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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Federal job cuts will have ‘outsized impact’

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Federal workforce feels growing uncertainty

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Unions representing federal workers urged caution.

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

AFGE said the offer should not be viewed as voluntary.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kansas carjacking suspect crashed during police pursuit

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

As the elevator descended, the door swung out and caught the side of the mine shaft, the guide fell out, was dragged and ended up landing on top of one of the tourists as the elevator continued its descent, investigators determined.

The harrowing account of the October accident that killed Patrick Weier, 46, at the Mollie Kathleen Mine in the mountains near Colorado Springs was included in an investigative report obtained by AP in response to a public records request.

The sheriff’s office&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colorado-former-gold-mine-death-mollie-kathleen-ad63ad21bc3e30cc626fc70fe3c48620">announced earlier this month</a>&nbsp;that Weier’s death was caused by “operator error” but did not explain how he died or what the error was. State mining regulators inspected the mine after the accident and did not find any problems with the equipment there.

Steve Schafrik, a University of Kentucky associate professor of mining engineering, said that at commercial mining operations, an elevator will not move if the safety systems are not in place and functioning. However, he said he did not have experience with operations in former mines that are now only used for tours.

Surveillance video showed that in the minutes prior to his death, Weier loaded the group of tourists onto the lower level of a double-decker, cage-like elevator for a 1,000-foot descent into the mine. But he had trouble squeezing in himself because it was so crowded, said the report by the Teller County Sheriff’s Office.

The tourists who were in the lower section with him told investigators that Weier had asked them to squeeze together more so he could fit inside, according to the report. A woman suggested that he ride in the upper level of the elevator since the people were smaller, but she said he didn’t respond.

Weier barely had enough room to reach his hand out to close the door, and he did not appear to have secured its latch, the report said.

Within a few seconds of starting the descent, passengers said the elevator started to hit the wall of the shaft. Weier cursed and said things like “I can’t stop this,” and debris was flying at the passengers in the dark. Some lost their hard hats and, without much light, they had to rely mostly on sounds to try to make out what was happening.

According to the report, about halfway down the shaft, the door opened, came off its track and bent as it scraped along the elevator shaft. Investigators believe Weier fell out after ringing the bell to tell the operator to stop the elevator. At first he was trapped between the shaft wall and the still-moving elevator and ultimately fell into the top elevator car.

When the elevator suddenly stopped, the group in the compartment above then said someone else was in their car — Weier. His body landed on top of a woman, who said it felt like she was being suffocated by it.

A woman in the lower car was pinned by the bent door until others could free her.

Two women in the top car decided to climb up a ladder seeking help. They said the ladder was breaking as they went, but both made it up safely.

The accident left a second group of tourists stuck for hours 1,000 feet (305 meters) below ground, as authorities worked to make sure the elevator could safely bring them back up.

No one answered the phone at the mine and its owner did not respond to telephone messages or an email. The mine's website says it is closed until further notice.

Weier had a 7-year-old son and was from the nearby town of Victor, Colorado. Some people who went on tours at the mine with him have donated to an online fundraiser for his son, saying his knowledge about the area's mining history left an impact on them.

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

Report details how guide was killed in tourist gold mine incident

WASHINGTON (AP)—President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women’s sports.

The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” gives federal agencies, including the Justice and Education departments, wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the Trump administration’s view, which interprets “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.

“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said at a signing ceremony.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the order “upholds the promise of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/title-ix">Title IX”</a>&nbsp;and will require “immediate action, including enforcement actions, against schools and athletic associations” that deny women single-sex sports and single-sex locker rooms.

The timing of the order coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and is the latest in a string of executive actions from Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-order-passports-prisons-military-3c14ecbdd10f61618384e81624d090fb">aimed at transgender people</a>.

Trump found during the campaign that his pledge to “keep men out of women’s sports” resonated beyond the usual party lines. More than half the voters surveyed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/votecast/">AP VoteCast</a>&nbsp;said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far.

He leaned into the rhetoric before the election, pledging to get rid of the “transgender insanity,” though his campaign offered little in the way of details.

The order offers some clarity. For example, it authorizes the Education Department to penalize schools that allow transgender athletes to compete, citing noncompliance with Title IX, which prohibits sexual discrimination in schools. Any school found in violation could potentially be ineligible for federal funding.

The order also calls for private sporting bodies to meet at the White House so the president can hear in person “the stories of female athletes who have suffered livelong injuries, who have been silenced and forced to shower with men and compete with men on athletic fields across the country.”

The move is the latest by the Trump administration to limit the rights of the transgender population.

