WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to push out federal workers by offering them financial incentives, the latest twist in a chaotic and distressing saga playing out for millions of government employees.

The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline for them to apply for the deferred resignation program. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston directed the administration to extend that deadline until after a court hearing he scheduled for Monday afternoon. O'Toole did not express an opinion on the legality of the program, which is being challenged by several labor unions, and said he would weigh arguments next week.

At the White House, press secretary Karoline Levitt said more than 40,000 federal workers have applied to leave in return for being paid until Sept. 30.

“We encourage federal workers in this city to accept the very generous offer,” she said at about the same time as the judge's ruling came out. "They don’t want to come into the office. If they want to rip the American people off, then they’re welcome to take this buyout and we’ll find highly qualified people” to replace them.

The deferred resignation program was orchestrated by Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who is serving as a top adviser to Trump. It is part of the Republican president's goal of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">remaking the federal government</a>, weakening what his allies describe as the “deep state” that undermined his first term. Administration officials said they can save taxpayer money by presenting employees with “a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

Democrats and unions warn that workers could be stiffed

On Wednesday, the administration ramped up its pressure on employees to leave, sending a reminder that layoffs or furloughs could come next.

“The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,” said the message from the Office of Personnel Management, which has been a nexus of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-congress-4e0c025629e8a0c758d13dc916ab4f43">Musk's efforts to downsize the government</a>.

The email said anyone who remains will be expected to be “loyal” and “will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.” Some employees could be reclassified to limit civil service protections as well.

“Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination,” the email said.

Democrats said workers shouldn't accept the deferred resignation program because it wasn't authorized by Congress, raising the risk they won't get paid.

“It’s a scam and not a buyout,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.

Kelley said he tells workers that “if it was me, I wouldn’t do it.”

An employee at the Department of Education, who also spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, said the administration appeared desperate to get people to sign the agreement. However, she said there were too many red flags, such as a clause waiving the right to sue if the government failed to honor its side of the deal.

The deal is ‘exactly what it looks like,’ says Trump official

Trump put Musk, the world's richest man, in charge of the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-government-trump-executive-order-1a2fb7235b9d6f178c764cf6c78d3317">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, which is a sweeping initiative to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. The original email offering the deferred resignation program was titled “Fork in the road,” echoing a similar message that Musk sent Twitter employees two years ago after he bought the social media platform.

Trump administration officials have organized question-and-answer sessions with employees as the deadline approaches.

Rachel Oglesby, the chief of staff at the Department of Education who previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, said Trump is trying to reduce the federal workforce.

“I know there’s been a lot of questions out there about whether it’s real and whether it’s a trick,” she said, according to a recording obtained by The Associated Press. “And it’s exactly what it looks like. It’s one of the many tools that he’s using to try to achieve the campaign promise to bring reform to the civil service and changes to D.C.”

The issue was also discussed during a meeting with Department of Agriculture employees, according to another recording obtained by the AP. Marlon Taubenheim, a human resources official, acknowledged that “these are very trying times” and “there’s a lot of stress.”

“Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers,” he said.

Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, another agency leader, said employees “probably didn’t have the runway of time that you might have liked to make a life-changing decision.”

For those who remain, she said, "we’ll just keep plugging along.”

Assurances from administration officials have not alleviated concerns across a range of agencies. Some federal workers said they did not trust the validity of the offers, doubting that Trump has the authority to disburse money. Others point to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/10bbe40a86774bac9ad1fbd3a936c808">record of stiffing contractors</a>&nbsp;as a New York real estate mogul.

Musk's plans spark demonstrations in Washington

Scattered protests have sprung up outside federal buildings, including on Tuesday at the Office of Personnel Management.

“I’m taking a risk and being bold and trying to get more federal workers to take a risk to speak out," said Dante O’Hara, who said he works for the government. "Because if we don’t, then we’re all going to lose our jobs and they’re going to put all these loyalists or people that will be their shock troops.”

Government jobs have often been considered secure positions, but O’Hara said there’s fear in the workforce. The sense from his colleagues is “I don’t know if I’m going to be here tomorrow because, like, we don’t know what’s going to happen.’”

Dan Smith, a Maryland resident whose father was a research scientist at the Department of Agriculture, said federal workers are “so underappreciated and so taken for granted.”

“It’s one thing to downsize the government. It’s one thing to try to obliterate it," Smith said. "And that’s what’s going on. And that is what is so frightening and disgusting and requires pushback.”

Mary-Jean Burke, a physical therapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis, said she's worried that too many people will leave, jeopardizing health care services.

Burke, who also serves as a union official, said doubts have also been growing over whether to take the offer.

“Originally, I think people were like, ‘I’m out of here,'" she said. But then they saw a social media post from DOGE, which said employees can "take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits.”

The message backfired because "that kind of thing sounded a little bit too good to be true and people were hesitant,” Burke said.

Either way, she said, Trump has achieved his apparent goal of shaking up the federal workforce.

“Every day, it’s something,” Burke said. “If he signed up to be a disrupter, he’s doing it.”

