The Missouri Supreme Court is questioning whether it should be the tribunal to hear the appeal of a Jackson County decision blocking enforcement of most Missouri abortion laws and regulations

BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri Supreme Court isn’t as ready to hear the appeal of a ruling that allowed abortions to resume in the state as Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;is to argue it&nbsp;in front of the seven judges.

In filings for an appeal of Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-trumps-most-restrictions-judge-rules/">July 3 preliminary injunction</a>, Bailey’s office asked for an expedited schedule and a hearing the week of Aug. 11. The two Planned Parenthood organizations suing to block enforcement of laws regulating abortion, represented by the ACLU of Missouri, agreed there should be an expedited schedule but suggested arguments the week of Aug. 18 would be better.

But instead of setting a schedule, the court has directed the attorneys to explain why it should hear arguments at all. The two sides&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC101176show%20cause%20order.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=210465" target="_blank">have until Friday</a>&nbsp;“to show cause as to why this court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over this appeal” under&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=V++++3&amp;bid=31898&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">the Missouri Constitution</a>.

“It means somebody’s questioning whether they’ve got the authority, the jurisdictional authority, to hear this case,” said Heidi Vollet, an attorney fromJefferson City who clerked for then-U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in 2001 and teaches appellate law to other practicing attorneys for continuing legal education.&nbsp;

“That doesn’t mean they’ve decided one way or the other, that they do or do not,” she said. “So show cause means that they’re concerned enough about it that there’s a question and they want to hear from the parties on that subject.”

Zhang’s July 3 ruling allowed surgical abortions to resume, and Planned Parenthood clinics are providing appointments for women in St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City. The clinics cannot offer medication abortions because the ruling did not block enforcement of a law requiring clinics to have complication plans for women who experience issues after taking the drugs. The state has thus far not signed off on a complication plan submitted earlier this year.

The order blocked the regulation describing what must be in the complication plan, such as access to a physician at all hours, but not the law itself requiring the plans.

Vollet said the Supreme Court has a limited number of cases where the law bypasses the three district appellate courts, usually the first stop in the appeals process. One set of cases involve the validity “of a statute or provision of the constitution of this state…”

If the type of case isn’t listed with the categories where the Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction, an appeal must generally be filed first with the court of appeals.

The show-cause order’s reference to the court’s exclusive jurisdiction is not a question the court had to ask, said former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Wolff.

“The Supreme Court has the authority to bypass the court of appeals and take an appeal directly,” Wolff said.

It will be up to Bailey’s office to show the court it has exclusive jurisdiction, or for Planned Parenthood to admit that having a statute declared invalid is their goal, for the court to agree to hear the case, Wolff said.

Bailey’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

The ACLU said the court made the right move by issuing the show-cause order.

“The Missouri Supreme Court is correct to seek the parties’ positions to the question of jurisdiction,” said spokesman Tom Bastian. “This is the first time we have seen a direct appeal on a circuit court ordered preliminary injunction to the Missouri Supreme Court, whose authority is set by the Constitution.”

In the appeal, Bailey’s office is asking the court to decide that the case should not be before Zhang at all, but in Cole County. The appeal also asks the court to declare that Zhang used the wrong legal standard when issuing the preliminary injunction.

Because the ruling from Zhang is a preliminary injunction, it is not final. That means she has not yet decided whether the state laws her orders block violate the terms of the abortion rights amendment approved by voters in November. Instead, her decision is based on the likelihood the Planned Parenthood plaintiffs will prevail at trial and which side is damaged more, the plaintiffs if the laws are enforced or the state that will see its laws go unenforced.

The show-cause order doesn’t necessarily alter the timeline either party requested for an expedited hearing, Vollet said.

“They absolutely are interested to know about jurisdiction,” she said. “And they’re looking at that presumably before they order a certain time frame.”

This is the second time the question of whether Zhang had grounds to block enforcement of state abortion laws and regulations has come before the court. In May, the court issued a writ ordering Zhang to withdraw&nbsp;two previous preliminary injunctions&nbsp;issued by Zhang.

It is the first time Bailey’s office has used a power&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-approve-bill-targeting-pending-abortion-lawsuit/">newly granted by the legislature</a>&nbsp;to appeal a preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of any provision of the constitution, state law or regulation.

The law was an attack on abortion rights, Bastian said, because it was passed only because of the case being heard by Zhang.

“The law allows the state, and only the state, to appeal interlocutory preliminary injunctions that temporarily block the enforcement of laws that likely violate the constitution,” Bastian said.

But the new law, which took effect April 24 with Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature, does not assign jurisdiction over those appeals to a particular court.&nbsp;

“For very good reason, if this doesn’t belong in the Supreme Court, they’re much better off,” Wolff said. “This is my personal view of it, but by letting the Court of Appeals decide this in the first instance, and then they can take it, take transfer or not take transfer, depending on how badly the court of appeals screwed it up, or not at all.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753206867141.png" alt=" The Missouri Supreme Court issued a show-cause order last week asking why it should hear the appeal of a preliminary injunction that made abortion legally available in the state. The judges, shown in a Sept. 10, 2024, photo, are, from left, Kelly Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary Russell, Zel Fischer, Paul Wilson and Ginger Gooch. (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch)." />
 <figcaption> The Missouri Supreme Court issued a show-cause order last week asking why it should hear the appeal of a preliminary injunction that made abortion legally available in the state. The judges, shown in a Sept. 10, 2024, photo, are, from left, Kelly Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary Russell, Zel Fischer, Paul Wilson and Ginger Gooch. (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri Supreme Court is questioning whether it should be the tribunal to hear the appeal of a Jackson County decision blocking enforcement of most Missouri abortion laws and regulations</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Supreme Court isn’t as ready to hear the appeal of a ruling that allowed abortions to resume in the state as Attorney General Andrew Bailey&nbsp;is to argue it&nbsp;in front of the seven judges.In filings for an appeal of Jackson County Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-trumps-most-restrictions-judge-rules/">July 3 preliminary injunction</a>, Bailey’s office asked for an expedited schedule and a hearing the week of Aug. 11. The two Planned Parenthood organizations suing to block enforcement of laws regulating abortion, represented by the ACLU of Missouri, agreed there should be an expedited schedule but suggested arguments the week of Aug. 18 would be better.But instead of setting a schedule, the court has directed the attorneys to explain why it should hear arguments at all. The two sides&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC101176show%20cause%20order.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=210465" target="_blank">have until Friday</a>&nbsp;“to show cause as to why this court has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over this appeal” under&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=V++++3&amp;bid=31898&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">the Missouri Constitution</a>.“It means somebody’s questioning whether they’ve got the authority, the jurisdictional authority, to hear this case,” said Heidi Vollet, an attorney fromJefferson City who clerked for then-U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist in 2001 and teaches appellate law to other practicing attorneys for continuing legal education.&nbsp;“That doesn’t mean they’ve decided one way or the other, that they do or do not,” she said. “So show cause means that they’re concerned enough about it that there’s a question and they want to hear from the parties on that subject.”Zhang’s July 3 ruling allowed surgical abortions to resume, and Planned Parenthood clinics are providing appointments for women in St. Louis, Columbia and Kansas City. The clinics cannot offer medication abortions because the ruling did not block enforcement of a law requiring clinics to have complication plans for women who experience issues after taking the drugs. The state has thus far not signed off on a complication plan submitted earlier this year.The order blocked the regulation describing what must be in the complication plan, such as access to a physician at all hours, but not the law itself requiring the plans.Vollet said the Supreme Court has a limited number of cases where the law bypasses the three district appellate courts, usually the first stop in the appeals process. One set of cases involve the validity “of a statute or provision of the constitution of this state…”If the type of case isn’t listed with the categories where the Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction, an appeal must generally be filed first with the court of appeals.The show-cause order’s reference to the court’s exclusive jurisdiction is not a question the court had to ask, said former Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Wolff.“The Supreme Court has the authority to bypass the court of appeals and take an appeal directly,” Wolff said.It will be up to Bailey’s office to show the court it has exclusive jurisdiction, or for Planned Parenthood to admit that having a statute declared invalid is their goal, for the court to agree to hear the case, Wolff said.Bailey’s office did not respond to a request for comment.The ACLU said the court made the right move by issuing the show-cause order.“The Missouri Supreme Court is correct to seek the parties’ positions to the question of jurisdiction,” said spokesman Tom Bastian. “This is the first time we have seen a direct appeal on a circuit court ordered preliminary injunction to the Missouri Supreme Court, whose authority is set by the Constitution.”In the appeal, Bailey’s office is asking the court to decide that the case should not be before Zhang at all, but in Cole County. The appeal also asks the court to declare that Zhang used the wrong legal standard when issuing the preliminary injunction.Because the ruling from Zhang is a preliminary injunction, it is not final. That means she has not yet decided whether the state laws her orders block violate the terms of the abortion rights amendment approved by voters in November. Instead, her decision is based on the likelihood the Planned Parenthood plaintiffs will prevail at trial and which side is damaged more, the plaintiffs if the laws are enforced or the state that will see its laws go unenforced.The show-cause order doesn’t necessarily alter the timeline either party requested for an expedited hearing, Vollet said.“They absolutely are interested to know about jurisdiction,” she said. “And they’re looking at that presumably before they order a certain time frame.”This is the second time the question of whether Zhang had grounds to block enforcement of state abortion laws and regulations has come before the court. In May, the court issued a writ ordering Zhang to withdraw&nbsp;two previous preliminary injunctions&nbsp;issued by Zhang.It is the first time Bailey’s office has used a power&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-approve-bill-targeting-pending-abortion-lawsuit/">newly granted by the legislature</a>&nbsp;to appeal a preliminary injunction that blocks enforcement of any provision of the constitution, state law or regulation.The law was an attack on abortion rights, Bastian said, because it was passed only because of the case being heard by Zhang.“The law allows the state, and only the state, to appeal interlocutory preliminary injunctions that temporarily block the enforcement of laws that likely violate the constitution,” Bastian said.But the new law, which took effect April 24 with Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature, does not assign jurisdiction over those appeals to a particular court.&nbsp;“For very good reason, if this doesn’t belong in the Supreme Court, they’re much better off,” Wolff said. “This is my personal view of it, but by letting the Court of Appeals decide this in the first instance, and then they can take it, take transfer or not take transfer, depending on how badly the court of appeals screwed it up, or not at all.”