Previous ones have sought to have the federal government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-passports-prisons-eggs-sperm-da1d1d280658a8c85c57cfec2f30cefb">reject the idea that people can transition</a>&nbsp;to a gender other than the one assigned at birth. That has implications for areas including passports and prisons. He’s also opened the door to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-tuskegee-airmen-dei-pentagon-480d932c8bcb4c6056abe78e34010982">barring transgender service members</a>&nbsp;from the military; called to end federal health insurance and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-transition-executive-order-301e4130233b411311978f66f455f1c4">funding for gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;for transgender people under age 19 and restrict the way lessons on gender can be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-critical-race-theory-antisemitism-college-protests-18136b8c8f5adb9c75c47907e020268a">taught in schools</a>.

Already, transgender people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-gender-affirming-care-lawsuit-19-cf1467fd53ebb8a125a863c345508e4c">have sued</a>&nbsp;over several of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-troops-trump-pentagon-order-c92b17a47574d711efa11fb178ff6ae0">the policies</a>&nbsp;and are likely to challenge more of them in court.

Civil rights lawyers who are handling the cases have asserted that in some instances, Trump’s orders violate laws adopted by Congress and protections in the Constitution – and that they overstep the authority of the president.

There could be similar questions for this order, for instance: Can the president demand that the NCAA change its policies?

NCAA President Charlie Baker told Republican senators in December that the organization would follow federal law. The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

The order came a day after three former teammates of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas filed a lawsuit accusing the NCAA, Ivy League, Harvard and their own school, Penn, of conspiring to allow Thomas to compete at conference and national championships.

The lawsuit, which makes similar allegations of that filed last year by Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines and others, alleges the defendants violated Title IX by allowing Thomas to swim “and acted in bad faith.” Gaines joined Trump for the signing ceremony.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738791483165.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday intended to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women’s sports.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump Signs No Men in Women&#39;s Sports Executive Order Into Law <a href="https://t.co/KBIiWOzmua">https://t.co/KBIiWOzmua</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1887239737724805520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The order, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports,” gives federal agencies, including the Justice and Education departments, wide latitude to ensure entities that receive federal funding abide by Title IX in alignment with the Trump administration’s view, which interprets “sex” as the gender someone was assigned at birth.“With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over,” Trump said at a signing ceremony.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today’s victory would not have been possible without brave women like <a href="https://twitter.com/Riley_Gaines_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Riley_Gaines_</a> standing up and fighting for what’s right and true. The war on women’s sports is finally over thanks to President Trump! <a href="https://t.co/uEK9ZIFaKL">pic.twitter.com/uEK9ZIFaKL</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1887270630690885833?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the order “upholds the promise of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/title-ix">Title IX”</a>&nbsp;and will require “immediate action, including enforcement actions, against schools and athletic associations” that deny women single-sex sports and single-sex locker rooms.The timing of the order coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, and is the latest in a string of executive actions from Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-order-passports-prisons-military-3c14ecbdd10f61618384e81624d090fb">aimed at transgender people</a>.Trump found during the campaign that his pledge to “keep men out of women’s sports” resonated beyond the usual party lines. More than half the voters surveyed by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/votecast/">AP VoteCast</a>&nbsp;said support for transgender rights in government and society has gone too far.He leaned into the rhetoric before the election, pledging to get rid of the “transgender insanity,” though his campaign offered little in the way of details.The order offers some clarity. For example, it authorizes the Education Department to penalize schools that allow transgender athletes to compete, citing noncompliance with Title IX, which prohibits sexual discrimination in schools. Any school found in violation could potentially be ineligible for federal funding.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">PRESIDENT TRUMP: &quot;We are putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice: If you let men take over women&#39;s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/M7r8sXkEsF">pic.twitter.com/M7r8sXkEsF</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1887243033399177263?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The order also calls for private sporting bodies to meet at the White House so the president can hear in person “the stories of female athletes who have suffered livelong injuries, who have been silenced and forced to shower with men and compete with men on athletic fields across the country.”The move is the latest by the Trump administration to limit the rights of the transgender population.Previous ones have sought to have the federal government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-passports-prisons-eggs-sperm-da1d1d280658a8c85c57cfec2f30cefb">reject the idea that people can transition</a>&nbsp;to a gender other than the one assigned at birth. That has implications for areas including passports and prisons. He’s also opened the door to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-tuskegee-airmen-dei-pentagon-480d932c8bcb4c6056abe78e34010982">barring transgender service members</a>&nbsp;from the military; called to end federal health insurance and other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-transition-executive-order-301e4130233b411311978f66f455f1c4">funding for gender-affirming care</a>&nbsp;for transgender people under age 19 and restrict the way lessons on gender can be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-critical-race-theory-antisemitism-college-protests-18136b8c8f5adb9c75c47907e020268a">taught in schools</a>.Already, transgender people&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-transgender-gender-affirming-care-lawsuit-19-cf1467fd53ebb8a125a863c345508e4c">have sued</a>&nbsp;over several of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-troops-trump-pentagon-order-c92b17a47574d711efa11fb178ff6ae0">the policies</a>&nbsp;and are likely to challenge more of them in court.Civil rights lawyers who are handling the cases have asserted that in some instances, Trump’s orders violate laws adopted by Congress and protections in the Constitution – and that they overstep the authority of the president.There could be similar questions for this order, for instance: Can the president demand that the NCAA change its policies?NCAA President Charlie Baker told Republican senators in December that the organization would follow federal law. The NCAA did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.The order came a day after three former teammates of transgender swimmer Lia Thomas filed a lawsuit accusing the NCAA, Ivy League, Harvard and their own school, Penn, of conspiring to allow Thomas to compete at conference and national championships.The lawsuit, which makes similar allegations of that filed last year by Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines and others, alleges the defendants violated Title IX by allowing Thomas to swim “and acted in bad faith.” Gaines joined Trump for the signing ceremony.___

