is easily a 5-3 map in a year that doesn’t go the way that conservatives want it to go.”State Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance, said that is not something that worries him. Schroer, the leader of the Missouri Freedom Caucus, said he wants to change district lines on the eastern side of the state as well, to put all of St. Charles County into the 2nd District with portions of St. Louis County.&nbsp;But cutting off discussion won’t make next year worse, he said.“It’s politics. You’re going to have fighting no matter what. You’re going to have some strange moments,” Schroer said. “But look, the use of the PQ is not a new thing. I mean, it comes and goes. It’s like a roller coaster.”Texas lawmakers are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/30/texas-redistricting-congressional-maps-house-republicans/" target="_blank">in special session</a>&nbsp;looking at redrawing districts in that state to give Republicans an additional five seats. Democratic governors in California, Illinois and New Jersey have suggested they would do the same in response.If Missouri Democrats are upset about a new redistricting plan at home, they should also be saying Democratic states shouldn’t do it, either, Perkins said.“To someone on the left, your fury and outrage needs to be directed equally to Illinois and California for doing the same thing,” Perkins saidVice President J.D. Vance, in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/JDVance/status/1950581570173354396?t=H6fvVOFmopQtBgn5mkcROw&amp;s=03" target="_blank">social media post</a>, attacked the way California is currently drawn.“The gerrymander in California is outrageous. Of their 52 congressional districts, 9 of them are Republican. That means 17 percent of their delegation is Republican when Republicans regularly win 40 percent of the vote in that state,” Vance wrote. “How can this possibly be allowed?”In the November election, no&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/2024GeneralElection.pdf" target="_blank">Democrat running statewide</a>&nbsp;received less than 37.9% of the vote, and Democrats hold 25% of the U.S. House seats, which would fall to 12.5% if the 5th District became Republican.Vance’s criticism of California could be applied to Missouri, Perkins said.“Do I think that it’s ethical to be the same across the board, to have your opinion applied the same to all things?,” he said. “Yeah, I think it probably is right.”With Republicans holding a slim majority in the U.S. House, Republicans at the state level have a responsibility to their voters to do what they can to shore it up, Schroer said.“It’d be a disservice to them to not revisit this issue to see if we can make the manual cleaver spot a competitive seat,” Schroer said.O’Laughlin, in the radio interview, said she understands the criticism from Democrats.“The biggest concern that people have, first of all, is that the Senate doesn’t like to do something out of the ordinary like that, because it’s viewed as just not listening to the other side, not working with other people,” O’Laughlin said. “And I understand why they would feel that way.”But with Democratic states preparing to redistrict, she said, Republicans need to rally to protect the Trump presidency and what they view as its achievements.If Kehoe issues the call, Democrats intend to paint him as Trump’s puppet.“I don’t think anybody that I’m aware of was talking about redrawing maps in the middle of the census until Trump started pushing it,” Webber said.In a video&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/MoDemParty/status/1951026985099997331?t=HFtPO45CC7JjSZJmOXqZAA&amp;s=19" target="_blank">shared on social media</a>&nbsp;by the Missouri Democratic Party, Webber bluntly assessed the push for redistricting as a distraction from the biggest issue plaguing the president right now, the demands from his supporters to release files on child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.“This entire thing is to make sure there (are) not investigations into the Epstein files,” Webber said. “Because if you’re a pedophile that raped kids on Epstein island, the biggest winner of this would be those people.”Aune, who said Moon’s comments give her a small hope Republicans will resist Trump’s demands, said Kehoe’s actions will show who he is.“Who needs a governor,” Aune said, “and even who needs a Republican super-majority legislature, when we have daddy Trump in the White House pulling the strings?”

Missouri Senate leader says special session is ‘likely’ to redraw congressional map 

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The hatches opened between the <a href="https://twitter.com/SpaceX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpaceX</a> Dragon and the space station at 3:46am ET today and the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Crew11?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Crew11</a> quartet joined the Exp 73 crew. <a href="https://t.co/YkICXIdLU0">https://t.co/YkICXIdLU0</a> <a href="https://t.co/NfAgJrnWfD">pic.twitter.com/NfAgJrnWfD</a>&mdash; International Space Station (@Space_Station) <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station/status/1951566896987316614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After the members of Crew-11 enter the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>, the full station crew takes part in a welcome ceremony, marking the beginning of Crew-11’s mission aboard the orbital outpost. <a href="https://t.co/PL6AIpw32E">pic.twitter.com/PL6AIpw32E</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1951577761446821915?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

SpaceX: 4 astronauts arrive at the International Space Station 

GEARY COUNTY—In July, Kansas Game Wardens partnered with Kansas State Park Rangers, Public Lands officers and the Geary County Sheriff’s Office to coordinate a special enforcement selective at Milford Reservoir during an annual, unpermitted, and very large pre-planned event on the water, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.

Officers stopped 74 vessels throughout the day. They issued 28 charges, 2 warnings and made or assisted with 7 arrests. 

10 Insufficient safety equipment (PFD, fire extinguisher, navigation lights)

6 Boating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Drugs, or both

2 Interference with Law Enforcement1 PBT refusal

1 Operate above no wake speed in a no wake zone

"To those who do everything correctly, every time they are on the water, we thank you."

