Soon after he stepped out of the plane, U.S. President Trump displayed his signature dance moves to Malaysian performers on Sunday. He arrived in Malaysia to attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Trade tensions between the United States and China appeared to cool on Sunday ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with the Chinese government suggesting that a mutual understanding had been reached between the world's two largest economies.

The talks followed China placing limits on the exporting of rare earth elements needed for advanced technologies and Trump’s threat of an additional 100% tariffs on Chinese goods. The conflict has been poised to weaken economic growth worldwide.

China’s top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, told reporters that the two sides had reached a “preliminary consensus” on areas of dispute and would seek to further stabilize the relationship. Trump also expressed confidence that an agreement was at hand.

“They want to make a deal and we want to make a deal,” he said. Trump reiterated his plan to visit China in the future and suggested that Xi could come to Washington or Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida.

The announcement came at the annual summit of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asean-summit-malaysia-trump-east-timor-leste-0721a23439e22009b9d37ed5adc2f03e">the Association of Southeast Asian Nations</a>, hosted in Kuala Lumpur, with Trump seeking to burnish his reputation as an international dealmaker.

Yet the path to those deals has involved serious disruptions at home and abroad, with his tariff hikes scrambling the global economy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-congress-presidential-power-157d0d2d6d00d273dca722232ff252ad">a U.S. government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that has him feuding with Democrats.

Trump attends ceasefire ceremony between Thailand and Cambodia

At the summit, Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire agreement on Sunday during a ceremony attended by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>, whose threats of economic pressure prodded the two nations to halt skirmishes along their disputed border earlier this year.

Thailand will release Cambodian prisoners and Cambodia will begin withdrawing heavy artillery as part of the first phase of the deal. Regional observers will monitor the situation to ensure fighting doesn't restart.

“We did something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done," Trump said. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called it a “historic day,” and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the agreement creates “the building blocks for a lasting peace.”

Trump touched down in the Malaysian capital shortly before 0200 GMT, where he performed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ymca-dance-rallies-05da758dfeb2dd9c2ed22ebb88610b24">his trademark campaign trail dance</a>&nbsp;with local performers and waved an American flag in one hand and a Malaysian flag in the other. His trip will also include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-jinping-china-asia-8f21df3df6fa3f51ca4ab4dfcf7669ba">visits to Japan and South Korea</a>&nbsp;and a planned meeting with Xi.

The president signed economic agreements with Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, some of them aimed at increasing trade involving critical minerals. The U.S. wants to rely less on China,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-earths-exports-trump-dad99d532f858f04d750d0b8c50e5ed6">which has limited exports</a>&nbsp;of key components in technology manufacturing.

“It’s very important that we cooperate as willing partners with each other to ensure that we can have smooth supply chains, secure supply chains, for the quality of life, for our people and security,” said U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Trump reengages with a key region of the world

The president attended this summit only once during his first term, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-duckworth-asean-trump-cabinet-senate-d06bda55cfa19b2454c5cac0a6e897a5">Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seemed unfamiliar</a>&nbsp;with ASEAN during his confirmation hearing in January.

But this year's event was a chance for Trump to reengage with a collection of nations that have a combined $3.8 trillion economy and 680 million people.

“The United States is with you 100%, and we intend to be a strong partner and friend for many generations to come," Trump said. He described his counterparts as “spectacular leaders” and said, “everything you touch turns to gold.”

The summit also allowed Trump to play global peacemaker with Thailand and Cambodia, which have competing territorial claims that result in periodic violence along their border. Some of the worst modern fighting between the two countries took place over five days in July, killing dozens and displacing hundreds of thousands of people, some of the worst modern fighting between the two countries.

Trump threatened, at the time, to withhold trade agreements unless the fighting stopped in a display of economic leverage credited with spurring negotiations.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thailand-cambodia-border-conflict-explainer-0eb99510a4ea16ee769a5934e0c07383">A shaky truce</a>&nbsp;has persisted since then.

“The fact that Trump was holding the tariff card was actually very, very significant,” said Ou Virak, president of Phnom Penh’s Future Forum think tank. “That’s probably the main reason, if not the only reason, but definitely the main reason why the two sides agreed immediately to the ceasefire.”

Now, he said, “there’s a ceremony for Trump to be in front of cameras” so he can be “seen as the champion that brings an end to wars and conflicts,” giving him ”more ammunition for his bid for Nobel Peace Prize.”

Trump has explicitly campaigned for the honor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-eight-wars-trump-ended-fact-check-ff41789ca242462c1c0ab65eb4ae8c7e">continuously adding to a list of conflicts</a>&nbsp;that he either helped resolve or claims to have ended.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/anwar-ibrahim">Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim</a>&nbsp;praised the agreement between Thailand and Cambodia during opening remarks at the summit, saying, "it reminds us that reconciliation is not concession, but an act of courage.”

Trump sat down with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Kuala Lumpur, who was also attending the summit. There has been friction between the two leaders over the Brazilian prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, the country's former president, who has been close to Trump. Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting a coup in his country earlier this week.

During his meeting with Lula on Sunday, Trump said he could reduce tariffs on Brazil that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-brazil-tariffs-bolsonaro-lula-trade-imbalance-de4cf0669b00a76149e8f39f200af502">he enacted in a push for leniency for Bolsonaro.</a>

“I think we should be able to make some good deals for both countries,” he said.

While Trump was warming to Lula, he avoided Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The president is angry with Canada because of a television advertisement protesting his trade policies, and on his way to the summit, announced on social media he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-canada-tariffs-3cbc1cbf9ed53a10b442fd55dae1e0a3">hike tariffs on Canada</a>&nbsp;because of it.

Trump has expressed confidence about reaching deals during the rest of his trip, including with China. Fentanyl trafficking and soybean sales are among Trump's priorities.

“I think we have a really good chance of making a very comprehensive deal,” Trump said.

It remains to be seen whether Trump’s dealmaking addresses longstanding issues or puts them off for another day.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested Sunday that Washington and Beijing could step back from their confrontation instead of pushing forward with higher tariffs by America and export restrictions on rare earth elements by China.

When asked if the two countries could extend the trade truce from earlier this year, Bessent said: “I would say yes." However, he emphasized that the final decision would be up to Trump.

One leader who was absent from the summit in Kuala Lumpur is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although he was close with Trump during his first term, the relationship has been more tense lately. Trump caused irritation by boasting that he settled a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-india-pakistan-kashmir-trade-e3cedcad801ce78c85194fcbf3b917f0">recent conflict between India and Pakistan</a>, and he has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-trump-modi-russia-oil-e03d5e496250e55b839d8915b85fab1d">increased tariffs on India</a>&nbsp;for its purchase of Russian oil.