🎥Trump signs order to bar transgender athletes from women's sports

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are actively investigating a fatal shooting in Johnson County.

Just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to an armed disturbance in the 15900 block of West 127th Street in Olathe, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.

First responders found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.

Police have identified and contacted all individual involved. Police have not reported an arrest or the name of the man who died.

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are actively investigating a fatal shooting in Johnson County.Just before 10:30p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to an armed disturbance in the 15900 block of West 127th Street in Olathe, according to Police Sergeant John Moncayo.First responders found a man suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.Police have identified and contacted all individual involved. Police have not reported an arrest or the name of the man who died.

Police investigate deadly Kansas shooting

WILSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Wilson County.

The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2005 Saturn Ion driven by&nbsp; Leisa&nbsp;Snyder, 35, Altoona, was westbound on Kansas 47 four miles east of Altoona.

The car crossed the center line and struck the rear axle of an eastbound 2024 IHC semi driven by&nbsp; Dalano&nbsp; Hill, 35, Decatur, Georgia.

Snyder was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Countryside Funeral Home. Hill was not injured. Snyder was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

WILSON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Wednesday in Wilson County.The Kansas Highway&nbsp; Patrol reported a 2005 Saturn Ion driven by&nbsp; Leisa&nbsp;Snyder, 35, Altoona, was westbound on Kansas 47 four miles east of Altoona.The car crossed the center line and struck the rear axle of an eastbound 2024 IHC semi driven by&nbsp; Dalano&nbsp; Hill, 35, Decatur, Georgia.Snyder was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to&nbsp;Countryside Funeral Home. Hill was not injured. Snyder was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies after car strikes rear axle of semi

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Lawrene.

Just before 3a.m. Wednesday, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical units were dispatched to a&nbsp; fire at 1821 W. 26th Street, according Interim Chief McKenzi Ezell

Initial reports to the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center indicated that a porch was on fire and that passersby could see flames from Iowa Street.

&nbsp;First crews arrived on scene and observed heavy smoke and fire on the exterior of the apartment building. The flames extended from the first floor to the third floor. At approximately 3:07a.m. two additional fire units were requested to assist in providing additional response support.

Residents of six apartment units were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the Red Cross. The remainder of the residents that were evacuated were able to return to their apartments. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Lawrene.Just before 3a.m. Wednesday, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical units were dispatched to a&nbsp; fire at 1821 W. 26th Street, according Interim Chief McKenzi EzellInitial reports to the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center indicated that a porch was on fire and that passersby could see flames from Iowa Street.&nbsp;First crews arrived on scene and observed heavy smoke and fire on the exterior of the apartment building. The flames extended from the first floor to the third floor. At approximately 3:07a.m. two additional fire units were requested to assist in providing additional response support.Residents of six apartment units were displaced by the fire and are being assisted by the Red Cross. The remainder of the residents that were evacuated were able to return to their apartments. No injuries were reported among residents or firefighters.

Residents from 6 units displaced after Kansas apartment building fire

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>&nbsp;

WASHINGTON — Two large unions and an alliance that together represent millions of government and retired workers are suing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for allowing a “massive and unprecedented” intrusion into Americans’ personal data, beginning last week when the newly confirmed secretary handed over the department’s payment system to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.

The American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union and Alliance for Retired Americans filed suit Monday arguing that members of Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency broke federal privacy laws by infiltrating the system that handles trillions in payments — including income taxes, Social Security benefits and veterans pay.

“Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/1-Complaint-7.pdf" target="_blank">complaint</a>&nbsp;filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.

The plaintiffs are represented by two legal aid groups, the Public Citizen Litigation Group and the State Democracy Defenders Fund.

“Secretary Bessent’s action granting DOGE-affiliated individuals full, continuous, and ongoing access to that information for an unspecified period of time means that retirees, taxpayers, federal employees, companies, and other individuals from all walks of life have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords,” the complaint continued.

A rally was also scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon at the Treasury Department to protest Musk’s moves.

DOGE, an acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency, is not a government department. Agencies within the executive branch can only be created&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10158#:~:text=These%20orders%20and%20proposals%20have,various%20statutory%20functions%20and%20duties." target="_blank">by Congress</a>.

