BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Staff at the state’s utility regulatory agency disagree with Evergy’s proposed rate increase that includes a 15% hike to residential electric rates.&nbsp;

Evergy customers can share their opinions at public hearings that start this week.

The Evergy division that serves about 735,000 customers in the eastern third of Kansas applied to the Kansas Corporation Commission in January asking for a $196.4 million annual rate increase. The KCC is the regulatory agency for the state’s utility industry.&nbsp;

The rate increase would raise bills about $13.05 per month for an average home. Schools would see an increase of 14.96%, while commercial and industrial businesses would increase nearly 12%, said James Zakoura, attorney for the Kansas Industrial Consumers Group.&nbsp;

He said this is a “much bigger” increase than usually seen in Evergy rate cases. The company had a five-year moratorium on rate case increases after Westar and Kansas City Power &amp; Light merged in 2018 to become Evergy. Its first rate case after the merger was in 2023, where a 7.5% increase was approved.&nbsp;

“You’re seeing an outsized request, and they have said that one of the big reasons for that outsized request is they want an increased return on equity to their shareholders,” Zakoura said.&nbsp;

As a regulated utility, return on equity to shareholders is set by the KCC. Zakoura said it is currently 9.4%.&nbsp;

“In our request, we have asked for an ROE of 10.5%, which aligns with the current level of investment risk,”&nbsp;said Evergy spokeswoman Gina Penzig.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/underearning-spread-widens-for-gas-electric-utilities-in-roe-analysis" target="_blank">report by S&amp;P Global</a>&nbsp;showed the average authorized ROE for electric utilities was 9.68% in rate cases decided in the first half of 2024, which increased from the 9.6% average in 2023.&nbsp;

“I recommend an allowed ROE of 9.70% for EKC’s revenue requirement,” said Adam Gatewood, KCC financial analyst, in testimony filed Friday. “If the Commission sets the ROE at a different point, my analysis supports staying within the range of 9.30% to 9.95%.”

Penzig said Evergy Kansas Central customer rates increased 7.2% since 2017.&nbsp;

“Over the past seven years, our residential rates for Evergy Kansas Central have increased about 1% per year, a rate that is half the average of neighboring states and a third of inflation,” she said.&nbsp;

Penzig said residential rates in neighboring states have increased by about 18% since 2017. Despite few rate increases, caused in part by the five-year moratorium, Kansas energy rates still are higher than four surrounding states,&nbsp;<a href="https://poweroutage.us/electricity-rates" target="_blank">according to PowerOutage.com</a>.&nbsp;

Rate comparisons, based on the average amount per kilowatt of electricity as of June 2025, show Kansas is $14.30, compared to Nebraska, $11.82; Oklahoma, $12.31; Missouri, $12.93; and Colorado, $15.20.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Penzig said rate cases are filed to recover money that’s already spent.&nbsp;

“In this case, we are asking to recover nearly $1 billion that has been invested in infrastructure to serve our Evergy Kansas Central customers since 2023,” she said.

Those investments include updating grid components, maintenance projects at power plants, adding electronic sensors to prevent and shorten outages, and more, she said.&nbsp;

On Monday, Andria Jackson, KCC financial analyst, filed testimony that said her calculations showed Evergy should receive a $122 million annual rate increase.&nbsp;

She said the primary drivers behind the rate increase are $91 million spent on infrastructure, $43 million in meeting actual costs of expenses that had been incurred, called a true-up, and $44 million in other adjustments.&nbsp;

Zakoura is concerned about how rate increases will affect Kansas businesses.

“Many of the commercial businesses operating in the state, will simply look at the cost structure in Kansas, and if the cost structure — including electric rates — is not competitive, they will either slow or reduce Kansas operations, or move production to other states that have better cost structures,” Zakoura said.&nbsp;

KCC will issue a written order on the rate increase by Sept. 29.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749576856748.jpeg" alt=" The Kansas Corporation Commission will make a decision by Sept. 29 regarding Evergy’s request for a rate hike. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> The Kansas Corporation Commission will make a decision by Sept. 29 regarding Evergy’s request for a rate hike. (Morgan Chilson/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Staff at the state’s utility regulatory agency disagree with Evergy’s proposed rate increase that includes a 15% hike to residential electric rates.&nbsp;Evergy customers can share their opinions at public hearings that start this week.The Evergy division that serves about 735,000 customers in the eastern third of Kansas applied to the Kansas Corporation Commission in January asking for a $196.4 million annual rate increase. The KCC is the regulatory agency for the state’s utility industry.&nbsp;The rate increase would raise bills about $13.05 per month for an average home. Schools would see an increase of 14.96%, while commercial and industrial businesses would increase nearly 12%, said James Zakoura, attorney for the Kansas Industrial Consumers Group.&nbsp;He said this is a “much bigger” increase than usually seen in Evergy rate cases. The company had a five-year moratorium on rate case increases after Westar and Kansas City Power &amp; Light merged in 2018 to become Evergy. Its first rate case after the merger was in 2023, where a 7.5% increase was approved.&nbsp;“You’re seeing an outsized request, and they have said that one of the big reasons for that outsized request is they want an increased return on equity to their shareholders,” Zakoura said.&nbsp;<h2>Investor returns</h2>As a regulated utility, return on equity to shareholders is set by the KCC. Zakoura said it is currently 9.4%.&nbsp;“In our request, we have asked for an ROE of 10.5%, which aligns with the current level of investment risk,”&nbsp;said Evergy spokeswoman Gina Penzig.A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/underearning-spread-widens-for-gas-electric-utilities-in-roe-analysis" target="_blank">report by S&amp;P Global</a>&nbsp;showed the average authorized ROE for electric utilities was 9.68% in rate cases decided in the first half of 2024, which increased from the 9.6% average in 2023.&nbsp;“I recommend an allowed ROE of 9.70% for EKC’s revenue requirement,” said Adam Gatewood, KCC financial analyst, in testimony filed Friday. “If the Commission sets the ROE at a different point, my analysis supports staying within the range of 9.30% to 9.95%.”<h2>Rate increases</h2>Penzig said Evergy Kansas Central customer rates increased 7.2% since 2017.&nbsp;“Over the past seven years, our residential rates for Evergy Kansas Central have increased about 1% per year, a rate that is half the average of neighboring states and a third of inflation,” she said.&nbsp;Penzig said residential rates in neighboring states have increased by about 18% since 2017. Despite few rate increases, caused in part by the five-year moratorium, Kansas energy rates still are higher than four surrounding states,&nbsp;<a href="https://poweroutage.us/electricity-rates" target="_blank">according to PowerOutage.com</a>.&nbsp;Rate comparisons, based on the average amount per kilowatt of electricity as of June 2025, show Kansas is $14.30, compared to Nebraska, $11.82; Oklahoma, $12.31; Missouri, $12.93; and Colorado, $15.20.&nbsp;&nbsp;Penzig said rate cases are filed to recover money that’s already spent.&nbsp;“In this case, we are asking to recover nearly $1 billion that has been invested in infrastructure to serve our Evergy Kansas Central customers since 2023,” she said.Those investments include updating grid components, maintenance projects at power plants, adding electronic sensors to prevent and shorten outages, and more, she said.&nbsp;<h2>KCC recommendation</h2>On Monday, Andria Jackson, KCC financial analyst, filed testimony that said her calculations showed Evergy should receive a $122 million annual rate increase.&nbsp;She said the primary drivers behind the rate increase are $91 million spent on infrastructure, $43 million in meeting actual costs of expenses that had been incurred, called a true-up, and $44 million in other adjustments.&nbsp;Zakoura is concerned about how rate increases will affect Kansas businesses.“Many of the commercial businesses operating in the state, will simply look at the cost structure in Kansas, and if the cost structure — including electric rates — is not competitive, they will either slow or reduce Kansas operations, or move production to other states that have better cost structures,” Zakoura said.&nbsp;KCC will issue a written order on the rate increase by Sept. 29.<ul>
 <li>6 p.m. Wednesday, Wichita State University, Lowe Auditorium Hughes Metropolitan Complex, 5015 E. 29th St. North Wichita,&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/BLx44JqOQDGJ82aCyCA2pw?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">Register to attend via Zoom by noon Tuesday</a>.</li><li>6 p.m. June 16, Washburn Institute of Technology, 5724 S.W. Huntoon St., Topeka.&nbsp;<a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/U_KEVogXSYu2AlEBK5NALw?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">Register to attend via Zoom by June 15</a>.</li><li>Written comments may be submitted to KCC until 5 p.m. July 14. Comments may be submitted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcc.ks.gov/your-opinion-matters?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">online</a>, by mail or by calling (800) 662-0027.</li>
 </ul>

Kansas agency staff recommend lower Evergy rate increase ahead of public hearings

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The alleged driver in a crash that killed a man in March is facing felony charges. On June 3, police booked Tony Epps, 29, into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of second-degree murder and driving with a suspended license, according to Sedgwick County booking records.

