WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates.

The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post.

The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press.

“The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently monitoring and addressing the matter,” department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. “The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously take steps to improve the department’s cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents.”

She declined to comment further due to “security reasons” and the ongoing investigation.

It’s the latest instance of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-phone-impersonation-bc6ac99e5db06ac70307ca031ab8d647">high-level Trump administration figure</a>&nbsp;targeted by an impersonator, with a similar incident revealed in May involving President Donald Trump’s chief of staff,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-susie-wiles-transition-white-house-f917aa91b030d836b3bac01659b6fab4">Susie Wiles</a>. The misuse of AI to deceive people is likely to grow as the technology improves and becomes more widely available, and the FBI warned this past spring about “malicious actors” impersonating senior U.S. government officials in a text and voice messaging campaign.

The hoaxes involving Rubio had been unsuccessful and “not very sophisticated,” one of the officials said. Nonetheless, the second official said the department deemed it “prudent” to advise all employees and foreign governments, particularly as efforts by foreign actors to compromise information security increase.

The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign, but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised,” the cable said.

The FBI has warned in a public service announcement about a “malicious” campaign relying on text messages and AI-generated voice messages that purport to come from a senior U.S. official and that aim to dupe other government officials as well as the victim’s associates and contacts.

This is not the first time that Rubio has been impersonated in a deepfake. This spring, someone created a bogus video of him saying he wanted to cut off Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1896893386323628172" target="_blank">Starlink internet service</a>. Ukraine’s government later&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1896893386323628172" target="_blank">rebutted the false claim</a>.

Several potential solutions have been put forward in recent years to the growing misuse of AI for deception, including criminal penalties and improved media literacy. Concerns about deepfakes have also led to a flood of new apps and AI systems designed to spot phonies that could easily fool a human.

The tech companies working on these systems are now in competition against those who would use AI to deceive, according to Siwei Lyu, a professor and computer scientist at the University at Buffalo. He said he’s seen an increase in the number of deepfakes portraying celebrities, politicians and business leaders as the technology improves.

Just a few years ago, fakes contained easy-to-spot flaws — inhuman voices or mistakes like extra fingers — but now the AI is so good, it’s much harder for a human to spot, giving deepfake makers an advantage.

“The level of realism and quality is increasing,” Lyu said. “It’s an arms race, and right now the generators are getting the upper hand.”

The Rubio hoax comes after text messages and phone calls went to elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles’ personal cellphone, The Wall Street Journal reported in May.

Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles, which may have been generated by AI, according to the newspaper. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles’ number, the report said. The government was investigating.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752074253485.png" alt="Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday- image White House" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Cabinet meeting Tuesday- image White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department is warning U.S. diplomats of attempts to impersonate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marco-rubio">Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;and possibly other officials using technology driven by artificial intelligence, according to two senior officials and a cable sent last week to all embassies and consulates.The warning came after the department discovered that an impostor posing as Rubio had attempted to reach out to at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator and a governor, according to the July 3 cable, which was first reported by The Washington Post.The recipients of the scam messages, which were sent by text, Signal and voice mail, were not identified in the cable, a copy of which was shared with The Associated Press.“The State Department is aware of this incident and is currently monitoring and addressing the matter,” department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters. “The department takes seriously its responsibility to safeguard its information and continuously take steps to improve the department’s cybersecurity posture to prevent future incidents.”She declined to comment further due to “security reasons” and the ongoing investigation.It’s the latest instance of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/susie-wiles-phone-impersonation-bc6ac99e5db06ac70307ca031ab8d647">high-level Trump administration figure</a>&nbsp;targeted by an impersonator, with a similar incident revealed in May involving President Donald Trump’s chief of staff,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-susie-wiles-transition-white-house-f917aa91b030d836b3bac01659b6fab4">Susie Wiles</a>. The misuse of AI to deceive people is likely to grow as the technology improves and becomes more widely available, and the FBI warned this past spring about “malicious actors” impersonating senior U.S. government officials in a text and voice messaging campaign.The hoaxes involving Rubio had been unsuccessful and “not very sophisticated,” one of the officials said. Nonetheless, the second official said the department deemed it “prudent” to advise all employees and foreign governments, particularly as efforts by foreign actors to compromise information security increase.The officials were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.“There is no direct cyber threat to the department from this campaign, but information shared with a third party could be exposed if targeted individuals are compromised,” the cable said.The FBI has warned in a public service announcement about a “malicious” campaign relying on text messages and AI-generated voice messages that purport to come from a senior U.S. official and that aim to dupe other government officials as well as the victim’s associates and contacts.This is not the first time that Rubio has been impersonated in a deepfake. This spring, someone created a bogus video of him saying he wanted to cut off Ukraine’s access to Elon Musk’s&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1896893386323628172" target="_blank">Starlink internet service</a>. Ukraine’s government later&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/CforCD/status/1896893386323628172" target="_blank">rebutted the false claim</a>.Several potential solutions have been put forward in recent years to the growing misuse of AI for deception, including criminal penalties and improved media literacy. Concerns about deepfakes have also led to a flood of new apps and AI systems designed to spot phonies that could easily fool a human.The tech companies working on these systems are now in competition against those who would use AI to deceive, according to Siwei Lyu, a professor and computer scientist at the University at Buffalo. He said he’s seen an increase in the number of deepfakes portraying celebrities, politicians and business leaders as the technology improves.Just a few years ago, fakes contained easy-to-spot flaws — inhuman voices or mistakes like extra fingers — but now the AI is so good, it’s much harder for a human to spot, giving deepfake makers an advantage.“The level of realism and quality is increasing,” Lyu said. “It’s an arms race, and right now the generators are getting the upper hand.”The Rubio hoax comes after text messages and phone calls went to elected officials, business executives and other prominent figures from someone who seemed to have gained access to the contacts in Wiles’ personal cellphone, The Wall Street Journal reported in May.Some of those who received calls heard a voice that sounded like Wiles, which may have been generated by AI, according to the newspaper. The messages and calls were not coming from Wiles’ number, the report said. The government was investigating.

AI used to impersonate U.S. Secretary of State, contact foreign officials

SEDGWICK COUNTY — An inmate accused in an attack on a Kansas jail deputy is due back in court Wednesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing.

James Chavez, 21, will appear before&nbsp;Judge Chrystal Krier and could enter a plea in the case, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In Apil Chaves was charged with aggravated battery.

On April 14, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy suffered serious burns after an inmate identified as Chavez launched a targeted attack inside the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.

The incident happened while the deputy was speaking with inmates in a housing pod.&nbsp; Chavez obtained a pot of boiling water and threw it on the deputy, causing second and third-degree burns to the back part of his body.

Sedgwick County EMS transported the deputy to a local hospital, where he was admitted to the Burn Unit. The 30-year-old deputy who has served with the Sheriff’s Office for nearly two years is expected.

Chavez was originally booked into the detention facility in March 2024 on pending juvenile charges and later faced an additional charge for trafficking contraband into a correctional facility He has had 39 documented disciplinary incidents since entering the facility.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744743778023.png" alt="Chavez photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Chavez photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — An inmate accused in an attack on a Kansas jail deputy is due back in court Wednesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing.James Chavez, 21, will appear before&nbsp;Judge Chrystal Krier and could enter a plea in the case, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. In Apil Chaves was charged with aggravated battery.On April 14, a Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Detention Deputy suffered serious burns after an inmate identified as Chavez launched a targeted attack inside the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility.The incident happened while the deputy was speaking with inmates in a housing pod.&nbsp; Chavez obtained a pot of boiling water and threw it on the deputy, causing second and third-degree burns to the back part of his body.Sedgwick County EMS transported the deputy to a local hospital, where he was admitted to the Burn Unit. The 30-year-old deputy who has served with the Sheriff’s Office for nearly two years is expected.Chavez was originally booked into the detention facility in March 2024 on pending juvenile charges and later faced an additional charge for trafficking contraband into a correctional facility He has had 39 documented disciplinary incidents since entering the facility.-----------

Inmate in scalding water attack on Kan. deputy is due back in court 

WASHINGTON (AP)—The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical government services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs.

The justices overrode lower court orders that temporarily froze the cuts, which have been led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-donald-trump-962778979dd35ea79d6092df9cb2cb56">Department of Government Efficiency</a>.

The court said in an unsigned order that no specific cuts were in front of the justices, only an executive order issued by Trump and an administration directive for agencies to undertake job reductions.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenting vote, accusing her colleagues of a “demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this President’s legally dubious actions in an emergency posture.”

