SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with the child abuse death of a toddler.

On July 3, police responded to Wesley Medical Center after being notified of a two-year-old boy who was brought to the hospital with severe injuries after a reported fall, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

During the investigation, it was determined that the injuries sustained by the child were inconsistent with the facts provided by the adult caring for the child at the time they were injured.&nbsp;

Patrol officers and investigators from the Exploited Missing Children’s Unit and the WPD Homicide Unit began investigating this case due to the severity of the injuries.&nbsp;

On Thursday police arrested the 33-year-old step-father of the child, identified from booking records as Shawn D. Lewis, on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, head trauma/permanent and Child Abuse.

On Saturday the child, John Landon Delano, died due to his injuries. Shawn Lewis has now been booked into Sedgwick County Jail on a requested charge of First Degree Murder. 

The facts of this case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for formal charging consideration.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751843575801.png" alt="Lewis photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Lewis photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with the child abuse death of a toddler.On July 3, police responded to Wesley Medical Center after being notified of a two-year-old boy who was brought to the hospital with severe injuries after a reported fall, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.During the investigation, it was determined that the injuries sustained by the child were inconsistent with the facts provided by the adult caring for the child at the time they were injured.&nbsp;Patrol officers and investigators from the Exploited Missing Children’s Unit and the WPD Homicide Unit began investigating this case due to the severity of the injuries.&nbsp;On Thursday police arrested the 33-year-old step-father of the child, identified from booking records as Shawn D. Lewis, on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, head trauma/permanent and Child Abuse.On Saturday the child, John Landon Delano, died due to his injuries. Shawn Lewis has now been booked into Sedgwick County Jail on a requested charge of First Degree Murder. The facts of this case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney for formal charging consideration.&nbsp;

Stepfather accused in child abuse death of 2-year-old

NEW YORK (AP) — Eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries say they will boost production by 548,000 barrels per day in August in a move that could further reduce gas prices this year.

The group that includes Saudi Arabia and Russia made the decision at a virtual meeting Saturday. They cited a “steady global economic outlook” and low oil inventories.

Oil prices spiked sharply last month during the bloody, 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-prices-crude-hormuz-iran-bombing-israel-gas-trump-tehran-c628662e5e3522e23c762a2c591d1580">then tumbled back down</a>&nbsp;as the U.S. helped broker a peace deal after dropping bombs on three of Iran’s key nuclear sites.

Saudi Arabia holds significant influence in OPEC+ as the dominant member of the OPEC producers’ cartel, and Russia is the leading non-OPEC member in the 22-country alliance.

Along with Saudi Arabia and Russia, the group that met Saturday is made up of Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman.

A statement said the new measures were in accordance with a December decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/opec-oil-gas-prices-energy-7e3a7a4b86e966ba9b609e23825e4ccc">put off increasing production</a>&nbsp;at that time, but gradually increase it by 2.2 million barrels per day over an 18-month period starting in April and ending in fall 2026. The delayed ramp up reflected weaker-than-expected demand and competing production from non-allied countries.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683569393523.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries say they will boost production by 548,000 barrels per day in August in a move that could further reduce gas prices this year.The group that includes Saudi Arabia and Russia made the decision at a virtual meeting Saturday. They cited a “steady global economic outlook” and low oil inventories.Oil prices spiked sharply last month during the bloody, 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oil-prices-crude-hormuz-iran-bombing-israel-gas-trump-tehran-c628662e5e3522e23c762a2c591d1580">then tumbled back down</a>&nbsp;as the U.S. helped broker a peace deal after dropping bombs on three of Iran’s key nuclear sites.Saudi Arabia holds significant influence in OPEC+ as the dominant member of the OPEC producers’ cartel, and Russia is the leading non-OPEC member in the 22-country alliance.Along with Saudi Arabia and Russia, the group that met Saturday is made up of Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman.A statement said the new measures were in accordance with a December decision to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/opec-oil-gas-prices-energy-7e3a7a4b86e966ba9b609e23825e4ccc">put off increasing production</a>&nbsp;at that time, but gradually increase it by 2.2 million barrels per day over an 18-month period starting in April and ending in fall 2026. The delayed ramp up reflected weaker-than-expected demand and competing production from non-allied countries.

Good news on gas prices: OPEC+ to boost oil production 

OSAGE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday on Kansas Turnpike in Osage County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson driven by Christian Kaufman, 69, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 335 just south of the Shawnee County line.

The motorcycle traveled off the road to the right. The driver overcorrected back onto the Turnpike and the vehicle overturned. The motorcycle skidded of the road to the right, struck a delineator post, a grassy ditch, rolled and the driver was ejected. The motorcycle continued to roll and caught fire.

Kaufman was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to First Call. He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

OSAGE COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday on Kansas Turnpike in Osage County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson driven by Christian Kaufman, 69, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 335 just south of the Shawnee County line.The motorcycle traveled off the road to the right. The driver overcorrected back onto the Turnpike and the vehicle overturned. The motorcycle skidded of the road to the right, struck a delineator post, a grassy ditch, rolled and the driver was ejected. The motorcycle continued to roll and caught fire.Kaufman was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to First Call. He was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies in violent motorcycle crash, fire

WYANDOTTE COUNTY&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the death of a 50-year-old inmate who died Saturday while in law enforcement custody.

The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office notified the KBI of the death on Saturday, July 5, at approximately 9:30 p.m. KBI agents responded to investigate, according to a statement from the agency.

At approximately 8:30 p.m., Charles L. Adair, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas, received medical care in the detention center’s infirmary for a pre-existing wound on his leg.

Preliminary information indicates that when personnel attempted to transfer him back to his cell, Adair caused a disturbance by yelling, refusing to listen to commands, and physically resisting. Multiple sheriff’s deputies responded and handcuffed Adair to gain compliance. They transported him to his cell, where several deputies placed him on the lower bunk. They began attempting to remove the handcuffs, while Adair continued to resist. They gained control, removed the cuffs, and left the cell.

Immediately after, at 8:37 p.m., medical staff were called to evaluate Adair who they found unresponsive. Life-saving measures were initiated. EMS responded to the facility and continued medical intervention. Despite efforts, Adair was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.

KBI agents did not observe any obvious signs of physical injury to Adair resulting from the incident. An autopsy will be conducted.

Adair had been in the facility since he was arrested July 4, on misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on multiple traffic violations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751825756436.png" alt="Adair photo from an arrest in 2022 in Wyandotte County" />
 <figcaption>Adair photo from an arrest in 2022 in Wyandotte County</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating the death of a 50-year-old inmate who died Saturday while in law enforcement custody.The Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office notified the KBI of the death on Saturday, July 5, at approximately 9:30 p.m. KBI agents responded to investigate, according to a statement from the agency.At approximately 8:30 p.m., Charles L. Adair, 50, of Kansas City, Kansas, received medical care in the detention center’s infirmary for a pre-existing wound on his leg.Preliminary information indicates that when personnel attempted to transfer him back to his cell, Adair caused a disturbance by yelling, refusing to listen to commands, and physically resisting. Multiple sheriff’s deputies responded and handcuffed Adair to gain compliance. They transported him to his cell, where several deputies placed him on the lower bunk. They began attempting to remove the handcuffs, while Adair continued to resist. They gained control, removed the cuffs, and left the cell.Immediately after, at 8:37 p.m., medical staff were called to evaluate Adair who they found unresponsive. Life-saving measures were initiated. EMS responded to the facility and continued medical intervention. Despite efforts, Adair was pronounced dead at 9:19 p.m.KBI agents did not observe any obvious signs of physical injury to Adair resulting from the incident. An autopsy will be conducted.Adair had been in the facility since he was arrested July 4, on misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear on multiple traffic violations.

Man found dead in Kan. jail cell after struggle with deputies

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — Elon Musk said he’s carrying out his threat to form a new political party after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tax-bill-6e7845081259c34db785182c51569c0c">his fissure with President Donald Trump</a>, announcing the America Party in response to the president’s sweeping tax cuts law.

Musk, once an ever-present ally to Trump as he headed up the slashing agency known as the Department of Government Efficiency, broke with the Republican president over his signature legislation, which was signed into law Friday.

As the bill made its way through Congress,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-election-massie-a690566ca5140ca47cb7a993d41774e4">Musk threatened to form the “America Party”</a>&nbsp;if “this insane spending bill passes.”

“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste &amp; graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk said Saturday on X, the social media company he owns. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”

Asked about the effort by reporters on Sunday afternoon as he prepared to return to Washington from his home in New Jersey, Trump called Musk's proposition “ridiculous,” going on to tout "tremendous success with the Republican Party.”

“The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system,” Trump added. “And I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. It really seems to have been developed, but three parties have never worked.”

The formation of new political parties is not uncommon, but they typically struggle to pull any significant support away from the Republican and Democratic parties. But Musk, the world's richest man who spent at least $250 million supporting Trump in the 2024 election, could impact the 2026 elections determining control of Congress if he is willing to spend significant amounts of money.

His reignited feud with the president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-congress-tesla-doge-spacex-8a43b64f0f4508c8e74ef23572a0eece">could also be costly for Musk</a>, whose businesses rely on billions of dollars in government contracts and publicly traded company Tesla has taken a hit in the market.

