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

TOPEKA — High temperatures this week drew a caution from the regional organization that ensures reliability of the power grid and led Evergy to ask some customers to conserve energy usage.

The Southwest Power Pool is one of nine regional transmission organizations approved by federal regulators to support reliable power supplies and infrastructure. SPP works with energy companies to make sure that when customers set their thermostat, they&nbsp; soon hear the answering hum of the air conditioner.

SPP issued a low-level weather advisory for Tuesday through Thursday, warning of hot weather, said spokeswoman Meghan Sever.

“This is because of the high temperatures, and while it does include Kansas, a weather advisory does not require the public to conserve energy,” she said.

Such a situation isn’t unusual during hot Kansas summers. In fact, Kansas City meteorologist Joe Lauria vented on Facebook that people are using “extreme” too often in describing weather.

“What used to be an ‘excessive’ heat warning has been replaced with the phrase ‘extreme,’ ” he wrote. “I can sort of get behind that in the ‘extreme’ sense IF something extreme was going to happen, but what’s ahead, at least into Monday is NORMAL HEAT. 90-95° days are NORMAL for us in the hottest part of the year. We average around 40 days/year of 90°+ days, and YES they’re supposed to be humid and YES we’re supposed to have heat indices 100°-105°+ seemingly every day.”

This week was initially supposed to see temps spike over 100 degrees. Still, even with staying in the 90s across the state, the load on the power grid gets intense.

On Wednesday, Evergy reached out to residential and business customers that signed up to be part of its demand response program to manage that load.

That program asks willing customers to curtail their energy load, said Evergy spokeswoman Courtney Lewis.

“Business customers may participate in a variety of ways, which may&nbsp;include turning off lights, changing their production process, increasing temperature at their facilities, or using back-up generation,” she said in an email.

Washburn University, a large-load user, sent a campuswide email telling staff to adapt building temperatures.

An email from Lori Hutchinson, executive director of strategic communications and marketing, asked Washburn staff in most campus buildings to turn up thermostats from 74 to 80 degrees between 2 and 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Washburn participates in Evergy’s Generation Substitution Service, a special tariff for larger customers in Evergy’s Kansas Central territory, Lewis said.

Those customers are willing to switch to back-up generation when Evergy asks them, she said.

Evergy works with customers willing to adapt their energy use during high-use times, and customers receive a break in their rates,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.evergy.com/ways-to-save/incentives-link/demand-response" target="_blank">the company’s website said</a>.

“It’s been interesting — a lot of the largest customers have not been motivated by the demand response piece, notwithstanding the potential rate benefits for them,” said David Campbell, Evergy president and CEO, in a Monday Kansas Corporation Commission hearing. “I’m sure that will be a dialogue that continues over time.”

Campbell said the number of times that Evergy needs to call on customers to interrupt their energy usage is low, although the program does require flexibility.

“I think that the range of opportunities of large customers bringing solutions to be more proactive in how you think about demand-response is a way that we can meet the moment historically,” he said.

The summer seasonal forecast this year showed a 40-60% chance of higher temperatures than usual across the SPP territory, Sever said. The organization uses various tools and systems to mitigate risk.

“Under different scenarios, like when we experience higher-than-normal temperatures that drive increased load, we may call on generating units to commit to run earlier or more often than usual, delay planned outages, import energy from neighboring systems or tap into available reserves, depending on the severity and duration of events affecting energy reliability,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753388788309.jpeg" alt=" Staff in Southwest Power Pool’s coordination center continuously monitor the power grid, weather conditions and other factors that affect the delivery of electricity. (Southwest Power Pool)" />
 <figcaption> Staff in Southwest Power Pool’s coordination center continuously monitor the power grid, weather conditions and other factors that affect the delivery of electricity. (Southwest Power Pool)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — High temperatures this week drew a caution from the regional organization that ensures reliability of the power grid and led Evergy to ask some customers to conserve energy usage.The Southwest Power Pool is one of nine regional transmission organizations approved by federal regulators to support reliable power supplies and infrastructure. SPP works with energy companies to make sure that when customers set their thermostat, they&nbsp; soon hear the answering hum of the air conditioner.SPP issued a low-level weather advisory for Tuesday through Thursday, warning of hot weather, said spokeswoman Meghan Sever.“This is because of the high temperatures, and while it does include Kansas, a weather advisory does not require the public to conserve energy,” she said.Such a situation isn’t unusual during hot Kansas summers. In fact, Kansas City meteorologist Joe Lauria vented on Facebook that people are using “extreme” too often in describing weather.“What used to be an ‘excessive’ heat warning has been replaced with the phrase ‘extreme,’ ” he wrote. “I can sort of get behind that in the ‘extreme’ sense IF something extreme was going to happen, but what’s ahead, at least into Monday is NORMAL HEAT. 90-95° days are NORMAL for us in the hottest part of the year. We average around 40 days/year of 90°+ days, and YES they’re supposed to be humid and YES we’re supposed to have heat indices 100°-105°+ seemingly every day.”This week was initially supposed to see temps spike over 100 degrees. Still, even with staying in the 90s across the state, the load on the power grid gets intense.On Wednesday, Evergy reached out to residential and business customers that signed up to be part of its demand response program to manage that load.That program asks willing customers to curtail their energy load, said Evergy spokeswoman Courtney Lewis.“Business customers may participate in a variety of ways, which may&nbsp;include turning off lights, changing their production process, increasing temperature at their facilities, or using back-up generation,” she said in an email.Washburn University, a large-load user, sent a campuswide email telling staff to adapt building temperatures.An email from Lori Hutchinson, executive director of strategic communications and marketing, asked Washburn staff in most campus buildings to turn up thermostats from 74 to 80 degrees between 2 and 6 p.m. Wednesday.Washburn participates in Evergy’s Generation Substitution Service, a special tariff for larger customers in Evergy’s Kansas Central territory, Lewis said.Those customers are willing to switch to back-up generation when Evergy asks them, she said.Evergy works with customers willing to adapt their energy use during high-use times, and customers receive a break in their rates,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.evergy.com/ways-to-save/incentives-link/demand-response" target="_blank">the company’s website said</a>.“It’s been interesting — a lot of the largest customers have not been motivated by the demand response piece, notwithstanding the potential rate benefits for them,” said David Campbell, Evergy president and CEO, in a Monday Kansas Corporation Commission hearing. “I’m sure that will be a dialogue that continues over time.”Campbell said the number of times that Evergy needs to call on customers to interrupt their energy usage is low, although the program does require flexibility.“I think that the range of opportunities of large customers bringing solutions to be more proactive in how you think about demand-response is a way that we can meet the moment historically,” he said.The summer seasonal forecast this year showed a 40-60% chance of higher temperatures than usual across the SPP territory, Sever said. The organization uses various tools and systems to mitigate risk.“Under different scenarios, like when we experience higher-than-normal temperatures that drive increased load, we may call on generating units to commit to run earlier or more often than usual, delay planned outages, import energy from neighboring systems or tap into available reserves, depending on the severity and duration of events affecting energy reliability,” she said.

