KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 30-year-old&nbsp;Rahmalle Ceasar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just before 7p.m. Saturday, patrol officers were dispatched to 53rd and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, on a reported shooting with a victim down in a parking lot, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they were directed to a convenience store on Prospect. There officers located Ceasar in the parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. 

Police officers began performing lifesaving measures and summoned medical personnel to the scene. KCFD medics pronounced him deceased at the scene. This is being investigated as a homicide. There is no one in custody.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754225807663.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 30-year-old&nbsp;Rahmalle Ceasar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just before 7p.m. Saturday, patrol officers were dispatched to 53rd and Prospect in Kansas City, Missouri, on a reported shooting with a victim down in a parking lot, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.As officers arrived they were directed to a convenience store on Prospect. There officers located Ceasar in the parking lot suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Police officers began performing lifesaving measures and summoned medical personnel to the scene. KCFD medics pronounced him deceased at the scene. This is being investigated as a homicide. There is no one in custody.&nbsp;

Homicide: Police found shooting victim in KC store parking lot

WASHINGTON&nbsp;- U.S. Senator Jerry Moran — the chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation&nbsp; released the following statement after the conclusion of the National Transportation Safety Board’s three-day investigative hearing into the January 29 midair collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter.

“Six months after the tragic crash near DCA, the NTSB laid out a series of failures it has uncovered so far in its investigation of the tragedy that claimed 67 lives, including Kansans. While there is no single factor that led to the crash on January 29, it is alarming that FAA failed to act on years of data and near misses indicating serious problems with the design of the mixed airspace around DCA. The FAA blamed their inaction on bureaucracy but did not take action to try and alleviate the bureaucratic roadblocks within the agency. That is no excuse.&nbsp;

“The NTSB uncovered long-term staffing issues at the control tower that were compounded by a culture of distrust among DCA air traffic controllers and a toleration for unacceptable risks; found inaccurate altitude readings on the helicopter; and discovered the ADS-B Out technology was not transmitting on the Blackhawk likely due to faulty equipment that the Army failed to identify and has now been found to be an issue on numerous other Army helicopters as well.

“I commend Chair Homendy on her thorough investigation into this crash and her dedication in bringing to light the failures in our airspace. Despite numerous warnings signs of serious problems over the last several years, little was done to try and correct them, and these failures by the FAA, the Army and air traffic control cost 67 lives. I know the last few days have been painful for the families of the victims, and I assure them that Congress will not let these failures go unanswered. We cannot undo the tragic loss of life, but we can work to make certain it never happens again.”

Congressional Action since January 29:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753879190797.png" alt="Photo NTSB" />
 <figcaption>Photo NTSB</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON&nbsp;- U.S. Senator Jerry Moran — the chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation&nbsp; released the following statement after the conclusion of the National Transportation Safety Board’s three-day investigative hearing into the January 29 midair collision between American Airlines flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk helicopter.“Six months after the tragic crash near DCA, the NTSB laid out a series of failures it has uncovered so far in its investigation of the tragedy that claimed 67 lives, including Kansans. While there is no single factor that led to the crash on January 29, it is alarming that FAA failed to act on years of data and near misses indicating serious problems with the design of the mixed airspace around DCA. The FAA blamed their inaction on bureaucracy but did not take action to try and alleviate the bureaucratic roadblocks within the agency. That is no excuse.&nbsp;“The NTSB uncovered long-term staffing issues at the control tower that were compounded by a culture of distrust among DCA air traffic controllers and a toleration for unacceptable risks; found inaccurate altitude readings on the helicopter; and discovered the ADS-B Out technology was not transmitting on the Blackhawk likely due to faulty equipment that the Army failed to identify and has now been found to be an issue on numerous other Army helicopters as well.“I commend Chair Homendy on her thorough investigation into this crash and her dedication in bringing to light the failures in our airspace. Despite numerous warnings signs of serious problems over the last several years, little was done to try and correct them, and these failures by the FAA, the Army and air traffic control cost 67 lives. I know the last few days have been painful for the families of the victims, and I assure them that Congress will not let these failures go unanswered. We cannot undo the tragic loss of life, but we can work to make certain it never happens again.”Congressional Action since January 29:<ol>
 <li>Feb. 5: Sen. Moran and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.)&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=36B2737E-26E4-4733-B6F8-7F261A2C9E5D">call on the FAA</a>&nbsp;to restrict non-essential helicopter operations near DCA.</li><li>March 13: Sen. Moran and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas)&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=D7323088-98D9-4B35-B4B1-B81D3ACF22EF">press the Army</a>&nbsp;to answer questions regarding the Army’s role in the midair collision on January 29th.</li><li>March 27: The Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=6B0933F9-6B02-480A-8A70-4531D0A64811">holds a hearing</a>&nbsp;on the January 29 midair collision.</li><li>May 14: Sen. Moran&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=91FECE28-4241-4A97-95BB-04F909559D70">questions FAA officials</a>&nbsp;on the lack of response on near-miss data aggregated in their databases during a Commerce hearing.</li><li>May 16: Sen. Moran&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=2544D35B-93DD-451F-BE67-FFC08F210110">introduces legislation</a>&nbsp;to require all aircraft in high-volume airspace to use ADS-B technology.</li><li>May 16: Sen. Moran&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=FDD6F2AB-4D3D-4A08-B9F8-C5AB3E95642B">questions Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy</a>&nbsp;during a hearing on current restrictions around DCA.</li><li>June 10: Senators&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=127DC1B6-DEB8-4C86-9250-76EB2BBA3F76">call for audits</a>&nbsp;into the Department of Transportation and the Army’s response to the midair collision.</li><li>June 11: Sen. Moran leads a briefing with NTSB, FAA and Army on additional near collisions that occurred between an Army helicopter and two commercial aircraft in April after the crash.</li><li>June 12: Sen. Moran&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=C5E084BC-BBFB-47C3-9954-0759B6533257">questions Defense Secretary Pete&nbsp;Hegseth</a>&nbsp;on the use of ADS-B technology in military aircraft.</li><li>July 29: Sen. Moran joins his colleagues in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.moran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=63BE7B2D-8F4D-4467-AF88-1CA2D46F24A2">introducing the ROTOR Act</a>&nbsp;to require the use of location technology in high-volume airspace and initiate a review of flight routes near DC and an Inspector General’s audit of the Army’s aviation practices.</li>
 </ol>

Kan. U.S. Senator's statement on NTSB hearing on fatal DCA midair collision 

NEW YORK (AP) — Boeing workers who build fighter jets went on strike Monday at midnight Central Daylight Time.

About 3,200 workers at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; St. Charles, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois, voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said Sunday.

In a post on X, the union said: “3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough.”

The vote followed members’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-defense-machinists-union-contract-strike-60670fdfd1bbed54eb3e91ed682cc2c8">rejection last week of an earlier proposal</a>&nbsp;from the troubled aerospace giant, which had included a 20% wage increase over four years.

“IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe,” said Sam Cicinelli, Midwest territory general vice president for the union, in a statement. “They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise.”

At the time of the earlier vote, union leaders had recommended approving the offer, calling it a “landmark agreement” and saying it would improve medical, pension and overtime benefits.

The union members rejected the latest proposal after a weeklong cooling-off period.

“We’re disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules," said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager, and senior St. Louis site executive. "We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.”

Boeing has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-aviation-aircraft-air-india-crash-f12b20e65dc57ae655a1e0759b58938f">struggling</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-plea-737-max-crashes-b34daa014406657e720bec4a990dccf6">two of its Boeing 737 Max airplanes crashed</a>, one in Indonesia in 2018 and the other in Ethiopia in 2019, killing 346 people. In June, one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-plane-crash-ahmedabad-1da81c28862041317f29f547d3f00348">Boeing's Dreamliner planes, operated by Air India, crashed</a>, killing at least 260 people.

Last week, Boeing reported that its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-ntsb-max-faa-a5d9b4a7fc3d26906fee65130cd43234">second-quarter revenue</a>&nbsp;had improved and losses had narrowed. The company lost $611 million in the second quarter, compared to a loss of $1.44 billion during the same period last year.