It wasn’t clear whether Musk had taken steps to formally create the new political party. Spokespeople for Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, didn't immediately comment Sunday.

As of Sunday morning, there were multiple political parties listed in the Federal Election Commission database that had been formed in the the hours since Musk’s Saturday X post with versions of “America Party” of “DOGE” or “X” in the name, or Musk listed among people affiliated with the entity.

But none appeared to be authentic, listing contacts for the organization as email addresses such as ”&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wentsnowboarding@yahoo.com">wentsnowboarding@yahoo.com</a>&nbsp;″ or untraceable Protonmail addresses.

Musk on Sunday spent the morning on X taking feedback from users about the party and indicated he'd use the party to get involved in the 2026 midterm elections.

Last month, he threatened to try to oust every member of Congress that voted for Trump's bill. Musk had called the tax breaks and spending cuts package a “disgusting abomination," warning it would increase the federal deficit, among other critiques.

“The Republican Party has a clean sweep of the executive, legislative and judicial branches and STILL had the nerve to massively increase the size of government, expanding the national debt by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS,” Musk said Sunday on X.

His critiques of the bill and move to form a political party mark a reversal from May, when his time in the White House was winding down and the head of rocket company SpaceX and electric vehicle maker Tesla said he would spend “a lot less” on politics in the future.

Treasury Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trade-earths-tariffs-trump-463ae8d6ccba15b56c7d4d31d3fc42a1">Scott Bessent</a>, who clashed with Musk while he ran DOGE, said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that DOGE's “principles” were popular but “if you look at the polling, Elon was not.”

“I imagine that those board of directors did not like this announcement yesterday and will be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities,” he said.

Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard in Chapin, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748628883590.png" alt="File photo -White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo -White House</figcaption>
 </figure>BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — Elon Musk said he’s carrying out his threat to form a new political party after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-tax-bill-6e7845081259c34db785182c51569c0c">his fissure with President Donald Trump</a>, announcing the America Party in response to the president’s sweeping tax cuts law.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">America’s Party will be focused on: -reduce debt, responsible spending only -modernize military with ai/robotics -pro tech, accelerate to win in ai -less regulation across board but especially in energy -free speech -pro natalist -centrist policies everywhere else Are you… <a href="https://t.co/7u55mH5jmw">pic.twitter.com/7u55mH5jmw</a>&mdash; Tesla Owners Silicon Valley (@teslaownersSV) <a href="https://twitter.com/teslaownersSV/status/1941744384703332357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it! When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste &amp; graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom. <a href="https://t.co/9K8AD04QQN">https://t.co/9K8AD04QQN</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1941584569523732930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Musk, once an ever-present ally to Trump as he headed up the slashing agency known as the Department of Government Efficiency, broke with the Republican president over his signature legislation, which was signed into law Friday.As the bill made its way through Congress,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-donald-trump-election-massie-a690566ca5140ca47cb7a993d41774e4">Musk threatened to form the “America Party”</a>&nbsp;if “this insane spending bill passes.”“When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste &amp; graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” Musk said Saturday on X, the social media company he owns. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.”Asked about the effort by reporters on Sunday afternoon as he prepared to return to Washington from his home in New Jersey, Trump called Musk's proposition “ridiculous,” going on to tout "tremendous success with the Republican Party.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751848997089.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>“The Democrats have lost their way, but it’s always been a two-party system,” Trump added. “And I think starting a third party just adds to confusion. It really seems to have been developed, but three parties have never worked.”The formation of new political parties is not uncommon, but they typically struggle to pull any significant support away from the Republican and Democratic parties. But Musk, the world's richest man who spent at least $250 million supporting Trump in the 2024 election, could impact the 2026 elections determining control of Congress if he is willing to spend significant amounts of money.His reignited feud with the president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-congress-tesla-doge-spacex-8a43b64f0f4508c8e74ef23572a0eece">could also be costly for Musk</a>, whose businesses rely on billions of dollars in government contracts and publicly traded company Tesla has taken a hit in the market.It wasn’t clear whether Musk had taken steps to formally create the new political party. Spokespeople for Musk and his political action committee, America PAC, didn't immediately comment Sunday.As of Sunday morning, there were multiple political parties listed in the Federal Election Commission database that had been formed in the the hours since Musk’s Saturday X post with versions of “America Party” of “DOGE” or “X” in the name, or Musk listed among people affiliated with the entity.But none appeared to be authentic, listing contacts for the organization as email addresses such as ”&nbsp;<a href="mailto:wentsnowboarding@yahoo.com">wentsnowboarding@yahoo.com</a>&nbsp;″ or untraceable Protonmail addresses.Musk on Sunday spent the morning on X taking feedback from users about the party and indicated he'd use the party to get involved in the 2026 midterm elections.Last month, he threatened to try to oust every member of Congress that voted for Trump's bill. Musk had called the tax breaks and spending cuts package a “disgusting abomination," warning it would increase the federal deficit, among other critiques.“The Republican Party has a clean sweep of the executive, legislative and judicial branches and STILL had the nerve to massively increase the size of government, expanding the national debt by a record FIVE TRILLION DOLLARS,” Musk said Sunday on X.His critiques of the bill and move to form a political party mark a reversal from May, when his time in the White House was winding down and the head of rocket company SpaceX and electric vehicle maker Tesla said he would spend “a lot less” on politics in the future.Treasury Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trade-earths-tariffs-trump-463ae8d6ccba15b56c7d4d31d3fc42a1">Scott Bessent</a>, who clashed with Musk while he ran DOGE, said on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday that DOGE's “principles” were popular but “if you look at the polling, Elon was not.”“I imagine that those board of directors did not like this announcement yesterday and will be encouraging him to focus on his business activities, not his political activities,” he said.___Associated Press writer Meg Kinnard in Chapin, South Carolina, contributed to this report.

Musk is forming a new political party after split with Trump over tax cuts law

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas home daycare provider accused of child abuse decided not to face a jury trial and instead entered a plea to charges of child abuse.

On Thursday, 29-year-old Ija Hall, the owner of His Loving Hands Home Childcare, 357 N. Erie in Wichita,  pleaded guilty to&nbsp;child abuse before Judge Quentin Pittman, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; In June she told the court she would face a jury but changed her mind.

In September of 2024, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment suspended Hall's day care&nbsp; license after an incident involving a child she was fostering. A protective order was issued during her first court appearance, according to the district attorney's office. She was not to have contact with the victim in the case or any child under the age of 12.

One of her foster children was burned in a bathtub, according to the KDHE. A second foster child had bruises and missing teeth.

Hall is scheduled for sentencing on August 15.&nbsp; She&nbsp; is not in custody after meeting the requirement of a $25,000 bond. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726247213560.png" alt="Hall photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Hall photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas home daycare provider accused of child abuse decided not to face a jury trial and instead entered a plea to charges of child abuse.On Thursday, 29-year-old Ija Hall, the owner of His Loving Hands Home Childcare, 357 N. Erie in Wichita, pleaded guilty to&nbsp;child abuse before Judge Quentin Pittman, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; In June she told the court she would face a jury but changed her mind.In September of 2024, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment suspended Hall's day care&nbsp; license after an incident involving a child she was fostering. A protective order was issued during her first court appearance, according to the district attorney's office. She was not to have contact with the victim in the case or any child under the age of 12.One of her foster children was burned in a bathtub, according to the KDHE. A second foster child had bruises and missing teeth.Hall is scheduled for sentencing on August 15.&nbsp; She&nbsp; is not in custody after meeting the requirement of a $25,000 bond. -------

Kan. day care provider admits to abuse of children in her care

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;</a>

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. government is preparing to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fly-factory-texas-flesheating-screwworm-cattle-5eb62edc42bcfce40cdbea27b5f8b60c">breed billions of flies</a>&nbsp;and dump them out of airplanes over Mexico and southern Texas to fight a flesh-eating maggot.

That sounds like the plot of a horror movie, but it is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-screwworm-cattle-2ea2cbbb02c102a1feb1f402cd5774cf">part of the government's plans</a>&nbsp;for protecting the U.S. from a bug that could devastate its beef industry, decimate wildlife and even kill household pets. This weird science has worked well before.

“It’s an exceptionally good technology,” said Edwin Burgess, an assistant professor at the University of Florida who studies parasites in animals, particularly livestock. “It’s an all-time great in terms of translating science to solve some kind of large problem.”

The targeted pest is the flesh-eating larva of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm">the New World Screwworm fly.</a>&nbsp;The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to ramp up the breeding and distribution of adult male flies — sterilizing them with radiation before releasing them. They mate with females in the wild, and the eggs laid by the female aren't fertilized and don't hatch. There are fewer larvae, and over time, the fly population dies out.

It is more effective and environmentally friendly than spraying the pest into oblivion, and it is how the U.S. and other nations north of Panama eradicated the same pest decades ago. Sterile flies from a factory in Panama kept the flies contained there for years, but the pest appeared in southern Mexico late last year.

The USDA expects a new screwworm fly factory to be up and running in southern Mexico by July 2026. It plans to open a fly distribution center in southern Texas by the end of the year so that it can import and distribute flies from Panama if necessary.

