SMITH COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal fire in Smith County have yet to release additional information in the case.

Just after 5a.m. March 25, first responders were alerted to a fire at the Home on the Rang Lodging Motel on East Highway 36 in Smith Center, according to Sheriff Travis Conway.

First responders pulled a unresponsive person from the structure who was pronounced dead at the scene. The Smith County Sheriff'f office, investigators from the Kansas State Fire Marshal and a K9 from Sedgwick County Fire are working together to investigate.&nbsp; No foul play is suspected.&nbsp; Despite repeated requests, authorities have not released the name of the victim, the cause of the fire or a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742953737241.png" alt="Photo Kansas Fire Marshal&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo Kansas Fire Marshal&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>SMITH COUNTY—Authorities investigating a fatal fire in Smith County have yet to release additional information in the case.Just after 5a.m. March 25, first responders were alerted to a fire at the Home on the Rang Lodging Motel on East Highway 36 in Smith Center, according to Sheriff Travis Conway.First responders pulled a unresponsive person from the structure who was pronounced dead at the scene. The Smith County Sheriff'f office, investigators from the Kansas State Fire Marshal and a K9 from Sedgwick County Fire are working together to investigate.&nbsp; No foul play is suspected.&nbsp; Despite repeated requests, authorities have not released the name of the victim, the cause of the fire or a damage estimate.

Cause of fatal Kansas motel fire still under investigation

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%20and%20AMANDA%20SEITZ%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI and AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press</a>

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;visited the epicenter of Texas' still-growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles outbreak</a>&nbsp;on Sunday, the same day a funeral was held for a second young child who was not vaccinated and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-new-mexico-vaccine-rfk-d5444b3397ac7c4034e63becc219aa33">died from a measles-related illness</a>.

Kennedy said in a social media post that he was working to “control the outbreak" and went to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Gaines County</a>&nbsp;to comfort the families who have buried two young children. He was seen late Sunday afternoon outside of a Mennonite church where the funeral services were held, but he did not attend a nearby news conference held by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the outbreak.

Seminole is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/">epicenter of the outbreak,</a>&nbsp;which started in late January and continues to swell — with nearly 500 cases in Texas alone, plus cases from the outbreak believed to have spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico.

The second young child died Thursday from "what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure,” and did not have underlying health conditions, the Texas State Department of State Health Services said Sunday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/texas-announces-second-death-measles-outbreak">in a news release</a>. Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, said that the child was “receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized.”

This is the third known measles-related death tied to this outbreak. One was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">another elementary school-aged child</a>&nbsp;in Texas and the other was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">an adult in New Mexico</a>; neither were vaccinated.

It's Kennedy's first visit to the area as health secretary, where he said he met with families of both the 6- and 8-year-old children who died. He said he “developed bonds” with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-vaccinations-mennonites-4880035d6fd53cc029b531f5adda95ad">Mennonite community in West Texas</a>&nbsp;in which the virus is mostly spreading.

Kennedy, an anti-vaccine advocate before ascending to the role of nation’s top health secretary earlier this year, has resisted urging widespread vaccinations as the measles outbreak has worsened under his watch. On Sunday, however, he said in a lengthy statement posted on X that it was “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles."

The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been used safely for more than 60 years and is 97% effective against measles after two doses.

Dr. Manisha Patel, CDC incident manager, said in a Sunday news conference that the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect against measles. She also told parents in Gaines County that it was important not to “delay care” for a child who is sick with measles.

“Call your doctor and make sure you’re talking to a health care professional who can guide you on those next steps," Patel said.

CDC teams arrived in early March, Patel said. But Kennedy's social media post noted that CDC employees have been “redeployed,” and the nation’s public health agency never relayed it had pulled back. Neither the CDC nor the state health department included the death in their measles reports issued Friday, but the CDC acknowledged it when asked Sunday.

The number of cases in Texas shot up by 81 between March 28 and April 4, and 16 more people were hospitalized. Nationwide, the U.S. has more than double the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;it saw in all of 2024.

Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-confirmation-vaccines-health-kennedy-cassidy-248bfb16aa3a2a117efa54a2a3be920e">a liver doctor</a>&nbsp;whose vote helped cinch Kennedy’s confirmation, called Sunday for stronger messaging from health officials&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/1908903799701303633">in a post on X</a>.

“Everyone should be vaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles,” he wrote. “Top health officials should say so unequivocally b/4 another child dies.”

Cassidy has requested&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-samoa-measles-kennedy-vaccines-pacific-42a9cb583c71f165699b16710884c474">Kennedy</a>&nbsp;to appear before his health committee Thursday, although Kennedy has not publicly confirmed whether he will attend.

A CDC spokesperson noted the efficacy of the measles vaccine Sunday but stopped short of calling on people to get it. Departing from long-standing public health messaging around vaccination, the spokesperson called the decision a “personal one” and encouraged people to talk with their doctor. People “should be informed about the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines," the spokesperson added.

Misinformation about how to prevent and treat measles is hindering a robust public health response, including claims about vitamin A supplements that have been pushed by Kennedy and holistic medicine supporters despite doctors’ warnings that it should be given under a physician's orders and that too much can be dangerous.

Doctors at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, where the first measles death occurred, say they've treated fewer than 10 children for liver issues from vitamin A toxicity, which they found when running routine lab tests on children who are not fully vaccinated and have measles. Dr. Lara Johnson, chief medical officer, said the patients reported using vitamin A to treat and prevent the virus.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-vaccine-chief-peter-marks-resign-rfk-kennedy-7743be11cec4e4e22c50c2ddbcb6bcd8">Dr. Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration’s former vaccine chief</a>, said responsibility for the death rests with Kennedy and his staff. Marks was forced out of the FDA after disagreements with Kennedy over vaccine safety.

“This is the epitome of an absolute needless death,” Marks told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday. “These kids should get vaccinated — that’s how you prevent people from dying of measles.”

Marks also said he recently warned U.S. senators that more deaths would occur if the administration didn’t mount a more aggressive response to the outbreak.

Experts and local health officials expect the outbreak to go on for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">several more months</a>&nbsp;if not a year. In West Texas, the vast majority of cases are in unvaccinated people and children younger than 17.

With several states facing outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable disease — and declining childhood vaccination rates nationwide — some worry that measles may cost the U.S. its status as having eliminated the disease.

Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html">according to the CDC</a>. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years.