"We want everyone to be safe while they enjoy their time on Kansas lakes and rivers. Let this be some encouragement to make sure you have all required safety equipment before you hit the water, to care for the safety of your occupants as well as those around you, and to never operate a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. All charges are currently pending."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754079345596.png" alt="Photo KDWP Game Wardens" />
 <figcaption>Photo KDWP Game Wardens</figcaption>
 </figure>GEARY COUNTY—In July, Kansas Game Wardens partnered with Kansas State Park Rangers, Public Lands officers and the Geary County Sheriff’s Office to coordinate a special enforcement selective at Milford Reservoir during an annual, unpermitted, and very large pre-planned event on the water, according to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Game Wardens.Officers stopped 74 vessels throughout the day. They issued 28 charges, 2 warnings and made or assisted with 7 arrests. The violations they addressed:10 Insufficient safety equipment (PFD, fire extinguisher, navigation lights)6 Boating Under the Influence of Alcohol, Drugs, or both3 Negligent operation3 Expired or missing vessel registration2 Over capacity2 Interference with Law Enforcement1 PBT refusal1 Operate above no wake speed in a no wake zone1 Minor in consumption1 Criminal restraint"To those who do everything correctly, every time they are on the water, we thank you.""We want everyone to be safe while they enjoy their time on Kansas lakes and rivers. Let this be some encouragement to make sure you have all required safety equipment before you hit the water, to care for the safety of your occupants as well as those around you, and to never operate a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. All charges are currently pending."

KDWP: Multiple arrests at a large, unpermitted event on Kansas lake

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on repositioning two U.S. nuclear subs: &quot;We had to do that... A threat was made and we didn&#39;t think it was appropriate, so I have to be very careful — I do that on the basis of safety for our people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/UkMrEFHcph">https://t.co/UkMrEFHcph</a> <a href="https://t.co/IXluSTn294">pic.twitter.com/IXluSTn294</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1951391089174466687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/eaTA9I4msW">pic.twitter.com/eaTA9I4msW</a>&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteHegseth/status/1951327810884178375?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

President Trump warns Russia, repositions nuclear submarines

WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced Friday that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations following the passage of a federal rescissions package and the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations bill, which excludes funding for CPB for the first time in more than five decades, according to a statement on the organization's web site.

The organization distributed funds to National Public Radio stations and PBS television stations nationwide.

"For nearly 60 years, CPB has carried out its Congressional mission to build and sustain a trusted public media system that informs, educates, and serves communities across the country. Through partnerships with local stations and producers, CPB has supported educational content, locally relevant journalism, emergency communications, cultural programming, and essential services for Americans in every community."

“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison. “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”

CPB informed its employees Friday that the majority of staff positions will conclude with the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. A small transition team will remain through January 2026 to ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations. This team will focus on compliance, final distributions, and resolution of long-term financial obligations, including ensuring continuity for music rights and royalties that remain essential to the public media system.

“Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country,” Harrison said. “We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.”

CPB’s Board of Directors and management are working closely to address the legal, financial, and operational requirements of the closure. CPB will provide regular updates and guidance to stations and producers navigating the profound challenges ahead.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754071502049.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON, D.C.&nbsp;– The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) announced Friday that it will begin an orderly wind-down of its operations following the passage of a federal rescissions package and the release of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s FY 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-H) appropriations bill, which excludes funding for CPB for the first time in more than five decades, according to a statement on the organization's web site.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754071475812.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The organization distributed funds to National Public Radio stations and PBS television stations nationwide.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752606245570.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>"For nearly 60 years, CPB has carried out its Congressional mission to build and sustain a trusted public media system that informs, educates, and serves communities across the country. Through partnerships with local stations and producers, CPB has supported educational content, locally relevant journalism, emergency communications, cultural programming, and essential services for Americans in every community."“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” said CPB President and CEO Patricia Harrison. “CPB remains committed to fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities and supporting our partners through this transition with transparency and care.”CPB informed its employees Friday that the majority of staff positions will conclude with the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. A small transition team will remain through January 2026 to ensure a responsible and orderly closeout of operations. This team will focus on compliance, final distributions, and resolution of long-term financial obligations, including ensuring continuity for music rights and royalties that remain essential to the public media system.“Public media has been one of the most trusted institutions in American life, providing educational opportunity, emergency alerts, civil discourse, and cultural connection to every corner of the country,” Harrison said. “We are deeply grateful to our partners across the system for their resilience, leadership, and unwavering dedication to serving the American people.”CPB’s Board of Directors and management are working closely to address the legal, financial, and operational requirements of the closure. CPB will provide regular updates and guidance to stations and producers navigating the profound challenges ahead.

Corporation for Public Broadcasting, funder of NPR and PBS, to close 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754067765162.png" alt="Image of the astronauts during the launch from NASA video" />
 <figcaption>Image of the astronauts during the launch from NASA video</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">…And off they go! Crew-11 lifted off from <a href="https://twitter.com/NASAKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASAKennedy</a> at 11:43am ET (1543 UTC), headed towards the <a href="https://twitter.com/Space_Station?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Space_Station</a>. <a href="https://t.co/VmRfLrIOXC">pic.twitter.com/VmRfLrIOXC</a>&mdash; NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1951308608173437367?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Launching tomorrow: L-1. Space has been calling my name ever since I returned from my last mission in 2011. Our crew is ready. Let&#39;s do this! Go Falcon, Go Dragon, Go Crew-11! <a href="https://t.co/f91BPiZ6Lt">pic.twitter.com/f91BPiZ6Lt</a>&mdash; Col. Mike Fincke (@AstroIronMike) <a href="https://twitter.com/AstroIronMike/status/1950605368221983051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥4 Astronauts launch to the space station for 6 month mission

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Missouri woman with illegally obtaining controlled narcotics, according to the United State's Attorney

According to court documents, Brooke Haller, 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance by deception and subterfuge.

Haller, a nurse, allegedly obtained Percocet and Oxycodone through misrepresentation and fraud.

