SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement investigating a fatal gun fight have two suspects in custody in connection with the crime and are asking the public for help to locate a third.

The Wichita Police Department is asking for information on the whereabouts of 20-year-old Jerry Johnson. On Friday, Johnson was charged by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office in reference to his involvement to a homicide that occurred on February 11.

Just before 6p.m. Feb. 11, police responded to reports of a shooting in the 1200 block of S. Bleckley in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesperson Brad Wright.

Officers arrived at the scene and found 23-year-old Manuel Roach with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Preliminary investigation indicates that a disturbance occurred involving Roach and three unidentified males dressed in all black. Following the incident, the suspects departed the scene in a white SUV before law enforcement arrival. The exact circumstances that led up to the shooting are still under investigation, according to Wright. Police do believe this was a targeted incident between individuals known to each other.

An 18-year-old identified as Sergio Clement arrived at a local hospital with a single gunshot wound to his lower extremity. Through the investigation, it was discovered that Clement and 21-year-old Alan Griffin, Jr. were involved in the fatal shooting of Roach. As a result, both were arrested and booked into Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;

Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact investigators at 316-268-4407, Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111, or See Something Say Something at 316-519-2282.

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement investigating a fatal gun fight have two suspects in custody in connection with the crime and are asking the public for help to locate a third.The Wichita Police Department is asking for information on the whereabouts of 20-year-old Jerry Johnson. On Friday, Johnson was charged by the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office in reference to his involvement to a homicide that occurred on February 11.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739989718610.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 6p.m. Feb. 11, police responded to reports of a shooting in the 1200 block of S. Bleckley in Wichita, according to Police Department spokesperson Brad Wright.Officers arrived at the scene and found 23-year-old Manuel Roach with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates that a disturbance occurred involving Roach and three unidentified males dressed in all black. Following the incident, the suspects departed the scene in a white SUV before law enforcement arrival. The exact circumstances that led up to the shooting are still under investigation, according to Wright. Police do believe this was a targeted incident between individuals known to each other.An 18-year-old identified as Sergio Clement arrived at a local hospital with a single gunshot wound to his lower extremity. Through the investigation, it was discovered that Clement and 21-year-old Alan Griffin, Jr. were involved in the fatal shooting of Roach. As a result, both were arrested and booked into Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact investigators at 316-268-4407, Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111, or See Something Say Something at 316-519-2282.

Police ask for help to locate Kansas murder suspect

DICKINSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Wednesday in Dickinson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Freightliner 206 driven by&nbsp; Marlon A.&nbsp;Castro Montes De Oca, 25, Portland, Oregon, was&nbsp;eastbound on Kansas 18 three and one half miles east of the K18/K15 East Junction.

The truck veered off the right shoulder and came to rest in a river embankment.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver to Salina Regional Medical Center. The KHP did not have seat belt usage details

DICKINSON COUNTY —While the snow has moved on, icy spots remain, and we’re still responding to crashes caused by slick conditions.

On Wednesday morning on&nbsp; Kansas Highway 18 near Paint Road in Dickinson County, KHP troopers and Dickinson County deputies responded to a single-vehicle injury crash, according to Trooper Ben Gardner.

A box truck left the highway, traveled into the south ditch, and ended up along a river embankment. The driver was transported to a Salina hospital with injuries, and troopers are following up to gather more details.

Even when the road looks clear, hidden icy patches can cause your vehicle to shift unexpectedly—before you know it, you’re just along for the ride.

Slow down. Stay alert. Adjust your driving well in advance for icy spots, drifting snow, debris, or slowed traffic.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739990527316.png" alt="Photos KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photos KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>DICKINSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Wednesday in Dickinson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Freightliner 206 driven by&nbsp; Marlon A.&nbsp;Castro Montes De Oca, 25, Portland, Oregon, was&nbsp;eastbound on Kansas 18 three and one half miles east of the K18/K15 East Junction.The truck veered off the right shoulder and came to rest in a river embankment.&nbsp; EMS transported the driver to Salina Regional Medical Center. The KHP did not have seat belt usage details--------------DICKINSON COUNTY —While the snow has moved on, icy spots remain, and we’re still responding to crashes caused by slick conditions.On Wednesday morning on&nbsp; Kansas Highway 18 near Paint Road in Dickinson County, KHP troopers and Dickinson County deputies responded to a single-vehicle injury crash, according to Trooper Ben Gardner.A box truck left the highway, traveled into the south ditch, and ended up along a river embankment. The driver was transported to a Salina hospital with injuries, and troopers are following up to gather more details.Even when the road looks clear, hidden icy patches can cause your vehicle to shift unexpectedly—before you know it, you’re just along for the ride.Slow down. Stay alert. Adjust your driving well in advance for icy spots, drifting snow, debris, or slowed traffic.Check the Post for additional details as they become available.&nbsp;

Driver injured after truck slides, lands in Kan. river embankment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is giving America’s schools and universities two weeks to eliminate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-critical-race-theory-antisemitism-college-protests-18136b8c8f5adb9c75c47907e020268a">diversity initiatives</a>&nbsp;or risk losing federal money, raising the stakes in the president’s fight against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-woke-education-24f864d83e2f5745d12a79ebac0d7cc4">“wokeness”</a>&nbsp;and sowing confusion as schools scramble to comply.

In a memo Friday, the Education Department gave an ultimatum to stop using “racial preferences” as a factor in admissions, financial aid, hiring or other areas. Schools are being given 14 days to end any practice that treats students or workers differently because of their race.

Educators at colleges nationwide were rushing to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-dei-college-university-9f26a51617744de5c3f929a293027758">evaluate their risk</a>&nbsp;and decide whether to stand up for practices they believe are legal. The sweeping demand threatens to upend all aspects of campus operations, from essays on college applications to classroom lessons and campus clubs.

It’s meant to correct what the memo described as rampant discrimination in education, often against white and Asian students.

“Schools have been operating on the pretext that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar euphemisms is not selecting them based on race,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights. “No longer. Students should be assessed according to merit, accomplishment and character.”

The guidance drew sharp backlash from civil rights groups and university groups. Some believe its vague language is meant to have a chilling effect, pressuring schools to eliminate anything touching on the topic of race even if it may be defensible in court.

“Creating a sense of risk around doing work that might promote diverse and welcoming campuses is much more of the goal than a clear statement of existing law,” said Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents.

The memo is an extension of President Donald Trump’s executive order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-dei-7ef0bf4ce1d465f6b61f3fcfde544593">banning diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;programs. It reflects a change in the federal government’s interpretation of antidiscrimination laws. As legal justification, it cites the 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-affirmative-action-college-race-f83d6318017ec9b9029b12ee2256e744#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Supreme,to%20achieve%20diverse%20student%20bodies.">Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;barring race as a factor in college admissions.

“Put simply, educational institutions may neither separate or segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race,” it said.

On Monday the Education Department announced it also cut $600 million in grants for organizations that train teachers. The programs promoted “divisive” concepts like DEI, critical race theory and social justice activism, the department said.

The new guidance seeks to remove race from areas including financial aid, housing, graduation ceremonies, hiring and promotion. It takes aim directly at college admissions, suggesting colleges have sought to work around the Supreme Court's decision.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-application-affirmative-action-f0c006a6210ab244c1b6b4c2b1926b6d">College essays</a>, for instance, cannot be used to predict a student's race, the guidance says. In the Supreme Court decision, Chief Justice John Roberts said nothing prevents colleges “from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life,” though he warned that colleges couldn’t use essays as an indirect workaround to consider students’ race.

The memo also said it's unlawful for colleges to eliminate standardized testing requirements “to achieve a desired racial balance or to increase racial diversity.” Dozens of colleges across the U.S. have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/standardized-testing">dropped SAT and ACT requirements</a>&nbsp;in recent years, citing concerns the exams favor students from high-income families.

Practices that have long been commonplace could become legal liabilities, including recruiting in underrepresented areas or buying lists of potential students with certain academic and demographic information, said Angel B. Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

“Colleges and universities are going to find themselves between a rock and a hard place,” Pérez said. “They know that what they’re doing is not illegal, but they are worried that if they do not comply, not having federal funding will decimate them.”

Some universities they expect little change. At Oregon State University, a legal review concluded that its programs “are fully compliant with all state and federal laws,” according to a campus message from Rob Odom, vice president of university relations and marketing.

The department memo appears to take aim at scholarships for students from certain racial backgrounds. There’s been legal debate about whether the Supreme Court decision extends to financial aid, with some schools and institutions deciding to scrap racial requirements for some scholarships.

The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators said there’s no consensus on the question, and the group is trying to understand how the memo could affect student aid.