The two-vehicle crash occurred near the intersecion of&nbsp;Maple and Osage, according to Wichita Police Officer Kris Gupilan.&nbsp; First responders arrived at the crash scene and began rendering life saving measures to a 72-year-old man, later identified as&nbsp;Rockney G. Lindemann.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

EMS transported Epps to an area hospital with serious injuries.&nbsp;

The Wichita Police Department Critical Accident Team and Accident Follow-up Investigators responded to the scene.&nbsp; Just after he was booked into jail, Epps met the requirement for bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749499881934.png" alt="Epps-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Epps-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The alleged driver in a crash that killed a man in March is facing felony charges. On June 3, police booked Tony Epps, 29, into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of second-degree murder and driving with a suspended license, according to Sedgwick County booking records.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741614690970.png" alt="View of the crash scene photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>View of the crash scene photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>The two-vehicle crash occurred near the intersecion of&nbsp;Maple and Osage, according to Wichita Police Officer Kris Gupilan.&nbsp; First responders arrived at the crash scene and began rendering life saving measures to a 72-year-old man, later identified as&nbsp;Rockney G. Lindemann.&nbsp; He was pronounced deceased at the scene. EMS transported Epps to an area hospital with serious injuries.&nbsp;The Wichita Police Department Critical Accident Team and Accident Follow-up Investigators responded to the scene.&nbsp; Just after he was booked into jail, Epps met the requirement for bond and is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.--------

Driver in fatal Kansas crash accused of murder

President Donald Trump is defending his decision to send Another 2,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines to Los Angeles,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-california-immigration-customs-enforcement-newsom-0482a8935419d88986b890b18db5cc03">escalating a military presence local officials</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/insurrection-act-trump-troops-newsom-military-national-guard-a842f79e1c0e244039be274a6f266a7a">Gov. Gavin Newsom don’t want</a>&nbsp;and the police chief says creates logistical challenges for safely handling protests.

Additional protests against immigration raids are expected to continue in other cities Tuesday.

Speaker Johnson defends Trump on LA protests

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Donald Trump’s handling of protests in Los Angeles and echoed the president’s attacks on Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“That’s not my lane,” Johnson said in response to a question about whether Newsom should face legal consequences such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-gavin-newsom-immigration-protests-a8269425e604f6f03affdc627a2a5721">arrest</a>.

Johnson, speaking at a news conference at the RNC on Tuesday, continued that Newsom should be “tarred and feathered”-- eliciting chuckles from members of House Republican leadership at the press conference -- for “standing in the way of the administration and the carrying out of federal law.”

Thune says ‘federal response’ necessary to protests in Los Angeles

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said Tuesday there were “clear failures on the part of state and local officials” in response to protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles and a “federal response” was necessary.

President Trump has sent thousands of National Guard troops and 700 active duty Marines to quell the protests despite the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and local leaders.

“I don’t know exactly the authorities that they are using,” Thune said, referring to the Marine deployment. “But obviously, there was a security situation out there that needed to be addressed. And I think ultimately the president’s objective is to keep people safe.”

Head of Marine Corps says battalion is in LA, ready to respond but has not engaged

The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, said the battalion deployed to Los Angeles is already there and ready to follow the orders from the U.S. Northern Command, but clarified they have not yet been called to respond.

Smith testified at a budget hearing before senators that those Marines are trained for crowd control, and they would have shields and batons as their equipment. He said they have no arrest authority, and are only there to protect federal property and federal personnel.

When asked by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumental, a Connecticut Democrat, about the danger that Marines would use lethal force that could result in injuries and deaths, Smith said he had faith in them.

“I am not concerned. I have great faith in my Marines and their junior leaders and their more senior leaders to execute the lawful tasks that they are given.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749569886260.png" alt="Image of Los Angeles riots -Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Image of Los Angeles riots -Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump is defending his decision to send Another 2,000 National Guard troops along with 700 Marines to Los Angeles,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-california-immigration-customs-enforcement-newsom-0482a8935419d88986b890b18db5cc03">escalating a military presence local officials</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/insurrection-act-trump-troops-newsom-military-national-guard-a842f79e1c0e244039be274a6f266a7a">Gov. Gavin Newsom don’t want</a>&nbsp;and the police chief says creates logistical challenges for safely handling protests.Additional protests against immigration raids are expected to continue in other cities Tuesday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749569928458.png" alt="Image -Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Image -Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>Here’s the latest:<h2>Speaker Johnson defends Trump on LA protests</h2>House Speaker Mike Johnson defended Donald Trump’s handling of protests in Los Angeles and echoed the president’s attacks on Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;Do you believe that Newsom should face consequences in a legal way?&quot; .<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a>: &quot;That&#39;s not my lane. I&#39;m not going to give you legal analysis on whether Gavin Newsom should be arrested but he ought to be tarred and feathered, I&#39;ll say that.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/7C50t1rrE6">pic.twitter.com/7C50t1rrE6</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1932448738674389351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“That’s not my lane,” Johnson said in response to a question about whether Newsom should face legal consequences such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-gavin-newsom-immigration-protests-a8269425e604f6f03affdc627a2a5721">arrest</a>.Johnson, speaking at a news conference at the RNC on Tuesday, continued that Newsom should be “tarred and feathered”-- eliciting chuckles from members of House Republican leadership at the press conference -- for “standing in the way of the administration and the carrying out of federal law.”<h2>Thune says ‘federal response’ necessary to protests in Los Angeles</h2>Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, said Tuesday there were “clear failures on the part of state and local officials” in response to protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles and a “federal response” was necessary.President Trump has sent thousands of National Guard troops and 700 active duty Marines to quell the protests despite the objections of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and local leaders.“I don’t know exactly the authorities that they are using,” Thune said, referring to the Marine deployment. “But obviously, there was a security situation out there that needed to be addressed. And I think ultimately the president’s objective is to keep people safe.”<h2>Head of Marine Corps says battalion is in LA, ready to respond but has not engaged</h2>The commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, said the battalion deployed to Los Angeles is already there and ready to follow the orders from the U.S. Northern Command, but clarified they have not yet been called to respond.Smith testified at a budget hearing before senators that those Marines are trained for crowd control, and they would have shields and batons as their equipment. He said they have no arrest authority, and are only there to protect federal property and federal personnel.When asked by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumental, a Connecticut Democrat, about the danger that Marines would use lethal force that could result in injuries and deaths, Smith said he had faith in them.“I am not concerned. I have great faith in my Marines and their junior leaders and their more senior leaders to execute the lawful tasks that they are given.”

🎥House Speaker: California governor should be “tarred and feathered”

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating the report of a Shiatsu&nbsp;which a family reported was missing from a home in the 1600 Block of Beverly in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The reporting party told police they had a delivery of food through Door Dash on June 7, and a surveillance camera shows the delivery person picking up the dog, but it does not show the person taking the dog.

 Officers have contacted Door Dash and are waiting for a response on the identity of the driver so police can interview them.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749564300658.png" alt="Security camera image courtesy Jesus Montoya via KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Security camera image courtesy Jesus Montoya via KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating the report of a Shiatsu&nbsp;which a family reported was missing from a home in the 1600 Block of Beverly in Salina, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.&nbsp;&nbsp;The reporting party told police they had a delivery of food through Door Dash on June 7, and a surveillance camera shows the delivery person picking up the dog, but it does not show the person taking the dog. Officers have contacted Door Dash and are waiting for a response on the identity of the driver so police can interview them.&nbsp;

Police investigate if delivery driver took dog from Kan. home

Washington&nbsp;–&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall helped introduce the&nbsp;Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act, which would&nbsp;codify some of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE)&nbsp;cost-saving&nbsp;actions, according to a media release from his office.

To date, DOGE has eliminated more than $180 billion in federal spending. That means more than $1,118 in savings for each Kansas taxpayer.

Specifically, it would require&nbsp;the Department of the Treasury to have a description&nbsp;of the payment,&nbsp;link it to a budget account, and cross-check the payment against government databases to ensure accuracy and eligibility. In addition, every expenditure will be made public on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://usaspending.gov/">USAspending.gov</a>&nbsp;website, with annual updates for ongoing transactions.

“Kansans expect their government to be accountable and responsible when it comes to spending Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;DOGE in Spending Act&nbsp;will help bring discipline to Washington by making sure federal payments are verified and traceable before going out the door. I’m proud to support this effort to fight waste, fraud, and abuse.”

“Requiring the government to answer basic questions before spending tax dollars will save billions over the next decade,”&nbsp;said Senator Ernst.&nbsp;“Enacting safeguards to spending have been one of the Trump administration’s and DOGE’s greatest triumphs,&nbsp;and I am determined to codify it and make it permanent. At $36 trillion in debt, the cost of inaction is too high, and I will continue to lead the fight in Washington to root out waste, fraud, and abuse.”&nbsp;

“For too long, improper and fraudulent payments have drained resources and undermined trust in government spending,”&nbsp;said Congressman Bean.&nbsp;“The American people deserve responsible stewardship of their tax dollars, and this bill delivers exactly that. By ensuring federal payments are accurate, transparent, and verifiable, we are eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. This legislation takes the first critical step toward codifying DOGE efforts into law – bringing real oversight and integrity to the way taxpayer dollars are managed.”&nbsp;

The bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Steve Daines (R-Montana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).