Associated Press writers Nancy Benac, Nathan Ellgren, Gary Fields, Joshua Goodman, Will Weissert and Brian Witte contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s plan to push out federal workers by offering them financial incentives, the latest twist in a chaotic and distressing saga playing out for millions of government employees.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738115904337.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The ruling came hours before the midnight deadline for them to apply for the deferred resignation program. U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. in Boston directed the administration to extend that deadline until after a court hearing he scheduled for Monday afternoon. O'Toole did not express an opinion on the legality of the program, which is being challenged by several labor unions, and said he would weigh arguments next week.At the White House, press secretary Karoline Levitt said more than 40,000 federal workers have applied to leave in return for being paid until Sept. 30.“We encourage federal workers in this city to accept the very generous offer,” she said at about the same time as the judge's ruling came out. "They don’t want to come into the office. If they want to rip the American people off, then they’re welcome to take this buyout and we’ll find highly qualified people” to replace them.The deferred resignation program was orchestrated by Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur who is serving as a top adviser to Trump. It is part of the Republican president's goal of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-executive-orders-power-border-tiktok-history-e77458bc0312c60f3f2b0eeb131d0056">remaking the federal government</a>, weakening what his allies describe as the “deep state” that undermined his first term. Administration officials said they can save taxpayer money by presenting employees with “a valuable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."<h2>Democrats and unions warn that workers could be stiffed</h2>On Wednesday, the administration ramped up its pressure on employees to leave, sending a reminder that layoffs or furloughs could come next.“The majority of federal agencies are likely to be downsized through restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force,” said the message from the Office of Personnel Management, which has been a nexus of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-musk-doge-congress-4e0c025629e8a0c758d13dc916ab4f43">Musk's efforts to downsize the government</a>.The email said anyone who remains will be expected to be “loyal” and “will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.” Some employees could be reclassified to limit civil service protections as well.“Employees who engage in unlawful behavior or other misconduct will be prioritized for appropriate investigation and discipline, including termination,” the email said.Democrats said workers shouldn't accept the deferred resignation program because it wasn't authorized by Congress, raising the risk they won't get paid.“It’s a scam and not a buyout,” said Everett Kelley, president of the American Federation of Government Employees.Kelley said he tells workers that “if it was me, I wouldn’t do it.”An employee at the Department of Education, who also spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation, said the administration appeared desperate to get people to sign the agreement. However, she said there were too many red flags, such as a clause waiving the right to sue if the government failed to honor its side of the deal.<h2>The deal is ‘exactly what it looks like,’ says Trump official</h2>Trump put Musk, the world's richest man, in charge of the so-called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doge-government-trump-executive-order-1a2fb7235b9d6f178c764cf6c78d3317">Department of Government Efficiency</a>, which is a sweeping initiative to reduce the size and scope of the federal government. The original email offering the deferred resignation program was titled “Fork in the road,” echoing a similar message that Musk sent Twitter employees two years ago after he bought the social media platform.Trump administration officials have organized question-and-answer sessions with employees as the deadline approaches.Rachel Oglesby, the chief of staff at the Department of Education who previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, said Trump is trying to reduce the federal workforce.“I know there’s been a lot of questions out there about whether it’s real and whether it’s a trick,” she said, according to a recording obtained by The Associated Press. “And it’s exactly what it looks like. It’s one of the many tools that he’s using to try to achieve the campaign promise to bring reform to the civil service and changes to D.C.”The issue was also discussed during a meeting with Department of Agriculture employees, according to another recording obtained by the AP. Marlon Taubenheim, a human resources official, acknowledged that “these are very trying times” and “there’s a lot of stress.”“Unfortunately, we don’t have all the answers,” he said.Jacqueline Ponti-Lazaruk, another agency leader, said employees “probably didn’t have the runway of time that you might have liked to make a life-changing decision.”For those who remain, she said, "we’ll just keep plugging along.”Assurances from administration officials have not alleviated concerns across a range of agencies. Some federal workers said they did not trust the validity of the offers, doubting that Trump has the authority to disburse money. Others point to his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/10bbe40a86774bac9ad1fbd3a936c808">record of stiffing contractors</a>&nbsp;as a New York real estate mogul.<h2>Musk's plans spark demonstrations in Washington</h2>Scattered protests have sprung up outside federal buildings, including on Tuesday at the Office of Personnel Management.“I’m taking a risk and being bold and trying to get more federal workers to take a risk to speak out," said Dante O’Hara, who said he works for the government. "Because if we don’t, then we’re all going to lose our jobs and they’re going to put all these loyalists or people that will be their shock troops.”Government jobs have often been considered secure positions, but O’Hara said there’s fear in the workforce. The sense from his colleagues is “I don’t know if I’m going to be here tomorrow because, like, we don’t know what’s going to happen.’”Dan Smith, a Maryland resident whose father was a research scientist at the Department of Agriculture, said federal workers are “so underappreciated and so taken for granted.”“It’s one thing to downsize the government. It’s one thing to try to obliterate it," Smith said. "And that’s what’s going on. And that is what is so frightening and disgusting and requires pushback.”Mary-Jean Burke, a physical therapist for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Indianapolis, said she's worried that too many people will leave, jeopardizing health care services.Burke, who also serves as a union official, said doubts have also been growing over whether to take the offer.“Originally, I think people were like, ‘I’m out of here,'" she said. But then they saw a social media post from DOGE, which said employees can "take the vacation you always wanted, or just watch movies and chill, while receiving your full government pay and benefits.”The message backfired because "that kind of thing sounded a little bit too good to be true and people were hesitant,” Burke said.Either way, she said, Trump has achieved his apparent goal of shaking up the federal workforce.“Every day, it’s something,” Burke said. “If he signed up to be a disrupter, he’s doing it.”___Associated Press writers Nancy Benac, Nathan Ellgren, Gary Fields, Joshua Goodman, Will Weissert and Brian Witte contributed to this report.

Judge temporarily blocks Trump incentive plan for federal workers to resign

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

Just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 6900 block of Eastwood Trafficway, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

When officers arrived on scene, they located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries. 

While on scene, officers were notified an additional man had arrived to an area hospital by private vehicle and suffering from critical gunshot injuries.

Detectives were notified just before 1a.m. that the adult male victim who had arrived at the hospital by private vehicle had died, according to&nbsp; Gonzalez.

Preliminary investigation indicates a verbal argument ensued between several individuals and that argument escalated to gunfire. Detectives have made progress in identifying a person of interest.Homicide detectives have assumed responsibility of the case.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City.Just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 6900 block of Eastwood Trafficway, according to KCPD&nbsp;Officer Alayna Gonzalez.When officers arrived on scene, they located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries. While on scene, officers were notified an additional man had arrived to an area hospital by private vehicle and suffering from critical gunshot injuries.Detectives were notified just before 1a.m. that the adult male victim who had arrived at the hospital by private vehicle had died, according to&nbsp; Gonzalez.Preliminary investigation indicates a verbal argument ensued between several individuals and that argument escalated to gunfire. Detectives have made progress in identifying a person of interest.Homicide detectives have assumed responsibility of the case.&nbsp; Police have not released the victim's name.

KCPD: Man dead, another critically injured after gun fight

WASHINGTON (AP) —Two Elon Musk allies have “read only” access to Treasury Department payment systems, but no one else will get access for now, including Musk himself, under a court order signed Thursday.

It comes in a lawsuit filed by federal workers unions trying to stop the billionaire’s Department of Government Efficiency from following through on what they call a massive privacy invasion.

Two Musk allies, Marko Elez and Tom Krause, have been made “special government employees” and already have access to the system, government attorneys have said.

The temporary order blocks further access by DOGE as U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly considers the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738862484363.png" alt="Elon at the Inauguration -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Elon at the Inauguration -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —Two Elon Musk allies have “read only” access to Treasury Department payment systems, but no one else will get access for now, including Musk himself, under a court order signed Thursday.It comes in a lawsuit filed by federal workers unions trying to stop the billionaire’s Department of Government Efficiency from following through on what they call a massive privacy invasion.Two Musk allies, Marko Elez and Tom Krause, have been made “special government employees” and already have access to the system, government attorneys have said.The temporary order blocks further access by DOGE as U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly considers the case.

Judge temporarily limits DOGE access to U.S. Treasury

KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County jury convicted a Kansas City man of two felonies in connection with a shooting that injured two people in Westport last year, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

The jury convicted 28-year-old Deion D. Crum with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action. He faces a minimum 20-year sentence based on his prior convictions.

On February 11, 2024, Kansas City police were dispatched to a shooting at the intersection of Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard, according to court records.

First responders found a victim suffering a gunshot wound. Ten minutes later, another gunshot wound victim from the scene and Crum arrived at local hospitals for treatment for their gunshot injuries.

Based on video obtained from the scene, a man wearing the same clothing and shoes as Crum punched one of the victims before there is an exchange of gunfire between them. Crum is also seen on video shooting at both victims and was the primary aggressor in the physical altercation preceding the shooting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737991898083.png" alt="Crum photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Crum photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Jackson County jury convicted a Kansas City man of two felonies in connection with a shooting that injured two people in Westport last year, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.The jury convicted 28-year-old Deion D. Crum with Unlawful Use of a Weapon and Armed Criminal Action. He faces a minimum 20-year sentence based on his prior convictions.On February 11, 2024, Kansas City police were dispatched to a shooting at the intersection of Westport Road and Broadway Boulevard, according to court records.First responders found a victim suffering a gunshot wound. Ten minutes later, another gunshot wound victim from the scene and Crum arrived at local hospitals for treatment for their gunshot injuries.Based on video obtained from the scene, a man wearing the same clothing and shoes as Crum punched one of the victims before there is an exchange of gunfire between them. Crum is also seen on video shooting at both victims and was the primary aggressor in the physical altercation preceding the shooting.