Among the agencies affected by the order are the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs.

It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

The labor unions and nonprofits that sued over the downsizing offered the justices several examples of what would happen if it were allowed to take effect, including cuts of 40% to 50% at several agencies. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco were among cities that also sued.

“Today’s decision has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy. This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution,” the parties that sued said in a joint statement.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752056781018.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP)—The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical government services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs.The justices overrode lower court orders that temporarily froze the cuts, which have been led by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-doge-donald-trump-962778979dd35ea79d6092df9cb2cb56">Department of Government Efficiency</a>.The court said in an unsigned order that no specific cuts were in front of the justices, only an executive order issued by Trump and an administration directive for agencies to undertake job reductions.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenting vote, accusing her colleagues of a “demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this President’s legally dubious actions in an emergency posture.”Among the agencies affected by the order are the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs.It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.The labor unions and nonprofits that sued over the downsizing offered the justices several examples of what would happen if it were allowed to take effect, including cuts of 40% to 50% at several agencies. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco were among cities that also sued.“Today’s decision has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy. This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution,” the parties that sued said in a joint statement.

Groups react to court’s decision to allow mass layoffs of federal workers

HASKELL COUNTY —A heatburst occurred Wednesday morning in the southwest Kansas community of Sublette.

The National Weather Service reported the temperature jumped from 67 to 83 degrees at 3a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;This was the result of a heatburst due to a southward moving storm line that passed in the region.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752062398249.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HASKELL COUNTY —A heatburst occurred Wednesday morning in the southwest Kansas community of Sublette.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752062382531.png" alt="Radar image at 3:09 a.m. Wednesday-image National Weather Service Dodge City" />
 <figcaption>Radar image at 3:09 a.m. Wednesday-image National Weather Service Dodge City</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service reported the temperature jumped from 67 to 83 degrees at 3a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;This was the result of a heatburst due to a southward moving storm line that passed in the region.

Heatburst: Temperature jumped 16 degrees in minutes in Kan. town

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as 28-year-old Destiny Voss, according to Topeka Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.

Just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a local hospital in reference to a victim, later identified as Voss, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. A short time later, he died of his injuries. Investigators determined the shooting occurred in the 3200 Block of SW Randolph in Topeka.

This is the city’s 9th homicide investigation of 2025.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect details.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have identified the victim as 28-year-old Destiny Voss, according to Topeka Police Lt. Ronnie Connell.Just before 11:30 p.m. Sunday, police responded to a local hospital in reference to a victim, later identified as Voss, suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound. A short time later, he died of his injuries. Investigators determined the shooting occurred in the 3200 Block of SW Randolph in Topeka.This is the city’s 9th homicide investigation of 2025.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest or released suspect details.

Police ID Kansas man who died in weekend shooting 

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a partial building collapse in downtown Kansas City.

Just before 8:30p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas City Fire Department crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a building collapse in the 1200 block of Wyandotte Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

Crews reported that parts of the brick facade and some of the parapet had separated from the building and fallen to the sidewalk and street below. An exclusion zone was established on the south and west sides of the building to keep pedestrians from getting near the building.

KCPD assisted by blocking Wyandotte Street in both directions. DRONE 1 was ordered for aerial views of the structure, as well as to provide an interior search, which came back all clear.  Dangerous Buildings was ordered and was on scene. Wyandotte Street will remain closed from 12th Street to 13th Street throughout the night. No injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752057034367.png" alt="Photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating a partial building collapse in downtown Kansas City.Just before 8:30p.m. Tuesday, the Kansas City Fire Department crews&nbsp;responded to reports of a building collapse in the 1200 block of Wyandotte Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752057051867.png" alt="Photos KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photos KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews reported that parts of the brick facade and some of the parapet had separated from the building and fallen to the sidewalk and street below. An exclusion zone was established on the south and west sides of the building to keep pedestrians from getting near the building.KCPD assisted by blocking Wyandotte Street in both directions. DRONE 1 was ordered for aerial views of the structure, as well as to provide an interior search, which came back all clear. Dangerous Buildings was ordered and was on scene. Wyandotte Street will remain closed from 12th Street to 13th Street throughout the night. No injuries were reported at this incident.&nbsp;

Crews respond to partial building collapse in downtown Kansas City 

The USDA on Tuesday announced the National Farm Security Action Plan and discussed actions being taken to protect American agriculture from foreign threats.&nbsp;

Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, along with&nbsp;Governors from across the country, and&nbsp;other members of Congress, at the USDA, where they unveiled their National Farm Security Action Plan to protect American agriculture from foreign threats like China.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751982493089.png" alt="Image from USDA video" />
 <figcaption>Image from USDA video</figcaption>
 </figure>The USDA on Tuesday announced the National Farm Security Action Plan and discussed actions being taken to protect American agriculture from foreign threats.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t3jAwHffO4Y?si=1DvfYPybMPwl9x6G&amp;start=1" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In partnership with the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofDefense</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a> - USDA is TODAY announcing a National Farm Security Action Plan!<a href="https://twitter.com/USDA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USDA</a> is taking action because farm security IS national security. <a href="https://t.co/iTuomtV5AL">pic.twitter.com/iTuomtV5AL</a>&mdash; Secretary Brooke Rollins (@SecRollins) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecRollins/status/1942594106619793850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall joined Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, along with&nbsp;Governors from across the country, and&nbsp;other members of Congress, at the USDA, where they unveiled their National Farm Security Action Plan to protect American agriculture from foreign threats like China.

🎥 Kan. U.S. Senator helps reveal Farm Security Action Plan

KANSAS CITY —Two Kansas City Fire Department firefighters have deployed as part of Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1), a specialized 50-member search and rescue team activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to KCFD&nbsp;Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

The team departed from Boone County Fire Protection District Headquarters in Columbia, Missouri July 7 and are traveling to Kerr County, Texas.

MO-TF1 is being deployed in response to widespread flooding in the region. Their mission will focus on swift water rescue operations and Human Remains Detection (HRD). Upon arrival, the team is expected to join Colorado Task Force 1 and begin operations later this afternoon. The deployment is anticipated to last up to 14 days.

Missouri Task Force 1 is an elite FEMA urban search and rescue team made up of firefighters, paramedics, physicians, structural engineers, canine handlers, and technical experts from across Missouri. These highly trained professionals are capable of deploying anywhere in the country at a moment’s notice to assist with disaster response, including floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and man-made incidents. Equipped to operate in challenging and hazardous environments, the team provides capabilities in search, rescue, medical care, logistics, wide area search and incident management.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752055247686.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Two Kansas City Fire Department firefighters have deployed as part of Missouri Task Force 1 (MO-TF1), a specialized 50-member search and rescue team activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to KCFD&nbsp;Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.The team departed from Boone County Fire Protection District Headquarters in Columbia, Missouri July 7 and are traveling to Kerr County, Texas.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FBooneCountyFire%2Fvideos%2F1412065403415608%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>MO-TF1 is being deployed in response to widespread flooding in the region. Their mission will focus on swift water rescue operations and Human Remains Detection (HRD). Upon arrival, the team is expected to join Colorado Task Force 1 and begin operations later this afternoon. The deployment is anticipated to last up to 14 days.Missouri Task Force 1 is an elite FEMA urban search and rescue team made up of firefighters, paramedics, physicians, structural engineers, canine handlers, and technical experts from across Missouri. These highly trained professionals are capable of deploying anywhere in the country at a moment’s notice to assist with disaster response, including floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and man-made incidents. Equipped to operate in challenging and hazardous environments, the team provides capabilities in search, rescue, medical care, logistics, wide area search and incident management.

KC first responders deploy to Texas following deadly floods

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces murder for the death of his brother over the past weekend.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2666/Ackerman-Redacted-Complaint-1">Jacob Ackerman</a>, 44,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2667/Ackerman-Probable-Cause-1]">Click here to read the probable cause s</a>tatement in the case.