“With America $36 trillion in debt, we cannot afford a system with no accountability over where billions in taxpayer dollars are going,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Lummis.&nbsp;“We are buried in red ink, but thanks to President Trump’s historic push to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, we now have a path forward. I am proud to join Senator Ernst in making critical cost-saving reforms permanent.”

“For decades, Washington bureaucrats have burned through hard-earned taxpayer dollars without a concern or care for how those dollars are spent,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Mullin.&nbsp;“Oklahomans elected President Trump to&nbsp;streamline government efficiency, and we’re working with the administration to secure major savings for the American people. As one of the first steps in codifying the DOGE cuts, this bill will ensure accountability and restore sanity to how we do things in Washington. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort.”

“The federal government must be held accountable for every tax dollar spent,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Lee.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;DOGE In Spending Act&nbsp;will codify part of President Trump’s fiscal plan by ensuring payments are properly reported and tracked. Increasing transparency, cutting waste, and preventing fraud are what hardworking American families deserve.”

“From the moment he took office, President Trump laid out a clear agenda: eliminate waste, reduce unnecessary spending, and restore fiscal sanity to Washington,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Cramer.&nbsp;“The Department of Government Efficiency has delivered – cutting through layers of bureaucracy. This agency has taken a scalpel to the federal government, slashing misspending, and eliminating fraudulent and improper payments. By codifying DOGE’s best practices, we safeguard the taxpayer dollars of North Dakotans and Americans across the country.”

“With Washington D.C.’s long history of out-of-control spending and a growing national deficit, we need to identify every opportunity to cut waste, fraud, and abuse,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Britt.&nbsp;“This legislation codifies a key element of President Trump’s DOGE agenda by creating a mechanism to ensure every dollar across our government agencies is accounted for. I’m proud to be a cosponsor to help to prevent billions in improper payments and provide transparency to the American taxpayer.”

“The American people sent a clear message by electing President Trump,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Grassley.&nbsp;“They’re fed up with the wasteful spending and bloated bureaucracy. Since my first term in the Senate, I’ve worked to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, and I’m glad to support this legislation to boost transparency, strengthen internal controls, and improve the stewardship of taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738614192317.png" alt="Doge Logo" />
 <figcaption>Doge Logo</figcaption>
 </figure>Washington&nbsp;–&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall helped introduce the&nbsp;Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) in Spending Act, which would&nbsp;codify some of the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE)&nbsp;cost-saving&nbsp;actions, according to a media release from his office.To date, DOGE has eliminated more than $180 billion in federal spending. That means more than $1,118 in savings for each Kansas taxpayer.Specifically, it would require&nbsp;the Department of the Treasury to have a description&nbsp;of the payment,&nbsp;link it to a budget account, and cross-check the payment against government databases to ensure accuracy and eligibility. In addition, every expenditure will be made public on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://usaspending.gov/">USAspending.gov</a>&nbsp;website, with annual updates for ongoing transactions.“Kansans expect their government to be accountable and responsible when it comes to spending Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;DOGE in Spending Act&nbsp;will help bring discipline to Washington by making sure federal payments are verified and traceable before going out the door. I’m proud to support this effort to fight waste, fraud, and abuse.”“Requiring the government to answer basic questions before spending tax dollars will save billions over the next decade,”&nbsp;said Senator Ernst.&nbsp;“Enacting safeguards to spending have been one of the Trump administration’s and DOGE’s greatest triumphs,&nbsp;and I am determined to codify it and make it permanent. At $36 trillion in debt, the cost of inaction is too high, and I will continue to lead the fight in Washington to root out waste, fraud, and abuse.”&nbsp;“For too long, improper and fraudulent payments have drained resources and undermined trust in government spending,”&nbsp;said Congressman Bean.&nbsp;“The American people deserve responsible stewardship of their tax dollars, and this bill delivers exactly that. By ensuring federal payments are accurate, transparent, and verifiable, we are eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse in the federal government. This legislation takes the first critical step toward codifying DOGE efforts into law – bringing real oversight and integrity to the way taxpayer dollars are managed.”&nbsp;The bill is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Tim Sheehy (R-Montana), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Steve Daines (R-Montana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa).“With America $36 trillion in debt, we cannot afford a system with no accountability over where billions in taxpayer dollars are going,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Lummis.&nbsp;“We are buried in red ink, but thanks to President Trump’s historic push to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, we now have a path forward. I am proud to join Senator Ernst in making critical cost-saving reforms permanent.”“For decades, Washington bureaucrats have burned through hard-earned taxpayer dollars without a concern or care for how those dollars are spent,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Mullin.&nbsp;“Oklahomans elected President Trump to&nbsp;streamline government efficiency, and we’re working with the administration to secure major savings for the American people. As one of the first steps in codifying the DOGE cuts, this bill will ensure accountability and restore sanity to how we do things in Washington. I’m proud to join my colleagues in this effort.”“The federal government must be held accountable for every tax dollar spent,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Lee.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;DOGE In Spending Act&nbsp;will codify part of President Trump’s fiscal plan by ensuring payments are properly reported and tracked. Increasing transparency, cutting waste, and preventing fraud are what hardworking American families deserve.”“From the moment he took office, President Trump laid out a clear agenda: eliminate waste, reduce unnecessary spending, and restore fiscal sanity to Washington,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Cramer.&nbsp;“The Department of Government Efficiency has delivered – cutting through layers of bureaucracy. This agency has taken a scalpel to the federal government, slashing misspending, and eliminating fraudulent and improper payments. By codifying DOGE’s best practices, we safeguard the taxpayer dollars of North Dakotans and Americans across the country.”“With Washington D.C.’s long history of out-of-control spending and a growing national deficit, we need to identify every opportunity to cut waste, fraud, and abuse,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Britt.&nbsp;“This legislation codifies a key element of President Trump’s DOGE agenda by creating a mechanism to ensure every dollar across our government agencies is accounted for. I’m proud to be a cosponsor to help to prevent billions in improper payments and provide transparency to the American taxpayer.”“The American people sent a clear message by electing President Trump,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Senator Grassley.&nbsp;“They’re fed up with the wasteful spending and bloated bureaucracy. Since my first term in the Senate, I’ve worked to root out waste, fraud, and abuse, and I’m glad to support this legislation to boost transparency, strengthen internal controls, and improve the stewardship of taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”&nbsp;

Kan. U.S. Senator helps introduce legislation codifying DOGE cuts 

DETROIT&nbsp;–&nbsp; Chengxuan HAN, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with smuggling goods into the United States and false statements, according to the United States Attorney's office.

According to the complaint, Han&nbsp;is a citizen of the People's Republic of China who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from the College of Life Science and Technology in the Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan, China.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b41b4141-755c-4cb2-b6ad-bfc1965400c7">2 charged last week</a>&nbsp;over conspiring to smuggle toxic fungus into U.S.

 In 2024 and 2025, Han sent four packages to the United States from the China containing concealed biological material. These packages were addressed to individuals associated with a laboratory at the University of Michigan. On June 8, 2025, Han arrived at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a J1 visa. Customs and Border Protection officers conducted an inspection of Han, during which Han made false statements about the packages and the biological materials she had previously shipped to the United States.

 CBP officers also found that the content of Han’s electronic device had been deleted three days prior to her arrival in the United States. At the conclusion of the border inspection, Han was interviewed by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ICE HSI. During this interview, Han admitted to sending the packages, admitted that the packages contained biological material related to round worms, and admitted to making false statements to the CBP officers during her inspection.

A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed, a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment.

United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from a science and technology university in Wuhan, China—to be used at a University of Michigan laboratory—is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security. The American taxpayer should not be underwriting a PRC-based smuggling operation at one of our crucial public institutions.”&nbsp; &nbsp;

“The FBI has zero tolerance for those who violate federal law and remains unwavering in our mission to protect the American people,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security, and it severely compromises the integrity of our nation’s research institutions. I applaud the relentless efforts of the FBI Detroit Counterintelligence Task Force, working in close coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and ICE Homeland Security Investigations Detroit. The FBI in Michigan will aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to harm our country and will deploy every available resource to defend the United States and protect our communities.”

“The guidelines for importing biological materials into the U.S. for research purposes are stringent, but clear, and actions like this undermine the legitimate work of other visiting scholars,” said CBP Acting Director of Field Operations John Nowak. “We will not tolerate the smuggling of regulated biological materials through our ports of entry, and this interdiction is another recent example of our commitment—along with that of our law enforcement partners—to preventing potentially dangerous goods from harming the American people.”

“ICE HSI is proud to work with our partners at the FBI and CBP to keep Americans and Michiganders safe from biological threats,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This case should serve as a reminder that multiple law enforcement agencies are working around the clock to provide for our shared national security from malicious foreign actors.”

The FBI, CBP and ICE HSI are investigating this case.