The defendant made her initial court appearance on July 25, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra is prosecuting the case

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas, returned an indictment charging a Missouri woman with illegally obtaining controlled narcotics, according to the United State's AttorneyAccording to court documents, Brooke Haller, 40, of Kansas City, Missouri, is charged with four counts of possession of a controlled substance by deception and subterfuge.Haller, a nurse, allegedly obtained Percocet and Oxycodone through misrepresentation and fraud.The defendant made her initial court appearance on July 25, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is investigating the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney Faiza Alhambra is prosecuting the case

Mo. nurse indicted for deceptively obtaining painkillers

Former President Joe Biden said Thursday that “these are dark days” in the United States, as he decries Donald Trump and his administration during a speech at the National Bar Association Convention in Chicago.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/former-president-biden-speaks-at-natl-bar-association-gala/663661">Click here to watch the full speech</a>

Former President Joe Biden said Thursday that “these are dark days” in the United States, as he decries Donald Trump and his administration during a speech at the National Bar Association Convention in Chicago.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fmr. Pres. Biden: “There are moments so stark that they divide all that came before and everything that followed. Moments that force us to confront hard truths about ourselves, our institutions and democracy itself. We are in my view at such a moment in American history.” <a href="https://t.co/SHhij2OGPg">pic.twitter.com/SHhij2OGPg</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1951094158438887817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Biden — randomly shouting — claims President Trump is working to &quot;erase&quot; everything his administration did. Correct. <a href="https://t.co/FLHk4ZWn5T">pic.twitter.com/FLHk4ZWn5T</a>&mdash; RNC Research (@RNCResearch) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1951102023853650256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Joe Biden says Trump is trying to “dismantle&quot; the Constitution. “I’m being deadly earnest, man.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/uY5sKjwAUj">pic.twitter.com/uY5sKjwAUj</a>&mdash; Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) <a href="https://twitter.com/WesternLensman/status/1951115836716150982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/former-president-biden-speaks-at-natl-bar-association-gala/663661">Click here to watch the full speech</a>

🎥Former President Biden critical of Trump admin. in new speech

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple possible charges after an incident at a Kansas City area home.

Just after 5a.m. Thursday, the&nbsp;Lake Lotawana, Missouri Police Department was dispatched to the 9500 block of S. Main Entrance Drive regarding an armed disturbance, according to a statement from the Jackson County Sheriff's office.

Upon arrival, officers spoke to an Uber driver who indicated he was called to the residence to pick up a woman and a male inside the residence was armed and would not let her leave.

Officers attempted to contact the residents, but after being unsuccessful, they requested assistance from Jackson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office. Jackson County Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence, and after announcements from the Emergency Response Team, the suspect surrendered without incident and was taken into custody. The woman was treated by EMS at the scene.

"This serves as a strong reminder of the importance of the ‘see something, say something’ principle,” said Sheriff Forté. “In this instance, we are grateful that the Uber driver was alert and observant, recognizing that something was amiss and promptly contacting law enforcement.

Thanks to their vigilance and the swift response of our team, the suspect was safely taken into custody.”

The name of the suspect is currently being withheld pending possible charges. Lake Lotawana is a city in Jackson County located 35 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1754015985106.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple possible charges after an incident at a Kansas City area home.Just after 5a.m. Thursday, the&nbsp;Lake Lotawana, Missouri Police Department was dispatched to the 9500 block of S. Main Entrance Drive regarding an armed disturbance, according to a statement from the Jackson County Sheriff's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1754015968340.jpeg" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon arrival, officers spoke to an Uber driver who indicated he was called to the residence to pick up a woman and a male inside the residence was armed and would not let her leave.Officers attempted to contact the residents, but after being unsuccessful, they requested assistance from Jackson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office. Jackson County Detectives obtained a search warrant for the residence, and after announcements from the Emergency Response Team, the suspect surrendered without incident and was taken into custody. The woman was treated by EMS at the scene."This serves as a strong reminder of the importance of the ‘see something, say something’ principle,” said Sheriff Forté. “In this instance, we are grateful that the Uber driver was alert and observant, recognizing that something was amiss and promptly contacting law enforcement.Thanks to their vigilance and the swift response of our team, the suspect was safely taken into custody.”The name of the suspect is currently being withheld pending possible charges. Lake Lotawana is a city in Jackson County located 35 miles southeast of downtown Kansas City.

Alert Uber driver's report helps save KC woman from violence

Click below to watch President Trump comment on Chiefs' kicker Harrison Butker.

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;I&#39;m pleased to announce that we&#39;re officially restoring the Presidential Fitness Test and the Presidential Fitness Award.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/QOE5w6trr0">pic.twitter.com/QOE5w6trr0</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1951019288980013239?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/buttkicker7?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@buttkicker7</a>: &quot;I&#39;m excited to do my part to help make America healthy again — to help our youth be healthy and thrive and grow up and be great citizens of this country, be great family members ... I think you have to be strong in mind, in body, and soul.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/xHuUM6f1EA">pic.twitter.com/xHuUM6f1EA</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1951021058695270699?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Click below to watch President Trump comment on Chiefs' kicker Harrison Butker.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Trump to Harrison Butker: You&#39;re a handsome guy, by the way. It&#39;s usually not my thing, but he is a good-looking sucker WTF was that??? <a href="https://t.co/5KnQWXeiVi">pic.twitter.com/5KnQWXeiVi</a>&mdash; Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1951032656017134072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President&#39;s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition Chair Bryson DeChambeau (<a href="https://twitter.com/brysondech?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@brysondech</a>): &quot;We&#39;ve got a great established council with us that we believe that we can change the fabric of our communities and kid&#39;s livelihoods for the future generations that are to come.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/QofssXo2u0">pic.twitter.com/QofssXo2u0</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1951020039655625186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a> on the Presidential Fitness Test: &quot;We need to re-instill that spirit of competition and that commitment to nutrition and physical fitness — and I&#39;m so grateful to <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> for your leadership in bringing this back for our country.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/f0KOxlwsdJ">pic.twitter.com/f0KOxlwsdJ</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1951020726292545607?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Paul &quot;Triple H&quot; Levesque: &quot;I truly appreciate all that everybody is doing for the health and wellness for the entire country... I look forward to the opportunity to help make our youth healthy—help get them engaged in sports and let them learn what it takes to be successful in… <a href="https://t.co/Nw8vPXb05W">pic.twitter.com/Nw8vPXb05W</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1951020063500144962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 President Trump compliments Chiefs' Butker during  White House event

KANSAS CITY—A driver injured in a crash that occurred July 10 in Kansas City has died.