On July 5, Sugar Creek, Missouri officers were dispatched to the area of M-291 and 210 Highway on a welfare check and found the victim lying on his back on the bank of a pond. He had a wound on the back of his head.&nbsp;

Detectives received reports that the victim’s brother was responsible for his death. The defendant later admitted in an interview with detectives that he stood behind the victim and shot him in the head after they got into an argument.&nbsp;

The defendant is being held on a $300,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751925759476.png" alt="Ackerman photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Ackerman photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man faces murder for the death of his brother over the past weekend.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2666/Ackerman-Redacted-Complaint-1">Jacob Ackerman</a>, 44,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action, according to&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2667/Ackerman-Probable-Cause-1]">Click here to read the probable cause s</a>tatement in the case.On July 5, Sugar Creek, Missouri officers were dispatched to the area of M-291 and 210 Highway on a welfare check and found the victim lying on his back on the bank of a pond. He had a wound on the back of his head.&nbsp;Detectives received reports that the victim’s brother was responsible for his death. The defendant later admitted in an interview with detectives that he stood behind the victim and shot him in the head after they got into an argument.&nbsp;The defendant is being held on a $300,000 cash-only bond.&nbsp;

Read the probable cause statement: KC man shot his brother in the head

LABETTE COUNTY&nbsp;–The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Edna man for alleged child sex crimes.

On Monday, July 7, around 12 p.m., KBI agents and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office arrested 35-year-old David Stevens, of Edna, at the Labette County Sheriff’s Office. Stevens was arrested for six counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

The KBI Child Victims Unit began investigating after a cyber tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in March. On June 2, KBI agents and deputies from the Labette County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence located at 215 N. Marks Ave., in Edna.

&nbsp;Stevens is being held in the the Labette County Jail without bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751992375310.png" alt="Stevens photo Labette County&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Stevens photo Labette County&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>LABETTE COUNTY&nbsp;–The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office arrested an Edna man for alleged child sex crimes.On Monday, July 7, around 12 p.m., KBI agents and the Labette County Sheriff’s Office arrested 35-year-old David Stevens, of Edna, at the Labette County Sheriff’s Office. Stevens was arrested for six counts of sexual exploitation of a child.The KBI Child Victims Unit began investigating after a cyber tip was received from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in March. On June 2, KBI agents and deputies from the Labette County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence located at 215 N. Marks Ave., in Edna.&nbsp;Stevens is being held in the the Labette County Jail without bond.

Cyber tip led to arrest of Kansas man for alleged child sex crimes

WASHINGTON (AP) —President Donald Trump has leapt to the defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi amid fresh scrutiny from elements of his base over recent Justice Department revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.

Trump headed off a reporter’s Epstein-related questions for Bondi at a Cabinet meeting, chiding the journalist for asking “about a guy who’s been talked about for years” and suggesting the interest in the subject was a “desecration” at a time when the country was grappling with issues like the catastrophic Texas flooding.

The president’s response appeared to signal his continued support for Bondi even as she faces questions over the Justice Department’s acknowledgment in a memo on Monday that Epstein did not maintain a “client list.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704330351229.png" alt="Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Jeffrey Epstein New York Sex Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —President Donald Trump has leapt to the defense of Attorney General Pam Bondi amid fresh scrutiny from elements of his base over recent Justice Department revelations in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?!?...I can&#39;t believe you&#39;re asking a question on Epstein at a time like this where we&#39;re having some of the greatest success and also tragedy with what happened in Texas. It just seems like a desecration.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VlTGeEAfmC">pic.twitter.com/VlTGeEAfmC</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1942623670423158984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump headed off a reporter’s Epstein-related questions for Bondi at a Cabinet meeting, chiding the journalist for asking “about a guy who’s been talked about for years” and suggesting the interest in the subject was a “desecration” at a time when the country was grappling with issues like the catastrophic Texas flooding.The president’s response appeared to signal his continued support for Bondi even as she faces questions over the Justice Department’s acknowledgment in a memo on Monday that Epstein did not maintain a “client list.”

🎥President Trump goes off on reporter for asking about Jeffrey Epstein

HUNT, Texas (AP) — More than 160 people are believed to be missing in Texas in the aftermath of the flash floods that killed more than 100 over the July Fourth weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday.

Abbot said many of those who are not accounted for were staying in state's Hill Country but did not register at a camp or hotel. He spoke at a news conference after taking a helicopter tour of the affected area.

Abbott said President Donald Trump has pledged to provide whatever relief Texas needs to recover from the flooding, and he read what he said was a text from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in which Kennedy pledged to declare a public health emergency.

Abbott said of Trump: "He could not stop talking about how sad he was for all the little girls who have lost their lives." Trump planned to visit the state Friday.

Meanwhile, public officials in charge of finding victims of the devastating flooding pushed away intensifying questions about who was monitoring the weather and warning that floodwaters were barreling toward camps and homes.

Leaders in Kerr County, where searchers have found 87 bodies, said their first priority is recovering victims, not reviewing what happened in the hours before the flash floods inundated the state's Hill Country.

"Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home," Lt. Col. Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens, said during a sometimes tense news conference where officials were questioned about the timing of their response.

Hope of finding survivors was increasingly bleak. Four days have passed since anyone was found alive in the aftermath of the floods in Kerr County, officials said Tuesday.

Abbott planned to make another visit Tuesday to Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died during the floods. Officials said Tuesday that five campers and one counselor have still not been found.

Outside the cabins at Camp Mystic where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered on a grassy hill that slopes toward the river. Also in the debris were pink, purple and light blue luggage decorated with stickers.

Among those who died at the camp were a second grader who loved pink sparkles and bows in her curly hair, a 19-year-old counselor who enjoyed mentoring young girls and the camp's 75-year-old director.

The flash floods erupted before daybreak Friday after massive rains sent water speeding down hills into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet (8 meters) in less than an hour. The wall of water overwhelmed people in cabins, tents and trailers along the river's edge, pulling them into the water. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.

Some campers had to swim out of cabin windows to safety while others held onto a rope as they made their way to higher ground. Time-lapse videos showed how floodwaters covered roads in a matter of minutes.

Although it's difficult to attribute a single weather event to climate change, experts say a warming atmosphere and oceans make catastrophic storms more likely.

Questions mounted about what, if any, actions local officials took to warn campers and residents who were spending the July Fourth weekend in the scenic area long known to locals as "flash flood alley."

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that sending out warnings isn't "as easy as pushing a button." Answers about who did what and when will come later, public officials said.

Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said in the hours after the devastation that the county does not have a warning system.

Generations of families in the Hill Country have known the dangers. A 1987 flood forced the evacuation of a youth camp in the town of Comfort and swamped buses and vans. Ten teenagers were killed.

Local leaders have talked for years about the need for a warning system. Kerr County sought a nearly $1 million grant eight years ago for such a system, but the request was turned down by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Local residents balked at footing the bill themselves, Kelly said.

Some camps were aware of the dangers Friday and monitored the weather. At least one moved several hundred campers to higher ground before the floods. But many people didn't move or were caught by surprise.

The bodies of 30 children were among those that have been recovered in Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, the sheriff said.

The devastation spread across several hundred miles in central Texas all the way to just outside the capital city of Austin.

Nineteen deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, local officials said.

Aidan Duncan escaped just in time after hearing the muffled blare of a megaphone urging residents to evacuate Riverside RV Park in the Hill Country town of Ingram.

All of his belongings — a mattress, sports cards, his pet parakeet's bird cage — now sit in caked mud in front of his home.

"What's going on right now, it hurts," the 17-year-old said. "I literally cried so hard."

Search-and-rescue teams used heavy equipment to untangle trees and move large rocks as part of the massive search for missing people. Hundreds of volunteers showed up to help with one of the largest search operations in Texas history.

Along the banks of the Guadelupe, 91-year-old Charles Hanson, a resident at a senior living center, was sweeping up wood and piling pieces of concrete and stone, remnants from a playground structure.

He wanted to help clean up on behalf of his neighbors who can't get out. "We'll make do with the best we got," he said.