Jurisdiction issues emerge in AG’s appeal of ruling legalizing abortion in Missouri

Zabe and the suspect were located in Mantoon, Illinois at 12:25 p.m. and are in custody by local authorities. The child is now safe.

SHAWNEE COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has issued an Amber Alert for 2-year-old Zabe Mendez, who was reportedly abducted from Topeka on July 21.

Zabe Mendez was forcibly taken from his mother by an unknown suspect.  Zabe is in imminent danger.  His mother’s white four-door Lexus with unknown Kansas tag is also missing.

Zabe Mendez is a Hispanic male, around 2 feet 5 inches tall, who weighs around 40 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.

Call 911 immediately if you have seen the missing child or the suspect’s vehicle. If you have other information call 1-800-KS-CRIME.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753203309827.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Zabe and the suspect were located in Mantoon, Illinois at 12:25 p.m. and are in custody by local authorities. The child is now safe.-----SHAWNEE COUNTY– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has issued an Amber Alert for 2-year-old Zabe Mendez, who was reportedly abducted from Topeka on July 21.Zabe Mendez was forcibly taken from his mother by an unknown suspect. Zabe is in imminent danger. His mother’s white four-door Lexus with unknown Kansas tag is also missing.Zabe Mendez is a Hispanic male, around 2 feet 5 inches tall, who weighs around 40 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes.Call 911 immediately if you have seen the missing child or the suspect’s vehicle. If you have other information call 1-800-KS-CRIME.<figure>
 <img src="https://sync.intentiq.com/profiles_engine/ProfilesEngineServlet?at=20&amp;mi=10&amp;secure=1&amp;dpi=456059511&amp;iiqidtype=2&amp;iiqpcid=eaf33ece-2600-452c-a1eb-879b94753ee3&amp;iiqpciddate=1744297501662&amp;tsrnd=88_1753203141437&amp;vrref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&amp;jsver=5.082" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

KBI: Amber Alert for Kansas boy canceled, suspect in custody

WASHINGTON (AP) —Coca-Cola said Tuesday it will add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to its U.S. lineup this fall, confirming a recent announcement by President Donald Trump.

Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-coca-cola-real-sugar-corn-syrup-be3111be856dcffea8c5e004259c37c8">agreed to use real cane sugar</a>&nbsp;in its flagship product in the U.S., which has been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s. Coke didn't immediately confirm the change, but promised new offerings soon.

On Tuesday, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range “to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences.”

“We appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand,” Quincey said in a conference call with investors Tuesday. “We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options."

Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other U.S. drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. Coke has also sold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-c074fc0b315e4625bdd7810112215bb7">Mexican Coke</a>, which is made with cane sugar, in the U.S. since 2005.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there’s an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving,” Quincey said. “It’s a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things.”

Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the U.S. since 2009.

Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its trademark cola — as PepsiCo did this week — Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fiber in Japan and is studying consumer response to it.

Quincey said consumer demand for its products improved in the second quarter in many markets, including China, Europe, Africa and North America.

“I would I would say overall that the global economy and the global consumer remains resilient,” Quincey said.

But early monsoons and conflict hurt demand in India, and Quincey said demand in Thailand and Indonesia was also weaker than expected. Quincey also said lower-income consumers in the U.S. and elsewhere have also pulled back on spending.

Global case volumes of Coca-Cola fell 1%. Juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4%, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3%, as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America.

One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which saw case volumes grow 14%. Traditional Coca-Cola still&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cocacola-making-coke-cane-sugar-0404b23518e65e2e6cd3487381411d7f">far outsells the zero-sugar variety</a>, but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly.

In North America, case volumes fell 1%, but that was an improvement from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cocacola-profit-tariffs-earnings-2fc769ce037319481ff365caf6933b77">first quarter</a>, when they were down 3%.

Quincey said Hispanic sales in the U.S. returned to normal levels by the end of June. They had plummeted starting in February, when a social media video began circulating that claimed Coke was reporting its own workers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

Quincey said the claim was false. The company has been trying to win back Hispanic consumers with targeted deals and ads touting the company’s local economic impact.

“It was still a headwind in the second quarter but the issue is now largely resolved,” Quincey said Tuesday.

Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset the weaker volumes. Coke said pricing rose 6% globally.

Revenue for the Atlanta company rose 1% to $12.5 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, quarterly revenue was $12.6 billion. That was in line with Wall Street’s forecast, according to analysts polled by FactSet.

Net income jumped 58% to $3.8 billion. Coke's adjusted net income was 87 cents, which was higher than the 83 cents Wall Street forecast.

Coke said it now expects full-year adjusted earnings to grow 8%. At the start of the year, Coke had expected earnings to grow 8% to 10%, but in April it lowered that range to 7% to 9%. Coke earned $2.88 per share in 2024.