A Subaru Forrester was northbound on Eastern Avenue and entered the intersection at Blue Ridge Boulevard from a stop sign and struck a southbound Dodge Dakota, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

The impact caused the Dodge to rotate, striking the curb and a metal light pole before overturning.&nbsp;The front seat passenger of the Dodge was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Dodge was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and was pronounced deceased on Thursday afternoon, according to DiMartino.

The driver and rear seat juvenile passenger of the Subaru were uninjured in the collision.&nbsp; The occupants of the pickup were not wearing seat belts, according to DiMartino.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released the names of the victims.

KANSAS CITY—A driver injured in a crash that occurred July 10 in Kansas City has died.A Subaru Forrester was northbound on Eastern Avenue and entered the intersection at Blue Ridge Boulevard from a stop sign and struck a southbound Dodge Dakota, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.The impact caused the Dodge to rotate, striking the curb and a metal light pole before overturning.&nbsp;The front seat passenger of the Dodge was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the Dodge was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries and was pronounced deceased on Thursday afternoon, according to DiMartino.The driver and rear seat juvenile passenger of the Subaru were uninjured in the collision.&nbsp; The occupants of the pickup were not wearing seat belts, according to DiMartino.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released the names of the victims.

Driver dies 3 weeks after pickup, SUV crash in Kansas City

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City woman has been charged in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred earlier this year.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2678/Anderson-Caitlin---Warrant-Packet-redacted">Caitlin L. Anderson</a>, 32,&nbsp;faces one count of 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2679/Anderson-Caitlin---Probable-Cause_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to a residence in south Kansas City on Feb. 21 on a medical call. Upon arrival, they located the victim deceased. A later autopsy determined the cause of death was combined fentanyl and ethanol use.&nbsp;

Detectives recovered the victim’s cell phone and text messages between Anderson and the victim discussing drug sales. The victim had purchased fentanyl from Anderson two weeks before his death and overdosed. The victim purchased fentanyl from Anderson again on Feb. 21 and overdosed shortly after their meeting.&nbsp;

In a text message to the victim, just two and a half hours before he was declared deceased, Anderson asked him to delete their conversation.&nbsp;

During an interview with detectives, Anderson admitted to selling the victim the fentanyl on both occasions.&nbsp; She is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753135686290.png" alt="Anderson Photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Anderson Photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City woman has been charged in connection with a fatal fentanyl overdose that occurred earlier this year.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2678/Anderson-Caitlin---Warrant-Packet-redacted">Caitlin L. Anderson</a>, 32,&nbsp;faces one count of 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2679/Anderson-Caitlin---Probable-Cause_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police were dispatched to a residence in south Kansas City on Feb. 21 on a medical call. Upon arrival, they located the victim deceased. A later autopsy determined the cause of death was combined fentanyl and ethanol use.&nbsp;Detectives recovered the victim’s cell phone and text messages between Anderson and the victim discussing drug sales. The victim had purchased fentanyl from Anderson two weeks before his death and overdosed. The victim purchased fentanyl from Anderson again on Feb. 21 and overdosed shortly after their meeting.&nbsp;In a text message to the victim, just two and a half hours before he was declared deceased, Anderson asked him to delete their conversation.&nbsp;During an interview with detectives, Anderson admitted to selling the victim the fentanyl on both occasions.&nbsp; She is being held on a $100,000 cash bond.

KC fentanyl dealer tried to hide text message before deadly overdose

Washington, D.C.&nbsp;— For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. 

President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people.

The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance. 

The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of innately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.

In recent weeks, President Trump has held several meetings with members of the White House Staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office, and the United States Secret Service to discuss design features and planning.&nbsp;President Trump has chosen McCrery Architects as lead architect, which is well-known for their classical architectural design and based in our nation’s capital. 

CEO Jim McCrery said: “Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman. I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance.”

The construction team will be headed by Clark Construction, and the engineering team will be led by AECOM.&nbsp;The project will begin in September 2025, and it is expected to be completed long before the end of President Trump’s term.&nbsp;

President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure. The United States Secret Service will provide the necessary security enhancements and modifications.&nbsp;

The White House Ballroom will be substantially separated from the main building of the White House, but at the same time, it’s theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical. The site of the new ballroom will be where the small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing currently sits. 

The East Wing was constructed in 1902 and has been renovated and changed many times, with a second story added in 1942.