Most fly larvae feed on dead flesh, making the New World screwworm fly and its Old World counterpart in Asia and Africa outliers — and for the American beef industry, a serious threat. Females lay their eggs in wounds and, sometimes, exposed mucus.

“A thousand-pound bovine can be dead from this in two weeks,” said Michael Bailey, president elect of the American Veterinary Medicine Association.

Veterinarians have effective treatments for infested animals, but an infestation can still be unpleasant — and cripple an animal with pain.

Don Hineman, a retired western Kansas rancher, recalled infected cattle as a youngster on his family's farm.

“It smelled nasty,” he said. “Like rotting meat.”

How scientists will use the fly's biology against it

The New World screwworm fly is a tropical species, unable to survive Midwestern or Great Plains winters, so it was a seasonal scourge. Still, the U.S. and Mexico bred and released more than 94 billion sterile flies from 1962 through 1975 to eradicate the pest, according to the USDA.

The numbers need to be large enough that females in the wild can't help but hook up with sterile males for mating.

One biological trait gives fly fighters a crucial wing up: Females mate only once in their weekslong adult lives.

Alarmed about the fly's migration north, the U.S. temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-cattle-screwworm-b3fc2c3642e6773f98f4b9cd6072eb93">closed its southern border</a>&nbsp;in May to imports of live cattle, horses and bison and it won't be fully open again at least until mid-September.

But female flies can lay their eggs in wounds on any warm-blooded animal, and that includes humans.

Decades ago, the U.S. had fly factories in Florida and Texas, but they closed as the pest was eradicated.

The Panama fly factory can breed up to 117 million a week, but the USDA wants the capacity to breed at least 400 million a week. It plans to spend $8.5 million on the Texas site and $21 million to convert a facility in southern Mexico for breeding sterile fruit flies into one for screwworm flies.

How to raise hundreds of millions of flies

In one sense, raising a large colony of flies is relatively easy, said Cassandra Olds, an assistant professor of entomology at Kansas State University.

But, she added, “You’ve got to give the female the cues that she needs to lay her eggs, and then the larvae have to have enough nutrients.”

Fly factories once fed larvae horse meat and honey and then moved to a mix of dried eggs and either honey or molasses, according to past USDA research. Later, the Panama factory used a mix that included egg powder and red blood cells and plasma from cattle.

In the wild, larvae ready for the equivalent of a butterfly’s cocoon stage drop off their hosts and onto the ground, burrow just below the surface and grow to adulthood inside a protective casing making them resemble a dark brown Tic Tac mint. In the Panama factory, workers drop them into trays of sawdust.

Security is an issue. Sonja Swiger, an entomologist with Texas A&amp;M University’s Extension Service, said a breeding facility must prevent any fertile adults kept for breeding stock from escaping.

Dropping flies from the air can be dangerous. Last month, a plane freeing sterile flies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-guatemala-plane-screwworm-cattle-sheinbaum-bd01e5f38f11e9e6db67150bfb1faf67">crashed near Mexico’s border</a>&nbsp;with Guatemala, killing three people.

In test runs in the 1950s, according to the USDA, scientists put the flies in paper cups and then dropped the cups out of planes using special chutes. Later, they loaded them into boxes with a machine known as a “Whiz Packer.”

The method is still much the same: Light planes with crates of flies drop those crates.

Burgess called the development of sterile fly breeding and distribution in the 1950s and 1960s one of the USDA’s “crowning achievements.”

Some agriculture officials argue now that new factories shouldn’t be shuttered after another successful fight.

“Something we think we have complete control over — and we have declared a triumph and victory over — can always rear its ugly head again,” Burgess said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751678956084.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOHN%20HANNA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOHN HANNA&nbsp;</a>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. government is preparing to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fly-factory-texas-flesheating-screwworm-cattle-5eb62edc42bcfce40cdbea27b5f8b60c">breed billions of flies</a>&nbsp;and dump them out of airplanes over Mexico and southern Texas to fight a flesh-eating maggot.That sounds like the plot of a horror movie, but it is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-screwworm-cattle-2ea2cbbb02c102a1feb1f402cd5774cf">part of the government's plans</a>&nbsp;for protecting the U.S. from a bug that could devastate its beef industry, decimate wildlife and even kill household pets. This weird science has worked well before.“It’s an exceptionally good technology,” said Edwin Burgess, an assistant professor at the University of Florida who studies parasites in animals, particularly livestock. “It’s an all-time great in terms of translating science to solve some kind of large problem.”The targeted pest is the flesh-eating larva of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/cattle/ticks/screwworm">the New World Screwworm fly.</a>&nbsp;The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to ramp up the breeding and distribution of adult male flies — sterilizing them with radiation before releasing them. They mate with females in the wild, and the eggs laid by the female aren't fertilized and don't hatch. There are fewer larvae, and over time, the fly population dies out.It is more effective and environmentally friendly than spraying the pest into oblivion, and it is how the U.S. and other nations north of Panama eradicated the same pest decades ago. Sterile flies from a factory in Panama kept the flies contained there for years, but the pest appeared in southern Mexico late last year.The USDA expects a new screwworm fly factory to be up and running in southern Mexico by July 2026. It plans to open a fly distribution center in southern Texas by the end of the year so that it can import and distribute flies from Panama if necessary.<h2>Fly feeds on live flesh</h2>Most fly larvae feed on dead flesh, making the New World screwworm fly and its Old World counterpart in Asia and Africa outliers — and for the American beef industry, a serious threat. Females lay their eggs in wounds and, sometimes, exposed mucus.“A thousand-pound bovine can be dead from this in two weeks,” said Michael Bailey, president elect of the American Veterinary Medicine Association.Veterinarians have effective treatments for infested animals, but an infestation can still be unpleasant — and cripple an animal with pain.Don Hineman, a retired western Kansas rancher, recalled infected cattle as a youngster on his family's farm.“It smelled nasty,” he said. “Like rotting meat.”<h2>How scientists will use the fly's biology against it</h2>The New World screwworm fly is a tropical species, unable to survive Midwestern or Great Plains winters, so it was a seasonal scourge. Still, the U.S. and Mexico bred and released more than 94 billion sterile flies from 1962 through 1975 to eradicate the pest, according to the USDA.The numbers need to be large enough that females in the wild can't help but hook up with sterile males for mating.One biological trait gives fly fighters a crucial wing up: Females mate only once in their weekslong adult lives.<h2>Why the US wants to breed more flies</h2>Alarmed about the fly's migration north, the U.S. temporarily&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-us-cattle-screwworm-b3fc2c3642e6773f98f4b9cd6072eb93">closed its southern border</a>&nbsp;in May to imports of live cattle, horses and bison and it won't be fully open again at least until mid-September.But female flies can lay their eggs in wounds on any warm-blooded animal, and that includes humans.Decades ago, the U.S. had fly factories in Florida and Texas, but they closed as the pest was eradicated.The Panama fly factory can breed up to 117 million a week, but the USDA wants the capacity to breed at least 400 million a week. It plans to spend $8.5 million on the Texas site and $21 million to convert a facility in southern Mexico for breeding sterile fruit flies into one for screwworm flies.<h2>How to raise hundreds of millions of flies</h2>In one sense, raising a large colony of flies is relatively easy, said Cassandra Olds, an assistant professor of entomology at Kansas State University.But, she added, “You’ve got to give the female the cues that she needs to lay her eggs, and then the larvae have to have enough nutrients.”Fly factories once fed larvae horse meat and honey and then moved to a mix of dried eggs and either honey or molasses, according to past USDA research. Later, the Panama factory used a mix that included egg powder and red blood cells and plasma from cattle.In the wild, larvae ready for the equivalent of a butterfly’s cocoon stage drop off their hosts and onto the ground, burrow just below the surface and grow to adulthood inside a protective casing making them resemble a dark brown Tic Tac mint. In the Panama factory, workers drop them into trays of sawdust.Security is an issue. Sonja Swiger, an entomologist with Texas A&amp;M University’s Extension Service, said a breeding facility must prevent any fertile adults kept for breeding stock from escaping.<h2>How to drop flies from an airplane</h2>Dropping flies from the air can be dangerous. Last month, a plane freeing sterile flies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-guatemala-plane-screwworm-cattle-sheinbaum-bd01e5f38f11e9e6db67150bfb1faf67">crashed near Mexico’s border</a>&nbsp;with Guatemala, killing three people.In test runs in the 1950s, according to the USDA, scientists put the flies in paper cups and then dropped the cups out of planes using special chutes. Later, they loaded them into boxes with a machine known as a “Whiz Packer.”The method is still much the same: Light planes with crates of flies drop those crates.Burgess called the development of sterile fly breeding and distribution in the 1950s and 1960s one of the USDA’s “crowning achievements.”Some agriculture officials argue now that new factories shouldn’t be shuttered after another successful fight.“Something we think we have complete control over — and we have declared a triumph and victory over — can always rear its ugly head again,” Burgess said.

US plans to begin breeding billions of flies to fight a pest. Here is how it will work

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Tyler Sherman, a nurse at a rural Nebraska hospital, is used to the area's aging farmers delaying care until they end up in his emergency room.