Shares of Coca-Cola Co. were down 1% in early trading Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (AP) —Coca-Cola said Tuesday it will add a cane-sugar version of its trademark cola to its U.S. lineup this fall, confirming a recent announcement by President Donald Trump.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;I have been speaking to <a href="https://twitter.com/CocaCola?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CocaCola</a> about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so. I’d like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You’ll see. It’s just better!&quot; –President Donald J. Trump <a href="https://t.co/9L27oxlYUj">pic.twitter.com/9L27oxlYUj</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1945588887847375341?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump said in a social media post last week that Coca-Cola had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-coca-cola-real-sugar-corn-syrup-be3111be856dcffea8c5e004259c37c8">agreed to use real cane sugar</a>&nbsp;in its flagship product in the U.S., which has been sweetened with high fructose corn syrup since the 1980s. Coke didn't immediately confirm the change, but promised new offerings soon.On Tuesday, Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO James Quincey said Coke will expand its product range “to reflect consumer interest in differentiated experiences.”“We appreciate the president’s enthusiasm for our Coca-Cola brand,” Quincey said in a conference call with investors Tuesday. “We are definitely looking to use the whole tool kit of available sweetening options."Quincey noted that Coke uses cane sugar in some other U.S. drinks, like its Simply brand lemonade and Honest Tea. Coke has also sold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-c074fc0b315e4625bdd7810112215bb7">Mexican Coke</a>, which is made with cane sugar, in the U.S. since 2005.“We’re always looking for opportunities to innovate and see whether there’s an intersection of new ideas and where consumer preferences are evolving,” Quincey said. “It’s a good sign that the industry, including ourselves, are trying lots of different things.”Rivals PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have been selling versions of their trademark colas sweetened with cane sugar in the U.S. since 2009.Asked if Coke would also consider introducing a prebiotic version of its trademark cola — as PepsiCo did this week — Quincey said the company is currently selling a Coke with added fiber in Japan and is studying consumer response to it.Quincey said consumer demand for its products improved in the second quarter in many markets, including China, Europe, Africa and North America.“I would I would say overall that the global economy and the global consumer remains resilient,” Quincey said.But early monsoons and conflict hurt demand in India, and Quincey said demand in Thailand and Indonesia was also weaker than expected. Quincey also said lower-income consumers in the U.S. and elsewhere have also pulled back on spending.Global case volumes of Coca-Cola fell 1%. Juice, dairy and plant-based beverages fell 4%, Coke said. Sports drink case volumes were down 3%, as higher demand in North America was offset by declines in Latin America.One bright spot was Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, which saw case volumes grow 14%. Traditional Coca-Cola still&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cocacola-making-coke-cane-sugar-0404b23518e65e2e6cd3487381411d7f">far outsells the zero-sugar variety</a>, but consumer demand for zero-sugar versions is growing much more quickly.In North America, case volumes fell 1%, but that was an improvement from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cocacola-profit-tariffs-earnings-2fc769ce037319481ff365caf6933b77">first quarter</a>, when they were down 3%.Quincey said Hispanic sales in the U.S. returned to normal levels by the end of June. They had plummeted starting in February, when a social media video began circulating that claimed Coke was reporting its own workers to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.Quincey said the claim was false. The company has been trying to win back Hispanic consumers with targeted deals and ads touting the company’s local economic impact.“It was still a headwind in the second quarter but the issue is now largely resolved,” Quincey said Tuesday.Coca-Cola reported better-than-expected earnings in the second quarter as higher prices offset the weaker volumes. Coke said pricing rose 6% globally.Revenue for the Atlanta company rose 1% to $12.5 billion. Adjusted for one-time items, quarterly revenue was $12.6 billion. That was in line with Wall Street’s forecast, according to analysts polled by FactSet.Net income jumped 58% to $3.8 billion. Coke's adjusted net income was 87 cents, which was higher than the 83 cents Wall Street forecast.Coke said it now expects full-year adjusted earnings to grow 8%. At the start of the year, Coke had expected earnings to grow 8% to 10%, but in April it lowered that range to 7% to 9%. Coke earned $2.88 per share in 2024.Shares of Coca-Cola Co. were down 1% in early trading Tuesday.

Coca-Cola to add new drink made with cane sugar after Trump's request

JOHNSON COUNTY —First responders found the body of a missing woman in a Johnson County creek on Monday.

Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, police responded to report of a missing person in the area of W 155th Terrace and Nall Avenue in Overland Park, according to Overland Park Police officer John Lacy.&nbsp; A family member reported the missing person identified as 62-year-old Anupama Vaidya of Overland Park&nbsp; frequently walked a nearby trail west of Nall Avenue.

Officers went to the trail and found Mrs. Vaidya in a nearby creek.&nbsp; Due to the heavy rain, the creek was overflowing above the banks at the time the police were notified of the missing person.&nbsp; Overland Park&nbsp; Department Fire Rescue assisted in recovery of the body. The incident remains under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753180987400.png" alt="Photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY —First responders found the body of a missing woman in a Johnson County creek on Monday.Just after 9:30a.m. Monday, police responded to report of a missing person in the area of W 155th Terrace and Nall Avenue in Overland Park, according to Overland Park Police officer John Lacy.&nbsp; A family member reported the missing person identified as 62-year-old Anupama Vaidya of Overland Park&nbsp; frequently walked a nearby trail west of Nall Avenue.Officers went to the trail and found Mrs. Vaidya in a nearby creek.&nbsp; Due to the heavy rain, the creek was overflowing above the banks at the time the police were notified of the missing person.&nbsp; Overland Park&nbsp; Department Fire Rescue assisted in recovery of the body. The incident remains under investigation.

Police: Kan. woman on walk swept away in flash flooding

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Anyone firing up the grill this summer already knows hamburger patties and steaks are expensive, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-fed-powell-prices-8842d6ebca9d1870983e678e578d2091">latest numbers</a>&nbsp;show prices have climbed to record highs.

And experts say consumers shouldn't expect much relief soon either.

The average price of a pound of ground beef rose to $6.12 in June, up nearly 12% from a year ago, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-average-price-data.htm">U.S. government data</a>. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose 8% to $11.49 per pound.

But this is not a recent phenomenon. Beef prices have been steadily rising over the past 20 years because the supply of cattle remains tight while beef remains popular.

In fact, the U.S. cattle herd has been steadily shrinking for decades. As of Jan. 1, the U.S. had 86.7 million cattle and calves, down 8% from the most recent peak in 2019. That is the lowest number of cattle since 1951, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Many factors including drought and cattle prices have contributed to that decline. And now the emergence of a pesky parasite in Mexico and the prospect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-africa-caribbean-c0307a66f3fbab26c0ece454d78e48cb">widespread tariffs</a>&nbsp;may further reduce supply and raise prices.

Here's a look at what's causing the price of beef to rise.

The American beef industry has gotten better at breeding larger animals, so ranchers can provide the same amount of beef with fewer cattle, said David Anderson, a livestock economist at Texas A&amp;M.

Then in 2020, a three-year drought began that dried out pastures and raised the cost of feed for cattle, according to the American Farm Bureau. Drought has continued to be a problem across the West since then, and the price of feed has put more pressure on ranchers who already operate on slim profit margins.

In response, many farmers slaughtered more female cattle than usual, which helped beef supplies in the short term but lowered the size of future herds. Lower cattle supplies has raised prices.

In recent years cattle prices have soared, so that now animals are selling for thousands of dollars apiece. Recent prices show cattle selling for more than $230 per hundredweight, or hundred pounds.

Those higher prices give ranchers more incentive to sell cows now to capture profits instead of hanging onto them for breeding given that prices in the years ahead may decrease, Anderson said.

“For them, the balance is, ‘Do I sell that animal now and take this record high check?’ Or ‘do I keep her to realize her returns over her productive life when she’s having calves?’” Anderson said. “And so it’s this balancing act and so far the side that’s been winning is to sell her and get the check.”

The emergence of a flesh-eating pest in cattle herds in Mexico has put extra pressure on supply because officials cut off all imports of cattle from south of the border last year. Some 4% of the cattle the U.S. feeds to slaughter for beef comes from Mexico.

The pest is the New World screwworm fly, and female flies lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals. The larvae that hatch are unusual among flies for feeding on live flesh and fluids instead of dead material. American officials worry that if the fly reaches Texas, its flesh-eating maggots could cause large economic losses as they did decades ago before the U.S. eradicated the pest.

Agricultural economist Bernt Nelson with the Farm Bureau said the loss of that many cattle is putting additional pressure on supply that is helping drive prices higher.

President Donald Trump's tariffs have yet to have a major impact on beef prices but they could be another factor that drives prices higher because the U.S. imports more than 4 billion pounds of beef every year.

Much of what is imported is lean beef trimmings that meatpackers mix with fattier beef produced in the U.S. to produce the varieties of ground beef that domestic consumers want. Much of that lean beef comes from Australia and New Zealand that have only seen a 10% tariff, but some of it comes from Brazil where Trump has threatened tariffs as high as 50%.

If the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beef-tariffs-cattle-rancher-prices-china-exports-55330afb6276c51015ef4e312686cba1">tariffs remain in place long-term</a>, meat processors will have to pay higher prices on imported lean beef. It wouldn't be easy for U.S. producers to replace because the country's system is geared toward producing fattier beef known for marbled steaks.

It's the height of grilling season and demand in the U.S. for beef remains strong, which Kansas State agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said will help keep prices higher.