“The last thing students need when making plans about how to pay for college is uncertainty over when or whether they will receive financial aid they’ve been relying on,” the group said in a statement.

The confusion around Trump's order was apparent at last week's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">confirmation hearing</a>&nbsp;for education secretary nominee Linda McMahon. Asked whether classes on African American history would run afoul of the president's order, McMahon said she wasn't certain.

Trump has called for the elimination of the Education Department, and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ies-musk-doge-education-cuts-4461d7bdbe9d55c5a411d8465999b011">slashed dozens of contracts</a>&nbsp;deemed wasteful.

The DOGE team won a legal victory on Monday when a federal judge declined to block it from federal student loan records. The judge said the plaintiff, the University of California Student Association, failed to prove it was harmed by DOGE's access to the data.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739919166661.jpeg" alt="Webcam view Tuesday Feb. 18 St. Louis University" />
 <figcaption>Webcam view Tuesday Feb. 18 St. Louis University</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is giving America’s schools and universities two weeks to eliminate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-critical-race-theory-antisemitism-college-protests-18136b8c8f5adb9c75c47907e020268a">diversity initiatives</a>&nbsp;or risk losing federal money, raising the stakes in the president’s fight against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-woke-education-24f864d83e2f5745d12a79ebac0d7cc4">“wokeness”</a>&nbsp;and sowing confusion as schools scramble to comply.In a memo Friday, the Education Department gave an ultimatum to stop using “racial preferences” as a factor in admissions, financial aid, hiring or other areas. Schools are being given 14 days to end any practice that treats students or workers differently because of their race.Educators at colleges nationwide were rushing to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-dei-college-university-9f26a51617744de5c3f929a293027758">evaluate their risk</a>&nbsp;and decide whether to stand up for practices they believe are legal. The sweeping demand threatens to upend all aspects of campus operations, from essays on college applications to classroom lessons and campus clubs.It’s meant to correct what the memo described as rampant discrimination in education, often against white and Asian students.“Schools have been operating on the pretext that selecting students for ‘diversity’ or similar euphemisms is not selecting them based on race,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights. “No longer. Students should be assessed according to merit, accomplishment and character.”The guidance drew sharp backlash from civil rights groups and university groups. Some believe its vague language is meant to have a chilling effect, pressuring schools to eliminate anything touching on the topic of race even if it may be defensible in court.“Creating a sense of risk around doing work that might promote diverse and welcoming campuses is much more of the goal than a clear statement of existing law,” said Jonathan Fansmith, senior vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education, an association of college presidents.The memo is an extension of President Donald Trump’s executive order&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-dei-7ef0bf4ce1d465f6b61f3fcfde544593">banning diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;programs. It reflects a change in the federal government’s interpretation of antidiscrimination laws. As legal justification, it cites the 2023&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-affirmative-action-college-race-f83d6318017ec9b9029b12ee2256e744#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Supreme,to%20achieve%20diverse%20student%20bodies.">Supreme Court decision</a>&nbsp;barring race as a factor in college admissions.“Put simply, educational institutions may neither separate or segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race,” it said.On Monday the Education Department announced it also cut $600 million in grants for organizations that train teachers. The programs promoted “divisive” concepts like DEI, critical race theory and social justice activism, the department said.The new guidance seeks to remove race from areas including financial aid, housing, graduation ceremonies, hiring and promotion. It takes aim directly at college admissions, suggesting colleges have sought to work around the Supreme Court's decision.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-application-affirmative-action-f0c006a6210ab244c1b6b4c2b1926b6d">College essays</a>, for instance, cannot be used to predict a student's race, the guidance says. In the Supreme Court decision, Chief Justice John Roberts said nothing prevents colleges “from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected his or her life,” though he warned that colleges couldn’t use essays as an indirect workaround to consider students’ race.The memo also said it's unlawful for colleges to eliminate standardized testing requirements “to achieve a desired racial balance or to increase racial diversity.” Dozens of colleges across the U.S. have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/standardized-testing">dropped SAT and ACT requirements</a>&nbsp;in recent years, citing concerns the exams favor students from high-income families.Practices that have long been commonplace could become legal liabilities, including recruiting in underrepresented areas or buying lists of potential students with certain academic and demographic information, said Angel B. Pérez, CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.“Colleges and universities are going to find themselves between a rock and a hard place,” Pérez said. “They know that what they’re doing is not illegal, but they are worried that if they do not comply, not having federal funding will decimate them.”Some universities they expect little change. At Oregon State University, a legal review concluded that its programs “are fully compliant with all state and federal laws,” according to a campus message from Rob Odom, vice president of university relations and marketing.The department memo appears to take aim at scholarships for students from certain racial backgrounds. There’s been legal debate about whether the Supreme Court decision extends to financial aid, with some schools and institutions deciding to scrap racial requirements for some scholarships.The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators said there’s no consensus on the question, and the group is trying to understand how the memo could affect student aid.“The last thing students need when making plans about how to pay for college is uncertainty over when or whether they will receive financial aid they’ve been relying on,” the group said in a statement.The confusion around Trump's order was apparent at last week's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">confirmation hearing</a>&nbsp;for education secretary nominee Linda McMahon. Asked whether classes on African American history would run afoul of the president's order, McMahon said she wasn't certain.Trump has called for the elimination of the Education Department, and Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ies-musk-doge-education-cuts-4461d7bdbe9d55c5a411d8465999b011">slashed dozens of contracts</a>&nbsp;deemed wasteful.The DOGE team won a legal victory on Monday when a federal judge declined to block it from federal student loan records. The judge said the plaintiff, the University of California Student Association, failed to prove it was harmed by DOGE's access to the data.___

Trump admin. gives schools a deadline to end DEI programs or risk losing federal money

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

Kansas one of 10 states refusing to embrace wider Medicaid eligibility

TOPEKA — Kansas Senate Democrats attempted Tuesday to insert Medicaid expansion into a bill increasing legislative oversight over public assistance programs.

The outcome was the same in the Kansas House when a Democrat sought to drop a Medicaid reform package into a state government budget bill.

Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, brought forth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb161/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 161</a>, which would require legislative approval for any changes to public assistance programs in Kansas if they seek to expand eligibility, increase costs to the state, request federal waivers or modify intellectual or developmental disability services.

A Democrat from Kansas City, Kansas, Sen. Pat Pettey, took the opportunity during floor debate on the bill to introduce an amendment that would adopt the Healthcare Access for Working Kansans, or HAWK, Act.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and a handful of Democrats in the House and Senate announced in early February&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/06/kansas-governor-takes-another-swing-at-joining-41-states-that-have-expanded-medicaid/">the HAWK Act’s introduction</a>&nbsp;into both chambers. It was the governor’s seventh time trying for Medicaid expansion.

The proposal drew support from Democrats and health advocacy groups, but that support was tinged with criticism for a work requirement baked into the act.&nbsp;

It did not receive a hearing this session, Pettey pointed out Tuesday.

“Medicaid expansion is not political,” she said, referencing survey data that shows most Kansans support expansion or widespread access to affordable health care.&nbsp;

Kansas is one of 10 holdout states that have not expanded Medicaid.

“It saves lives,” Pettey said. “It saves Kansans money. It stabilizes rural hospitals. It brings taxpayers’ money back to Kansas.”

Pettey said the state has passed up on more than $8 billion by refusing to expand KanCare, as Medicaid is known in Kansas.

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, pushed back.

“I agree that it is not partisan,” he said, “but there is a whole host of reasons not to do it.”&nbsp;

He acknowledged the lack of discussion on Medicaid expansion this session and encouraged it to take place, rather than block consideration of Pettey’s amendment.

“It’s not like Kansas isn’t getting its money back,” Masterson said. “Kansas is doing the right thing and putting the right people at the front of the line.”

Democrats’ efforts were unsuccessful without the support of a majority of Republicans. Pettey’s amendment&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20250218133629_925711/" target="_blank">failed</a>&nbsp;with 12 in favor — three Republicans and nine Democrats — and 28 Republicans opposed. Republicans who voted in favor were freshman Sen. Mike Argabright of Olpe, Sen. Rick Billinger of Goodland and Sen. Brenda Dietrich of Topeka.

Members of the Kansas House deflected an attempt to insert Medicaid expansion into next year’s state budget bill. The maneuver failed by a wide margin following lengthy debate. It was stopped with a roll call vote of 34-82. Republicans hold an 88-37 majority over Democrats in the House.

Rep. Suzanne Wikle, D-Lawrence, proposed a plan that would extend health coverage to about 150,000 lower-income workers across the state without costing the state treasury.

Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government must cover 90% of a state’s increased expenditures for Medicaid expansion. Congress adopted a supplemental incentive aimed at Kansas and other holdout states. The additional federal support would mean Kansas could save $78 million on Medicaid in the upcoming fiscal year by approving expansion.

“Budgets are a reflection of your priorities,” Wikle said. “Show me a budget and I’ll show you what you care about.”

Rep. Troy Waymaster, the Bunker Hill Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the financial reality of Wikle’s proposal but urged lawmakers to reject her amendment.

“I recognize there might be some savings, but we need to vote this down,” Waymaster said. “If this were to pass, we’d have Medicaid expansion for one year. That’s it. Unless there is legislation that would pass in subsequent years.”

Rep. Nikki McDonald, D-Olathe, said it was frustrating House GOP leaders had again sought to stifle regular debate on fiscally responsible Medicaid expansion proposals in House committees and on the House floor. She urged rank-and-file Republicans to pressure their GOP leaders to bring about meaningful debate on Medicaid expansion rather than suppress an approach for improving access to affordable health care embraced by 40 states.

House members who didn’t believe it important to extend preventive health care to thousands of Kansans with modest incomes should take a different approach to Medicaid expansion, said Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park.

“If you’re not going to vote for this out of a moral reason, you should at least vote for this out of a cold-hearted business decision to make sure that our workforce is as healthy as possible so we can make sure we are working them as much as possible to help our economy,” Sawyer Clayton said.

In the Senate, the underlying bill on government efficiency was passed despite criticism from Democrats.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, called the bill “inefficient” and said it added “layers of bureaucracy for even the simplest program changes.”

“That red tape could result in thousands of Kansans being unable to get time-sensitive help,” she said.&nbsp;

When the Legislature is not in session, oversight of public assistance program changes would shift to the Legislative Coordinating Council, which consists of the governor and House and Senate leadership.&nbsp;

More than half a dozen advocacy organizations indicated their opposition to the bill at a hearing before the GOP-led Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, which was created in response to and modeled after the federal initiative under billionaire Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which is not actually a federal department. However, Shawnee Republican Sen. Mike Thompson indicated at the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/17/kansas-senates-efficiency-committee-embraces-trio-of-bills-aimed-at-state-spending/">hearing</a>&nbsp;the bill could be a solution to complaints over the Kelly administration’s pursuit of changes to intellectual and developmental disabilities programs.

During the hearing and again on the Senate floor, Holscher said the bill could put at risk Kansas’ existing share of Medicaid funds, more than $3 billion for fiscal year 2025. That could be the case if certain federal deadlines, such as those associated with payment rate adjustments, are not met.&nbsp;

Legislators pushed bills through the Senate at a rapid clip Tuesday ahead of a self-imposed deadline Thursday to pass all bills that originated within the chamber. Senators on Tuesday gave first-round approval to more than 40 bills.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739971301681.jpeg" alt=" Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat, in March 2023 at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat, in March 2023 at the Kansas Statehouse in Topeka. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a><h2>Kansas one of 10 states refusing to embrace wider Medicaid eligibility</h2>TOPEKA — Kansas Senate Democrats attempted Tuesday to insert Medicaid expansion into a bill increasing legislative oversight over public assistance programs.The outcome was the same in the Kansas House when a Democrat sought to drop a Medicaid reform package into a state government budget bill.Sen. Renee Erickson, a Wichita Republican, brought forth&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb161/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 161</a>, which would require legislative approval for any changes to public assistance programs in Kansas if they seek to expand eligibility, increase costs to the state, request federal waivers or modify intellectual or developmental disability services.A Democrat from Kansas City, Kansas, Sen. Pat Pettey, took the opportunity during floor debate on the bill to introduce an amendment that would adopt the Healthcare Access for Working Kansans, or HAWK, Act.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and a handful of Democrats in the House and Senate announced in early February&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/06/kansas-governor-takes-another-swing-at-joining-41-states-that-have-expanded-medicaid/">the HAWK Act’s introduction</a>&nbsp;into both chambers. It was the governor’s seventh time trying for Medicaid expansion.The proposal drew support from Democrats and health advocacy groups, but that support was tinged with criticism for a work requirement baked into the act.&nbsp;It did not receive a hearing this session, Pettey pointed out Tuesday.“Medicaid expansion is not political,” she said, referencing survey data that shows most Kansans support expansion or widespread access to affordable health care.&nbsp;Kansas is one of 10 holdout states that have not expanded Medicaid.“It saves lives,” Pettey said. “It saves Kansans money. It stabilizes rural hospitals. It brings taxpayers’ money back to Kansas.”Pettey said the state has passed up on more than $8 billion by refusing to expand KanCare, as Medicaid is known in Kansas.Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican, pushed back.“I agree that it is not partisan,” he said, “but there is a whole host of reasons not to do it.”&nbsp;He acknowledged the lack of discussion on Medicaid expansion this session and encouraged it to take place, rather than block consideration of Pettey’s amendment.“It’s not like Kansas isn’t getting its money back,” Masterson said. “Kansas is doing the right thing and putting the right people at the front of the line.”Democrats’ efforts were unsuccessful without the support of a majority of Republicans. Pettey’s amendment&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20250218133629_925711/" target="_blank">failed</a>&nbsp;with 12 in favor — three Republicans and nine Democrats — and 28 Republicans opposed. Republicans who voted in favor were freshman Sen. Mike Argabright of Olpe, Sen. Rick Billinger of Goodland and Sen. Brenda Dietrich of Topeka.<h2>Over in the House</h2>Members of the Kansas House deflected an attempt to insert Medicaid expansion into next year’s state budget bill. The maneuver failed by a wide margin following lengthy debate. It was stopped with a roll call vote of 34-82. Republicans hold an 88-37 majority over Democrats in the House.Rep. Suzanne Wikle, D-Lawrence, proposed a plan that would extend health coverage to about 150,000 lower-income workers across the state without costing the state treasury.Under the Affordable Care Act, the federal government must cover 90% of a state’s increased expenditures for Medicaid expansion. Congress adopted a supplemental incentive aimed at Kansas and other holdout states. The additional federal support would mean Kansas could save $78 million on Medicaid in the upcoming fiscal year by approving expansion.“Budgets are a reflection of your priorities,” Wikle said. “Show me a budget and I’ll show you what you care about.”Rep. Troy Waymaster, the Bunker Hill Republican who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, acknowledged the financial reality of Wikle’s proposal but urged lawmakers to reject her amendment.“I recognize there might be some savings, but we need to vote this down,” Waymaster said. “If this were to pass, we’d have Medicaid expansion for one year. That’s it. Unless there is legislation that would pass in subsequent years.”Rep. Nikki McDonald, D-Olathe, said it was frustrating House GOP leaders had again sought to stifle regular debate on fiscally responsible Medicaid expansion proposals in House committees and on the House floor. She urged rank-and-file Republicans to pressure their GOP leaders to bring about meaningful debate on Medicaid expansion rather than suppress an approach for improving access to affordable health care embraced by 40 states.House members who didn’t believe it important to extend preventive health care to thousands of Kansans with modest incomes should take a different approach to Medicaid expansion, said Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park.“If you’re not going to vote for this out of a moral reason, you should at least vote for this out of a cold-hearted business decision to make sure that our workforce is as healthy as possible so we can make sure we are working them as much as possible to help our economy,” Sawyer Clayton said.<h2>Senate’s efficiency bill</h2>In the Senate, the underlying bill on government efficiency was passed despite criticism from Democrats.Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat, called the bill “inefficient” and said it added “layers of bureaucracy for even the simplest program changes.”“That red tape could result in thousands of Kansans being unable to get time-sensitive help,” she said.&nbsp;When the Legislature is not in session, oversight of public assistance program changes would shift to the Legislative Coordinating Council, which consists of the governor and House and Senate leadership.&nbsp;More than half a dozen advocacy organizations indicated their opposition to the bill at a hearing before the GOP-led Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, which was created in response to and modeled after the federal initiative under billionaire Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which is not actually a federal department. However, Shawnee Republican Sen. Mike Thompson indicated at the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/17/kansas-senates-efficiency-committee-embraces-trio-of-bills-aimed-at-state-spending/">hearing</a>&nbsp;the bill could be a solution to complaints over the Kelly administration’s pursuit of changes to intellectual and developmental disabilities programs.During the hearing and again on the Senate floor, Holscher said the bill could put at risk Kansas’ existing share of Medicaid funds, more than $3 billion for fiscal year 2025. That could be the case if certain federal deadlines, such as those associated with payment rate adjustments, are not met.&nbsp;Legislators pushed bills through the Senate at a rapid clip Tuesday ahead of a self-imposed deadline Thursday to pass all bills that originated within the chamber. Senators on Tuesday gave first-round approval to more than 40 bills.