Trump convened DOGE, following a campaign promise to major campaign donor Musk, via an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;signed on his first day in office. The order renamed the U.S. Digital Service — the information technology arm of the federal government — to the U.S. DOGE Service.

The order also established an 18-month “U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization” for the purposes of “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”

Trump and Musk — and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who is no longer part of the temporary endeavor — touted on the campaign trail the creation of an entity that would cut $2 trillion in government spending.

Trump has since named Musk a temporary “special government employee,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-speaks-to-reporters/655306" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters Monday, adding that she was “not sure” which security clearances Musk has.

The Washington Post first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/31/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-systems/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday that a top Treasury official was placed on administrative leave by the Trump White House for refusing to allow personnel from so-called DOGE to access the federal payment system.

WIRED reported that Musk’s DOGE team is largely made up of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/" target="_blank">engineers ages 19 to 24</a>&nbsp;who have ties to Musk’s other companies.

WIRED further&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/" target="_blank">uncovered</a>&nbsp;that one 25-year-old engineer, Marko Elez, now reportedly has the ability to read and write code for two of Treasury’s most sensitive systems — the Payment Automation Manager and the Secure Payment System, both managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

States Newsroom reached out to the White House, the Department of the Treasury, and to representatives of DOGE for comment but did not receive responses.

Representatives from the U.S. DOGE Service continued accessing sensitive government files over the weekend when personnel demanded entry into computer systems at the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.

At least two USAID security officials were put on administrative leave after initially refusing to grant access, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/usaid-washington-workers/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>.

Democratic lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/members-congress-refused-entry-usaid-agency-shuttered-trump-administration" target="_blank">protested</a>&nbsp;outside the agency’s main office on Monday and vowed a legal fight. States Newsroom witnessed the lawmakers being denied entry into the USAID offices.

USAID employees who work in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center were told in emails and text blasts not to report to the office Monday.

The agency’s website,&nbsp;<a href="http://usaid.gov/" target="_blank">USAID.gov</a>, and its X social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/USAID" target="_blank">account</a>&nbsp;went dark Saturday. Musk owns X.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738775286116.png" alt="Elon Musk at an inauguration event - File photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk at an inauguration event - File photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — Two large unions and an alliance that together represent millions of government and retired workers are suing Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for allowing a “massive and unprecedented” intrusion into Americans’ personal data, beginning last week when the newly confirmed secretary handed over the department’s payment system to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738777717486.png" alt="U.S. Senator from Connecticut Chris Murphy during a rally against Musk on Tuessday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Senator from Connecticut Chris Murphy during a rally against Musk on Tuessday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>The American Federation of Government Employees, Service Employees International Union and Alliance for Retired Americans filed suit Monday arguing that members of Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency broke federal privacy laws by infiltrating the system that handles trillions in payments — including income taxes, Social Security benefits and veterans pay.“Millions of people cannot avoid engaging in financial transactions with the federal government and, therefore, cannot avoid having their sensitive personal and financial information maintained in government records,” according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/1-Complaint-7.pdf" target="_blank">complaint</a>&nbsp;filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia.The plaintiffs are represented by two legal aid groups, the Public Citizen Litigation Group and the State Democracy Defenders Fund.“Secretary Bessent’s action granting DOGE-affiliated individuals full, continuous, and ongoing access to that information for an unspecified period of time means that retirees, taxpayers, federal employees, companies, and other individuals from all walks of life have no assurance that their information will receive the protection that federal law affords,” the complaint continued.A rally was also scheduled for late Tuesday afternoon at the Treasury Department to protest Musk’s moves.<h2>What is DOGE?</h2>DOGE, an acronym for the Department of Government Efficiency, is not a government department. Agencies within the executive branch can only be created&nbsp;<a href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB10158#:~:text=These%20orders%20and%20proposals%20have,various%20statutory%20functions%20and%20duties." target="_blank">by Congress</a>.Trump convened DOGE, following a campaign promise to major campaign donor Musk, via an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/establishing-and-implementing-the-presidents-department-of-government-efficiency/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;signed on his first day in office. The order renamed the U.S. Digital Service — the information technology arm of the federal government — to the U.S. DOGE Service.The order also established an 18-month “U.S. DOGE Service Temporary Organization” for the purposes of “modernizing Federal technology and software to maximize governmental efficiency and productivity.”Trump and Musk — and former presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who is no longer part of the temporary endeavor — touted on the campaign trail the creation of an entity that would cut $2 trillion in government spending.Trump has since named Musk a temporary “special government employee,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/white-house-press-secretary-karoline-leavitt-speaks-to-reporters/655306" target="_blank">told</a>&nbsp;reporters Monday, adding that she was “not sure” which security clearances Musk has.<h2>Youthful engineers</h2>The Washington Post first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/01/31/elon-musk-treasury-department-payment-systems/" target="_blank">reported</a>&nbsp;Friday that a top Treasury official was placed on administrative leave by the Trump White House for refusing to allow personnel from so-called DOGE to access the federal payment system.WIRED reported that Musk’s DOGE team is largely made up of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/" target="_blank">engineers ages 19 to 24</a>&nbsp;who have ties to Musk’s other companies.WIRED further&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-associate-bfs-federal-payment-system/" target="_blank">uncovered</a>&nbsp;that one 25-year-old engineer, Marko Elez, now reportedly has the ability to read and write code for two of Treasury’s most sensitive systems — the Payment Automation Manager and the Secure Payment System, both managed by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service.States Newsroom reached out to the White House, the Department of the Treasury, and to representatives of DOGE for comment but did not receive responses.<h2>DOGE in USAID</h2>Representatives from the U.S. DOGE Service continued accessing sensitive government files over the weekend when personnel demanded entry into computer systems at the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Washington, D.C., headquarters.At least two USAID security officials were put on administrative leave after initially refusing to grant access, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/politics/usaid-washington-workers/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>.Democratic lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/members-congress-refused-entry-usaid-agency-shuttered-trump-administration" target="_blank">protested</a>&nbsp;outside the agency’s main office on Monday and vowed a legal fight. States Newsroom witnessed the lawmakers being denied entry into the USAID offices.USAID employees who work in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center were told in emails and text blasts not to report to the office Monday.The agency’s website,&nbsp;<a href="http://usaid.gov/" target="_blank">USAID.gov</a>, and its X social media&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/USAID" target="_blank">account</a>&nbsp;went dark Saturday. Musk owns X.