Security video shows man punching victim before KC Westport shooting

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jesse-bedayn">JESSE BEDAYN</a> Associated Press

It has been just over a week since a commercial jetliner from Wichita and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-helicopter-airliner-army-pilot-50b3e82d8ec3713cc4ae1ac3a327104c">Army helicopter</a>&nbsp;collided in midair near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">killing 67</a>&nbsp;people in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001</a>.

Even as salvage crews continue to haul the wreckage out of the Potomac River, investigators are seeking answers about what happened.

From the minutes before the crash to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">ensuing days of questions,</a>&nbsp;here is a look at the timeline of events:

At around 8:15 p.m. American Airlines Flight 5342,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-crash-helicopter-recovery-7f492db9e867af2e184d621f56cbc4f6">with 64 people</a>&nbsp;on board, begins its initial descent into Reagan National.

At 8:43, from the airport’s tower, a controller asks the plane’s pilots to switch from landing on Runway 1 to Runway 33. Nearby an Army Black Hawk helicopter, referred to as PAT25 by air traffic control, is flying south over the River. The skies are clear.

At 8:46, the controller radios the Black Hawk crew to say a passenger jet, referred to as CRJ, is at 1,200 feet (365 meters) and circling to Runway 33.

At 8:47, as the two aircraft near each other, the controller again radios: “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” Then, again: “PAT25, pass behind the CRJ.”

A crewmember on the helicopter replies that the aircraft “is in sight” and requests “visual separation” with the incoming plane -- allowing it to fly closer than otherwise may have been allowed if the pilots didn’t see the plane. Controllers approve the request.

About 20 seconds later a commotion is heard on the audio. A flash appears in the sky, and both aircraft fall into the river. Moments later someone says over the radio, “Tower, did you see that?”

In the ensuing hours, helicopters and inflatable boats light up the Potomac in search of survivors.

In the morning President Donald Trump tells reporters there are no survivors and says it is unclear what led to the collision.

The names of those on both flights begin to emerge online, appearing in Facebook eulogies or statements from grieving families.

By midday the bodies of all three soldiers in the helicopter have been recovered.

About 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) downriver from the crash site, Dean Naujoks, who patrols the Potomac for the Waterkeeper Alliance, finds pages from the flight manual, a piece of the plane’s cabin wall and dozens of sugar packets stamped with the American Airlines logo. He turns the items over to the FBI.

In the evening the airplane’s cockpit voice and flight data recorders are recovered and sent to labs for evaluation.

It is raining as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-325edc6c0c2439dd6c1e73a81e382c0e">police boats comb the Potomac</a>&nbsp;for victims and investigators search for clues as to what happened.

Officials announce that the Black Hawk’s black box has recovered and the flight data is being reviewed, along with the actions of the military pilot and air traffic control.

Over 300 responders are on the scene throughout the day, including dive teams. By the afternoon the remains of 41 people have been pulled recovered.

The Army releases the names of two of the dead soldiers: Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, the crew chief; and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland.

The rain clears. A Coast Guard cutter outfitted with a crane waits nearby as recovery team members slip into the chilly water to continue the search.

At a news conference, investigators say they are trying to work out a discrepancy in the altitude data between the helicopter and the airliner.

Investigators say they hope the helicopter’s black box can help reconcile difference. The box was waterlogged, delaying retrieval of its data.

The Army identifies the third soldier who died in the helicopter: Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach. She is described by friends as “brilliant and fearless.”

Officials say the number of victims whose remains have been recovered has risen to 55 and they are confident the rest will be found.

As the search continues, salvage crews prepare to lift wreckage from the Potomac.

Col. Francis B. Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers says divers and salvage workers are adhering to strict protocols and will stop moving debris if a body is found.

The “dignified recovery” of remains takes precedence over all else, he says.

Salvage crews recover an engine and large pieces of fuselage of the airliner and work to retrieve a wing.

Portions of the helicopter and plane that were pulled from the water are loaded onto flatbed trucks and taken to a hangar for investigation.

Families of the victims gather on the banks of the Potomac.

Early on in the day, crews working in choppy conditions raise a number of large pieces of the jetliner including the right wing, the center fuselage and parts of the forward cabin, cockpit, tail cone and rudder.

Investigators announce that they are examining new data that could shed light on the altitude discrepancy.