Soon after he stepped out of the plane, U.S. President Trump displayed his signature dance moves to Malaysian performers on Sunday. He arrived in Malaysia to attend the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">MUST WATCH! President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> dances at Malaysian arrival ceremony 🇺🇸🇲🇾 <a href="https://t.co/e7Zrw3L35Y">pic.twitter.com/e7Zrw3L35Y</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1982270726481887274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;Today, the Prime Minister and I signed a major trade deal between the United States and Malaysia—and...we took part in the signing of a historic peace agreement, ending the hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand. We&#39;re calling it the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accords.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SL3jlijnho">pic.twitter.com/SL3jlijnho</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1982337322713506279?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> participates in a family photo with leaders at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia <a href="https://t.co/xGxpgmlp4e">pic.twitter.com/xGxpgmlp4e</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1982330031750942950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> in Malaysia: &quot;Today, alongside this peace treaty, we also are signing a major trade deal with Cambodia, and a very important critical minerals agreement with Thailand.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/F2U8xxBKXS">pic.twitter.com/F2U8xxBKXS</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1982309797920739715?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Trade tensions between the United States and China appeared to cool on Sunday ahead of a meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with the Chinese government suggesting that a mutual understanding had been reached between the world's two largest economies.The talks followed China placing limits on the exporting of rare earth elements needed for advanced technologies and Trump’s threat of an additional 100% tariffs on Chinese goods. The conflict has been poised to weaken economic growth worldwide.China’s top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, told reporters that the two sides had reached a “preliminary consensus” on areas of dispute and would seek to further stabilize the relationship. Trump also expressed confidence that an agreement was at hand.“They want to make a deal and we want to make a deal,” he said. Trump reiterated his plan to visit China in the future and suggested that Xi could come to Washington or Mar-a-Lago, his private club in Florida.The announcement came at the annual summit of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asean-summit-malaysia-trump-east-timor-leste-0721a23439e22009b9d37ed5adc2f03e">the Association of Southeast Asian Nations</a>, hosted in Kuala Lumpur, with Trump seeking to burnish his reputation as an international dealmaker.Yet the path to those deals has involved serious disruptions at home and abroad, with his tariff hikes scrambling the global economy and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-trump-congress-presidential-power-157d0d2d6d00d273dca722232ff252ad">a U.S. government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that has him feuding with Democrats.<h2>Trump attends ceasefire ceremony between Thailand and Cambodia</h2>At the summit, Thailand and Cambodia signed an expanded ceasefire agreement on Sunday during a ceremony attended by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>, whose threats of economic pressure prodded the two nations to halt skirmishes along their disputed border earlier this year.Thailand will release Cambodian prisoners and Cambodia will begin withdrawing heavy artillery as part of the first phase of the deal. Regional observers will monitor the situation to ensure fighting doesn't restart.“We did something that a lot of people said couldn’t be done," Trump said. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet called it a “historic day,” and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the agreement creates “the building blocks for a lasting peace.”Trump touched down in the Malaysian capital shortly before 0200 GMT, where he performed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ymca-dance-rallies-05da758dfeb2dd9c2ed22ebb88610b24">his trademark campaign trail dance</a>&nbsp;with local performers and waved an American flag in one hand and a Malaysian flag in the other. His trip will also include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-jinping-china-asia-8f21df3df6fa3f51ca4ab4dfcf7669ba">visits to Japan and South Korea</a>&nbsp;and a planned meeting with Xi.The president signed economic agreements with Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, some of them aimed at increasing trade involving critical minerals. The U.S. wants to rely less on China,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-earths-exports-trump-dad99d532f858f04d750d0b8c50e5ed6">which has limited exports</a>&nbsp;of key components in technology manufacturing.“It’s very important that we cooperate as willing partners with each other to ensure that we can have smooth supply chains, secure supply chains, for the quality of life, for our people and security,” said U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.<h2>Trump reengages with a key region of the world</h2>The president attended this summit only once during his first term, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-duckworth-asean-trump-cabinet-senate-d06bda55cfa19b2454c5cac0a6e897a5">Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seemed unfamiliar</a>&nbsp;with ASEAN during his confirmation hearing in January.But this year's event was a chance for Trump to reengage with a collection of nations that have a combined $3.8 trillion economy and 680 million people.“The United States is with you 100%, and we intend to be a strong partner and friend for many generations to come," Trump said. He described his counterparts as “spectacular leaders” and said, “everything you touch turns to gold.”The summit also allowed Trump to play global peacemaker with Thailand and Cambodia, which have competing territorial claims that result in periodic violence along their border. Some of the worst modern fighting between the two countries took place over five days in July, killing dozens and displacing hundreds of thousands of people, some of the worst modern fighting between the two countries.Trump threatened, at the time, to withhold trade agreements unless the fighting stopped in a display of economic leverage credited with spurring negotiations.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/thailand-cambodia-border-conflict-explainer-0eb99510a4ea16ee769a5934e0c07383">A shaky truce</a>&nbsp;has persisted since then.“The fact that Trump was holding the tariff card was actually very, very significant,” said Ou Virak, president of Phnom Penh’s Future Forum think tank. “That’s probably the main reason, if not the only reason, but definitely the main reason why the two sides agreed immediately to the ceasefire.”Now, he said, “there’s a ceremony for Trump to be in front of cameras” so he can be “seen as the champion that brings an end to wars and conflicts,” giving him ”more ammunition for his bid for Nobel Peace Prize.”Trump has explicitly campaigned for the honor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-eight-wars-trump-ended-fact-check-ff41789ca242462c1c0ab65eb4ae8c7e">continuously adding to a list of conflicts</a>&nbsp;that he either helped resolve or claims to have ended.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/anwar-ibrahim">Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim</a>&nbsp;praised the agreement between Thailand and Cambodia during opening remarks at the summit, saying, "it reminds us that reconciliation is not concession, but an act of courage.”<h2>Tariffs are in focus on Trump's trip</h2>Trump sat down with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Kuala Lumpur, who was also attending the summit. There has been friction between the two leaders over the Brazilian prosecution of Jair Bolsonaro, the country's former president, who has been close to Trump. Bolsonaro was convicted of attempting a coup in his country earlier this week.During his meeting with Lula on Sunday, Trump said he could reduce tariffs on Brazil that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-brazil-tariffs-bolsonaro-lula-trade-imbalance-de4cf0669b00a76149e8f39f200af502">he enacted in a push for leniency for Bolsonaro.</a>“I think we should be able to make some good deals for both countries,” he said.While Trump was warming to Lula, he avoided Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The president is angry with Canada because of a television advertisement protesting his trade policies, and on his way to the summit, announced on social media he would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-canada-tariffs-3cbc1cbf9ed53a10b442fd55dae1e0a3">hike tariffs on Canada</a>&nbsp;because of it.Trump has expressed confidence about reaching deals during the rest of his trip, including with China. Fentanyl trafficking and soybean sales are among Trump's priorities.“I think we have a really good chance of making a very comprehensive deal,” Trump said.It remains to be seen whether Trump’s dealmaking addresses longstanding issues or puts them off for another day.U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested Sunday that Washington and Beijing could step back from their confrontation instead of pushing forward with higher tariffs by America and export restrictions on rare earth elements by China.When asked if the two countries could extend the trade truce from earlier this year, Bessent said: “I would say yes." However, he emphasized that the final decision would be up to Trump.One leader who was absent from the summit in Kuala Lumpur is Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Although he was close with Trump during his first term, the relationship has been more tense lately. Trump caused irritation by boasting that he settled a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-india-pakistan-kashmir-trade-e3cedcad801ce78c85194fcbf3b917f0">recent conflict between India and Pakistan</a>, and he has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-trump-modi-russia-oil-e03d5e496250e55b839d8915b85fab1d">increased tariffs on India</a>&nbsp;for its purchase of Russian oil.___

 🎥President Trump  dances at Malaysian arrival ceremony

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

TOPEKA — A California judge said states suing the federal government over demands for food program data are likely to win their claims and ruled program funding must continue while the case progresses.&nbsp;

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/19/sad-political-stunt-lawsuit-between-kobach-kansas-governor-heats-up/">have been criticized and sued</a>&nbsp;by state Republican leaders for refusing to turn over Supplemental and Nutrition Assistance Program data, potentially causing the USDA to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/22/kansas-governors-office-disputes-accuracy-of-kobachs-claims-about-snap-funding/">withhold $10 million</a>&nbsp;in administrative costs. The state has appealed that decision.

Although Kansas didn’t join the national lawsuit, state leaders are watching the outcome, as it may support their reasons for refusing to yield to USDA demands.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;spokeswoman for the governor’s office said it wouldn’t comment about ongoing litigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a 25-page order filed last week, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney considered the arguments of 21 states and the District of Columbia that have signed onto the lawsuit.&nbsp;

The national case was filed in the Northern District of California in July, outlining why states believe the federal request for personal data of SNAP recipients and applicants violates privacy rules.&nbsp;

Plaintiff states are likely to establish that they are not required by SNAP Act provisions to provide data and “consequently, have shown a likelihood of success on their claim that USDA, in demanding such data, acted in a manner contrary to law,” Chesney wrote.

To determine her ruling on the injunction, Chesney considered multiple factors, including whether the plaintiffs are likely to succeed based on case merits and whether they are likely to suffer irreparable harm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/08/26/kansas-official-defends-refusal-to-turn-over-private-food-program-data-in-face-of-political-attacks/">Howard told Kansas Reflector</a>&nbsp;the state is concerned that turning over private data before the California lawsuit is settled could put the state at risk.&nbsp;

“I honestly believe that if I were to release that data, then the courts find in favor of the states, then I’m putting the state at liability for releasing the personal information of more than 700,000 Kansans,” she said.&nbsp;