Seitz reported from Washington. Photojournalist Annie Rice in Seminole, Texas, and AP reporter Matthew Perrone in Washington contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743980668440.png" alt="Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right, arrives at Reinlander Mennonite Church after a second measles death, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)" />
 <figcaption>Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., right, arrives at Reinlander Mennonite Church after a second measles death, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. (AP Photo/Annie Rice)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%20and%20AMANDA%20SEITZ%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI and AMANDA SEITZ Associated Press</a>U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;visited the epicenter of Texas' still-growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles outbreak</a>&nbsp;on Sunday, the same day a funeral was held for a second young child who was not vaccinated and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-new-mexico-vaccine-rfk-d5444b3397ac7c4034e63becc219aa33">died from a measles-related illness</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In Seminole, Texas, with Jake and Tina Fehr whose 2-year-old daughter, Helena was just discharged after three weeks in the ICU, Peter and Eva Fehr whose daughter, Kayley, 6, passed in February, and Pete and Eva Hildebrand whose daughter, Daisy, 8, we buried this afternoon. I also… <a href="https://t.co/BjErlRkCJX">pic.twitter.com/BjErlRkCJX</a>&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1909049021211263268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I came to­ Gaines County, Texas, today to comfort the Hildebrand family after the loss of their 8-year-old daughter Daisy. I got to know the family of 6-year-old Kayley Fehr after she passed away in February. I also developed bonds with and deep affection for other members of…&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1908967854394982414?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kennedy said in a social media post that he was working to “control the outbreak" and went to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Gaines County</a>&nbsp;to comfort the families who have buried two young children. He was seen late Sunday afternoon outside of a Mennonite church where the funeral services were held, but he did not attend a nearby news conference held by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the outbreak.Seminole is the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/">epicenter of the outbreak,</a>&nbsp;which started in late January and continues to swell — with nearly 500 cases in Texas alone, plus cases from the outbreak believed to have spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas and Mexico.The second young child died Thursday from "what the child's doctor described as measles pulmonary failure,” and did not have underlying health conditions, the Texas State Department of State Health Services said Sunday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/texas-announces-second-death-measles-outbreak">in a news release</a>. Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, said that the child was “receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized.”This is the third known measles-related death tied to this outbreak. One was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">another elementary school-aged child</a>&nbsp;in Texas and the other was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">an adult in New Mexico</a>; neither were vaccinated.It's Kennedy's first visit to the area as health secretary, where he said he met with families of both the 6- and 8-year-old children who died. He said he “developed bonds” with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-vaccinations-mennonites-4880035d6fd53cc029b531f5adda95ad">Mennonite community in West Texas</a>&nbsp;in which the virus is mostly spreading.Kennedy, an anti-vaccine advocate before ascending to the role of nation’s top health secretary earlier this year, has resisted urging widespread vaccinations as the measles outbreak has worsened under his watch. On Sunday, however, he said in a lengthy statement posted on X that it was “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744031234394.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been used safely for more than 60 years and is 97% effective against measles after two doses.Dr. Manisha Patel, CDC incident manager, said in a Sunday news conference that the MMR vaccine is the best way to protect against measles. She also told parents in Gaines County that it was important not to “delay care” for a child who is sick with measles.“Call your doctor and make sure you’re talking to a health care professional who can guide you on those next steps," Patel said.CDC teams arrived in early March, Patel said. But Kennedy's social media post noted that CDC employees have been “redeployed,” and the nation’s public health agency never relayed it had pulled back. Neither the CDC nor the state health department included the death in their measles reports issued Friday, but the CDC acknowledged it when asked Sunday.The number of cases in Texas shot up by 81 between March 28 and April 4, and 16 more people were hospitalized. Nationwide, the U.S. has more than double the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;it saw in all of 2024.Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy from Louisiana,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-confirmation-vaccines-health-kennedy-cassidy-248bfb16aa3a2a117efa54a2a3be920e">a liver doctor</a>&nbsp;whose vote helped cinch Kennedy’s confirmation, called Sunday for stronger messaging from health officials&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenBillCassidy/status/1908903799701303633">in a post on X</a>.“Everyone should be vaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles,” he wrote. “Top health officials should say so unequivocally b/4 another child dies.”Cassidy has requested&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-samoa-measles-kennedy-vaccines-pacific-42a9cb583c71f165699b16710884c474">Kennedy</a>&nbsp;to appear before his health committee Thursday, although Kennedy has not publicly confirmed whether he will attend.A CDC spokesperson noted the efficacy of the measles vaccine Sunday but stopped short of calling on people to get it. Departing from long-standing public health messaging around vaccination, the spokesperson called the decision a “personal one” and encouraged people to talk with their doctor. People “should be informed about the potential risks and benefits associated with vaccines," the spokesperson added.Misinformation about how to prevent and treat measles is hindering a robust public health response, including claims about vitamin A supplements that have been pushed by Kennedy and holistic medicine supporters despite doctors’ warnings that it should be given under a physician's orders and that too much can be dangerous.Doctors at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, where the first measles death occurred, say they've treated fewer than 10 children for liver issues from vitamin A toxicity, which they found when running routine lab tests on children who are not fully vaccinated and have measles. Dr. Lara Johnson, chief medical officer, said the patients reported using vitamin A to treat and prevent the virus.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-vaccine-chief-peter-marks-resign-rfk-kennedy-7743be11cec4e4e22c50c2ddbcb6bcd8">Dr. Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration’s former vaccine chief</a>, said responsibility for the death rests with Kennedy and his staff. Marks was forced out of the FDA after disagreements with Kennedy over vaccine safety.“This is the epitome of an absolute needless death,” Marks told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday. “These kids should get vaccinated — that’s how you prevent people from dying of measles.”Marks also said he recently warned U.S. senators that more deaths would occur if the administration didn’t mount a more aggressive response to the outbreak.Experts and local health officials expect the outbreak to go on for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">several more months</a>&nbsp;if not a year. In West Texas, the vast majority of cases are in unvaccinated people and children younger than 17.With several states facing outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable disease — and declining childhood vaccination rates nationwide — some worry that measles may cost the U.S. its status as having eliminated the disease.Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html">according to the CDC</a>. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years.___Seitz reported from Washington. Photojournalist Annie Rice in Seminole, Texas, and AP reporter Matthew Perrone in Washington contributed to this report.

RFK Jr. issues new statement on measles outbreak

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 34-year-old Jeanette M. Johnson, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just after 9a.m. Friday, Police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6300 block of E. 102 Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri.

Neighbors in the area heard the sound of shots and looked outside and saw a victim down in the street. On arrival officers located Johnson down in the street near a vehicle in front of a residence. Officers called for EMS who responded and transported her to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital, medical staff pronounced her deceased. 

Preliminary information indicates that the victim was in front of the residence near a vehicle when she had an interaction with an unknown suspect(s) in the street that led to shots being fired striking her.

Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743787952762.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte"" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte"</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating another homicide in Kansas City have identified the victim as 34-year-old Jeanette M. Johnson, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.Just after 9a.m. Friday, Police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6300 block of E. 102 Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri.Neighbors in the area heard the sound of shots and looked outside and saw a victim down in the street. On arrival officers located Johnson down in the street near a vehicle in front of a residence. Officers called for EMS who responded and transported her to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital, medical staff pronounced her deceased. Preliminary information indicates that the victim was in front of the residence near a vehicle when she had an interaction with an unknown suspect(s) in the street that led to shots being fired striking her.Police have not reported an arrest or suspect details.

Homicide: Police ID woman found on KC street

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen charged as an adult in for a double murder is due back in court Monday.

In December, Judge Shawn Elliot charged 15-year-old Elias Cerda with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

On Monday morning, Judge Christopher Magana will decide whether there is enough evidence for the trial to continue, according to the district attorney's office.

In January 2024, police responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims later identified as 14-year-old Emoni Shears and 19-year-old Jhiquez Roberts both of Wichita. They were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Detectives and patrol officers immediately began investigating this case and following up on leads. Police arrested Cerda, who was 14 at the time. He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on November 27, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734098604588.png" alt="Cerda photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Cerda photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen charged as an adult in for a double murder is due back in court Monday.In December, Judge Shawn Elliot charged 15-year-old Elias Cerda with two counts of first degree murder and one count of attempted aggravated robbery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.On Monday morning, Judge Christopher Magana will decide whether there is enough evidence for the trial to continue, according to the district attorney's office.In January 2024, police responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims later identified as 14-year-old Emoni Shears and 19-year-old Jhiquez Roberts both of Wichita. They were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.Detectives and patrol officers immediately began investigating this case and following up on leads. Police arrested Cerda, who was 14 at the time. He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on November 27, according to online jail records.&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Kan. boy, charged as an adult for double murder, is due back in court

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a kidnapping on Sunday reported they located victim and and the vehicle.

Just after 4p.m. Sunday police issued an attempt to locate in connection to an armed kidnapping, according to a social media report from Raytown Police.

Police were looking for a 2019 White Dodge Journey in connection with the crime. The vehicle left Quik Trip, 9323 E 350 Highway, Raytown, Missouri at 4:06p.m. and was last seen southbound towards Maple Drive then continued westbound. 

The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, red Chicago Bulls hat, red V-neck t-shirt, black pants, white high-top shoes, black backpack, and is armed with a handgun.  

The victim was an Asian female, possibly middle aged or older. Unknown clothing description. 

According to a witness, the suspect entered the backseat of the Dodge Journey, putting the female at gunpoint, vehicle intially left southbound with their hazards on, then headed west. It unknown if the two parties know each other. 

Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a kidnapping on Sunday reported they located victim and and the vehicle.Just after 4p.m. Sunday police issued an attempt to locate in connection to an armed kidnapping, according to a social media report from Raytown Police.Police were looking for a 2019 White Dodge Journey in connection with the crime. The vehicle left Quik Trip, 9323 E 350 Highway, Raytown, Missouri at 4:06p.m. and was last seen southbound towards Maple Drive then continued westbound. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, red Chicago Bulls hat, red V-neck t-shirt, black pants, white high-top shoes, black backpack, and is armed with a handgun. The victim was an Asian female, possibly middle aged or older. Unknown clothing description. According to a witness, the suspect entered the backseat of the Dodge Journey, putting the female at gunpoint, vehicle intially left southbound with their hazards on, then headed west. It unknown if the two parties know each other. Police have not reported an arrest or additional details.

Police: Woman in KC area kidnapping found safe

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Suspected U.S. airstrikes over the weekend targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;killed at least six people, the group said Sunday, while a bombing video posted by U.S. President Donald Trump suggested casualties in the overall campaign may be higher than the rebels acknowledge.

A strike Sunday night in Sanaa, the rebel-held capital of Yemen, hit a house, killing at least four people and wounding 16 others, the Houthis said. Their al-Masirah satellite news channel showed images of the damaged home and people receiving care in a hospital.