Medicaid expansion amendments offered by Democrats fail in Kansas Senate, House

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-white-house-layoffs-0fcdbb692717c63203ef971cb9807b35">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;staffers were at the Pentagon on Tuesday and receiving lists of the military’s probationary employees, U.S. officials said.

However, it was not clear that all probationary personnel would be let go — instead, some might be exempted due to the critical nature of their work. The military services each had until end of business Tuesday to identify their probationary employees.

The affected personnel would include defense civilians who are still new to their jobs, not uniformed military personnel, who are exempt, according to the four officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.

The potential cuts at the Pentagon, first reported by The Washington Post, follow reductions at other federal agencies, where probationary employees who were conducting critical functions and had high-level clearances, including staff at the National Nuclear Security Administration, were fired despite their role.

The vast majority of the fired NNSA staff were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-doge-firings-trump-federal-916e6819104f04f44c345b7dde4904d5">later told they were being reinstated</a>.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has supported cuts to the department, posting on X last week that the Pentagon needs “to cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters.)”

The Government Accountability Office found in 2023 that more than 700,000 full-time civilians were working for the Defense Department.

President Donald Trump has entrusted the workforce reductions to Elon Musk, who has billions of dollars in government contracts with the Pentagon.

In recent days, however, Trump has said Musk is not officially in charge of DOGE but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-white-house-layoffs-0fcdbb692717c63203ef971cb9807b35">serving as his senior adviser</a>, which followed multiple lawsuits challenging Musk’s authority to carve through federal agencies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739971978242.png" alt="Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth meeting with troops last week in Europe" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth meeting with troops last week in Europe</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-white-house-layoffs-0fcdbb692717c63203ef971cb9807b35">Department of Government Efficiency</a>&nbsp;staffers were at the Pentagon on Tuesday and receiving lists of the military’s probationary employees, U.S. officials said.However, it was not clear that all probationary personnel would be let go — instead, some might be exempted due to the critical nature of their work. The military services each had until end of business Tuesday to identify their probationary employees.The affected personnel would include defense civilians who are still new to their jobs, not uniformed military personnel, who are exempt, according to the four officials who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.The potential cuts at the Pentagon, first reported by The Washington Post, follow reductions at other federal agencies, where probationary employees who were conducting critical functions and had high-level clearances, including staff at the National Nuclear Security Administration, were fired despite their role.The vast majority of the fired NNSA staff were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nuclear-doge-firings-trump-federal-916e6819104f04f44c345b7dde4904d5">later told they were being reinstated</a>.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has supported cuts to the department, posting on X last week that the Pentagon needs “to cut the fat (HQ) and grow the muscle (warfighters.)”The Government Accountability Office found in 2023 that more than 700,000 full-time civilians were working for the Defense Department.President Donald Trump has entrusted the workforce reductions to Elon Musk, who has billions of dollars in government contracts with the Pentagon.In recent days, however, Trump has said Musk is not officially in charge of DOGE but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-white-house-layoffs-0fcdbb692717c63203ef971cb9807b35">serving as his senior adviser</a>, which followed multiple lawsuits challenging Musk’s authority to carve through federal agencies.

DOGE getting lists of the military’s probationary workers from the Pentagon

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspected drug dealer on new allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 9 p.m. February 16, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a black 2007 Chrysler Town &amp; Country minivan in the 700 block of NE Wabash Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.-

During the investigation, it was discovered that the driver had a suspended driver’s license and was wanted on a warrant out of the Kickapoo Tribal Reservation. A K-9 Unit assisted and illegal narcotics were also located.

Bertrand A. Wheaton, 42, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for his warrant and requested charges of Distribution of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Distribution or possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving while license suspended and No vehicle liability insurance.&nbsp;

He has previous convictions for theft, making false writing, DUI and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739892529046.png" alt="Wheaton photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Wheaton photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspected drug dealer on new allegations after a traffic stop.Just after 9 p.m. February 16, a deputy with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a black 2007 Chrysler Town &amp; Country minivan in the 700 block of NE Wabash Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.-During the investigation, it was discovered that the driver had a suspended driver’s license and was wanted on a warrant out of the Kickapoo Tribal Reservation. A K-9 Unit assisted and illegal narcotics were also located.Bertrand A. Wheaton, 42, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections for his warrant and requested charges of Distribution of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Distribution or possession with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Driving while license suspended and No vehicle liability insurance.&nbsp;He has previous convictions for theft, making false writing, DUI and for drugs, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Deputies arrest wanted Kansas felon for selling drugs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed wealthy financier Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary Tuesday, putting in place a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump's hardline trade polices.

The Senate vote to confirm Lutnick was 51-45. Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran did not vote.  Republicans Gary Peters and Dan Sullivan also did not vote. Democrat Senator Cory Booker also missed the vote. Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall voted with the majority.

At the Commerce Department, Lutnick, who was CEO at the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, will oversee 50,000 employees who do everything from collecting economic statistics to running the census to issuing weather reports. But he's likely to spend a lot of time — along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-trade-greer-lutnick-c8fa358407ab066bb4d8f32692ad4d84">Jamieson Greer, Trump's nominee</a>&nbsp;to be the top U.S. trade negotiator — managing the president's aggressive plans to impose import taxes on U.S. trading partners, including allies and adversaries alike.

Trump views the tariffs as a versatile economic tool. They can raise money to finance his tax cuts elsewhere, protect U.S. industries and pressure other countries into making concessions on such issues as their own trade barriers, immigration and drug trafficking. Mainstream economists mostly view tariffs as counterproductive: They are paid by import companies in the United States, which try to pass along the higher costs to consumers and can thereby add to inflationary pressures throughout the economy.

At his confirmation hearing last month, Lutnick dismissed as “nonsense'' the idea that tariffs contribute to inflation. He expressed support for deploying across-the-board tariffs ”country by country'' to strong-arm other countries into lowering barriers to American exports.

Trump last week announced plans for "reciprocal'' tariffs — raising U.S. import tax rates to match the higher taxes that other countries impose on goods from the U.S. The move would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-reciprocal-tariff-trade-deficit-4329a37b5a41ac944dcc74093410a126">shatter the rules that have governed world trade</a>&nbsp;for decades. Since the 1960s, tariff rates have mostly emerged from negotiations between dozens of countries. Trump is commandeering the process.

The president has also imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese imports and effectively raised U.S. taxes on foreign steel and aluminum. He has threatened — and delayed until March 4 — 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico.

Lutnick was CEO at Cantor Fitzgerald when its offices were hit in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. The firm lost two-thirds of its employees — 658 people — that day, including Lutnick’s brother. Howard Lutnick led the firm's recovery and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National September 11 Memorial &amp; Museum.

Lutnick has promised to sell off his business holdings. They're complicated. His&nbsp;<a href="https://extapps2.oge.gov/201/Presiden.nsf/PAS+Index/AC841CF0E3B5807A85258C1C00320D21/$FILE/Lutnick%2C%20Howard%20%20final278.pdf">financial disclosure statement</a>&nbsp;showed that he had positions in more than 800 businesses and other private organizations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739925505432.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran met with Lutnick in late December" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran met with Lutnick in late December</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate confirmed wealthy financier Howard Lutnick as commerce secretary Tuesday, putting in place a staunch supporter of President Donald Trump's hardline trade polices.The Senate vote to confirm Lutnick was 51-45. Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran did not vote. Republicans Gary Peters and Dan Sullivan also did not vote. Democrat Senator Cory Booker also missed the vote. Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall voted with the majority.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CONFIRMED 🇺🇸 Congratulations to <a href="https://twitter.com/howardlutnick?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@howardlutnick</a> on his confirmation as Secretary of Commerce! He brings decades of experience to the agency and will work with President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> to rebuild America’s economy.&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1892196042247922136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>At the Commerce Department, Lutnick, who was CEO at the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, will oversee 50,000 employees who do everything from collecting economic statistics to running the census to issuing weather reports. But he's likely to spend a lot of time — along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-trade-greer-lutnick-c8fa358407ab066bb4d8f32692ad4d84">Jamieson Greer, Trump's nominee</a>&nbsp;to be the top U.S. trade negotiator — managing the president's aggressive plans to impose import taxes on U.S. trading partners, including allies and adversaries alike.Trump views the tariffs as a versatile economic tool. They can raise money to finance his tax cuts elsewhere, protect U.S. industries and pressure other countries into making concessions on such issues as their own trade barriers, immigration and drug trafficking. Mainstream economists mostly view tariffs as counterproductive: They are paid by import companies in the United States, which try to pass along the higher costs to consumers and can thereby add to inflationary pressures throughout the economy.At his confirmation hearing last month, Lutnick dismissed as “nonsense'' the idea that tariffs contribute to inflation. He expressed support for deploying across-the-board tariffs ”country by country'' to strong-arm other countries into lowering barriers to American exports.Trump last week announced plans for "reciprocal'' tariffs — raising U.S. import tax rates to match the higher taxes that other countries impose on goods from the U.S. The move would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-reciprocal-tariff-trade-deficit-4329a37b5a41ac944dcc74093410a126">shatter the rules that have governed world trade</a>&nbsp;for decades. Since the 1960s, tariff rates have mostly emerged from negotiations between dozens of countries. Trump is commandeering the process.The president has also imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese imports and effectively raised U.S. taxes on foreign steel and aluminum. He has threatened — and delayed until March 4 — 25% tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico.Lutnick was CEO at Cantor Fitzgerald when its offices were hit in the Sept. 11, 2001, attack on the World Trade Center. The firm lost two-thirds of its employees — 658 people — that day, including Lutnick’s brother. Howard Lutnick led the firm's recovery and is a member of the Board of Directors of the National September 11 Memorial &amp; Museum.Lutnick has promised to sell off his business holdings. They're complicated. His&nbsp;<a href="https://extapps2.oge.gov/201/Presiden.nsf/PAS+Index/AC841CF0E3B5807A85258C1C00320D21/$FILE/Lutnick%2C%20Howard%20%20final278.pdf">financial disclosure statement</a>&nbsp;showed that he had positions in more than 800 businesses and other private organizations.