DETROIT&nbsp;–&nbsp; Chengxuan HAN, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), was arrested and charged in a criminal complaint with smuggling goods into the United States and false statements, according to the United States Attorney's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749510967150.png" alt="Photo of Petri Dishes where prosecutors say biological materials were kept&nbsp;from the Criminal Complaint filed against Chengxuan - by FBI Detroit, US Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Michigan" />
 <figcaption>Photo of Petri Dishes where prosecutors say biological materials were kept&nbsp;from the Criminal Complaint filed against Chengxuan - by FBI Detroit, US Attorney's Office - Eastern District of Michigan</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the complaint, Han&nbsp;is a citizen of the People's Republic of China who is currently pursuing a Ph.D. from the College of Life Science and Technology in the Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST) in Wuhan, China.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Yesterday, <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDetroit?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FBIDetroit</a> arrested a second Chinese national on charges of smuggling biological materials into the U.S. and lying to federal agents. This individual is Chengxuan Han, a citizen of the People’s Republic of China and a Ph.D. student in Wuhan, China. Han is the third… <a href="https://t.co/TE4tJgtJQi">pic.twitter.com/TE4tJgtJQi</a>&mdash; FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a href="https://twitter.com/FBIDirectorKash/status/1932214047300079655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b41b4141-755c-4cb2-b6ad-bfc1965400c7">2 charged last week</a>&nbsp;over conspiring to smuggle toxic fungus into U.S. In 2024 and 2025, Han sent four packages to the United States from the China containing concealed biological material. These packages were addressed to individuals associated with a laboratory at the University of Michigan. On June 8, 2025, Han arrived at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport on a J1 visa. Customs and Border Protection officers conducted an inspection of Han, during which Han made false statements about the packages and the biological materials she had previously shipped to the United States. CBP officers also found that the content of Han’s electronic device had been deleted three days prior to her arrival in the United States. At the conclusion of the border inspection, Han was interviewed by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and ICE HSI. During this interview, Han admitted to sending the packages, admitted that the packages contained biological material related to round worms, and admitted to making false statements to the CBP officers during her inspection.A complaint is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Trial cannot be held on felony charges in a complaint. When the investigation is completed, a determination will be made whether to seek a felony indictment.United States Attorney Gorgon stated: “The alleged smuggling of biological materials by this alien from a science and technology university in Wuhan, China—to be used at a University of Michigan laboratory—is part of an alarming pattern that threatens our security. The American taxpayer should not be underwriting a PRC-based smuggling operation at one of our crucial public institutions.”&nbsp; &nbsp;“The FBI has zero tolerance for those who violate federal law and remains unwavering in our mission to protect the American people,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “The alleged smuggling of biological materials by Chengxuan Han is a direct threat to public safety and national security, and it severely compromises the integrity of our nation’s research institutions. I applaud the relentless efforts of the FBI Detroit Counterintelligence Task Force, working in close coordination with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations and ICE Homeland Security Investigations Detroit. The FBI in Michigan will aggressively pursue anyone who seeks to harm our country and will deploy every available resource to defend the United States and protect our communities.”“The guidelines for importing biological materials into the U.S. for research purposes are stringent, but clear, and actions like this undermine the legitimate work of other visiting scholars,” said CBP Acting Director of Field Operations John Nowak. “We will not tolerate the smuggling of regulated biological materials through our ports of entry, and this interdiction is another recent example of our commitment—along with that of our law enforcement partners—to preventing potentially dangerous goods from harming the American people.”“ICE HSI is proud to work with our partners at the FBI and CBP to keep Americans and Michiganders safe from biological threats,” said ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge Jared Murphey. “This case should serve as a reminder that multiple law enforcement agencies are working around the clock to provide for our shared national security from malicious foreign actors.”The FBI, CBP and ICE HSI are investigating this case.

Alien from Wuhan, China charged with smuggling bio materials into U.S. 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Wichita Police reported an amazing statistic on Monday.&nbsp; According to a social media report from police, 118 guns have been stolen from Wichita vehicles so far in 2025 vs. 2024 year to date. 


 That’s a 15.7% increase.
Gun thefts lead to gun violence.
Be responsible.
Remove your firearm from your vehicle. Secure your firearm. Every time.&nbsp;Never leave your firearm in your vehicle.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749520017112.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —Wichita Police reported an amazing statistic on Monday.&nbsp; According to a social media report from police, 118 guns have been stolen from Wichita vehicles so far in 2025 vs. 2024 year to date. 
 That’s a 15.7% increase.
Gun thefts lead to gun violence.
Be responsible.
Remove your firearm from your vehicle. Secure your firearm. Every time.&nbsp;Never leave your firearm in your vehicle.

Wichita Police: Dramatic increase in guns stolen from vehicles in 2025

WASHINGTON (AP) —Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks.

Major physicians and public health groups criticized the move to oust all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Kennedy, who was one of the nation’s leading anti-vaccine activists before becoming the nation’s top health official, has not said who he would appoint to the panel, but said it would convene in just two weeks in Atlanta.

Although it’s typically not viewed as a partisan board, the entire current roster of committee members were Biden appointees.

“Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028,” Kennedy wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/rfk-jr-hhs-moves-to-restore-public-trust-in-vaccines-45495112">a Wall Street Journal opinion piece</a>. “A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science."

When reached by phone, the panel's now-former chair — Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University — declined to comment. But another panel member, Noel Brewer at the University of North Carolina, said he and other committee members received an email late Monday afternoon that said their services on the committee had been terminated but gave no reason.

“I'd assumed I'd continue serving on the committee for my full term,” said Brewer, who joined the panel last summer.

Brewer is a behavioral scientist whose research examines why people get vaccinated and ways to improve vaccination coverage. Whether people get vaccinated is largely influenced by what their doctors recommend, and doctors have been following ACIP guidance.

“Up until today, ACIP recommendations were the gold standard for what insurers should pay for, what providers should recommend, and what the public should look to," he said.

But Kennedy already took the unusual step of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-kennedy-fd6ab0c7303a4a1698b319885a02ef54">changing COVID-19 recommendations</a>&nbsp;without first consulting the committee — a move criticized by doctors' groups and public health advocates.

“It's unclear what the future holds," Brewer said. “Certainly provider organizations have already started to turn away from ACIP.”

Kennedy said the committee members had too many conflicts of interest. Currently, committee members are required to declare any potential such conflicts, as well as business interests, that arise during their tenure. They also must disclose any possible conflicts at the start of each public meeting.

But Dr. Tom Frieden, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives and former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Kennedy's actions were based on false conflict-of-interest claims and set “a dangerous and unprecedented action that makes our families less safe” by potentially reducing vaccine access for millions of people.

“Make no mistake: Politicizing the ACIP as Secretary Kennedy is doing will undermine public trust under the guise of improving it,” he said in a statement. “We’ll look back at this as a grave mistake that sacrificed decades of scientific rigor, undermined public trust, and opened the door for fringe theories rather than facts.”

Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, called Kennedy's mass ouster "a coup.”

“It’s not how democracies work. It’s not good for the health of the nation,” Benjamin told The Associated Press.

Benjamin said the move raises real concerns about whether future committee members will be viewed as impartial. He added that Kennedy is going against what he told lawmakers and the public, and the public health association plans to watch Kennedy “like a hawk."

“He is breaking a promise,” Benjamin said. “He said he wasn’t going to do this."

Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the American Medical Association, called the committee a trusted source of science- and data-driven advice and said Kennedy’s move, coupled with declining vaccination rates across the country, will help drive an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases.

“Today’s action to remove the 17 sitting members of ACIP undermines that trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives,” Scott said in a statement.

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor who had expressed reservations about Kennedy’s nomination but voted to install him as the nation’s health secretary nonetheless, said he had spoken with Kennedy moments after the announcement.

“Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,” Cassidy said in a social media post. “I’ve just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I’ll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the case.”

The committee had been in a state of flux since Kennedy took over. Its first meeting this year had been delayed when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-cdc-rfk-trump-acip-74ad20e0a5430bfd6b48d35900c34d13">abruptly postponed</a>&nbsp;its February meeting.

During Kennedy’s confirmation, Cassidy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cassidy-kennedy-trump-health-secretary-e826bc40fddf90829f6438681c5d9275">had expressed concerns</a>&nbsp;about preserving the committee, saying he had sought assurances that Kennedy would keep the panel's current vaccine recommendations.

The webpage that featured the committee’s members was deleted Monday evening, shortly after Kennedy’s announcement.

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Devi Shastri contributed.