Hot weather leads to power grid impacts, requests for some Kansas customers to conserve energy

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported just three new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 90 cases in 11 counties and eight hospitalizations. All but three of the cases are connected, and most are in Gray County.

On July 4, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports health officials in Colorado say the state's measles outbreak is over, and the U.S. added just 10 confirmed cases&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-us-texas-mmr-vaccine-rfk-144ed193e13de675a750e52a505423e9">nationally</a>&nbsp;in the last week.

Wednesday's national case count stood at 1,319, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier this month, the U.S. passed the total count for 2019, when the country almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

A vast majority of this year's cases are from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas,</a>&nbsp;where a major outbreak raged through the late winter and spring. Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Arizona, Georgia, Iowa,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah.

There have been three deaths in the U.S. this year, and all were unvaccinated:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>.

North America has three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">large outbreaks</a>. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=3d8451977cd34084a8b494a6a11b4f1a&amp;sc_lang=en&amp;hash=48D1A6D0D037B39BD421AAF060204EE0">2,276 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through July 15. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.

Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">1,472 as of Tuesday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 3,296 measles cases and 10 deaths as of Tuesday, according to data from the state health ministry.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>&nbsp;and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

How many measles cases are there in Texas?

Texas did not add any cases in the last week, coming in at 762 measles cases Tuesday across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">36 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>.

Throughout the outbreak, 99 people have been hospitalized.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — were actively infectious as of Tuesday.

Statewide, only Lamar County has ongoing measles transmission, officials said. In total, though, more than half of Texas’ cases (414) have been in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.

How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?

New Mexico also stayed steady at 95 measles cases on Tuesday.

Lea County has seen the most with 67, but Lea and six other counties no longer have active measles spread, officials said Tuesday.

An outbreak of 14 cases tied to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-new-mexico-detention-facility-migrants-outbreak-c7f5897ebba85a59548d279c500adaea">jail in Luna County</a>&nbsp;remains active.

An unvaccinated adult died of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related illness March 6</a>. The person did not seek medical care. Seven people have been hospitalized since the state's outbreak started.

Oklahoma held steady a third week at 17 confirmed and three probable cases.

The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but no counties have recent public exposures.

Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. They are linked to a single source, the county health department said June 9. All four were unvaccinated and had a history of recent international travel.

Georgia has an outbreak of three cases in metro Atlanta, with the most recent infection confirmed June 18.

The state has confirmed six total cases in 2025. The remaining three are part of an unrelated outbreak from January.

Iowa announced another measles case on Tuesday, bringing the state's total to eight in 2025. The state health department said the new case isn't linked to others in the state, and occurred in a person who was fully vaccinated.

An outbreak in eastern Johnson County involves four cases in members of the same household.

How many measles cases are there in Kentucky?

Central Kentucky's outbreak rose to nine cases as of July 8. The cases are in Fayette County, which includes Lexington, and neighboring Woodford County.

The state has had 18 cases total in 2025; eight are linked to outbreaks.

In northern Michigan, Grand Traverse County has an outbreak of four cases as of Wednesday. An earlier outbreak of four cases in Montcalm County was declared over on June 2.

Missouri stayed steady with seven cases as of Wednesday.

Five cases are in southwestern Cedar County, and four of those are members of the same family. The fifth case is still under investigation, according to county health director Victoria Barker.

Montana added two measles cases this week for a total of 27. Cascade County confirmed its first case.

Seventeen were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana’s first in 35 years. Flathead County has two cases, Yellowstone County had three and Hill County had four cases.

There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Utah's measles case count rose by one to 11 as of Tuesday.

At least three of the cases are linked, the state health department said last week. State epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen has said there are at least three different measles clusters in the state.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.

Earlier outbreaks in Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee are over.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year. Most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."

Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported just three new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 90 cases in 11 counties and eight hospitalizations. All but three of the cases are connected, and most are in Gray County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753284887510.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On July 4, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.<ol>
 <li>Location:&nbsp;Fifth-Floor Pediatric Unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center</li><li>Address:&nbsp;550 N Hillside St, Wichita, KS 67214</li><li>Dates and times:&nbsp;Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 10 p.m. until Thursday, July 3, 2025, 4:45 p.m.</li>
 </ol>Meanwhile, the Associated Press reports health officials in Colorado say the state's measles outbreak is over, and the U.S. added just 10 confirmed cases&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-us-texas-mmr-vaccine-rfk-144ed193e13de675a750e52a505423e9">nationally</a>&nbsp;in the last week.Wednesday's national case count stood at 1,319, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Earlier this month, the U.S. passed the total count for 2019, when the country almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.A vast majority of this year's cases are from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas,</a>&nbsp;where a major outbreak raged through the late winter and spring. Other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Arizona, Georgia, Iowa,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah.There have been three deaths in the U.S. this year, and all were unvaccinated:&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>.North America has three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">large outbreaks</a>. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=3d8451977cd34084a8b494a6a11b4f1a&amp;sc_lang=en&amp;hash=48D1A6D0D037B39BD421AAF060204EE0">2,276 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through July 15. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">1,472 as of Tuesday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 3,296 measles cases and 10 deaths as of Tuesday, according to data from the state health ministry.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>&nbsp;and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.<h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas?</h2>Texas did not add any cases in the last week, coming in at 762 measles cases Tuesday across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">36 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>.Throughout the outbreak, 99 people have been hospitalized.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — were actively infectious as of Tuesday.Statewide, only Lamar County has ongoing measles transmission, officials said. In total, though, more than half of Texas’ cases (414) have been in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community.The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.<h2>How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?</h2>New Mexico also stayed steady at 95 measles cases on Tuesday.Lea County has seen the most with 67, but Lea and six other counties no longer have active measles spread, officials said Tuesday.An outbreak of 14 cases tied to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-new-mexico-detention-facility-migrants-outbreak-c7f5897ebba85a59548d279c500adaea">jail in Luna County</a>&nbsp;remains active.An unvaccinated adult died of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related illness March 6</a>. The person did not seek medical care. Seven people have been hospitalized since the state's outbreak started.<h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2>Oklahoma held steady a third week at 17 confirmed and three probable cases.The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases, but no counties have recent public exposures.<h2>How many cases are there in Arizona?</h2>Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. They are linked to a single source, the county health department said June 9. All four were unvaccinated and had a history of recent international travel.<h2>How many cases are there in Georgia?</h2>Georgia has an outbreak of three cases in metro Atlanta, with the most recent infection confirmed June 18.The state has confirmed six total cases in 2025. The remaining three are part of an unrelated outbreak from January.<h2>How many cases are there in Iowa?</h2>Iowa announced another measles case on Tuesday, bringing the state's total to eight in 2025. The state health department said the new case isn't linked to others in the state, and occurred in a person who was fully vaccinated.An outbreak in eastern Johnson County involves four cases in members of the same household.<h2>How many measles cases are there in Kentucky?</h2>Kentucky has 13 cases this year.Central Kentucky's outbreak rose to nine cases as of July 8. The cases are in Fayette County, which includes Lexington, and neighboring Woodford County.<h2>How many cases are there in Michigan?</h2>The state has had 18 cases total in 2025; eight are linked to outbreaks.In northern Michigan, Grand Traverse County has an outbreak of four cases as of Wednesday. An earlier outbreak of four cases in Montcalm County was declared over on June 2.<h2>How many cases are there in Missouri?</h2>Missouri stayed steady with seven cases as of Wednesday.Five cases are in southwestern Cedar County, and four of those are members of the same family. The fifth case is still under investigation, according to county health director Victoria Barker.<h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2>Montana added two measles cases this week for a total of 27. Cascade County confirmed its first case.Seventeen were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana’s first in 35 years. Flathead County has two cases, Yellowstone County had three and Hill County had four cases.There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.<h2>How many cases are there in Utah?</h2>Utah's measles case count rose by one to 11 as of Tuesday.At least three of the cases are linked, the state health department said last week. State epidemiologist Dr. Leisha Nolen has said there are at least three different measles clusters in the state.<h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2>Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.Earlier outbreaks in Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee are over.Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year. Most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home.<h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.<h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.___