Moran missed vote as Senate confirms Lutnick for Commerce Secretary

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Abortions resumed in Missouri over the weekend following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-rights-missouri-b7590919a9eedccc044c519646e996d5">ruling</a>&nbsp;blocking regulations that clinics said made it impossible to provide abortions despite a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-amendment-ballot-election-f114445b087e77d0cc786d3eeb2eb615">constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;for reproductive rights, officials confirmed Tuesday.

Emily Wales, the president and CEO of a Kansas City Planned Parenthood clinic, said on Saturday they “provided the first abortion in Missouri since Dobbs, a truly historic moment for our affiliate.”

“For more than 50 years, we have served patients at our midtown Kansas City clinic, and we are honored to once again provide the comprehensive care Missourians need,” Wales said in a statement. "We will share more details on appointment opportunities in the coming weeks.”

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers is also opening appointment availability this week at the St. Louis clinic.

Abortions are once again available in Missouri thanks to a Friday court ruling temporarily lifting some regulations on providers while a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood plays out.

Missouri almost immediately enacted a near-total ban on abortions in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortions were only allowed in the state for medical emergencies. There were no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

Abortion-rights advocates in response went to voters, who in November enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution. Judges still must weigh whether to strike down Missouri's many bans and other restrictions on abortion, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ban-ruling-missouri-8a846e1490a965977133eb5854a7602e">playing out in court now</a>.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang said in her Friday ruling that Planned Parenthood likely would succeed in its lawsuit against Missouri abortion laws.

Despite public support,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-legislature-fd6ef70e8bb8d337de8efcc737fb7385">GOP lawmakers</a>&nbsp;have repeatedly pledged to go back to voters with another proposal to further limit abortions, although Republicans have not yet agreed on how far to go with more possible restrictions.

“Missourians deserve to be presented with better options at the ballot box — options that are more in line with their values,” Republican state Sen. Adam Schnelting told reporters Tuesday. “And my hope is that as we get further on in the legislative session, that’s exactly what we’ll do."

So far, Republican lawmakers have proposed constitutional amendments that would outlaw abortion completely, only allow it in cases of medical emergencies, ban most abortions once cardiac activity is detected, or ban it after fetal viability.

The term “viability” is used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though there is no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">21st week</a>&nbsp;of pregnancy.

A Missouri House panel on Tuesday also mulled a program to keep a registry of pregnant women deemed “at risk” of getting an abortion and offer them adoption resources, although the bill author quickly backtracked and promised to amend the legislation following bipartisan pushback.

“I don’t like data mining anyway," Republican Chair Rep. Holly Jones told the sponsor during a House Children and Families Committee hearing. “I’m not 100% sure that that’s what this does. But I think that the committee is going have a lot of questions for you.”

Ballentine reported on this story from Columbia, Missouri. Writer David A. Lieb contributed from Jefferson City, Missouri.

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Abortions resumed in Missouri over the weekend following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-rights-missouri-b7590919a9eedccc044c519646e996d5">ruling</a>&nbsp;blocking regulations that clinics said made it impossible to provide abortions despite a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-missouri-amendment-ballot-election-f114445b087e77d0cc786d3eeb2eb615">constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;for reproductive rights, officials confirmed Tuesday.Emily Wales, the president and CEO of a Kansas City Planned Parenthood clinic, said on Saturday they “provided the first abortion in Missouri since Dobbs, a truly historic moment for our affiliate.”“For more than 50 years, we have served patients at our midtown Kansas City clinic, and we are honored to once again provide the comprehensive care Missourians need,” Wales said in a statement. "We will share more details on appointment opportunities in the coming weeks.”Planned Parenthood Great Rivers is also opening appointment availability this week at the St. Louis clinic.Abortions are once again available in Missouri thanks to a Friday court ruling temporarily lifting some regulations on providers while a lawsuit by Planned Parenthood plays out.Missouri almost immediately enacted a near-total ban on abortions in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortions were only allowed in the state for medical emergencies. There were no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.Abortion-rights advocates in response went to voters, who in November enshrined reproductive rights in the state constitution. Judges still must weigh whether to strike down Missouri's many bans and other restrictions on abortion, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ban-ruling-missouri-8a846e1490a965977133eb5854a7602e">playing out in court now</a>.Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang said in her Friday ruling that Planned Parenthood likely would succeed in its lawsuit against Missouri abortion laws.Despite public support,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-legislature-fd6ef70e8bb8d337de8efcc737fb7385">GOP lawmakers</a>&nbsp;have repeatedly pledged to go back to voters with another proposal to further limit abortions, although Republicans have not yet agreed on how far to go with more possible restrictions.“Missourians deserve to be presented with better options at the ballot box — options that are more in line with their values,” Republican state Sen. Adam Schnelting told reporters Tuesday. “And my hope is that as we get further on in the legislative session, that’s exactly what we’ll do."So far, Republican lawmakers have proposed constitutional amendments that would outlaw abortion completely, only allow it in cases of medical emergencies, ban most abortions once cardiac activity is detected, or ban it after fetal viability.The term “viability” is used by health care providers to describe whether a pregnancy is expected to continue developing normally or whether a fetus might survive outside the uterus. Though there is no defined time frame, doctors say it is sometime after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-technology-science-health-birmingham-7fc806f3c06aeae94c5d6ed1b06a6461">21st week</a>&nbsp;of pregnancy.A Missouri House panel on Tuesday also mulled a program to keep a registry of pregnant women deemed “at risk” of getting an abortion and offer them adoption resources, although the bill author quickly backtracked and promised to amend the legislation following bipartisan pushback.“I don’t like data mining anyway," Republican Chair Rep. Holly Jones told the sponsor during a House Children and Families Committee hearing. “I’m not 100% sure that that’s what this does. But I think that the committee is going have a lot of questions for you.”—————————Ballentine reported on this story from Columbia, Missouri. Writer David A. Lieb contributed from Jefferson City, Missouri.

Abortions resume in Missouri as GOP lawmakers strategize possible repeal

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire in Kansas City.

Just after 9a.m. Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 600 block of Brighton Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 just&nbsp;before 9:00 a.m. Crews reported heavy fire and smoke from a two-story occupied residence on arrival. Interior operations were initiated using multiple handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. Occupants were able to self-evacuate. The fire was placed under control at 9:10 a.m. Red Cross was ordered for five adults and four children. No injuries were reported.

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire in Kansas City.Just after 9a.m. Tuesday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 600 block of Brighton Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. just&nbsp;before 9:00 a.m. Crews reported heavy fire and smoke from a two-story occupied residence on arrival. Interior operations were initiated using multiple handlines. Searches of the structure came back all clear. Occupants were able to self-evacuate. The fire was placed under control at 9:10 a.m. Red Cross was ordered for five adults and four children. No injuries were reported.

5 adults, 4 children displaced after Kansas City house fire

KANSAS CITY —The Kansas Highway Patrol shared two examples of how seat belts save lives.

Just after midnight Tuesday morning, Master Trooper Zeller,&nbsp;Kansas Turnpike Authority, arrived at the scene of a crash on Interstate 70 just before 38th Street in the Kansas City area, according to a social media report from the patrol.