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

WASHINGTON (AP) —Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday removed every member of a scientific committee that advises the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on how to use vaccines and pledged to replace them with his own picks.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today, we are taking a bold step in restoring public trust by totally reconstituting the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP). A clean sweep is necessary to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science. The entire world once looked to American health… <a href="https://t.co/hTo7xV4Pke">pic.twitter.com/hTo7xV4Pke</a>&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1932192142748795114?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Major physicians and public health groups criticized the move to oust all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.Kennedy, who was one of the nation’s leading anti-vaccine activists before becoming the nation’s top health official, has not said who he would appoint to the panel, but said it would convene in just two weeks in Atlanta.Although it’s typically not viewed as a partisan board, the entire current roster of committee members were Biden appointees.“Without removing the current members, the current Trump administration would not have been able to appoint a majority of new members until 2028,” Kennedy wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/opinion/rfk-jr-hhs-moves-to-restore-public-trust-in-vaccines-45495112">a Wall Street Journal opinion piece</a>. “A clean sweep is needed to re-establish public confidence in vaccine science."When reached by phone, the panel's now-former chair — Dr. Helen Keipp Talbot of Vanderbilt University — declined to comment. But another panel member, Noel Brewer at the University of North Carolina, said he and other committee members received an email late Monday afternoon that said their services on the committee had been terminated but gave no reason.“I'd assumed I'd continue serving on the committee for my full term,” said Brewer, who joined the panel last summer.Brewer is a behavioral scientist whose research examines why people get vaccinated and ways to improve vaccination coverage. Whether people get vaccinated is largely influenced by what their doctors recommend, and doctors have been following ACIP guidance.“Up until today, ACIP recommendations were the gold standard for what insurers should pay for, what providers should recommend, and what the public should look to," he said.But Kennedy already took the unusual step of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-vaccines-cdc-kennedy-fd6ab0c7303a4a1698b319885a02ef54">changing COVID-19 recommendations</a>&nbsp;without first consulting the committee — a move criticized by doctors' groups and public health advocates.“It's unclear what the future holds," Brewer said. “Certainly provider organizations have already started to turn away from ACIP.”Kennedy said the committee members had too many conflicts of interest. Currently, committee members are required to declare any potential such conflicts, as well as business interests, that arise during their tenure. They also must disclose any possible conflicts at the start of each public meeting.But Dr. Tom Frieden, president and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives and former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Kennedy's actions were based on false conflict-of-interest claims and set “a dangerous and unprecedented action that makes our families less safe” by potentially reducing vaccine access for millions of people.“Make no mistake: Politicizing the ACIP as Secretary Kennedy is doing will undermine public trust under the guise of improving it,” he said in a statement. “We’ll look back at this as a grave mistake that sacrificed decades of scientific rigor, undermined public trust, and opened the door for fringe theories rather than facts.”Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, called Kennedy's mass ouster "a coup.”“It’s not how democracies work. It’s not good for the health of the nation,” Benjamin told The Associated Press.Benjamin said the move raises real concerns about whether future committee members will be viewed as impartial. He added that Kennedy is going against what he told lawmakers and the public, and the public health association plans to watch Kennedy “like a hawk."“He is breaking a promise,” Benjamin said. “He said he wasn’t going to do this."Dr. Bruce A. Scott, president of the American Medical Association, called the committee a trusted source of science- and data-driven advice and said Kennedy’s move, coupled with declining vaccination rates across the country, will help drive an increase in vaccine-preventable diseases.“Today’s action to remove the 17 sitting members of ACIP undermines that trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives,” Scott said in a statement.Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, a doctor who had expressed reservations about Kennedy’s nomination but voted to install him as the nation’s health secretary nonetheless, said he had spoken with Kennedy moments after the announcement.“Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion,” Cassidy said in a social media post. “I’ve just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I’ll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the case.”The committee had been in a state of flux since Kennedy took over. Its first meeting this year had been delayed when the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-cdc-rfk-trump-acip-74ad20e0a5430bfd6b48d35900c34d13">abruptly postponed</a>&nbsp;its February meeting.During Kennedy’s confirmation, Cassidy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cassidy-kennedy-trump-health-secretary-e826bc40fddf90829f6438681c5d9275">had expressed concerns</a>&nbsp;about preserving the committee, saying he had sought assurances that Kennedy would keep the panel's current vaccine recommendations.The webpage that featured the committee’s members was deleted Monday evening, shortly after Kennedy’s announcement.__Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Devi Shastri contributed.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Why RFK Jr. ousted the entire CDC vaccine advisory committee

CHASE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged theft.

On June 4, Lyon County Sheriff's deputies arrested&nbsp; 43-year-old Jeremy Cox&nbsp;on a warrant after a reported burglary of a cell tower at 50th and Camp Creek Road in southeast Chase County, according to a social media report from the Chase County Sheriff, 

The theft occurred on May 8. Multiple requested charges were forwarded to the Chase County Attorney's Office, including burglary, criminal trespass to a critical infrastructure facility, criminal damage, and theft.&nbsp; Cox is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

The Sheriff's office advised Cox's accomplice to go ahead and turn themself in because they are keeping an eye out for them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749224646893.png" alt="Cox photo Lyon County" />
 <figcaption>Cox photo Lyon County</figcaption>
 </figure>CHASE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged theft.On June 4, Lyon County Sheriff's deputies arrested&nbsp; 43-year-old Jeremy Cox&nbsp;on a warrant after a reported burglary of a cell tower at 50th and Camp Creek Road in southeast Chase County, according to a social media report from the Chase County Sheriff, The theft occurred on May 8. Multiple requested charges were forwarded to the Chase County Attorney's Office, including burglary, criminal trespass to a critical infrastructure facility, criminal damage, and theft.&nbsp; Cox is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.The Sheriff's office advised Cox's accomplice to go ahead and turn themself in because they are keeping an eye out for them.

Sheriff: Man accused of burglary at rural Kansas cell tower

WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has authorized the deployment of an additional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-national-guard-trump-14c9dda32663d7d2c45f2b1c5a1d219c">2,000 National Guard members</a>&nbsp;to respond to immigration protests in Los Angeles, according to the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson. The latest order brings the total number of Guard put on federal orders for the protests to more than 4,100.

The news comes hours after the Pentagon deployed about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-national-guard-trump-14c9dda32663d7d2c45f2b1c5a1d219c">700 Marines to the protests</a>&nbsp;to work alongside local law enforcement.

The initial 2,100 National Guard members were expected to be on the ground in LA Monday evening, but it wasn't yet clear if they had all arrived.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the National Guard deployment “unlawful” and said it “trampled” on the state's sovereignty. Bonta sued the Trump administration Monday in response. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, told MSNBC that he also plans to file suit Monday against the Trump administration.

This appears to be the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without a request from its governor.

Trump has cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa">a legal provision</a>&nbsp;that allows him to mobilize federal service members when there is “a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ended a news briefing with a plea to the federal government: “Stop the raids.”

“I hope that we will be heard because our city is trying to move forward, and I believe the federal government should be supportive.”

LA mayor says local immigrant rights groups have confirmed at least 5 ICE raids

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said they were still working to compile more information on the raids that took place throughout LA.

She also criticized the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines, calling it a “deliberate attempt” by the Trump administration to “create disorder and chaos in our city.”

“I feel like we are part of an experiment that we did not ask to be a part of,” Bass said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749519661081.png" alt="Image from Homeland Security video" />
 <figcaption>Image from Homeland Security video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;has authorized the deployment of an additional&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-national-guard-trump-14c9dda32663d7d2c45f2b1c5a1d219c">2,000 National Guard members</a>&nbsp;to respond to immigration protests in Los Angeles, according to the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson. The latest order brings the total number of Guard put on federal orders for the protests to more than 4,100.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At the order of the President, the Department of Defense is mobilizing an additional 2,000 California National Guard to be called into federal service to support ICE &amp; to enable federal law-enforcement officers to safely conduct their duties.&mdash; Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellATSD) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanParnellATSD/status/1932230434810950021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The news comes hours after the Pentagon deployed about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-protests-national-guard-trump-14c9dda32663d7d2c45f2b1c5a1d219c">700 Marines to the protests</a>&nbsp;to work alongside local law enforcement.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WATCH: This is not peaceful. California politicians must call off their rioting mob. The United States is a nation of laws, and lawbreakers will be brought to justice. <a href="https://t.co/7KcmSF7w0p">pic.twitter.com/7KcmSF7w0p</a>&mdash; Homeland Security (@DHSgov) <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/1932237442943492348?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 10, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The initial 2,100 National Guard members were expected to be on the ground in LA Monday evening, but it wasn't yet clear if they had all arrived.California Attorney General Rob Bonta called the National Guard deployment “unlawful” and said it “trampled” on the state's sovereignty. Bonta sued the Trump administration Monday in response. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, told MSNBC that he also plans to file suit Monday against the Trump administration.This appears to be the first time in decades that a state’s National Guard was activated without a request from its governor.Trump has cited&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa">a legal provision</a>&nbsp;that allows him to mobilize federal service members when there is “a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States.”Here is a look at the latest:<h2>‘Our city is trying to move forward’</h2>Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass ended a news briefing with a plea to the federal government: “Stop the raids.”“I hope that we will be heard because our city is trying to move forward, and I believe the federal government should be supportive.”<h2>LA mayor says local immigrant rights groups have confirmed at least 5 ICE raids</h2>Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said they were still working to compile more information on the raids that took place throughout LA.She also criticized the deployment of National Guard troops and Marines, calling it a “deliberate attempt” by the Trump administration to “create disorder and chaos in our city.”“I feel like we are part of an experiment that we did not ask to be a part of,” Bass said.

Pentagon: More National Guard troops deploying to Calif. to support ICE

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with drug trafficking, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Jeffery Michael Roark, 56, of Fort Scott is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749244428940.png" alt="Roark from a previous arrest in Wyandotte Co." />
 <figcaption>Roark from a previous arrest in Wyandotte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Kansas City, Kansas returned an indictment charging a Kansas man with drug trafficking, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Jeffery Michael Roark, 56, of Fort Scott is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case.Assistant U.S. Attorney David Zabel is prosecuting the case.