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Joshua A. Bickel in Kerrville, Texas; Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752008737792.png" alt="Photo Texas Division of Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Photo Texas Division of Emergency Management</figcaption>
 </figure>By NADIA LATHAN and JOHN SEEWER&nbsp;HUNT, Texas (AP) — More than 160 people are believed to be missing in Texas in the aftermath of the flash floods that killed more than 100 over the July Fourth weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday.Abbot said many of those who are not accounted for were staying in state's Hill Country but did not register at a camp or hotel. He spoke at a news conference after taking a helicopter tour of the affected area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752009039940.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Abbott said President Donald Trump has pledged to provide whatever relief Texas needs to recover from the flooding, and he read what he said was a text from U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in which Kennedy pledged to declare a public health emergency.Abbott said of Trump: "He could not stop talking about how sad he was for all the little girls who have lost their lives." Trump planned to visit the state Friday.Meanwhile, public officials in charge of finding victims of the devastating flooding pushed away intensifying questions about who was monitoring the weather and warning that floodwaters were barreling toward camps and homes.Leaders in Kerr County, where searchers have found 87 bodies, said their first priority is recovering victims, not reviewing what happened in the hours before the flash floods inundated the state's Hill Country."Right now, this team up here is focused on bringing people home," Lt. Col. Ben Baker of the Texas Game Wardens, said during a sometimes tense news conference where officials were questioned about the timing of their response.Hope of finding survivors was increasingly bleak. Four days have passed since anyone was found alive in the aftermath of the floods in Kerr County, officials said Tuesday.Abbott planned to make another visit Tuesday to Camp Mystic, the century-old all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died during the floods. Officials said Tuesday that five campers and one counselor have still not been found.Scenes of devastation at Camp MysticOutside the cabins at Camp Mystic where the girls had slept, mud-splattered blankets and pillows were scattered on a grassy hill that slopes toward the river. Also in the debris were pink, purple and light blue luggage decorated with stickers.Among those who died at the camp were a second grader who loved pink sparkles and bows in her curly hair, a 19-year-old counselor who enjoyed mentoring young girls and the camp's 75-year-old director.The flash floods erupted before daybreak Friday after massive rains sent water speeding down hills into the Guadalupe River, causing it to rise 26 feet (8 meters) in less than an hour. The wall of water overwhelmed people in cabins, tents and trailers along the river's edge, pulling them into the water. Some survivors were found clinging to trees.Some campers had to swim out of cabin windows to safety while others held onto a rope as they made their way to higher ground. Time-lapse videos showed how floodwaters covered roads in a matter of minutes.Although it's difficult to attribute a single weather event to climate change, experts say a warming atmosphere and oceans make catastrophic storms more likely.Where were the warnings?Questions mounted about what, if any, actions local officials took to warn campers and residents who were spending the July Fourth weekend in the scenic area long known to locals as "flash flood alley."Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said that sending out warnings isn't "as easy as pushing a button." Answers about who did what and when will come later, public officials said.Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly, the county's chief elected official, said in the hours after the devastation that the county does not have a warning system.Generations of families in the Hill Country have known the dangers. A 1987 flood forced the evacuation of a youth camp in the town of Comfort and swamped buses and vans. Ten teenagers were killed.Local leaders have talked for years about the need for a warning system. Kerr County sought a nearly $1 million grant eight years ago for such a system, but the request was turned down by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Local residents balked at footing the bill themselves, Kelly said.Some camps were aware of the dangers Friday and monitored the weather. At least one moved several hundred campers to higher ground before the floods. But many people didn't move or were caught by surprise.Recovery and cleanup goes onThe bodies of 30 children were among those that have been recovered in Kerr County, home to Camp Mystic and several other summer camps, the sheriff said.The devastation spread across several hundred miles in central Texas all the way to just outside the capital city of Austin.Nineteen deaths were reported in Travis, Burnet, Kendall, Tom Green and Williamson counties, local officials said.Aidan Duncan escaped just in time after hearing the muffled blare of a megaphone urging residents to evacuate Riverside RV Park in the Hill Country town of Ingram.All of his belongings — a mattress, sports cards, his pet parakeet's bird cage — now sit in caked mud in front of his home."What's going on right now, it hurts," the 17-year-old said. "I literally cried so hard."Search-and-rescue teams used heavy equipment to untangle trees and move large rocks as part of the massive search for missing people. Hundreds of volunteers showed up to help with one of the largest search operations in Texas history.Along the banks of the Guadelupe, 91-year-old Charles Hanson, a resident at a senior living center, was sweeping up wood and piling pieces of concrete and stone, remnants from a playground structure.He wanted to help clean up on behalf of his neighbors who can't get out. "We'll make do with the best we got," he said.___Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Joshua A. Bickel in Kerrville, Texas; Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report.

Texas governor: Dozens still missing after deadly floods

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump's plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical government services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs.

The justices overrode lower court orders that temporarily froze the cuts, which have been led by the Department of Government Efficiency.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenting vote, accusing her colleagues of a "demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this President's legally dubious actions in an emergency posture."

Jackson warned of enormous real-world consequences. "This executive action promises mass employee terminations, widespread cancellation of federal programs and services, and the dismantling of much of the Federal Government as Congress has created it," she wrote.

The high court action continued a remarkable winning streak for Trump, who the justices have allowed to move forward with significant parts of his plan to remake the federal government. The Supreme Court's intervention so far has been on the frequent emergency appeals the Justice Department has filed objecting to lower-court rulings as improperly intruding on presidential authority.

The Republican president has repeatedly said voters gave him a mandate for the work, and he tapped billionaire ally Elon Musk to lead the charge through DOGE. Musk recently left his role.

"Today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling is another definitive victory for the President and his administration. It clearly rebukes the continued assaults on the President's constitutionally authorized executive powers by leftist judges who are trying to prevent the President from achieving government efficiency across the federal government," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement.

Tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, have left their jobs via deferred resignation programs or have been placed on leave. There is no official figure for the job cuts, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.

In May, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston found that Trump's administration needs congressional approval to make sizable reductions to the federal workforce. By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block Illston's order, finding that the downsizing could have broader effects, including on the nation's food-safety system and health care for veterans.

Illston directed numerous federal agencies to halt acting on the president's workforce executive order signed in February and a subsequent memo issued by DOGE and the Office of Personnel Management. Illston was nominated by former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

The labor unions and nonprofit groups that sued over the downsizing offered the justices several examples of what would happen if it were allowed to take effect, including cuts of 40% to 50% at several agencies. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco were among cities that also sued.

"Today's decision has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy. This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution," the parties that sued said in a joint statement.

Among the agencies affected by the order are the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs. It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.

The case now continues in Illston's court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1672235865420.png" alt="Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States" />
 <figcaption>Supreme Court Credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK SHERMAN&nbsp;WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for President Donald Trump's plans to downsize the federal workforce despite warnings that critical government services will be lost and hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be out of their jobs.The justices overrode lower court orders that temporarily froze the cuts, which have been led by the Department of Government Efficiency.The court said in an unsigned order that no specific cuts were in front of the justices, only an executive order issued by Trump and an administration directive for agencies to undertake job reductions.Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the only dissenting vote, accusing her colleagues of a "demonstrated enthusiasm for greenlighting this President's legally dubious actions in an emergency posture."Jackson warned of enormous real-world consequences. "This executive action promises mass employee terminations, widespread cancellation of federal programs and services, and the dismantling of much of the Federal Government as Congress has created it," she wrote.The high court action continued a remarkable winning streak for Trump, who the justices have allowed to move forward with significant parts of his plan to remake the federal government. The Supreme Court's intervention so far has been on the frequent emergency appeals the Justice Department has filed objecting to lower-court rulings as improperly intruding on presidential authority.The Republican president has repeatedly said voters gave him a mandate for the work, and he tapped billionaire ally Elon Musk to lead the charge through DOGE. Musk recently left his role."Today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling is another definitive victory for the President and his administration. It clearly rebukes the continued assaults on the President's constitutionally authorized executive powers by leftist judges who are trying to prevent the President from achieving government efficiency across the federal government," White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement.Tens of thousands of federal workers have been fired, have left their jobs via deferred resignation programs or have been placed on leave. There is no official figure for the job cuts, but at least 75,000 federal employees took deferred resignation and thousands of probationary workers have already been let go.In May, U.S. District Judge Susan Illston found that Trump's administration needs congressional approval to make sizable reductions to the federal workforce. By a 2-1 vote, a panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block Illston's order, finding that the downsizing could have broader effects, including on the nation's food-safety system and health care for veterans.Illston directed numerous federal agencies to halt acting on the president's workforce executive order signed in February and a subsequent memo issued by DOGE and the Office of Personnel Management. Illston was nominated by former Democratic President Bill Clinton.The labor unions and nonprofit groups that sued over the downsizing offered the justices several examples of what would happen if it were allowed to take effect, including cuts of 40% to 50% at several agencies. Baltimore, Chicago and San Francisco were among cities that also sued."Today's decision has dealt a serious blow to our democracy and puts services that the American people rely on in grave jeopardy. This decision does not change the simple and clear fact that reorganizing government functions and laying off federal workers en masse haphazardly without any congressional approval is not allowed by our Constitution," the parties that sued said in a joint statement.Among the agencies affected by the order are the departments of Agriculture, Energy, Labor, the Interior, State, the Treasury and Veterans Affairs. It also applies to the National Science Foundation, Small Business Association, Social Security Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.The case now continues in Illston's court.