Authorities say the remains of all 67 victims of the collision have been recovered and all but one have been identified.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738424073729.png" alt="The FAA is now restricting helicopter traffic around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport airport.-image U.S. DOT" />
 <figcaption>The FAA is now restricting helicopter traffic around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport airport.-image U.S. DOT</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jesse-bedayn">JESSE BEDAYN</a> Associated PressIt has been just over a week since a commercial jetliner from Wichita and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dc-crash-helicopter-airliner-army-pilot-50b3e82d8ec3713cc4ae1ac3a327104c">Army helicopter</a>&nbsp;collided in midair near Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-collision-victims-ee829891574aa35a30d8262b7e07e638">killing 67</a>&nbsp;people in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-crashes-history-washington-ee55776ea0c5f9e322fc77ea1ea452d1">the deadliest U.S. air disaster since 2001</a>.Even as salvage crews continue to haul the wreckage out of the Potomac River, investigators are seeking answers about what happened.From the minutes before the crash to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">ensuing days of questions,</a>&nbsp;here is a look at the timeline of events:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738207177867.png" alt="Image of the moment of impact from Kennedy Center web camera" />
 <figcaption>Image of the moment of impact from Kennedy Center web camera</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Jan. 29</h2>At around 8:15 p.m. American Airlines Flight 5342,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-plane-crash-helicopter-recovery-7f492db9e867af2e184d621f56cbc4f6">with 64 people</a>&nbsp;on board, begins its initial descent into Reagan National.At 8:43, from the airport’s tower, a controller asks the plane’s pilots to switch from landing on Runway 1 to Runway 33. Nearby an Army Black Hawk helicopter, referred to as PAT25 by air traffic control, is flying south over the River. The skies are clear.At 8:46, the controller radios the Black Hawk crew to say a passenger jet, referred to as CRJ, is at 1,200 feet (365 meters) and circling to Runway 33.At 8:47, as the two aircraft near each other, the controller again radios: “PAT25, do you have the CRJ in sight?” Then, again: “PAT25, pass behind the CRJ.”A crewmember on the helicopter replies that the aircraft “is in sight” and requests “visual separation” with the incoming plane -- allowing it to fly closer than otherwise may have been allowed if the pilots didn’t see the plane. Controllers approve the request.About 20 seconds later a commotion is heard on the audio. A flash appears in the sky, and both aircraft fall into the river. Moments later someone says over the radio, “Tower, did you see that?”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738291455804.png" alt="Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)" />
 <figcaption>Boats work the scene in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)</figcaption>
 </figure>In the ensuing hours, helicopters and inflatable boats light up the Potomac in search of survivors.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738235840631.png" alt="Departure signs display an "Emergency Alert" in the terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. A jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. (AP Photo/Jeannie Ohm)" />
 <figcaption>Departure signs display an "Emergency Alert" in the terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Wednesday night, Jan. 29, 2025, in Arlington, Va. A jet with 60 passengers and four crew members aboard collided with an Army helicopter while landing at Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, prompting a large search-and-rescue operation in the nearby Potomac River. (AP Photo/Jeannie Ohm)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Jan. 30</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738258064893.png" alt="President Trump answers questions about the air disaster-image White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump answers questions about the air disaster-image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>In the morning President Donald Trump tells reporters there are no survivors and says it is unclear what led to the collision.The names of those on both flights begin to emerge online, appearing in Facebook eulogies or statements from grieving families.By midday the bodies of all three soldiers in the helicopter have been recovered.About 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) downriver from the crash site, Dean Naujoks, who patrols the Potomac for the Waterkeeper Alliance, finds pages from the flight manual, a piece of the plane’s cabin wall and dozens of sugar packets stamped with the American Airlines logo. He turns the items over to the FBI.In the evening the airplane’s cockpit voice and flight data recorders are recovered and sent to labs for evaluation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738343817242.png" alt="In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)" />
 <figcaption>In this image provided by the U.S. Coast Guard, wreckage is seen in the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington. (Petty Officer 2nd Class Taylor Bacon, U.S. Coast Guard via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Jan. 31</h2>It is raining as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-325edc6c0c2439dd6c1e73a81e382c0e">police boats comb the Potomac</a>&nbsp;for victims and investigators search for clues as to what happened.Officials announce that the Black Hawk’s black box has recovered and the flight data is being reviewed, along with the actions of the military pilot and air traffic control.Over 300 responders are on the scene throughout the day, including dive teams. By the afternoon the remains of 41 people have been pulled recovered.The Army releases the names of two of the dead soldiers: Staff Sgt. Ryan Austin O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia, the crew chief; and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Andrew Loyd Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738701975774.png" alt="Image U.S. Coast Guard" />
 <figcaption>Image U.S. Coast Guard</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Feb. 1</h2>The rain clears. A Coast Guard cutter outfitted with a crane waits nearby as recovery team members slip into the chilly water to continue the search.At a news conference, investigators say they are trying to work out a discrepancy in the altitude data between the helicopter and the airliner.Investigators say they hope the helicopter’s black box can help reconcile difference. The box was waterlogged, delaying retrieval of its data.The Army identifies the third soldier who died in the helicopter: Capt. Rebecca M. Lobach. She is described by friends as “brilliant and fearless.”<h2>Feb. 2</h2>Officials say the number of victims whose remains have been recovered has risen to 55 and they are confident the rest will be found.As the search continues, salvage crews prepare to lift wreckage from the Potomac.Col. Francis B. Pera of the Army Corps of Engineers says divers and salvage workers are adhering to strict protocols and will stop moving debris if a body is found.The “dignified recovery” of remains takes precedence over all else, he says.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738703092495.png" alt="The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, working with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USCGMidAtlantic?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USNavy?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Navy</a>&nbsp;Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), began wreckage removal operations on Monday, at the site of the Potomac River Aviation Incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Phoso U.S. Army Corps of Engineers" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, working with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USCGMidAtlantic?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USNavy?__cft__[0]=AZVaKqPNSiwSuKRH01L03JB8k_89iOrQZOlRWtfzOBsAJCt3z8QQvEYQa8XpseNu6lXA2LDrRWcHbQW3Fa1vXPGXU-T_5Dh2wbhpnKG7qo382L0qE0fMgmG5jv5Z_FFWJHRL1dX62558wBmmNSH_sOYY5t0GOUldAsRj2QW9WelwbsHdhaP3oE4VMMl2yUaEBbw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">U.S. Navy</a>&nbsp;Supervisor of Salvage and Diving (SUPSALV), began wreckage removal operations on Monday, at the site of the Potomac River Aviation Incident near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Phoso U.S. Army Corps of Engineers</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Feb. 3</h2>Salvage crews recover an engine and large pieces of fuselage of the airliner and work to retrieve a wing.Portions of the helicopter and plane that were pulled from the water are loaded onto flatbed trucks and taken to a hangar for investigation.Families of the victims gather on the banks of the Potomac.<h2>Feb. 4</h2>Early on in the day, crews working in choppy conditions raise a number of large pieces of the jetliner including the right wing, the center fuselage and parts of the forward cabin, cockpit, tail cone and rudder.Investigators announce that they are examining new data that could shed light on the altitude discrepancy.Authorities say the remains of all 67 victims of the collision have been recovered and all but one have been identified.

Timeline of last week’s air disaster in Washington

WASHINGTON — Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran had a special request Monday night for a former Senate colleague and new Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Moran who has always supported sending Kansas wheat and other grains to countries in need&nbsp; wrote on social media, " I urge Secretary Rubio to distribute the $340 million in American-grown food currently stalled in U.S. ports to reach those in need.

Time is running out before this life-saving aid perishes."

Moran was the co-founder of the Senate Hunger Caucus. "The caucus&nbsp;raises awareness about issues surrounding hunger, including the importance of international food aid programs and agriculture research and development initiatives to end hunger and promote stability in the world," according to a statement on the senator's web site.

WASHINGTON — Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran had a special request Monday night for a former Senate colleague and new Secretary of State Marco Rubio.Moran who has always supported sending Kansas wheat and other grains to countries in need&nbsp; wrote on social media, " I urge Secretary Rubio to distribute the $340 million in American-grown food currently stalled in U.S. ports to reach those in need.

Time is running out before this life-saving aid perishes."Moran was the co-founder of the Senate Hunger Caucus. "The caucus&nbsp;raises awareness about issues surrounding hunger, including the importance of international food aid programs and agriculture research and development initiatives to end hunger and promote stability in the world," according to a statement on the senator's web site.

Kan. U.S. Senator asks Sec. of State to take action on food distribution

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement continue their search for a suspect in a Kansas bank robbery.

Just after 9:30a.m. on Jan. 31, a suspect described as a man approximately 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, a neon mask and sunglasses entered the U.S. Bank, 10959 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money.

He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.

&nbsp;Approximately ten minutes before the robbery, police in Kansas City, Kansas received an anonymous call reporting a man with a gun at an elementary school just east of the bank.&nbsp; The schools were briefly placed on lockdown.&nbsp; Officers determined there was no threat.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738808549262.png" alt="Security camera image FBI" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image FBI</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement continue their search for a suspect in a Kansas bank robbery.Just after 9:30a.m. on Jan. 31, a suspect described as a man approximately 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, a neon mask and sunglasses entered the U.S. Bank, 10959 Parallel Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from the FBI. The suspect displayed a handgun and demanded money.He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.&nbsp;Approximately ten minutes before the robbery, police in Kansas City, Kansas received an anonymous call reporting a man with a gun at an elementary school just east of the bank.&nbsp; The schools were briefly placed on lockdown.&nbsp; Officers determined there was no threat.---------

Search continues for Kan. bank robbery suspect connected to school threat

NCAA President Charlie Baker issued the following statement Wednesday regarding President Donald Trump's executive order that inntended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women’s sports.&nbsp;

&nbsp;"The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes. We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump's order provides a clear, national standard.

"The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and will take necessary steps to align NCAA policy in the coming days, subject to further guidance from the administration. The Association will continue to help foster welcoming environments on campuses for all student-athletes. We stand ready to assist schools as they look for ways to support any student-athletes affected by changes in the policy."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716518230646.jpeg" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>NCAA President Charlie Baker issued the following statement Wednesday regarding President Donald Trump's executive order that inntended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women’s sports.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738791483165.png" alt="President Trump signed the order during a White House ceremony Wednesday-image White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the order during a White House ceremony Wednesday-image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;"The NCAA is an organization made up of 1,100 colleges and universities in all 50 states that collectively enroll more than 530,000 student-athletes. We strongly believe that clear, consistent, and uniform eligibility standards would best serve today's student-athletes instead of a patchwork of conflicting state laws and court decisions. To that end, President Trump's order provides a clear, national standard."The NCAA Board of Governors is reviewing the executive order and will take necessary steps to align NCAA policy in the coming days, subject to further guidance from the administration. The Association will continue to help foster welcoming environments on campuses for all student-athletes. We stand ready to assist schools as they look for ways to support any student-athletes affected by changes in the policy."