KDHE: More measles cases in Kansas; US case count continues to diminish

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Wichita.

At 6:34 a.m. on Thursday, police reported shots fired in the parking lot of the department's Patrol North Substation, 3015 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita, according to Police Spokesman Andrew Ford.

Preliminary investigations reveal that an on-duty Wichita Police officer was concluding their shift and unloading equipment from a patrol vehicle when two men approached. One of the men, later identified as 19-year-old Nehemiah C. Flemming, inquired about WPD policy regarding shooting people with guns.

During the encounter, Flemming brandished a handgun, leading to a brief struggle in which he pointed the gun at the officer. The officer then dove to the ground for cover.&nbsp;

Two additional officers, one on duty and one off duty, witnessed the confrontation and both discharged their weapons, striking Flemming.

Officers on the scene provided immediate medical assistance and called for Sedgwick County EMS and fire response. Flemming was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.

The second male fled the area before the shots were fired but has since been located. There are no outstanding suspects in this case.&nbsp;

No officers were injured during the incident. Based on preliminary interviews with Flemming’s family, investigators believe this may be a case of suicide by police.

In accordance with department policy, Chief Joe Sullivan activated the Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753372466794.png" alt="Investigators on the scene of the fatal officer-shooting-image courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Investigators on the scene of the fatal officer-shooting-image courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Wichita.At 6:34 a.m. on Thursday, police reported shots fired in the parking lot of the department's Patrol North Substation, 3015 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita, according to Police Spokesman Andrew Ford.Preliminary investigations reveal that an on-duty Wichita Police officer was concluding their shift and unloading equipment from a patrol vehicle when two men approached. One of the men, later identified as 19-year-old Nehemiah C. Flemming, inquired about WPD policy regarding shooting people with guns.During the encounter, Flemming brandished a handgun, leading to a brief struggle in which he pointed the gun at the officer. The officer then dove to the ground for cover.&nbsp;Two additional officers, one on duty and one off duty, witnessed the confrontation and both discharged their weapons, striking Flemming.Officers on the scene provided immediate medical assistance and called for Sedgwick County EMS and fire response. Flemming was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.The second male fled the area before the shots were fired but has since been located. There are no outstanding suspects in this case.&nbsp;No officers were injured during the incident. Based on preliminary interviews with Flemming’s family, investigators believe this may be a case of suicide by police.In accordance with department policy, Chief Joe Sullivan activated the Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.

Teen dead after officer-shooting outside police substation

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71, Florida police and WWE said Thursday.

In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a statement on Facebook.

Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.

He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”

In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. Hogan contended the post violated his privacy.

WWE posted a note on X saying it was saddened to learn the WWE Hall of Famer had passed away.

“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans," it said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753374239472.png" alt="Hulk Hogan spoke on the final night of the Republican National Convention last July-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Hulk Hogan spoke on the final night of the Republican National Convention last July-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71, Florida police and WWE said Thursday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WWE is saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away. One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans.&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1948414335153230023?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a statement on Facebook.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FClearwaterPolice%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0272xskH6HPZZSAZefBwY23wP1UjQgC1dJjALZMEbkSHrLxhoG8dSZRnPG7YKFWhtml&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="469" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/HulkHogan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HulkHogan</a>: &quot;As an entertainer I try to stay out of politics, but after everything that&#39;s happened to our country over the past four years and after everything that happened last weekend I can no longer stay silent...Donald Trump is a real American hero!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/UxM0ZieYfM">pic.twitter.com/UxM0ZieYfM</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1814113807662567834?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 19, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">From 2024 RNC. Watch the full video here: <a href="https://t.co/10hAILirT9">https://t.co/10hAILirT9</a> <a href="https://t.co/lsr2lFymhn">https://t.co/lsr2lFymhn</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1948426827858354619?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An American Legend. <a href="https://t.co/DVQuR2YIxJ">pic.twitter.com/DVQuR2YIxJ</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1948419594827235760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in numerous movies and television shows, including a reality show about his life on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend’s wife. Hogan contended the post violated his privacy.WWE posted a note on X saying it was saddened to learn the WWE Hall of Famer had passed away.“One of pop culture’s most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan’s family, friends, and fans," it said.

Hulk Hogan, pro wrestling superstar dead at 71

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pam-bondi">Attorney General Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;is facing Democratic calls to testify before Congress following a newspaper’s revelation that she told President Donald Trump that his name appeared in the files of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation.</a>

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Bondi told Trump his name was among many high-profile figures mentioned in the files,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">which the Justice Department this month said it would not be releasing</a>&nbsp;despite a clamor from online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and members of Trump’s base.