Lawsuit Filed Over Attempts by Elon Musk’s DOGE to take Over U.S. Benefit Payment System

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is going to prison for murder.

A Jackson County judge sentenced 26-year-old Kequan Herring to 32-years in prison for a fatal shooting near 19th Street and Park Tower Drive in 2023, according to Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

The judge sentenced him to 22 years for 2nd Degree Murder, 15 years for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and 10 years for each count of Armed Criminal Action. The murder charge will run consecutive to one Armed Criminal Action count. The other Armed Criminal Action count and Unlawful Use of a Weapon conviction will run concurrent with the murder count.&nbsp;

In December, Herring was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2497/Kequan-Herring-PC-Statement-redacted">According to court records</a>, officers were dispatched to a residence on a shooting call on November 28, 2023, and located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter.

Detectives found shell casings behind the residence and bullet holes through the back entrance wall of the residence. There were some apparent bullet holes in nearby residences as well.&nbsp;

Surveillance video from the area of the shooting captured the defendant shooting at the back of the victim’s residence, running out of camera view and then driving away. Detectives used cell tower mapping, which placed the defendant in the area of the homicide at the same time it took place. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702072810901.png" alt="Herring-photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Herring-photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man is going to prison for murder.A Jackson County judge sentenced 26-year-old Kequan Herring to 32-years in prison for a fatal shooting near 19th Street and Park Tower Drive in 2023, according to Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.The judge sentenced him to 22 years for 2nd Degree Murder, 15 years for Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and 10 years for each count of Armed Criminal Action. The murder charge will run consecutive to one Armed Criminal Action count. The other Armed Criminal Action count and Unlawful Use of a Weapon conviction will run concurrent with the murder count.&nbsp;In December, Herring was convicted of 2nd Degree Murder, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, and two counts of Armed Criminal Action.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2497/Kequan-Herring-PC-Statement-redacted">According to court records</a>, officers were dispatched to a residence on a shooting call on November 28, 2023, and located the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter.Detectives found shell casings behind the residence and bullet holes through the back entrance wall of the residence. There were some apparent bullet holes in nearby residences as well.&nbsp;Surveillance video from the area of the shooting captured the defendant shooting at the back of the victim’s residence, running out of camera view and then driving away. Detectives used cell tower mapping, which placed the defendant in the area of the homicide at the same time it took place. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Cell tower mapping helped convict KC man of murder

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first U.S. military flight deporting migrants from the United States to Guantanamo Bay landed in Cuba on Tuesday evening, according to a U.S. official. It was the first step in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-signs-laken-riley-act-immigration-crackdown-30a34248fa984d8d46b809c3e6d8731a">expected surge</a>&nbsp;in the number of migrants sent to the U.S. naval base, which for decades was primarily used to detain foreigners associated with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

President Donald Trump has eyed the facility as a holding center and said it has the capacity to hold as many as 30,000.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was assigned to Guantanamo Bay when he was on active duty, has called it a “perfect place” to house migrants.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-hegseth-troops-border-guantanamo-7e667ff0ac0a483dae048e2d2de37997">Additional U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;have arrived at the facility in the past few days to help prepare.

Amy Fischer, director of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at Amnesty International USA, decried the use of Guantanamo.

“Sending immigrants to Guantanamo is a profoundly cruel, costly move. It will cut people off from lawyers, family and support systems, throwing them into a black hole so the U.S. government can continue to violate their human rights out of sight. Shut Gitmo down now and forever!" Fischer said in a statement.