NCAA responds to Trump's No Men in Women's Sports Executive Order

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer</a>

Dairy cattle in Nevada have been infected with a new type of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-h5n1-spread-people-e5edab844b409b8ba21feaecb10156d0">bird flu</a>&nbsp;that's different from the version that has spread in U.S. herds since last year, Agriculture Department officials said Wednesday.

The detection indicates that distinct forms of the virus known as Type A H5N1 have spilled over from wild birds into cattle at least twice. Experts said it raises new questions about wider spread and the difficulty of controlling infections in animals and the people who work closely with them.

“I always thought one bird-to-cow transmission was a very rare event. Seems that may not be the case,” said Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

A version of the H5N1 bird flu virus known as B3.13 was confirmed in March after being introduced to cattle in late 2023, scientists said. It has infected more than 950 herds in 16 states. The new version, known as D1.1, was confirmed in Nevada cattle on Friday, according to USDA. It was detected in milk collected as part of a surveillance program launched in December.

“Now we know why it's really important to test and continue testing,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virus expert at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, who helped identify the first spillover.

The D1.1 version of the virus was the type linked to the first U.S. death tied to bird flu and a severe illness in Canada. A person in Louisiana&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-death-louisiana-82e4d00876e62cb2b13bb621826c84f9">died in January</a>&nbsp;after developing severe respiratory symptoms following contact with wild and backyard birds.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-canada-teen-hospitalized-45d7c944883fb17aeb37e96e679cc53e">In British Columbia,</a>&nbsp;a teen girl was hospitalized for months with a virus traced to poultry.

At least 67 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, mostly those who work closely with dairy or cattle, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

USDA officials said they would post genetic sequences and other information about the new form of the virus to a public repository later this week. Scientists said that would be key to understanding whether the spillover was a recent event or whether the virus has been circulating, perhaps widely, for longer.

“If this turns out to have been something that crossed into cattle a couple months ago, a couple months is a long time not to detect it,” said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona who has studied the H5N1 virus in cattle.

He added that it's important for federal officials to share promptly information about a virus that has the potential to trigger a pandemic that could “make COVID seem like a walk in the park.”

“It's a vital part of national security, global security, the well-being of people, of animals and of businesses in the U.S.,” Worobey added.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716902758487.jpeg" alt="Dairy cattle&nbsp; (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)" />
 <figcaption>Dairy cattle&nbsp; (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JONEL%20ALECCIA%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JONEL ALECCIA AP Health Writer</a>Dairy cattle in Nevada have been infected with a new type of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-h5n1-spread-people-e5edab844b409b8ba21feaecb10156d0">bird flu</a>&nbsp;that's different from the version that has spread in U.S. herds since last year, Agriculture Department officials said Wednesday.The detection indicates that distinct forms of the virus known as Type A H5N1 have spilled over from wild birds into cattle at least twice. Experts said it raises new questions about wider spread and the difficulty of controlling infections in animals and the people who work closely with them.“I always thought one bird-to-cow transmission was a very rare event. Seems that may not be the case,” said Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.A version of the H5N1 bird flu virus known as B3.13 was confirmed in March after being introduced to cattle in late 2023, scientists said. It has infected more than 950 herds in 16 states. The new version, known as D1.1, was confirmed in Nevada cattle on Friday, according to USDA. It was detected in milk collected as part of a surveillance program launched in December.“Now we know why it's really important to test and continue testing,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virus expert at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, who helped identify the first spillover.The D1.1 version of the virus was the type linked to the first U.S. death tied to bird flu and a severe illness in Canada. A person in Louisiana&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-death-louisiana-82e4d00876e62cb2b13bb621826c84f9">died in January</a>&nbsp;after developing severe respiratory symptoms following contact with wild and backyard birds.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-canada-teen-hospitalized-45d7c944883fb17aeb37e96e679cc53e">In British Columbia,</a>&nbsp;a teen girl was hospitalized for months with a virus traced to poultry.At least 67 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, mostly those who work closely with dairy or cattle, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.USDA officials said they would post genetic sequences and other information about the new form of the virus to a public repository later this week. Scientists said that would be key to understanding whether the spillover was a recent event or whether the virus has been circulating, perhaps widely, for longer.“If this turns out to have been something that crossed into cattle a couple months ago, a couple months is a long time not to detect it,” said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona who has studied the H5N1 virus in cattle.He added that it's important for federal officials to share promptly information about a virus that has the potential to trigger a pandemic that could “make COVID seem like a walk in the park.”“It's a vital part of national security, global security, the well-being of people, of animals and of businesses in the U.S.,” Worobey added.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Second type of bird flu detected in US dairy cows

The federal government is by far Kansas City’s largest employer and a major economic engine. Experts warn the region’s economy will feel the pain when jobs disappear

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>

Almost 30,000 federal employees in the Kansas City area are caught in the chaos that has defined President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

So far, the Trump administration has reinstituted a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-accountability-to-policy-influencing-positions-within-the-federal-workforce/" target="_blank">policy</a>&nbsp;making it easier to fire federal employees. It has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/return-to-in-person-work/" target="_blank">ordered</a>&nbsp;remote workers to return to the office. Federal agencies have been placed under a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/hiring-freeze/" target="_blank">hiring freeze</a>. And most civilian employees have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork" target="_blank">emailed</a>&nbsp;a buyout offer that experts agree has tenuous legal standing.

“The federal workforce,” the Jan. 28 email to employees said, “should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.”

The email, headlined “Fork in the Road,” promised “restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status of a substantial number of federal employees.”

“It’s pretty gross,” said one federal employee in Kansas City who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. “I went so far as to change my voter registration” from Democrat to independent.

He said he hoped that could spare him from a potential loyalty sweep that might use party affiliation as a metric.

“I knew this would probably happen,” said another local federal employee who also asked not to be named. “But in the first week he was in office?”

Federal job cuts will have ‘outsized impact’

While federal workers brace for more changes and fear for their livelihoods, economists warn that any major reduction in federal jobs — and the inevitable disruptions in government services that follow — could be devastating to Kansas City’s economy.

“It can cascade really easily,” said Chris Kuehl, co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence.

Since the Truman administration, the federal government has played a major role in the Kansas City area’s economic health. With 29,883 federal employees here, the federal government is by far the metro’s largest employer, accounting for about 3% of overall employment. And that figure doesn’t include contract workers or private companies that depend on federal contracts to do business.

The Internal Revenue Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration are just some of the federal agencies that have a regional presence.

“Even a small adjustment in the federal workforce will have an outsized impact on the economy,” said Brent Never, an associate professor of public affairs at the&nbsp;<a href="https://bloch.umkc.edu/bloch-lead-scholars/index.html?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=visionpoint_blochleadscholars_pros&amp;utm_content=branded&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAqfe8BhBwEiwAsne6gZDfZ9PwXvRvMdE7Uk79jXOOxORKMMOUwvk6fjO4Ih0ElUuyxX5VSxoCcIcQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Henry W. Bloch School of Management</a>&nbsp;at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Federal employees tend to be fairly well paid and their salaries are fueled by money coming from outside the community, making them even more valuable in economic terms. Federal workers spend at stores and restaurants, and on services inside the community.