At least 27 Republican-led states have turned over the data requested,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/16/nx-s1-5533045/snap-privacy-usda-lawsuit" target="_blank">according to NPR</a>, while most the states resisting the USDA demands are led by Democrats.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761348061715.png" alt=" Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard is closely watching a California lawsuit that's looking at whether the federal government has the right to access personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants and recipients. Kansas officials have refused to turn over the data because of concerns it would be a privacy violation. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Department for Children and Families secretary Laura Howard is closely watching a California lawsuit that's looking at whether the federal government has the right to access personal data of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program applicants and recipients. Kansas officials have refused to turn over the data because of concerns it would be a privacy violation. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — A California judge said states suing the federal government over demands for food program data are likely to win their claims and ruled program funding must continue while the case progresses.&nbsp;Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Department for Children and Families Secretary Laura Howard&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/19/sad-political-stunt-lawsuit-between-kobach-kansas-governor-heats-up/">have been criticized and sued</a>&nbsp;by state Republican leaders for refusing to turn over Supplemental and Nutrition Assistance Program data, potentially causing the USDA to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/22/kansas-governors-office-disputes-accuracy-of-kobachs-claims-about-snap-funding/">withhold $10 million</a>&nbsp;in administrative costs. The state has appealed that decision.Although Kansas didn’t join the national lawsuit, state leaders are watching the outcome, as it may support their reasons for refusing to yield to USDA demands.&nbsp;A&nbsp;spokeswoman for the governor’s office said it wouldn’t comment about ongoing litigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a 25-page order filed last week, U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney considered the arguments of 21 states and the District of Columbia that have signed onto the lawsuit.&nbsp;The national case was filed in the Northern District of California in July, outlining why states believe the federal request for personal data of SNAP recipients and applicants violates privacy rules.&nbsp;Plaintiff states are likely to establish that they are not required by SNAP Act provisions to provide data and “consequently, have shown a likelihood of success on their claim that USDA, in demanding such data, acted in a manner contrary to law,” Chesney wrote.To determine her ruling on the injunction, Chesney considered multiple factors, including whether the plaintiffs are likely to succeed based on case merits and whether they are likely to suffer irreparable harm.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/08/26/kansas-official-defends-refusal-to-turn-over-private-food-program-data-in-face-of-political-attacks/">Howard told Kansas Reflector</a>&nbsp;the state is concerned that turning over private data before the California lawsuit is settled could put the state at risk.&nbsp;“I honestly believe that if I were to release that data, then the courts find in favor of the states, then I’m putting the state at liability for releasing the personal information of more than 700,000 Kansans,” she said.&nbsp;At least 27 Republican-led states have turned over the data requested,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/16/nx-s1-5533045/snap-privacy-usda-lawsuit" target="_blank">according to NPR</a>, while most the states resisting the USDA demands are led by Democrats.&nbsp;

National injunction strengthens Kansas’ stance on withholding food program data

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high speed chase.

Just after 1 p.m. October 22, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Apprehension Unit attempted to stop a black passenger car with a stolen license plate south of Harrisonville, according to a media release.

The driver, later identified as  David S. Wilson, 39, Warrensburg, failed to stop for deputies and fled at a high rate of speed north on Interstate 49. Wilsonexited the highway at Harrisonville and continued through the city before traveling north on Rock Haven Road at 291 Highway.

Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle with a Grappler Device, but Wilson drove through the grass median and continued north on Interstate 49.

Just south of J Highway in Peculiar the driver attempted to pass a vehicle and trveled into the highway median, struck an embankment causing the vehicle to become disabled.  Deputies assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol took Wilson and a passenger into custody without further incident.  The vehicle was confirmed stolen from Lee’s Summit.

Wilson was charged in Cass County with Aggravated Fleeing a Stop or Detention, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle First Degree.  All three charges are Class D Felony.

Wilson is currently being held at the Cass County Jail with no bond allowed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761301398952.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a high speed chase.Just after 1 p.m. October 22, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Apprehension Unit attempted to stop a black passenger car with a stolen license plate south of Harrisonville, according to a media release.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761301355436.png" alt="Wilson photo Cass County" />
 <figcaption>Wilson photo Cass County</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, later identified as David S. Wilson, 39, Warrensburg, failed to stop for deputies and fled at a high rate of speed north on Interstate 49. Wilsonexited the highway at Harrisonville and continued through the city before traveling north on Rock Haven Road at 291 Highway.Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle with a Grappler Device, but Wilson drove through the grass median and continued north on Interstate 49.Just south of J Highway in Peculiar the driver attempted to pass a vehicle and trveled into the highway median, struck an embankment causing the vehicle to become disabled. Deputies assisted by the Missouri State Highway Patrol took Wilson and a passenger into custody without further incident. The vehicle was confirmed stolen from Lee’s Summit.Wilson was charged in Cass County with Aggravated Fleeing a Stop or Detention, Possession of Controlled Substance, and Tampering with a Motor Vehicle First Degree. All three charges are Class D Felony.Wilson is currently being held at the Cass County Jail with no bond allowed.

Kansas City car theft suspect captured after high-speed chase

TOPEKA —Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced a Cherokee county man was sentenced to 12 months of probation for insurance fraud.

<a></a>William Owens, age 71, pleaded guilty in Cherokee County District Court to one felony count of insurance fraud. Owens attempted to fraudulently collect benefits from his insurance company by seeking coverage for stolen and damaged items that were not actually stolen or damaged.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 12 months probation and ordered to pay $500 fine plus court cost and fees with 18 months underlying prison time if his probation is violated.

“Insurance fraud costs all Kansans in the form of increased premiums every year,” Schmidt said. “The Department will continue pursuing penalties against anyone committing insurance fraud in Kansas.”&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Insurance investigated this case which was prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.&nbsp;

TOPEKA —Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt announced a Cherokee county man was sentenced to 12 months of probation for insurance fraud.<a></a>William Owens, age 71, pleaded guilty in Cherokee County District Court to one felony count of insurance fraud. Owens attempted to fraudulently collect benefits from his insurance company by seeking coverage for stolen and damaged items that were not actually stolen or damaged. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on 12 months probation and ordered to pay $500 fine plus court cost and fees with 18 months underlying prison time if his probation is violated.“Insurance fraud costs all Kansans in the form of increased premiums every year,” Schmidt said. “The Department will continue pursuing penalties against anyone committing insurance fraud in Kansas.”&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Insurance investigated this case which was prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.&nbsp;

Kan. man tried to collect insurance benefits for items not stolen, damaged

LOS ANGELES (AP) — June Lockhart, who became a mother figure for a generation of television viewers whether at home in “Lassie” or up in the stratosphere in “Lost In Space,” has died. She was 100.

Lockhart died Thursday of natural causes at her home in Santa Monica, family spokesman Lyle Gregory, a friend of 40 years, said Saturday.

“She was very happy up until the very end, reading the New York Times and LA Times everyday,” he said. “It was very important to her to stay focused on the news of the day.”

The daughter of prolific character actor Gene Lockhart, Lockhart was cast frequently in ingenue roles as a young film actor. Television made her a star.

From 1958 to 1964, she portrayed Ruth Martin, who raised the orphaned Timmy (Jon Provost), in the popular CBS series “Lassie.” From 1965 to 1968, she traveled aboard the spaceship Jupiter II as mother to the Robinson family in the campy CBS adventure “Lost in Space.”

Her portrayals of warm, compassionate mothers endeared her to young viewers, and decades later baby boomers flocked to nostalgia conventions to meet Lockhart and buy her autographed photos.

Offscreen, Lockhart insisted, she was nothing like the women she portrayed.

“I must quote Dan Rather,” she said in a 1994 interview. “I can control my reputation, but not my image, because my image is how you see me.

“I love rock ‘n’ roll and going to the concerts. I have driven Army tanks and flown in hot air balloons. And I go plane-gliding — the ones with no motors. I do a lot of things that don’t go with my image.”

Early in her career, Lockhart appeared in numerous films. Among them: “All This and Heaven Too,” “Adam Had Four Sons,” “Sergeant York,” “Miss Annie Rooney,” “Forever and a Day” and “Meet Me in St. Louis.”

She also made “Son of Lassie,” the 1945 sequel to “Lassie, Come Home,” playing the grown-up version of the role created by Elizabeth Taylor.

When her movie career as an adult faltered, Lockhart shifted to television, appearing in live drama from New York and game and talk shows. She was the third actress to play the female lead in “Lassie” on TV, following Jan Clayton and Cloris Leachman. (Provost had replaced the show’s original child star, Tommy Rettig, in 1957.)

Lockhart spoke frankly about her canine co-star. In the first place, she said in 1989, Lassie was a laddie, because male collies “are bigger, the ruff is bigger, they’re more imposing looking.”

She added: “I worked with four Lassies. There was only one main Lassie at a time. Then there was a dog that did the running, a dog that did the fighting, and a dog that was a stand-in, because only humans can work 14 hours a day without needing a nap.

“Lassie was not especially friendly with anybody. Lassie was wholly concentrated on the trainers.”

After six years in the rural setting of “Lassie,” Lockhart moved to outer space, embarking on the role of Maureen Robinson, the wise, reassuring mother of a family that departs on a five-year flight to a faraway planet in “Lost in Space.”