&nbsp;The White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said the following: “President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail. The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come.”&nbsp;

Washington, D.C.&nbsp;— For 150 years, Presidents, Administrations, and White House Staff have longed for a large event space on the White House complex that can hold substantially more guests than currently allowed. <div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PressSec</a>: &quot;We are proud to announce the construction of the new White House ballroom will begin...The White House state ballroom will be a much needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Zm548HUNMc">pic.twitter.com/Zm548HUNMc</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1950985304199901450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The White House will continue to provide the American public with updates on this project. Check out the renderings below ⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/NSILmJDkNi">pic.twitter.com/NSILmJDkNi</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1950988231945629824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>President Donald J. Trump has expressed his commitment to solving this problem on behalf of future Administrations and the American people.The White House is one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in the world, yet the White House is currently unable to host major functions honoring world leaders and other countries without having to install a large and unsightly tent approximately 100 yards away from the main building entrance. The White House State Ballroom will be a much-needed and exquisite addition of approximately 90,000 total square feet of innately designed and carefully crafted space, with a seated capacity of 650 people — a significant increase from the 200-person seated capacity in the East Room of the White House.In recent weeks, President Trump has held several meetings with members of the White House Staff, the National Park Service, the White House Military Office, and the United States Secret Service to discuss design features and planning.&nbsp;President Trump has chosen McCrery Architects as lead architect, which is well-known for their classical architectural design and based in our nation’s capital. CEO Jim McCrery said: “Presidents in the modern era have faced challenges hosting major events at the White House because it has been untouched since President Harry Truman. I am honored that President Trump has entrusted me to help bring this beautiful and necessary renovation to The People’s House, while preserving the elegance of its classical design and historical importance.”The construction team will be headed by Clark Construction, and the engineering team will be led by AECOM.&nbsp;The project will begin in September 2025, and it is expected to be completed long before the end of President Trump’s term.&nbsp;President Trump, and other patriot donors, have generously committed to donating the funds necessary to build this approximately $200 million dollar structure. The United States Secret Service will provide the necessary security enhancements and modifications.&nbsp;The White House Ballroom will be substantially separated from the main building of the White House, but at the same time, it’s theme and architectural heritage will be almost identical. The site of the new ballroom will be where the small, heavily changed, and reconstructed East Wing currently sits. The East Wing was constructed in 1902 and has been renovated and changed many times, with a second story added in 1942.&nbsp;The White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles said the following: “President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail. The President and the Trump White House are fully committed to working with the appropriate organizations to preserving the special history of the White House while building a beautiful ballroom that can be enjoyed by future Administrations and generations of Americans to come.”&nbsp;

See images of White House plans for new $200M ballroom

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>

The possibility of a “whites-only” organization from Arkansas expanding into Missouri has&nbsp;inspired bipartisan outrage from state lawmakers and local officials who decry the group as&nbsp;racist and antisemitic.&nbsp;

The private membership association, called Return to the Land, owns 160 acres in northeast Arkansas, according to its website. Jews and non-whites are explicitly banned from membership.&nbsp;

The group’s leader recently said it is exploring the idea of expanding north and building a new enclave in the Springfield area.&nbsp;

“We have the God-given right to form communities according to whatever values we hold dear,” Eric Orwoll, co-founder of Return to the Land, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Aarvoll_/status/1949540130198638723" target="_blank">recent social media post</a>, “and the government does not have the right to tell free American citizens what values they have to live according to in their own private lives.”

The idea of a segregated community coming to southwest Missouri was greeted with scorn by both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders from the area.&nbsp;

“Racism in any form is evil and reprehensible,” said House Majority Leader Alex Riley, a Springfield Republican. “Groups engaging in racist conduct are not welcome in Springfield.”

State Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Springfield Democrat, said history has been “very clear on what happens when you stay silent as groups discriminate based on race and discriminate based on whether or not someone is of the Jewish faith. I cannot believe that in 2025 we are retreading this ground.”

In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said racial discrimination “has no place in Missouri.”

“Attorney General Bailey is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens,” the statement said. “The landmark Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer, which originated in St. Louis, made clear that government cannot enforce racially discriminatory housing practices, and Missouri will not tolerate efforts to revive them.”

The Springfield City Council and City Manager David Cameron&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/100064468883501/posts/pfbid02SmVM27qBRFuJSr1wFZvhXBduySM9En7AabQsrdX7Th5gg7cLpmiHt4zeYqhLGpGXl/?app=fbl" target="_blank">issued a joint statement this week</a>&nbsp;declaring that “there is no place in Springfield, or anywhere, for such a divisive and discriminatory vision.”

“While it is improbable that such a project could legally or practically occur within city limits, silence is not an option,” the statement said. “As a regional leader, we will not stand idly by in the face of attempts to revive outdated, harmful ideologies.”

On its website, Return to the Land its mission is to “separate ourselves from a failing modern society, and we will make positive cultural changes in ourselves and in our ancestral communities.”

It also includes a disclaimer that the group does not engage in the sale or rental of real estate.

Orwoll responded to criticism from Springfield elected officials in his social media post, denying that excluding people of color and Jews should be considered racist.&nbsp;

“We are not a hate group,” he said. “We have never expressed hate towards any ethnic group, racial group or religious group.”

He took umbrage with Fogle calling the group racist, saying: “She wants to call us racists because we prefer being among our own people.”

“It’s not a supremacist group. It’s not a hate group. It’s not even a white nationalist group,” he said. “We are white identitarians. We value our identity and want to preserve it. That’s not hate. That is love for your own people.”

Fogle, who was among the first public officials to condemn Return to the Land’s possible expansion to Missouri, said she has been inundated with “pretty horrific messages and pretty horrific responses” on social media.&nbsp;

But she said she has no intention of being silent.&nbsp;

“It’s my job to make sure I’m using my platform to communicate that there’s no place in Springfield, no place in Missouri, no place in this country for a group who is intentionally leaving behind people who have a different skin color or intentionally leaving behind people of the Jewish faith,” she said. “And I would expect every elected official at every level to use their platform to see the same things.”

Across the state line, the group also drew the ire of Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.&nbsp;

The Republican announced his office would open an investigation of the group to ensure its activities didn’t violate state or federal law. That probe, Griffin said in an email to The Independent, has not turned up any illegal activity.&nbsp;

“Racism has no place in a free society,” he said, “but from a legal perspective, we have not seen anything that would indicate any state or federal laws have been broken.”