Frank Lenk, director of economic research at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marc.org/" target="_blank">Mid-America Regional Council</a>, estimates that each federal job, and the income it creates, fuels another job in the region. That means if 3,000 federal jobs permanently went away, Kansas City’s economy could lose about 6,000 workers overall.

“From an impact standpoint,” Lenk said, “those are powerful jobs.”

Federal workforce feels growing uncertainty

Before Jan. 20, the federal government’s approximately 3 million civilian employees probably would have said that they enjoyed job security.

But then came President Trump’s hiring freeze, his promises to slash jobs and his executive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/return-to-in-person-work/" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;requiring every employee to return to the office or get fired.

The Kansas City federal worker who said he changed his voter party affiliation out of fear of being fired said he took his government job because of its benefits — especially the benefit of working remotely.

Only going into the office once a week means he can be around when his kids get home from school. He saves an hour a day not having to commute, which gives him time to cook, rather than having to pay to eat out. And he avoids other ancillary expenses like parking and extra child care. Parking alone, he estimates, will run thousands of dollars a year if he has to return to the office full time.

“You’re not making a lot in pay being a federal employee,” he said, “but that one benefit of being able to telework means everything.”

Diana Hicks, a national vice president with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afge.org/" target="_blank">American Federation of Government Employees</a>&nbsp;(AFGE) who oversees a district that includes Missouri and Kansas, said the union is fighting against the return-to-work order.

Many employees were hired with the promise of remote positions. And the benefit is baked into many of the union’s collective bargaining agreements, she said.

“They’re altering a condition of employment,” Hicks said.

The union is also advising its members to beware of the “deferred resignation” offer thousands of employees received on Jan. 28 in an email that came directly to employees from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Normally, communication from the government’s top personnel office would be filtered through individual agencies.

The “Fork in the Road”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork" target="_blank">memo</a>, which had the same title and highly similar content as one that Twitter employees received from tech billionaire Elon Musk in 2022, read more like a scene from “Severance,” the dystopian TV show, than an HR memo.

It offered employees the chance to resign now, but retain pay and benefits until Sept. 30. It was sent to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel, U.S. Postal Service workers, and people working in the areas of immigration enforcement and national security.

Employees who decide to accept it need only reply to the email, adding the word “resign,” by Feb. 6.

“At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency,” the memo advised employees who don’t accept the resignation offer.

But accepting it, many legal experts warned, would come with no guarantees and many questions. For one thing, a continuing resolution currently funding the U.S. budget expires March 14, more than six months before the promised last paycheck. And that’s not the only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/breaking-down-opm-s--fork-in-the-road--email-to-federal-workers" target="_blank">legal hurdle</a>&nbsp;that could render the offer much less than promised, experts said.

Unions representing federal workers urged caution.

“There is not yet any evidence the administration can or will uphold its end of the bargain, that Congress will go along with this unilateral massive restructuring, or that appropriated funds can be used this way, among other issues that have been raised,” the National Treasury Employees Union told members in an email.

AFGE said the offer should not be viewed as voluntary.

“It is an attempt to get federal employees to resign,”&nbsp; said Hicks. “This is essentially a fast track, ‘You have a week to respond with no guarantee.’”

It is unclear how many employees have returned the email. But a&nbsp;<a href="https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/01/survey-most-feds-say-opms-resignation-offer-too-uncertain-to-accept/" target="_blank">survey</a>&nbsp;of 4,600 federal employees conducted by the Federal News Network found that three-quarters of respondents said they would decline.

Regardless of whether employees choose to leave, however, the Trump administration has promised a major overhaul of the civilian workforce and promised “restructurings, realignments and reductions in force.”

That means many of Kansas City’s federal employees are likely to end up on the job market. Kuehl said many will need training to easily fit into jobs currently available in private industry. So far, that doesn’t seem to be on the new administration’s to-do list.

Never, the UMKC professor, speculated that many of the federal employees who lose their jobs will face underemployment when they move to their next job.

“That has a large effect on a family’s wealth over time,” he said.

The federal downsizing could have economic implications beyond just the salaries that disappear. The services federal jobs provide will probably be disrupted, and that could also affect the region. If tax refunds are delayed, small-business or education loans go unprocessed or Social Security benefits aren’t paid, the effects will ripple through the economy.

On top of that, a raft of other executive orders have threatened federal funding to organizations across the region, creating widespread&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/01/29/federal-funding-freeze-threat-causes-panic-in-kc-health-nonprofits/" target="_blank">uncertainty</a>.

The Trump administration may be betting that there’s enough bloat in the federal government to take out thousands of jobs without services being affected.

“That’s the open question,” Lenk said. “Can you have this kind of reduction and not have it significantly affect government services?”

And as for the administration’s stated goal to trim costs in order to cut the federal deficit, questions also exist about whether this plan will help.

Reducing the deficit may be a worthy goal, Never said, but cuts that cause disruptions in federal services and affect the economy could actually lead to bigger problems for the country than a large deficit.