After their mission is sabotaged by a fellow passenger, the nefarious Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), the party bounces from planet to planet, encountering weird creatures and near-disasters that required viewers to tune in the following week to learn of the escape. Throughout the three-year run, Mrs. Robinson offered consolation and a slice of her “space pie.”

As with “Lassie,” Lockhart enjoyed working on “Lost in Space”: “It was like going to work at Disneyland every day.”

In 1968, Lockhart joined the cast of “Petticoat Junction” for the rural comedy’s last two seasons, playing Dr. Janet Craig. The original star, Bea Benaderet, had been diagnosed with cancer and died, also in 1968.

Lockhart remained active long after “Lost in Space,” appearing often in episodic television as well as in recurring roles in the daytime soap opera “General Hospital” and nighttime soaps, “Knots Landing” and “The Colbys.” Her film credits included “The Remake” and the animated “Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm,” for which she provided the voice for Mindy the Owl.

She also used her own media pass to attend presidential news conferences, narrated beauty pageants and holiday parades, appeared in B pictures and toured in the plays “Steel Magnolias,” “Bedroom Farce” and “Once More with Feeling.”

“Her true passion was journalism,” Gregory said. “She loved going to the White House briefing rooms.”

Lockhart liked to tell the story of how her parents met, saying they were hired separately for a touring production sponsored by inventor Thomas A. Edison and decided on marriage during a stop at Lake Louise, Alberta.

Their daughter was born June 25, 1925, in New York City. The family moved to Hollywood 10 years later, and Gene Lockhart worked steadily as a character actor, usually in avuncular roles, sometimes as a villain. His wife, Kathleen, often appeared with him.

Young June made her stage debut at 8, dancing in a children’s ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House. Her first film appearance was a small role in the 1938 “A Christmas Carol,” playing the daughter of Bob Cratchit and his wife, who were played by her parents.

She was married and divorced twice: to John Maloney, a physician, father of her daughters Anne Kathleen and June Elizabeth; and architect John C. Lindsay.

Throughout her later career, Lockhart was connected in the public mind with “Lassie.”

Even though she sometimes mocked the show, she conceded: “How wonderful that in a career there is one role for which you are known. Many actors work all their lives and never have one part that is really theirs.”

Bob Thomas, a longtime Associated Press journalist who died in 2014, was the principal writer of this obituary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761421981822.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — June Lockhart, who became a mother figure for a generation of television viewers whether at home in “Lassie” or up in the stratosphere in “Lost In Space,” has died. She was 100.Lockhart died Thursday of natural causes at her home in Santa Monica, family spokesman Lyle Gregory, a friend of 40 years, said Saturday.“She was very happy up until the very end, reading the New York Times and LA Times everyday,” he said. “It was very important to her to stay focused on the news of the day.”The daughter of prolific character actor Gene Lockhart, Lockhart was cast frequently in ingenue roles as a young film actor. Television made her a star.From 1958 to 1964, she portrayed Ruth Martin, who raised the orphaned Timmy (Jon Provost), in the popular CBS series “Lassie.” From 1965 to 1968, she traveled aboard the spaceship Jupiter II as mother to the Robinson family in the campy CBS adventure “Lost in Space.”Her portrayals of warm, compassionate mothers endeared her to young viewers, and decades later baby boomers flocked to nostalgia conventions to meet Lockhart and buy her autographed photos.Offscreen, Lockhart insisted, she was nothing like the women she portrayed.“I must quote Dan Rather,” she said in a 1994 interview. “I can control my reputation, but not my image, because my image is how you see me.“I love rock ‘n’ roll and going to the concerts. I have driven Army tanks and flown in hot air balloons. And I go plane-gliding — the ones with no motors. I do a lot of things that don’t go with my image.”Early in her career, Lockhart appeared in numerous films. Among them: “All This and Heaven Too,” “Adam Had Four Sons,” “Sergeant York,” “Miss Annie Rooney,” “Forever and a Day” and “Meet Me in St. Louis.”She also made “Son of Lassie,” the 1945 sequel to “Lassie, Come Home,” playing the grown-up version of the role created by Elizabeth Taylor.<h2>New life on television</h2>When her movie career as an adult faltered, Lockhart shifted to television, appearing in live drama from New York and game and talk shows. She was the third actress to play the female lead in “Lassie” on TV, following Jan Clayton and Cloris Leachman. (Provost had replaced the show’s original child star, Tommy Rettig, in 1957.)Lockhart spoke frankly about her canine co-star. In the first place, she said in 1989, Lassie was a laddie, because male collies “are bigger, the ruff is bigger, they’re more imposing looking.”She added: “I worked with four Lassies. There was only one main Lassie at a time. Then there was a dog that did the running, a dog that did the fighting, and a dog that was a stand-in, because only humans can work 14 hours a day without needing a nap.“Lassie was not especially friendly with anybody. Lassie was wholly concentrated on the trainers.”After six years in the rural setting of “Lassie,” Lockhart moved to outer space, embarking on the role of Maureen Robinson, the wise, reassuring mother of a family that departs on a five-year flight to a faraway planet in “Lost in Space.”After their mission is sabotaged by a fellow passenger, the nefarious Dr. Zachary Smith (Jonathan Harris), the party bounces from planet to planet, encountering weird creatures and near-disasters that required viewers to tune in the following week to learn of the escape. Throughout the three-year run, Mrs. Robinson offered consolation and a slice of her “space pie.”As with “Lassie,” Lockhart enjoyed working on “Lost in Space”: “It was like going to work at Disneyland every day.”In 1968, Lockhart joined the cast of “Petticoat Junction” for the rural comedy’s last two seasons, playing Dr. Janet Craig. The original star, Bea Benaderet, had been diagnosed with cancer and died, also in 1968.<h2>A little bit of everything</h2>Lockhart remained active long after “Lost in Space,” appearing often in episodic television as well as in recurring roles in the daytime soap opera “General Hospital” and nighttime soaps, “Knots Landing” and “The Colbys.” Her film credits included “The Remake” and the animated “Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm,” for which she provided the voice for Mindy the Owl.She also used her own media pass to attend presidential news conferences, narrated beauty pageants and holiday parades, appeared in B pictures and toured in the plays “Steel Magnolias,” “Bedroom Farce” and “Once More with Feeling.”“Her true passion was journalism,” Gregory said. “She loved going to the White House briefing rooms.”Lockhart liked to tell the story of how her parents met, saying they were hired separately for a touring production sponsored by inventor Thomas A. Edison and decided on marriage during a stop at Lake Louise, Alberta.Their daughter was born June 25, 1925, in New York City. The family moved to Hollywood 10 years later, and Gene Lockhart worked steadily as a character actor, usually in avuncular roles, sometimes as a villain. His wife, Kathleen, often appeared with him.Young June made her stage debut at 8, dancing in a children’s ballet at the Metropolitan Opera House. Her first film appearance was a small role in the 1938 “A Christmas Carol,” playing the daughter of Bob Cratchit and his wife, who were played by her parents.She was married and divorced twice: to John Maloney, a physician, father of her daughters Anne Kathleen and June Elizabeth; and architect John C. Lindsay.Throughout her later career, Lockhart was connected in the public mind with “Lassie.”Even though she sometimes mocked the show, she conceded: “How wonderful that in a career there is one role for which you are known. Many actors work all their lives and never have one part that is really theirs.”___Bob Thomas, a longtime Associated Press journalist who died in 2014, was the principal writer of this obituary.

June Lockhart, beloved mother figure from ‘Lassie’ and ‘Lost In Space,’ dies at 100

The indictments announced Thursday of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/miami-heat-terry-rozier-gambling-probe-de98ecb76bb8f13b85f4c5ac62f66221">poker cheating ring</a>&nbsp;involving NBA figures and backed by the mafia emphasized their alleged high-tech cheating methods. But the con tactics they described are as old as poker itself, familiar from heist movies and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/james-bond-new-movie-what-to-know-2d7bbd7b3ca86e86194952b681e6179d">James Bond films</a>.

<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eT7xaYmsbTNbHsaP1mTkMy2MSPYQiV0G/view">Click here to read the complete charging documents.</a>

Shady shuffles came not from quick-handed card sharks, but tricked-out machines. Instead of mirrors or guys in the corner peeking over shoulders, there were X-ray tables and high-tech contact lenses. Low-tech signals between players and old-fashioned beatings for debtors allegedly were used too.

Here's a look at how the alleged fraudsters rigged the games, according to an unsealed indictment and the announcement from federal officials.