NEW YORK (AP) — Boeing workers who build fighter jets went on strike Monday at midnight Central Daylight Time.About 3,200 workers at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; St. Charles, Missouri; and Mascoutah, Illinois, voted to reject a modified four-year labor agreement with Boeing, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union said Sunday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 STRIKE ALERT: 3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough. This is about respect and dignity, not empty promises. <a href="https://t.co/2mRlPkmOMm">https://t.co/2mRlPkmOMm</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UnionStrong?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UnionStrong</a>&mdash; IAM Union (@IAM_Union) <a href="https://twitter.com/IAM_Union/status/1952244162931155295?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In a post on X, the union said: “3,200 highly-skilled IAM Union members at Boeing went on strike at midnight because enough is enough.”The vote followed members’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-defense-machinists-union-contract-strike-60670fdfd1bbed54eb3e91ed682cc2c8">rejection last week of an earlier proposal</a>&nbsp;from the troubled aerospace giant, which had included a 20% wage increase over four years.“IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe,” said Sam Cicinelli, Midwest territory general vice president for the union, in a statement. “They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise.”At the time of the earlier vote, union leaders had recommended approving the offer, calling it a “landmark agreement” and saying it would improve medical, pension and overtime benefits.The union members rejected the latest proposal after a weeklong cooling-off period.“We’re disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40% average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules," said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager, and senior St. Louis site executive. "We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.”Boeing has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-aviation-aircraft-air-india-crash-f12b20e65dc57ae655a1e0759b58938f">struggling</a>&nbsp;after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-plea-737-max-crashes-b34daa014406657e720bec4a990dccf6">two of its Boeing 737 Max airplanes crashed</a>, one in Indonesia in 2018 and the other in Ethiopia in 2019, killing 346 people. In June, one of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/air-india-plane-crash-ahmedabad-1da81c28862041317f29f547d3f00348">Boeing's Dreamliner planes, operated by Air India, crashed</a>, killing at least 260 people.Last week, Boeing reported that its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-ntsb-max-faa-a5d9b4a7fc3d26906fee65130cd43234">second-quarter revenue</a>&nbsp;had improved and losses had narrowed. The company lost $611 million in the second quarter, compared to a loss of $1.44 billion during the same period last year.

Boeing workers who build fighter jets go on strike

THOMAS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after noon on Sunday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1991 Kawasaki driven by Duane D.&nbsp; Kriegshauser, 62, Colby, was northbound on Kansas 25 approximately one mile north of Interstate 70.

The motorcycle struck the right side of a 2006 Toyota Prius driven by Laura D. Kern, 32, Colby, who had slowed and was attempting a turn into a private drive.

&nbsp;Kriegshauser was pronounced deceased just before 1p.m. at Citizens Medical Center. Kern was properly restrained and not injured. Kriegshauser was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

THOMAS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after noon on Sunday in Thomas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1991 Kawasaki driven by Duane D.&nbsp; Kriegshauser, 62, Colby, was northbound on Kansas 25 approximately one mile north of Interstate 70.The motorcycle struck the right side of a 2006 Toyota Prius driven by Laura D. Kern, 32, Colby, who had slowed and was attempting a turn into a private drive.&nbsp;Kriegshauser was pronounced deceased just before 1p.m. at Citizens Medical Center. Kern was properly restrained and not injured. Kriegshauser was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after motorcycle, car accident

SALINE COUNTY — Small earthquakes shook central Kansas on over the weekend.

Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 rattled portions of rural Saline County approximately 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.&nbsp; A 2.7 magnitude quake shook the same area a short time later.

Just after 5:35p.m. Sunday the USGS reported a 3.3 magnitude quake approximately 4 miles southeast of Assaria.

There are no reports of damage and no calls about the quakes, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754176253943.png" alt="Location of Saturday's quake -USGS image" />
 <figcaption>Location of Saturday's quake -USGS image</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY — Small earthquakes shook central Kansas on over the weekend.Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, a quake measuring a magnitude 3.4 rattled portions of rural Saline County approximately 4.3 miles east of Assaria, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.&nbsp; A 2.7 magnitude quake shook the same area a short time later.Just after 5:35p.m. Sunday the USGS reported a 3.3 magnitude quake approximately 4 miles southeast of Assaria.There are no reports of damage and no calls about the quakes, according to the Saline County Sheriff's office.

USGS reports more earthquakes in central Kansas

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop. 

Just after 10:30p.. on July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, acording to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The traffic stop led to the arrest of the driver, 48-year-old Carl Thomas Ramsey, of Topeka.  Ramsey was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methampehtamine, criminal possession of a weapon by felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, distribute cocaine, criminal use of weapons; possession of firearm by person addicted/use controlled substance and no drug tax stamp.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753809979269.png" alt="Ramsey-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Ramsey-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY – Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop. Just after 10:30p.. on July 27, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. Highway 75, near 134th Road for a traffic infraction, acording to Sheriff Tim Morse.The traffic stop led to the arrest of the driver, 48-year-old Carl Thomas Ramsey, of Topeka. Ramsey was booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of&nbsp; possession of methampehtamine, criminal possession of a weapon by felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, distribute cocaine, criminal use of weapons; possession of firearm by person addicted/use controlled substance and no drug tax stamp.

Sheriff: Kansas felon accused of selling cocaine

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.

Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a “prolonged” illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.

“WKRP in Cincinnati” aired from 1978-1982 and was set in a flagging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as the sexy and smart Jennifer Marlowe.

As the station’s receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer used her sex appeal to deflect unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her efficiency often kept the station running in the face of others’ incompetence.

The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.

Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace” and the two later married and became tabloid fixtures before divorcing in 1994.

Anderson wrote a 1995 autobiography, “My Life in High Heels,” which she said was about “the growth of a woman, a woman who survives. It’s about my childhood, the death of my parents, my career, my divorces, and my children. Then of course, the trauma of my marriage to Burt.”

“I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” Anderson told The Associated Press. “You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because you’re telling the truth.”

Anderson is survived by her husband Bob Flick, daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754261478356.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Loni Anderson, who played a struggling radio station’s empowered receptionist on the hit TV comedy “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Sunday, just days before her 80th birthday.Anderson died at a Los Angeles hospital following a “prolonged” illness, said her longtime publicist, Cheryl J. Kagan.“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our dear wife, mother and grandmother,” Anderson’s family said in a statement.“WKRP in Cincinnati” aired from 1978-1982 and was set in a flagging Ohio radio station trying to reinvent itself with rock music. The cast included Gary Sandy, Tim Reid, Howard Hesseman, Frank Bonner and Jan Smithers, alongside Anderson as the sexy and smart Jennifer Marlowe.As the station’s receptionist, the blonde and high-heeled Jennifer used her sex appeal to deflect unwanted business calls for her boss, Mr. Carlson. Her efficiency often kept the station running in the face of others’ incompetence.The role earned Anderson two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe nominations.Anderson starred on the big screen alongside Burt Reynolds in the 1983 comedy “Stroker Ace” and the two later married and became tabloid fixtures before divorcing in 1994.Anderson wrote a 1995 autobiography, “My Life in High Heels,” which she said was about “the growth of a woman, a woman who survives. It’s about my childhood, the death of my parents, my career, my divorces, and my children. Then of course, the trauma of my marriage to Burt.”“I think if you’re going to write about yourself, you have to do it warts and all,” Anderson told The Associated Press. “You may not even tell the nicest things about yourself, because you’re telling the truth.”Anderson is survived by her husband Bob Flick, daughter Deidra and son-in law Charlie Hoffman, son Quinton Anderson Reynolds, grandchildren McKenzie and Megan Hoffman, stepson Adam Flick and wife Helene, step-grandchildren Felix and Maximilian.

Loni Anderson, ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ star, has died

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City woman has been found a guilty of embezzlement, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

“We are proud of last week’s conviction, which is exactly the kind of justice our community deserves,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “In this case, the defendant abused their position of trust to steal from their employer. We will never tolerate these kinds of crimes and pursuing anyone who preys on businesses, whether from the outside or within, remains one of our top priorities.”