Indictment: Kansas man was selling meth

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Pentagon planned to deploy about 700 Marines to Los Angeles on Monday to help National Guard members respond to immigration protests, three U.S. officials said as California prepared to sue President Donald Trump over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/insurrection-act-trump-troops-newsom-military-national-guard-a842f79e1c0e244039be274a6f266a7a">his use</a>&nbsp;of Guard troops to confront the protesters.

The Marines were to be deployed from their base at Twentynine Palms in the Southern California desert. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military plans. The deployment was first reported by CNN.

The attorney general said the president's actions had “trampled” the state’s sovereignty.

“We don’t take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilizing California National Guard troops” state Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters. He planned to seek a court order declaring that Trump’s use of the Guard was unlawful and ask for a restraining order to halt the deployment.

The streets of the sprawling city of 4 million people were quiet Monday morning, but the smell of smoke hung in the air downtown, one day after crowds blocked off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. The law enforcement presence was heavy, with police cars blocking the street in front of the federal detention facility that was a focus of the protests.

Bonta accused Trump of fanning protesters' anger with his announcement of the deployment, saying he set off Sunday's clashes with law enforcement in downtown Los Angeles. “This was not inevitable,” he said.

While much of the city was spared from any violence, clashes swept through several downtown blocks and a handful of other places. It could take days to clear the debris from burned cars and to clean off or paint over graffiti sprayed on City Hall and other buildings near the detention facility. Sunday was the third and most intense day of demonstrations against Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region, as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa">the arrival of the first 300 Guard troops</a>&nbsp;spurred anger and fear among many residents.

Trump said Monday that the city would have been “completely obliterated” if he had not deployed the Guard.

Later, at a White House event, he added that state leaders “were afraid to do anything.”

U.S. officials said about 1,000 National Guard members were in the city under federal orders by midday Monday. The full 2,000 members authorized by the president were expected to be on the ground by the end of the day. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the details of military operations.

The arrival of the National Guard followed two days of protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles before spreading Saturday to Paramount, a heavily Latino city south of the city, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-protests-raids-los-angeles-a96769efaaab083c5cc0bfa9956e741c">neighboring Compton</a>.

Multiple protests were taking shape Monday afternoon in LA, and it was unclear if any would devolve into violence. More protests were scheduled for cities across the country.

Thousands of people gathered in a park across from City Hall to protest the arrest of labor leader David Huerta. He was arrested Friday, accused of conspiring to impede an officer during a demonstration. Protesters held signs lambasting Trump and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Huerta, whose initial court appearance was expected to be held Monday afternoon, is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of janitors, security officers and other workers in the state.

Elsewhere, outside a clothing warehouse, relatives of detained workers demanded at a news conference that their loved ones be released.

The family of Jacob Vasquez, 35, who was detained Friday at the warehouse, where he worked, said they had yet to receive any information about him.

“Jacob is a family man and the sole breadwinner of his household,” Vasquez's brother, Gabriel, told the crowd. He asked that his last name not be used, fearing being targeted by authorities.

On Sunday, many protesters dispersed as evening fell and police declared an unlawful assembly, a precursor to officers moving in and arresting those who refuse to leave. Some of those who stayed threw objects at police from behind a makeshift barrier. Others hurled chunks of concrete, rocks, electric scooters and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers and their vehicles parked on the closed southbound 101 Freeway. Officers ran under an overpass to take cover at one point.

The Guard was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa">deployed specifically</a>&nbsp;to protect federal buildings, including the downtown detention center where protesters concentrated.

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers were “overwhelmed” by the remaining protesters. He said they included regular agitators who show up at demonstrations to cause trouble.

Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers.

Trump responded to McDonnell on Truth Social, telling him to arrest protesters in face masks.

“Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” he wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749506420206.png" alt="Photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Pentagon planned to deploy about 700 Marines to Los Angeles on Monday to help National Guard members respond to immigration protests, three U.S. officials said as California prepared to sue President Donald Trump over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/insurrection-act-trump-troops-newsom-military-national-guard-a842f79e1c0e244039be274a6f266a7a">his use</a>&nbsp;of Guard troops to confront the protesters.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Due to increased threats to federal law enforcement officers and federal buildings, approximately 700 active-duty U.S. Marines from Camp Pendleton are being deployed to Los Angeles to restore order. We have an obligation to defend federal law enforcement officers - even if Gavin…&mdash; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecDef/status/1932202105361612994?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Marines were to be deployed from their base at Twentynine Palms in the Southern California desert. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military plans. The deployment was first reported by CNN.The attorney general said the president's actions had “trampled” the state’s sovereignty.“We don’t take lightly to the president abusing his authority and unlawfully mobilizing California National Guard troops” state Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters. He planned to seek a court order declaring that Trump’s use of the Guard was unlawful and ask for a restraining order to halt the deployment.The streets of the sprawling city of 4 million people were quiet Monday morning, but the smell of smoke hung in the air downtown, one day after crowds blocked off a major freeway and set self-driving cars on fire as police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. The law enforcement presence was heavy, with police cars blocking the street in front of the federal detention facility that was a focus of the protests.Bonta accused Trump of fanning protesters' anger with his announcement of the deployment, saying he set off Sunday's clashes with law enforcement in downtown Los Angeles. “This was not inevitable,” he said.While much of the city was spared from any violence, clashes swept through several downtown blocks and a handful of other places. It could take days to clear the debris from burned cars and to clean off or paint over graffiti sprayed on City Hall and other buildings near the detention facility. Sunday was the third and most intense day of demonstrations against Trump’s immigration crackdown in the region, as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa">the arrival of the first 300 Guard troops</a>&nbsp;spurred anger and fear among many residents.Trump said Monday that the city would have been “completely obliterated” if he had not deployed the Guard.Later, at a White House event, he added that state leaders “were afraid to do anything.”U.S. officials said about 1,000 National Guard members were in the city under federal orders by midday Monday. The full 2,000 members authorized by the president were expected to be on the ground by the end of the day. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the details of military operations.The arrival of the National Guard followed two days of protests that began Friday in downtown Los Angeles before spreading Saturday to Paramount, a heavily Latino city south of the city, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-protests-raids-los-angeles-a96769efaaab083c5cc0bfa9956e741c">neighboring Compton</a>.Multiple protests were taking shape Monday afternoon in LA, and it was unclear if any would devolve into violence. More protests were scheduled for cities across the country.Thousands of people gathered in a park across from City Hall to protest the arrest of labor leader David Huerta. He was arrested Friday, accused of conspiring to impede an officer during a demonstration. Protesters held signs lambasting Trump and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.Huerta, whose initial court appearance was expected to be held Monday afternoon, is the president of the Service Employees International Union California, which represents thousands of janitors, security officers and other workers in the state.Elsewhere, outside a clothing warehouse, relatives of detained workers demanded at a news conference that their loved ones be released.The family of Jacob Vasquez, 35, who was detained Friday at the warehouse, where he worked, said they had yet to receive any information about him.“Jacob is a family man and the sole breadwinner of his household,” Vasquez's brother, Gabriel, told the crowd. He asked that his last name not be used, fearing being targeted by authorities.On Sunday, many protesters dispersed as evening fell and police declared an unlawful assembly, a precursor to officers moving in and arresting those who refuse to leave. Some of those who stayed threw objects at police from behind a makeshift barrier. Others hurled chunks of concrete, rocks, electric scooters and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers and their vehicles parked on the closed southbound 101 Freeway. Officers ran under an overpass to take cover at one point.The Guard was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-raids-los-angeles-2d1d5e2f638da600c4b34fe8bf8cf3aa">deployed specifically</a>&nbsp;to protect federal buildings, including the downtown detention center where protesters concentrated.Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said officers were “overwhelmed” by the remaining protesters. He said they included regular agitators who show up at demonstrations to cause trouble.Several dozen people were arrested throughout the weekend. One was detained Sunday for throwing a Molotov cocktail at police and another for ramming a motorcycle into a line of officers.Trump responded to McDonnell on Truth Social, telling him to arrest protesters in face masks.“Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!!!” he wrote.

Marines will be deployed to LA to respond to immigration protests

KANSAS CITY—Police investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 34-year-old Earl Washington, according to KDPC Captain Jake Becchina.

Just before 10a.m. Sunday, police were called to an apartment in the 900 block of E Armour in Kansas City. Officer joined KC Fire crews on a medical cal.

The caller advised they came home and found&nbsp; a man, later identified by police as Washington, unresponsive at their apartment that had unknown injuries and they called for an ambulance.

On arrival officers were led inside an apartment unit at the location and located Washing unresponsive. EMS responded and declared the victim deceased at the scene.