If prices remain this high, shoppers will likely start to buy more hamburger meat and fewer steaks, but that doesn't appear to be happening broadly yet — and people also don't seem to be buying chicken or pork instead of beef.

Nelson said that recently the drought has eased — allowing pasture conditions to improve — and grain prices are down thanks to the drop in export demand for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-donald-trump-tariffs-agriculture-china-d5674c21e240acdc72cde76e474f172a">corn because of the tariffs</a>. Those factors, combined with the high cattle prices might persuade more ranchers to keep their cows and breed them to expand the size of their herds.

Even if ranchers decided to raise more cattle to help replace those imports, it would take at least two years to breed and raise them. And it wouldn't be clear if that is happening until later this fall when ranchers typically make those decisions.

“We’ve still got a lot of barriers in the way to grow this herd,” Nelson said. Just consider that a young farmer who wants to add 25 bred heifers to his herd has to be prepared to spend more than $100,000 at auction at a time when borrowing costs remain high.

There is typically a seasonal decline in beef prices as grilling season slows down into the fall, but those price declines are likely to be modest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692124742533.jpg" alt="Image Pixaby" />
 <figcaption>Image Pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Anyone firing up the grill this summer already knows hamburger patties and steaks are expensive, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-fed-powell-prices-8842d6ebca9d1870983e678e578d2091">latest numbers</a>&nbsp;show prices have climbed to record highs.And experts say consumers shouldn't expect much relief soon either.The average price of a pound of ground beef rose to $6.12 in June, up nearly 12% from a year ago, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-average-price-data.htm">U.S. government data</a>. The average price of all uncooked beef steaks rose 8% to $11.49 per pound.But this is not a recent phenomenon. Beef prices have been steadily rising over the past 20 years because the supply of cattle remains tight while beef remains popular.In fact, the U.S. cattle herd has been steadily shrinking for decades. As of Jan. 1, the U.S. had 86.7 million cattle and calves, down 8% from the most recent peak in 2019. That is the lowest number of cattle since 1951, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.Many factors including drought and cattle prices have contributed to that decline. And now the emergence of a pesky parasite in Mexico and the prospect of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-africa-caribbean-c0307a66f3fbab26c0ece454d78e48cb">widespread tariffs</a>&nbsp;may further reduce supply and raise prices.Here's a look at what's causing the price of beef to rise.<h2>Smaller herd</h2>The American beef industry has gotten better at breeding larger animals, so ranchers can provide the same amount of beef with fewer cattle, said David Anderson, a livestock economist at Texas A&amp;M.Then in 2020, a three-year drought began that dried out pastures and raised the cost of feed for cattle, according to the American Farm Bureau. Drought has continued to be a problem across the West since then, and the price of feed has put more pressure on ranchers who already operate on slim profit margins.In response, many farmers slaughtered more female cattle than usual, which helped beef supplies in the short term but lowered the size of future herds. Lower cattle supplies has raised prices.In recent years cattle prices have soared, so that now animals are selling for thousands of dollars apiece. Recent prices show cattle selling for more than $230 per hundredweight, or hundred pounds.Those higher prices give ranchers more incentive to sell cows now to capture profits instead of hanging onto them for breeding given that prices in the years ahead may decrease, Anderson said.“For them, the balance is, ‘Do I sell that animal now and take this record high check?’ Or ‘do I keep her to realize her returns over her productive life when she’s having calves?’” Anderson said. “And so it’s this balancing act and so far the side that’s been winning is to sell her and get the check.”<h2>Disease dilemma</h2>The emergence of a flesh-eating pest in cattle herds in Mexico has put extra pressure on supply because officials cut off all imports of cattle from south of the border last year. Some 4% of the cattle the U.S. feeds to slaughter for beef comes from Mexico.The pest is the New World screwworm fly, and female flies lay eggs in wounds on warm-blooded animals. The larvae that hatch are unusual among flies for feeding on live flesh and fluids instead of dead material. American officials worry that if the fly reaches Texas, its flesh-eating maggots could cause large economic losses as they did decades ago before the U.S. eradicated the pest.Agricultural economist Bernt Nelson with the Farm Bureau said the loss of that many cattle is putting additional pressure on supply that is helping drive prices higher.<h2>Tariff trouble</h2>President Donald Trump's tariffs have yet to have a major impact on beef prices but they could be another factor that drives prices higher because the U.S. imports more than 4 billion pounds of beef every year.Much of what is imported is lean beef trimmings that meatpackers mix with fattier beef produced in the U.S. to produce the varieties of ground beef that domestic consumers want. Much of that lean beef comes from Australia and New Zealand that have only seen a 10% tariff, but some of it comes from Brazil where Trump has threatened tariffs as high as 50%.If the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/beef-tariffs-cattle-rancher-prices-china-exports-55330afb6276c51015ef4e312686cba1">tariffs remain in place long-term</a>, meat processors will have to pay higher prices on imported lean beef. It wouldn't be easy for U.S. producers to replace because the country's system is geared toward producing fattier beef known for marbled steaks.<h2>Prices will likely stay high</h2>It's the height of grilling season and demand in the U.S. for beef remains strong, which Kansas State agricultural economist Glynn Tonsor said will help keep prices higher.If prices remain this high, shoppers will likely start to buy more hamburger meat and fewer steaks, but that doesn't appear to be happening broadly yet — and people also don't seem to be buying chicken or pork instead of beef.Nelson said that recently the drought has eased — allowing pasture conditions to improve — and grain prices are down thanks to the drop in export demand for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-donald-trump-tariffs-agriculture-china-d5674c21e240acdc72cde76e474f172a">corn because of the tariffs</a>. Those factors, combined with the high cattle prices might persuade more ranchers to keep their cows and breed them to expand the size of their herds.Even if ranchers decided to raise more cattle to help replace those imports, it would take at least two years to breed and raise them. And it wouldn't be clear if that is happening until later this fall when ranchers typically make those decisions.“We’ve still got a lot of barriers in the way to grow this herd,” Nelson said. Just consider that a young farmer who wants to add 25 bred heifers to his herd has to be prepared to spend more than $100,000 at auction at a time when borrowing costs remain high.There is typically a seasonal decline in beef prices as grilling season slows down into the fall, but those price declines are likely to be modest.___

Why Beef prices are soaring across the US 

DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement&nbsp; investigating a series of burglaries at Clinton Marina in Douglas County have made two arrests, according to the Douglas County. Sheriff's office.

On July 10, sheriff's department detectives asked the public for assistance in identifying individuals seen from security cameras.&nbsp; Multiple boats and slips had items stolen during the overnight hours from July 3 to early on July 4.

The sheriff's office released no additional details on the arrests or possible charges in the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752195644572.png" alt="Photos Douglas County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Douglas County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>DOUGLAS COUNTY —Law enforcement&nbsp; investigating a series of burglaries at Clinton Marina in Douglas County have made two arrests, according to the Douglas County. Sheriff's office.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752195784609.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>On July 10, sheriff's department detectives asked the public for assistance in identifying individuals seen from security cameras.&nbsp; Multiple boats and slips had items stolen during the overnight hours from July 3 to early on July 4.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752195626190.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The sheriff's office released no additional details on the arrests or possible charges in the case.

Sheriff IDs suspects, makes arrest in Kansas marina burglaries

KANSAS CITY —KCFD responded to a reported swift water rescue near 103rd and Wornall just before 1 p.m. on Monday, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews found a woman approximately 50 to 75 yards off the bank grasping to a tree in fast flowing water.

Rescue crews utilized an inflatable rubber boat (IRB) to navigate their way through the flood water and retrieve the victim. She was brought to shore tired and shaken but uninjured. She was evaluated by on-scene EMS crews but refused further treatment or transport. Authorities did not release details on how the victim became trapped in the water.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753132688994.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —KCFD responded to a reported swift water rescue near 103rd and Wornall just before 1 p.m. on Monday, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753142698320.png" alt="Victim in the upper left portion of video image released by KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Victim in the upper left portion of video image released by KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews found a woman approximately 50 to 75 yards off the bank grasping to a tree in fast flowing water.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753142851186.png" alt="Victim pulled aboard the boat" />
 <figcaption>Victim pulled aboard the boat</figcaption>
 </figure>Rescue crews utilized an inflatable rubber boat (IRB) to navigate their way through the flood water and retrieve the victim. She was brought to shore tired and shaken but uninjured. She was evaluated by on-scene EMS crews but refused further treatment or transport. Authorities did not release details on how the victim became trapped in the water.