“We have the most attractive debt because people know we’re good for it,” Never said. “But when the government becomes erratic, there start to be questions about our intent on paying our bills. That’s what would make our debt more expensive.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/03/kc-federal-workers-braces-for-job-cuts-as-trump-plans-purge/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<h2>The federal government is by far Kansas City’s largest employer and a major economic engine. Experts warn the region’s economy will feel the pain when jobs disappear</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>Almost 30,000 federal employees in the Kansas City area are caught in the chaos that has defined President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.So far, the Trump administration has reinstituted a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/restoring-accountability-to-policy-influencing-positions-within-the-federal-workforce/" target="_blank">policy</a>&nbsp;making it easier to fire federal employees. It has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/return-to-in-person-work/" target="_blank">ordered</a>&nbsp;remote workers to return to the office. Federal agencies have been placed under a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/hiring-freeze/" target="_blank">hiring freeze</a>. And most civilian employees have been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork" target="_blank">emailed</a>&nbsp;a buyout offer that experts agree has tenuous legal standing.“The federal workforce,” the Jan. 28 email to employees said, “should be comprised of employees who are reliable, loyal, trustworthy, and who strive for excellence in their daily work. Employees will be subject to enhanced standards of suitability and conduct as we move forward.”The email, headlined “Fork in the Road,” promised “restructurings, realignments, and reductions in force. These actions are likely to include the use of furloughs and the reclassification to at-will status of a substantial number of federal employees.”“It’s pretty gross,” said one federal employee in Kansas City who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retribution. “I went so far as to change my voter registration” from Democrat to independent.He said he hoped that could spare him from a potential loyalty sweep that might use party affiliation as a metric.“I knew this would probably happen,” said another local federal employee who also asked not to be named. “But in the first week he was in office?”<h2>Federal job cuts will have ‘outsized impact’</h2>While federal workers brace for more changes and fear for their livelihoods, economists warn that any major reduction in federal jobs — and the inevitable disruptions in government services that follow — could be devastating to Kansas City’s economy.“It can cascade really easily,” said Chris Kuehl, co-founder of Armada Corporate Intelligence.Since the Truman administration, the federal government has played a major role in the Kansas City area’s economic health. With 29,883 federal employees here, the federal government is by far the metro’s largest employer, accounting for about 3% of overall employment. And that figure doesn’t include contract workers or private companies that depend on federal contracts to do business.The Internal Revenue Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Social Security Administration, the Small Business Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the General Services Administration are just some of the federal agencies that have a regional presence.“Even a small adjustment in the federal workforce will have an outsized impact on the economy,” said Brent Never, an associate professor of public affairs at the&nbsp;<a href="https://bloch.umkc.edu/bloch-lead-scholars/index.html?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=visionpoint_blochleadscholars_pros&amp;utm_content=branded&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAiAqfe8BhBwEiwAsne6gZDfZ9PwXvRvMdE7Uk79jXOOxORKMMOUwvk6fjO4Ih0ElUuyxX5VSxoCcIcQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Henry W. Bloch School of Management</a>&nbsp;at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.Federal employees tend to be fairly well paid and their salaries are fueled by money coming from outside the community, making them even more valuable in economic terms. Federal workers spend at stores and restaurants, and on services inside the community.Frank Lenk, director of economic research at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marc.org/" target="_blank">Mid-America Regional Council</a>, estimates that each federal job, and the income it creates, fuels another job in the region. That means if 3,000 federal jobs permanently went away, Kansas City’s economy could lose about 6,000 workers overall.“From an impact standpoint,” Lenk said, “those are powerful jobs.”<h2>Federal workforce feels growing uncertainty</h2>Before Jan. 20, the federal government’s approximately 3 million civilian employees probably would have said that they enjoyed job security.But then came President Trump’s hiring freeze, his promises to slash jobs and his executive&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/return-to-in-person-work/" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;requiring every employee to return to the office or get fired.The Kansas City federal worker who said he changed his voter party affiliation out of fear of being fired said he took his government job because of its benefits — especially the benefit of working remotely.Only going into the office once a week means he can be around when his kids get home from school. He saves an hour a day not having to commute, which gives him time to cook, rather than having to pay to eat out. And he avoids other ancillary expenses like parking and extra child care. Parking alone, he estimates, will run thousands of dollars a year if he has to return to the office full time.“You’re not making a lot in pay being a federal employee,” he said, “but that one benefit of being able to telework means everything.”Diana Hicks, a national vice president with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.afge.org/" target="_blank">American Federation of Government Employees</a>&nbsp;(AFGE) who oversees a district that includes Missouri and Kansas, said the union is fighting against the return-to-work order.Many employees were hired with the promise of remote positions. And the benefit is baked into many of the union’s collective bargaining agreements, she said.“They’re altering a condition of employment,” Hicks said.The union is also advising its members to beware of the “deferred resignation” offer thousands of employees received on Jan. 28 in an email that came directly to employees from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Normally, communication from the government’s top personnel office would be filtered through individual agencies.The “Fork in the Road”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.opm.gov/fork" target="_blank">memo</a>, which had the same title and highly similar content as one that Twitter employees received from tech billionaire Elon Musk in 2022, read more like a scene from “Severance,” the dystopian TV show, than an HR memo.It offered employees the chance to resign now, but retain pay and benefits until Sept. 30. It was sent to all full-time federal employees except for military personnel, U.S. Postal Service workers, and people working in the areas of immigration enforcement and national security.Employees who decide to accept it need only reply to the email, adding the word “resign,” by Feb. 6.“At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency,” the memo advised employees who don’t accept the resignation offer.But accepting it, many legal experts warned, would come with no guarantees and many questions. For one thing, a continuing resolution currently funding the U.S. budget expires March 14, more than six months before the promised last paycheck. And that’s not the only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/breaking-down-opm-s--fork-in-the-road--email-to-federal-workers" target="_blank">legal hurdle</a>&nbsp;that could render the offer much less than promised, experts said.Unions representing federal workers urged caution.“There is not yet any evidence the administration can or will uphold its end of the bargain, that Congress will go along with this unilateral massive restructuring, or that appropriated funds can be used this way, among other issues that have been raised,” the National Treasury Employees Union told members in an email.AFGE said the offer should not be viewed as voluntary.“It is an attempt to get federal employees to resign,”&nbsp; said Hicks. “This is essentially a fast track, ‘You have a week to respond with no guarantee.’”<h2>‘Reductions in force’ promised</h2>It is unclear how many employees have returned the email. But a&nbsp;<a href="https://federalnewsnetwork.com/workforce/2025/01/survey-most-feds-say-opms-resignation-offer-too-uncertain-to-accept/" target="_blank">survey</a>&nbsp;of 4,600 federal employees conducted by the Federal News Network found that three-quarters of respondents said they would decline.Regardless of whether employees choose to leave, however, the Trump administration has promised a major overhaul of the civilian workforce and promised “restructurings, realignments and reductions in force.”That means many of Kansas City’s federal employees are likely to end up on the job market. Kuehl said many will need training to easily fit into jobs currently available in private industry. So far, that doesn’t seem to be on the new administration’s to-do list.Never, the UMKC professor, speculated that many of the federal employees who lose their jobs will face underemployment when they move to their next job.“That has a large effect on a family’s wealth over time,” he said.The federal downsizing could have economic implications beyond just the salaries that disappear. The services federal jobs provide will probably be disrupted, and that could also affect the region. If tax refunds are delayed, small-business or education loans go unprocessed or Social Security benefits aren’t paid, the effects will ripple through the economy.On top of that, a raft of other executive orders have threatened federal funding to organizations across the region, creating widespread&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/01/29/federal-funding-freeze-threat-causes-panic-in-kc-health-nonprofits/" target="_blank">uncertainty</a>.The Trump administration may be betting that there’s enough bloat in the federal government to take out thousands of jobs without services being affected.“That’s the open question,” Lenk said. “Can you have this kind of reduction and not have it significantly affect government services?”And as for the administration’s stated goal to trim costs in order to cut the federal deficit, questions also exist about whether this plan will help.Reducing the deficit may be a worthy goal, Never said, but cuts that cause disruptions in federal services and affect the economy could actually lead to bigger problems for the country than a large deficit.“We have the most attractive debt because people know we’re good for it,” Never said. “But when the government becomes erratic, there start to be questions about our intent on paying our bills. That’s what would make our debt more expensive.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/02/03/kc-federal-workers-braces-for-job-cuts-as-trump-plans-purge/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Nearly 30,000 federal workers in Kansas City brace for layoffs

MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 10:30 p.m. Jan. 31, Sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 2021 blue Toyota RAV4 for a traffic violation&nbsp; southbound U.S. Highway 75, approximately four miles north of Independence, Kansas, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.

As the vehicle came to a stop, deputies observed a large object being thrown from the front passenger window. Upon investigation, deputies determined that the front passenger, identified as 45-year-old Cornelius Williams of Independence, Kansas, had discarded approximately one pound of suspected crystal methamphetamine.

A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of one ounce of suspected powder cocaine and one ounce of suspected crack cocaine. 

Both Williams and the driver 44-year-old Shequetta Dean of Independence, Kansas, were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where they were booked on the following charges:

Cornelius Williams was booked on requested charges of Interference with law enforcement; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case• Littering from a vehicle; Transporting an open container; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use; Possession of marijuana• Distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants (100 grams to &lt;1 kilogram)

Shequetta Dean was booked on requested charges of Improper driving on a laned roadway; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use• Possession of marijuana; Transporting an open container; Distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants (100 grams to &lt;1 kilogram)

Following the arrests, deputies obtained a search warrant for the Apple Tree Inn, where Williams and Dean had been staying.