Trump’s personal ties to Epstein are well-established and his name is already known to have been included in records related to the wealthy financier, who killed himself in jail in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.

Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, responded to the report by calling on Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“We need to bring Bondi and Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this now,” Schiff said in a video posted on X.

The Justice Department declined to comment on the report but issued a joint statement from Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying that investigators had reviewed the records and “nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution.”

“As par of our routine briefing, we made the president aware of the findings,” the statement said.

The mere inclusion of a person’s name in Epstein’s files does not imply wrongdoing and he was known to have been associated with multiple prominent figures, including Trump.

Over the years, thousands of pages of records have been released through lawsuits, Epstein’s criminal dockets, public disclosures and Freedom of Information Act requests.

They include a 2016 deposition in which an accuser recounted she spent several hours with Epstein at Trump’s Atlantic City casino but didn’t say if she met Trump and did not accuse him of any wrongdoing.

Trump has also said he once thought Epstein was a “terrific guy” but they later had a falling-out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752615564413.png" alt="File photo Attorney General Pam Bondi" />
 <figcaption>File photo Attorney General Pam Bondi</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pam-bondi">Attorney General Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;is facing Democratic calls to testify before Congress following a newspaper’s revelation that she told President Donald Trump that his name appeared in the files of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein sex-trafficking investigation.</a>The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Bondi told Trump his name was among many high-profile figures mentioned in the files,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">which the Justice Department this month said it would not be releasing</a>&nbsp;despite a clamor from online sleuths, conspiracy theorists and members of Trump’s base.Trump’s personal ties to Epstein are well-established and his name is already known to have been included in records related to the wealthy financier, who killed himself in jail in 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges.Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, responded to the report by calling on Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee.“We need to bring Bondi and Patel into the Judiciary Committee to testify about this now,” Schiff said in a video posted on X.The Justice Department declined to comment on the report but issued a joint statement from Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying that investigators had reviewed the records and “nothing in the files warranted further investigation or prosecution.”“As par of our routine briefing, we made the president aware of the findings,” the statement said.The mere inclusion of a person’s name in Epstein’s files does not imply wrongdoing and he was known to have been associated with multiple prominent figures, including Trump.Over the years, thousands of pages of records have been released through lawsuits, Epstein’s criminal dockets, public disclosures and Freedom of Information Act requests.They include a 2016 deposition in which an accuser recounted she spent several hours with Epstein at Trump’s Atlantic City casino but didn’t say if she met Trump and did not accuse him of any wrongdoing.Trump has also said he once thought Epstein was a “terrific guy” but they later had a falling-out.

AG facing calls to testify following report she told Trump he was in Epstein files

WICHITA, KAN. – A Georgia man was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered forever banned from hunting and fishing in Kansas after illegally hunting game, according to the United State's Attorney.

Matt Jennings, 35, of Bowdon, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal taking of a white tail deer in interstate commerce, according to court documents.

On November 11, 2022, Jennings killed an antlered deer near Florence, Kansas. His antlered deer tag did not allow him to take a deer in this part of the state. The next day the Jennings drove to Oklahoma where he fraudulently registered the kill in Oklahoma using an Oklahoma electronic tag.

On November 19, 2022, the Jennings killed another antlered deer near Wakeeney. Although he had a valid tag for that area of Kansas, killing of a second antlered deer in the same year is a violation of state law. He illegally exceeded the bag limit of one antlered deer per season.

Jennings hosts a hunting show titled “The Game”. These two illegal hunts were featured as part of his show.

A federal judge ordered Jennings to pay $15,000 in restitution to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, pay a $10,000 fine, and forfeit the antlers from the white tail deer he illegally hunted.

During his five-year probation, Jennings is prohibited from guiding, hunting, trapping, fishing, or being with anyone engaged in those activities in Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks investigated the case with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Missouri Department of Conservation, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753309370799.png" alt="Matt Jennings as seen in a video from his online show" />
 <figcaption>Matt Jennings as seen in a video from his online show</figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA, KAN. – A Georgia man was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered forever banned from hunting and fishing in Kansas after illegally hunting game, according to the United State's Attorney.Matt Jennings, 35, of Bowdon, Georgia, pleaded guilty to two counts of illegal taking of a white tail deer in interstate commerce, according to court documents.On November 11, 2022, Jennings killed an antlered deer near Florence, Kansas. His antlered deer tag did not allow him to take a deer in this part of the state. The next day the Jennings drove to Oklahoma where he fraudulently registered the kill in Oklahoma using an Oklahoma electronic tag.On November 19, 2022, the Jennings killed another antlered deer near Wakeeney. Although he had a valid tag for that area of Kansas, killing of a second antlered deer in the same year is a violation of state law. He illegally exceeded the bag limit of one antlered deer per season.Jennings hosts a hunting show titled “The Game”. These two illegal hunts were featured as part of his show.A federal judge ordered Jennings to pay $15,000 in restitution to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, pay a $10,000 fine, and forfeit the antlers from the white tail deer he illegally hunted.During his five-year probation, Jennings is prohibited from guiding, hunting, trapping, fishing, or being with anyone engaged in those activities in Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks investigated the case with assistance provided by the U.S. Secret Service, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Missouri Department of Conservation, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.

Hunting show host receives lifetime hunting ban in Kansas 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a homicide that occurred earlier this month in Kansas City have identified the victim as 51-year-old Jorge Grageda,&nbsp; according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez

just after 5a.m. July 5, police were dispatched to the&nbsp;100&nbsp;block&nbsp;of&nbsp;N&nbsp;Belliare on reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers were directed to the rear&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;nearby residence where a victim later identified as Jorge Grageda was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. 

Emergency aid was immediately rendered by responding&nbsp;officers until EMS arrived on scene. EMS declared him deceased at that time. Preliminary investigation indicates this occurred as a result&nbsp;of&nbsp;an argument that escalated to gunfire.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751741015533.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a homicide that occurred earlier this month in Kansas City have identified the victim as 51-year-old Jorge Grageda,&nbsp; according to Officer Alayna Gonzalezjust after 5a.m. July 5, police were dispatched to the&nbsp;100&nbsp;block&nbsp;of&nbsp;N&nbsp;Belliare on reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers were directed to the rear&nbsp;of&nbsp;a&nbsp;nearby residence where a victim later identified as Jorge Grageda was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency aid was immediately rendered by responding&nbsp;officers until EMS arrived on scene. EMS declared him deceased at that time. Preliminary investigation indicates this occurred as a result&nbsp;of&nbsp;an argument that escalated to gunfire.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest.