Supreme Court lets Trump pursue mass federal layoffs

Hospitals stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars under the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">Anna Claire Vollers</a>

The giant tax and spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law over the weekend includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/who-would-be-affected-by-health-care-cuts-in-senate-version-of-trumps-budget-bill#:~:text=This%20would%20be%20the%20biggest%20cut%20to%20Medicaid%2C%20in%20fact%2C%20the%20biggest%20cut%20to%20health%20care%20in%20history." target="_blank">the biggest health care spending cuts</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history. In response, states are scrambling to shield their hospitals from the looming loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding.

In Georgia,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/06/georgia-hurries-to-amp-up-medicaid-hospital-funding-by-2-billion/" target="_blank">a key state panel late last month</a>&nbsp;took steps to send more state Medicaid money to hospitals, hoping to maximize federal matching dollars before the cuts take effect. Other states are considering new grant programs that would funnel additional money to rural hospitals. Some state legislatures likely will reconvene to discuss how to fill holes in their Medicaid budgets.

The tax and spending bill&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5375991-gop-tax-bill-health-cuts/#:~:text=The%20legislation%20would%20also%20cut%20federal%20spending%20on%20Medicaid%2C%20Medicare%20and%20ObamaCare%20by%20%241.1%20trillion%2C%20with%20more%20than%20%241%20trillion%20coming%20from%20Medicaid.%C2%A0" target="_blank">cuts more than $1 trillion</a>&nbsp;from Medicaid, the public health insurance program for people with low incomes that’s jointly funded by states and the federal government. Under the measure, payments to hospitals or nursing facilities would probably&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/reconciliation-language-could-lead-to-cuts-in-medicaid-state-directed-payments-to-hospitals-and-nursing-facilities/#:~:text=If%20Congress%20passes%20the%20reconciliation%20bill%20with%20the%20Finance%20Committee%E2%80%99s%20requirements%20for%20SDPs%2C%20the%20required%20payments%20to%20hospitals%20or%20nursing%20facilities%20would%20likely%20decrease%20in%2029%20states%2C%20and%20possibly%2C%20in%20more%20than%2031." target="_blank">decrease in at least 29 states</a>, according to an analysis by KFF, a nonprofit health policy group.

Facing such budget shortfalls, states may have to stop offering optional Medicaid benefits such as vision and dental, reduce the rates they pay providers — which could shrink access for Medicaid enrollees — and change eligibility requirements so that fewer people qualify for coverage.

State policymakers and health experts worry the loss of funding also will endanger hospitals, particularly those in rural areas, driving up uncompensated care and forcing them to cut services or close entirely.

“Ultimately, when these hospitals close, what happens? People have to now travel longer for care. They might not even make it,” Dr. Anahita Dua, a vascular surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, told reporters last week during a news conference hosted by Defend America Action, a group launched to oppose Trump administration policies.

“This is ultimately not only going to affect the lives of the people that are not going to get the care, but also the majority of the hospitals that provide this care, and the people that are employed by those locations,” she said.

Earlier this month, an analysis by the State Health and Value Strategies program at Princeton University estimated that hospitals would lose 18% of their Medicaid funding,&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">nearly $665 billion over the next 10 years</a>.

Republicans have hailed the megabill — officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — as one that will cut waste, fraud and abuse in federal programs, secure the U.S. border and spur economic growth. The measure will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/02/nx-s1-5454598/the-gops-massive-bill-would-add-trillions-of-dollars-to-the-countrys-debt" target="_blank">add</a>&nbsp;at least $3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and has been scored by some independent economists as likely having little impact on growth. Dollars diverted from Medicaid will go toward the tax cuts prioritized by Trump, along with new spending on immigration control and defense projects.

Health policy experts anticipate at least some states will have to pull their legislatures back into session to address gaping budget holes due to the Medicaid cuts.

States can expect to lose&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">3%-18%</a>&nbsp;of their federal Medicaid funding over 10 years under the law, according to the State Health and Value Strategies program report. Arizona, Kentucky and Virginia would see the largest shares of their Medicaid dollars evaporate.

Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/dust-barely-settled-colorados-2025-legislative-session-talk-special-session/#:~:text=Polis%20says%2C%20if%20Congressional%20Republicans%20follow%20through%20on%20proposed%20spending%20cuts%2C%20he%20will%20likely%20reconvene%20the%20legislature%20to%20deal%20with%20impacts%20to%20programs%20such%20as%20Medicaid%2C%20which%20covers%20about%20one%20in%20five%20Coloradans." target="_blank">has said</a>&nbsp;he’s likely to reconvene the legislature.

“Almost certainly if some of these big cuts to Medicaid go through … we would likely need to reconvene, depending on what Congress does,” Polis said at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13k_fuNbbAA" target="_blank">news conference</a>&nbsp;in May.

Policymakers in some states have tried to get ahead of expected shortfalls.

In late June, the Georgia Department of Community Health’s advisory board held&nbsp;<a href="https://dch.georgia.gov/events/2025-06-27/dch-board-meeting-special-call" target="_blank">an emergency meeting</a>. In a unanimous vote, the board approved several measures aimed at increasing the state’s federal Medicaid reimbursement rate.

For example, the state wants to significantly increase Medicaid payments to hospitals that achieve certain goals, such as training Georgia doctors and delivering babies. The move would draw down an additional $2.1 billion per year in federal money.

“We’re doing our best to be responsive to the Medicaid conversations in Washington,” department Commissioner Russel Carlson told the board at the meeting. “Not overreacting in this 24/7 news cycle, but gathering the best information we can, reading the political environment the best we can, and acting responsibly.”

Other states have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/managed-care/guidance/state-directed-payments/approved-state-directed-payment-preprints?q=&amp;filter%5Bfield_review_type%5D%5Bin%5D%5B%5D=8271&amp;filter%5Bfield_approval_date%5D%5Bgte%5D=&amp;filter%5Bfield_approval_date%5D%5Blte%5D=&amp;filter%5Bfield_state_rating_period%5D%5Bgte%5D=&amp;filter%5Bfield_state_rating_period_2%5D%5Blte%5D=&amp;limit=10&amp;sort=field_approval_date%3Adesc" target="_blank">filed similar requests</a>&nbsp;with the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, and received approval in recent months.

“Of all the Medicaid discussions happening in Washington,” Carlson said, “one of the policy decisions that could potentially, depending on how it ultimately lands, impact Georgians the most is the discussion surrounding directed payment programs.”

Some of the biggest federal savings in the new law come from limiting states’ use of a financing tool,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/05/27/republicans-target-a-tax-that-keeps-state-medicaid-programs-running/">known as a provider tax</a>, that enables them to draw down more federal dollars. States use the extra money to boost reimbursement rates for hospitals and to expand coverage.

Some congressional Republicans have decried the maneuver as a “<a href="https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-statement-house-passage-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-0#:~:text=Froze%20the%20state%20provider%20taxes%20to%20ensure%20states%20don%E2%80%99t%20grow%20their%20money%20laundering%20schemes." target="_blank">money laundering scheme</a>,” but lowering provider taxes will likely&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/upshot/medicaid-cuts-republicans-senate.html#:~:text=Cutting%20provider%20taxes%20would%20probably%20mean%20funding%20shortfalls%20of%20hundreds%20of%20billions%20of%20dollars%20for%20states%20over%20the%20next%20decade%2C%20leaving%20them%20with%20budget%20holes%20to%20fill." target="_blank">punch big holes</a>&nbsp;in state Medicaid budgets.

Meanwhile, some state legislatures are looking at alternate ways to shore up funding for hospitals. A bipartisan bill still under consideration in Pennsylvania would&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/government-politics/general-assembly/grant-program-for-rural-hospitals-advances-in-pa-house/" target="_blank">create a rural health care grant program</a>&nbsp;to help pay off student loans for rural doctors, nurses and dentists.&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/IN/bill/HB1274/2025" target="_blank">Indiana</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/OK/bill/HB2754/2025" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a>&nbsp;also considered bills this session to create grant programs for rural hospitals.

In April, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced the state would release&nbsp;<a href="https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-over-6-million-in-grant-funding-for-rural-hospitals" target="_blank">more than $6 million</a>&nbsp;in grants to support struggling rural hospitals.

Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:avollers@stateline.org">avollers@stateline.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751996899942.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Hospitals stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars under the GOP’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">Anna Claire Vollers</a>The giant tax and spending bill President Donald Trump signed into law over the weekend includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/who-would-be-affected-by-health-care-cuts-in-senate-version-of-trumps-budget-bill#:~:text=This%20would%20be%20the%20biggest%20cut%20to%20Medicaid%2C%20in%20fact%2C%20the%20biggest%20cut%20to%20health%20care%20in%20history." target="_blank">the biggest health care spending cuts</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history. In response, states are scrambling to shield their hospitals from the looming loss of hundreds of millions in federal funding.In Georgia,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ajc.com/news/2025/06/georgia-hurries-to-amp-up-medicaid-hospital-funding-by-2-billion/" target="_blank">a key state panel late last month</a>&nbsp;took steps to send more state Medicaid money to hospitals, hoping to maximize federal matching dollars before the cuts take effect. Other states are considering new grant programs that would funnel additional money to rural hospitals. Some state legislatures likely will reconvene to discuss how to fill holes in their Medicaid budgets.The tax and spending bill&nbsp;<a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5375991-gop-tax-bill-health-cuts/#:~:text=The%20legislation%20would%20also%20cut%20federal%20spending%20on%20Medicaid%2C%20Medicare%20and%20ObamaCare%20by%20%241.1%20trillion%2C%20with%20more%20than%20%241%20trillion%20coming%20from%20Medicaid.%C2%A0" target="_blank">cuts more than $1 trillion</a>&nbsp;from Medicaid, the public health insurance program for people with low incomes that’s jointly funded by states and the federal government. Under the measure, payments to hospitals or nursing facilities would probably&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/reconciliation-language-could-lead-to-cuts-in-medicaid-state-directed-payments-to-hospitals-and-nursing-facilities/#:~:text=If%20Congress%20passes%20the%20reconciliation%20bill%20with%20the%20Finance%20Committee%E2%80%99s%20requirements%20for%20SDPs%2C%20the%20required%20payments%20to%20hospitals%20or%20nursing%20facilities%20would%20likely%20decrease%20in%2029%20states%2C%20and%20possibly%2C%20in%20more%20than%2031." target="_blank">decrease in at least 29 states</a>, according to an analysis by KFF, a nonprofit health policy group.Facing such budget shortfalls, states may have to stop offering optional Medicaid benefits such as vision and dental, reduce the rates they pay providers — which could shrink access for Medicaid enrollees — and change eligibility requirements so that fewer people qualify for coverage.State policymakers and health experts worry the loss of funding also will endanger hospitals, particularly those in rural areas, driving up uncompensated care and forcing them to cut services or close entirely.“Ultimately, when these hospitals close, what happens? People have to now travel longer for care. They might not even make it,” Dr. Anahita Dua, a vascular surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, told reporters last week during a news conference hosted by Defend America Action, a group launched to oppose Trump administration policies.“This is ultimately not only going to affect the lives of the people that are not going to get the care, but also the majority of the hospitals that provide this care, and the people that are employed by those locations,” she said.Earlier this month, an analysis by the State Health and Value Strategies program at Princeton University estimated that hospitals would lose 18% of their Medicaid funding,&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">nearly $665 billion over the next 10 years</a>.Republicans have hailed the megabill — officially titled the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — as one that will cut waste, fraud and abuse in federal programs, secure the U.S. border and spur economic growth. The measure will&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/02/nx-s1-5454598/the-gops-massive-bill-would-add-trillions-of-dollars-to-the-countrys-debt" target="_blank">add</a>&nbsp;at least $3 trillion to the national debt over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and has been scored by some independent economists as likely having little impact on growth. Dollars diverted from Medicaid will go toward the tax cuts prioritized by Trump, along with new spending on immigration control and defense projects.<h2>Reconvening legislatures</h2>Health policy experts anticipate at least some states will have to pull their legislatures back into session to address gaping budget holes due to the Medicaid cuts.States can expect to lose&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">3%-18%</a>&nbsp;of their federal Medicaid funding over 10 years under the law, according to the State Health and Value Strategies program report. Arizona, Kentucky and Virginia would see the largest shares of their Medicaid dollars evaporate.Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/dust-barely-settled-colorados-2025-legislative-session-talk-special-session/#:~:text=Polis%20says%2C%20if%20Congressional%20Republicans%20follow%20through%20on%20proposed%20spending%20cuts%2C%20he%20will%20likely%20reconvene%20the%20legislature%20to%20deal%20with%20impacts%20to%20programs%20such%20as%20Medicaid%2C%20which%20covers%20about%20one%20in%20five%20Coloradans." target="_blank">has said</a>&nbsp;he’s likely to reconvene the legislature.“Almost certainly if some of these big cuts to Medicaid go through … we would likely need to reconvene, depending on what Congress does,” Polis said at a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13k_fuNbbAA" target="_blank">news conference</a>&nbsp;in May.Policymakers in some states have tried to get ahead of expected shortfalls.In late June, the Georgia Department of Community Health’s advisory board held&nbsp;<a href="https://dch.georgia.gov/events/2025-06-27/dch-board-meeting-special-call" target="_blank">an emergency meeting</a>. In a unanimous vote, the board approved several measures aimed at increasing the state’s federal Medicaid reimbursement rate.For example, the state wants to significantly increase Medicaid payments to hospitals that achieve certain goals, such as training Georgia doctors and delivering babies. The move would draw down an additional $2.1 billion per year in federal money.“We’re doing our best to be responsive to the Medicaid conversations in Washington,” department Commissioner Russel Carlson told the board at the meeting. “Not overreacting in this 24/7 news cycle, but gathering the best information we can, reading the political environment the best we can, and acting responsibly.”Other states have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/managed-care/guidance/state-directed-payments/approved-state-directed-payment-preprints?q=&amp;filter%5Bfield_review_type%5D%5Bin%5D%5B%5D=8271&amp;filter%5Bfield_approval_date%5D%5Bgte%5D=&amp;filter%5Bfield_approval_date%5D%5Blte%5D=&amp;filter%5Bfield_state_rating_period%5D%5Bgte%5D=&amp;filter%5Bfield_state_rating_period_2%5D%5Blte%5D=&amp;limit=10&amp;sort=field_approval_date%3Adesc" target="_blank">filed similar requests</a>&nbsp;with the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services, and received approval in recent months.“Of all the Medicaid discussions happening in Washington,” Carlson said, “one of the policy decisions that could potentially, depending on how it ultimately lands, impact Georgians the most is the discussion surrounding directed payment programs.”<h2>Grants for hospitals</h2>Some of the biggest federal savings in the new law come from limiting states’ use of a financing tool,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/05/27/republicans-target-a-tax-that-keeps-state-medicaid-programs-running/">known as a provider tax</a>, that enables them to draw down more federal dollars. States use the extra money to boost reimbursement rates for hospitals and to expand coverage.Some congressional Republicans have decried the maneuver as a “<a href="https://roy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-roy-statement-house-passage-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-0#:~:text=Froze%20the%20state%20provider%20taxes%20to%20ensure%20states%20don%E2%80%99t%20grow%20their%20money%20laundering%20schemes." target="_blank">money laundering scheme</a>,” but lowering provider taxes will likely&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/17/upshot/medicaid-cuts-republicans-senate.html#:~:text=Cutting%20provider%20taxes%20would%20probably%20mean%20funding%20shortfalls%20of%20hundreds%20of%20billions%20of%20dollars%20for%20states%20over%20the%20next%20decade%2C%20leaving%20them%20with%20budget%20holes%20to%20fill." target="_blank">punch big holes</a>&nbsp;in state Medicaid budgets.Meanwhile, some state legislatures are looking at alternate ways to shore up funding for hospitals. A bipartisan bill still under consideration in Pennsylvania would&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/government-politics/general-assembly/grant-program-for-rural-hospitals-advances-in-pa-house/" target="_blank">create a rural health care grant program</a>&nbsp;to help pay off student loans for rural doctors, nurses and dentists.&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/IN/bill/HB1274/2025" target="_blank">Indiana</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/OK/bill/HB2754/2025" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a>&nbsp;also considered bills this session to create grant programs for rural hospitals.In April, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced the state would release&nbsp;<a href="https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-over-6-million-in-grant-funding-for-rural-hospitals" target="_blank">more than $6 million</a>&nbsp;in grants to support struggling rural hospitals.Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:avollers@stateline.org">avollers@stateline.org</a>.

States scramble to shield hospitals from GOP Medicaid cuts

Justices challenge claim partially obstructed text on license plate justifies traffic stop

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</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 — The Kansas Supreme Court reversed the drug-trafficking conviction of an Illinois-tagged motorist linked to evidence seized from a vehicle stopped by Geary County law enforcement merely because the frame around a license plate obstructed part of the state’s name.