Now, with Congress planning around $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years, he fears those farmers and the more than 3,000 residents of Webster County could lose not just the ER, but also the clinic and nursing home tied to the hospital.

“Our budget is pretty heavily reliant on the Medicaid reimbursement, so if we do see a cut of that, it’ll be difficult to keep the doors open,” said Sherman, who works at Webster County Community Hospital in the small Nebraska town of Red Cloud just north of the Kansas border.

If those facilities close, many locals would see their five-minute trip to Webster County hospital turn into a nearly hour-long ride to the nearest hospital offering the same services.

“That's a long way for an emergency,” Sherman said. “Some won't make it.”

Already struggling hospitals would be hit particularly hard

States and rural health advocacy groups warn that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gop-bill-trump-medicaid-cuts-coverage-health-bb4f090d2706ffb3d5652e70f246a10e">cutting Medicaid</a>&nbsp;— a program serving millions of low-income and disabled Americans — would hit already fragile rural hospitals hard and could force hundreds to close, stranding some people in remote areas without nearby emergency care.

More than 300 hospitals could be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_on_rural_hospitals.pdf">at risk for closure</a>&nbsp;under the Republican bill, according to an analysis by the Cecil G. Sheps Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which tracks rural hospital closures. Even as Congress haggled over the controversial bill, a health clinic in the southwest Nebraska town of Curtis announced Wednesday it will close in the coming months, in part blaming the anticipated Medicaid cuts.

Bruce Shay, of Pomfret, Connecticut, fears he and his wife could be among those left in the lurch. At 70, they're both in good health, he said. But that likely means that if either needs to go to a hospital, “it's going to be an emergency.”

Day Kimball Hospital is nearby in Putnam, but it has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-hospital-proposed-merger-withdrawn-abortion-2ec8f9d36d6464fef9f934da1d80141d">recent financial challenges</a>. Day Kimball's CEO R. Kyle Kramer acknowledged that a Senate bill passed Tuesday — estimated to cut federal Medicaid spending in rural areas by $155 billion over 10 years — would further hurt his rural hospital's bottom line. Roughly 30% of Day Kimball’s current patients receive Medicaid benefits, a figure that’s even higher for specific, critical services like obstetrics and behavioral health.

“An emergency means I’m 45 minutes to an hour away from the nearest hospital, and that’s a problem," Shay said. And he and his wife wouldn't be the only ones having to make that trip.

“You’ve got, I’m sure, thousands of people who rely on Day Kimball Hospital. If it closed, thousands of people would have to go to another hospital,” he said. “That’s a huge load to suddenly impose on a hospital system that’s probably already stretched thin.”

Experts say the bill's $50 billion fund for rural hospitals isn't enough

Rural hospitals have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/83d4818067bc4cd582751870e5b7b329">long operated on the financial edge</a>, especially in recent years as Medicaid payments have continuously fallen below the actual cost to provide health care. More than 20% of Americans live in rural areas, where Medicaid covers 1 in 4 adults, according to the nonprofit KFF, which studies health care issues.

President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill,</a>&nbsp;which passed Thursday, would worsen rural hospitals' struggles by cutting a key federal program that helps states fund Medicaid payments to health care providers. To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and other social safety net programs — cuts they insist only root out fraud and waste in the system.

But public outcry over Medicaid cuts led Republicans to include a provision that will provide $10 billion annually to buttress rural hospitals over the next five years, or $50 billion in total. Many rural hospital advocates are wary that it won't be enough to cover the shortfall.

Carrie Cochran-McClain, chief policy officer with the National Rural Health Association, said rural hospitals already struggle to break even, citing a recent American Hospital Association report that found that hospitals in 2023 got nearly $28 billion less from Medicaid than the actual cost of treating Medicaid patients.

“We see rural hospitals throughout the country really operating on either negative or very small operating margins," Cochran-McClain said. "Meaning that any amount of cut to a payer — especially a payer like Medicaid that makes up a significant portion of rural provider funding — is going to be consequential to the rural hospitals' ability to provide certain services or maybe even keep their doors open at the end of the day.”

Kentucky is expected to be hit especially hard

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/how-might-federal-medicaid-cuts-in-the-senate-passed-reconciliation-bill-affect-rural-areas/">KFF report</a>&nbsp;shows 36 states losing $1 billion or more over 10 years in Medicaid funding for rural areas under the Republican bill, even with the $50 billion rural fund. No state stands to lose more than Kentucky.

The report estimates the Bluegrass State would lose a whopping $12.3 billion — nearly $5 billion more than the next state on the list. That's because the bill ends Kentucky's unique Medicaid reimbursement system and reduces it to Medicare reimbursement levels.

Kentucky currently has one of the lowest Medicare reimbursement rates in the country. It also has one of the highest poverty rates, leading to a third of its population being covered by Medicaid.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a two-term Democrat widely seen as a potential candidate for president in 2028, said the bill would close 35 hospitals in his state and pull health care coverage for 200,000 residents.

“Half of Kentucky’s kids are covered under Medicaid. They lose their coverage and you are scrambling over that next prescription,” Beshear said during an appearance on MSNBC. “This is going to impact the life of every single American negatively. It is going to hammer our economy."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750514472658.png" alt="google image" />
 <figcaption>google image</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Tyler Sherman, a nurse at a rural Nebraska hospital, is used to the area's aging farmers delaying care until they end up in his emergency room.Now, with Congress planning around $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over 10 years, he fears those farmers and the more than 3,000 residents of Webster County could lose not just the ER, but also the clinic and nursing home tied to the hospital.“Our budget is pretty heavily reliant on the Medicaid reimbursement, so if we do see a cut of that, it’ll be difficult to keep the doors open,” said Sherman, who works at Webster County Community Hospital in the small Nebraska town of Red Cloud just north of the Kansas border.If those facilities close, many locals would see their five-minute trip to Webster County hospital turn into a nearly hour-long ride to the nearest hospital offering the same services.“That's a long way for an emergency,” Sherman said. “Some won't make it.”<h2>Already struggling hospitals would be hit particularly hard</h2>States and rural health advocacy groups warn that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gop-bill-trump-medicaid-cuts-coverage-health-bb4f090d2706ffb3d5652e70f246a10e">cutting Medicaid</a>&nbsp;— a program serving millions of low-income and disabled Americans — would hit already fragile rural hospitals hard and could force hundreds to close, stranding some people in remote areas without nearby emergency care.More than 300 hospitals could be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_on_rural_hospitals.pdf">at risk for closure</a>&nbsp;under the Republican bill, according to an analysis by the Cecil G. Sheps Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which tracks rural hospital closures. Even as Congress haggled over the controversial bill, a health clinic in the southwest Nebraska town of Curtis announced Wednesday it will close in the coming months, in part blaming the anticipated Medicaid cuts.Bruce Shay, of Pomfret, Connecticut, fears he and his wife could be among those left in the lurch. At 70, they're both in good health, he said. But that likely means that if either needs to go to a hospital, “it's going to be an emergency.”Day Kimball Hospital is nearby in Putnam, but it has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-hospital-proposed-merger-withdrawn-abortion-2ec8f9d36d6464fef9f934da1d80141d">recent financial challenges</a>. Day Kimball's CEO R. Kyle Kramer acknowledged that a Senate bill passed Tuesday — estimated to cut federal Medicaid spending in rural areas by $155 billion over 10 years — would further hurt his rural hospital's bottom line. Roughly 30% of Day Kimball’s current patients receive Medicaid benefits, a figure that’s even higher for specific, critical services like obstetrics and behavioral health.“An emergency means I’m 45 minutes to an hour away from the nearest hospital, and that’s a problem," Shay said. And he and his wife wouldn't be the only ones having to make that trip.“You’ve got, I’m sure, thousands of people who rely on Day Kimball Hospital. If it closed, thousands of people would have to go to another hospital,” he said. “That’s a huge load to suddenly impose on a hospital system that’s probably already stretched thin.”<h2>Experts say the bill's $50 billion fund for rural hospitals isn't enough</h2>Rural hospitals have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/83d4818067bc4cd582751870e5b7b329">long operated on the financial edge</a>, especially in recent years as Medicaid payments have continuously fallen below the actual cost to provide health care. More than 20% of Americans live in rural areas, where Medicaid covers 1 in 4 adults, according to the nonprofit KFF, which studies health care issues.President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inside-trump-republican-spending-bill-provisions-details-06eb10bad4fd2a7ea2ac236e6535e61d">$4.5 trillion tax breaks and spending cuts bill,</a>&nbsp;which passed Thursday, would worsen rural hospitals' struggles by cutting a key federal program that helps states fund Medicaid payments to health care providers. To help offset the lost tax revenue, the package includes $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and other social safety net programs — cuts they insist only root out fraud and waste in the system.But public outcry over Medicaid cuts led Republicans to include a provision that will provide $10 billion annually to buttress rural hospitals over the next five years, or $50 billion in total. Many rural hospital advocates are wary that it won't be enough to cover the shortfall.Carrie Cochran-McClain, chief policy officer with the National Rural Health Association, said rural hospitals already struggle to break even, citing a recent American Hospital Association report that found that hospitals in 2023 got nearly $28 billion less from Medicaid than the actual cost of treating Medicaid patients.“We see rural hospitals throughout the country really operating on either negative or very small operating margins," Cochran-McClain said. "Meaning that any amount of cut to a payer — especially a payer like Medicaid that makes up a significant portion of rural provider funding — is going to be consequential to the rural hospitals' ability to provide certain services or maybe even keep their doors open at the end of the day.”<h2>Kentucky is expected to be hit especially hard</h2>A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/how-might-federal-medicaid-cuts-in-the-senate-passed-reconciliation-bill-affect-rural-areas/">KFF report</a>&nbsp;shows 36 states losing $1 billion or more over 10 years in Medicaid funding for rural areas under the Republican bill, even with the $50 billion rural fund. No state stands to lose more than Kentucky.The report estimates the Bluegrass State would lose a whopping $12.3 billion — nearly $5 billion more than the next state on the list. That's because the bill ends Kentucky's unique Medicaid reimbursement system and reduces it to Medicare reimbursement levels.Kentucky currently has one of the lowest Medicare reimbursement rates in the country. It also has one of the highest poverty rates, leading to a third of its population being covered by Medicaid.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a two-term Democrat widely seen as a potential candidate for president in 2028, said the bill would close 35 hospitals in his state and pull health care coverage for 200,000 residents.“Half of Kentucky’s kids are covered under Medicaid. They lose their coverage and you are scrambling over that next prescription,” Beshear said during an appearance on MSNBC. “This is going to impact the life of every single American negatively. It is going to hammer our economy."___