KCPD: 51-year-old died after argument led to gunfire

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slid in June to the slowest pace since last September as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-9487b3a9ed45ca29a4fc9c673a0a46df">mortgage rates</a>&nbsp;remained elevated and the national median sales price rose to an all-time high of $435,300.

Existing home sales fell 2.7% last month from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.93 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.

Sales were flat compared with June last year. The latest home sales fell short of the 4.01 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.

Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 24th consecutive month to reach record heights.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since early 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Home sales fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.

Sluggish home sales led to a lackluster spring homebuying season, traditionally the busiest period of the year for the housing market.

Stubbornly high mortgage rates and rising prices have intensified the hardships for would-be homebuyers who had already been pummeled by a real estate market that overheated during the pandemic. And while the number of homes on the market has increased sharply from a year ago, it remains well below normal levels, meaning prices continue to rise even as sales slow.

“The second half of the year really depends on what happens with mortgage rates,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.

High mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting their purchasing power. So far this year, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has remained relatively close to 7%, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.

Homes purchased last month likely went under contract in May and June, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage ranged from 6.76% to 6.89%.

Yun estimates that if the average rate on a 30-year mortgage were to fall to 6% that would lead to an additional roughly half-million more homes sold.

“If the mortgage rate remains stuck at this level, we are essentially looking at very small changes in our home sales and home price condition, but if the mortgage rate was to drop, we know there will be a more meaningful increase in sales,” he said.

The housing market’s affordability crunch is keeping many aspiring first-time homebuyers on the sidelines. They accounted for 30% of homes sales last month, unchanged from May, NAR said. Historically, they made up 40% of home sales.

Home shoppers who can afford to buy at current mortgage rates or pay in cash are benefiting from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-market-real-estate-affordability-mortgage-rates-a8fad991e022d541c1ac4d95f78ccffa">more properties on the market</a>.

There were 1.53 million unsold homes at the end of last month, down 0.6% from May, but up nearly 16% from June last year, NAR said. That’s still well below the roughly 2 million homes for sale that was typical before the pandemic, however.

June’s month-end inventory translates to a 4.7-month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 4.6-month pace at the end of May and 4 months in June last year. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.

Homes for sale are staying on the market longer as sales remain in the doldrums. Properties typically remained on the market for 27 days last month before selling, up from 22 days in June last year, NAR said.

The housing market slowdown isn’t all bad, if you’re a home shopper who can afford to buy. In June, some 20.7% of homes listed for sale had their price reduced, the highest share for the month of June going back to at least 2016, according to Realtor.com.

Increasingly, however, many sellers are opting to pull their home off the market rather than lower prices. The number of properties taken off the market without having sold jumped 47% in May from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753300731273.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slid in June to the slowest pace since last September as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-9487b3a9ed45ca29a4fc9c673a0a46df">mortgage rates</a>&nbsp;remained elevated and the national median sales price rose to an all-time high of $435,300.Existing home sales fell 2.7% last month from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.93 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.Sales were flat compared with June last year. The latest home sales fell short of the 4.01 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.Home prices increased on an annual basis for the 24th consecutive month to reach record heights.The U.S. housing market has been in a slump since early 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Home sales fell last year to their lowest level in nearly 30 years.Sluggish home sales led to a lackluster spring homebuying season, traditionally the busiest period of the year for the housing market.Stubbornly high mortgage rates and rising prices have intensified the hardships for would-be homebuyers who had already been pummeled by a real estate market that overheated during the pandemic. And while the number of homes on the market has increased sharply from a year ago, it remains well below normal levels, meaning prices continue to rise even as sales slow.“The second half of the year really depends on what happens with mortgage rates,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist.High mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting their purchasing power. So far this year, the average rate on a 30-year mortgage has remained relatively close to 7%, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac.Homes purchased last month likely went under contract in May and June, when the average rate on a 30-year mortgage ranged from 6.76% to 6.89%.Yun estimates that if the average rate on a 30-year mortgage were to fall to 6% that would lead to an additional roughly half-million more homes sold.“If the mortgage rate remains stuck at this level, we are essentially looking at very small changes in our home sales and home price condition, but if the mortgage rate was to drop, we know there will be a more meaningful increase in sales,” he said.The housing market’s affordability crunch is keeping many aspiring first-time homebuyers on the sidelines. They accounted for 30% of homes sales last month, unchanged from May, NAR said. Historically, they made up 40% of home sales.Home shoppers who can afford to buy at current mortgage rates or pay in cash are benefiting from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-market-real-estate-affordability-mortgage-rates-a8fad991e022d541c1ac4d95f78ccffa">more properties on the market</a>.There were 1.53 million unsold homes at the end of last month, down 0.6% from May, but up nearly 16% from June last year, NAR said. That’s still well below the roughly 2 million homes for sale that was typical before the pandemic, however.June’s month-end inventory translates to a 4.7-month supply at the current sales pace, up from a 4.6-month pace at the end of May and 4 months in June last year. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.Homes for sale are staying on the market longer as sales remain in the doldrums. Properties typically remained on the market for 27 days last month before selling, up from 22 days in June last year, NAR said.The housing market slowdown isn’t all bad, if you’re a home shopper who can afford to buy. In June, some 20.7% of homes listed for sale had their price reduced, the highest share for the month of June going back to at least 2016, according to Realtor.com.Increasingly, however, many sellers are opting to pull their home off the market rather than lower prices. The number of properties taken off the market without having sold jumped 47% in May from a year earlier, according to Realtor.com.

Home sales slid in June as prices hit new all-time high

KANSAS CITY —The death of a baby boy last fall is now being investigated as a homicide.

Just after 6:30p.m. October 26, 2023, police were dispatched to Children's Mercy Hospital on a reported assault that occurred in the 8000 block of NW Milrey Drive in Kansas City, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

Upon arrival, they contacted hospital staff who advised that two-month-old Mateo Rideout&nbsp;was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries. 

A person of interest was identified and taken into police custody for further investigation. On November 5, the child died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.

This death was ruled suspicious in nature until detectives would receive the official autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office. 

On June 10, an autopsy report from Forensic Medical was provided ruling this death a homicide. This case has been submitted to Platte County Prosecutors for charging consideration.

KANSAS CITY —The death of a baby boy last fall is now being investigated as a homicide.Just after 6:30p.m. October 26, 2023, police were dispatched to Children's Mercy Hospital on a reported assault that occurred in the 8000 block of NW Milrey Drive in Kansas City, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.Upon arrival, they contacted hospital staff who advised that two-month-old Mateo Rideout&nbsp;was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries. A person of interest was identified and taken into police custody for further investigation. On November 5, the child died at the hospital as a result of his injuries.This death was ruled suspicious in nature until detectives would receive the official autopsy report from the medical examiner’s office. On June 10, an autopsy report from Forensic Medical was provided ruling this death a homicide. This case has been submitted to Platte County Prosecutors for charging consideration.