The strike on the house in Sanaa's Shu’ub district allegedly targeted a Houthi leader, part of a wider decapitation campaign launched by the Trump administration to kill rebel leaders. The intense campaign of U.S. airstrikes targeting the rebels over their attacks on shipping in Mideast waters — related to the Israel-Hamas war —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-us-strikes-iran-447f4abb39cc12c7f2f5596f0e33407b">has killed at least 73 people</a>, according to casualty figures released by the Houthis.

Earlier Sunday, the Iranian-backed Houthis said other suspected U.S. airstrikes killed at least two people in the rebel stronghold of Saada and wounded nine others. Footage aired by al-Masirah showed a strike collapsing what appeared to be a two-story building. The rebels aired no footage from inside the building, which they described as a solar power shop.

The Houthis have not acknowledged any casualties among their security and military leadership — something challenged after an online video posted by Trump.

Trump bombing footage suggests rebel leaders targeted

Early Saturday, Trump posted what appeared to be black-and-white video from a drone of a group of over 70 people gathered in a circle. An explosion detonates during the 25-second video, with a massive crater left in its wake.

“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack,” Trump claimed, without offering a location for the attack or any other details about the strike. “Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!”

The U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees America's Mideast military operations, has not published the video, nor offered any specific details about the strikes it has conducted since March 15. The White House has said there have been over 200 strikes so far targeting the Houthis.

The rebel-controlled SABA news agency in Yemen, citing an anonymous source, described the bombing as targeting “a social Eid visit in Hodeida governorate.” Muslims across the world just celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the festival at the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. SABA had published images of other commanders meeting fighters during the holiday, though not any high-level Houthi officials.

“Those present at that gathering had no connection to the operations carried out by the (Houthis), which are implementing the decision to ban navigation on ships linked to the American and Israeli enemy,” the SABA report said, adding that the attack killed and wounded “dozens.”

However, the Houthis previously have not acknowledged any strike on Hodeida during that time with such a high casualty count. The SABA report also did not describe those killed as civilians, suggesting they did have ties to the rebels' security or military forces. Hodeida has been a site of Houthi attacks into the Red Sea.

Moammar al-Eryani, the information minister for Yemen's exiled government opposing the Houthis, claimed the strike killed some 70 Houthi fighters and leaders, as well as “experts” from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He offered no evidence for the claim, though Iran has backed the Houthis in the war. Neither the Iranian government nor the Guard has not acknowledged the attack.

Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert of the Basha Report risk advisory firm, cited social media condolence notices suggesting a colonel overseeing police stations for the Houthis in Hodeida had been killed in the strike Trump highlighted, alongside his two brothers.

“The strikes have expanded significantly, hitting multiple governorates simultaneously, alongside telecommunications infrastructure, command nodes, properties tied to senior Houthi leadership and previously untouched tunnel networks in mountainous areas,” al-Basha told The Associated Press.

“We’ve also seen direct targeting of Houthi force gatherings, indicating a more aggressive and evolving shift in the targeting strategy,” al-Basha said.

Intense US bombings began nearly a month ago

<a href="https://apnews.com/278d07bc5aad75bb32e57f99a78cbe88">An AP review</a>&nbsp;has found the new American operation against the Houthis under Trump appears&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3WJ-C2gpDA">more extensive</a>&nbsp;than those under former U.S. President Joe Biden, as Washington moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel and dropping bombs on cities.

The new campaign of airstrikes started after the rebels&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-ship-attacks-0da6c2453fe2c4e5f81923c84c7d3f3a">threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships</a>&nbsp;again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels have loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning many vessels could be targeted.

The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sinking two</a>&nbsp;of them and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.

The attacks greatly raised the profile of the Houthis, who faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting dissent and aid workers in Yemen amid a decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.

The campaign shows no signs of stopping as the Trump administration repeatedly has linked its airstrikes on the Houthis to an effort to pressure Iran over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-program-us-tensions-explains-25acc4bfbbe165a374a58ebfa6a4ab41">rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>.

Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Suspected U.S. airstrikes over the weekend targeting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;killed at least six people, the group said Sunday, while a bombing video posted by U.S. President Donald Trump suggested casualties in the overall campaign may be higher than the rebels acknowledge.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again! <a href="https://t.co/lEzfyDgWP5">pic.twitter.com/lEzfyDgWP5</a>&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1908300360810479821?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A strike Sunday night in Sanaa, the rebel-held capital of Yemen, hit a house, killing at least four people and wounding 16 others, the Houthis said. Their al-Masirah satellite news channel showed images of the damaged home and people receiving care in a hospital.The strike on the house in Sanaa's Shu’ub district allegedly targeted a Houthi leader, part of a wider decapitation campaign launched by the Trump administration to kill rebel leaders. The intense campaign of U.S. airstrikes targeting the rebels over their attacks on shipping in Mideast waters — related to the Israel-Hamas war —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-us-strikes-iran-447f4abb39cc12c7f2f5596f0e33407b">has killed at least 73 people</a>, according to casualty figures released by the Houthis.Earlier Sunday, the Iranian-backed Houthis said other suspected U.S. airstrikes killed at least two people in the rebel stronghold of Saada and wounded nine others. Footage aired by al-Masirah showed a strike collapsing what appeared to be a two-story building. The rebels aired no footage from inside the building, which they described as a solar power shop.The Houthis have not acknowledged any casualties among their security and military leadership — something challenged after an online video posted by Trump.<h2>Trump bombing footage suggests rebel leaders targeted</h2>Early Saturday, Trump posted what appeared to be black-and-white video from a drone of a group of over 70 people gathered in a circle. An explosion detonates during the 25-second video, with a massive crater left in its wake.“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack,” Trump claimed, without offering a location for the attack or any other details about the strike. “Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis! They will never sink our ships again!”The U.S. military's Central Command, which oversees America's Mideast military operations, has not published the video, nor offered any specific details about the strikes it has conducted since March 15. The White House has said there have been over 200 strikes so far targeting the Houthis.The rebel-controlled SABA news agency in Yemen, citing an anonymous source, described the bombing as targeting “a social Eid visit in Hodeida governorate.” Muslims across the world just celebrated Eid al-Fitr, the festival at the end of the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. SABA had published images of other commanders meeting fighters during the holiday, though not any high-level Houthi officials.“Those present at that gathering had no connection to the operations carried out by the (Houthis), which are implementing the decision to ban navigation on ships linked to the American and Israeli enemy,” the SABA report said, adding that the attack killed and wounded “dozens.”However, the Houthis previously have not acknowledged any strike on Hodeida during that time with such a high casualty count. The SABA report also did not describe those killed as civilians, suggesting they did have ties to the rebels' security or military forces. Hodeida has been a site of Houthi attacks into the Red Sea.Moammar al-Eryani, the information minister for Yemen's exiled government opposing the Houthis, claimed the strike killed some 70 Houthi fighters and leaders, as well as “experts” from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. He offered no evidence for the claim, though Iran has backed the Houthis in the war. Neither the Iranian government nor the Guard has not acknowledged the attack.Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert of the Basha Report risk advisory firm, cited social media condolence notices suggesting a colonel overseeing police stations for the Houthis in Hodeida had been killed in the strike Trump highlighted, alongside his two brothers.“The strikes have expanded significantly, hitting multiple governorates simultaneously, alongside telecommunications infrastructure, command nodes, properties tied to senior Houthi leadership and previously untouched tunnel networks in mountainous areas,” al-Basha told The Associated Press.“We’ve also seen direct targeting of Houthi force gatherings, indicating a more aggressive and evolving shift in the targeting strategy,” al-Basha said.<h2>Intense US bombings began nearly a month ago</h2><a href="https://apnews.com/278d07bc5aad75bb32e57f99a78cbe88">An AP review</a>&nbsp;has found the new American operation against the Houthis under Trump appears&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3WJ-C2gpDA">more extensive</a>&nbsp;than those under former U.S. President Joe Biden, as Washington moves from solely targeting launch sites to firing at ranking personnel and dropping bombs on cities.The new campaign of airstrikes started after the rebels&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-israel-hamas-war-gaza-aid-ship-attacks-0da6c2453fe2c4e5f81923c84c7d3f3a">threatened to begin targeting “Israeli” ships</a>&nbsp;again over Israel blocking aid entering the Gaza Strip. The rebels have loosely defined what constitutes an Israeli ship, meaning many vessels could be targeted.The Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houthi-rebels-ship-attack-red-sea-yemen-bfa7d321e55c5bb59b268b82ef3c56ba">sinking two</a>&nbsp;of them and killing four sailors from November 2023 until January of this year. They also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.The attacks greatly raised the profile of the Houthis, who faced economic problems and launched a crackdown targeting dissent and aid workers in Yemen amid a decadelong stalemated war that has torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.The campaign shows no signs of stopping as the Trump administration repeatedly has linked its airstrikes on the Houthis to an effort to pressure Iran over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-program-us-tensions-explains-25acc4bfbbe165a374a58ebfa6a4ab41">rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>.___Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed.