This story was updated after publication with a quote from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753984763727.png" alt="House Majority Leader Alex Riley speaks April 10 at a news conference in the Missouri House (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption>House Majority Leader Alex Riley speaks April 10 at a news conference in the Missouri House (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>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>The possibility of a “whites-only” organization from Arkansas expanding into Missouri has&nbsp;inspired bipartisan outrage from state lawmakers and local officials who decry the group as&nbsp;racist and antisemitic.&nbsp;The private membership association, called Return to the Land, owns 160 acres in northeast Arkansas, according to its website. Jews and non-whites are explicitly banned from membership.&nbsp;The group’s leader recently said it is exploring the idea of expanding north and building a new enclave in the Springfield area.&nbsp;“We have the God-given right to form communities according to whatever values we hold dear,” Eric Orwoll, co-founder of Return to the Land, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Aarvoll_/status/1949540130198638723" target="_blank">recent social media post</a>, “and the government does not have the right to tell free American citizens what values they have to live according to in their own private lives.”The idea of a segregated community coming to southwest Missouri was greeted with scorn by both Democratic and Republican legislative leaders from the area.&nbsp;“Racism in any form is evil and reprehensible,” said House Majority Leader Alex Riley, a Springfield Republican. “Groups engaging in racist conduct are not welcome in Springfield.”State Rep. Betsy Fogle, a Springfield Democrat, said history has been “very clear on what happens when you stay silent as groups discriminate based on race and discriminate based on whether or not someone is of the Jewish faith. I cannot believe that in 2025 we are retreading this ground.”In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey said racial discrimination “has no place in Missouri.”“Attorney General Bailey is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens,” the statement said. “The landmark Supreme Court case Shelley v. Kraemer, which originated in St. Louis, made clear that government cannot enforce racially discriminatory housing practices, and Missouri will not tolerate efforts to revive them.”The Springfield City Council and City Manager David Cameron&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/100064468883501/posts/pfbid02SmVM27qBRFuJSr1wFZvhXBduySM9En7AabQsrdX7Th5gg7cLpmiHt4zeYqhLGpGXl/?app=fbl" target="_blank">issued a joint statement this week</a>&nbsp;declaring that “there is no place in Springfield, or anywhere, for such a divisive and discriminatory vision.”“While it is improbable that such a project could legally or practically occur within city limits, silence is not an option,” the statement said. “As a regional leader, we will not stand idly by in the face of attempts to revive outdated, harmful ideologies.”On its website, Return to the Land its mission is to “separate ourselves from a failing modern society, and we will make positive cultural changes in ourselves and in our ancestral communities.”It also includes a disclaimer that the group does not engage in the sale or rental of real estate.Orwoll responded to criticism from Springfield elected officials in his social media post, denying that excluding people of color and Jews should be considered racist.&nbsp;“We are not a hate group,” he said. “We have never expressed hate towards any ethnic group, racial group or religious group.”He took umbrage with Fogle calling the group racist, saying: “She wants to call us racists because we prefer being among our own people.”“It’s not a supremacist group. It’s not a hate group. It’s not even a white nationalist group,” he said. “We are white identitarians. We value our identity and want to preserve it. That’s not hate. That is love for your own people.”Fogle, who was among the first public officials to condemn Return to the Land’s possible expansion to Missouri, said she has been inundated with “pretty horrific messages and pretty horrific responses” on social media.&nbsp;But she said she has no intention of being silent.&nbsp;“It’s my job to make sure I’m using my platform to communicate that there’s no place in Springfield, no place in Missouri, no place in this country for a group who is intentionally leaving behind people who have a different skin color or intentionally leaving behind people of the Jewish faith,” she said. “And I would expect every elected official at every level to use their platform to see the same things.”Across the state line, the group also drew the ire of Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin.&nbsp;The Republican announced his office would open an investigation of the group to ensure its activities didn’t violate state or federal law. That probe, Griffin said in an email to The Independent, has not turned up any illegal activity.&nbsp;“Racism has no place in a free society,” he said, “but from a legal perspective, we have not seen anything that would indicate any state or federal laws have been broken.”This story was updated after publication with a quote from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.&nbsp;

‘Whites-only’ group draws bipartisan rebuke over potential move to Missouri 

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a late-night traffic stop.

Around midnight July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 Highway near Columbine Drive on a 2009 Chevy Traverse for multiple alleged traffic infractions, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The traffic stop led to the discovery of illegal drug contraband.  The driver, Darrell Wayne Ralls, 65, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a stolen firearm and criminal use of weapons; possession of firearm by person addicted to or use controlled substance. 

 The passenger, Heather Michelle Ralls, 52, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753727706036.png" alt="Ralls photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ralls photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a late-night traffic stop.Around midnight July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on U.S. 75 Highway near Columbine Drive on a 2009 Chevy Traverse for multiple alleged traffic infractions, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753727673854.png" alt="Ralls photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ralls photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> The traffic stop led to the discovery of illegal drug contraband. The driver, Darrell Wayne Ralls, 65, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a stolen firearm and criminal use of weapons; possession of firearm by person addicted to or use controlled substance. The passenger, Heather Michelle Ralls, 52, of Topeka was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a hallucinogenic drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kan. couple caught with meth, stolen firearm

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. —One person died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Jackson County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Toyota Scion driven by a 55-year-old Blue Springs woman was eastbound on Interstate 70 near Oak Grove. The vehicle struck an eastbound 2022 Dodge Ram driven by a 58-year-old Mexico, Missouri, woman.&nbsp; After impact the Toyota traveled off the road, overturned and the driver was ejected.&nbsp; She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Central Jackson County EMS transported two 15-year-old girls in the Toyota to Centerpoint Medical Center.&nbsp; There were no other injuries. The occupants of the Toyota were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. —One person died in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Jackson County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Toyota Scion driven by a 55-year-old Blue Springs woman was eastbound on Interstate 70 near Oak Grove. The vehicle struck an eastbound 2022 Dodge Ram driven by a 58-year-old Mexico, Missouri, woman.&nbsp; After impact the Toyota traveled off the road, overturned and the driver was ejected.&nbsp; She was pronounced dead at the scene.Central Jackson County EMS transported two 15-year-old girls in the Toyota to Centerpoint Medical Center.&nbsp; There were no other injuries. The occupants of the Toyota were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. woman killed, teen passengers injured after I-70 crash

NEOSHO COUNTY&nbsp;–The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Neosho County Sherriff’s Office arrested an Erie, Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes, according to a media release from the KBI.