The underground games were illegal by their very existence, and operated by mafia families. So the indictments go out of their way to emphasize that these were extra illegal — as opposed to “straight” illegal games where at least the poker itself is legit.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beyonce-new-music-act-ii-14ab5948ecfb76c283c638162b7a53f7">Texas Hold ’em</a>&nbsp;was the poker they played, like most games these days. It involves very few cards — just five face-up public cards and two for each player. That potentially simplifies the scamming.

Rich targets known as “fish” were brought in by the allure of playing for high stakes in posh secret spots in Manhattan with names like “The Lexington Avenue Game,” the indictment said. They were also attracted by the prospect of playing with pro athletes and coaches, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/portland-trail-blazers">Portland Trail Blazers</a>&nbsp;coach and Hall-of-Fame NBA player Chauncey Billups. The operators called these “face cards.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trail-blazers-chauncey-billups-57c920d0fcace5dbce25cd474468cd40">Billups</a>&nbsp;was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to La Cosa Nostra organized crime families that cheated unsuspecting gamblers out of at least $7 million. Also charged was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones.

Authorities gave no hints about the identity of the victims other than to say they were usually wealthy people who lost tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cheaters.

The “face cards” and everyone else at the table who was not a target was in on the scam.

The shuffling machine did most of the work. Using machines is common, but the advanced tech on these ones could determine the exact order of cards after a shuffle, and who was holding what once they were dealt. That information was transmitted wirelessly to someone off-site, who would send the identity of the player with the winning hand to the phone of a player at the table, known as “the quarterback.”

Then it got low-tech. The “quarterback” would use classic subtle signals like touching certain chips to pass the information to the fellow cheaters. They'd all bet accordingly.

The shuffling machine con was apparently the main tactic, but the conspirators supposedly tried other gadgetry, some of it similar to the tech used to identify players' hands on poker telecasts. Authorities didn't go into detail about them, but they included:

-An X-ray table that could identify the face-down cards used in Texas Hold 'em from underneath.

-Hidden cameras built into the trays that hold players' chips that could identify cards.

-Customized contact lenses and glasses that could detect special marks on cards.

The cheating winners would share a percentage of their take with the game operators. The victims were often told to wire money to shell companies that laundered it. And the organizers sometimes used robbery, extortion and assault to get debtors to pay. Authorities said two game operators used their fists to extract payment from one cheated player.

Also charged was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones, who stands accused of participating in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prop-bets-nba-scandal-624ce04b410eb3e97806c3c011412476">separate scheme of exploiting private information</a>&nbsp;about players to win bets on NBA games.

Billups made his first court appearance Thursday before a judge in Portland, Oregon. His attorney, Chris Heywood, declined to comment after the hearing.

A message was left at a phone number and email address listed in public records for Jones.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761308821925.png" alt="A card shuffler allegedly used by defendants in a sports betting and illegal gambling case announced Thursday -photo U.S. Attorney's office" />
 <figcaption>A card shuffler allegedly used by defendants in a sports betting and illegal gambling case announced Thursday -photo U.S. Attorney's office</figcaption>
 </figure>By ANDREW DALTON Associated PressThe indictments announced Thursday of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/miami-heat-terry-rozier-gambling-probe-de98ecb76bb8f13b85f4c5ac62f66221">poker cheating ring</a>&nbsp;involving NBA figures and backed by the mafia emphasized their alleged high-tech cheating methods. But the con tactics they described are as old as poker itself, familiar from heist movies and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/james-bond-new-movie-what-to-know-2d7bbd7b3ca86e86194952b681e6179d">James Bond films</a>.<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eT7xaYmsbTNbHsaP1mTkMy2MSPYQiV0G/view">Click here to read the complete charging documents.</a>Shady shuffles came not from quick-handed card sharks, but tricked-out machines. Instead of mirrors or guys in the corner peeking over shoulders, there were X-ray tables and high-tech contact lenses. Low-tech signals between players and old-fashioned beatings for debtors allegedly were used too.Here's a look at how the alleged fraudsters rigged the games, according to an unsealed indictment and the announcement from federal officials.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761225884441.png" alt="Chauncey Billups played for the University of Colorado, which was part of the Big 12 conference, leading the team to a second-place finish and an NCAA tournament appearance in the inaugural season of the Big 12 in 1996-97. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors that season. photo courtesy Portland Trail Blazers" />
 <figcaption>Chauncey Billups played for the University of Colorado, which was part of the Big 12 conference, leading the team to a second-place finish and an NCAA tournament appearance in the inaugural season of the Big 12 in 1996-97. He earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors that season. photo courtesy Portland Trail Blazers</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The poker</h2>The underground games were illegal by their very existence, and operated by mafia families. So the indictments go out of their way to emphasize that these were extra illegal — as opposed to “straight” illegal games where at least the poker itself is legit.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beyonce-new-music-act-ii-14ab5948ecfb76c283c638162b7a53f7">Texas Hold ’em</a>&nbsp;was the poker they played, like most games these days. It involves very few cards — just five face-up public cards and two for each player. That potentially simplifies the scamming.<h2>The victims and the ‘face cards’</h2>Rich targets known as “fish” were brought in by the allure of playing for high stakes in posh secret spots in Manhattan with names like “The Lexington Avenue Game,” the indictment said. They were also attracted by the prospect of playing with pro athletes and coaches, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/portland-trail-blazers">Portland Trail Blazers</a>&nbsp;coach and Hall-of-Fame NBA player Chauncey Billups. The operators called these “face cards.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trail-blazers-chauncey-billups-57c920d0fcace5dbce25cd474468cd40">Billups</a>&nbsp;was charged with participating in a conspiracy to fix high-stakes card games tied to La Cosa Nostra organized crime families that cheated unsuspecting gamblers out of at least $7 million. Also charged was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones.Authorities gave no hints about the identity of the victims other than to say they were usually wealthy people who lost tens and sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cheaters.The “face cards” and everyone else at the table who was not a target was in on the scam.<h2>The cheating tactics</h2>The shuffling machine did most of the work. Using machines is common, but the advanced tech on these ones could determine the exact order of cards after a shuffle, and who was holding what once they were dealt. That information was transmitted wirelessly to someone off-site, who would send the identity of the player with the winning hand to the phone of a player at the table, known as “the quarterback.”Then it got low-tech. The “quarterback” would use classic subtle signals like touching certain chips to pass the information to the fellow cheaters. They'd all bet accordingly.<h2>The other cheating methods</h2>The shuffling machine con was apparently the main tactic, but the conspirators supposedly tried other gadgetry, some of it similar to the tech used to identify players' hands on poker telecasts. Authorities didn't go into detail about them, but they included:-An X-ray table that could identify the face-down cards used in Texas Hold 'em from underneath.-Hidden cameras built into the trays that hold players' chips that could identify cards.-Customized contact lenses and glasses that could detect special marks on cards.<h2>The postgame</h2>The cheating winners would share a percentage of their take with the game operators. The victims were often told to wire money to shell companies that laundered it. And the organizers sometimes used robbery, extortion and assault to get debtors to pay. Authorities said two game operators used their fists to extract payment from one cheated player.Also charged was former NBA assistant coach and player Damon Jones, who stands accused of participating in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prop-bets-nba-scandal-624ce04b410eb3e97806c3c011412476">separate scheme of exploiting private information</a>&nbsp;about players to win bets on NBA games.Billups made his first court appearance Thursday before a judge in Portland, Oregon. His attorney, Chris Heywood, declined to comment after the hearing.A message was left at a phone number and email address listed in public records for Jones.

How cheaters rigged high-stakes poker games with the mob and sports pros

JOHNSON COUNTY —Earlier this week around 3 a.m., officers responded to a report of a prowler at a construction site near K-10 and K-7 highways, according to a soial media report from Lenexa Police. Officers quickly surrounded the area and deployed a drone to search from above.

The drone operator soon spotted someone hiding under heavy construction equipment. With a coordinated plan in place, a team of officers, along with a K9, moved in and took the suspect safely into custody.

Further investigation revealed stolen tools from a Lenexa business, along with meth and drug paraphernalia. This same individual had been arrested by Lenexa officers earlier this year in connection with another business burglary. The Johnson County District Attorney's Office has charged this suspect with crimes related to both cases.