🎥Houthi rebels say US strikes killed 6; Trump's video suggests higher death toll

KANSAS CITY — A juvenile was injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Sunday in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, a 10-year-old girl was riding an ATV on a vacant lot at 55th and Myrtle.

 As the ATV traveled uphill, she accelerated and flipped the ATV causing her to fall.&nbsp; Her mother transported her to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

KANSAS CITY — A juvenile was injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Sunday in Kansas City.According to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina, a 10-year-old girl was riding an ATV on a vacant lot at 55th and Myrtle. As the ATV traveled uphill, she accelerated and flipped the ATV causing her to fall.&nbsp; Her mother transported her to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

10-year-old KC girl hospitalized after ATV accident

LAKE BUTLER, Fla. (AP) — Jay North, who starred as the towheaded mischief maker on TV's “Dennis the Menace” for four seasons starting in 1959, has died. He was 73.

North died Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, after battling colon cancer, said Laurie Jacobson, a longtime friend, and Bonnie Vent, who was his booking agent.

“He had a heart as big as a mountain, loved his friends deeply. He called us frequently and ended every conversation with ‘I love you with all my heart,’” Jacobson wrote in a tribute on Facebook.

North was 6 when he was cast as the smiling troublemaker in the CBS sitcom adaptation of Hank Ketcham's popular comic strip that took place in an idyllic American suburb.

Often wearing a striped shirt and overalls, Dennis' mischievous antics frequently frustrated his retired next-door neighbor George Wilson, played by Joseph Kearns. Dennis' patient parents were played by Herbert Anderson and Gloria Henry.

The show ran on Sunday nights until it was canceled in 1963. After that it was a fixture for decades in syndication.

Later, North appeared on TV in shows including “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “The Lucy Show,” “My Three Sons,” “Lassie” and “The Simpsons,” and in movies like “Maya” (1966), “The Teacher” (1974) and “Dickie Robert: Former Child Star” (2003).

North is survived by his third wife, Cindy, and three stepdaughters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744019637497.png" alt="FILE - Actor Jay North, in character as Dennis the Menace, shows his ever-present slingshot to show co-star Gale Gordon, on set in Hollywood, March 29, 1962. (AP Photo/David F. Smith, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - Actor Jay North, in character as Dennis the Menace, shows his ever-present slingshot to show co-star Gale Gordon, on set in Hollywood, March 29, 1962. (AP Photo/David F. Smith, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>LAKE BUTLER, Fla. (AP) — Jay North, who starred as the towheaded mischief maker on TV's “Dennis the Menace” for four seasons starting in 1959, has died. He was 73.North died Sunday at his home in Lake Butler, Florida, after battling colon cancer, said Laurie Jacobson, a longtime friend, and Bonnie Vent, who was his booking agent.“He had a heart as big as a mountain, loved his friends deeply. He called us frequently and ended every conversation with ‘I love you with all my heart,’” Jacobson wrote in a tribute on Facebook.North was 6 when he was cast as the smiling troublemaker in the CBS sitcom adaptation of Hank Ketcham's popular comic strip that took place in an idyllic American suburb.Often wearing a striped shirt and overalls, Dennis' mischievous antics frequently frustrated his retired next-door neighbor George Wilson, played by Joseph Kearns. Dennis' patient parents were played by Herbert Anderson and Gloria Henry.The show ran on Sunday nights until it was canceled in 1963. After that it was a fixture for decades in syndication.Later, North appeared on TV in shows including “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “The Lucy Show,” “My Three Sons,” “Lassie” and “The Simpsons,” and in movies like “Maya” (1966), “The Teacher” (1974) and “Dickie Robert: Former Child Star” (2003).North is survived by his third wife, Cindy, and three stepdaughters.

Jay North, TV's mischievous Dennis the Menace, dies at 73

HARVEY COUNTY—A suspect is in custody after a robbery Sunday morning at Walgreens in Newton.

Just after 11a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an armed robbery at Walgreens, 1300 N. Main, according to a social media report.

 The suspect reportedly indicated he had a firearm, obtained cash from the store and fled south.  Responding officers located a man, later identified as 37-year-old Joshua Ewing, acting suspiciously several blocks away. Polie found clothing and other evidence from the robbery in an alley nearby. 

Police arrested Ewing and booked him into the Harvey County Detention Center. Ewing had been released from the Detention Center earlier the same day. No weapon was found.The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office and North Newton Police assisted in the response. Ewing was in custody in Sedgwick County for alleged theft and contempt of court in December, according to online booking records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743964521271.png" alt="Ewing from a December arrest in Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Ewing from a December arrest in Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—A suspect is in custody after a robbery Sunday morning at Walgreens in Newton.Just after 11a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to an armed robbery at Walgreens, 1300 N. Main, according to a social media report. The suspect reportedly indicated he had a firearm, obtained cash from the store and fled south. Responding officers located a man, later identified as 37-year-old Joshua Ewing, acting suspiciously several blocks away. Polie found clothing and other evidence from the robbery in an alley nearby. Police arrested Ewing and booked him into the Harvey County Detention Center. Ewing had been released from the Detention Center earlier the same day. No weapon was found.The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office and North Newton Police assisted in the response. Ewing was in custody in Sedgwick County for alleged theft and contempt of court in December, according to online booking records.

Kan. man just out of jail accused of drug store armed robbery

ST. LOUIS – A medical doctor from the Kansas City, Kansas area on Friday admitted accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to order medically unnecessary health care for thousands of patients, according to the United State's Attorney.

Dr. Scott Taggart Roethle, 47, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of health care fraud. He admitted that from 2017 until 2020, he conspired with health care companies and others to order medically unnecessary durable medical equipment, pain creams and genetic tests for thousands of patients in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks.

Dr. Roethle contracted with multiple health care companies as a telemedicine doctor. Using electronic portals to review patient information and documents, Dr. Roethle ordered health care services for patients without evaluating them or their actual medical needs. He did not have a prior doctor-patient relationship with the telemedicine patients and admitted providing no follow-up care after ordering the health care services.

Dr. Roethle was typically paid about $30 for each of his fraudulent orders. He admitted receiving payments of $674,000 from five companies. He also admitted that Medicare paid out at least $1.5 million while relying on his fraudulent orders. At the time of Dr. Roethle’s sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will argue that the total loss due to the health care fraud is between $7 million and $9.5 million.

Dr. Roethle was licensed to practice in 22 states during the time of his crime and worked primarily as an anesthesiologist.

The trial of Dr. Roethle, of Leawood, was scheduled to begin Monday. His sentencing is set for July 17.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman and Justin Ladendorf are prosecuting the case.

ST. LOUIS – A medical doctor from the Kansas City, Kansas area on Friday admitted accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to order medically unnecessary health care for thousands of patients, according to the United State's Attorney.Dr. Scott Taggart Roethle, 47, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis to one count of health care fraud. He admitted that from 2017 until 2020, he conspired with health care companies and others to order medically unnecessary durable medical equipment, pain creams and genetic tests for thousands of patients in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks.Dr. Roethle contracted with multiple health care companies as a telemedicine doctor. Using electronic portals to review patient information and documents, Dr. Roethle ordered health care services for patients without evaluating them or their actual medical needs. He did not have a prior doctor-patient relationship with the telemedicine patients and admitted providing no follow-up care after ordering the health care services.Dr. Roethle was typically paid about $30 for each of his fraudulent orders. He admitted receiving payments of $674,000 from five companies. He also admitted that Medicare paid out at least $1.5 million while relying on his fraudulent orders. At the time of Dr. Roethle’s sentencing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will argue that the total loss due to the health care fraud is between $7 million and $9.5 million.Dr. Roethle was licensed to practice in 22 states during the time of his crime and worked primarily as an anesthesiologist.The trial of Dr. Roethle, of Leawood, was scheduled to begin Monday. His sentencing is set for July 17.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and the FBI investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Wiseman and Justin Ladendorf are prosecuting the case.

Kansas doctor admits accepting kickbacks to commit healthcare fraud

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —One of the victims from the triple shooting that took place on March 26, in the 1600 block of Ridge Ave. has died of his injuries, according to a statement from police.

Anderson Murcia-Cartagena, 18,, a resident of Kansas City, Kan., died Wednesday at an area hospital.

Just before 9p.m. March 26, police were dispatched to the intersection of 16th and Ridge Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. on a call of shots fired. 

First responders discovered three victims. One man was inside a vehicle and two other men were in the street. All were victims of apparent gunshot wounds. All three were transported to an area hospital with potentially life threatening injuries. Suspects fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival.