During a jury trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2690/JUDGMENT---State-v-Kristen-Cannon_FINAL">Kristen Cannon was convicted</a>&nbsp;of one count of Stealing - $750 or more. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23. Cannon faces up to seven years in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2689/Kristen-Cannon-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Cannon was employed at a business between the dates of May 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, and had access to business finances. The business owner told detectives that the defendant had used the business card for more than $18,000 in personal expenses not related to the business.&nbsp;

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City woman has been found a guilty of embezzlement, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.“We are proud of last week’s conviction, which is exactly the kind of justice our community deserves,”&nbsp;said Prosecutor Johnson. “In this case, the defendant abused their position of trust to steal from their employer. We will never tolerate these kinds of crimes and pursuing anyone who preys on businesses, whether from the outside or within, remains one of our top priorities.”During a jury trial,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2690/JUDGMENT---State-v-Kristen-Cannon_FINAL">Kristen Cannon was convicted</a>&nbsp;of one count of Stealing - $750 or more. Sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 23. Cannon faces up to seven years in prison.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753806938329.png" alt="Court record from the Jackson Co. Prosecutor's office" />
 <figcaption>Court record from the Jackson Co. Prosecutor's office</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2689/Kristen-Cannon-PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Cannon was employed at a business between the dates of May 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, and had access to business finances. The business owner told detectives that the defendant had used the business card for more than $18,000 in personal expenses not related to the business.&nbsp;

Embezzlement: KC woman paid her taxes with company credit card

While the crypto machines can be used for legitimate reasons, they’ve become favored by scammers.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>

They may resemble other ATMs, but officials are increasingly warning about the potential for fraud with the expanding fleet of cryptocurrency ATMs popping up across the country.

The National Consumers League says the largely unregulated machines have become&nbsp;<a href="https://nclnet.org/ncl-supports-new-legislation-to-combat-crypto-atm-fraud/" target="_blank">favored by scammers</a>&nbsp;for their anonymity and irreversibility — once a user transfers or deposits funds, that money is essentially gone.

While officials say the machines can be used for legitimate purposes, red and blue states are increasingly imposing new regulations to protect consumers: AARP says 11 states have recently passed new laws or regulations of the machines.

“In state after state, AARP found lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and local law enforcement eager to work on commonsense rules that balance innovation and consumer safety,” Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer, said in a news release.

Last year, the FBI reported nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf" target="_blank">11,000 complaints</a>&nbsp;of cryptocurrency ATM fraud. Those cases disproportionately affected older Americans and cost victims $246.7 million.

<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/cryptocurrency" target="_blank">Cryptocurrencies</a>&nbsp;are digital assets, including bitcoin, that offer an alternative payment or method without control of a central bank or government like other currencies.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/investigation-fraud-and-risk/cryptocurrency-atms/" target="_blank">Crypto ATMs</a>, sometimes called crypto kiosks, allow users to insert cash or use debit cards to convert currencies such as U.S. dollars into cryptocurrencies.

The Federal Trade Commission says crypto ATM scams&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/scammers-use-bitcoin-atms-steal-your-money" target="_blank">often start&nbsp;</a>with a call or text message warning of a supposed problem, such as unauthorized bank charges or suspicious activity on an Amazon account.

The FTC says consumers should contact banks or other institutions directly about any account issues. And it warns consumers not to believe anyone who says they must use a crypto ATM to address a financial problem.

“Real businesses and government agencies will never do that — anyone who does is a scammer,” the agency said.

After signing a bill with new regulations, Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen was clear that the state would continue to welcome cryptocurrency businesses as it aims to become a hub for the industry.

The Nebraska law requires ATM operators to acquire state licensure, warn customers of the potential for criminal exploitation and take “reasonable steps to detect and prevent fraud.” The law also limits transactions to $2,000 per day for new customers and $10,500 for existing customers, and requires operators to issue refunds for properly reported fraudulent transactions.

At least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/financial-services/cryptocurrency-digital-or-virtual-currency-and-digital-assets-2025-legislation" target="_blank">40 states</a>&nbsp;have introduced legislation regarding cryptocurrency, digital or virtual currencies and other digital assets in the 2025 legislative session, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Those measures include ATM regulations, prohibiting the use of digital currencies by governments and allowing state investment in digital assets.

Federal lawmakers are also taking action on the issue. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives declared the week of July 14&nbsp;<a href="https://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410793" target="_blank">“Crypto Week,”</a>&nbsp;when lawmakers considered several pieces of legislation.

At the end of that week, President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-signs-genius-act-crypto-bill/" target="_blank">signed</a>&nbsp;into law the GENIUS Act, the first major law governing digital currency. It establishes a regulatory framework for the industry.

Trump hopes the bill will instill confidence in the industry that spent heavily to strengthen its legitimacy and political might, The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-stablecoins-congress-cryptocurrency-94fa3c85e32ec6fd5a55576cf46e58ea" target="_blank">reported</a>.

“This signing is a massive validation of your hard work and your pioneering spirit,” the president told crypto executives.

In state legislatures, new bills regulating crypto ATMS have enjoyed bipartisan support. AARP tracking shows new bills have been approved in Arkansas, Iowa and Oklahoma, as well as in more liberal states such as Maryland and Vermont.

In May, Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs&nbsp;<a href="https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/news/2025/05/governor-katie-hobbs-legislative-action-update-2" target="_blank">signed</a>&nbsp;Republican-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1r/bills/hb2387h.htm" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;that sets daily transaction limits and mandates crypto ATM operators provide customers certain disclosures and warnings.

The legislation followed local news coverage of at least<a href="https://www.azfamily.com/2025/02/07/new-warning-after-arizonans-lose-millions-bitcoin-atm-scams/" target="_blank">&nbsp;two dozen crypto scams</a>, including one that cost an Arizonan $28,000.

Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753716326941.png" alt="Image courtesy Bitcoin Depot" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Bitcoin Depot</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>While the crypto machines can be used for legitimate reasons, they’ve become favored by scammers.</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>They may resemble other ATMs, but officials are increasingly warning about the potential for fraud with the expanding fleet of cryptocurrency ATMs popping up across the country.The National Consumers League says the largely unregulated machines have become&nbsp;<a href="https://nclnet.org/ncl-supports-new-legislation-to-combat-crypto-atm-fraud/" target="_blank">favored by scammers</a>&nbsp;for their anonymity and irreversibility — once a user transfers or deposits funds, that money is essentially gone.While officials say the machines can be used for legitimate purposes, red and blue states are increasingly imposing new regulations to protect consumers: AARP says 11 states have recently passed new laws or regulations of the machines.“In state after state, AARP found lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and local law enforcement eager to work on commonsense rules that balance innovation and consumer safety,” Nancy LeaMond, AARP’s executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer, said in a news release.Last year, the FBI reported nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf" target="_blank">11,000 complaints</a>&nbsp;of cryptocurrency ATM fraud. Those cases disproportionately affected older Americans and cost victims $246.7 million.<a href="https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/cryptocurrency" target="_blank">Cryptocurrencies</a>&nbsp;are digital assets, including bitcoin, that offer an alternative payment or method without control of a central bank or government like other currencies.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/investigation-fraud-and-risk/cryptocurrency-atms/" target="_blank">Crypto ATMs</a>, sometimes called crypto kiosks, allow users to insert cash or use debit cards to convert currencies such as U.S. dollars into cryptocurrencies.The Federal Trade Commission says crypto ATM scams&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/scammers-use-bitcoin-atms-steal-your-money" target="_blank">often start&nbsp;</a>with a call or text message warning of a supposed problem, such as unauthorized bank charges or suspicious activity on an Amazon account.The FTC says consumers should contact banks or other institutions directly about any account issues. And it warns consumers not to believe anyone who says they must use a crypto ATM to address a financial problem.“Real businesses and government agencies will never do that — anyone who does is a scammer,” the agency said.After signing a bill with new regulations, Nebraska Republican Gov. Jim Pillen was clear that the state would continue to welcome cryptocurrency businesses as it aims to become a hub for the industry.The Nebraska law requires ATM operators to acquire state licensure, warn customers of the potential for criminal exploitation and take “reasonable steps to detect and prevent fraud.” The law also limits transactions to $2,000 per day for new customers and $10,500 for existing customers, and requires operators to issue refunds for properly reported fraudulent transactions.At least&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/financial-services/cryptocurrency-digital-or-virtual-currency-and-digital-assets-2025-legislation" target="_blank">40 states</a>&nbsp;have introduced legislation regarding cryptocurrency, digital or virtual currencies and other digital assets in the 2025 legislative session, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Those measures include ATM regulations, prohibiting the use of digital currencies by governments and allowing state investment in digital assets.Federal lawmakers are also taking action on the issue. The Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives declared the week of July 14&nbsp;<a href="https://financialservices.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=410793" target="_blank">“Crypto Week,”</a>&nbsp;when lawmakers considered several pieces of legislation.At the end of that week, President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-signs-genius-act-crypto-bill/" target="_blank">signed</a>&nbsp;into law the GENIUS Act, the first major law governing digital currency. It establishes a regulatory framework for the industry.Trump hopes the bill will instill confidence in the industry that spent heavily to strengthen its legitimacy and political might, The Associated Press&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-stablecoins-congress-cryptocurrency-94fa3c85e32ec6fd5a55576cf46e58ea" target="_blank">reported</a>.“This signing is a massive validation of your hard work and your pioneering spirit,” the president told crypto executives.In state legislatures, new bills regulating crypto ATMS have enjoyed bipartisan support. AARP tracking shows new bills have been approved in Arkansas, Iowa and Oklahoma, as well as in more liberal states such as Maryland and Vermont.In May, Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs&nbsp;<a href="https://azgovernor.gov/office-arizona-governor/news/2025/05/governor-katie-hobbs-legislative-action-update-2" target="_blank">signed</a>&nbsp;Republican-sponsored&nbsp;<a href="https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1r/bills/hb2387h.htm" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;that sets daily transaction limits and mandates crypto ATM operators provide customers certain disclosures and warnings.The legislation followed local news coverage of at least<a href="https://www.azfamily.com/2025/02/07/new-warning-after-arizonans-lose-millions-bitcoin-atm-scams/" target="_blank">&nbsp;two dozen crypto scams</a>, including one that cost an Arizonan $28,000.Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>.