Kansas City crews rescue woman clinging to tree in floodwaters

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sign-tax-cut-bill-july-4-3804df732e461a626fd8c2b43413c3f0">tax and spending law</a>&nbsp;will add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits through 2034, the Congressional Budget Office reported Monday, a slight increase in the projection that takes into account the final tweaks that Republicans made before getting the legislation over the finish line.

More than 10 million people will be uninsured under the law in 2034 because of the law, CBO found, an improvement from an earlier projection that found 11.8 million people losing coverage over the decade.

The release of the CBO analysis Monday comes at the end of a grueling legislative fight, but at the start of a longer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-trump-big-beautiful-bill-politics-ce474a3f5c9cf79cff61b51d2bdfbaab">political struggle</a>&nbsp;to come as the two parties clash over the law’s impact on the economy, healthcare and government programs. Republicans are touting the bill as a tax cut for all Americans, yet a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/" target="_blank">AP-NORC poll</a>&nbsp;found about two-thirds of U.S. adults expect the new tax law will help the rich as Democrats attack the legislation.

The bill Trump signed into law on July 4 extended current tax rates for individuals that were set to expire at the end of this year and temporarily created new tax deductions for tips, overtime and auto interest loans for new vehicles assembled in the U.S. Republicans also used the bill to cut future spending on Medicaid and food assistance, and to phase out certain clean energy tax credits more quickly.

Democrats were quick to highlight the CBO’s findings.

“Today’s report reminds us of something: facts are stubborn and the facts are clear,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. ”The big, ugly betrayal is a loser for the country and will be a loser for the Republicans.”

Republicans say the bill was critical to ensure most Americans didn’t experience a significant tax increase next year. Trump and Republicans have also insisted that economic growth will exceed the CBO’s projections for the next decade, erasing the projected deficits as more revenue comes into the Treasury than anticipated.

Nonpartisan fiscal watchdogs also highlighted the CBO’s latest projection. Maya MacGuineas, president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crfb.org/press-releases/dark-day-our-fiscal-future" target="_blank">Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget</a>, said there will be a shorter-term “sugar high” as stimulus makes its way through the economy. But modelers from across the ideological spectrum agree that any sustained economic changes are likely to be modestly beneficial, or negative.

“And not one serious estimate claims this bill will improve our fiscal situation,” MacGuineas said. “Rather, positive growth effects are likely to be swamped by the effects of higher debt and interest rates.”

The CBO said more than $1 trillion in deficit savings is generated through the health portions of the bill, which includes new work requirements for certain Medicaid beneficiaries in states that expanded the program through the Affordable Care Act.

Some late changes on Medicaid were made to the bill to win over holdouts. One of those changes added a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751666035602.png" alt="President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Trump signed the bill into law on July 4-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sign-tax-cut-bill-july-4-3804df732e461a626fd8c2b43413c3f0">tax and spending law</a>&nbsp;will add $3.4 trillion to federal deficits through 2034, the Congressional Budget Office reported Monday, a slight increase in the projection that takes into account the final tweaks that Republicans made before getting the legislation over the finish line.More than 10 million people will be uninsured under the law in 2034 because of the law, CBO found, an improvement from an earlier projection that found 11.8 million people losing coverage over the decade.The release of the CBO analysis Monday comes at the end of a grueling legislative fight, but at the start of a longer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-trump-big-beautiful-bill-politics-ce474a3f5c9cf79cff61b51d2bdfbaab">political struggle</a>&nbsp;to come as the two parties clash over the law’s impact on the economy, healthcare and government programs. Republicans are touting the bill as a tax cut for all Americans, yet a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnorc.org/" target="_blank">AP-NORC poll</a>&nbsp;found about two-thirds of U.S. adults expect the new tax law will help the rich as Democrats attack the legislation.The bill Trump signed into law on July 4 extended current tax rates for individuals that were set to expire at the end of this year and temporarily created new tax deductions for tips, overtime and auto interest loans for new vehicles assembled in the U.S. Republicans also used the bill to cut future spending on Medicaid and food assistance, and to phase out certain clean energy tax credits more quickly.Democrats were quick to highlight the CBO’s findings.“Today’s report reminds us of something: facts are stubborn and the facts are clear,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. ”The big, ugly betrayal is a loser for the country and will be a loser for the Republicans.”Republicans say the bill was critical to ensure most Americans didn’t experience a significant tax increase next year. Trump and Republicans have also insisted that economic growth will exceed the CBO’s projections for the next decade, erasing the projected deficits as more revenue comes into the Treasury than anticipated.Nonpartisan fiscal watchdogs also highlighted the CBO’s latest projection. Maya MacGuineas, president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crfb.org/press-releases/dark-day-our-fiscal-future" target="_blank">Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget</a>, said there will be a shorter-term “sugar high” as stimulus makes its way through the economy. But modelers from across the ideological spectrum agree that any sustained economic changes are likely to be modestly beneficial, or negative.“And not one serious estimate claims this bill will improve our fiscal situation,” MacGuineas said. “Rather, positive growth effects are likely to be swamped by the effects of higher debt and interest rates.”The CBO said more than $1 trillion in deficit savings is generated through the health portions of the bill, which includes new work requirements for certain Medicaid beneficiaries in states that expanded the program through the Affordable Care Act.Some late changes on Medicaid were made to the bill to win over holdouts. One of those changes added a $50 billion fund for rural hospitals.__

Budget office: Trump’s tax law will add $3.4 trillion to deficits, leave 10 million uninsured

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 11p.m. Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri.

A Honda Africa Twin motorcycle was eastbound on Interstate 670, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez. The motorcycle changed lanes in an attempt to take the Interstate 29/Interstate 35 entrance ramp from Interstate 670. As the motorcycle was changing lanes, it struck the right passenger side of an eastbound Dodge Charger. The motorcycle operator was ejected and was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

The driver and front seat passenger of the Dodge were uninjured in the collision. This is fatality #44 compared to #52 at this time last year. The remains under investigation, according to Gonzalez. Police have not released the name of the motorcyclist.

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 11p.m. Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri.A Honda Africa Twin motorcycle was eastbound on Interstate 670, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez. The motorcycle changed lanes in an attempt to take the Interstate 29/Interstate 35 entrance ramp from Interstate 670. As the motorcycle was changing lanes, it struck the right passenger side of an eastbound Dodge Charger. The motorcycle operator was ejected and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver and front seat passenger of the Dodge were uninjured in the collision. This is fatality #44 compared to #52 at this time last year. The remains under investigation, according to Gonzalez. Police have not released the name of the motorcyclist.

Motorcyclist killed after vehicle struck passenger side of car

ATCHINSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations

Just after 4:30p.m. on Sunday an officer on patrol observed a 2009 Cadillac SUV driving the wrong way on a one way street in the 600 block South 6th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The driver, later identified as 35-year-old Dawn Wolfley, was determined to be driving while suspended in possession of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. She was taken to the Atchison County Jail and is being held on requested charges of driving while suspended, driving the wrong way on a one way street, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753111859525.png" alt="Wolfley photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Wolfley photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHINSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegationsJust after 4:30p.m. on Sunday an officer on patrol observed a 2009 Cadillac SUV driving the wrong way on a one way street in the 600 block South 6th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The driver, later identified as 35-year-old Dawn Wolfley, was determined to be driving while suspended in possession of fentanyl and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. She was taken to the Atchison County Jail and is being held on requested charges of driving while suspended, driving the wrong way on a one way street, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Police: Wrong-way driver caught transporting fentanyl

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Tennessee man was sentenced to 71 months in prison after being convicted of running a $1.9 million Ponzi scheme, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Alcides Roman, 66, of Lebanon, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

Roman defrauded victims in Kansas, New York, Texas, and in Canada by soliciting their participation in purportedly high-yield investment programs. In truth, these investment opportunities were fraudulent. Roman did not invest the funds and failed to redeem the investments upon the victims’ requests. Rather, he left the funds in bank accounts he controlled and used the money for his own and others’ benefit. Roman induced victims to make additional or larger investments by making payments to them, ostensibly as returns on investment. Those payments, however, were from the same victim’s prior principal investments or another victim’s investments.