KCPD: Baby's suspicious death now ruled a homicide

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement across Kansas continue to stop drivers traveling far above the legal speed limit.

On Sunday, KHP Trooper Lauren Braun was on patrol in Douglas County when she saw a white SUV driving at high speeds in her rearview mirror, according to a social media report from the KHP.

 She stopped the vehicle for 111mph in a posted 75 mph zone.  The driver was on their way to church and had a small child in the vehicle with them. 

"This is a good reminder to make sure that you are driving safe at all times, no matter where you are going.  The youngest travelers in Kansas are depending on drivers to make sure they arrive alive to all of their destinations."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753201622438.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY—Law enforcement across Kansas continue to stop drivers traveling far above the legal speed limit.On Sunday, KHP Trooper Lauren Braun was on patrol in Douglas County when she saw a white SUV driving at high speeds in her rearview mirror, according to a social media report from the KHP.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753201607239.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> She stopped the vehicle for 111mph in a posted 75 mph zone. The driver was on their way to church and had a small child in the vehicle with them. "This is a good reminder to make sure that you are driving safe at all times, no matter where you are going. The youngest travelers in Kansas are depending on drivers to make sure they arrive alive to all of their destinations."

KHP: Driver on the way to church stopped for 111mph

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s order seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">end birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;is unconstitutional, affirming a lower-court decision that blocked its enforcement nationwide.

The ruling from a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes after Trump’s plan was also blocked by a federal judge in New Hampshire. It marks the first time an appeals court has weighed in and brings the issue one step closer to coming back quickly before the Supreme Court.

The 9th Circuit decision keeps a block on the Trump administration enforcing the order that would deny citizenship to children born to people who are in the United States illegally or temporarily.

“The district court correctly concluded that the Executive Order’s proposed interpretation, denying citizenship to many persons born in the United States, is unconstitutional. We fully agree,” the majority wrote.

The 2-1 ruling keeps in place a decision from U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-court-case-immigration-49e46d49b9e5d9f7caf14e8c5322c8b0">blocked Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;and decried what he described as the administration’s attempt to ignore the Constitution for political gain. Coughenour was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-donald-trump-lawsuit-immigration-9ac27b234c854a68a9b9f8c0d6cd8a1c">first to block the order</a>.

The White House and Justice Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

The Supreme Court has since restricted the power of lower court judges to issue orders that affect the whole country, known as nationwide injunctions.

But the 9th Circuit majority found that the case fell under one of the exceptions left open by the justices. The case was filed by a group of states who argued that they need a nationwide order to prevent the problems that would be caused by birthright citizenship only being the law in half of the country.

“We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in issuing a universal injunction in order to give the States complete relief," Judge Michael Hawkins and Ronald Gould, both appointed by President Bill Clinton, wrote.

Judge Patrick Bumatay, who was appointed by Trump, dissented. He found that the states don't have the legal right, or standing, to sue. “We should approach any request for universal relief with good faith skepticism, mindful that the invocation of ‘complete relief’ isn’t a backdoor to universal injunctions,” he wrote.

Bumatay did not weigh in on whether ending birthright citizenship would be constitutional.

The Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment says that all people born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to U.S. jurisdiction, are citizens.

Justice Department attorneys argue that the phrase “subject to United States jurisdiction” in the amendment means that citizenship isn’t automatically conferred to children based on their birth location alone.

The states — Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon — argue that ignores the plain language of the Citizenship Clause as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-trump-immigration-735d28a2572f623f199f97b3bc97644a">landmark birthright citizenship case</a>&nbsp;in 1898 where the Supreme Court found a child born in San Francisco to Chinese parents was a citizen by virtue of his birth on American soil.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737668953875.png" alt="File photo White House&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>File photo White House&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled Wednesday that President Donald Trump’s order seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-immigration-trump-20919d26029cf0f98ecb0dc7f90a066b">end birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;is unconstitutional, affirming a lower-court decision that blocked its enforcement nationwide.The ruling from a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes after Trump’s plan was also blocked by a federal judge in New Hampshire. It marks the first time an appeals court has weighed in and brings the issue one step closer to coming back quickly before the Supreme Court.The 9th Circuit decision keeps a block on the Trump administration enforcing the order that would deny citizenship to children born to people who are in the United States illegally or temporarily.“The district court correctly concluded that the Executive Order’s proposed interpretation, denying citizenship to many persons born in the United States, is unconstitutional. We fully agree,” the majority wrote.The 2-1 ruling keeps in place a decision from U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour in Seattle, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-court-case-immigration-49e46d49b9e5d9f7caf14e8c5322c8b0">blocked Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship</a>&nbsp;and decried what he described as the administration’s attempt to ignore the Constitution for political gain. Coughenour was the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/birthright-citizenship-donald-trump-lawsuit-immigration-9ac27b234c854a68a9b9f8c0d6cd8a1c">first to block the order</a>.The White House and Justice Department did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.The Supreme Court has since restricted the power of lower court judges to issue orders that affect the whole country, known as nationwide injunctions.But the 9th Circuit majority found that the case fell under one of the exceptions left open by the justices. The case was filed by a group of states who argued that they need a nationwide order to prevent the problems that would be caused by birthright citizenship only being the law in half of the country.“We conclude that the district court did not abuse its discretion in issuing a universal injunction in order to give the States complete relief," Judge Michael Hawkins and Ronald Gould, both appointed by President Bill Clinton, wrote.Judge Patrick Bumatay, who was appointed by Trump, dissented. He found that the states don't have the legal right, or standing, to sue. “We should approach any request for universal relief with good faith skepticism, mindful that the invocation of ‘complete relief’ isn’t a backdoor to universal injunctions,” he wrote.Bumatay did not weigh in on whether ending birthright citizenship would be constitutional.The Citizenship Clause of the 14th Amendment says that all people born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to U.S. jurisdiction, are citizens.Justice Department attorneys argue that the phrase “subject to United States jurisdiction” in the amendment means that citizenship isn’t automatically conferred to children based on their birth location alone.The states — Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon — argue that ignores the plain language of the Citizenship Clause as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-birthright-citizenship-trump-immigration-735d28a2572f623f199f97b3bc97644a">landmark birthright citizenship case</a>&nbsp;in 1898 where the Supreme Court found a child born in San Francisco to Chinese parents was a citizen by virtue of his birth on American soil.