The two other shooting victims remain hospitalized, according to police.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. —One of the victims from the triple shooting that took place on March 26, in the 1600 block of Ridge Ave. has died of his injuries, according to a statement from police.Anderson Murcia-Cartagena, 18,, a resident of Kansas City, Kan., died Wednesday at an area hospital.Just before 9p.m. March 26, police were dispatched to the intersection of 16th and Ridge Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas. on a call of shots fired. First responders discovered three victims. One man was inside a vehicle and two other men were in the street. All were victims of apparent gunshot wounds. All three were transported to an area hospital with potentially life threatening injuries. Suspects fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival.The two other shooting victims remain hospitalized, according to police.

Kan. teen wounded in triple-shooting dies a week after incident

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 — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas reintroduced federal legislation to set aside $50 million annually for transportation infrastructure projects in support of cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympic Games and 2034 Winter Olympic Games.

Moran’s primary interest was a section of the bill earmarking funding to 11 U.S. cities, including Kansas City, selected to host Men’s World Cup competition next year.

“It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world,” the Republican senator said. “Preparations are already underway for the games and this legislation will support local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”

Other cities hosting World Cup competition are&nbsp;Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and New Jersey, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay area.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat and a member with Moran on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said the proposed federal funding would help communities safely and efficiently coordinate transportation for fans, workers and goods during World Cup and Olympic events.

“With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities as they work to showcase the best of American innovation and hospitality,” she said.

Under the Senate bill, host cities and surrounding communities would be eligible for grants to build roads, expand light rail, purchase buses, create bicycle lanes, improve existing roads and upgrade airport terminals for the World Cup as well as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Text of the bill indicated funding also could be used for Paralympics, Special Olympics and women’s World Cup events.

Financial aid funneled through the U.S. transportation agency could be spread among host cities, states and tribes within 100 miles of the sports venues, the bill said.

“We are pleased to see this important transportation assistance legislation introduced in support of Kansas City’s World Cup efforts,” said Pam Kramer, chief executive officer of KC2026. “These investments and support will help us create sustained and lasting impact beyond the World Cup, improving mobility in the region well beyond 2026.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743966581063.png" alt="Moran met with&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 26 Kansas City CEO Pam Kramer in early December- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Moran met with&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 26 Kansas City CEO Pam Kramer in early December- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>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 — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas reintroduced federal legislation to set aside $50 million annually for transportation infrastructure projects in support of cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympic Games and 2034 Winter Olympic Games.Moran’s primary interest was a section of the bill earmarking funding to 11 U.S. cities, including Kansas City, selected to host Men’s World Cup competition next year.“It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world,” the Republican senator said. “Preparations are already underway for the games and this legislation will support local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”Other cities hosting World Cup competition are&nbsp;Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and New Jersey, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay area.U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat and a member with Moran on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said the proposed federal funding would help communities safely and efficiently coordinate transportation for fans, workers and goods during World Cup and Olympic events.“With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities as they work to showcase the best of American innovation and hospitality,” she said.Under the Senate bill, host cities and surrounding communities would be eligible for grants to build roads, expand light rail, purchase buses, create bicycle lanes, improve existing roads and upgrade airport terminals for the World Cup as well as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Text of the bill indicated funding also could be used for Paralympics, Special Olympics and women’s World Cup events.Financial aid funneled through the U.S. transportation agency could be spread among host cities, states and tribes within 100 miles of the sports venues, the bill said.“We are pleased to see this important transportation assistance legislation introduced in support of Kansas City’s World Cup efforts,” said Pam Kramer, chief executive officer of KC2026. “These investments and support will help us create sustained and lasting impact beyond the World Cup, improving mobility in the region well beyond 2026.”

Moran touts bipartisan bill earmarking federal infrastructure funding for World Cup, Olympics

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22STAN%20CHOE%20and%20CORA%20LEWIS%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By STAN CHOE and CORA LEWIS AP Business Writers</a>

NEW YORK (AP) —The huge swings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-d86db525c370e9da834e6dfb76e23b86">rocking Wall Street</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-consumer-impact-workers-prices-ba862da51b51ae1afdfae08bf02c2449">the global economy</a>&nbsp;may feel far from normal. But, for investing at least, drops of this size have happened throughout history.

Stomaching them is the price investors have had to pay in order to get the bigger returns that stocks can offer over other investments in the long term. Here's a glimpse at what's behind the market's wild moves and what experts advise investors young and old to consider:

Wall Street's main benchmark, the S&amp;P 500, has lost more than 16% since setting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-china-asia-technology-5d60888d8ea6f1e9c7dc19e8c89833e8">an all-time high</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 19, mostly because of worries about President Donald Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933">tariffs</a>.

Any kind of uncertainty around the economy will give Wall Street pause, but the trade war is making it more difficult for companies, households and others to feel confident enough to invest, spend and make long-term plans.

The tariffs announced on “Liberation Day” sent stocks reeling to their worst day since since the COVID crash of 2020 because they were much harsher than investors had been expecting. They also raised the fear that Trump may push through with them to win long-term gains, such as more manufacturing jobs in the United States.

The hope among investors had been that Trump was using tariffs merely as a bargaining chip to win concessions from other countries. Some big names on Wall Street still think that's the case, and a moderation of tariffs would help stocks recover, but it's less of a certainty now.

Regularly enough. The S&amp;P 500 has seen declines of at least 10% every year or so. Often, experts view them as a culling of optimism that can otherwise run overboard, driving stock prices too high.

Before this recent downswing, many critics were saying the U.S. stock market was too expensive after prices rose faster than corporate profits. They also pointed to how only a handful of companies drove so much of the market's returns. A group of just seven Big Tech companies accounted for more than half of the S&amp;P 500's total return last year, according to S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices.

Anytime an investor sees they’re losing money, it feels bad. This recent run feels particularly unnerving because of how incredibly calm the market had previously been. The S&amp;P 500 is coming off a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sp-stocks-wall-street-records-c144fbee69be7fff59c2e4b945b0c393">second straight year where it shot up</a>&nbsp;by more than 20%, the first time that's happened since baggy pants were last in style before the millennium.

Selling may offer some feeling of relief. But it also locks in losses and prevents the chance of making the money back over time. Historically, the S&amp;P 500 has come back from every one of its downturns to eventually make investors whole again. That includes after the Great Depression, the dot-com bust and the 2020 COVID crash.

Some recoveries take longer than others, but experts often recommend not putting money into stocks that you can't afford to lose for several years, up to 10. Emergency funds, for things like home repairs or medical bills, should not be invested in stocks.

“Data has shown, historically, that no one can time the market,” said Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of WalletHub. “No one can consistently figure out the best time to buy and sell.”

For years, the U.S. stock market was the best by far to invest in worldwide. Now, more investors are questioning wither U.S. exceptionalism is dead.

But it could all be a reminder that investors often do best when they have a mixed set of investments rather than going all-in on just a few. And investors may no longer be as diversified as they thought after years of sheer dominance by the Magnificent Seven over the U.S. stock market and by Wall Street over global markets.

“It is hard to roll with the punches when some days you feel like your portfolio is being pummeled,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. “But those moments should pass. A diversified strategy that is thoughtfully adapting to changing circumstances can’t prevent the punches, but it can help soften the blows.”

Phil Battin, CEO of Ambassador Wealth Management, advises investors to make sure they diversify their investments across regions and sectors to reduce risk. He says to lean towards “resilient sectors such as consumer staples, utilities and health care, which are less reliant on international trade.”

I JUST STARTED INVESTING IN STOCKS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

The proliferation of online trading platforms and the ease of smartphones has helped create a new generation of investors who may not be used to such volatility.

But the good news is younger investors often have the gift of time. With decades to go until retirement, they can afford to ride the waves and let their stock portfolios hopefully recover before compounding and eventually growing even bigger.

Stephen Kates, financial analyst at Bankrate, says “now is not the time to make emotional decisions.” Young investors should “re-anchor to your (long-term) goals,” and consider using a financial advisor to help navigate uncertain times. “Investors with ample time to stay invested should remember how lucrative patience has been over the last 15 years,” Kates said.

Older investors have less time than younger ones to allow their investments to bounce back. But even in retirement, some people will need their investments to last 30 years or more, said Niladri “Neel” Mukherjee, chief investment officer of TIAA Wealth Management.

People who have already retired may want to cut back on spending and withdrawals after sharp market downturns, because bigger withdrawals will remove more potential compounding ability in the future. But even retirees, at least in the early part of retirement, should still be invested in stocks to prepare for the possibility of decades of spending ahead.

“You may want to slow that down and pick that back up once the market recovers,” Mukherjee said, “but it all comes down to having that conversation with your adviser and your portfolio manager.”