Roman used funds from the scheme to pay for his personal living expenses, to buy vehicles and land, and to send money to numerous foreign and domestic companies. The total known loss to victims was $1,977,857.

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A Tennessee man was sentenced to 71 months in prison after being convicted of running a $1.9 million Ponzi scheme, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Alcides Roman, 66, of Lebanon, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.Roman defrauded victims in Kansas, New York, Texas, and in Canada by soliciting their participation in purportedly high-yield investment programs. In truth, these investment opportunities were fraudulent. Roman did not invest the funds and failed to redeem the investments upon the victims’ requests. Rather, he left the funds in bank accounts he controlled and used the money for his own and others’ benefit. Roman induced victims to make additional or larger investments by making payments to them, ostensibly as returns on investment. Those payments, however, were from the same victim’s prior principal investments or another victim’s investments.Roman used funds from the scheme to pay for his personal living expenses, to buy vehicles and land, and to send money to numerous foreign and domestic companies. The total known loss to victims was $1,977,857.

Man defrauded victims in Kansas in $1.9 million Ponzi scheme

BARTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Saturday in Bardon County.

A 2007 GMC Yukon, driven by 35-year-old Blake Peters of Ellinwood, was southbound on Southeast 105 Avenue near SE 20 Road south of Ellinwood, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.

The driver&nbsp;failed to negotiate the curve on to SE 20 Road. The SUV left the roadway into an open area where it rolled multiple times. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene by the Barton County Coroner’s Office.

The intersection was closed for about an hour while the sheriff’s office investigated the scene. The Barton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by units from the Ellinwood Police Department and Ellinwood EMS. The Sheriff’s office believes excessive speed and alcohol were both contributing factors in the accident.

BARTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Saturday in Bardon County.A 2007 GMC Yukon, driven by 35-year-old Blake Peters of Ellinwood, was southbound on Southeast 105 Avenue near SE 20 Road south of Ellinwood, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir. The driver&nbsp;failed to negotiate the curve on to SE 20 Road. The SUV left the roadway into an open area where it rolled multiple times. The driver was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced deceased at the scene by the Barton County Coroner’s Office.The intersection was closed for about an hour while the sheriff’s office investigated the scene. The Barton County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by units from the Ellinwood Police Department and Ellinwood EMS. The Sheriff’s office believes excessive speed and alcohol were both contributing factors in the accident.

Sheriff: Excessive speed, alcohol factors in fatal Kan.  crash

HARVEY COUNTY—A Kansas woman admits to sex crimes involving a young child.

On Friday,&nbsp;Veronica S. Darby, age 23, of Newton, pleaded guilty to two counts Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, and one count of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child, in Harvey County, according to a statment from the county attorney's office. All three charges subject her to a sentence of up to life in prison with no eligibility for parole until she has served 25 years in prison. The victim of the case was a child under the age of 8 years of age.&nbsp;

Newton Police Department, Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center, and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force helped prosecute the case. She is scheduled for sentencing on September 22.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753133757410.png" alt="Darby -photo Harvey Co." />
 <figcaption>Darby -photo Harvey Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY—A Kansas woman admits to sex crimes involving a young child.On Friday,&nbsp;Veronica S. Darby, age 23, of Newton, pleaded guilty to two counts Aggravated Criminal Sodomy, and one count of Aggravated Indecent Liberties with a Child, in Harvey County, according to a statment from the county attorney's office. All three charges subject her to a sentence of up to life in prison with no eligibility for parole until she has served 25 years in prison. The victim of the case was a child under the age of 8 years of age.&nbsp;Newton Police Department, Heart to Heart Child Advocacy Center, and the Kansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force helped prosecute the case. She is scheduled for sentencing on September 22.

Kan. woman faces life in prison for sex crimes involving young victim

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has released records of the FBI’s surveillance of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr">Martin Luther King Jr.,</a>&nbsp;despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureate’s family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination.

<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/mlk">Click here to see the files</a>

The digital document dump includes more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration.

In a lengthy statement released Monday, King's two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said their father’s assassination has been a “captivating public curiosity for decades.” But the pair emphasized the personal nature of the matter, urging that “these files must be viewed within their full historical context.”

The Kings got advance access to the records and had their own teams reviewing them. Those efforts continued even as the government granted public access. It was not immediately clear Monday whether the documents would shed any new light on King's life, the Civil Rights Movement or his murder.

“As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief — a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met -- an absence our family has endured for over 57 years,” they wrote. “We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family’s continuing grief.”

They also repeated the family's long-held contention that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-memphis-assassinations-db2b9b4c13524f7e8e12c5a5c16164e0">James Earl Ray</a>, the man convicted of assassinating King, was not solely responsible, if at all.

Bernice King was 5-years old when her father was killed. Martin III was 10.

A statement from the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called the disclosure “unprecedented” and said many of the records had been digitized for the first time to make it possible. She praised President Donald Trump for pushing the issue.

Release is ‘transparency’ to some, a ‘distraction’ for others

Trump promised as a candidate to release files related to President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination. When Trump took office in January, he signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jfk-mlk-rfk-assassination-files-e92f89d694eb55c595175f71a72cb5bc">executive order</a>&nbsp;to declassify the JFK records, along with those associated with Robert F. Kennedy’s and King’s 1968 assassinations.

The government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-assassination-documents-release-trump-c56ed5075b38af809f36a6388797d4ca">unsealed the JFK records</a>&nbsp;in March and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-assassination-files-released-74af7098faf255d92a5bff32899a7ce7">disclosed some RFK files</a>&nbsp;in April.

The announcement from Gabbard's office included a statement from Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece, who is an outspoken conservative and has broken from King's children on various topics — including the FBI files. Alveda King said she was “grateful to President Trump” for his “transparency."

Separately Monday, Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-bondi-bongino-trump-justice-269d9526d270e6342e82ecae27fe6189">Pam Bondi’s</a>&nbsp;social media account featured a picture of the attorney general with Alveda King in her office.

Besides fulfilling Trump's executive order, the latest release serves as another alternative headline for the president as he tries to mollify supporters angry over his administration’s handling of records concerning the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself behind bars while awaiting trial in 2019, during Trump’s first presidency. Trump last Friday ordered the Justice Department to release&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-justice-department-4634e5afceb8b1bb43f23558dfbb1d6c">grand jury testimony</a>&nbsp;but stopped short of unsealing the entire case file.

Bernice King and Martin Luther King III did not mention Trump in their statement Monday.

Some civil rights activists were not so sparing.

“Trump releasing the MLK assassination files is not about transparency or justice,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton. “It’s a desperate attempt to distract people from the firestorm engulfing Trump over the Epstein files and the public unraveling of his credibility among the MAGA base.”

Records mean a new trove of research material

The King records were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlk-files-wiretape-fbi-surveillance-trump-unseal-ce4201db7aef642a073f1b5069c87810">asked a federal judge</a>&nbsp;to lift the sealing order ahead of its expiration date.

Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents to find new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957 as the Civil Rights Movement blossomed, opposed the release. They, along with King’s family, argued that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures, tapping their offices and phone lines with the aim of discrediting them and their movement.

It has long been established that then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was intensely interested if not obsessed with King and others that he considered radicals. FBI records released previously show how Hoover’s bureau wiretapped King’s telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to get information against him.

“He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/martin-luther-king-jr-d616aad776447a74f2c7367564f9cff4">J. Edgar Hoover</a>&nbsp;through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” the King children said in their statement.

“The intent of the government’s COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. King’s reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement," they continued. “These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth — undermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo.”

The Kings said they “support transparency and historical accountability” but “object to any attacks on our father's legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods.”

Opposition to King intensified even after the Civil Rights Movement compelled Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson to enact the Civil Right Act of 1964 and the Voting Right Act of 1965. After those landmark victories, King turned much of his attention to economic justice and international peace. He was an outspoken critic of rapacious capitalism and the Vietnam War. King argued that political rights alone were not enough in an uneven economy. Many establishment figures like Hoover viewed King as a communist threat.