In addition, the U.S. flew Indian immigrants back to India on Monday, a second U.S. official said. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public.

There had previously been seven deportation flights, to Ecuador,&nbsp; Guatemala,  Honduras and Peru. In addition, Colombian officials flew to the U.S. and took two flights of migrants back to their country.

There are approximately 300 service members supporting the holding operations at Guantanamo Bay, and the numbers will fluctuate based on the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security, which is the lead federal agency. At least 230 of those service members are U.S. Marines from the 6th Marine Regiment, who began deploying on Friday.

There are more than 725,000 immigrants from India living in the U.S. without authorization, the third most of any country after Mexico and El Salvador, according to the Pew Research Center.

Recent years have also seen a jump in the number of Indians attempting to enter the country along&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-canada-us-india-deaths-smuggling-trial-16946bb01a1d1ca2978f29e902e550fc">the U.S.-Canada border</a>. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first U.S. military flight to deport migrants from the United States to Guantanamo Bay has departed and is expected to land Tuesday evening, two U.S. officials said. It is the first step in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-signs-laken-riley-act-immigration-crackdown-30a34248fa984d8d46b809c3e6d8731a">expected surge</a>&nbsp;in the number of migrants sent to the Navy base in Cuba, which for decades was primarily used to detain foreigners associated with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Amy Fischer, director of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at Amnesty International USA, decried the use of Guantanamo to house migrants.

In addition, the U.S. flew Indian migrants back to India on Monday, and that flight was still in progress as of midday Tuesday, one of the officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public.

There had previously been seven deportation flights, to Ecuador, Guam, Honduras and Peru. In addition, Colombian officials flew to the U.S. and took two flights of migrants back to their country.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738697688367.png" alt="U.S. military service members arrived at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay this weekend where they joined service members already at the base supporting illegal alien holding operations led by DHS.-Photo U.S. Southern Command" />
 <figcaption>U.S. military service members arrived at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay this weekend where they joined service members already at the base supporting illegal alien holding operations led by DHS.-Photo U.S. Southern Command</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The first U.S. military flight deporting migrants from the United States to Guantanamo Bay landed in Cuba on Tuesday evening, according to a U.S. official. It was the first step in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-signs-laken-riley-act-immigration-crackdown-30a34248fa984d8d46b809c3e6d8731a">expected surge</a>&nbsp;in the number of migrants sent to the U.S. naval base, which for decades was primarily used to detain foreigners associated with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.President Donald Trump has eyed the facility as a holding center and said it has the capacity to hold as many as 30,000.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was assigned to Guantanamo Bay when he was on active duty, has called it a “perfect place” to house migrants.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-hegseth-troops-border-guantanamo-7e667ff0ac0a483dae048e2d2de37997">Additional U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;have arrived at the facility in the past few days to help prepare.Amy Fischer, director of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at Amnesty International USA, decried the use of Guantanamo.“Sending immigrants to Guantanamo is a profoundly cruel, costly move. It will cut people off from lawyers, family and support systems, throwing them into a black hole so the U.S. government can continue to violate their human rights out of sight. Shut Gitmo down now and forever!" Fischer said in a statement.In addition, the U.S. flew Indian immigrants back to India on Monday, a second U.S. official said. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public.There had previously been seven deportation flights, to Ecuador,&nbsp; Guatemala, Honduras and Peru. In addition, Colombian officials flew to the U.S. and took two flights of migrants back to their country.There are approximately 300 service members supporting the holding operations at Guantanamo Bay, and the numbers will fluctuate based on the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security, which is the lead federal agency. At least 230 of those service members are U.S. Marines from the 6th Marine Regiment, who began deploying on Friday.There are more than 725,000 immigrants from India living in the U.S. without authorization, the third most of any country after Mexico and El Salvador, according to the Pew Research Center.Recent years have also seen a jump in the number of Indians attempting to enter the country along&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-canada-us-india-deaths-smuggling-trial-16946bb01a1d1ca2978f29e902e550fc">the U.S.-Canada border</a>. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago.WASHINGTON (AP) — The first U.S. military flight to deport migrants from the United States to Guantanamo Bay has departed and is expected to land Tuesday evening, two U.S. officials said. It is the first step in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-signs-laken-riley-act-immigration-crackdown-30a34248fa984d8d46b809c3e6d8731a">expected surge</a>&nbsp;in the number of migrants sent to the Navy base in Cuba, which for decades was primarily used to detain foreigners associated with the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.President Donald Trump has eyed the facility as a holding center and said it has the capacity to hold as many as 30,000.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was assigned to Guantanamo Bay when he was on active duty, has called it a “perfect place” to house migrants.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-hegseth-troops-border-guantanamo-7e667ff0ac0a483dae048e2d2de37997">Additional U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;have arrived at the facility in the past few days to help prepare.Amy Fischer, director of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at Amnesty International USA, decried the use of Guantanamo to house migrants.“Sending immigrants to Guantanamo is a profoundly cruel, costly move. It will cut people off from lawyers, family and support systems, throwing them into a black hole so the U.S. government can continue to violate their human rights out of sight. Shut Gitmo down now and forever!" Fischer said in a statement.In addition, the U.S. flew Indian migrants back to India on Monday, and that flight was still in progress as of midday Tuesday, one of the officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public.There had previously been seven deportation flights, to Ecuador, Guam, Honduras and Peru. In addition, Colombian officials flew to the U.S. and took two flights of migrants back to their country.There are approximately 300 service members supporting the holding operations at Guantanamo Bay, and the numbers will fluctuate based on the requirements of the Department of Homeland Security, which is the lead federal agency. At least 230 of those service members are U.S. Marines from the 6th Marine Regiment, who began deploying on Friday.There are more than 725,000 immigrants from India living in the U.S. without authorization, the third most of any country after Mexico and El Salvador, according to the Pew Research Center.Recent years have also seen a jump in the number of Indians attempting to enter the country along&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-canada-us-india-deaths-smuggling-trial-16946bb01a1d1ca2978f29e902e550fc">the U.S.-Canada border</a>. The U.S. Border Patrol arrested more than 14,000 Indians on the Canadian border in the year ending Sept. 30, which amounted to 60% of all arrests along that border and more than 10 times the number two years ago.