No one knows, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22STAN%20CHOE%20and%20CORA%20LEWIS%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By STAN CHOE and CORA LEWIS AP Business Writers</a>NEW YORK (AP) —The huge swings&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-d86db525c370e9da834e6dfb76e23b86">rocking Wall Street</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-consumer-impact-workers-prices-ba862da51b51ae1afdfae08bf02c2449">the global economy</a>&nbsp;may feel far from normal. But, for investing at least, drops of this size have happened throughout history.Stomaching them is the price investors have had to pay in order to get the bigger returns that stocks can offer over other investments in the long term. Here's a glimpse at what's behind the market's wild moves and what experts advise investors young and old to consider:<h2>HOW BAD IS THE MARKET?</h2>Wall Street's main benchmark, the S&amp;P 500, has lost more than 16% since setting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-china-asia-technology-5d60888d8ea6f1e9c7dc19e8c89833e8">an all-time high</a>&nbsp;on Feb. 19, mostly because of worries about President Donald Trump's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933">tariffs</a>.Any kind of uncertainty around the economy will give Wall Street pause, but the trade war is making it more difficult for companies, households and others to feel confident enough to invest, spend and make long-term plans.The tariffs announced on “Liberation Day” sent stocks reeling to their worst day since since the COVID crash of 2020 because they were much harsher than investors had been expecting. They also raised the fear that Trump may push through with them to win long-term gains, such as more manufacturing jobs in the United States.The hope among investors had been that Trump was using tariffs merely as a bargaining chip to win concessions from other countries. Some big names on Wall Street still think that's the case, and a moderation of tariffs would help stocks recover, but it's less of a certainty now.<h2>STOCKS DO THIS OFTEN?</h2>Regularly enough. The S&amp;P 500 has seen declines of at least 10% every year or so. Often, experts view them as a culling of optimism that can otherwise run overboard, driving stock prices too high.Before this recent downswing, many critics were saying the U.S. stock market was too expensive after prices rose faster than corporate profits. They also pointed to how only a handful of companies drove so much of the market's returns. A group of just seven Big Tech companies accounted for more than half of the S&amp;P 500's total return last year, according to S&amp;P Dow Jones Indices.<h2>SHOULD I SELL AND GET OUT?</h2>Anytime an investor sees they’re losing money, it feels bad. This recent run feels particularly unnerving because of how incredibly calm the market had previously been. The S&amp;P 500 is coming off a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sp-stocks-wall-street-records-c144fbee69be7fff59c2e4b945b0c393">second straight year where it shot up</a>&nbsp;by more than 20%, the first time that's happened since baggy pants were last in style before the millennium.Selling may offer some feeling of relief. But it also locks in losses and prevents the chance of making the money back over time. Historically, the S&amp;P 500 has come back from every one of its downturns to eventually make investors whole again. That includes after the Great Depression, the dot-com bust and the 2020 COVID crash.Some recoveries take longer than others, but experts often recommend not putting money into stocks that you can't afford to lose for several years, up to 10. Emergency funds, for things like home repairs or medical bills, should not be invested in stocks.“Data has shown, historically, that no one can time the market,” said Odysseas Papadimitriou, CEO of WalletHub. “No one can consistently figure out the best time to buy and sell.”<h2>SHOULD I CHANGE ANYTHING WITH MY INVEST</h2><h2>MENTS?</h2>For years, the U.S. stock market was the best by far to invest in worldwide. Now, more investors are questioning wither U.S. exceptionalism is dead.But it could all be a reminder that investors often do best when they have a mixed set of investments rather than going all-in on just a few. And investors may no longer be as diversified as they thought after years of sheer dominance by the Magnificent Seven over the U.S. stock market and by Wall Street over global markets.“It is hard to roll with the punches when some days you feel like your portfolio is being pummeled,” said Brian Jacobsen, chief economist at Annex Wealth Management. “But those moments should pass. A diversified strategy that is thoughtfully adapting to changing circumstances can’t prevent the punches, but it can help soften the blows.”Phil Battin, CEO of Ambassador Wealth Management, advises investors to make sure they diversify their investments across regions and sectors to reduce risk. He says to lean towards “resilient sectors such as consumer staples, utilities and health care, which are less reliant on international trade.”<h2>I JUST STARTED INVESTING IN STOCKS. WHAT SHOULD I DO?</h2>The proliferation of online trading platforms and the ease of smartphones has helped create a new generation of investors who may not be used to such volatility.But the good news is younger investors often have the gift of time. With decades to go until retirement, they can afford to ride the waves and let their stock portfolios hopefully recover before compounding and eventually growing even bigger.Stephen Kates, financial analyst at Bankrate, says “now is not the time to make emotional decisions.” Young investors should “re-anchor to your (long-term) goals,” and consider using a financial advisor to help navigate uncertain times. “Investors with ample time to stay invested should remember how lucrative patience has been over the last 15 years,” Kates said.<h2>WHAT IF I'M NEAR RETIREMENT?</h2>Older investors have less time than younger ones to allow their investments to bounce back. But even in retirement, some people will need their investments to last 30 years or more, said Niladri “Neel” Mukherjee, chief investment officer of TIAA Wealth Management.People who have already retired may want to cut back on spending and withdrawals after sharp market downturns, because bigger withdrawals will remove more potential compounding ability in the future. But even retirees, at least in the early part of retirement, should still be invested in stocks to prepare for the possibility of decades of spending ahead.“You may want to slow that down and pick that back up once the market recovers,” Mukherjee said, “but it all comes down to having that conversation with your adviser and your portfolio manager.”<h2>HOW LONG WILL THIS LAST?</h2>No one knows, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Think twice before bailing out of the stock market, financial advisers say

ATLANTA (AP) — With new innovations and technology, scientists have learned from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-climate-3228371d5290c75746a5146d05467e57">major tornado outbreaks</a>&nbsp;over the years how to improve safety guidance. During tornado season, forecasters try to get the word out about staying safe during a storm — but also planning for it ahead of time.

Tornado seasons typically begin at different times in different parts of the United States.

In what has historically been known as Tornado Alley — a designation that typically includes Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas — the peak of tornado season is May into early June. But the season starts earlier in what's often called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-868ff31a54e44630bcb16fff1c7f30a6">Dixie Alley</a>, made up of southern states such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.

The idea of a tornado alley can be misleading, since tornadoes have been reported in all 50 states. About 1,200 tornadoes strike the U.S. every year, and each year violent twisters happen outside these traditional “alleys” of tornado outbreaks, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Recent twisters have even struck in places unaccustomed to them, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-storm-atmospheric-river-flooding-8ff2e22bb0bf121704a41aa879c27353">one near Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;in 2023 that tore apart rooftops and injured one person.

When a tornado takes aim at your house, and the sirens are sounding, the dogs are barking and the children are screaming, there are some last-minute precautions that could save the lives of you and your loved ones.

Experts also recommend a few simple steps to prepare well before the twister is on your doorstep. Here’s a look at some tornado safety tips:

Weather radios, specialized receivers that get alerts and can sound an alarm in an emergency, are something that every home and business should have, said Rick Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s forecast office in Norman, Oklahoma.

“It does feel like old-school technology, but they are lifesaving devices,” Smith said.

Radios can be particularly valuable in the South, where many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-climate-storms-science-new-orleans-27d2df41d6d7a9b0bb79dd04b8639f40">tornadoes strike at night</a>&nbsp;when people are sleeping. “This can wake you up in the middle of the night with the alarm,” Smith said.

The National Weather Service encourages people to have multiple ways of being warned, which can include weather radios, a cellphone app or other method in case power is lost. Redundancy is key, Smith said.

The ideal places to take shelter are enclosed, underground shelters and basements, or a safe room above ground that’s designed to withstand tornadic winds.

But many people don’t have that option — in Oklahoma, for example, the clay soil makes building basements expensive, so lots of homes don’t have them.

If you have to be above ground in a tornado, “your goal is to put as many walls and barriers between you and the outside as you possibly can,” Smith said.

Smith recommends using mattresses, couch cushions or other sturdy items to protect yourself from deadly flying or falling debris. Bicycle or sports helmets can provide crucial head protection. It's important that they are stored in a convenient place so they can be retrieved quickly, when you have only minutes or seconds before the storm strikes.

A car seat can help protect a small child, Smith says, and can be brought inside ahead of time.

Recent research has shown that closing your home’s garage door and all interior doors could ease the high winds inside somewhat by compartmentalizing them, according to Smith. Doing so&nbsp;<a href="https://ibhs.org/wind/tornado-resources/">is recommended during thunderstorms and tornadoes</a>&nbsp;by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.

That’s the opposite of a commonly held misconception: “There’s still a chunk of people out there who think you’re supposed to open the doors and windows to equalize the pressure,” Smith said.