Homicide detectives responded to the scene and started their investigation. Detectives canvassed for witnesses and any additional evidence. This homicide occurred in an apartment building presumably with many potential witnesses so detectives are optimistic that someone heard or saw something that will help give them some information about what led up to the victim being injured, according to Becchina. Police have not released the victim's name.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749429911593.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte'</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Police investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 34-year-old Earl Washington, according to KDPC Captain Jake Becchina.Just before 10a.m. Sunday, police were called to an apartment in the 900 block of E Armour in Kansas City. Officer joined KC Fire crews on a medical cal.The caller advised they came home and found&nbsp; a man, later identified by police as Washington, unresponsive at their apartment that had unknown injuries and they called for an ambulance.On arrival officers were led inside an apartment unit at the location and located Washing unresponsive. EMS responded and declared the victim deceased at the scene.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749429893276.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>Homicide detectives responded to the scene and started their investigation. Detectives canvassed for witnesses and any additional evidence. This homicide occurred in an apartment building presumably with many potential witnesses so detectives are optimistic that someone heard or saw something that will help give them some information about what led up to the victim being injured, according to Becchina. Police have not released the victim's name.

KCPD: Homicide victim found in apartment

By HILLEL ITALIE &nbsp;AP National Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Sly Stone, an electrifying musician, songwriter and showman whose Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s and '70s, has died. He was 82. His time on top was brief, from roughly 1969 to 1971, but his influence on music and culture lasted for decades after. No band better captured the gravity-defying euphoria of the Woodstock era or more bravely addressed the crash. From early hits as rousing as their titles —"I Want To Take You Higher," "Stand!" — to the sober aftermath of "Family Affair" and "Runnin' Away," Sly and the Family Stone spoke for a generation whether or not it wanted to hear the message.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sly Stone, the revolutionary musician and dynamic showman whose Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s and '70s and beyond with such hits as "Everyday People," "Stand!" and "Family Affair," has died. He was 82

Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, had been in poor health in recent years. His publicist Carleen Donovan said Monday that Stone died in Los Angeles surrounded by family after contending with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments.

Formed in 1966-67, Sly and the Family Stone was the first major group to include Black and white men and women, and well embodied a time when anything seemed possible — riots and assassinations, communes and love-ins. The singers screeched, chanted, crooned and hollered. The music was a blowout of frantic horns, rapid-fire guitar and locomotive rhythms, a melting pot of jazz, psychedelic rock, doo-wop, soul and the early grooves of funk.

Sly's time on top was brief, roughly from 1968-1971, but profound. No band better captured the gravity-defying euphoria of the Woodstock era or more bravely addressed the crash which followed. From early songs as rousing as their titles — "I Want To Take You Higher," "Stand!" — to the sober aftermath of "Family Affair" and "Runnin' Away," Sly and the Family Stone spoke for a generation whether or not it liked what they had to say.

Stone's group began as a Bay Area sextet featuring Sly on keyboards, Larry Graham on bass; Sly's brother, Freddie, on guitar; sister Rose on vocals; Cynthia Robinson and Jerry Martini horns and Greg Errico on drums. They debuted with the album "A Whole New Thing" and earned the title with their breakthrough single, "Dance to the Music." It hit the top 10 in April 1968, the week the Rev. Martin Luther King was murdered, and helped launch an era when the polish of Motown and the understatement of Stax suddenly seemed of another time.

Led by Sly Stone, with his leather jumpsuits and goggle shades, mile-wide grin and mile-high Afro, the band dazzled in 1969 at the Woodstock festival and set a new pace on the radio. "Everyday People," "I Wanna Take You Higher" and other songs were anthems of community, non-conformity and a brash and hopeful spirit, built around such catchphrases as "different strokes for different folks." The group released five top 10 singles, three of them hitting No. 1, and three million-selling albums: "Stand!", "There's a Riot Goin' On" and "Greatest Hits."

For a time, countless performers wanted to look and sound like Sly and the Family Stone. The Jackson Five's breakthrough hit, "I Want You Back" and the Temptations' "I Can't Get Next to You" were among the many songs from the late 1960s that mimicked Sly's vocal and instrumental arrangements. Miles Davis' landmark blend of jazz, rock and funk, "Bitches Brew," was inspired in part by Sly, while fellow jazz artist Herbie Hancock even named a song after him.

"He had a way of talking, moving from playful to earnest at will. He had a look, belts, and hats and jewelry," Questlove wrote in the foreword to Stone's memoir, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," named for one of his biggest hits and published through Questlove's imprint in 2023. "He was a special case, cooler than everything around him by a factor of infinity."

In 2025, Questlove released the documentary "Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)."

Sly's influence has endured for decades. The top funk artist of the 1970s, Parliament-Funkadelic creator George Clinton, was a Stone disciple. Prince, Rick James and the Black-Eyed Peas were among the many performers from the 1980s and after influenced by Sly, and countless rap and hip-hop artists have sampled his riffs, from the Beastie Boys to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. A 2005 tribute record included Maroon 5, John Legend and the Roots.

"Sly did so many things so well that he turned my head all the way around," Clinton once wrote. "He could create polished R&amp;B that sounded like it came from an act that had gigged at clubs for years, and then in the next breath he could be as psychedelic as the heaviest rock band."

By the early '70s, Stone himself was beginning a descent from which he never recovered, driven by the pressures of fame and the added burden of Black fame. His record company was anxious for more hits, while the Black Panthers were pressing him to drop the white members from his group. After moving from the Bay Area to Los Angeles in 1970, he became increasingly hooked on cocaine and erratic in his behavior. A promised album, "The Incredible and Unpredictable Sly and the Family Stone" ("The most optimistic of all," Rolling Stone reported) never appeared. He became notorious for being late to concerts or not showing up at all, often leaving "other band members waiting backstage for hours wondering whether he was going to show up or not," according to Stone biographer Joel Selvin.

Around the country, separatism and paranoia were setting in. As a turn of the calendar, and as a state of mind, the '60s were over. "The possibility of possibility was leaking out," Stone later explained in his memoir.

On "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," Stone had warned: "Dying young is hard to take/selling out is harder." Late in 1971, he released "There's a Riot Going On," one of the grimmest, most uncompromising records ever to top the album charts. The sound was dense and murky (Sly was among the first musicians to use drum machines), the mood reflective ("Family Affair"), fearful ("Runnin' Away") and despairing: "Time, they say, is the answer — but I don't believe it," Sly sings on "Time." The fast, funky pace of the original "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" was slowed, stretched and retitled "Thank You For Talkin' to Me, Africa."

The running time of the title track was 0:00.

"It is Muzak with its finger on the trigger," critic Greil Marcus called the album.

"Riot" highlighted an extraordinary run of blunt, hard-hitting records by Black artists, from the Stevie Wonder single "Superstition" to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album, to which "Riot" was an unofficial response. But Stone seemed to back away from the nightmare he had related. He was reluctant to perform material from "Riot" in concert and softened the mood on the acclaimed 1973 album "Fresh," which did feature a cover of "Que Sera Sera," the wistful Doris Day song reworked into a rueful testament to fate's upper hand.

By the end of the decade, Sly and the Family Stone had broken up and Sly was releasing solo records with such unmet promises as "Heard You Missed Me, Well I'm Back" and "Back On the Right Track." Most of the news he made over the following decades was of drug busts, financial troubles and mishaps on stage. Sly and the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll of Fame in 1993 and honored in 2006 at the Grammy Awards, but Sly released just one album after the early '80s, "I'm Back! Family &amp; Friends," much of it updated recordings of his old hits.

He would allege he had hundreds of unreleased songs and did collaborate on occasion with Clinton, who would recall how Stone "could just be sitting there doing nothing and then open his eyes and shock you with a lyric so brilliant that it was obvious no one had ever thought of it before."

Sly Stone had three children, including a daughter with Cynthia Robinson, and was married once — briefly and very publicly. In 1974, he and actor Kathy Silva wed on stage at Madison Square Garden, an event that inspired an 11,000-word story in The New Yorker. Sly and Silva soon divorced.

He was born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, and raised in Vallejo, California, the second of five children in a close, religious family. Sylvester became "Sly" by accident, when a teacher mistakenly spelled his name "Slyvester."

He loved performing so much that his mother alleged he would cry if the congregation in church didn't respond when he sang before it. He was so gifted and ambitious that by age 4 he had sung on stage at a Sam Cooke show and by age 11 had mastered several instruments and recorded a gospel song with his siblings. He was so committed to the races working together that in his teens and early 20s he was playing in local bands that included Black and white members and was becoming known around the Bay Area as a deejay equally willing to play the Beatles and rhythm and blues acts.

Through his radio connections, he produced some of the top San Francisco bands, including the Great Society, Grace Slick's group before she joined the Jefferson Airplane. Along with an early mentor and champion, San Francisco deejay Tom "Big Daddy" Donahue, he worked on rhythm and blues hits (Bobby Freeman's "C'mon and Swim") and the Beau Brummels' Beatle-esque "Laugh, Laugh." Meanwhile, he was putting together his own group, recruiting family members and local musicians and settling on the name Sly and the Family Stone.