Police did not release the name of the suspect.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Earlier this week around 3 a.m., officers responded to a report of a prowler at a construction site near K-10 and K-7 highways, according to a soial media report from Lenexa Police. Officers quickly surrounded the area and deployed a drone to search from above.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Earlier this week around 3 a.m., officers responded to a report of a prowler at a construction site near K-10 and K-7 highways. Our officers quickly surrounded the area and deployed a drone to search from above. The drone operator soon spotted someone hiding under heavy… <a href="https://t.co/1GwDXurQnV">pic.twitter.com/1GwDXurQnV</a>&mdash; Lenexa Police (@LenexaPolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/LenexaPolice/status/1981451284919308713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The drone operator soon spotted someone hiding under heavy construction equipment. With a coordinated plan in place, a team of officers, along with a K9, moved in and took the suspect safely into custody.Further investigation revealed stolen tools from a Lenexa business, along with meth and drug paraphernalia. This same individual had been arrested by Lenexa officers earlier this year in connection with another business burglary. The Johnson County District Attorney's Office has charged this suspect with crimes related to both cases.Police did not release the name of the suspect.

🎥Kansas burglary suspect was hiding under construction equipment

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26196837-usda-memo-102425/" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;Friday the agency’s contingency fund cannot legally be used to provide food assistance benefits for more than 42 million people in November, as the government shutdown drags on.

The position is a reversal from the department’s earlier stance, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26196921-fy2026-usda-lapse-plan-sept30/" target="_blank">a since-deleted copy</a>&nbsp;of the USDA’s Sept. 30 shutdown plan that said the department would use its multi-year contingency fund to continue paying&nbsp;Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,&nbsp;or SNAP, benefits during the ongoing shutdown.&nbsp;

SNAP&nbsp;has about $6 billion in the contingency fund — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover a full month of the program, putting November benefits in jeopardy.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pay-trump-and-congress-continues-shutdown-unless-they-ask-it-be-held" target="_blank">Because of a stalemate</a>&nbsp;in Congress over a stopgap spending bill, the government shut down on Oct. 1 without new SNAP funding enacted.

The memo, which was first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/24/gov-shutdown-snap-payments-emergency-funds" target="_blank">reported by Axios</a>&nbsp;on Friday, said states would not be reimbursed if they use their own funds to cover the cost of the benefits.

“There is no provision or allowance under current law for States to cover the cost of benefits and be reimbursed,” the memo says, while also noting that “the best way for SNAP to continue is for the shutdown to end.”

The memo also says the contingency fund is meant for natural disasters and similar emergencies, not for a lack of appropriations.

But USDA’s Sept. 30 contingency plan contradicts that and appears to greenlight the use of SNAP’s contingency fund during a lapse in funding.

“Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown,” according to the plan. “These multi-year contingency funds are also available to fund participant benefits in the event that a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year.”

USDA’s contingency plan is no longer online, but is accessible through an internet archive.

After providing States Newsroom with the memo Friday afternoon, USDA did not immediately respond to a follow-up inquiry about the discrepancy between Friday’s memo and its contingency plan.

In the memo, USDA said transferring money toward SNAP from other sources “would pull away funding for school meals and infant formula.”&nbsp;

The agency said it has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nutrition-program-women-infants-and-children-stay-afloat-through-end-month" target="_blank">shuffled funds to cover</a>&nbsp;several nutrition programs during the shutdown, including the&nbsp;Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, as well as the&nbsp;National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.&nbsp;

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said last week the government would run out of funds to deliver November&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SecRollins/status/1978984208975478809" target="_blank">SNAP benefits</a>&nbsp;as a result of the ongoing shutdown.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Friday morning, U.S. House Democrats, like nearly all of their Senate counterparts and the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged Rollins to not only use the contingency fund, but to reprogram other money to cover a $3 billion shortfall.&nbsp;

“A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country,” according to the letter from more than&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/251024_-_letter_-_house_dems_to_usda_on_snap_shutdown.pdf?utm_campaign=2270-520" target="_blank">200 House Democrats.</a>

In a separate letter, 46 Senate Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_release_funding_to_continue_snap_into_novemberp.pdf" target="_blank">sent</a>&nbsp;to Rollins on Wednesday, voicing concerns that USDA told states to hold off on sending in SNAP benefits to be processed for November.&nbsp;

“We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will ‘run out of money in two weeks,’” according to the letter. “In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.”&nbsp;

The chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Republican Susan Collins of Maine, also urged Rollins in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.collins.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/102325mainesnaplettercollins.pdf" target="_blank">Thursday letter</a>&nbsp;to “consider all available options in accordance with federal law to ensure that this vital nutrition assistance continues, including the use of contingency funds and looking at the viability of partial payments or any transfer authority you may have.”&nbsp;

Benefits could be slow even if a deal reached

States have been told by the agency to hold off on submitting SNAP benefit requests to processing centers. Food banks and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/rhode-island-food-pantries-slammed-snap-beneficiaries-brace-funding-run-dry" target="_blank">pantries</a>&nbsp;are already bracing for the increased need, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/food-banks-prepare-lapse-snap-funding-unprecedented-need-due-government-shutdown" target="_blank">in Iowa</a>, where more than 270,000 Iowans rely on SNAP each month.

However, even if Congress immediately reached a deal to end the shutdown, the time needed to process the payments and make them available for recipients means SNAP benefits would likely be delayed. State officials have warned SNAP recipients of the possibility of delays.

In West Virginia,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/im-very-scared-snap-benefits-delay-worries-wv-elderly-who-use-it-feed-themselves-grandkids" target="_blank">officials said delays are expected</a>&nbsp;and told residents to seek assistance at local food pantries. Roughly 1 in 6 West Virginia residents rely on SNAP each month.&nbsp;

Sharon Parrott,&nbsp;a White House Office of Management and Budget official during the Obama administration who now leads a left-leaning think tank,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/press/statements/trump-administration-is-legally-required-to-provide-snap-in-shutdown-contrary-to" target="_blank">said in a Thursday statement</a>&nbsp;that USDA is legally required to use its SNAP contingency funds.

Parrott, the president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said the multi-year contingency fund is “billions of dollars that Congress provided for use when SNAP funding is inadequate that remain available during the shutdown — to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.”