It’s also important to prepare for the tornado’s aftermath, when you might emerge from a home or shelter to find downed trees and power lines and shredded buildings. Dress for disaster, such as wearing long pants and sturdy shoes, to make it easier to safely navigate treacherous terrain.

An emergency kit of essentials like drinking water and nonperishable food items is also a good idea.

With the threat of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-weather-flash-flooding-tornadoes-7d078f3549048935fe760aacf494c96b">strong tornadoes in the forecast</a>&nbsp;this week for Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and other states, forecasters are urging people to have emergency supplies, know where their safe places are and have a family communication plan.

Don't look to Hollywood for sound tornado safety practices. The recent Hollywood film “Twisters” shows the characters sprinting toward a highway underpass as a tornado approaches.

If you are in a car or truck, “you really don’t have a lot of good options at that point,” Smith said. “Try not to get caught in that situation.”

The best thing to do is get off the road and try to find a building. If there’s nowhere to go, there are no guaranteed safe options.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1714172110798.png" alt="View of the April 26, 2024 tornado as seen by theNebraska Dept. of Transportation camera" />
 <figcaption>View of the April 26, 2024 tornado as seen by theNebraska Dept. of Transportation camera</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — With new innovations and technology, scientists have learned from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-climate-3228371d5290c75746a5146d05467e57">major tornado outbreaks</a>&nbsp;over the years how to improve safety guidance. During tornado season, forecasters try to get the word out about staying safe during a storm — but also planning for it ahead of time.Tornado seasons typically begin at different times in different parts of the United States.In what has historically been known as Tornado Alley — a designation that typically includes Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas — the peak of tornado season is May into early June. But the season starts earlier in what's often called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-868ff31a54e44630bcb16fff1c7f30a6">Dixie Alley</a>, made up of southern states such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.The idea of a tornado alley can be misleading, since tornadoes have been reported in all 50 states. About 1,200 tornadoes strike the U.S. every year, and each year violent twisters happen outside these traditional “alleys” of tornado outbreaks, according to the National Severe Storms Laboratory. Recent twisters have even struck in places unaccustomed to them, such as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-storm-atmospheric-river-flooding-8ff2e22bb0bf121704a41aa879c27353">one near Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;in 2023 that tore apart rooftops and injured one person.When a tornado takes aim at your house, and the sirens are sounding, the dogs are barking and the children are screaming, there are some last-minute precautions that could save the lives of you and your loved ones.Experts also recommend a few simple steps to prepare well before the twister is on your doorstep. Here’s a look at some tornado safety tips:<h2>How do I get emergency updates?</h2>Weather radios, specialized receivers that get alerts and can sound an alarm in an emergency, are something that every home and business should have, said Rick Smith, the warning coordination meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s forecast office in Norman, Oklahoma.“It does feel like old-school technology, but they are lifesaving devices,” Smith said.Radios can be particularly valuable in the South, where many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-climate-storms-science-new-orleans-27d2df41d6d7a9b0bb79dd04b8639f40">tornadoes strike at night</a>&nbsp;when people are sleeping. “This can wake you up in the middle of the night with the alarm,” Smith said.The National Weather Service encourages people to have multiple ways of being warned, which can include weather radios, a cellphone app or other method in case power is lost. Redundancy is key, Smith said.<h2>Where should I take shelter?</h2>The ideal places to take shelter are enclosed, underground shelters and basements, or a safe room above ground that’s designed to withstand tornadic winds.But many people don’t have that option — in Oklahoma, for example, the clay soil makes building basements expensive, so lots of homes don’t have them.If you have to be above ground in a tornado, “your goal is to put as many walls and barriers between you and the outside as you possibly can,” Smith said.Smith recommends using mattresses, couch cushions or other sturdy items to protect yourself from deadly flying or falling debris. Bicycle or sports helmets can provide crucial head protection. It's important that they are stored in a convenient place so they can be retrieved quickly, when you have only minutes or seconds before the storm strikes.A car seat can help protect a small child, Smith says, and can be brought inside ahead of time.<h2>How can I keep my home safe?</h2>Recent research has shown that closing your home’s garage door and all interior doors could ease the high winds inside somewhat by compartmentalizing them, according to Smith. Doing so&nbsp;<a href="https://ibhs.org/wind/tornado-resources/">is recommended during thunderstorms and tornadoes</a>&nbsp;by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.That’s the opposite of a commonly held misconception: “There’s still a chunk of people out there who think you’re supposed to open the doors and windows to equalize the pressure,” Smith said.It’s also important to prepare for the tornado’s aftermath, when you might emerge from a home or shelter to find downed trees and power lines and shredded buildings. Dress for disaster, such as wearing long pants and sturdy shoes, to make it easier to safely navigate treacherous terrain.An emergency kit of essentials like drinking water and nonperishable food items is also a good idea.With the threat of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-weather-flash-flooding-tornadoes-7d078f3549048935fe760aacf494c96b">strong tornadoes in the forecast</a>&nbsp;this week for Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and other states, forecasters are urging people to have emergency supplies, know where their safe places are and have a family communication plan.<h2>What should I do if I'm driving?</h2>Don't look to Hollywood for sound tornado safety practices. The recent Hollywood film “Twisters” shows the characters sprinting toward a highway underpass as a tornado approaches.If you are in a car or truck, “you really don’t have a lot of good options at that point,” Smith said. “Try not to get caught in that situation.”The best thing to do is get off the road and try to find a building. If there’s nowhere to go, there are no guaranteed safe options.

What you do before and during a tornado could mean the difference between life and death

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

A second unvaccinated school-aged child in West Texas died from a measles-related illness, a hospital spokesman confirmed Sunday, as the outbreak continues to swell.

Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said that the child was “receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized” and did not have underlying health conditions. The hospital declined to say which day the child died.

Neither the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor the Texas State Department of State Health Services include the death in their measles reports issued Friday. Spokespeople for the state health department, the CDC and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday.

A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">school-age child died</a>&nbsp;in February in Lubbock — the first measles death in the U.S. in a decade. In early March, an adult in New Mexico who was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care became the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">second measles-related death</a>.

Nationwide, the U.S. has more than double the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;it saw in all of 2024.

More than two months in, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">West Texas</a>&nbsp;outbreak is believed to have spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-new-mexico-vaccine-rfk-d5444b3397ac7c4034e63becc219aa33">sickening nearly 570 people</a>. The World Health Organization also reported cases related to Texas in Mexico. The number of cases in Texas shot up by 81 between March 28 and April 4, and 16 more people were hospitalized. A team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is on the ground in Texas assisting with outbreak response.

Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccine-trump-science-autism-9b99621b01f11b7f0bdc81e5a0b82d2b">longtime anti-vaccine activist</a>, has delivered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">tepid message</a>&nbsp;on the importance of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-samoa-measles-kennedy-vaccines-pacific-42a9cb583c71f165699b16710884c474">vaccination against measles</a>, saying it should be encouraged while also sowing doubt in the vaccine’s safety. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been used safely for more than 60 years and is 97% effective against measles after two doses.

Doctors at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, where the first measles death occurred, say they've treated fewer than 10 children for liver issues from vitamin A toxicity, which they found when running routine lab tests on undervaccinated children who have measles. Dr. Lara Johnson, chief medical officer, said the patients reported using vitamin A to treat and prevent the virus.

Kennedy is expected to launch a Make America Healthy Again tour across the southwestern U.S. early this week.