The the driver of a pickup lost control of the vehicle. It struck a guardrail, and rolled multiple times landing on its roof in a ditch. The driver&nbsp; walked away to look for help. He had his seatbelt on and it saved his life.

The Patrol also reported a driver on Tuesday was traveling southbound on Interstate 435 near Midland Drive. The driver lost control of the vehicle. It rolled and the driver was kept safe inside the vehicle due to wearing their seatbelt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739902427601.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The Kansas Highway Patrol shared two examples of how seat belts save lives.Just after midnight Tuesday morning, Master Trooper Zeller,&nbsp;Kansas Turnpike Authority, arrived at the scene of a crash on Interstate 70 just before 38th Street in the Kansas City area, according to a social media report from the patrol.The the driver of a pickup lost control of the vehicle. It struck a guardrail, and rolled multiple times landing on its roof in a ditch. The driver&nbsp; walked away to look for help. He had his seatbelt on and it saved his life.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739904867718.png" alt="Photo KHP" />
 <figcaption>Photo KHP</figcaption>
 </figure>The Patrol also reported a driver on Tuesday was traveling southbound on Interstate 435 near Midland Drive. The driver lost control of the vehicle. It rolled and the driver was kept safe inside the vehicle due to wearing their seatbelt.

KHP reminder: Seat belts save lives

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement captured a wanted suspect after a chase across two counties.

Just after 7:30p.m. Feb. 14, sheriff's&nbsp;deputies identified a driver of a 2011 Dodge Charger as Andrew Davis.&nbsp; Davis had a Felony Failure to Appear Warrant out of Doniphon County, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

When the deputy got out of his vehicle to approach Davis, he immediately&nbsp; fled the area hitting&nbsp; an occupied&nbsp; Brown County Deputy's vehicle and&nbsp; nearly striking the approaching officer.&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Brown County Deputies&nbsp; as well as Horton Police pursued Davis east on Highway 73.&nbsp; While nearing Atchison, their police department was&nbsp; successful in deploying stop sticks which disabled one of the tires on the Davis vehicle.&nbsp; 

The pursuit continued east over the Missouri River bridge and continued through Weston and ended on Interstate 70 near 63rd Road in Kansas.&nbsp; At that time, a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper initiated a TBI Pit Maneuver which pushed the Davis vehicle off of the roadway.&nbsp; 

Davis was arrested and transported to the Brown County Sheriff's office on charges of the $15,000 Doniphon County Felony Falure to Appear Warrant and requested charges of Felony Flee to Elude; Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer; Possession of Meth; Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Drive While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked.

There were&nbsp; no serious injuries reported as a result of the chase and arrest, according to Merchant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739909188341.png" alt="Davis photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Davis photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement captured a wanted suspect after a chase across two counties.Just after 7:30p.m. Feb. 14, sheriff's&nbsp;deputies identified a driver of a 2011 Dodge Charger as Andrew Davis.&nbsp; Davis had a Felony Failure to Appear Warrant out of Doniphon County, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.When the deputy got out of his vehicle to approach Davis, he immediately&nbsp; fled the area hitting&nbsp; an occupied&nbsp; Brown County Deputy's vehicle and&nbsp; nearly striking the approaching officer.&nbsp;&nbsp; Brown County Deputies&nbsp; as well as Horton Police pursued Davis east on Highway 73.&nbsp; While nearing Atchison, their police department was&nbsp; successful in deploying stop sticks which disabled one of the tires on the Davis vehicle.&nbsp; The pursuit continued east over the Missouri River bridge and continued through Weston and ended on Interstate 70 near 63rd Road in Kansas.&nbsp; At that time, a Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper initiated a TBI Pit Maneuver which pushed the Davis vehicle off of the roadway.&nbsp; Davis was arrested and transported to the Brown County Sheriff's office on charges of the $15,000 Doniphon County Felony Falure to Appear Warrant and requested charges of Felony Flee to Elude; Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer; Possession of Meth; Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Drive While License Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked.There were&nbsp; no serious injuries reported as a result of the chase and arrest, according to Merchant.

Suspect rammed Kan. deputy's vehicle before high-speed chase

OSAGE COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations. 

Just before 9a.m. Feb. 15, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop on I-35 in Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

 During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. Brenda L. Prell, 63, of Hanover was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739746729896.png" alt="Prell photo Osage Co." />
 <figcaption>Prell photo Osage Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>OSAGE COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations. Just before 9a.m. Feb. 15, a Sheriff’s Office K-9 unit conducted a traffic stop on I-35 in Osage County for a traffic violation, according to Sheriff Chris Wells. During the stop, illegal narcotics were located. Brenda L. Prell, 63, of Hanover was taken into custody and transported to the Osage County Jail Facility on requested charges of&nbsp; Possession of methamphetamine, Possession of marijuana and Possession of drug paraphernalia

Kansas woman caught transporting meth, marijuana

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday signed an executive order meant to expand access to and reduce costs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ivf-vitro-fertilization-trump-executive-order-65972cc1b10151bf1a0d9390fe5754d9">in vitro fertilization</a>&nbsp;and issued a presidential memorandum calling for “radical transparency requirements” from the government, which he suggested could reduce wasteful spending.

On the campaign trail, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/trump-calls-for-universal-coverage-of-ivf-treatment-with-no-specifics-on-how-his-plan-would-work/">called for universal coverage of IVF treatment</a>&nbsp;after his Supreme Court nominees helped to overturn Roe v. Wade, leading to a wave of restrictions in Republican-led states, including some that have threatened access to IVF by trying to define life as beginning at conception.

Trump, who was at his Florida residence and club Mar-a-Lago, also signed another executive order as well as a presidential memorandum. The second executive order outlined the oversight functions of the Office of Management and Budget, while the memo requires the government to detail the “waste, fraud and abuse” that’s found as the Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-white-house-layoffs-0fcdbb692717c63203ef971cb9807b35">Elon Musk</a>, looks to cut government spending.

DOGE has often fallen short of the administration’s promises of transparency. Musk has taken questions from journalists only once since becoming Trump’s most powerful adviser, and he’s claimed it’s illegal to name people who are working for him. Sometimes DOGE staff members have demanded access to sensitive government databases with little explanation.

Trump took more than 30 minutes of questions Tuesday on a range of topics and bashed the Biden administration throughout, highlighting issues such as its handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, Venezuela policy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/world-news/russia-ukraine-war-timeline-territorial-shifts-0000018f7d2fdca2afaf7fbf9a2f0000">Russia’s war in Ukraine</a>.

Trump said he thought he had a “good chance” to end Russia’s war in Ukraine but bristled at suggestions that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-russia-rubio-lavrov-ukraine-saudi-arabia-94bc4de5ecc86922d6ea4376e38f1cfd">U.S. and Russia had begun negotiations</a>&nbsp;to end fighting without Ukraine playing a role. He even seemed to suggest that Ukraine was to blame for a war that began only after Russia invaded that country.

“Today I heard, ‘Well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years,” Trump said of Ukraine’s leaders. “You should have never started it.”

In anticipation of questions about his administration’s efforts to slash federal spending, the president said he wrote down examples of government programs around the world which he then listed off at length. They included funding to promote voter turnout in India and social cohesion initiatives in Mali — all of which Trump suggested collectively amounted to fraud.

Asked about the White House’s arguing in a court filing that Musk wasn’t the head of Trump’s government efficiency efforts, Trump said: “You could call him an employee, you could call him a consultant, you could call him whatever you want. But he’s a patriot.”

Trump said he thinks “women and families, husbands, are very appreciative” of his executive order on IVF, which offers a possible solution when a woman has trouble getting pregnant. The procedure involves retrieving her eggs and combining them in a lab dish with a man’s sperm to create a fertilized embryo, which is then transferred into the woman’s uterus in an attempt to create a pregnancy. IVF is done in cycles, and more than one may be required.

Barbara Collura, president and CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, said that what the White House put out “looks extremely promising.”

“The biggest barriers for people to building their families are the out-of-pocket costs, the lack of insurance coverage for this care,” she said.

Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat, said: “Donald Trump’s executive order does nothing to expand access to IVF. In fact, he’s the reason IVF is at risk in the first place.”

Duckworth said if Trump is going to follow through on his campaign promise to provide free IVF, he can start by supporting her legislation that would require insurance plans to cover IVF.

Trump, who spent the morning at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, spoke to reporters hours before his first joint TV interview with Musk airs in prime time on Fox News.

Musk has drawn criticism from Democrats in Congress and others for the methods he and his team at DOGE are using to cut spending, including foreign aid, and eliminate jobs across the bureaucracy.