First military flight lands in Guantanamo with migrants deported from US

SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County zoo shared a story on Tuesday of both joy and heartbreak with the birth of a maned wolf pup.

Layla, the zoo's female maned wolf, gave birth to a female pup, Amora.

"Tragically, despite expert care, Layla unexpectedly passed away, leaving Amora without a mother. Maned wolves are naturally solitary, but young pups need companionship to develop properly." 

"Without a mother or sibling, it is challenging for her to learn the natural behaviors she will need to thrive as a maned wolf.To ensure she had the right companionship, we found a unique solution - we turned to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshumanesociety?__cft__[0]=AZUfIgxV2tbFaPDj93_uPs2ndXWJuh7VYbK0j6UmnZTypWnXJUqL4b1Ct0tpC0uBhiyoE3ggwlO0PKOr_2iV25go4WXy3pn45FP5MKIGz6YYh50RNWYuX-BLbdBtv4V4aylol6NZB43gpRRNWjiNbh_fs07-IThHbuS4QTOsR14K78R2ncr92ajia39f4FKhWUE&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Humane Society</a> to adopt a puppy."

Slinky, a brindle mix, was taken in by the Kansas Humane Society on the very same day Amora was born, and adopted by the Zoo three weeks later."

"They have since been carefully introduced, and while Amora has quite the spicy personality, Slinky's playful nature is helping her grow into the wolf she is meant to be."

"Slinky has started the socialization process for Amora and has since been adopted by a member of our staff. As per the SSP (Species Survival Plan), Amora will eventually transition to living with other maned wolves, carrying on the legacy of her species. The zoo encouraged the public to "stay tuned for more updates on Amora as she continues to grow."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738707486702.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —The Sedgwick County zoo shared a story on Tuesday of both joy and heartbreak with the birth of a maned wolf pup.Layla, the zoo's female maned wolf, gave birth to a female pup, Amora.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738707442203.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"Tragically, despite expert care, Layla unexpectedly passed away, leaving Amora without a mother. Maned wolves are naturally solitary, but young pups need companionship to develop properly." "Without a mother or sibling, it is challenging for her to learn the natural behaviors she will need to thrive as a maned wolf.To ensure she had the right companionship, we found a unique solution - we turned to the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kshumanesociety?__cft__[0]=AZUfIgxV2tbFaPDj93_uPs2ndXWJuh7VYbK0j6UmnZTypWnXJUqL4b1Ct0tpC0uBhiyoE3ggwlO0PKOr_2iV25go4WXy3pn45FP5MKIGz6YYh50RNWYuX-BLbdBtv4V4aylol6NZB43gpRRNWjiNbh_fs07-IThHbuS4QTOsR14K78R2ncr92ajia39f4FKhWUE&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas Humane Society</a> to adopt a puppy."Slinky, a brindle mix, was taken in by the Kansas Humane Society on the very same day Amora was born, and adopted by the Zoo three weeks later.""They have since been carefully introduced, and while Amora has quite the spicy personality, Slinky's playful nature is helping her grow into the wolf she is meant to be.""Slinky has started the socialization process for Amora and has since been adopted by a member of our staff. As per the SSP (Species Survival Plan), Amora will eventually transition to living with other maned wolves, carrying on the legacy of her species. The zoo encouraged the public to "stay tuned for more updates on Amora as she continues to grow."

Orphaned wolf pup at Kansas zoo has a new companion 

On Tuesday night,&nbsp; members of the Kansas congressional delegation held a moment of silence on the House floor in honor of those who lost their lives in the Flight 5342 crash last week.

Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes said, "We grieve with the families and friends they left behind and pray for those in our districts who are still in shock at the loss of their loved ones."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738723460196.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On Tuesday night,&nbsp; members of the Kansas congressional delegation held a moment of silence on the House floor in honor of those who lost their lives in the Flight 5342 crash last week.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Tonight, my colleagues and I held a moment of silence on the House floor in honor of those who lost their lives in the Flight 5342 crash last week. We grieve with the families and friends they left behind and pray for those in our districts who are still in shock at the loss of… <a href="https://t.co/pZoQq5dxto">pic.twitter.com/pZoQq5dxto</a>&mdash; Rep. Ron Estes (@RepRonEstes) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRonEstes/status/1886953683679588426?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas 4th District Congressman Ron Estes said, "We grieve with the families and friends they left behind and pray for those in our districts who are still in shock at the loss of their loved ones."

Moment of silence: Kan. lawmakers honor victims of midair collision 

RENO COUNTY —Authorities investigating the cause of a fatal fire at a home in Hutchinson have made an arrest.

After first responders arrived on scene at 3:30a.m. Saturday, they located four individuals at the residence. Two of the individuals 32-year-old Kalsey M. Payton and one juvenile female were found deceased. The other two individuals 37-year-old Wendell Payton and one juvenile female, were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, and later to Saint Francis in Wichita. The girl has since been medically released from the hospital.

Since responding to the scene, Hutchinson police officers and detectives have been working around the clock to follow all leads. During the investigation, probable cause was established, and after being medically released, Wendell Payton was arrested and transported to the Reno County Correctional Facility on requested charges of one count of 1st degree murder for the death of Kalsey Payton and one count of 1st degree murder for the death of the juvenile female, one count of aggravated arson, one count of aggravated endangering a child, and two counts of felony interference with law enforcement.

These charges have been forwarded to the Reno County District Attorney’s Office.

RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal fire at a home in Hutchinson.&nbsp;

Just before 3:30a.m. crews were&nbsp;dispatched to a fire at a home in the 1000 block of East 3rd Street in Hutchinson with possible people trapped, according to a media release.

A neighbor notified authorities the house was on fire and there were people in the basement. Hutchinson Police Department arrived on scene and found one juvenile standing out front of the home and they transferred care directly to EMS who was on scene.

First arriving crews found smoke coming from the 900 square foot single family home.&nbsp; They initiated an aggressive interior fire attack and search operation and were immediately met with a hole in the first floor.

They were able to navigate to the interior stairwell and made entry into the basement where they found 3 victims and the fire. Crews worked diligently to remove all 3 victims from the basement as the stairwell had been compromised due to fire.

Fire was considered controlled shortly after.&nbsp; Two of the victims, one adult and one juvenile, were found deceased,&nbsp; EMS transported one adult and one juvenile to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. Incident is still under investigation in collaboration with Kansas State Fire Marshals Office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738434343322.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Authorities investigating the cause of a fatal fire at a home in Hutchinson have made an arrest.After first responders arrived on scene at 3:30a.m. Saturday, they located four individuals at the residence. Two of the individuals 32-year-old Kalsey M. Payton and one juvenile female were found deceased. The other two individuals 37-year-old Wendell Payton and one juvenile female, were transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, and later to Saint Francis in Wichita. The girl has since been medically released from the hospital.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738764384897.png" alt="Payton photo Reno Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Payton photo Reno Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>Since responding to the scene, Hutchinson police officers and detectives have been working around the clock to follow all leads. During the investigation, probable cause was established, and after being medically released, Wendell Payton was arrested and transported to the Reno County Correctional Facility on requested charges of one count of 1st degree murder for the death of Kalsey Payton and one count of 1st degree murder for the death of the juvenile female, one count of aggravated arson, one count of aggravated endangering a child, and two counts of felony interference with law enforcement.These charges have been forwarded to the Reno County District Attorney’s Office.-------------RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fatal fire at a home in Hutchinson.&nbsp;Just before 3:30a.m. crews were&nbsp;dispatched to a fire at a home in the 1000 block of East 3rd Street in Hutchinson with possible people trapped, according to a media release.A neighbor notified authorities the house was on fire and there were people in the basement. Hutchinson Police Department arrived on scene and found one juvenile standing out front of the home and they transferred care directly to EMS who was on scene.First arriving crews found smoke coming from the 900 square foot single family home.&nbsp; They initiated an aggressive interior fire attack and search operation and were immediately met with a hole in the first floor.They were able to navigate to the interior stairwell and made entry into the basement where they found 3 victims and the fire. Crews worked diligently to remove all 3 victims from the basement as the stairwell had been compromised due to fire.Fire was considered controlled shortly after.&nbsp; Two of the victims, one adult and one juvenile, were found deceased,&nbsp; EMS transported one adult and one juvenile to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. Incident is still under investigation in collaboration with Kansas State Fire Marshals Office.