"A Whole New Thing" came out in 1967, soon followed by the single "Dance to the Music," in which each member was granted a moment of introduction as the song rightly proclaimed a "brand new beat." In December 1968, the group appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and performed a medley that included "Dance to the Music" and "Everyday People." Before the set began, Sly turned to the audience and recited a brief passage from his song "Are You Ready":

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749499228314.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By HILLEL ITALIE &nbsp;AP National WriterNEW YORK (AP) — Sly Stone, an electrifying musician, songwriter and showman whose Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s and '70s, has died. He was 82. His time on top was brief, from roughly 1969 to 1971, but his influence on music and culture lasted for decades after. No band better captured the gravity-defying euphoria of the Woodstock era or more bravely addressed the crash. From early hits as rousing as their titles —"I Want To Take You Higher," "Stand!" — to the sober aftermath of "Family Affair" and "Runnin' Away," Sly and the Family Stone spoke for a generation whether or not it wanted to hear the message.NEW YORK (AP) — Sly Stone, the revolutionary musician and dynamic showman whose Sly and the Family Stone transformed popular music in the 1960s and '70s and beyond with such hits as "Everyday People," "Stand!" and "Family Affair," has died. He was 82Stone, born Sylvester Stewart, had been in poor health in recent years. His publicist Carleen Donovan said Monday that Stone died in Los Angeles surrounded by family after contending with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other ailments.Formed in 1966-67, Sly and the Family Stone was the first major group to include Black and white men and women, and well embodied a time when anything seemed possible — riots and assassinations, communes and love-ins. The singers screeched, chanted, crooned and hollered. The music was a blowout of frantic horns, rapid-fire guitar and locomotive rhythms, a melting pot of jazz, psychedelic rock, doo-wop, soul and the early grooves of funk.Sly's time on top was brief, roughly from 1968-1971, but profound. No band better captured the gravity-defying euphoria of the Woodstock era or more bravely addressed the crash which followed. From early songs as rousing as their titles — "I Want To Take You Higher," "Stand!" — to the sober aftermath of "Family Affair" and "Runnin' Away," Sly and the Family Stone spoke for a generation whether or not it liked what they had to say.Stone's group began as a Bay Area sextet featuring Sly on keyboards, Larry Graham on bass; Sly's brother, Freddie, on guitar; sister Rose on vocals; Cynthia Robinson and Jerry Martini horns and Greg Errico on drums. They debuted with the album "A Whole New Thing" and earned the title with their breakthrough single, "Dance to the Music." It hit the top 10 in April 1968, the week the Rev. Martin Luther King was murdered, and helped launch an era when the polish of Motown and the understatement of Stax suddenly seemed of another time.Led by Sly Stone, with his leather jumpsuits and goggle shades, mile-wide grin and mile-high Afro, the band dazzled in 1969 at the Woodstock festival and set a new pace on the radio. "Everyday People," "I Wanna Take You Higher" and other songs were anthems of community, non-conformity and a brash and hopeful spirit, built around such catchphrases as "different strokes for different folks." The group released five top 10 singles, three of them hitting No. 1, and three million-selling albums: "Stand!", "There's a Riot Goin' On" and "Greatest Hits."For a time, countless performers wanted to look and sound like Sly and the Family Stone. The Jackson Five's breakthrough hit, "I Want You Back" and the Temptations' "I Can't Get Next to You" were among the many songs from the late 1960s that mimicked Sly's vocal and instrumental arrangements. Miles Davis' landmark blend of jazz, rock and funk, "Bitches Brew," was inspired in part by Sly, while fellow jazz artist Herbie Hancock even named a song after him."He had a way of talking, moving from playful to earnest at will. He had a look, belts, and hats and jewelry," Questlove wrote in the foreword to Stone's memoir, "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," named for one of his biggest hits and published through Questlove's imprint in 2023. "He was a special case, cooler than everything around him by a factor of infinity."In 2025, Questlove released the documentary "Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)."Sly's influence has endured for decades. The top funk artist of the 1970s, Parliament-Funkadelic creator George Clinton, was a Stone disciple. Prince, Rick James and the Black-Eyed Peas were among the many performers from the 1980s and after influenced by Sly, and countless rap and hip-hop artists have sampled his riffs, from the Beastie Boys to Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. A 2005 tribute record included Maroon 5, John Legend and the Roots."Sly did so many things so well that he turned my head all the way around," Clinton once wrote. "He could create polished R&amp;B that sounded like it came from an act that had gigged at clubs for years, and then in the next breath he could be as psychedelic as the heaviest rock band."A dream dies, a career burns awayBy the early '70s, Stone himself was beginning a descent from which he never recovered, driven by the pressures of fame and the added burden of Black fame. His record company was anxious for more hits, while the Black Panthers were pressing him to drop the white members from his group. After moving from the Bay Area to Los Angeles in 1970, he became increasingly hooked on cocaine and erratic in his behavior. A promised album, "The Incredible and Unpredictable Sly and the Family Stone" ("The most optimistic of all," Rolling Stone reported) never appeared. He became notorious for being late to concerts or not showing up at all, often leaving "other band members waiting backstage for hours wondering whether he was going to show up or not," according to Stone biographer Joel Selvin.Around the country, separatism and paranoia were setting in. As a turn of the calendar, and as a state of mind, the '60s were over. "The possibility of possibility was leaking out," Stone later explained in his memoir.On "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)," Stone had warned: "Dying young is hard to take/selling out is harder." Late in 1971, he released "There's a Riot Going On," one of the grimmest, most uncompromising records ever to top the album charts. The sound was dense and murky (Sly was among the first musicians to use drum machines), the mood reflective ("Family Affair"), fearful ("Runnin' Away") and despairing: "Time, they say, is the answer — but I don't believe it," Sly sings on "Time." The fast, funky pace of the original "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" was slowed, stretched and retitled "Thank You For Talkin' to Me, Africa."The running time of the title track was 0:00."It is Muzak with its finger on the trigger," critic Greil Marcus called the album."Riot" highlighted an extraordinary run of blunt, hard-hitting records by Black artists, from the Stevie Wonder single "Superstition" to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" album, to which "Riot" was an unofficial response. But Stone seemed to back away from the nightmare he had related. He was reluctant to perform material from "Riot" in concert and softened the mood on the acclaimed 1973 album "Fresh," which did feature a cover of "Que Sera Sera," the wistful Doris Day song reworked into a rueful testament to fate's upper hand.By the end of the decade, Sly and the Family Stone had broken up and Sly was releasing solo records with such unmet promises as "Heard You Missed Me, Well I'm Back" and "Back On the Right Track." Most of the news he made over the following decades was of drug busts, financial troubles and mishaps on stage. Sly and the Family Stone was inducted into the Rock &amp; Roll of Fame in 1993 and honored in 2006 at the Grammy Awards, but Sly released just one album after the early '80s, "I'm Back! Family &amp; Friends," much of it updated recordings of his old hits.He would allege he had hundreds of unreleased songs and did collaborate on occasion with Clinton, who would recall how Stone "could just be sitting there doing nothing and then open his eyes and shock you with a lyric so brilliant that it was obvious no one had ever thought of it before."Sly Stone had three children, including a daughter with Cynthia Robinson, and was married once — briefly and very publicly. In 1974, he and actor Kathy Silva wed on stage at Madison Square Garden, an event that inspired an 11,000-word story in The New Yorker. Sly and Silva soon divorced.A born musician, a born uniterHe was born Sylvester Stewart in Denton, Texas, and raised in Vallejo, California, the second of five children in a close, religious family. Sylvester became "Sly" by accident, when a teacher mistakenly spelled his name "Slyvester."He loved performing so much that his mother alleged he would cry if the congregation in church didn't respond when he sang before it. He was so gifted and ambitious that by age 4 he had sung on stage at a Sam Cooke show and by age 11 had mastered several instruments and recorded a gospel song with his siblings. He was so committed to the races working together that in his teens and early 20s he was playing in local bands that included Black and white members and was becoming known around the Bay Area as a deejay equally willing to play the Beatles and rhythm and blues acts.Through his radio connections, he produced some of the top San Francisco bands, including the Great Society, Grace Slick's group before she joined the Jefferson Airplane. Along with an early mentor and champion, San Francisco deejay Tom "Big Daddy" Donahue, he worked on rhythm and blues hits (Bobby Freeman's "C'mon and Swim") and the Beau Brummels' Beatle-esque "Laugh, Laugh." Meanwhile, he was putting together his own group, recruiting family members and local musicians and settling on the name Sly and the Family Stone."A Whole New Thing" came out in 1967, soon followed by the single "Dance to the Music," in which each member was granted a moment of introduction as the song rightly proclaimed a "brand new beat." In December 1968, the group appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and performed a medley that included "Dance to the Music" and "Everyday People." Before the set began, Sly turned to the audience and recited a brief passage from his song "Are You Ready":"Don't hate the Black,don't hate the white,if you get bitten,just hate the bite."

Sly Stone, leader of funk revolutionaries Sly and the Family Stone, dies at 82

KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749431031964.png" alt="View of the intersection where the accident occurred-Google image" />
 <figcaption>View of the intersection where the accident occurred-Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—One person died in an accident just before 1p.m. Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri.A bicyclist was traveling southbound on Topping Street at St. John Street against the one-way street, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.The bicycle struck the side of an eastbound tractor trailer. The bicyclist was pronounced deceased at the scene. This is Fatality #29 compared to #46 in Kansas City, Missouri at this time last year