The Fox News interview also follows Musk’s appearance with Trump in the Oval Office last week, when both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-downsizing-federal-workers-doge-00683abc4de44a151f26aaa6cb0d0f30">defended Musk’s approach</a>&nbsp;to federal cost-cutting.

Mar-a-Lago was the setting Tuesday night for an awards program by America’s Future, a conservative group led by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pardon-michael-flynn-russia-aeef585b08ba6f2c763c8c37bfd678ed">Mike Flynn</a>, who briefly served as national security adviser in the Republican president’s first term. The program aims to preserve individual rights and promote American values and traditions, according to its website. The event, celebrating American exceptionalism, honored one member each from the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force and the Space Force.

The event included a poolside reception, musical performances and dinner in Mar-a-Lago’s Grand Ballroom. The lineup included such names as Russell Brand, Ted Nugent and Mike Tyson.

Trump made an appearance at the event, according to video posted on social media Tuesday night, addressing the crowd on the patio as he stood near Tyson, Flynn and Nugent and declaring, “This is very, very friendly territory.”

Trump praised the men, including Flynn, who was one of the leading proponents of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The president called him “the real deal” and indicated he wanted to bring Flynn into his administration, saying he offered him “about 10 jobs."

“Anytime you want to come in, you know that, Mike, OK?” Trump said.

Flynn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0795b34ac17f4681934e31c07b442696">resigned from the first Trump administration</a>&nbsp;less than a month after Trump’s inauguration. He was charged in 2017 with lying to the FBI about conservations he had with the Russians on Trump’s behalf. He twice pleaded guilty, but Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pardon-michael-flynn-russia-aeef585b08ba6f2c763c8c37bfd678ed">pardoned him</a>&nbsp;in the final weeks of his presidency.

Price reported from New York. Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Chris Megerian in Washington and Laura Ungar in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report. Follow the AP's coverage of President Donald Trump at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump</a>.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday signed an executive order meant to expand access to and reduce costs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ivf-vitro-fertilization-trump-executive-order-65972cc1b10151bf1a0d9390fe5754d9">in vitro fertilization</a>&nbsp;and issued a presidential memorandum calling for “radical transparency requirements” from the government, which he suggested could reduce wasteful spending.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸MAKE FAMILIES GREAT AGAIN: President Trump has taken bold action to expand access to IVF! His Executive Order directs policy recommendations to safeguard IVF treatments and lower costs—making fertility care more affordable for American families! <a href="https://t.co/65ofNMcGfT">pic.twitter.com/65ofNMcGfT</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1891962340796448980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On the campaign trail, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/trump-calls-for-universal-coverage-of-ivf-treatment-with-no-specifics-on-how-his-plan-would-work/">called for universal coverage of IVF treatment</a>&nbsp;after his Supreme Court nominees helped to overturn Roe v. Wade, leading to a wave of restrictions in Republican-led states, including some that have threatened access to IVF by trying to define life as beginning at conception.Trump, who was at his Florida residence and club Mar-a-Lago, also signed another executive order as well as a presidential memorandum. The second executive order outlined the oversight functions of the Office of Management and Budget, while the memo requires the government to detail the “waste, fraud and abuse” that’s found as the Department of Government Efficiency, overseen by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-white-house-layoffs-0fcdbb692717c63203ef971cb9807b35">Elon Musk</a>, looks to cut government spending.DOGE has often fallen short of the administration’s promises of transparency. Musk has taken questions from journalists only once since becoming Trump’s most powerful adviser, and he’s claimed it’s illegal to name people who are working for him. Sometimes DOGE staff members have demanded access to sensitive government databases with little explanation.Trump took more than 30 minutes of questions Tuesday on a range of topics and bashed the Biden administration throughout, highlighting issues such as its handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, Venezuela policy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/world-news/russia-ukraine-war-timeline-territorial-shifts-0000018f7d2fdca2afaf7fbf9a2f0000">Russia’s war in Ukraine</a>.Trump said he thought he had a “good chance” to end Russia’s war in Ukraine but bristled at suggestions that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-russia-rubio-lavrov-ukraine-saudi-arabia-94bc4de5ecc86922d6ea4376e38f1cfd">U.S. and Russia had begun negotiations</a>&nbsp;to end fighting without Ukraine playing a role. He even seemed to suggest that Ukraine was to blame for a war that began only after Russia invaded that country.“Today I heard, ‘Well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years,” Trump said of Ukraine’s leaders. “You should have never started it.”In anticipation of questions about his administration’s efforts to slash federal spending, the president said he wrote down examples of government programs around the world which he then listed off at length. They included funding to promote voter turnout in India and social cohesion initiatives in Mali — all of which Trump suggested collectively amounted to fraud.Asked about the White House’s arguing in a court filing that Musk wasn’t the head of Trump’s government efficiency efforts, Trump said: “You could call him an employee, you could call him a consultant, you could call him whatever you want. But he’s a patriot.”Trump said he thinks “women and families, husbands, are very appreciative” of his executive order on IVF, which offers a possible solution when a woman has trouble getting pregnant. The procedure involves retrieving her eggs and combining them in a lab dish with a man’s sperm to create a fertilized embryo, which is then transferred into the woman’s uterus in an attempt to create a pregnancy. IVF is done in cycles, and more than one may be required.Barbara Collura, president and CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, said that what the White House put out “looks extremely promising.”“The biggest barriers for people to building their families are the out-of-pocket costs, the lack of insurance coverage for this care,” she said.Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a Democrat, said: “Donald Trump’s executive order does nothing to expand access to IVF. In fact, he’s the reason IVF is at risk in the first place.”Duckworth said if Trump is going to follow through on his campaign promise to provide free IVF, he can start by supporting her legislation that would require insurance plans to cover IVF.Trump, who spent the morning at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida, spoke to reporters hours before his first joint TV interview with Musk airs in prime time on Fox News.Musk has drawn criticism from Democrats in Congress and others for the methods he and his team at DOGE are using to cut spending, including foreign aid, and eliminate jobs across the bureaucracy.The Fox News interview also follows Musk’s appearance with Trump in the Oval Office last week, when both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-downsizing-federal-workers-doge-00683abc4de44a151f26aaa6cb0d0f30">defended Musk’s approach</a>&nbsp;to federal cost-cutting.Mar-a-Lago was the setting Tuesday night for an awards program by America’s Future, a conservative group led by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pardon-michael-flynn-russia-aeef585b08ba6f2c763c8c37bfd678ed">Mike Flynn</a>, who briefly served as national security adviser in the Republican president’s first term. The program aims to preserve individual rights and promote American values and traditions, according to its website. The event, celebrating American exceptionalism, honored one member each from the Army, the Navy, the Marines, the Air Force and the Space Force.The event included a poolside reception, musical performances and dinner in Mar-a-Lago’s Grand Ballroom. The lineup included such names as Russell Brand, Ted Nugent and Mike Tyson.Trump made an appearance at the event, according to video posted on social media Tuesday night, addressing the crowd on the patio as he stood near Tyson, Flynn and Nugent and declaring, “This is very, very friendly territory.”Trump praised the men, including Flynn, who was one of the leading proponents of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The president called him “the real deal” and indicated he wanted to bring Flynn into his administration, saying he offered him “about 10 jobs."“Anytime you want to come in, you know that, Mike, OK?” Trump said.Flynn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0795b34ac17f4681934e31c07b442696">resigned from the first Trump administration</a>&nbsp;less than a month after Trump’s inauguration. He was charged in 2017 with lying to the FBI about conservations he had with the Russians on Trump’s behalf. He twice pleaded guilty, but Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pardon-michael-flynn-russia-aeef585b08ba6f2c763c8c37bfd678ed">pardoned him</a>&nbsp;in the final weeks of his presidency.___Price reported from New York. Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Chris Megerian in Washington and Laura Ungar in Louisville, Kentucky, contributed to this report. Follow the AP's coverage of President Donald Trump at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump</a>.

Trump signs order to study how to expand IVF 

SUMTERVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Native American activist Leonard Peltier was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/leonard-peltier-biden-pardons-eba525b713f2ec739b84aa4426366775">released from a Florida prison</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, weeks after then-President Joe Biden angered law enforcement officials by commuting his life sentence in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.

For nearly half a century, Peltier’s imprisonment has symbolized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/leonard-peltier">systemic injustice</a>&nbsp;for Native Americans across the country who believe in his innocence. The decision to release the 80-year-old to home confinement was celebrated by supporters.

“He represents every person who’s been roughed up by a cop, profiled, had their children harassed at school,” said Nick Estes, a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe who advocated for Peltier’s release.