Citing potential for fraud, blue and red states pass new crypto ATM laws

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hillel-italie">HILLEL ITALIE</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;will have a memoir out in the fall on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-democratic-presidential-nomination-eb43b6b346cc644b2d195315cb2bfb20">her historic presidential run</a>.

The book is called “107 Days,” the length of her abbreviated campaign, and will be published by Simon &amp; Schuster on Sept. 23.

On Wednesday, she announced that she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-california-governor-2026-eeea5d7315d65cebb50692c5311379fb">will not run for California governor</a>&nbsp;in 2026, but she is still regarded as a potential presidential candidate for 2028. CBS Television announced that Harris will appear Thursday night on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” her first interview since the election.

Simon &amp; Schuster, where authors also include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, is calling the Harris book a “page-turning account,” with ”surprising and revealing insights.”

“Kamala Harris is a singular American leader,” Karp said in a statement. “‘107 DAYS’ captures the drama of running for president better than just about anything I’ve read. It’s one of the best works of political nonfiction Simon &amp; Schuster has ever published. It’s an eyewitness contribution to history and an extraordinary story.”

Financial terms for “107 Days,” which is listed at 320 pages, were not disclosed. In 2019, Penguin Books published Harris’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9a8a5861627846f9b378bf86e9c27966">“The Truths We Hold: An American Journey</a>,” timed to coincide with her presidential run for the 2020 election. Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-politics-election-2020-kamala-harris-9f15f9bae46c54de8d88ad3e8388e4be">dropped out before the first primary</a>&nbsp;but was eventually chosen by Biden to be his running mate.

“Just over a year ago, I launched my campaign for President of the United States,” Harris said in a video announcement on Thursday. “107 days traveling the country, fighting for our future — the shortest presidential campaign in modern history. Since leaving office, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on those days and with candor and reflection, I’ve written a behind-the-scenes account of that journey. I believe there’s value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what it will take to move forward.”

Simon &amp; Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp declined to offer any specifics on what Harris will write about, including her thoughts on questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-pardon-fitness-reelection-interview-eb84cf6c3e201fa6100419b9fe616f8a">President Joe Biden’s fitness for office</a>, but said Harris “addresses everything we would want her to address.”

Harris ended up heading the Democratic ticket after Biden dropped out last July in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-lawmakers-debate-2c426f98063ab30143a7675cba10a5b4">a disastrous debate performance</a>, and she was defeated last November by Republican Donald Trump. She would have been the first woman and first woman of color to become president.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hillel-italie">HILLEL ITALIE</a>NEW YORK (AP) — Former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kamala-harris">Kamala Harris</a>&nbsp;will have a memoir out in the fall on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harris-democratic-presidential-nomination-eb43b6b346cc644b2d195315cb2bfb20">her historic presidential run</a>.The book is called “107 Days,” the length of her abbreviated campaign, and will be published by Simon &amp; Schuster on Sept. 23.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What the world saw on the campaign trail was only part of the story. My new book is a behind-the-scenes look at my experience leading the shortest presidential campaign in modern history. 107 Days is out on September 23. I can&#39;t wait for you to read it: <a href="https://t.co/G4bkeZB4NZ">https://t.co/G4bkeZB4NZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/taUof0L4hs">pic.twitter.com/taUof0L4hs</a>&mdash; Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1950904316841115711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Wednesday, she announced that she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-california-governor-2026-eeea5d7315d65cebb50692c5311379fb">will not run for California governor</a>&nbsp;in 2026, but she is still regarded as a potential presidential candidate for 2028. CBS Television announced that Harris will appear Thursday night on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” her first interview since the election.Simon &amp; Schuster, where authors also include former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, is calling the Harris book a “page-turning account,” with ”surprising and revealing insights.”“Kamala Harris is a singular American leader,” Karp said in a statement. “‘107 DAYS’ captures the drama of running for president better than just about anything I’ve read. It’s one of the best works of political nonfiction Simon &amp; Schuster has ever published. It’s an eyewitness contribution to history and an extraordinary story.”Financial terms for “107 Days,” which is listed at 320 pages, were not disclosed. In 2019, Penguin Books published Harris’&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9a8a5861627846f9b378bf86e9c27966">“The Truths We Hold: An American Journey</a>,” timed to coincide with her presidential run for the 2020 election. Harris&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-politics-election-2020-kamala-harris-9f15f9bae46c54de8d88ad3e8388e4be">dropped out before the first primary</a>&nbsp;but was eventually chosen by Biden to be his running mate.“Just over a year ago, I launched my campaign for President of the United States,” Harris said in a video announcement on Thursday. “107 days traveling the country, fighting for our future — the shortest presidential campaign in modern history. Since leaving office, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on those days and with candor and reflection, I’ve written a behind-the-scenes account of that journey. I believe there’s value in sharing what I saw, what I learned, and what it will take to move forward.”Simon &amp; Schuster CEO Jonathan Karp declined to offer any specifics on what Harris will write about, including her thoughts on questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-trump-pardon-fitness-reelection-interview-eb84cf6c3e201fa6100419b9fe616f8a">President Joe Biden’s fitness for office</a>, but said Harris “addresses everything we would want her to address.”Harris ended up heading the Democratic ticket after Biden dropped out last July in the wake of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-2024-lawmakers-debate-2c426f98063ab30143a7675cba10a5b4">a disastrous debate performance</a>, and she was defeated last November by Republican Donald Trump. She would have been the first woman and first woman of color to become president.

🎥Kamala Harris memoir about presidential run a real 'page-turner'

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/tom-murphy">TOM MURPHY</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;NICKY FORSTER Associated Press

Delayed treatments, canceled doctor visits, skipped prescriptions. Losing insurance is bad for your health.

The Congressional Budget Office forecasts that the U.S. uninsured population will grow by 10 million in 2034, due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-taxes-spending-deficit-government-spending-79e6a1bd795e7f82ca39986a407ddbef">the tax and spending bill</a>&nbsp;signed into law by President Donald Trump.

And, thanks to a natural experiment nearly two decades ago, researchers can forecast what that will mean for patient care. Among the problems they predict will develop as a direct result of these people losing coverage:

— About 2.5 million people may no longer have a personal doctor.

— About 1.6 million patients will take on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfpb-medical-debt-credit-reports-41f212ee6b89f9902deb267d75ab8443">medical debt</a>.