Rural hospitals brace for financial hits or closure under $1 trillion Medicaid cut

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/steve-peoples">STEVE PEOPLES</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-fingerhut">HANNAH FINGERHUT</a>

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa (AP) — It is big and it is beautiful, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;says.

But for many Democratic leaders, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">tax break and spending cut package</a>&nbsp;passed by Trump’s Republican allies in Congress on Thursday represents the key to the Democratic Party’s resurgence.

Even before the final vote, Democratic officials were finalizing ambitious plans for rallies, voter registration drives, attack ads, bus tours and even a multiday vigil, all intended to highlight the most controversial elements of Trump’s “big beautiful” bill: deep cuts to the nation’s safety net that will leave nearly 12 million more people without health coverage and millions of others without food assistance, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office</a>.

In political battlegrounds across Alaska and Iowa, Pennsylvania and California, Democrats have begun to use the bill against Republicans. Democrats are promising that the Republican president’s domestic policy achievement to date will be the defining issue of every major election between now and next fall’s midterms.

“One thing is abundantly clear: Republicans own this mess and it’s an albatross around their necks heading into the midterms,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told The Associated Press. “This is the least popular legislation in modern history, and the more voters learn about it, the more they hate it. That’s a clear directive for Democrats -- we’re going to make sure every single voter knows who is responsible.”

Even with early public opinion on their side, however, it’s far from certain that the legislation will be the political winner Democrats hope.

The Democratic brand remains deeply unpopular, the party has no clear leader, its message is muddled and core elements of the Democratic base are frustrated and drifting. Some of the bill’s provisions will not take effect until after the 2026 election, so voters may not have felt the full impact by the time they vote. At the same time, it’s unclear how many voters are paying attention to the Washington-based debate.

The Democratic super political action committee Priorities USA warned this week that Democrats must work harder if they want their message to break through.

“We can’t just assume that because we’re angry that the voters that we need to communicate with are angry. Everyone needs to step up and realize the enormous challenge that’s in front of us,” executive director Danielle Butterfield said. “We’re nowhere near a good starting place.”

The bill provides for $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that were enacted in Trump’s first term and would have expired if Congress failed to act. New breaks will allow workers to deduct tips and overtime pay. There are $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food stamps and a major rollback of green energy investments. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the package will add&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">$3.3 trillion to the deficit</a>&nbsp;over the decade.

Privately, some Democrats conceded that Republicans were smart to pass the bill on the eve of a holiday weekend when fewer voters would be paying attention.

As some Democrats in Washington predicted a political backlash across America, the response was somewhat muted Thursday at a Democratic event in Iowa, barely 10 miles from the State Fairgrounds where Trump later drew thousands for an evening rally.

An audience of roughly 100 people listened as local Democratic officials railed against the legislation and called on voters to oust Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, the local congressman, for supporting it.

Audience member Michael Rieck, 69, said Iowa Democrats left him a message about the rally, but when he went online to learn more, “there was nothing.”

“I texted back to them that I didn’t see any advertisement,” he said. “They slowly corrected that. I’m still not impressed with what they did to advertise this event.”

Rieck said he wants to see different factions of the party better coordinate their message.

Progressive activists were moving through Minnesota in a big green bus as part of Fair Share America’s 29-stop “stop the billionaire giveaway” tour. The group is focused on Republican-led congressional districts where elected officials have largely stopped having in-person town halls with constituents.

“We know we’re fighting upstream,” said Fair Share’s executive director, Kristen Crowell. “But when people hear exactly what’s in this bill, they’re adamantly opposed.”

The bill is generally unpopular, according to polling conducted throughout the month of June, although some individual provisions are popular.

For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/tablet/2025/06/17/june-6-10-2025-washington-post-ipsos-poll-gop-budget-bill/" target="_blank">a Washington Post/Ipsos poll</a>&nbsp;found that majorities of U.S. adults support increasing the annual child tax credit and eliminating taxes on earnings from tips, and about half support work requirements for some adults who receive Medicaid.

On the other hand, the poll found that majorities oppose reducing federal funding for food assistance to low-income families and spending about $45 billion to build and maintain migrant detention centers.

The price tag could be a sticking point. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults in the poll said it was “unacceptable” that the bill is expected to increase the U.S. national debt, currently at $36 trillion, by about $3 trillion over the next decade.

But polling indicates that most Americans aren’t paying attention to the nuances of the bill, either.

The Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that only about one-third of U.S. adults have heard “a great deal” or “a good amount” about it.

Democrats are planning a summer of organizing

The Democratic National Committee and its allies plan an “organizing summer” that will feature town halls, training and voter registration drives in at least 35 competitive congressional districts. The message will be focused heavily on Trump’s bill.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, said her party must keep the bill’s contents at the forefront of people’s minds to ensure it’s an issue in the midterms and even the next presidential election in 2028.

“We’ll just have to keep that on the radar,” she said.

Progressive groups are planning a “Families First” day of action for July 26 in all 50 states. They will highlight people hurt by the new Medicaid cuts and will hold a 60-hour vigil at the U.S. Capitol.

“We have made a promise to each other and to future generations that there will be a safety net in place when we need it. And this is what’s being ripped away. And people will not stand for it,” said one of the Families First organizers, Ai-jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.

Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writers Amelia Thomson DeVeaux in Washington, John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, and Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751666035602.png" alt="President Trump during the July 4 bill signing-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Trump during the July 4 bill signing-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/steve-peoples">STEVE PEOPLES</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-fingerhut">HANNAH FINGERHUT</a>WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa (AP) — It is big and it is beautiful, President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;says.But for many Democratic leaders, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">tax break and spending cut package</a>&nbsp;passed by Trump’s Republican allies in Congress on Thursday represents the key to the Democratic Party’s resurgence.Even before the final vote, Democratic officials were finalizing ambitious plans for rallies, voter registration drives, attack ads, bus tours and even a multiday vigil, all intended to highlight the most controversial elements of Trump’s “big beautiful” bill: deep cuts to the nation’s safety net that will leave nearly 12 million more people without health coverage and millions of others without food assistance, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office</a>.In political battlegrounds across Alaska and Iowa, Pennsylvania and California, Democrats have begun to use the bill against Republicans. Democrats are promising that the Republican president’s domestic policy achievement to date will be the defining issue of every major election between now and next fall’s midterms.“One thing is abundantly clear: Republicans own this mess and it’s an albatross around their necks heading into the midterms,” Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin told The Associated Press. “This is the least popular legislation in modern history, and the more voters learn about it, the more they hate it. That’s a clear directive for Democrats -- we’re going to make sure every single voter knows who is responsible.”Even with early public opinion on their side, however, it’s far from certain that the legislation will be the political winner Democrats hope.The Democratic brand remains deeply unpopular, the party has no clear leader, its message is muddled and core elements of the Democratic base are frustrated and drifting. Some of the bill’s provisions will not take effect until after the 2026 election, so voters may not have felt the full impact by the time they vote. At the same time, it’s unclear how many voters are paying attention to the Washington-based debate.The Democratic super political action committee Priorities USA warned this week that Democrats must work harder if they want their message to break through.“We can’t just assume that because we’re angry that the voters that we need to communicate with are angry. Everyone needs to step up and realize the enormous challenge that’s in front of us,” executive director Danielle Butterfield said. “We’re nowhere near a good starting place.”The bill provides for $4.5 trillion in tax breaks that were enacted in Trump’s first term and would have expired if Congress failed to act. New breaks will allow workers to deduct tips and overtime pay. There are $1.2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and food stamps and a major rollback of green energy investments. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-big-beautiful-bill-trump-republican-deficit-debt-d432b67a965790e4a26de46ea8db1266">nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office</a>&nbsp;estimates the package will add&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cbo-trump-tax-bill-republicans-senate-5f591bea21bd95eec45ba90c93c50687">$3.3 trillion to the deficit</a>&nbsp;over the decade.<h2>Democrats’ challenge on display</h2>Privately, some Democrats conceded that Republicans were smart to pass the bill on the eve of a holiday weekend when fewer voters would be paying attention.As some Democrats in Washington predicted a political backlash across America, the response was somewhat muted Thursday at a Democratic event in Iowa, barely 10 miles from the State Fairgrounds where Trump later drew thousands for an evening rally.An audience of roughly 100 people listened as local Democratic officials railed against the legislation and called on voters to oust Republican Rep. Zach Nunn, the local congressman, for supporting it.Audience member Michael Rieck, 69, said Iowa Democrats left him a message about the rally, but when he went online to learn more, “there was nothing.”“I texted back to them that I didn’t see any advertisement,” he said. “They slowly corrected that. I’m still not impressed with what they did to advertise this event.”Rieck said he wants to see different factions of the party better coordinate their message.Progressive activists were moving through Minnesota in a big green bus as part of Fair Share America’s 29-stop “stop the billionaire giveaway” tour. The group is focused on Republican-led congressional districts where elected officials have largely stopped having in-person town halls with constituents.“We know we’re fighting upstream,” said Fair Share’s executive director, Kristen Crowell. “But when people hear exactly what’s in this bill, they’re adamantly opposed.”<h2>What the polls say</h2>The bill is generally unpopular, according to polling conducted throughout the month of June, although some individual provisions are popular.For example,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/tablet/2025/06/17/june-6-10-2025-washington-post-ipsos-poll-gop-budget-bill/" target="_blank">a Washington Post/Ipsos poll</a>&nbsp;found that majorities of U.S. adults support increasing the annual child tax credit and eliminating taxes on earnings from tips, and about half support work requirements for some adults who receive Medicaid.On the other hand, the poll found that majorities oppose reducing federal funding for food assistance to low-income families and spending about $45 billion to build and maintain migrant detention centers.The price tag could be a sticking point. About 6 in 10 U.S. adults in the poll said it was “unacceptable” that the bill is expected to increase the U.S. national debt, currently at $36 trillion, by about $3 trillion over the next decade.But polling indicates that most Americans aren’t paying attention to the nuances of the bill, either.The Washington Post/Ipsos poll found that only about one-third of U.S. adults have heard “a great deal” or “a good amount” about it.<h2>Democrats are planning a summer of organizing</h2>The Democratic National Committee and its allies plan an “organizing summer” that will feature town halls, training and voter registration drives in at least 35 competitive congressional districts. The message will be focused heavily on Trump’s bill.Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, said her party must keep the bill’s contents at the forefront of people’s minds to ensure it’s an issue in the midterms and even the next presidential election in 2028.“We’ll just have to keep that on the radar,” she said.Progressive groups are planning a “Families First” day of action for July 26 in all 50 states. They will highlight people hurt by the new Medicaid cuts and will hold a 60-hour vigil at the U.S. Capitol.“We have made a promise to each other and to future generations that there will be a safety net in place when we need it. And this is what’s being ripped away. And people will not stand for it,” said one of the Families First organizers, Ai-jen Poo, president of the National Domestic Workers Alliance.___Peoples reported from New York. Associated Press writers Amelia Thomson DeVeaux in Washington, John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, and Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed to this report.

Democrats see Trump’s big bill as key to their comeback. It may not be so easy

Without access to funds, leaders worry about future of after-school, English learner and other programs.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>

The U.S. Department of Education’s decision this week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services.

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding&nbsp;has put states in “triage mode” as they scramble to decide what programs may be cut without that funding, said Mary Kusler, senior director for the Center for Advocacy&nbsp;at the&nbsp;National Education Association. The money was approved by Congress to support education for English language learners, migrants, low-income children and adults learning to read, among others.

As of July 1, school systems are unable to draw down funding, jeopardizing summer programs, hiring and early-year planning for the 2025–26 school year.

The funding freeze affects several core programs: Title II-A (educator training and recruitment), Title III-A (English learner support), Title IV-A (student enrichment and after-school), as well as migrant education and adult education and literacy grants. Trump has proposed eliminating all those programs in his proposed budget for next fiscal year, but that proposal hasn’t gone through Congress.

State superintendents sent out missives to school districts early this week and now are scrambling to make choices.&nbsp;

“This is not about political philosophy, this is about reliability and consistency,” Alabama state Superintendent Eric Mackey said to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/trump-school-money-state-authorities-scrambling-00436737" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;this week. “None of us were worrying about this.”

The administration says it is reviewing the programs.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the U.S. Department of Education wrote to states in its announcement Monday.&nbsp;

Historically, the department releases allocations by July 1 to ensure schools can budget and plan effectively for the coming school year. Withholding the money could result in canceled programs, hiring freezes and the loss of essential support for English learners, migrant children and other high-need populations, education and state officials told Stateline.

“America’s public school leaders run district budgets that are dependent on a complex partnership between federal, state, and local funding,” said David R. Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association in a statement. “For decades, school districts have relied on timely confirmation of their federal allocations ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year — ensuring stability, allowing for responsible planning, and supporting uninterrupted educational services for students.”&nbsp;

The states facing the largest withheld amounts include California ($810.7 million), Texas ($660.9 million), and New York ($411.7 million), according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/federal-education-funding-selected-programs-state-and-program" target="_blank">NEA&nbsp;</a>and<a href="https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-face-uncertainty-k-12-funding-remains-unreleased" target="_blank">&nbsp;the Learning Policy Institute</a>, an education think tank.&nbsp;

For 17 states and territories, the freeze affects over 15% of their total federal K-12 allocations, according to the Learning Policy Institute. For smaller jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Vermont, the disruption hits even harder: More than 20% of their federal K-12 budgets remain inaccessible.

Colorado Education Commissioner Susan Córdova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdecomm/commissionerupdate-20250630" target="_blank">urged</a>&nbsp;school districts to begin contingency&nbsp;planning in case funds are not released before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hinted at possible legal action, which has become a trend as states fight the second Trump administration’s funding revocations or delays.

“California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress,” Thurmond said in a statement.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/articles/coalition-moves-injunction-stopping-trump-administrations-actions-dismantle-department#:~:text=FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE-,July%201%2C%202025,Those%20actions%20include:" target="_blank">NEA and the NAACP have filed for a preliminary injunction</a>, calling the administration’s delay an illegal “impoundment” — a violation of the federal Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval.

Education advocates warn the recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold funding reflects a broader pattern of federal disengagement from public education.

Community nonprofits said the withholding could devastate their programming too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America could have to close more than 900 centers — bringing the loss of 5,900 jobs and affecting more than 220,000 children,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2025/July/statement-from-boys-girls-clubs-of-americas-president-ceo-jim-clark/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;President and CEO Jim Clark in a statement.

The 1974 Impoundment Control Act lets the president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/095406" target="_blank">propose canceling funds</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to approve the request; if they don’t, it’s denied. Meanwhile, agencies can be directed not to spend the funds during that time.

A White House statement&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">shared</a>&nbsp;with States Newsroom this week said&nbsp;“initial findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”&nbsp;