Appeals court: Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship unconstitutional

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a large commercial building in Kansas City.

Just after noon Wednesday, crews responded to a reported fire in a large commercial building in the 7400 block of E. 12th Street in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.&nbsp;

 Evacuating employees stated that there was a fire in the roof line. KCFD quickly deployed units to the interior and to the roof to investigate. Upon investigation it was discovered that a roof top air handling unit had caught fire and had began to spread into the roof line and structure.

 KCFD quickly got the fire under control and checked for fire extension. No injuries were reported. All employees were able to evacuate.

 Quick action by employees using extinguishers to contain the fire and rapid response of KCFD, worked together to avoid what could have been a disastrous fire.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753300957008.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a large commercial building in Kansas City.Just after noon Wednesday, crews responded to a reported fire in a large commercial building in the 7400 block of E. 12th Street in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.&nbsp; Evacuating employees stated that there was a fire in the roof line. KCFD quickly deployed units to the interior and to the roof to investigate. Upon investigation it was discovered that a roof top air handling unit had caught fire and had began to spread into the roof line and structure.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753300936008.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> KCFD quickly got the fire under control and checked for fire extension. No injuries were reported. All employees were able to evacuate. Quick action by employees using extinguishers to contain the fire and rapid response of KCFD, worked together to avoid what could have been a disastrous fire.&nbsp;

Quick action by employees helped stop spread of KC business fire

BARTON COUNTY —A father and son are facing multiple allegations after a tip led to a traffic stop in Barton County.

On Tuesday, the Barton County Sheriff’s office received information from the Kansas Department of Corrections EAI unit, that a quantity of drugs would be entering Barton County on K-156 Highway sometime during the day, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

The Department of Corrections was able to provide suspect information as well as a vehicle description and tag number. Deputies and detectives were positioned in a number of locations in northeastern Barton County to intercept the vehicle. 

Just after 4 p.m., sheriff’s deputies observed the vehicle enter Barton County. It was known to the Barton County Sheriff's Office that the occupants were wanted for parole violations on a warrant.

A felony traffic stop was conducted and the subjects were removed from the vehicle and taken into custody without incident. The Sheriff’s Office K9 indicated the presence of controlled substances inside the 2008 Ford Taurus. Further investigation revealed a quantity of cocaine, methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids. Two handguns were also located in the vehicle.

The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Jerry Wayne Smith, Jr., 43, of Salina, and Christopher Lee Smith, 21,&nbsp; of Abilene. Jerry is Christopher's father, according to Bellendir.

Both were transported to the Barton County Jail where they were booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, criminal use of a firearm as well as possession of drug paraphernalia. Both had outstanding warrants from the Kansas Department of Corrections for parole violation. The drug charges carry a $100,000 bond. The warrants for parole violation have no bond. The Sheriff’s office was assisted in this operation by detectives from the Great Bend Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753293963993.png" alt="Jerry Smith photo Barton County" />
 <figcaption>Jerry Smith photo Barton County</figcaption>
 </figure>BARTON COUNTY —A father and son are facing multiple allegations after a tip led to a traffic stop in Barton County.On Tuesday, the Barton County Sheriff’s office received information from the Kansas Department of Corrections EAI unit, that a quantity of drugs would be entering Barton County on K-156 Highway sometime during the day, according to Sheriff Brian Bellendir.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753293995823.png" alt="Chris Smith photo Barton County" />
 <figcaption>Chris Smith photo Barton County</figcaption>
 </figure>The Department of Corrections was able to provide suspect information as well as a vehicle description and tag number. Deputies and detectives were positioned in a number of locations in northeastern Barton County to intercept the vehicle. Just after 4 p.m., sheriff’s deputies observed the vehicle enter Barton County. It was known to the Barton County Sheriff's Office that the occupants were wanted for parole violations on a warrant.A felony traffic stop was conducted and the subjects were removed from the vehicle and taken into custody without incident. The Sheriff’s Office K9 indicated the presence of controlled substances inside the 2008 Ford Taurus. Further investigation revealed a quantity of cocaine, methamphetamine and synthetic cannabinoids. Two handguns were also located in the vehicle.The occupants of the vehicle were identified as Jerry Wayne Smith, Jr., 43, of Salina, and Christopher Lee Smith, 21,&nbsp; of Abilene. Jerry is Christopher's father, according to Bellendir.Both were transported to the Barton County Jail where they were booked on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine, criminal use of a firearm as well as possession of drug paraphernalia. Both had outstanding warrants from the Kansas Department of Corrections for parole violation. The drug charges carry a $100,000 bond. The warrants for parole violation have no bond. The Sheriff’s office was assisted in this operation by detectives from the Great Bend Police Department.

Kansas father, son caught transporting cocaine, meth and guns

NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University announced Wednesday it has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-layoffs-campus-protests-trump-funding-antisemitism-ec6d152048d921bd1764ec11a287bbdd">federal research money</a>&nbsp;that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.

Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay a $200 million settlement over three years, the university said. It will also pay $21 million to resolve alleged civil rights violations against Jewish employees that occurred following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the White House said.

“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting University President Claire Shipman said.

The school had been threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support, including more than $400 million in grants canceled earlier this year. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protests-antisemitism-palestine-israel-9c209ce040e4b60d2702b40b9c2fb321">pulled the funding</a>&nbsp;because of what it described as the university’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.

Columbia has since agreed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-funding-trump-fa70143c715df8fd4ef337c0e1ccf872">series of demands</a>&nbsp;laid out by the Republican administration, including overhauling the university’s student disciplinary process and applying a contentious, federally endorsed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/antisemitism-definition-states-law-zionism-indiana-georgia-871571f3b392455b1479827bdf1f5ea7">definition of antisemitism</a>&nbsp;not only to teaching but to a disciplinary committee that has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-campus-protests-trump-congress-ba0eddec4679d70287202831c52ebed6">investigating students critical of Israel</a>.

Wednesday’s agreement — which does not include an admission of wrongdoing — codifies those reforms while preserving the university’s autonomy, Shipman said.

‘Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap,' Trump administration says

Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the deal “a seismic shift in our nation’s fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment.”

“Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap for elite universities that wish to regain the confidence of the American public by renewing their commitment to truth-seeking, merit, and civil debate,” McMahon said in a statement.