Marks also said he recently warned U.S. senators that more deaths would occur if the administration didn’t mount a more aggressive response to the outbreak. Kennedy has been called to testify before the Senate health committee on Thursday.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740583865667.png" alt="A sign is seen outside a clinic with the South Plains Public Health District Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Brownfield, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)" />
 <figcaption>A sign is seen outside a clinic with the South Plains Public Health District Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, in Brownfield, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22DEVI%20SHASTRI%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By DEVI SHASTRI AP Health Writer</a><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">1/ DSHS continues to track the measles outbreak in the South Plains and Panhandle. As of today, 481 cases have been identified since late January. Immunization with two doses of MMR vaccine protects you from getting sick and stops the outbreak from spreading. <a href="https://t.co/6u3BYh2gl6">pic.twitter.com/6u3BYh2gl6</a>&mdash; Texas DSHS (@TexasDSHS) <a href="https://twitter.com/TexasDSHS/status/1908188334867779982?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>A second unvaccinated school-aged child in West Texas died from a measles-related illness, a hospital spokesman confirmed Sunday, as the outbreak continues to swell.Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said that the child was “receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized” and did not have underlying health conditions. The hospital declined to say which day the child died.Neither the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention nor the Texas State Department of State Health Services include the death in their measles reports issued Friday. Spokespeople for the state health department, the CDC and the U.S. Health and Human Services Department didn't immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday.A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">school-age child died</a>&nbsp;in February in Lubbock — the first measles death in the U.S. in a decade. In early March, an adult in New Mexico who was unvaccinated and did not seek medical care became the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">second measles-related death</a>.Nationwide, the U.S. has more than double the number of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee">measles cases</a>&nbsp;it saw in all of 2024.More than two months in, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">West Texas</a>&nbsp;outbreak is believed to have spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-new-mexico-vaccine-rfk-d5444b3397ac7c4034e63becc219aa33">sickening nearly 570 people</a>. The World Health Organization also reported cases related to Texas in Mexico. The number of cases in Texas shot up by 81 between March 28 and April 4, and 16 more people were hospitalized. A team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is on the ground in Texas assisting with outbreak response.Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-vaccine-trump-science-autism-9b99621b01f11b7f0bdc81e5a0b82d2b">longtime anti-vaccine activist</a>, has delivered a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-robert-kennedy-vaccines-measles-steak-shake-9c970a1f6bdfd6ac4b4160480e996ac0">tepid message</a>&nbsp;on the importance of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-samoa-measles-kennedy-vaccines-pacific-42a9cb583c71f165699b16710884c474">vaccination against measles</a>, saying it should be encouraged while also sowing doubt in the vaccine’s safety. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has been used safely for more than 60 years and is 97% effective against measles after two doses.Misinformation about how to prevent and treat measles is hindering a robust public health response, including claims about vitamin A supplements that have been pushed by Kennedy and holistic medicine supporters despite doctors’ warnings that it should be given under a physician's orders and that too much can be dangerous.Doctors at Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, where the first measles death occurred, say they've treated fewer than 10 children for liver issues from vitamin A toxicity, which they found when running routine lab tests on undervaccinated children who have measles. Dr. Lara Johnson, chief medical officer, said the patients reported using vitamin A to treat and prevent the virus.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-vaccine-chief-peter-marks-resign-rfk-kennedy-7743be11cec4e4e22c50c2ddbcb6bcd8">Dr. Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration’s former vaccine chief</a>, said responsibility for the death rests with Kennedy and his staff. Marks was forced out of the FDA after disagreements with Kennedy over vaccine safety.“This is the epitome of an absolute needless death,” Marks told The Associated Press in an interview Sunday. “These kids should get vaccinated — that’s how you prevent people from dying of measles.”Kennedy is expected to launch a Make America Healthy Again tour across the southwestern U.S. early this week.Marks also said he recently warned U.S. senators that more deaths would occur if the administration didn’t mount a more aggressive response to the outbreak. Kennedy has been called to testify before the Senate health committee on Thursday.Experts and local health officials expect the outbreak to go on for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">several more months</a>&nbsp;if not a year. In West Texas, the vast majority of cases are in unvaccinated people and children younger than 17.With several states facing outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable disease — and declining childhood vaccination rates nationwide — some worry that measles may cost the U.S. its status as having eliminated the disease.Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/index.html">according to the CDC</a>. The first shot is recommended for children ages 12 to 15 months, and the second for ages 4 to 6 years.----------The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Second child died from measles-related causes in West Texas

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%20and%20JAMIE%20STENGLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and JAMIE STENGLE </a> <a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%20and%20JAMIE%20STENGLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">Associated Press</a>

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — When retired school counselor Don Herneisen meets up with friends each week for breakfast at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the conversation often turns to the economy. With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-d86db525c370e9da834e6dfb76e23b86">financial markets</a>&nbsp;in turmoil as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;unveiled his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economic-impact-trade-markets-3e38352ab5693852bfd9bc8dd2ac2d56">latest tariffs</a>&nbsp;this week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investing-tariffs-retirement-stocks-diversification-portfolio-ee662f0f5a84aa483ca741351e23d876">popularity of that topic</a>&nbsp;is unlikely to change anytime soon.

“There’s political uncertainty, there’s economic uncertainty, and if you’re retired, you don’t much like uncertainty at this point,” said Herneisen, 77, as he and his wife made a stop at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday while visiting family.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%20and%20JAMIE%20STENGLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and JAMIE STENGLE </a> <a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22HEATHER%20HOLLINGSWORTH%20and%20JAMIE%20STENGLE%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">Associated Press</a>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — When retired school counselor Don Herneisen meets up with friends each week for breakfast at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, the conversation often turns to the economy. With&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/market-rates-trump-tariffs-d86db525c370e9da834e6dfb76e23b86">financial markets</a>&nbsp;in turmoil as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;unveiled his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economic-impact-trade-markets-3e38352ab5693852bfd9bc8dd2ac2d56">latest tariffs</a>&nbsp;this week, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/investing-tariffs-retirement-stocks-diversification-portfolio-ee662f0f5a84aa483ca741351e23d876">popularity of that topic</a>&nbsp;is unlikely to change anytime soon.“There’s political uncertainty, there’s economic uncertainty, and if you’re retired, you don’t much like uncertainty at this point,” said Herneisen, 77, as he and his wife made a stop at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, on Friday while visiting family.Stock markets worldwide careened even lower Friday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-tariff-trade-trump-earths-02cd23e913649f32985f075058e787c4">China matched</a>&nbsp;Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-liberation-day-2a031b3c16120a5672a6ddd01da09933">big raise</a>&nbsp;in tariffs in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-tariffs-trump-asia-china-europe-2c40881f1fe8f04624100c12d8d05296">escalating trade war</a>. The sweeping new tariffs, on top of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-timeline-trade-war-trump-canada-mexico-china-a9d714eea677488ef9397547d838dbd0">previous levies and retaliation</a>&nbsp;worldwide, are also expected to increase&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-consumer-impact-workers-prices-ba862da51b51ae1afdfae08bf02c2449">prices for everyday items.</a>Herneisen, who lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and his wife, Cathy Herneisen, a 74-year-old retired Verizon worker, are living on a mix of pension, Social Security and an individual retirement account, or IRA. He said that for now they aren’t cutting back, but his wife clarified that even holding steady means cutting back.“Prices are higher, but I am still spending the same amount of money,” she said. “I am sticking with the grocery budget, and that means that I’m cutting back on prepared food, so I’m buying the products themselves so it is hurting people who run a small business that sell their pre-made food."They live in a Republican-leaning area of the swing state but neither voted for Trump, who has said Americans may feel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-trade-surplus-3010e6368545e2976feb5ac6b41e528e">“some pain”</a>&nbsp;because of tariffs, but that the long-term goals, including getting more manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., are worth it.Chad NeSmith, a portfolio manager at Tobias Financial Advisors in Plantation, Florida, just outside of Fort Lauderdale, said that they'd been fielding calls from clients for the last couple of days and the calls were increasing on Friday.“Fear is really picking up, especially since we have the retaliatory tariff from China," he said.NeSmith said most clients just had general questions, checking up on what they should be doing with their portfolios. “We’re taking it on a call-by-call basis,” he said.NeSmith said retirees generally have a little bit less risk in their portfolios and bonds have been performing well in the volatility.“The overall theme that we’re really getting at is you really have to be aware of your risk tolerance and your financial plan, and you needed to do that going into this so that way you can ride through this volatility that we’re seeing right now,” he said.Colleen Power, a 57-year-old payroll specialist from Kansas City, Missouri, is hopeful&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-tariffs-trump-trade-cea98013c677e5b9bd6ce6166f4ce659">the market</a>&nbsp;will recover before she retires.“We have our things situated in a way that we will probably survive,” she said. “Now, in general, yes, I am definitely worried for the country. But I mean, on a personal level, I don’t have a whole lot of stress about that at the moment.”But Power, a Democrat, finds the situation frustrating nonetheless. “None of this is in any way surprising on any level, in any way, and all I can do is do the best I can in my local area and hope for the best," she said.Paul Brahim, an advisor at Wealth Enhancement Group in Pittsburgh, said, “Uncertainty is frightening, not knowing is scary and people are asking the same question all the time: ‘Am I going to be OK?’”He said that for a recent retiree who hasn't started taking Social Security yet and is living off the cash flow from assets, watching that value decline in just a few days is “frightening.”But, he said, if they have prepared well, there should be reserves in place. “We should have cash in reserve that we can use while we allow that portfolio to heal," he said.Brahim, president of the Financial Planning Association, a membership organization for certified financial planners, said most of his clients have broadly diversified portfolios and, looking back over the last year, they've had positive returns. “It’s good to just put it into perspective, that helps with the fear,” he said.“I think it’s important that we take a breath and that we pause through uncertainty before we make adjustments to our portfolio,” he said. “Let the dust settle.”___Stengle contributed to this story from Dallas.