Just after 7:30a.m. on Wednesday, KBI agents and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office arrested 42-year-old registered sex offender Peter Hawkinson, of Erie.

 Hawkinson was arrested on requested charges that include 24 counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of violating Kansas offender registration after a search warrant was conducted at 22030 Ottawa Road in Erie.

The KBI Child Victims Unit began investigating after a cyber-tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in May.

Hawkinson has been listed as a Registered Sex Offender since April of 2016 for two aggravated indecent solicitation of a child convictions, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Following the arrest, Hawkinson was booked into the Neosho County Jail.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The case is expected to be prosecuted by the Neosho County Attorney’s Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753912125686.png" alt="Hawkinson has been listed as a Registered Sex Offender since 2016- photo Neosho Co." />
 <figcaption>Hawkinson has been listed as a Registered Sex Offender since 2016- photo Neosho Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>NEOSHO COUNTY&nbsp;–The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Neosho County Sherriff’s Office arrested an Erie, Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes, according to a media release from the KBI.Just after 7:30a.m. on Wednesday, KBI agents and the Neosho County Sheriff’s Office arrested 42-year-old registered sex offender Peter Hawkinson, of Erie. Hawkinson was arrested on requested charges that include 24 counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of violating Kansas offender registration after a search warrant was conducted at 22030 Ottawa Road in Erie.The KBI Child Victims Unit began investigating after a cyber-tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in May.Hawkinson has been listed as a Registered Sex Offender since April of 2016 for two aggravated indecent solicitation of a child convictions, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.Following the arrest, Hawkinson was booked into the Neosho County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;The case is expected to be prosecuted by the Neosho County Attorney’s Office.

Kan. sex offender accused of new child sex crimes

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement have a suspect in custody after a 7-hour standoff.

Just before 2a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a disturbance in the 1100 Block of Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.&nbsp; Police arrived and the victims reported a suspect fired a gun at them as they were walking their dog down the sidewalk.

The suspect then ran back into the building and barricaded himself in his apartment when officers attempted to talk to him. Just before 9a.m. Wednesday, police took him into custody. Police have not released his name or possible charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753922133036.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement have a suspect in custody after a 7-hour standoff.Just before 2a.m. Wednesday, police responded to a disturbance in the 1100 Block of Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.&nbsp; Police arrived and the victims reported a suspect fired a gun at them as they were walking their dog down the sidewalk. The suspect then ran back into the building and barricaded himself in his apartment when officers attempted to talk to him. Just before 9a.m. Wednesday, police took him into custody. Police have not released his name or possible charges.

7-hour Kan. standoff after shooting at victim walking a dog

LOWELL, Ark. — Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) have arrested James Andrew McGann, 28, of Springdale, in connection to a&nbsp;double homicide that occurred on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Devil’s Den State Park, according to a media release from the agency.

McGann was taken into custody at 4:57 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at a business in Springdale. He was charged with two counts of Capital Murder.

Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were fatally attacked while hiking with their two daughters. The girls, who are 7 and 9, were not injured and are safe with family members.

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released the following: “No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family in last weekend’s crime, but this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our State. I am so proud of the Arkansas State Police, Park Rangers, local law enforcement, and others who have worked nonstop since last weekend to&nbsp;capture this suspect. I ask that Arkansans lift up prayers of thanks for the brave men and women of law enforcement – and offer prayers of condolence to the victims of this horrific crime. Let there be no mistake&nbsp;– we do not tolerate violent crime in Arkansas. If you target innocent people, law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice.”

ASP Col. Mike Hagar added, “I’m extremely grateful for the long hours and dedication that our Agents put forward in bringing justice to this family. The collaboration between State Police, other state and local law enforcement agencies, and our federal partners has been second to none. Because of their hard work and investigative skill, we were able to take a monster off the streets, and bring relief to those two precious girls, and the rest of our citizens.”Additional details will be released as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753957733622.png" alt="McGann photo Arkansas State Police" />
 <figcaption>McGann photo Arkansas State Police</figcaption>
 </figure>LOWELL, Ark. — Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) have arrested James Andrew McGann, 28, of Springdale, in connection to a&nbsp;double homicide that occurred on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Devil’s Den State Park, according to a media release from the agency.McGann was taken into custody at 4:57 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, at a business in Springdale. He was charged with two counts of Capital Murder.Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, were fatally attacked while hiking with their two daughters. The girls, who are 7 and 9, were not injured and are safe with family members.Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders released the following: “No news can heal the enormous harm done to the Brink family in last weekend’s crime, but this announcement is a comfort and reassurance for our State. I am so proud of the Arkansas State Police, Park Rangers, local law enforcement, and others who have worked nonstop since last weekend to&nbsp;capture this suspect. I ask that Arkansans lift up prayers of thanks for the brave men and women of law enforcement – and offer prayers of condolence to the victims of this horrific crime. Let there be no mistake&nbsp;– we do not tolerate violent crime in Arkansas. If you target innocent people, law enforcement will hunt you down and bring you to justice.”ASP Col. Mike Hagar added, “I’m extremely grateful for the long hours and dedication that our Agents put forward in bringing justice to this family. The collaboration between State Police, other state and local law enforcement agencies, and our federal partners has been second to none. Because of their hard work and investigative skill, we were able to take a monster off the streets, and bring relief to those two precious girls, and the rest of our citizens.”Additional details will be released as they become available.