“Kids, educators, and working families are the ones losing,” said&nbsp;Kusler, of the NEA. “We need governors and communities to step up — now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713959557029.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Without access to funds, leaders worry about future of after-school, English learner and other programs.</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>The U.S. Department of Education’s decision this week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services.The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding&nbsp;has put states in “triage mode” as they scramble to decide what programs may be cut without that funding, said Mary Kusler, senior director for the Center for Advocacy&nbsp;at the&nbsp;National Education Association. The money was approved by Congress to support education for English language learners, migrants, low-income children and adults learning to read, among others.As of July 1, school systems are unable to draw down funding, jeopardizing summer programs, hiring and early-year planning for the 2025–26 school year.The funding freeze affects several core programs: Title II-A (educator training and recruitment), Title III-A (English learner support), Title IV-A (student enrichment and after-school), as well as migrant education and adult education and literacy grants. Trump has proposed eliminating all those programs in his proposed budget for next fiscal year, but that proposal hasn’t gone through Congress.State superintendents sent out missives to school districts early this week and now are scrambling to make choices.&nbsp;“This is not about political philosophy, this is about reliability and consistency,” Alabama state Superintendent Eric Mackey said to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/trump-school-money-state-authorities-scrambling-00436737" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;this week. “None of us were worrying about this.”The administration says it is reviewing the programs.“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the U.S. Department of Education wrote to states in its announcement Monday.&nbsp;Historically, the department releases allocations by July 1 to ensure schools can budget and plan effectively for the coming school year. Withholding the money could result in canceled programs, hiring freezes and the loss of essential support for English learners, migrant children and other high-need populations, education and state officials told Stateline.“America’s public school leaders run district budgets that are dependent on a complex partnership between federal, state, and local funding,” said David R. Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association in a statement. “For decades, school districts have relied on timely confirmation of their federal allocations ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year — ensuring stability, allowing for responsible planning, and supporting uninterrupted educational services for students.”&nbsp;The states facing the largest withheld amounts include California ($810.7 million), Texas ($660.9 million), and New York ($411.7 million), according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/federal-education-funding-selected-programs-state-and-program" target="_blank">NEA&nbsp;</a>and<a href="https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-face-uncertainty-k-12-funding-remains-unreleased" target="_blank">&nbsp;the Learning Policy Institute</a>, an education think tank.&nbsp;For 17 states and territories, the freeze affects over 15% of their total federal K-12 allocations, according to the Learning Policy Institute. For smaller jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Vermont, the disruption hits even harder: More than 20% of their federal K-12 budgets remain inaccessible.Colorado Education Commissioner Susan Córdova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdecomm/commissionerupdate-20250630" target="_blank">urged</a>&nbsp;school districts to begin contingency&nbsp;planning in case funds are not released before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hinted at possible legal action, which has become a trend as states fight the second Trump administration’s funding revocations or delays.“California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress,” Thurmond said in a statement.The&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/articles/coalition-moves-injunction-stopping-trump-administrations-actions-dismantle-department#:~:text=FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE-,July%201%2C%202025,Those%20actions%20include:" target="_blank">NEA and the NAACP have filed for a preliminary injunction</a>, calling the administration’s delay an illegal “impoundment” — a violation of the federal Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval.Education advocates warn the recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold funding reflects a broader pattern of federal disengagement from public education.Community nonprofits said the withholding could devastate their programming too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America could have to close more than 900 centers — bringing the loss of 5,900 jobs and affecting more than 220,000 children,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2025/July/statement-from-boys-girls-clubs-of-americas-president-ceo-jim-clark/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;President and CEO Jim Clark in a statement.The 1974 Impoundment Control Act lets the president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/095406" target="_blank">propose canceling funds</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to approve the request; if they don’t, it’s denied. Meanwhile, agencies can be directed not to spend the funds during that time.A White House statement&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">shared</a>&nbsp;with States Newsroom this week said&nbsp;“initial findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”&nbsp;“Kids, educators, and working families are the ones losing,” said&nbsp;Kusler, of the NEA. “We need governors and communities to step up — now.”

States in ‘triage mode’ over $6B in withheld K-12 funding

GRHAM COUNTY — A series of small earthquakes shook northwest Kansas on Saturday and early Sunday.

 Just after 2p.m. Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a 2. 6 magnitude quake approximately 4.3 miles southwest of Bogue. 

&nbsp;Just before 4p.m. the USGS reported a 2.5 magnitude quake 5 and one half miles south of Hill City.&nbsp; Moments later a third quake measuring a magnitude 2.7 was recorded approximately 7 miles northeast of Collyer.

This activity follows a 2.1 magnitude quake southwest of Bogue on June 28, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are no reports of damage, according to the Graham County Sheriff's office. However, according to the sheriff's office, many in the community have felt the tremors over the past 24. hours.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751809186890.png" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>GRHAM COUNTY — A series of small earthquakes shook northwest Kansas on Saturday and early Sunday. Just after 2p.m. Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported a 2. 6 magnitude quake approximately 4.3 miles southwest of Bogue. &nbsp;Just before 4p.m. the USGS reported a 2.5 magnitude quake 5 and one half miles south of Hill City.&nbsp; Moments later a third quake measuring a magnitude 2.7 was recorded approximately 7 miles northeast of Collyer.This activity follows a 2.1 magnitude quake southwest of Bogue on June 28, according to the Kansas Geological Survey.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are no reports of damage, according to the Graham County Sheriff's office. However, according to the sheriff's office, many in the community have felt the tremors over the past 24. hours.

Series of small earthquakes reported in NW Kansas

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City Missouri.

Just after 5a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 100 block of N Belliare in Kansas City, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders were directed to the rear of a nearby residence where an adult male victim was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency aid was immediately rendered by responding officers until EMS arrived on scene. EMS pronounced him deceased.

Preliminary investigation indicates this occurred as a result of an argument that escalated to gunfire.&nbsp; Police do not have a suspect in custody or and have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751741241391.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City Missouri.Just after 5a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 100 block of N Belliare in Kansas City, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751741015533.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders were directed to the rear of a nearby residence where an adult male victim was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency aid was immediately rendered by responding officers until EMS arrived on scene. EMS pronounced him deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates this occurred as a result of an argument that escalated to gunfire.&nbsp; Police do not have a suspect in custody or and have not released the name of the victim.

Homicide: Argument escalated to gunfire outside KC home

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The death toll from flash floods that rampaged through Central Texas rose to at least 67 on Sunday as rescuers maneuvering through challenging terrain found more bodies and continued their desperate search for many others, including 11 missing girls from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">a summer camp</a>.

Searchers in Kerr County have found 16 bodies since Saturday afternoon, bringing the total number of dead there to 59, said Sheriff Larry Leitha. The dead included 21 children, he said.

He pledged to keep searching in that Hill Country region until “everybody is found” from Friday’s flash floods.

Four deaths also were reported in Travis County, three in Burnet and 1 in Kendall.

Rescuers dealt with broken trees, overturned cars and muck-filled debris in the difficult task to find survivors. Authorities still have not said how many people were missing beyond the 11 children and a camp counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp.

Families were allowed to look around the camp Sunday morning while nearby crews operating heavy equipment pulled tree trunks and tangled branches out of the water as they searched along a riverbank. Thunder rumbled from a new storm.

A woman and a teenage girl, both wearing rubber waders, briefly went inside one of the cabins, which stood next to a pile of of soaked mattresses, a storage trunk and clothes. At one point, the pair doubled over, sobbing before they embraced.

With each passing hour, the outlook of finding more survivors became even more bleak. Volunteers and some families of the missing who drove to the disaster zone searched the riverbanks despite being asked not to do so.

Authorities faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-floods-hill-country-weather-warnings-238d4325bb58f0b410015f74684738b6">growing questions</a>&nbsp;about whether enough warnings were issued in area long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flood-deaths-flash-flooding-weather-408b11abe0389f38c93d8722b9d15dd0">vulnerable to flooding</a>&nbsp;and whether enough preparations were made.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive, fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the river in only 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as flash flood watches remained in effect and more rain fell in central Texas on Sunday.

Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Officials said more than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751800122218.png" alt="Image from Texas Parks and Wildlife video" />
 <figcaption>Image from Texas Parks and Wildlife video</figcaption>
 </figure>KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — The death toll from flash floods that rampaged through Central Texas rose to at least 67 on Sunday as rescuers maneuvering through challenging terrain found more bodies and continued their desperate search for many others, including 11 missing girls from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">a summer camp</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">View of the Guadalupe River shows the devastating impacts of the flood.<a href="https://twitter.com/TexasGameWarden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TexasGameWarden</a> continues to work with other first responders on search and rescue. ⚠️ Water is moving to other parts of the state. Please heed local warnings. <a href="https://t.co/mhKLyMAZhR">pic.twitter.com/mhKLyMAZhR</a>&mdash; Texas Parks &amp; Wildlife (@TPWDnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPWDnews/status/1941525934374519034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Searchers in Kerr County have found 16 bodies since Saturday afternoon, bringing the total number of dead there to 59, said Sheriff Larry Leitha. The dead included 21 children, he said.He pledged to keep searching in that Hill Country region until “everybody is found” from Friday’s flash floods.Four deaths also were reported in Travis County, three in Burnet and 1 in Kendall.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Dear Governor <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GregAbbott_TX</a>: I have declared a major disaster under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq. (the “Stafford Act”), for the State of Texas due to damage resulting from severe storms, straight-line winds, and… <a href="https://t.co/oz2GzIyGiI">pic.twitter.com/oz2GzIyGiI</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1941905521302257874?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Rescuers dealt with broken trees, overturned cars and muck-filled debris in the difficult task to find survivors. Authorities still have not said how many people were missing beyond the 11 children and a camp counselor from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp.Families were allowed to look around the camp Sunday morning while nearby crews operating heavy equipment pulled tree trunks and tangled branches out of the water as they searched along a riverbank. Thunder rumbled from a new storm.A woman and a teenage girl, both wearing rubber waders, briefly went inside one of the cabins, which stood next to a pile of of soaked mattresses, a storage trunk and clothes. At one point, the pair doubled over, sobbing before they embraced.With each passing hour, the outlook of finding more survivors became even more bleak. Volunteers and some families of the missing who drove to the disaster zone searched the riverbanks despite being asked not to do so.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">⚠️ Due to ongoing flooding, the following <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TexasStateParks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TexasStateParks</a> are currently closed: 👉 Inks Lake SP 👉 Lost Maples SNA 👉 Old Tunnel SP 👉 Colorado Bend SP Before visiting, check: 🚨 Park Alerts 🌨️ Weather 🚙 Road Conditions 🔗 <a href="https://t.co/5XYB9eOBIb">https://t.co/5XYB9eOBIb</a> <a href="https://t.co/djAey0T99w">pic.twitter.com/djAey0T99w</a>&mdash; Texas State Parks (@TPWDparks) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPWDparks/status/1941532113268060440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Authorities faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-floods-hill-country-weather-warnings-238d4325bb58f0b410015f74684738b6">growing questions</a>&nbsp;about whether enough warnings were issued in area long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flood-deaths-flash-flooding-weather-408b11abe0389f38c93d8722b9d15dd0">vulnerable to flooding</a>&nbsp;and whether enough preparations were made.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive, fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the river in only 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as flash flood watches remained in effect and more rain fell in central Texas on Sunday.Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads. Officials said more than 850 people were rescued in the first 36 hours.<h2>Prayers in Texas — and from the Vatican</h2>Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will work around the clock and said new areas were being searched as the water receded. He&nbsp;<a href="https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/DISASTER_Hill_Country_flood_Day_of_Prayer_IMAGE_07-05-2025.pdf" target="_blank">declared</a>&nbsp;Sunday a day of prayer for the state.“I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he said in a statement.In Rome, Pope Leo XIV offered special prayers for those touched by the disaster. History’s first American pope spoke in English at the end of his Sunday noon blessing, “I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in summer camp, in the disaster caused by the flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas in the United States. We pray for them.”The hills along the Guadalupe River are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the Independence Day holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing.“We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said on Saturday.<h2>Harrowing escapes from floodwaters</h2>Survivors shared terrifying stories of being swept away and clinging to trees as rampaging floodwaters carried trees and cars past them. Others fled to attics inside their homes, praying the water wouldn’t reach them.At Camp Mystic, a cabin full of girls held onto a rope strung by rescuers as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs.Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp up the road.Locals know the area as “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flash-flood-warning-watch-texas-986af31b0402a7a721fd9cc275622457">flash flood</a>&nbsp;alley” but the flooding in the middle of the night caught many campers and residents by surprise even though there were warnings.<h2>Warnings came before the disaster</h2>The National Weather Service on Thursday advised of potential flooding and then sent out a series of flash flood warnings in the early hours of Friday before issuing flash flood emergencies — a rare alert notifying of imminent danger.At the Mo-Ranch Camp in the community of Hunt, officials had been monitoring the weather and opted to move several hundred campers and attendees at a church youth conference to higher ground. At nearby Camps Rio Vista and Sierra Vista, organizers also had mentioned on social media that they were watching the weather the day before ending their second summer session Thursday.Authorities and elected officials have said they did not expect such an intense downpour, the equivalent of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flash-flood-hill-country-climate-change-6f16e4c4413c3795094553269f059120">months’ worth of rain</a>&nbsp;for the area.U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, whose district includes the ravaged area, acknowledged that there would be second-guessing and finger-pointing as people look for someone to blame.---------------KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Rescuers scoured a devastated central Texas landscape of mangled trees, overturned cars and muck-filled debris Saturday in an increasingly bleak mission to locate survivors, including 27 girls who have not been seen since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">their camp was slammed with a wall of water</a>&nbsp;in a historic flash flood.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">View of the Guadalupe River shows the devastating impacts of the flood.<a href="https://twitter.com/TexasGameWarden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TexasGameWarden</a> continues to work with other first responders on search and rescue. ⚠️ Water is moving to other parts of the state. Please heed local warnings. <a href="https://t.co/mhKLyMAZhR">pic.twitter.com/mhKLyMAZhR</a>&mdash; Texas Parks &amp; Wildlife (@TPWDnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/TPWDnews/status/1941525934374519034?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The flooding in Kerr County killed at least 43 people, including 15 children, and at least eight people died in nearby counties.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftexasparksandwildlife%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0y4EMoAZsaQ1MVrXHtcztUQNuBK3XxpNJgjyX6yqoNNTktHGXffcYhiQYmRazWPsPl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="358" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Authorities still have not said how many people were missing beyond the children from Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp along a river in Kerr County where most of the dead were recovered.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flooding-girls-missing-camp-mystic-395992e236e35c4486f9a6a97eed7704">destructive, fast-moving waters</a>&nbsp;rose 26 feet (8 meters) on the Guadalupe River in just 45 minutes before daybreak Friday, washing away homes and vehicles. The danger was not over as rains continued pounding communities outside San Antonio on Saturday and flash flood warnings and watches remained in effect.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our hearts are with those impacted by the Central Texas floods. I thank Gov. Abbott, state officials, and the U.S. Coast Guard for their swift, heroic response. President Trump is committed to deploying all federal resources to unify families, rescue the missing, and return… <a href="https://t.co/yUa4yNd4SW">pic.twitter.com/yUa4yNd4SW</a>&mdash; Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem/status/1941615054853456249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Searchers used helicopters, boats and drones to look for victims and to rescue people stranded in trees and from camps isolated by washed-out roads.Gov. Greg Abbott vowed that authorities will work around the clock and said new areas were being searched as the water receded. He&nbsp;<a href="https://gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/press/DISASTER_Hill_Country_flood_Day_of_Prayer_IMAGE_07-05-2025.pdf" target="_blank">declared</a>&nbsp;Sunday a day of prayer for the state.“I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday — for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” he said in a statement.Authorities were coming under scrutiny over whether the camps and residents in places long&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flood-deaths-flash-flooding-weather-408b11abe0389f38c93d8722b9d15dd0">vulnerable to flooding</a>&nbsp;received proper warning and whether enough preparations were made.The hills along the Guadalupe River in central Texas are dotted with century-old youth camps and campgrounds where generations of families have come to swim and enjoy the outdoors. The area is especially popular around the July Fourth holiday, making it more difficult to know how many are missing.“We don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said earlier.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Declared this Sunday, July 6th, as a Day of Prayer in Texas in response to the floods in the Hill Country. I invite Texans to join me in prayer for the communities affected by this disaster. <a href="https://t.co/vHWt1CQPzW">pic.twitter.com/vHWt1CQPzW</a>&mdash; Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) <a href="https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/status/1941662751601897729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Raging storm hit camp in middle of the night</h2>“The camp was completely destroyed,” said Elinor Lester, 13, one of hundreds of campers. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary.”The raging storm, fueled by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-flash-flood-hill-country-climate-change-6f16e4c4413c3795094553269f059120">incredible amounts of moisture</a>, woke up her cabin just after midnight Friday. When rescuers arrived, they tied a rope for the girls to hold as they walked across a bridge with water whipping around their legs, she said.Frantic parents and families posted photos of missing loved ones and pleas for information.Among those confirmed dead were an 8-year-old girl from Mountain Brook, Alabama, who was at Camp Mystic, and the director of another camp just up the road.The flooding in the middle of the night caught many residents, campers and officials by surprise.AccuWeather said the private forecasting company and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours beforehand.“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather said in a statement. It called the Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.At the Mo-Ranch Camp in the community of Hunt, officials had been monitoring the weather and opted to move several hundred campers and attendees at a church youth conference to higher ground. At nearby Camps Rio Vista and Sierra Vista, organizers also had mentioned on social media that they were watching the weather the day before wrapping up their second summer session Thursday.Authorities and elected officials have said they did not expect such an intense downpour, the equivalent of months’ worth of rain for the area.U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, whose district includes the ravaged area, called it a once-in-a-century flood and acknowledged that there would be second-guessing and finger-pointing as people look for someone to blame.<h2>Helicopters and drones used in frantic search</h2>Search crews were facing harsh conditions while “looking in every possible location,” Rice said.Officials said more than 850 people had been rescued in the last 36 hours and there were heroic efforts at the camps to save children.Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived and pledged that the Trump administration would use all available resources. Coast Guard helicopters and planes were assisting to ensure operations can continue even in darkness.One reunification center at an elementary school was mostly quiet after taking in hundreds of evacuees the day before.“We still have people coming here looking for their loved ones. We’ve had a little success, but not much,” said Bobby Templeton, superintendent of Ingram Independent School District.<h2>People clung to trees and fled to attics</h2>In Ingram, Erin Burgess woke to thunder and rain in the middle of the night. Just 20 minutes later, water was pouring into her home, she said. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree with her teen son.“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said.Barry Adelman said water pushed everyone in his three-story house into the attic, including his 94-year-old grandmother and 9-year-old grandson.“I was having to look at my grandson in the face and tell him everything was going to be OK, but inside I was scared to death,” he said.Locals know the place as “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flash-flood-warning-watch-texas-986af31b0402a7a721fd9cc275622457">flash flood</a>&nbsp;alley.”“When it rains, water doesn’t soak into the soil,” said Austin Dickson, CEO of the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, which was collecting donations. “It rushes down the hill.”<h2>‘Nobody saw this coming’</h2>The weekend forecast had called for rain, with a flood watch upgraded to a warning overnight Friday for at least 30,000 people.“We know we get rains. We know the river rises. But nobody saw this coming,” said Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county’s chief elected official.The county had considered a flood warning system on the river similar to a tornado warning siren about six or seven years ago, but Kelly said the idea never got off the ground and the cost would have been an issue.Kelly said he was heartbroken seeing body bags at the funeral home and the devastation on the ground during a helicopter tour.“The rescue has gone as well as can be expected. It’s getting time now for the recovery,” he said. “And that’s going to be a long, toilsome task for us.”___Cortez reported from Hunt, Texas, and Seewer from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Susan Haigh in Hartford, Connecticut, and Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed.___