King’s children still don’t accept the original explanation of assassination

King was assassinated as he was aiding striking sanitation workers in Memphis, part of his explicit turn toward economic justice.

Ray plead guilty to assassinating King. He later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998.

Members of King’s family, and others, have long questioned whether Ray acted alone, or if he was even involved. Coretta Scott King asked for the probe to be reopened, and in 1998, then-Attorney General Janet Reno directed the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department to take a new look. The Justice Department said it “found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King.”

In their latest statement, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III repeated their assertions that Ray was set up, pointing to a 1999 civil case in which a Memphis jury in a wrongful death case concluded that Martin Luther King Jr. had been the target of a conspiracy.

“As we review these newly released files," the Kings said, “we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753130471620.png" alt="Martin Luther King, Jr. image National Archives" />
 <figcaption>Martin Luther King, Jr. image National Archives</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has released records of the FBI’s surveillance of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/martin-luther-king-jr">Martin Luther King Jr.,</a>&nbsp;despite opposition from the slain Nobel laureate’s family and the civil rights group that he led until his 1968 assassination.<a href="https://www.archives.gov/research/mlk">Click here to see the files</a>The digital document dump includes more than 240,000 pages of records that had been under a court-imposed seal since 1977, when the FBI first gathered the records and turned them over to the National Archives and Records Administration.In a lengthy statement released Monday, King's two living children, Martin III, 67, and Bernice, 62, said their father’s assassination has been a “captivating public curiosity for decades.” But the pair emphasized the personal nature of the matter, urging that “these files must be viewed within their full historical context.”The Kings got advance access to the records and had their own teams reviewing them. Those efforts continued even as the government granted public access. It was not immediately clear Monday whether the documents would shed any new light on King's life, the Civil Rights Movement or his murder.“As the children of Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, his tragic death has been an intensely personal grief — a devastating loss for his wife, children, and the granddaughter he never met -- an absence our family has endured for over 57 years,” they wrote. “We ask those who engage with the release of these files to do so with empathy, restraint, and respect for our family’s continuing grief.”They also repeated the family's long-held contention that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-memphis-assassinations-db2b9b4c13524f7e8e12c5a5c16164e0">James Earl Ray</a>, the man convicted of assassinating King, was not solely responsible, if at all.Bernice King was 5-years old when her father was killed. Martin III was 10.A statement from the office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard called the disclosure “unprecedented” and said many of the records had been digitized for the first time to make it possible. She praised President Donald Trump for pushing the issue.<h2>Release is ‘transparency’ to some, a ‘distraction’ for others</h2>Trump promised as a candidate to release files related to President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination. When Trump took office in January, he signed an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jfk-mlk-rfk-assassination-files-e92f89d694eb55c595175f71a72cb5bc">executive order</a>&nbsp;to declassify the JFK records, along with those associated with Robert F. Kennedy’s and King’s 1968 assassinations.The government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-assassination-documents-release-trump-c56ed5075b38af809f36a6388797d4ca">unsealed the JFK records</a>&nbsp;in March and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-assassination-files-released-74af7098faf255d92a5bff32899a7ce7">disclosed some RFK files</a>&nbsp;in April.The announcement from Gabbard's office included a statement from Alveda King, Martin Luther King Jr.'s niece, who is an outspoken conservative and has broken from King's children on various topics — including the FBI files. Alveda King said she was “grateful to President Trump” for his “transparency."Separately Monday, Attorney General&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-bondi-bongino-trump-justice-269d9526d270e6342e82ecae27fe6189">Pam Bondi’s</a>&nbsp;social media account featured a picture of the attorney general with Alveda King in her office.Besides fulfilling Trump's executive order, the latest release serves as another alternative headline for the president as he tries to mollify supporters angry over his administration’s handling of records concerning the sex trafficking investigation of Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself behind bars while awaiting trial in 2019, during Trump’s first presidency. Trump last Friday ordered the Justice Department to release&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-jeffrey-epstein-grand-jury-justice-department-4634e5afceb8b1bb43f23558dfbb1d6c">grand jury testimony</a>&nbsp;but stopped short of unsealing the entire case file.Bernice King and Martin Luther King III did not mention Trump in their statement Monday.Some civil rights activists were not so sparing.“Trump releasing the MLK assassination files is not about transparency or justice,” said the Rev. Al Sharpton. “It’s a desperate attempt to distract people from the firestorm engulfing Trump over the Epstein files and the public unraveling of his credibility among the MAGA base.”<h2>Records mean a new trove of research material</h2>The King records were initially intended to be sealed until 2027, until Justice Department attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlk-files-wiretape-fbi-surveillance-trump-unseal-ce4201db7aef642a073f1b5069c87810">asked a federal judge</a>&nbsp;to lift the sealing order ahead of its expiration date.Scholars, history buffs and journalists have been preparing to study the documents to find new information about his assassination on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee.The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which King co-founded in 1957 as the Civil Rights Movement blossomed, opposed the release. They, along with King’s family, argued that the FBI illegally surveilled King and other civil rights figures, tapping their offices and phone lines with the aim of discrediting them and their movement.It has long been established that then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was intensely interested if not obsessed with King and others that he considered radicals. FBI records released previously show how Hoover’s bureau wiretapped King’s telephone lines, bugged his hotel rooms and used informants to get information against him.“He was relentlessly targeted by an invasive, predatory, and deeply disturbing disinformation and surveillance campaign orchestrated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/martin-luther-king-jr-d616aad776447a74f2c7367564f9cff4">J. Edgar Hoover</a>&nbsp;through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),” the King children said in their statement.“The intent of the government’s COINTELPRO campaign was not only to monitor, but to discredit, dismantle and destroy Dr. King’s reputation and the broader American Civil Rights Movement," they continued. “These actions were not only invasions of privacy, but intentional assaults on the truth — undermining the dignity and freedoms of private citizens who fought for justice, designed to neutralize those who dared to challenge the status quo.”The Kings said they “support transparency and historical accountability” but “object to any attacks on our father's legacy or attempts to weaponize it to spread falsehoods.”Opposition to King intensified even after the Civil Rights Movement compelled Congress and President Lyndon B. Johnson to enact the Civil Right Act of 1964 and the Voting Right Act of 1965. After those landmark victories, King turned much of his attention to economic justice and international peace. He was an outspoken critic of rapacious capitalism and the Vietnam War. King argued that political rights alone were not enough in an uneven economy. Many establishment figures like Hoover viewed King as a communist threat.<h2>King’s children still don’t accept the original explanation of assassination</h2>King was assassinated as he was aiding striking sanitation workers in Memphis, part of his explicit turn toward economic justice.Ray plead guilty to assassinating King. He later renounced that plea and maintained his innocence until his death in 1998.Members of King’s family, and others, have long questioned whether Ray acted alone, or if he was even involved. Coretta Scott King asked for the probe to be reopened, and in 1998, then-Attorney General Janet Reno directed the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department to take a new look. The Justice Department said it “found nothing to disturb the 1969 judicial determination that James Earl Ray murdered Dr. King.”In their latest statement, Bernice King and Martin Luther King III repeated their assertions that Ray was set up, pointing to a 1999 civil case in which a Memphis jury in a wrongful death case concluded that Martin Luther King Jr. had been the target of a conspiracy.“As we review these newly released files," the Kings said, “we will assess whether they offer additional insights beyond the findings our family has already accepted."

Read the newly released, controversial FBI records on MLK Jr.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —On July 17, The Kansas State Fire Marshal (KSFM) Investigation Division was requested to assist with a fatality fire in the 500 block N. School Street, according to a media release.

 KSFM Special Agents were requested by local authorities after they responded to a house fire with a fatality. Two Special Agents/Certified Fire Investigators from the KSFM and one from the Topeka Fire Department, along with their canine partner were sent to assist with this fire event.

According to the Auburn Police Department, they responded to the residence for a domestic-related police call. The man at the home left the residence with the kids. Approximately 15 minutes after leaving, a neighbor called 911 to report a house fire. Auburn Police Department responded and attempted to locate the victim but were unable to get to her. The victim, identified as Toka Flickinger, 47, was found by suppression crews in the bathtub, in water.