Parrott said the Trump administration could use its legal transfer authority, just as it did with WIC funding, to “supplement the contingency reserves, which by themselves are not enough to fund families’ full benefits.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689674819900.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26196837-usda-memo-102425/" target="_blank">a memo</a>&nbsp;Friday the agency’s contingency fund cannot legally be used to provide food assistance benefits for more than 42 million people in November, as the government shutdown drags on.The position is a reversal from the department’s earlier stance, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26196921-fy2026-usda-lapse-plan-sept30/" target="_blank">a since-deleted copy</a>&nbsp;of the USDA’s Sept. 30 shutdown plan that said the department would use its multi-year contingency fund to continue paying&nbsp;Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,&nbsp;or SNAP, benefits during the ongoing shutdown.&nbsp;SNAP&nbsp;has about $6 billion in the contingency fund — short of the roughly $9 billion needed to cover a full month of the program, putting November benefits in jeopardy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pay-trump-and-congress-continues-shutdown-unless-they-ask-it-be-held" target="_blank">Because of a stalemate</a>&nbsp;in Congress over a stopgap spending bill, the government shut down on Oct. 1 without new SNAP funding enacted.The memo, which was first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2025/10/24/gov-shutdown-snap-payments-emergency-funds" target="_blank">reported by Axios</a>&nbsp;on Friday, said states would not be reimbursed if they use their own funds to cover the cost of the benefits.“There is no provision or allowance under current law for States to cover the cost of benefits and be reimbursed,” the memo says, while also noting that “the best way for SNAP to continue is for the shutdown to end.”<h2>Discrepancy with shutdown plan</h2>The memo also says the contingency fund is meant for natural disasters and similar emergencies, not for a lack of appropriations.But USDA’s Sept. 30 contingency plan contradicts that and appears to greenlight the use of SNAP’s contingency fund during a lapse in funding.“Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown,” according to the plan. “These multi-year contingency funds are also available to fund participant benefits in the event that a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year.”USDA’s contingency plan is no longer online, but is accessible through an internet archive.After providing States Newsroom with the memo Friday afternoon, USDA did not immediately respond to a follow-up inquiry about the discrepancy between Friday’s memo and its contingency plan.In the memo, USDA said transferring money toward SNAP from other sources “would pull away funding for school meals and infant formula.”&nbsp;The agency said it has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/nutrition-program-women-infants-and-children-stay-afloat-through-end-month" target="_blank">shuffled funds to cover</a>&nbsp;several nutrition programs during the shutdown, including the&nbsp;Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, as well as the&nbsp;National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program.&nbsp;<h2>Dems call on Rollins to tap into fund</h2>U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said last week the government would run out of funds to deliver November&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SecRollins/status/1978984208975478809" target="_blank">SNAP benefits</a>&nbsp;as a result of the ongoing shutdown.&nbsp;&nbsp;Friday morning, U.S. House Democrats, like nearly all of their Senate counterparts and the Republican chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, urged Rollins to not only use the contingency fund, but to reprogram other money to cover a $3 billion shortfall.&nbsp;“A potential lapse in benefits would be felt by Americans of all ages and affect every corner and congressional district in the country,” according to the letter from more than&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/uploadedfiles/251024_-_letter_-_house_dems_to_usda_on_snap_shutdown.pdf?utm_campaign=2270-520" target="_blank">200 House Democrats.</a>In a separate letter, 46 Senate Democrats&nbsp;<a href="https://www.booker.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/letter_to_release_funding_to_continue_snap_into_novemberp.pdf" target="_blank">sent</a>&nbsp;to Rollins on Wednesday, voicing concerns that USDA told states to hold off on sending in SNAP benefits to be processed for November.&nbsp;“We were deeply disturbed to hear that the USDA has instructed states to stop processing SNAP benefits for November and were surprised by your recent comments that the program will ‘run out of money in two weeks,’” according to the letter. “In fact, the USDA has several tools available which would enable SNAP benefits to be paid through or close to the end of November.”&nbsp;The chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Republican Susan Collins of Maine, also urged Rollins in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.collins.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/102325mainesnaplettercollins.pdf" target="_blank">Thursday letter</a>&nbsp;to “consider all available options in accordance with federal law to ensure that this vital nutrition assistance continues, including the use of contingency funds and looking at the viability of partial payments or any transfer authority you may have.”&nbsp;<h2>Benefits could be slow even if a deal reached</h2>States have been told by the agency to hold off on submitting SNAP benefit requests to processing centers. Food banks and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/rhode-island-food-pantries-slammed-snap-beneficiaries-brace-funding-run-dry" target="_blank">pantries</a>&nbsp;are already bracing for the increased need, including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/food-banks-prepare-lapse-snap-funding-unprecedented-need-due-government-shutdown" target="_blank">in Iowa</a>, where more than 270,000 Iowans rely on SNAP each month.However, even if Congress immediately reached a deal to end the shutdown, the time needed to process the payments and make them available for recipients means SNAP benefits would likely be delayed. State officials have warned SNAP recipients of the possibility of delays.In West Virginia,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/im-very-scared-snap-benefits-delay-worries-wv-elderly-who-use-it-feed-themselves-grandkids" target="_blank">officials said delays are expected</a>&nbsp;and told residents to seek assistance at local food pantries. Roughly 1 in 6 West Virginia residents rely on SNAP each month.&nbsp;<h2>Legal requirement cited</h2>Sharon Parrott,&nbsp;a White House Office of Management and Budget official during the Obama administration who now leads a left-leaning think tank,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbpp.org/press/statements/trump-administration-is-legally-required-to-provide-snap-in-shutdown-contrary-to" target="_blank">said in a Thursday statement</a>&nbsp;that USDA is legally required to use its SNAP contingency funds.Parrott, the president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said the multi-year contingency fund is “billions of dollars that Congress provided for use when SNAP funding is inadequate that remain available during the shutdown — to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.”Parrott said the Trump administration could use its legal transfer authority, just as it did with WIC funding, to “supplement the contingency reserves, which by themselves are not enough to fund families’ full benefits.”

USDA won’t shuffle funds to extend SNAP during shutdown, in about-face from earlier plan

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Thursday evening at Dr. Glen Dey Park, located at 2801 N. Grove in Wichnita.

At approximately 7:03 p.m. an off-duty WPD detective working secondary employment at&nbsp; the park heard multiple gunshots from another area of the park. The detective immediately ran toward the scene and found 32-year-old Travon Stewart suffering from gunshot wounds.

The detective called for backup and emergency medical services, then began life-saving measures until EMS arrived. Stewart was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and later died from his injuries.

Preliminary findings indicate that around 200 to 300 people were in attendance at the football games. Stewart was at the park selling concessions as a fundraiser for a football team not affiliated with the Wichita Junior Football League.

Homicide investigators responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses who remained in the area. Detectives believe this was a targeted shooting and not connected to the youth football games.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting.

Anyone who attended the games or may have information is urged to contact the Wichita Police Department Investigations Section at 316-268-4407.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761306884484.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Thursday evening at Dr. Glen Dey Park, located at 2801 N. Grove in Wichnita.At approximately 7:03 p.m. an off-duty WPD detective working secondary employment at&nbsp; the park heard multiple gunshots from another area of the park. The detective immediately ran toward the scene and found 32-year-old Travon Stewart suffering from gunshot wounds.The detective called for backup and emergency medical services, then began life-saving measures until EMS arrived. Stewart was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and later died from his injuries.Preliminary findings indicate that around 200 to 300 people were in attendance at the football games. Stewart was at the park selling concessions as a fundraiser for a football team not affiliated with the Wichita Junior Football League.Homicide investigators responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses who remained in the area. Detectives believe this was a targeted shooting and not connected to the youth football games.Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest in the shooting.Anyone who attended the games or may have information is urged to contact the Wichita Police Department Investigations Section at 316-268-4407.&nbsp;

Reward offered in fatal shooting at Kansas youth football game

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a 2-alarm apartment building fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 9:30a.m. Friday crews responded to a reported apartment fire in the 3500 block of Euclid in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews reported heavy fire from a three-story vacant apartment building. Due to the amount of fire defensive operations were set up using multiple aerial ladder master streams. The size of the fire and the amount of heat being generated created an exposure risk to both the house to the north and to the south.

 A search of both houses came back all clear. The radiant heat ignited the home to the north and interior operations were initiated in that structure, but crews had to evacuate due to the potential collapse risk of the original apartment structure and its proximity to the exposer fire. 

Both fires were brought under control just before 11:00 am. The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD.&nbsp; &nbsp;Red Cross was ordered for 1 adult and 4 children.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761336657778.png" alt="Photos Kansas City Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Kansas City Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are working to determine the cause of a 2-alarm apartment building fire in Kansas City, Missouri.Just before 9:30a.m. Friday crews responded to a reported apartment fire in the 3500 block of Euclid in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.Crews reported heavy fire from a three-story vacant apartment building. Due to the amount of fire defensive operations were set up using multiple aerial ladder master streams. The size of the fire and the amount of heat being generated created an exposure risk to both the house to the north and to the south.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761336678659.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> A search of both houses came back all clear. The radiant heat ignited the home to the north and interior operations were initiated in that structure, but crews had to evacuate due to the potential collapse risk of the original apartment structure and its proximity to the exposer fire. Both fires were brought under control just before 11:00 am. The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD.&nbsp; &nbsp;Red Cross was ordered for 1 adult and 4 children.&nbsp;

2-alarm apartment building fire in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon confirmed Friday that it has accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown" rel="nofollow">government shutdown</a>, raising ethical questions after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" rel="nofollow">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;had announced that a friend had offered the gift to defray any shortfalls.

While large and unusual, the gift amounts to a small contribution toward the billions needed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-pay-government-shutdown-congress-trump-e2eabd75a923a7a6feaeeb4af1854054" rel="nofollow">cover service member paychecks</a>. The Trump administration told Congress last week that it used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-pay-troops-government-shutdown-8601ea092fe746cc35b88076e70c4598" rel="nofollow">$6.5 billion to make payroll</a>. The next payday is coming within the week, and it is unclear if the administration will again move money around to ensure the military does not go without compensation.

“That’s what I call a patriot,” Trump said during a White House event Thursday when he disclosed the payment from the donor.

The president declined to name the person, whom he called “a friend of mine,” saying the man didn’t want the recognition.

The Pentagon confirmed it had accepted the donation on Thursday “under its general gift acceptance authority.”

“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits,” said Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon. “We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-senate-paychecks-trump-federal-workers-11088c71589297be2ce616525c582b13" rel="nofollow">Congress is at a stalemate</a>&nbsp;over the government shutdown, now on track to become one of the longest federal closures ever, in its 24th day. Neither Republicans, who have control of the House and Senate, nor Democrats, in the minority, are willing to budge in their broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-care-subsidies-obamacare-congress-10b2ae9648bc5252fc2bd485ddc83493" rel="nofollow">standoff over health care funding</a>.

Payment for service members is a key concern among lawmakers of both parties as well as a point of political leverage. The Trump administration shifted $8 billion from military research and development funds to make payroll last week, ensuring that military compensation did not lapse.

But it is unclear if the Trump administration will be willing — or able — to shift money again next week as tensions rise over the protracted shutdown.