— The lack of care may cause nearly 22,000 deaths annually.

“There’s really no questioning the basic reality that you can’t take health care away from 10 million people without causing many preventable deaths,” said Dr. Adam Gaffney, lead researcher on a team that explored the new law’s impact.

Here’s a deeper look at the research and challenges that could develop.

It will become harder for many people to enroll in Medicaid or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-to-shop-for-health-insurance-16fa0b3d10e052e0e99699b4761a2d1a">individual insurance plans</a>&nbsp;and then stay covered. Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes.

States will have to verify every six months whether someone remains eligible for Medicaid. That could cause coverage lapses for people with incomes that fluctuate or for those who move and miss renewal paperwork.

Many also are expected to lose coverage as states require Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer or go to school unless exempted.

Enrollment in Medicaid has swelled in recent years. Republicans are cutting back in part to help fund tax breaks and pay for other priorities like border security.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e">They also say</a>&nbsp;they are trying to root out waste and fraud by rightsizing Medicaid for the population it was initially designed to serve — mainly pregnant women, the disabled and children.

People covered through the Affordable Care Act’s individual insurance marketplaces also will see shorter enrollment windows and no more automatic renewals.

Gaffney, of Harvard Medical School, and other researchers looked to past studies to measure how many people would experience detrimental effects, like going without prescriptions, from the upcoming changes. Gaffney updated the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-00716" target="_blank">published analysis</a>, which was originally based on the House version of the bill, at the AP’s request.

One study in particular was critical for their work: In 2008, Oregon offered a rare opportunity to compare groups of people enrolled in Medicaid with those who were not.

After a four-year period of frozen enrollment due to budget limitations, the state determined it could enroll 10,000 more people in Medicaid. It used a lottery system to make the selection amid high demand.

That gave researchers a chance to follow people who got coverage and those who did not, similar to how scientists testing a new drug might compare patients taking it to those given a placebo.

“This is a gold standard research design because it replicates a randomized-controlled trial,” said Christine Eibner, a senior economist at RAND Corp. who was not involved in the study.

Applying results from that study and other research to the recent CBO estimate allowed Gaffney and other researchers to estimate specific effects of losing coverage.

“By taking coverage away, we are putting patients in a terrible position,” said Gaffney, a former president of Physicians for a National Health Program.

Amanda Schlesier went four days without her cancer treatment Calquence this spring and wound up in a local emergency room, delirious with pain.

The leukemia patient worries about what might happen if she stops treatment again for a longer stretch because she’s lost Medicaid.

“God forbid I forget to fill out a page of documentation, and suddenly I lose access to my medication or my doctors or any of the treatment that I’ve been going through,” the 33-year-old Farmington Hills, Michigan, resident said.

People can still receive care when they don’t have coverage, but important steps often are delayed, said Dr. Gwen Nichols, chief medical officer of The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society.

Patients may be able to visit a doctor, but they would have to line up coverage or help before they can receive expensive chemotherapy. Diagnosis also may be delayed. Meanwhile, the patient’s cancer continues to grow.

“It’s a ticking time bomb,” Nichols said.

The first thing patients often ditch when they lose coverage are screenings designed to catch health problems before they become serious, said Dr. Jen Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

That could mean patients skip tests for high cholesterol, which can contribute to heart disease, or colonoscopies that detect cancer. Researchers forecast that a half million fewer women will have gotten a mammogram within the past year by 2034.

When patients struggle financially and lose coverage, they focus on things like keeping a place to live and food on their table, said Brull, a Fort Collins, Colorado, physician.

“Seeing a doctor because you don’t want to get sick feels like a much lower priority,” Brull said.

Patients start taking financial hits at all ends of care when they lose coverage.

They may have to pay up front or start a payment plan before they receive care, said Erin Bradshaw, an executive vice president with the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation, which helps people with medical bills.

Anyone with an outstanding balance will have to pay it before the next appointment.

Financial assistance may be available,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-bills-health-886bc0d7e7bd022026555779411b749f">but patients don’t always know about it</a>. Getting help also may take time and require the submission of tax returns, pay stubs or some validation that the patient no longer has coverage.

Bradshaw said letters stating that a patient has lost Medicaid sometimes arrive a couple months after the fact. That can contribute to treatment delays or missed medication doses.

Some patients also try to avoid financial stress by skipping care. Schlesier said she delayed seeing a doctor when she first felt symptoms of her cancer returning because she had no coverage at the time.

If prescriptions are too expensive, patients may simply not get them or split the doses to stretch the medicine.

For Thomas Harper, it’s a question of priorities.

“Sometimes you have to make a choice, how well do you want to eat this week versus taking your medicine,” he said.

The West Monroe, Louisiana, truck driver has around $300 a month in prescriptions as he deals with diabetes and recovers from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

Harper, 57, recently returned to work. That meant he lost Medicaid, which covered more of his prescription costs. He’s balancing buying his meds with shopping for healthy food that keeps his blood sugar in check and builds his immune system.

“I’ll survive, but I know there’s people out there that cannot survive without Medicaid,” he said.