 The search resulted in the discovery of drug distribution paraphernalia, including scales, as well as additional drug-related items and over $6,000 in U.S. currency.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738676371751.png" alt="Williams photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>MONTGOMERY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.Just before 10:30 p.m. Jan. 31, Sheriff's deputies conducted a traffic stop on a 2021 blue Toyota RAV4 for a traffic violation&nbsp; southbound U.S. Highway 75, approximately four miles north of Independence, Kansas, according to Montgomery County Sheriff Ron Wade.As the vehicle came to a stop, deputies observed a large object being thrown from the front passenger window. Upon investigation, deputies determined that the front passenger, identified as 45-year-old Cornelius Williams of Independence, Kansas, had discarded approximately one pound of suspected crystal methamphetamine.A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of one ounce of suspected powder cocaine and one ounce of suspected crack cocaine. Both Williams and the driver 44-year-old Shequetta Dean of Independence, Kansas, were taken into custody and transported to the Montgomery County Department of Corrections, where they were booked on the following charges:Cornelius Williams was booked on requested charges of Interference with law enforcement; conceal/alter/destroy evidence in a felony case• Littering from a vehicle; Transporting an open container; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use; Possession of marijuana• Distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants (100 grams to &lt;1 kilogram)<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738676351120.png" alt="Dean photo Montgomery County" />
 <figcaption>Dean photo Montgomery County</figcaption>
 </figure>Shequetta Dean was booked on requested charges of Improper driving on a laned roadway; Possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to use• Possession of marijuana; Transporting an open container; Distribution of opiates/opium/narcotics/stimulants (100 grams to &lt;1 kilogram)Following the arrests, deputies obtained a search warrant for the Apple Tree Inn, where Williams and Dean had been staying. The search resulted in the discovery of drug distribution paraphernalia, including scales, as well as additional drug-related items and over $6,000 in U.S. currency..

Suspected Kan. drug dealer threw a pound of crystal meth from SUV

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspects in connection with an aggravated robbery.

Just after 7a.m. Monday, police responded to a residence in the 1300 block of SW Tyler in Topeka on a report of an aggravated robbery, according to Police LT Matt Danielson.

 Officers learned the victim’s vehicle was stolen while being robbed a gunpoint. Just before 12:30p.m., police were checking areas in South Topeka and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle associated with the aggravated robbery. 

The driver of that vehicle initiated a vehicle pursuit that ended near the intersection of SE 25th and SE California after the driver crashed into another moving vehicle. 

The victims involved in the crash were uninjured and three occupants inside the suspect vehicle ran. 

Police ultimately took 27-year-old Breylin Bakerf Topeka, along with two juveniles into custody a short time later and transported them to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning in connection with the robbery and vehicle pursuit.

One juvenile was released to a guardian and the second juvenile was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.

Breylin Baker was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and a&nbsp;Warrant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738794821817.png" alt="Baker photo Shawnee Coll" />
 <figcaption>Baker photo Shawnee Coll</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspects in connection with an aggravated robbery.Just after 7a.m. Monday, police responded to a residence in the 1300 block of SW Tyler in Topeka on a report of an aggravated robbery, according to Police LT Matt Danielson. Officers learned the victim’s vehicle was stolen while being robbed a gunpoint. Just before 12:30p.m., police were checking areas in South Topeka and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle associated with the aggravated robbery. The driver of that vehicle initiated a vehicle pursuit that ended near the intersection of SE 25th and SE California after the driver crashed into another moving vehicle. The victims involved in the crash were uninjured and three occupants inside the suspect vehicle ran. Police ultimately took 27-year-old Breylin Bakerf Topeka, along with two juveniles into custody a short time later and transported them to the Law Enforcement Center for questioning in connection with the robbery and vehicle pursuit.One juvenile was released to a guardian and the second juvenile was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections.Breylin Baker was transported to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Robbery, Criminal Possession of a Weapon and a&nbsp;Warrant.

Kansas carjacking suspect crashed during police pursuit

DENVER (AP) — A tour guide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-former-gold-mine-death-3ff210f97a9c046bd09499c3c6ef8272">killed at a former Colorado gold mine</a>&nbsp;last year fell out of a crowded elevator taking tourists below ground after apparently not latching its door closed, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728611282995.png" alt="Photos Teller County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Teller County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>DENVER (AP) — A tour guide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-former-gold-mine-death-3ff210f97a9c046bd09499c3c6ef8272">killed at a former Colorado gold mine</a>&nbsp;last year fell out of a crowded elevator taking tourists below ground after apparently not latching its door closed, documents obtained by The Associated Press show.As the elevator descended, the door swung out and caught the side of the mine shaft, the guide fell out, was dragged and ended up landing on top of one of the tourists as the elevator continued its descent, investigators determined.The harrowing account of the October accident that killed Patrick Weier, 46, at the Mollie Kathleen Mine in the mountains near Colorado Springs was included in an investigative report obtained by AP in response to a public records request.The sheriff’s office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-former-gold-mine-death-mollie-kathleen-ad63ad21bc3e30cc626fc70fe3c48620">announced earlier this month</a>&nbsp;that Weier’s death was caused by “operator error” but did not explain how he died or what the error was. State mining regulators inspected the mine after the accident and did not find any problems with the equipment there.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728611333630.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Steve Schafrik, a University of Kentucky associate professor of mining engineering, said that at commercial mining operations, an elevator will not move if the safety systems are not in place and functioning. However, he said he did not have experience with operations in former mines that are now only used for tours.Surveillance video showed that in the minutes prior to his death, Weier loaded the group of tourists onto the lower level of a double-decker, cage-like elevator for a 1,000-foot descent into the mine. But he had trouble squeezing in himself because it was so crowded, said the report by the Teller County Sheriff’s Office.The tourists who were in the lower section with him told investigators that Weier had asked them to squeeze together more so he could fit inside, according to the report. A woman suggested that he ride in the upper level of the elevator since the people were smaller, but she said he didn’t respond.Weier barely had enough room to reach his hand out to close the door, and he did not appear to have secured its latch, the report said.Within a few seconds of starting the descent, passengers said the elevator started to hit the wall of the shaft. Weier cursed and said things like “I can’t stop this,” and debris was flying at the passengers in the dark. Some lost their hard hats and, without much light, they had to rely mostly on sounds to try to make out what was happening.According to the report, about halfway down the shaft, the door opened, came off its track and bent as it scraped along the elevator shaft. Investigators believe Weier fell out after ringing the bell to tell the operator to stop the elevator. At first he was trapped between the shaft wall and the still-moving elevator and ultimately fell into the top elevator car.When the elevator suddenly stopped, the group in the compartment above then said someone else was in their car — Weier. His body landed on top of a woman, who said it felt like she was being suffocated by it.A woman in the lower car was pinned by the bent door until others could free her.Two women in the top car decided to climb up a ladder seeking help. They said the ladder was breaking as they went, but both made it up safely.The accident left a second group of tourists stuck for hours 1,000 feet (305 meters) below ground, as authorities worked to make sure the elevator could safely bring them back up.No one answered the phone at the mine and its owner did not respond to telephone messages or an email. The mine's website says it is closed until further notice.Weier had a 7-year-old son and was from the nearby town of Victor, Colorado. Some people who went on tours at the mine with him have donated to an online fundraiser for his son, saying his knowledge about the area's mining history left an impact on them.