But the move just before Biden left office also prompted criticism from those who say Peltier is guilty, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chris-wray-fbi-farewell-trump-patel-partisanship-afe159a6e112e68dd5319ceac905d517">former FBI Director Christopher Wray</a>, who called him “a remorseless killer” in a private letter to Biden obtained by The Associated Press.

“Granting Peltier any relief from his conviction or sentence is wholly unjustified and would be an affront to the rule of law,” Wray wrote.

The commutation was not a pardon for crimes committed, something Peltier’s advocates have hoped for since he has always maintained his innocence.

Peltier left the prison Tuesday morning in an SUV, according to a prison official. He didn't stop to speak with reporters or his supporters outside the gates.

One of his attorneys, Jenipher Jones, said Peltier was looking forward to going home.

“We’re so excited for this moment,” Jones said. “He is in good spirits. He has the soul of a warrior.”

After being released from USP Coleman, a high-security prison, Peltier planned to return to North Dakota, where he is expected to celebrate with friends and family on Wednesday.

Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence Jan. 20, noting he had spent most of his life in prison and was now in poor health.

“We never thought he would get out,” Ray St. Clair, a member of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, said shortly before Peltier's release. “It shows you should never give up hope. We can take this repairing the damage that was done. This is a start.”

Peltier, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota, was active in the American Indian Movement, which beginning in the 1960s fought for Native American treaty rights and tribal self-determination.

The group&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/protests-and-demonstrations-united-states-government-south-dakota-religion-b3b62b1e89e713160ee0051c8b760459">grabbed headlines</a>&nbsp;in 1969 when activists occupied the former prison island of Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay, and again in 1972, when they presented presidential candidates with a list of demands including the restoration of tribal land. After they were ignored, they seized the headquarters of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

From then on, the group was subject to FBI surveillance and harassment under a covert program that sought to disrupt activism and was exposed in 1975.

Peltier's conviction stemmed from a confrontation that year on the Oglala Sioux Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in which FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams were killed. According to the FBI, the agents were there to serve arrest warrants for robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Prosecutors maintained at trial that Peltier shot both agents in the head at point-blank range. Peltier acknowledged being present and firing a gun at a distance, but he said he fired in self-defense. A woman who claimed to have seen Peltier shoot the agents later recanted her testimony, saying it had been coerced.

He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and given two consecutive life sentences.

Two other movement members, co-defendants Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.

Peltier was denied parole&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/leonard-peltier-parole-hearing-2d0df4e4997d988ec229b05de9dba648">as recently as July</a>&nbsp;and was not eligible to be considered for it again until 2026.

“Leonard Peltier’s release is the right thing to do given the serious and ongoing human rights concerns about the fairness of his trial, his nearly 50 years behind bars, his health and his age," Paul O’Brien, executive director with Amnesty International USA, said in a statement before Peltier's release. "While we welcome his release from prison, he should not be restricted to home confinement.”

Prominent Native American groups like the National Congress of the American Indian have called for Peltier's release for decades, and Amnesty International considered him a political prisoner. Prominent supporters over the years included South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, civil rights icon Coretta Scott King, actor and director Robert Redford and musicians Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte and Jackson Browne.

Generations of Indigenous activists and leaders lobbied multiple presidents to pardon Peltier. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and the first Native American to hold the secretary's position, praised Biden's decision.

“I am grateful that Leonard can now go home to his family,” she said Jan. 20 in a post on X. “I applaud President Biden for this action and understanding what this means to Indian Country.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739893159547.png" alt="FILE - American Indian activist Leonard Peltier speaks during an interview at the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan., April 29, 1999. (Joe Ledford/The Kansas City Star via AP, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - American Indian activist Leonard Peltier speaks during an interview at the U.S. Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan., April 29, 1999. (Joe Ledford/The Kansas City Star via AP, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMTERVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Native American activist Leonard Peltier was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/leonard-peltier-biden-pardons-eba525b713f2ec739b84aa4426366775">released from a Florida prison</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday, weeks after then-President Joe Biden angered law enforcement officials by commuting his life sentence in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.For nearly half a century, Peltier’s imprisonment has symbolized&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/leonard-peltier">systemic injustice</a>&nbsp;for Native Americans across the country who believe in his innocence. The decision to release the 80-year-old to home confinement was celebrated by supporters.“He represents every person who’s been roughed up by a cop, profiled, had their children harassed at school,” said Nick Estes, a professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe who advocated for Peltier’s release.But the move just before Biden left office also prompted criticism from those who say Peltier is guilty, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chris-wray-fbi-farewell-trump-patel-partisanship-afe159a6e112e68dd5319ceac905d517">former FBI Director Christopher Wray</a>, who called him “a remorseless killer” in a private letter to Biden obtained by The Associated Press.“Granting Peltier any relief from his conviction or sentence is wholly unjustified and would be an affront to the rule of law,” Wray wrote.The commutation was not a pardon for crimes committed, something Peltier’s advocates have hoped for since he has always maintained his innocence.Peltier left the prison Tuesday morning in an SUV, according to a prison official. He didn't stop to speak with reporters or his supporters outside the gates.One of his attorneys, Jenipher Jones, said Peltier was looking forward to going home.“We’re so excited for this moment,” Jones said. “He is in good spirits. He has the soul of a warrior.”After being released from USP Coleman, a high-security prison, Peltier planned to return to North Dakota, where he is expected to celebrate with friends and family on Wednesday.Biden commuted Peltier’s sentence Jan. 20, noting he had spent most of his life in prison and was now in poor health.“We never thought he would get out,” Ray St. Clair, a member of the White Earth Band of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, said shortly before Peltier's release. “It shows you should never give up hope. We can take this repairing the damage that was done. This is a start.”Peltier, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota, was active in the American Indian Movement, which beginning in the 1960s fought for Native American treaty rights and tribal self-determination.The group&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/protests-and-demonstrations-united-states-government-south-dakota-religion-b3b62b1e89e713160ee0051c8b760459">grabbed headlines</a>&nbsp;in 1969 when activists occupied the former prison island of Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay, and again in 1972, when they presented presidential candidates with a list of demands including the restoration of tribal land. After they were ignored, they seized the headquarters of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.From then on, the group was subject to FBI surveillance and harassment under a covert program that sought to disrupt activism and was exposed in 1975.Peltier's conviction stemmed from a confrontation that year on the Oglala Sioux Indian Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, in which FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams were killed. According to the FBI, the agents were there to serve arrest warrants for robbery and assault with a dangerous weapon.Prosecutors maintained at trial that Peltier shot both agents in the head at point-blank range. Peltier acknowledged being present and firing a gun at a distance, but he said he fired in self-defense. A woman who claimed to have seen Peltier shoot the agents later recanted her testimony, saying it had been coerced.He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and given two consecutive life sentences.Two other movement members, co-defendants Robert Robideau and Dino Butler, were acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.Peltier was denied parole&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/leonard-peltier-parole-hearing-2d0df4e4997d988ec229b05de9dba648">as recently as July</a>&nbsp;and was not eligible to be considered for it again until 2026.“Leonard Peltier’s release is the right thing to do given the serious and ongoing human rights concerns about the fairness of his trial, his nearly 50 years behind bars, his health and his age," Paul O’Brien, executive director with Amnesty International USA, said in a statement before Peltier's release. "While we welcome his release from prison, he should not be restricted to home confinement.”Prominent Native American groups like the National Congress of the American Indian have called for Peltier's release for decades, and Amnesty International considered him a political prisoner. Prominent supporters over the years included South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, civil rights icon Coretta Scott King, actor and director Robert Redford and musicians Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte and Jackson Browne.Generations of Indigenous activists and leaders lobbied multiple presidents to pardon Peltier. Former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna and the first Native American to hold the secretary's position, praised Biden's decision.“I am grateful that Leonard can now go home to his family,” she said Jan. 20 in a post on X. “I applaud President Biden for this action and understanding what this means to Indian Country.”As a young child, Peltier was taken from his family and sent to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-indian-country-harris-arizona-election-0ac697174d60f8481924a09cbc0c6d51">boarding school</a>. Thousands of Indigenous children over decades faced the same fate, and were in many cases subjected to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/indian-boarding-schools-biden-apology-3e5376d10406e21c25eee35fc6be7510">systemic physical, psychological and sexual abuse</a>.“He hasn’t really had a home since he was taken away to boarding school,” said Nick Tilsen, who has been advocating for Peltier's release since he was a teen and is CEO of NDN Collective, an Indigenous-led advocacy group based in South Dakota. “So he is excited to be at home and paint and have grandkids running around.”___Brewer reported from Norman, Oklahoma.