The unanimous Supreme Court noted Kansas statute didn’t require a state’s name on license plates to be clearly legible. The justices agreed partial obstruction of a word on the out-of-state plate at the center of this case couldn’t provide a Kansas law enforcement officer the opportunity to formulate reasonable suspicion that a crime was or would occur to warrant a traffic stop.

This saga began in March 2021 when Geary County sheriff’s deputy Bradley Rose pulled over motorist Brian Beck on Interstate 70 near Junction City because he noticed half of the word “Illinois” couldn’t be easily read on the tag.

Rose nevertheless called in Beck’s tag to dispatch as “Illinois Charles John 14442” before stepping out of his cruiser, the Supreme Court opinion said. Rose said at trial Beck appeared “extremely nervous,” was breathing deeply during the traffic stop and admitted to being lost. The deputy decided that was enough to detain Beck and call in a drug dog.

During the canine inspection, the animal alerted to possible presence of illegal drugs. The vehicle search revealed a satchel with 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine. At one point, Beck tried to flee the scene but was arrested.

Geary County District Judge Courtney Boehm, an appointee of Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer, rejected the defendant’s motion to suppress evidence obtained in the search. Beck was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute, failure to purchase a drug tax stamp and interference with a law enforcement officer.

Beck, 56, was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison and was at Winfield Correctional Facility when the Supreme Court’s decision was handed down. A Kansas Department of Corrections spokesman said the agency wouldn’t release inmates until a court forwarded necessary paperwork to the prison.

In 2024, a three-judge panel of the Kansas Court of Appeals affirmed Beck’s convictions based on a belief Beck’s license plate wasn’t clearly visible as required.

Beck filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, which concluded the Geary County judge applied an improper legal standard for deciding whether law enforcement had reasonable suspicion to justify a stop and search. The justices likewise concluded the Court of Appeals reached the wrong determination on suppression of evidence.

“We reject the analytic framework adopted by the lower courts and their conclusions of law,” the Supreme Court decision said.

The Supreme Court opinion authored by Justice Eric Rosen wiped Beck’s convictions off the books and sent the case back to district court to determine whether the deputy had “constitutionally valid grounds for making the stop and seizure.”

The high court’s 13-page opinion could serve as a roadmap for Geary County’s reexamination of available evidence in the Beck case.

“No statute requires displaying the Kansas state name anywhere other than on the registration decal, where it may be abbreviated,” said Rosen, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. “It places no such requirement on anything else printed on a license plate, whether it is an ‘I’m Pet Friendly’ logo or a state name.”

The Supreme Court’s decision could offer relief to thousands of drivers in Kansas who installed or left in place brackets on license plates and unwittingly opened themselves to traffic stops, drug-dog searches and seizures by law enforcement.

Supreme Court Justice Dan Biles, who also was appointed by Sebelius, was among members of the Supreme Court perplexed by willingness of the lower courts to broaden license plate regulation in a way that threatened motorists with a fine up to $2,500 or a jail sentence ranging from 30 days to six months.

“There are a lot of frames that cover up half of the word ‘Kansas’ — a lot,” Biles said during oral argument of the case in November. “Anyone driving with that frame is subject to six months in jail? Is that where we’re at with the state’s position on this and this Court of Appeals’ decision?”

“I believe that’s what the statute says,” said Kansas assistant solicitor general Ethan Zipf-Sigler, who unsuccessfully fought to sustain the verdict against Beck.

Biles said the court record in the case was troubling because of assertions license plates in Kansas had to be clearly legible to a law enforcement officer located a safe distance from a targeted vehicle.

“I’m really struck by how arbitrary the enforcement aspect is,” Biles said. “I can’t help but think the state is adding words to a statute that we don’t get to do.”

Attorney Kasper Schirer, senior assistant appellate defender, argued on Beck’s behalf before the Supreme Court and said the traffic stop was unlawful from the outset.

“When no law has been violated, when no traffic law has been violated, the Fourth Amendment does not allow for suspicionless seizures,” he said.

<h2>Justices challenge claim partially obstructed text on license plate justifies traffic stop</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</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 — The Kansas Supreme Court reversed the drug-trafficking conviction of an Illinois-tagged motorist linked to evidence seized from a vehicle stopped by Geary County law enforcement merely because the frame around a license plate obstructed part of the state’s name.The unanimous Supreme Court noted Kansas statute didn’t require a state’s name on license plates to be clearly legible. The justices agreed partial obstruction of a word on the out-of-state plate at the center of this case couldn’t provide a Kansas law enforcement officer the opportunity to formulate reasonable suspicion that a crime was or would occur to warrant a traffic stop.This saga began in March 2021 when Geary County sheriff’s deputy Bradley Rose pulled over motorist Brian Beck on Interstate 70 near Junction City because he noticed half of the word “Illinois” couldn’t be easily read on the tag.Rose nevertheless called in Beck’s tag to dispatch as “Illinois Charles John 14442” before stepping out of his cruiser, the Supreme Court opinion said. Rose said at trial Beck appeared “extremely nervous,” was breathing deeply during the traffic stop and admitted to being lost. The deputy decided that was enough to detain Beck and call in a drug dog.During the canine inspection, the animal alerted to possible presence of illegal drugs. The vehicle search revealed a satchel with 2.1 pounds of methamphetamine. At one point, Beck tried to flee the scene but was arrested.Geary County District Judge Courtney Boehm, an appointee of Republican Gov. Jeff Colyer, rejected the defendant’s motion to suppress evidence obtained in the search. Beck was found guilty of possession with intent to distribute, failure to purchase a drug tax stamp and interference with a law enforcement officer.Beck, 56, was sentenced to at least 10 years in prison and was at Winfield Correctional Facility when the Supreme Court’s decision was handed down. A Kansas Department of Corrections spokesman said the agency wouldn’t release inmates until a court forwarded necessary paperwork to the prison.In 2024, a three-judge panel of the Kansas Court of Appeals affirmed Beck’s convictions based on a belief Beck’s license plate wasn’t clearly visible as required.Beck filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, which concluded the Geary County judge applied an improper legal standard for deciding whether law enforcement had reasonable suspicion to justify a stop and search. The justices likewise concluded the Court of Appeals reached the wrong determination on suppression of evidence.“We reject the analytic framework adopted by the lower courts and their conclusions of law,” the Supreme Court decision said.The Supreme Court opinion authored by Justice Eric Rosen wiped Beck’s convictions off the books and sent the case back to district court to determine whether the deputy had “constitutionally valid grounds for making the stop and seizure.”The high court’s 13-page opinion could serve as a roadmap for Geary County’s reexamination of available evidence in the Beck case.“No statute requires displaying the Kansas state name anywhere other than on the registration decal, where it may be abbreviated,” said Rosen, who was appointed by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. “It places no such requirement on anything else printed on a license plate, whether it is an ‘I’m Pet Friendly’ logo or a state name.”The Supreme Court’s decision could offer relief to thousands of drivers in Kansas who installed or left in place brackets on license plates and unwittingly opened themselves to traffic stops, drug-dog searches and seizures by law enforcement.Supreme Court Justice Dan Biles, who also was appointed by Sebelius, was among members of the Supreme Court perplexed by willingness of the lower courts to broaden license plate regulation in a way that threatened motorists with a fine up to $2,500 or a jail sentence ranging from 30 days to six months.“There are a lot of frames that cover up half of the word ‘Kansas’ — a lot,” Biles said during oral argument of the case in November. “Anyone driving with that frame is subject to six months in jail? Is that where we’re at with the state’s position on this and this Court of Appeals’ decision?”“I believe that’s what the statute says,” said Kansas assistant solicitor general Ethan Zipf-Sigler, who unsuccessfully fought to sustain the verdict against Beck.Biles said the court record in the case was troubling because of assertions license plates in Kansas had to be clearly legible to a law enforcement officer located a safe distance from a targeted vehicle.“I’m really struck by how arbitrary the enforcement aspect is,” Biles said. “I can’t help but think the state is adding words to a statute that we don’t get to do.”Attorney Kasper Schirer, senior assistant appellate defender, argued on Beck’s behalf before the Supreme Court and said the traffic stop was unlawful from the outset.“When no law has been violated, when no traffic law has been violated, the Fourth Amendment does not allow for suspicionless seizures,” he said.

Kansas Supreme Court rejects rationale for pulling over motorist, searching vehicle

WASHINGTON (AP)—President Trump says again he is not happy with Russian President Putin.

The president said during his Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the Russian leader is “killing a lot of people” and a lot of them are his soldiers and Ukraine’s soldiers.