AP video journalist Laura Bargfeld contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/tom-murphy">TOM MURPHY</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;NICKY FORSTER Associated PressDelayed treatments, canceled doctor visits, skipped prescriptions. Losing insurance is bad for your health.The Congressional Budget Office forecasts that the U.S. uninsured population will grow by 10 million in 2034, due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-taxes-spending-deficit-government-spending-79e6a1bd795e7f82ca39986a407ddbef">the tax and spending bill</a>&nbsp;signed into law by President Donald Trump.And, thanks to a natural experiment nearly two decades ago, researchers can forecast what that will mean for patient care. Among the problems they predict will develop as a direct result of these people losing coverage:— About 2.5 million people may no longer have a personal doctor.— About 1.6 million patients will take on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cfpb-medical-debt-credit-reports-41f212ee6b89f9902deb267d75ab8443">medical debt</a>.— The lack of care may cause nearly 22,000 deaths annually.“There’s really no questioning the basic reality that you can’t take health care away from 10 million people without causing many preventable deaths,” said Dr. Adam Gaffney, lead researcher on a team that explored the new law’s impact.Here’s a deeper look at the research and challenges that could develop.<h2>How the law may affect coverage</h2>It will become harder for many people to enroll in Medicaid or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/how-to-shop-for-health-insurance-16fa0b3d10e052e0e99699b4761a2d1a">individual insurance plans</a>&nbsp;and then stay covered. Medicaid is a state and federally funded program that covers care for people with low incomes.States will have to verify every six months whether someone remains eligible for Medicaid. That could cause coverage lapses for people with incomes that fluctuate or for those who move and miss renewal paperwork.Many also are expected to lose coverage as states require Medicaid recipients to work, volunteer or go to school unless exempted.Enrollment in Medicaid has swelled in recent years. Republicans are cutting back in part to help fund tax breaks and pay for other priorities like border security.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicaid-cuts-trump-tax-cuts-bill-1e2b12a91a3d12ceb0420ce7053de58e">They also say</a>&nbsp;they are trying to root out waste and fraud by rightsizing Medicaid for the population it was initially designed to serve — mainly pregnant women, the disabled and children.People covered through the Affordable Care Act’s individual insurance marketplaces also will see shorter enrollment windows and no more automatic renewals.<h2>About the research</h2>Gaffney, of Harvard Medical School, and other researchers looked to past studies to measure how many people would experience detrimental effects, like going without prescriptions, from the upcoming changes. Gaffney updated the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-00716" target="_blank">published analysis</a>, which was originally based on the House version of the bill, at the AP’s request.One study in particular was critical for their work: In 2008, Oregon offered a rare opportunity to compare groups of people enrolled in Medicaid with those who were not.After a four-year period of frozen enrollment due to budget limitations, the state determined it could enroll 10,000 more people in Medicaid. It used a lottery system to make the selection amid high demand.That gave researchers a chance to follow people who got coverage and those who did not, similar to how scientists testing a new drug might compare patients taking it to those given a placebo.“This is a gold standard research design because it replicates a randomized-controlled trial,” said Christine Eibner, a senior economist at RAND Corp. who was not involved in the study.Applying results from that study and other research to the recent CBO estimate allowed Gaffney and other researchers to estimate specific effects of losing coverage.“By taking coverage away, we are putting patients in a terrible position,” said Gaffney, a former president of Physicians for a National Health Program.<h2>Care could grow complicated</h2>Amanda Schlesier went four days without her cancer treatment Calquence this spring and wound up in a local emergency room, delirious with pain.The leukemia patient worries about what might happen if she stops treatment again for a longer stretch because she’s lost Medicaid.“God forbid I forget to fill out a page of documentation, and suddenly I lose access to my medication or my doctors or any of the treatment that I’ve been going through,” the 33-year-old Farmington Hills, Michigan, resident said.People can still receive care when they don’t have coverage, but important steps often are delayed, said Dr. Gwen Nichols, chief medical officer of The Leukemia &amp; Lymphoma Society.Patients may be able to visit a doctor, but they would have to line up coverage or help before they can receive expensive chemotherapy. Diagnosis also may be delayed. Meanwhile, the patient’s cancer continues to grow.“It’s a ticking time bomb,” Nichols said.<h2>Preventive care may lapse</h2>The first thing patients often ditch when they lose coverage are screenings designed to catch health problems before they become serious, said Dr. Jen Brull, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.That could mean patients skip tests for high cholesterol, which can contribute to heart disease, or colonoscopies that detect cancer. Researchers forecast that a half million fewer women will have gotten a mammogram within the past year by 2034.When patients struggle financially and lose coverage, they focus on things like keeping a place to live and food on their table, said Brull, a Fort Collins, Colorado, physician.“Seeing a doctor because you don’t want to get sick feels like a much lower priority,” Brull said.<h2>Financial pressure can build</h2>Patients start taking financial hits at all ends of care when they lose coverage.They may have to pay up front or start a payment plan before they receive care, said Erin Bradshaw, an executive vice president with the nonprofit Patient Advocate Foundation, which helps people with medical bills.Anyone with an outstanding balance will have to pay it before the next appointment.Financial assistance may be available,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-bills-health-886bc0d7e7bd022026555779411b749f">but patients don’t always know about it</a>. Getting help also may take time and require the submission of tax returns, pay stubs or some validation that the patient no longer has coverage.Bradshaw said letters stating that a patient has lost Medicaid sometimes arrive a couple months after the fact. That can contribute to treatment delays or missed medication doses.Some patients also try to avoid financial stress by skipping care. Schlesier said she delayed seeing a doctor when she first felt symptoms of her cancer returning because she had no coverage at the time.<h2>Staying on medications</h2>If prescriptions are too expensive, patients may simply not get them or split the doses to stretch the medicine.For Thomas Harper, it’s a question of priorities.“Sometimes you have to make a choice, how well do you want to eat this week versus taking your medicine,” he said.The West Monroe, Louisiana, truck driver has around $300 a month in prescriptions as he deals with diabetes and recovers from non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.Harper, 57, recently returned to work. That meant he lost Medicaid, which covered more of his prescription costs. He’s balancing buying his meds with shopping for healthy food that keeps his blood sugar in check and builds his immune system.“I’ll survive, but I know there’s people out there that cannot survive without Medicaid,” he said.___AP video journalist Laura Bargfeld contributed to this report.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Debt and delayed care forecast for some who lose insurance under tax and spending law

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</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>

TOPEKA — Problems linger in a Kansas federal prison holding immigrant detainees, even after altering some practices that a coalition of lawyers, civil rights groups and advocates revealed were harmful to those inside.

The Federal Correction Institution at Leavenworth is one of two places in Kansas where Immigration and Customs Enforcement can detain people long term, and the coalition wrote to the prison warden in June about&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/06/06/immigrants-detained-in-leavenworth-federal-prison-live-in-squalor-without-sunlight-letters-claim/">unsanitary, inequitable and unhealthy conditions</a>.&nbsp;

Warden Crystal Carter wrote in a June 20 response letter that the prison had eliminated medical fees, added law library resources that ICE failed to provide, implemented new recreation hours and expanded Spanish-language communications.

But concerns about lockdowns and adequate phone call time remain, said Kyle Virgien, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project.

“We see a lot of problems across ICE’s detention network,” Virgien said. “Detention is difficult. It rips people from their communities. It isolates them from their families. This is a constant.”

Virgien began speaking with people inside Leavenworth in April and continues to monitor conditions.

The coalition wrote in a pair of letters in May that detained immigrants faced unsanitary and crowded living quarters, extended lockdowns, delayed and costly medical treatment, restricted contact with their families, and no access to religious services.

Some had attempted suicide, the letter said.

Carter, the warden, said things have changed.

After reviewing its procedures, the prison eliminated a $2 fee that people in ICE custody were charged for certain health visits. Staff were told to stop those charges and reverse all previous ones. To boost access for medical services, the prison created request slips written in Spanish for ICE detainees, Carter said. However, it is unclear how quickly officials respond to Spanish medical requests.&nbsp;

Carter said capacity concerns did not exist at the time of writing, and, according to the coalition, people inside have said what once were crowded cells have become less so.&nbsp;

According to July data from ICE, estimating average daily populations from the past year, about 35 people are held daily in Leavenworth for immigration reasons. Most pose little to no threat, according to ICE threat level classifications. On average, around 21 people were associated with criminal cases, and 12 were not. All are male and stay an average of 25 days.

During those 25 days, people in ICE custody now are afforded at least one hour of outdoor recreation time daily and a maximum of 300 minutes of phone calls per month, with no call lasting longer than 15 minutes.

People in ICE custody at Leavenworth are subject to the rules and policies of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which oversees operations. Some of the rules and policies are a departure from typical conditions in ICE detention facilities, Virgien said.

He has heard stories of mistreatment from guards and retaliatory lockdowns that punish many for the actions of few, he said. Lockdowns mean people are in cells for 23 hours a day and must “pack all of their life tasks into that one hour outside the cell,” Virgien said, which can include recreation, showers, legal research, religious practices and phone calls.

Carter said one instance of a lockdown has occurred in Leavenworth’s ICE detention unit for 72 hours, and another more than eight hours.

“Except for the limited and infrequent instances, all ICE detainees have time outside of their cell each day and have access to exercise, the electronic law library and phone systems,” Carter said.

The people ICE detains in Leavenworth are imprisoned alongside people awaiting criminal trials or serving criminal sentences.

Benjamin O’Cone, a spokesman for the bureau, said in an emailed statement that it’s the mission of the bureau and Leavenworth to “operate facilities that are safe, secure and humane.”

“We take seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintaining the safety of our employees and the community,” O’Cone said. “Humane treatment of the men and women in our custody is a top priority.”

ICE did not respond to a request for comment. ICE also has not responded to the coalition’s letter, according to ACLU of Kansas spokeswoman Esmie Tseng.

Virgien said the coalition is glad the prison addressed some of the issues they raised, but concerns remain.

“Many of the people at the facility have already won their immigration cases, and ICE is still detaining them,” Virgien said.

The coalition believes ICE should release people as soon as their immigration cases are won.

In at least one case, an immigration judge determined a man could not return to his country of origin without risking torture. Others include people who have spoken out against authoritarian governments in their countries of origin or fled persecution. Some have young children. Many have come from Chicago, and a small number from Kentucky, Virgien said.

When asked about the possibility of pursuing legal action, Virgien said, “all options are on the table.”

Now, with major Congressional budget increases for ICE, Virgien fears problems will only multiply.

Congress approved more than $175 billion for ICE in its most recent budget bill, making it what the Brennan Center for Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/budget-bill-massively-increases-funding-immigration-detention" target="_blank">classified</a>&nbsp;as the largest federal law enforcement agency. The funds expand ICE’s ability to bring people into custody while capping the number of immigration judges in the country.