The fire was determined to have been set in the front hallway in front of the bathroom, trapping Flickinger.&nbsp;

The fire incident is classified as incendiary with multiple points of origin. An autopsy is scheduled for this week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753135024506.png" alt="photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —On July 17, The Kansas State Fire Marshal (KSFM) Investigation Division was requested to assist with a fatality fire in the 500 block N. School Street, according to a media release. KSFM Special Agents were requested by local authorities after they responded to a house fire with a fatality. Two Special Agents/Certified Fire Investigators from the KSFM and one from the Topeka Fire Department, along with their canine partner were sent to assist with this fire event.According to the Auburn Police Department, they responded to the residence for a domestic-related police call. The man at the home left the residence with the kids. Approximately 15 minutes after leaving, a neighbor called 911 to report a house fire. Auburn Police Department responded and attempted to locate the victim but were unable to get to her. The victim, identified as Toka Flickinger, 47, was found by suppression crews in the bathtub, in water.The fire was determined to have been set in the front hallway in front of the bathroom, trapping Flickinger.&nbsp;The fire incident is classified as incendiary with multiple points of origin. An autopsy is scheduled for this week.

Fire Marshal: Kan. woman killed in house fire was trapped in bathroom

MORRIS COUNTY —A Kansas man has been identified as a drowning victim.&nbsp;

&nbsp;The body of 66-year-old Mark Moore of Topeka was found Saturday evening in Council Grove Lake, according to a statement from the Council Grove Police Department.&nbsp; &nbsp;Just after 9:30a.m. Saturday, police and other first responders responded report of a possible drowning.

Moore's body was found following a rigorous search, according to police.

&nbsp;Council Grove Fire/Rescue, Morris County Emergency Medical Services, Herington Rescue, Morris County Emergency Management, the Morris County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks also assisted with the search. Authorities released no other details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753117878350.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>MORRIS COUNTY —A Kansas man has been identified as a drowning victim.&nbsp;&nbsp;The body of 66-year-old Mark Moore of Topeka was found Saturday evening in Council Grove Lake, according to a statement from the Council Grove Police Department.&nbsp; &nbsp;Just after 9:30a.m. Saturday, police and other first responders responded report of a possible drowning.Moore's body was found following a rigorous search, according to police.&nbsp;Council Grove Fire/Rescue, Morris County Emergency Medical Services, Herington Rescue, Morris County Emergency Management, the Morris County Sheriff's Office and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks also assisted with the search. Authorities released no other details.

66-year-old Kansas man identified as drowning victim

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes inched their way to more records on Monday to kick off a week full of profit updates from big U.S. companies.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.1% and squeaked past its prior&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-powell-trump-ee3ff3ef24f5054fb0550605a922df83">all-time high set on Thursday</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down by 19 points, or less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.4%&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/markets-stocks-japan-inflation-rates-43b87b3786fdd2971f3b8c52ffedc20a">to its own record</a>.

Verizon Communications helped lead the way and rose 4%. The telecom giant reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, along with higher revenue than forecast. Following the better-than-expected performance, Verizon raised its forecasts for profit and other financial measures for the full year.

That helped offset a 5.4% drop for Sarepta Therapeutics, which continued to fall after the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that it asked the company to voluntarily stop all shipments of Elevidys, its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, due to safety concerns.

Block, Jack Dorsey’s company behind Square, Cash App and other tech brands climbed 7.6% in its first trading after learning it will join the widely followed and imitated S&amp;P 500 index. It will take the place of Hess, which Chevron bought, before trading begins on Wednesday.

Cleveland-Cliffs rallied 12.4% after the steel producer reported a smaller loss for the spring than analysts expected. It shipped a record 4.3 million net tons of steel during the quarter, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the company has begun to see “the positive impact that tariffs have on domestic manufacturing” and other things.

It’s a major supplier to the auto industry, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;steer companies hoping to sell cars in the United States toward steel made in the country.

Other U.S. companies, though, are navigating the downsides and complications of tariffs, which raise prices on all kinds of things imported to the United States. That includes General Motors, which will report its latest profit results later this week, along with such market heavyweights as Alphabet, Coca-Cola and Tesla.

Many of Trump’s stiff proposed tariffs are currently on pause after Trump extended the deadline for talks with other countries in order to give more time to reach potential trade deals that could lower the tax rates. The next big deadline, at least for now, is Aug. 1.

It’s still early days in this earnings reporting season, but most big U.S. companies have been topping analysts’ expectations, as is usually the case.

Some encouraging undertones may already be emerging. An upward inflection in demand for travel that United Airlines said it’s seen recently, combined with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-economy-inflation-22178ab1457693a21d6822ec12c9b0d9">better-than-expected data on U.S. retail sales</a>, may indicate that U.S. consumers remain in decent health, Bank of America strategist Savita Subramanian said in a BofA Global Research report. That could offer a strong source of support for the economy.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes inched their way to more records on Monday to kick off a week full of profit updates from big U.S. companies.The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.1% and squeaked past its prior&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-powell-trump-ee3ff3ef24f5054fb0550605a922df83">all-time high set on Thursday</a>. The Dow Jones Industrial Average edged down by 19 points, or less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.4%&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/markets-stocks-japan-inflation-rates-43b87b3786fdd2971f3b8c52ffedc20a">to its own record</a>.Verizon Communications helped lead the way and rose 4%. The telecom giant reported a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected, along with higher revenue than forecast. Following the better-than-expected performance, Verizon raised its forecasts for profit and other financial measures for the full year.That helped offset a 5.4% drop for Sarepta Therapeutics, which continued to fall after the Food and Drug Administration said on Friday that it asked the company to voluntarily stop all shipments of Elevidys, its gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, due to safety concerns.Block, Jack Dorsey’s company behind Square, Cash App and other tech brands climbed 7.6% in its first trading after learning it will join the widely followed and imitated S&amp;P 500 index. It will take the place of Hess, which Chevron bought, before trading begins on Wednesday.Cleveland-Cliffs rallied 12.4% after the steel producer reported a smaller loss for the spring than analysts expected. It shipped a record 4.3 million net tons of steel during the quarter, and CEO Lourenco Goncalves said the company has begun to see “the positive impact that tariffs have on domestic manufacturing” and other things.It’s a major supplier to the auto industry, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-prices-inflation-trump-trade-6ea513a44876c2f4dc948a25c15b0eb0">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;steer companies hoping to sell cars in the United States toward steel made in the country.Other U.S. companies, though, are navigating the downsides and complications of tariffs, which raise prices on all kinds of things imported to the United States. That includes General Motors, which will report its latest profit results later this week, along with such market heavyweights as Alphabet, Coca-Cola and Tesla.Many of Trump’s stiff proposed tariffs are currently on pause after Trump extended the deadline for talks with other countries in order to give more time to reach potential trade deals that could lower the tax rates. The next big deadline, at least for now, is Aug. 1.It’s still early days in this earnings reporting season, but most big U.S. companies have been topping analysts’ expectations, as is usually the case.Some encouraging undertones may already be emerging. An upward inflection in demand for travel that United Airlines said it’s seen recently, combined with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-sales-economy-inflation-22178ab1457693a21d6822ec12c9b0d9">better-than-expected data on U.S. retail sales</a>, may indicate that U.S. consumers remain in decent health, Bank of America strategist Savita Subramanian said in a BofA Global Research report. That could offer a strong source of support for the economy.Companies will need to keep delivering solid profit growth to tamp down criticism that the U.S. stock market may be looking expensive again after prices reached records despite potential worries about tariffs and the economy.All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 8.81 points to 6,305.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 19.12 to 44,323.07, and the Nasdaq composite rose 78.52 to 20,974.17.In the bond market, Treasury yields eased. The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.38% from 4.44% late Friday.In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed in Europe after finishing modestly higher in much of Asia.Markets were closed for a holiday in Japan, where the ruling&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-politics-election-ishiba-parliament-vote-fcc2fb4cce609240d1c2369bf4090e26">Liberal Democrats lost their coalition majorities</a>&nbsp;in both houses of parliament for the first time since 1955 following Sunday’s upper house election and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-ishiba-parliament-election-ldp-opposition-5c6509c7b83963ffe40588c50998967c">loss of their lower house majority</a>&nbsp;in October.