While the $130 million is a hefty sum, it would cover just a fraction of the billions needed for military paychecks. Trump said the donation was to cover any “shortfall.”

What’s unclear, however, is the regulations around such a donation.

“That’s crazy,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan organization focused on the federal government.

“It’s treating the payment of our uniformed services as if someone’s picking up your bar tab.”

He questioned the legality of the donation and called for more transparency around it.

Pentagon policy says authorities “must consult with their appropriate Ethics Official before accepting such a gift valued in excess of $10,000 to determine whether the donor is involved in any claims, procurement actions, litigation, or other particular matters involving the Department that must be considered prior to gift acceptance.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734556522043.png" alt="Photo AP" />
 <figcaption>Photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon confirmed Friday that it has accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown" rel="nofollow">government shutdown</a>, raising ethical questions after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump" rel="nofollow">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;had announced that a friend had offered the gift to defray any shortfalls.While large and unusual, the gift amounts to a small contribution toward the billions needed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-pay-government-shutdown-congress-trump-e2eabd75a923a7a6feaeeb4af1854054" rel="nofollow">cover service member paychecks</a>. The Trump administration told Congress last week that it used&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-pay-troops-government-shutdown-8601ea092fe746cc35b88076e70c4598" rel="nofollow">$6.5 billion to make payroll</a>. The next payday is coming within the week, and it is unclear if the administration will again move money around to ensure the military does not go without compensation.“That’s what I call a patriot,” Trump said during a White House event Thursday when he disclosed the payment from the donor.The president declined to name the person, whom he called “a friend of mine,” saying the man didn’t want the recognition.The Pentagon confirmed it had accepted the donation on Thursday “under its general gift acceptance authority.”“The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of Service members’ salaries and benefits,” said Sean Parnell, chief spokesman for the Pentagon. “We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-senate-paychecks-trump-federal-workers-11088c71589297be2ce616525c582b13" rel="nofollow">Congress is at a stalemate</a>&nbsp;over the government shutdown, now on track to become one of the longest federal closures ever, in its 24th day. Neither Republicans, who have control of the House and Senate, nor Democrats, in the minority, are willing to budge in their broader&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-care-subsidies-obamacare-congress-10b2ae9648bc5252fc2bd485ddc83493" rel="nofollow">standoff over health care funding</a>.Payment for service members is a key concern among lawmakers of both parties as well as a point of political leverage. The Trump administration shifted $8 billion from military research and development funds to make payroll last week, ensuring that military compensation did not lapse.But it is unclear if the Trump administration will be willing — or able — to shift money again next week as tensions rise over the protracted shutdown.While the $130 million is a hefty sum, it would cover just a fraction of the billions needed for military paychecks. Trump said the donation was to cover any “shortfall.”What’s unclear, however, is the regulations around such a donation.“That’s crazy,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonpartisan organization focused on the federal government.“It’s treating the payment of our uniformed services as if someone’s picking up your bar tab.”He questioned the legality of the donation and called for more transparency around it.Pentagon policy says authorities “must consult with their appropriate Ethics Official before accepting such a gift valued in excess of $10,000 to determine whether the donor is involved in any claims, procurement actions, litigation, or other particular matters involving the Department that must be considered prior to gift acceptance.”<figure>
 <img src="https://ads.stickyadstv.com/auto-user-sync?gdpr=0&amp;gdpr_consent=null&amp;gpp_string=null&amp;gpp_sid=null" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Pentagon accepts anonymous donation to help cover troop pay

DOUGLAS COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Friday in Douglas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Tahoe drive by a Eliseo J.&nbsp;Munoz, 23, Lawrence&nbsp;was westbound on U.S. 40 approximately two miles west of U.S. 59. The car traveled left of center and struck a 2019 Kia Forte driven by Michael T.&nbsp;Dieker, 41, Kansas City, Missouri, head-on.

Dieker was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Forensic Medical of Kansas. EMS transported Munoz&nbsp;Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Munoz was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

The South Lawrence Trafficway was closed between West 27th Street and Iowa Street until early Saturday morning to allow first responders to work the scene of the crash, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Friday in Douglas County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Tahoe drive by a Eliseo J.&nbsp;Munoz, 23, Lawrence&nbsp;was westbound on U.S. 40 approximately two miles west of U.S. 59. The car traveled left of center and struck a 2019 Kia Forte driven by Michael T.&nbsp;Dieker, 41, Kansas City, Missouri, head-on.Dieker was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Forensic Medical of Kansas. EMS transported Munoz&nbsp;Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Munoz was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.The South Lawrence Trafficway was closed between West 27th Street and Iowa Street until early Saturday morning to allow first responders to work the scene of the crash, according to the Douglas County Sheriff.

Man dead, another injured after Kansas head-on crash

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating suspects in connection with a drug distribution ring and have seized a large amount of fentanyl.

On October 16, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department’s Narcotics and Special Operations Units served a warrant at a home in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.. Officers seized 9.2 lbs. of fentanyl, as well as guns and other drugs. 

“This was our biggest, if not the metro’s, biggest fentanyl seizure since we began tracking the drug in late 2020,” Captain Shawn Magee, KCKPD Narcotics Unit, said. 

“One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill thousands of people. In this instance, police seized a little over four kilograms. You don’t need to be good at math to know, this one operation saved a lot of lives."

”One hundred times more potent than morphine, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used for severe pain. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, or pressed into counterfeit pills, that resemble prescription opioids."

"However, because of a lack of quality control, illicit fentanyl is often deadly. In 2025, the KCKPD Narcotics Unit has handled 79 overdose cases. Six of those cases involved juveniles, resulting in 21 fatalities. One juvenile died.

As a result of KCKPD’s operation, three individuals were arrested and booked on requested charges of conspiracy to distribute.

Police also seized 11 firearms, 2 with fully automatic switches; 4,186 grams of fentanyl; 64.6 grams of methamphetamine (2 ½ ounces); 232.8 grams of marijuana (half pound: and 786 miscellaneous pills, most will contain fentanyl.

There were no injuries. Police are not identifying the individuals arrested because this remains an ongoing investigation. The owner of the short-term rental cooperated with police in advance of the operation, and is not facing charges. 

“The owners are victims too,” Magee said. “This isn’t a crime-ridden neighborhood; they had no clue they were renting to drug dealers. Unfortunately, switching locations by booking different rentals is appealing to these dealers, because it creates a covert setting, making them more difficult to track. They are clever, but so are we.” 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761300430123.png" alt="Photo Kansas City, Kansas police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas City, Kansas police</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating suspects in connection with a drug distribution ring and have seized a large amount of fentanyl.On October 16, the Kansas City Kansas Police Department’s Narcotics and Special Operations Units served a warrant at a home in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, according to a media release.. Officers seized 9.2 lbs. of fentanyl, as well as guns and other drugs. “This was our biggest, if not the metro’s, biggest fentanyl seizure since we began tracking the drug in late 2020,” Captain Shawn Magee, KCKPD Narcotics Unit, said. “One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill thousands of people. In this instance, police seized a little over four kilograms. You don’t need to be good at math to know, this one operation saved a lot of lives."”One hundred times more potent than morphine, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used for severe pain. Illicitly manufactured fentanyl is often mixed with other drugs, or pressed into counterfeit pills, that resemble prescription opioids.""However, because of a lack of quality control, illicit fentanyl is often deadly. In 2025, the KCKPD Narcotics Unit has handled 79 overdose cases. Six of those cases involved juveniles, resulting in 21 fatalities. One juvenile died.As a result of KCKPD’s operation, three individuals were arrested and booked on requested charges of conspiracy to distribute.Police also seized 11 firearms, 2 with fully automatic switches; 4,186 grams of fentanyl; 64.6 grams of methamphetamine (2 ½ ounces); 232.8 grams of marijuana (half pound: and 786 miscellaneous pills, most will contain fentanyl.There were no injuries. Police are not identifying the individuals arrested because this remains an ongoing investigation. The owner of the short-term rental cooperated with police in advance of the operation, and is not facing charges. “The owners are victims too,” Magee said. “This isn’t a crime-ridden neighborhood; they had no clue they were renting to drug dealers. Unfortunately, switching locations by booking different rentals is appealing to these dealers, because it creates a covert setting, making them more difficult to track. They are clever, but so are we.” Any resident of Kansas City, Kansas who suspects illegal drug activity in their neighborhood may report it anonymously by calling the KCKPD 24-Hour Narcotics Hotline at 913-573-6272 or by emailing narcotics@kckpd.org.