Also in Leavenworth, private prison company CoreCivic is battling the city government to reopen a shuttered prison to use as its Midwest Regional Reception Center, which would detain as many as 1,000 people. A judge<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/17/judge-again-blocks-corecivic-from-opening-leavenworth-prison-as-court-skirmishes-continue/">&nbsp;temporarily blocked</a>&nbsp;the company in July from housing people at its facility until the matter is worked out in court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754061661114.png" alt=" Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution, pictured here in 2023, is the subject of criticism from civil rights groups and immigration attorneys who say conditions for immigrants inside are inhumane. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Leavenworth Federal Correctional Institution, pictured here in 2023, is the subject of criticism from civil rights groups and immigration attorneys who say conditions for immigrants inside are inhumane. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</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>TOPEKA — Problems linger in a Kansas federal prison holding immigrant detainees, even after altering some practices that a coalition of lawyers, civil rights groups and advocates revealed were harmful to those inside.The Federal Correction Institution at Leavenworth is one of two places in Kansas where Immigration and Customs Enforcement can detain people long term, and the coalition wrote to the prison warden in June about&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/06/06/immigrants-detained-in-leavenworth-federal-prison-live-in-squalor-without-sunlight-letters-claim/">unsanitary, inequitable and unhealthy conditions</a>.&nbsp;Warden Crystal Carter wrote in a June 20 response letter that the prison had eliminated medical fees, added law library resources that ICE failed to provide, implemented new recreation hours and expanded Spanish-language communications.But concerns about lockdowns and adequate phone call time remain, said Kyle Virgien, a senior staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Prison Project.“We see a lot of problems across ICE’s detention network,” Virgien said. “Detention is difficult. It rips people from their communities. It isolates them from their families. This is a constant.”Virgien began speaking with people inside Leavenworth in April and continues to monitor conditions.What he heard was troubling, he said.The coalition wrote in a pair of letters in May that detained immigrants faced unsanitary and crowded living quarters, extended lockdowns, delayed and costly medical treatment, restricted contact with their families, and no access to religious services.Some had attempted suicide, the letter said.Carter, the warden, said things have changed.After reviewing its procedures, the prison eliminated a $2 fee that people in ICE custody were charged for certain health visits. Staff were told to stop those charges and reverse all previous ones. To boost access for medical services, the prison created request slips written in Spanish for ICE detainees, Carter said. However, it is unclear how quickly officials respond to Spanish medical requests.&nbsp;Carter said capacity concerns did not exist at the time of writing, and, according to the coalition, people inside have said what once were crowded cells have become less so.&nbsp;According to July data from ICE, estimating average daily populations from the past year, about 35 people are held daily in Leavenworth for immigration reasons. Most pose little to no threat, according to ICE threat level classifications. On average, around 21 people were associated with criminal cases, and 12 were not. All are male and stay an average of 25 days.During those 25 days, people in ICE custody now are afforded at least one hour of outdoor recreation time daily and a maximum of 300 minutes of phone calls per month, with no call lasting longer than 15 minutes.People in ICE custody at Leavenworth are subject to the rules and policies of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which oversees operations. Some of the rules and policies are a departure from typical conditions in ICE detention facilities, Virgien said.He has heard stories of mistreatment from guards and retaliatory lockdowns that punish many for the actions of few, he said. Lockdowns mean people are in cells for 23 hours a day and must “pack all of their life tasks into that one hour outside the cell,” Virgien said, which can include recreation, showers, legal research, religious practices and phone calls.Carter said one instance of a lockdown has occurred in Leavenworth’s ICE detention unit for 72 hours, and another more than eight hours.“Except for the limited and infrequent instances, all ICE detainees have time outside of their cell each day and have access to exercise, the electronic law library and phone systems,” Carter said.The people ICE detains in Leavenworth are imprisoned alongside people awaiting criminal trials or serving criminal sentences.Benjamin O’Cone, a spokesman for the bureau, said in an emailed statement that it’s the mission of the bureau and Leavenworth to “operate facilities that are safe, secure and humane.”“We take seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintaining the safety of our employees and the community,” O’Cone said. “Humane treatment of the men and women in our custody is a top priority.”ICE did not respond to a request for comment. ICE also has not responded to the coalition’s letter, according to ACLU of Kansas spokeswoman Esmie Tseng.Virgien said the coalition is glad the prison addressed some of the issues they raised, but concerns remain.“Many of the people at the facility have already won their immigration cases, and ICE is still detaining them,” Virgien said.The coalition believes ICE should release people as soon as their immigration cases are won.In at least one case, an immigration judge determined a man could not return to his country of origin without risking torture. Others include people who have spoken out against authoritarian governments in their countries of origin or fled persecution. Some have young children. Many have come from Chicago, and a small number from Kentucky, Virgien said.When asked about the possibility of pursuing legal action, Virgien said, “all options are on the table.”Now, with major Congressional budget increases for ICE, Virgien fears problems will only multiply.Congress approved more than $175 billion for ICE in its most recent budget bill, making it what the Brennan Center for Justice&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/budget-bill-massively-increases-funding-immigration-detention" target="_blank">classified</a>&nbsp;as the largest federal law enforcement agency. The funds expand ICE’s ability to bring people into custody while capping the number of immigration judges in the country.Also in Leavenworth, private prison company CoreCivic is battling the city government to reopen a shuttered prison to use as its Midwest Regional Reception Center, which would detain as many as 1,000 people. A judge<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/17/judge-again-blocks-corecivic-from-opening-leavenworth-prison-as-court-skirmishes-continue/">&nbsp;temporarily blocked</a>&nbsp;the company in July from housing people at its facility until the matter is worked out in court.

Federal Leavenworth prison modifies conditions for migrants after letters reveal squalor

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 49-year-old Robert Benedict.

Just after 4:30p.m. Friday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Benton on a reported shooting, according to Officer Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they were directed to the intersection of 8th and Benton, just to the east. There they located Benedict suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; KCFD personnel responded and medics pronounced him deceased on scene. This is being investigated as a homicide, and a subject of interest was taken into custody pending further investigation.&nbsp;

 Preliminary information revealed there was an altercation between multiple people that led to shots being fired and the victim being struck.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the suspect.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754100469410.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 49-year-old Robert Benedict.Just after 4:30p.m. Friday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 800 block of Benton on a reported shooting, according to Officer Phil DiMartino.As officers arrived they were directed to the intersection of 8th and Benton, just to the east. There they located Benedict suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; KCFD personnel responded and medics pronounced him deceased on scene. This is being investigated as a homicide, and a subject of interest was taken into custody pending further investigation.&nbsp; Preliminary information revealed there was an altercation between multiple people that led to shots being fired and the victim being struck.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the suspect.

Police ID victim in KC shooting, suspect taken into custody

By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation Writer

Over three days of sometimes contentious hearings this week, the National Transportation Safety Board interrogated Federal Aviation Administration and Army officials about a list of things that went wrong and contributed to a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet colliding over Washington, D.C.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">killing 67 people</a>.

The biggest revelations: The helicopter's altimeter gauge was broken, and controllers warned the FAA years earlier about the dangers that helicopters presented.

At one point NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy scolded the FAA for not addressing safety concerns.

“Are you kidding me? Sixty-seven people are dead! How do you explain that? Our bureaucratic process?” she said. “Fix it. Do better.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fatal-washington-flight-passengers-ca062f03b729c130058d4f74393dfa31">Victims of the January crash</a>&nbsp;included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">a group of elite young figure skaters</a>, their parents and coaches and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.

Here is a look at the major takeaways from the hearings about the collision, which alarmed travelers before a string of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/toronto-delta-crash-9c37b48b9719cffdbeba920d46e116b9">other crashes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-plane-collision-chicago-midway-faa-e0abb86c91ea54a751cc917ae97d2d11">close calls</a>&nbsp;this year added to their worries about flying:

The helicopter was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-national-airport-aircraft-crash-ntsb-3dec2686beb43ada10ce392c857751cc">flying at 278 feet</a>&nbsp;(85 meters) — well above the 200-foot (61-meter) ceiling on that route — when it collided with the airliner. But investigators said the pilots might not have realized that because the barometric altimeter they were relying on was reading 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 meters) lower than the altitude registered by the flight data recorder.

The NTSB subsequently found similar discrepancies in the altimeters of three other helicopters from the same unit.

An expert with Sikorsky, which makes the Black Hawks, said the one that crashed was an older model that lacked the air data computers that make for more accurate altitude readings in newer versions.

Army Chief Warrant Officer Kylene Lewis told the board that an 80- to 100-foot (24- to 30-meter) discrepancy between the different altimeters on a helicopter would not be alarming, because at lower altitudes she would be relying more on the radar altimeter than the barometric altimeter. Plus Army pilots strive to stay within 100 feet (30 meters) of target altitude on flights, so they could still do that even with their altimeters that far off.