As part of the agreement, Columbia agreed to a series of changes previously announced in March, including reviewing its Middle East curriculum to make sure it was “comprehensive and balanced” and appointing new faculty to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. It also promised to end programs “that promote unlawful efforts to achieve race-based outcomes, quotes, diversity targets or similar efforts.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753350506660.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia University announced Wednesday it has reached a deal with the Trump administration to pay more than $220 million to the federal government to restore&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-layoffs-campus-protests-trump-funding-antisemitism-ec6d152048d921bd1764ec11a287bbdd">federal research money</a>&nbsp;that was canceled in the name of combating antisemitism on campus.Under the agreement, the Ivy League school will pay a $200 million settlement over three years, the university said. It will also pay $21 million to resolve alleged civil rights violations against Jewish employees that occurred following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, the White House said.“This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting University President Claire Shipman said.The school had been threatened with the potential loss of billions of dollars in government support, including more than $400 million in grants canceled earlier this year. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protests-antisemitism-palestine-israel-9c209ce040e4b60d2702b40b9c2fb321">pulled the funding</a>&nbsp;because of what it described as the university’s failure to squelch antisemitism on campus during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.Columbia has since agreed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-funding-trump-fa70143c715df8fd4ef337c0e1ccf872">series of demands</a>&nbsp;laid out by the Republican administration, including overhauling the university’s student disciplinary process and applying a contentious, federally endorsed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/antisemitism-definition-states-law-zionism-indiana-georgia-871571f3b392455b1479827bdf1f5ea7">definition of antisemitism</a>&nbsp;not only to teaching but to a disciplinary committee that has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-campus-protests-trump-congress-ba0eddec4679d70287202831c52ebed6">investigating students critical of Israel</a>.Wednesday’s agreement — which does not include an admission of wrongdoing — codifies those reforms while preserving the university’s autonomy, Shipman said.<h2>‘Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap,' Trump administration says</h2>Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the deal “a seismic shift in our nation’s fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment.”“Columbia’s reforms are a roadmap for elite universities that wish to regain the confidence of the American public by renewing their commitment to truth-seeking, merit, and civil debate,” McMahon said in a statement.As part of the agreement, Columbia agreed to a series of changes previously announced in March, including reviewing its Middle East curriculum to make sure it was “comprehensive and balanced” and appointing new faculty to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies. It also promised to end programs “that promote unlawful efforts to achieve race-based outcomes, quotes, diversity targets or similar efforts.”The university will also have to issue a report to a monitor assuring that its programs “do not promote unlawful DEI goals.”In a post Wednesday night on his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump said Columbia had “committed to ending their ridiculous DEI policies, admitting students based ONLY on MERIT, and protecting the Civil Liberties of their students on campus.”He also warned, without being specific, “Numerous other Higher Education Institutions that have hurt so many, and been so unfair and unjust, and have wrongly spent federal money, much of it from our government, are upcoming.”<h2>Crackdown follows Columbia protests</h2>The pact comes after months of uncertainty and fraught negotiations at the more than 270-year-old university. It was among the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-antisemitism-investigation-contracts-e0680c1d3de85930a3ee9deaa7f42c62">first targets</a>&nbsp;of Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus protests and on colleges that he asserts have allowed Jewish students be threatened and harassed.Columbia’s own antisemitism&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-israel-palestine-columbia-f2984f21aa38a4f637982af7b98fed5e">task force found last summer</a>&nbsp;that Jewish students had faced verbal abuse, ostracism and classroom humiliation during the spring 2024 demonstrations.Other Jewish students took part in the protests, however, and protest leaders maintain they aren’t targeting Jews but rather criticizing the Israeli government and its war in Gaza.Columbia’s leadership — a revolving door of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-president-resigns-katrina-armstrong-f9479f6294a6fb536651def3f88309a6">three interim presidents</a>&nbsp;in the last year — has declared that the campus climate needs to change.<h2>Columbia agrees to question international students</h2>Also in the settlement is an agreement to ask prospective international students “questions designed to elicit their reasons for wishing to study in the United States,” and establishes processes to make sure all students are committed to “civil discourse.”In a move that would potentially make it easier for the Trump administration to deport students who participate in protests, Columbia promised to provide the government with information, upon request, of disciplinary actions involving student-visa holders resulting in expulsions or suspensions.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-protests-columbia-discipline-trump-administration-f009b90113fe0ba7847c54ffc9197bd1">Columbia on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;announced it would suspend, expel or revoke degrees from more than 70 students who participated in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-pro-palestine-protest-d6963720d50e92f271346d9febb95f18">pro-Palestinian demonstration</a>&nbsp;inside the main library in May and an encampment during alumni weekend last year.The pressure on Columbia began with a series of funding cuts. Then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-protester-mahmoud-khalil-immigration-arrest-5ae6eeb3ac95f190a505abebc4ee0944">Mahmoud Khalil</a>, a former graduate student who had been a visible figure in the protests,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-15014bcbb921f21a9f704d5acdcae7a8">became the first</a>&nbsp;person detained in the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detainees-students-ozturk-khalil-78f544fb2c8b593c88a0c1f0e0ad9c5f">push to deport pro-Palestinian activists</a>&nbsp;who aren’t U.S. citizens.Next came searches of some university residences amid a federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/columbia-university-mahmoud-khalil-ice-arrests-3a8db6e646b786a721089a6f0bc8d9fc">Justice Department investigation</a>&nbsp;into whether Columbia concealed “illegal aliens” on campus. The interim president at the time responded that the university was committed to upholding the law.<h2>University oversight expands</h2>Columbia was an early test case for the Trump administration as it sought closer oversight of universities that the Republican president views as bastions of liberalism. Yet it soon was overshadowed by Harvard University, which became the first higher education institution to defy Trump’s demands and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-lawsuit-grants-f098f55c6986b37e1227e7bcf8967a46">fight back in court</a>.The Trump administration has used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-trump-federal-cuts-universities-protests-8fa92331b2780394ea171b0b32d5d243">federal research funding</a>&nbsp;as its primary lever in its campaign to reshape higher education. More than $2 billion in total has also been frozen at Cornell, Northwestern, Brown and Princeton universities.Administration officials&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penn-transgender-swimmer-trump-federal-funding-2416de5d0abee40163a25294e8a72442">pulled $175 million from the University of Pennsylvania</a>&nbsp;in March over a dispute around women’s sports. They restored it when school officials agreed to update records set by transgender swimmer Lia Thomas and change their policies.The administration also is looking beyond private universities. University of Virginia President James Ryan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-virginia-dei-james-ryan-6f8cfc43738944ca8164ab20814c5695">agreed to resign</a>&nbsp;in June under pressure from a U.S. Justice Department investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion practices. A similar investigation was opened this month at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dei-george-mason-university-trump-2157c7a294ab7b79811df6654394bacc">George Mason University</a>.