Suspect arrested in killings of couple hiking with daughters in Arkansas

TOPEKA — Kansas officials stood firm against a July 30 deadline set by the federal government to turn over the personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients.

In a press release Wednesday afternoon, the Department for Children and Families said releasing the requested data could open DCF to liability, depending on the outcome of a lawsuit filed by multiple states.

This is the<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/22/kansas-denies-usda-request-for-personal-data-of-residents-receiving-food-assistance/">&nbsp;second time Kansas has refused</a>&nbsp;to turn over data requested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;

The lawsuit, in which Kansas is not a party, asks the courts to stop the USDA from forcing states to turn over the data, the press release said.&nbsp;

The data includes sensitive personal information about Kansans who lived in households that applied for or received SNAP benefits from Jan. 1, 2020, to July 30, 2025. It includes Social Security numbers, dates of birth and addresses, as well as retailer and business data documenting SNAP usage, the press release said.&nbsp;

“The purpose of the USDA demand is to create a federal database of SNAP participant information that may be disclosed to other federal, state and local agencies,” the release said.

In a letter to Gina Brand, USDA senior policy advisor for integrity, Kansas DCF Secretary Laura Howard said the USDA’s plan to share the data with other agencies to investigate and prosecute violations of the law was part of the reason she would not turn over the data until the lawsuit is resolved.&nbsp;

“The suit argues that the demands for state-held SNAP data is contrary to statute and the Constitution,” Howard said. “Due to the pending litigation, we are forced to deny the USDA’s demand for data at this time. Doing the opposite will place KDCF in a position of potential liability in the event a court finds that the USDA’s demand violates federal law.”

In addition, Howard said the process to gather the requested data would require “significant” time, manpower and expense, and the short July 30 deadline was unreasonable.&nbsp;

“DCF is committed to the security of Kansans’ personal information and maintaining confidentiality consistent with state and federal law,” Howard said in the press release. “This demand for personal information goes beyond the scope of administering the program and puts in jeopardy the privacy of hundreds of thousands of Kansans who depend on SNAP to put food on their tables.”&nbsp;

Howard said DCF will monitor the pending litigation and may re-evaluate its position.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753921871201.png" alt="Copy of the letter sent to USDA" />
 <figcaption>Copy of the letter sent to USDA</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — Kansas officials stood firm against a July 30 deadline set by the federal government to turn over the personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753921826184.png" alt=" Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard denied the U.S. Department of Agriculture's request for personal information of Kansas food program recipients. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard denied the U.S. Department of Agriculture's request for personal information of Kansas food program recipients. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>In a press release Wednesday afternoon, the Department for Children and Families said releasing the requested data could open DCF to liability, depending on the outcome of a lawsuit filed by multiple states.This is the<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/22/kansas-denies-usda-request-for-personal-data-of-residents-receiving-food-assistance/">&nbsp;second time Kansas has refused</a>&nbsp;to turn over data requested by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.&nbsp;The lawsuit, in which Kansas is not a party, asks the courts to stop the USDA from forcing states to turn over the data, the press release said.&nbsp;The data includes sensitive personal information about Kansans who lived in households that applied for or received SNAP benefits from Jan. 1, 2020, to July 30, 2025. It includes Social Security numbers, dates of birth and addresses, as well as retailer and business data documenting SNAP usage, the press release said.&nbsp;“The purpose of the USDA demand is to create a federal database of SNAP participant information that may be disclosed to other federal, state and local agencies,” the release said.In a letter to Gina Brand, USDA senior policy advisor for integrity, Kansas DCF Secretary Laura Howard said the USDA’s plan to share the data with other agencies to investigate and prosecute violations of the law was part of the reason she would not turn over the data until the lawsuit is resolved.&nbsp;“The suit argues that the demands for state-held SNAP data is contrary to statute and the Constitution,” Howard said. “Due to the pending litigation, we are forced to deny the USDA’s demand for data at this time. Doing the opposite will place KDCF in a position of potential liability in the event a court finds that the USDA’s demand violates federal law.”In addition, Howard said the process to gather the requested data would require “significant” time, manpower and expense, and the short July 30 deadline was unreasonable.&nbsp;“DCF is committed to the security of Kansans’ personal information and maintaining confidentiality consistent with state and federal law,” Howard said in the press release. “This demand for personal information goes beyond the scope of administering the program and puts in jeopardy the privacy of hundreds of thousands of Kansans who depend on SNAP to put food on their tables.”&nbsp;Howard said DCF will monitor the pending litigation and may re-evaluate its position.&nbsp;

State officials again refuse to release Kansans’ personal data to USDA

BENTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Wednesday in Benton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ford F450 driven by a 44-year-old Carrollton man was northbound on Route H south of Black Oak Church Road.&nbsp; The truck crossed the center of the road and struck a 2013 Ford Edge driven by a Lincoln, Missouri, woman.

The 44-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Fox Funeral Home. EMS transported the truck driver and an 11-year-old female passenger from the car to Bothwell Regional Health Center. None of those involved were wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

BENTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Wednesday in Benton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ford F450 driven by a 44-year-old Carrollton man was northbound on Route H south of Black Oak Church Road.&nbsp; The truck crossed the center of the road and struck a 2013 Ford Edge driven by a Lincoln, Missouri, woman.The 44-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Fox Funeral Home. EMS transported the truck driver and an 11-year-old female passenger from the car to Bothwell Regional Health Center. None of those involved were wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.