But Rick Dressler of medevac operator Metro Aviation told the NTSB that imprecision would not fly with his helicopters. When a helicopter route like the one the Black Hawk was flying that night includes an altitude limit, Dressler said, his pilots consider that a hard ceiling.

Both tried to deflect responsibility for the crash, but the testimony highlighted plenty of things that might have been done differently. The NTSB’s final report will be done next year, but there likely will not be one single cause identified for the crash.

“I think it was a week of reckoning for the FAA and the U.S. Army in this accident,” aviation safety consultant and former crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti said.

Army officials said the greater concern is that the FAA approved routes around Ronald Reagan International Airport with separation distances as small as 75 feet (23 meters) between helicopters and planes when planes are landing on a certain runway at Reagan.

“The fact that we have less than 500-foot separation is a concern for me,” said Scott Rosengren, chief engineer in the office that manages the Army’s utility helicopters.

Army Chief Warrant Officer David Van Vechten said he was surprised the air traffic controller let the helicopter proceed while the airliner was circling to land at Reagan’s secondary runway, which is used when traffic for the main runway stacks up and accounts for about 5% of flights.

Van Vechten said he was never allowed to fly under a landing plane as the Black Hawk did, but only a handful of the hundreds of times he flew that route involved planes landing on that runway. Other pilots in the unit told crash investigators it was routine to be directed to fly under landing planes, and they believed that was safe if they stuck to the approved route.

Frank McIntosh, the head of the FAA’s air traffic control organization, said he thinks controllers at Reagan “were really dependent upon the use of visual separation” to keep traffic moving through the busy airspace. The NTSB said controllers repeatedly said they would just “make it work.” They sometimes used “squeeze plays” to land planes with minimal separation.

On the night of the crash, a controller twice asked the helicopter pilots whether they had the jet in sight, and the pilots said they did and asked for visual separation approval so they could use their own eyes to maintain distance. Testimony at the hearing raised serious questions about how well the crew could spot the plane while wearing night vision goggles and whether the pilots were even looking in the right spot.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754186208424.png" alt="Image moments before the fatal crash- NTSB video" />
 <figcaption>Image moments before the fatal crash- NTSB video</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOSH FUNK AP Transportation WriterOver three days of sometimes contentious hearings this week, the National Transportation Safety Board interrogated Federal Aviation Administration and Army officials about a list of things that went wrong and contributed to a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet colliding over Washington, D.C.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-62adba7fb1f546b4cf1716e42b86482b">killing 67 people</a>.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SQm-fRrNMjM?si=cRRGnNYIS5FEdB0c&amp;start=3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>The biggest revelations: The helicopter's altimeter gauge was broken, and controllers warned the FAA years earlier about the dangers that helicopters presented.At one point NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy scolded the FAA for not addressing safety concerns.“Are you kidding me? Sixty-seven people are dead! How do you explain that? Our bureaucratic process?” she said. “Fix it. Do better.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fatal-washington-flight-passengers-ca062f03b729c130058d4f74393dfa31">Victims of the January crash</a>&nbsp;included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">a group of elite young figure skaters</a>, their parents and coaches and four union steamfitters from the Washington area.Here is a look at the major takeaways from the hearings about the collision, which alarmed travelers before a string of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/toronto-delta-crash-9c37b48b9719cffdbeba920d46e116b9">other crashes</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/southwest-airlines-plane-collision-chicago-midway-faa-e0abb86c91ea54a751cc917ae97d2d11">close calls</a>&nbsp;this year added to their worries about flying:<h2>The helicopter’s altimeter was wrong</h2>The helicopter was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-national-airport-aircraft-crash-ntsb-3dec2686beb43ada10ce392c857751cc">flying at 278 feet</a>&nbsp;(85 meters) — well above the 200-foot (61-meter) ceiling on that route — when it collided with the airliner. But investigators said the pilots might not have realized that because the barometric altimeter they were relying on was reading 80 to 100 feet (24 to 30 meters) lower than the altitude registered by the flight data recorder.The NTSB subsequently found similar discrepancies in the altimeters of three other helicopters from the same unit.An expert with Sikorsky, which makes the Black Hawks, said the one that crashed was an older model that lacked the air data computers that make for more accurate altitude readings in newer versions.Army Chief Warrant Officer Kylene Lewis told the board that an 80- to 100-foot (24- to 30-meter) discrepancy between the different altimeters on a helicopter would not be alarming, because at lower altitudes she would be relying more on the radar altimeter than the barometric altimeter. Plus Army pilots strive to stay within 100 feet (30 meters) of target altitude on flights, so they could still do that even with their altimeters that far off.But Rick Dressler of medevac operator Metro Aviation told the NTSB that imprecision would not fly with his helicopters. When a helicopter route like the one the Black Hawk was flying that night includes an altitude limit, Dressler said, his pilots consider that a hard ceiling.<h2>FAA and Army defend actions, shift blame</h2>Both tried to deflect responsibility for the crash, but the testimony highlighted plenty of things that might have been done differently. The NTSB’s final report will be done next year, but there likely will not be one single cause identified for the crash.“I think it was a week of reckoning for the FAA and the U.S. Army in this accident,” aviation safety consultant and former crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti said.Army officials said the greater concern is that the FAA approved routes around Ronald Reagan International Airport with separation distances as small as 75 feet (23 meters) between helicopters and planes when planes are landing on a certain runway at Reagan.“The fact that we have less than 500-foot separation is a concern for me,” said Scott Rosengren, chief engineer in the office that manages the Army’s utility helicopters.Army Chief Warrant Officer David Van Vechten said he was surprised the air traffic controller let the helicopter proceed while the airliner was circling to land at Reagan’s secondary runway, which is used when traffic for the main runway stacks up and accounts for about 5% of flights.Van Vechten said he was never allowed to fly under a landing plane as the Black Hawk did, but only a handful of the hundreds of times he flew that route involved planes landing on that runway. Other pilots in the unit told crash investigators it was routine to be directed to fly under landing planes, and they believed that was safe if they stuck to the approved route.Frank McIntosh, the head of the FAA’s air traffic control organization, said he thinks controllers at Reagan “were really dependent upon the use of visual separation” to keep traffic moving through the busy airspace. The NTSB said controllers repeatedly said they would just “make it work.” They sometimes used “squeeze plays” to land planes with minimal separation.On the night of the crash, a controller twice asked the helicopter pilots whether they had the jet in sight, and the pilots said they did and asked for visual separation approval so they could use their own eyes to maintain distance. Testimony at the hearing raised serious questions about how well the crew could spot the plane while wearing night vision goggles and whether the pilots were even looking in the right spot.The controller acknowledged in an interview that the plane’s pilots were never warned when the helicopter was on a collision path, but controllers did not think telling the plane would have made a difference at that point. The plane was descending to land and tried to pull up at the last second after getting a warning in the cockpit, but it was too late.<h2>FAA was warned about the dangers of helicopter traffic in D.C.</h2>An FAA working group tried to get a warning added to helicopter charts back in 2022 urging pilots to use caution whenever the secondary runway was in use, but the agency refused. The working group said “helicopter operations are occurring in a proximity that has triggered safety events. These events have been trending in the wrong direction and increasing year over year.”Separately, a different group at the airport discussed moving the helicopter route, but those discussions did not go anywhere. And a manager at a regional radar facility in the area urged the FAA in writing to reduce the number of planes taking off and landing at Reagan because of safety concerns.The NTSB has also said the FAA failed to recognize a troubling history of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-investigation-ntsb-faa-near-misses-53cc37d586a981c3382462a07b3d99ec">85 near misses</a>&nbsp;around Reagan in the three years before the collision,NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said “every sign was there that there was a safety risk and the tower was telling you that.” But after the accident, the FAA transferred managers out of the airport instead of acknowledging that they had been warned.“What you did is you transferred people out instead of taking ownership over the fact that everybody in FAA in the tower was saying there was a problem,” Homendy said. “But you guys are pointing out, ‘Welp, our bureaucratic process. Somebody should have brought it up at some other symposium.’”