Trump was asked whether he was planning to do something about Putin, and he said, “I wouldn’t be telling you.”

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. will have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-hegseth-trump-pentagon-weapons-1df59a85dbfaa5085b56d84820737376">pause in critical weapons deliveries</a>&nbsp;to Kyiv.

The comments by Trump appeared to be an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-trump-call-ukraine-iran-9b0054c655cbb3b54126bb3f2c32713c">abrupt change in posture</a>&nbsp;after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-us-weapons-shipments-halt-review-48229eb7c814419631a16067a38d6a1d">Pentagon announced last week</a>&nbsp;that it would hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons because of what U.S. officials said were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-america-stockpiles-army-trump-pentagon-weapons-94ff0c465b58608c653b6f64c113a5b9">concerns that stockpiles have declined</a>&nbsp;too much.

“We have to," Trump said. ”They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now. We’re going to send some more weapons — defensive weapons primarily."

The pause had come at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-weapons-alternatives-ca5e90a0c1f2cc938dafa9c9e9d061c9">difficult moment for Ukraine</a>, which has faced increasing — and more complex — air barrages from Russia during the more than three-year-long war. Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 11 civilians and injured more than 80 others, including seven children, officials said Monday.

The move last week to abruptly pause shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds and weaponry&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-ukraine-denmark-eu-20ab5cfa9ba97460972cfb9998c16546">took Ukrainian officials and other allies by surprise</a>.

The Pentagon affirmed late Monday that at Trump's direction, it would resume weapons shipments to Ukraine “to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops." Still, spokesman Sean Parnell added that its framework for Trump to evaluate military shipments worldwide continues as part of “America First” defense priorities.

Trump, speaking at the start of a dinner he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-israel-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-30dba4ae46fbec44dbe977a547e612f4">hosting for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;at the White House on Monday, vented his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has struggled to find a resolution to the war in Ukraine but maintains he’s determined to quickly conclude a conflict that he had promised as candidate to end of Day One of his second term.

He has threatened, but held off on, imposing new sanctions against Russia's oil industry to try to prod Putin into peace talks.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said last week that Trump has given him the go-ahead to push forward with a bill he's co-sponsoring that calls, in part, for a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that continue to buy Russian oil. The move would have huge ramifications for China and India, two economic behemoths that buy Russian oil.

“I’m not happy with President Putin at all," Trump said Monday.

Russia's transport minister is found dead

Separately, Russia’s transport minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-starovoyt-minister-suicide-kursk-59babee35c7c1bae79c5becd51f52066">was found dead</a>&nbsp;in what authorities said was an apparent suicide — news that broke hours after the Kremlin announced he had been dismissed by Putin.

The firing of Roman Starovoit followed a weekend of travel chaos — airports grounded hundreds of flights due to the threat of drone attacks from Ukraine. Russian officials did not give a reason for his dismissal.

Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at airports in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but Russian commentators said the air traffic disruptions have become customary amid frequent Ukrainian drone raids and were unlikely to have triggered his dismissal.

Starovoit, 53, served as Russia’s transport minister since May 2024. Russian media have reported that his dismissal could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-35b77352356ae61a0ebcd1643480e338">in the Kursk region</a>, where he served as governor before being appointed transportation minister.

The alleged embezzlement has been cited as one of the reasons for deficiencies in Russia’s defensive lines that failed to stem a surprise Ukrainian incursion in the region launched in August 2024.

Russia fired more than 100 drones at civilian areas of Ukraine overnight, authorities said.

WASHINGTON (AP)—President Trump says again he is not happy with Russian President Putin.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He&#39;s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/VMnXSTuCiK">pic.twitter.com/VMnXSTuCiK</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1942621413250121955?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The president said during his Cabinet meeting Tuesday that the Russian leader is “killing a lot of people” and a lot of them are his soldiers and Ukraine’s soldiers.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump: &quot;I&#39;m not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now because he&#39;s killing a lot of people and a lot of them are his soldiers.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/QK7ENcQKvg">pic.twitter.com/QK7ENcQKvg</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1942621038908489905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump was asked whether he was planning to do something about Putin, and he said, “I wouldn’t be telling you.”Meanwhile, President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. will have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-hegseth-trump-pentagon-weapons-1df59a85dbfaa5085b56d84820737376">pause in critical weapons deliveries</a>&nbsp;to Kyiv.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/kaitlancollins?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kaitlancollins</a> on Ukraine weapon shipments: &quot;So, who ordered the pause last week?&quot; President Trump: &quot;I don&#39;t know. Why don&#39;t you tell me?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/k2YKFkbCK7">pic.twitter.com/k2YKFkbCK7</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1942632501538705496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The comments by Trump appeared to be an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/putin-trump-call-ukraine-iran-9b0054c655cbb3b54126bb3f2c32713c">abrupt change in posture</a>&nbsp;after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-us-weapons-shipments-halt-review-48229eb7c814419631a16067a38d6a1d">Pentagon announced last week</a>&nbsp;that it would hold back delivering to Ukraine some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons because of what U.S. officials said were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-america-stockpiles-army-trump-pentagon-weapons-94ff0c465b58608c653b6f64c113a5b9">concerns that stockpiles have declined</a>&nbsp;too much.“We have to," Trump said. ”They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now. We’re going to send some more weapons — defensive weapons primarily."The pause had come at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-us-weapons-alternatives-ca5e90a0c1f2cc938dafa9c9e9d061c9">difficult moment for Ukraine</a>, which has faced increasing — and more complex — air barrages from Russia during the more than three-year-long war. Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 11 civilians and injured more than 80 others, including seven children, officials said Monday.<h2>The US turnaround on weapons for Ukraine</h2>The move last week to abruptly pause shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds and weaponry&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-ukraine-denmark-eu-20ab5cfa9ba97460972cfb9998c16546">took Ukrainian officials and other allies by surprise</a>.The Pentagon affirmed late Monday that at Trump's direction, it would resume weapons shipments to Ukraine “to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops." Still, spokesman Sean Parnell added that its framework for Trump to evaluate military shipments worldwide continues as part of “America First” defense priorities.Trump, speaking at the start of a dinner he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-israel-netanyahu-gaza-ceasefire-30dba4ae46fbec44dbe977a547e612f4">hosting for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu</a>&nbsp;at the White House on Monday, vented his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump has struggled to find a resolution to the war in Ukraine but maintains he’s determined to quickly conclude a conflict that he had promised as candidate to end of Day One of his second term.He has threatened, but held off on, imposing new sanctions against Russia's oil industry to try to prod Putin into peace talks.Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said last week that Trump has given him the go-ahead to push forward with a bill he's co-sponsoring that calls, in part, for a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that continue to buy Russian oil. The move would have huge ramifications for China and India, two economic behemoths that buy Russian oil.“I’m not happy with President Putin at all," Trump said Monday.<h2>Russia's transport minister is found dead</h2>Separately, Russia’s transport minister&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-starovoyt-minister-suicide-kursk-59babee35c7c1bae79c5becd51f52066">was found dead</a>&nbsp;in what authorities said was an apparent suicide — news that broke hours after the Kremlin announced he had been dismissed by Putin.The firing of Roman Starovoit followed a weekend of travel chaos — airports grounded hundreds of flights due to the threat of drone attacks from Ukraine. Russian officials did not give a reason for his dismissal.Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed at airports in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but Russian commentators said the air traffic disruptions have become customary amid frequent Ukrainian drone raids and were unlikely to have triggered his dismissal.Starovoit, 53, served as Russia’s transport minister since May 2024. Russian media have reported that his dismissal could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-kursk-35b77352356ae61a0ebcd1643480e338">in the Kursk region</a>, where he served as governor before being appointed transportation minister.The alleged embezzlement has been cited as one of the reasons for deficiencies in Russia’s defensive lines that failed to stem a surprise Ukrainian incursion in the region launched in August 2024.Russia fired more than 100 drones at civilian areas of Ukraine overnight, authorities said.Russia recently has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-attack-missile-drone-58bc08ddcf1038fb409999c56b11e9fa">intensified its airstrikes on civilian areas</a>. In the past week, Russia launched some 1,270 drones, 39 missiles and almost 1,000&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-bombs-airfields-scorched-earth-58380b8625df7ed52a3b5472326559b8">powerful glide bombs</a>&nbsp;at Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.Russia’s bigger army also is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-offensives-ceasefire-c03921de21027d13117cb668c9a1a959">trying hard to break through</a>&nbsp;at some points along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620 miles) front line, where Ukrainian forces are severely stretched.