BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6a.m. Wednesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by Charles Hopp, 98, Highland, was westbound on U.S. 36 just east of Hiawatha.

The pickup traveled left of center and sideswiped an eastbound 2011 Nissan Altima driven by DeAndre&nbsp;Harris, 31, Sabetha. After impact the pickup traveled into the south ditch and struck a KDOT fence. The Nissan rotated counter clockwise off the roadway to the south and came to rest in the ditch.

Harris was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. EMS transported Hopp to KU Medical Center.&nbsp; Harris was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6a.m. Wednesday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by Charles Hopp, 98, Highland, was westbound on U.S. 36 just east of Hiawatha.The pickup traveled left of center and sideswiped an eastbound 2011 Nissan Altima driven by DeAndre&nbsp;Harris, 31, Sabetha. After impact the pickup traveled into the south ditch and struck a KDOT fence. The Nissan rotated counter clockwise off the roadway to the south and came to rest in the ditch.Harris was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. EMS transported Hopp to KU Medical Center.&nbsp; Harris was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kan. man dies after pickup driven by 98-year-old sideswipes a car

WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a global market meltdown, President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly backed down on his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, but raised the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%.

It was seemingly an attempt to narrow what had been an unprecedented trade war between the U.S. and most of the world to a showdown between the U.S. and China. The S&amp;P 500 stock index jumped nearly 7% after the announcement, but the precise details of Trump's plans to ease tariffs on non-China trade partners were not immediately clear.

Trump posted on Truth Social that because “more than 75 Countries” had reached out to the U.S. government for trade talks and have not retaliated in meaningful way “I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately.”

The 10% tariff was the baseline rate for most nations that went into effect on Saturday. It's meaningfully lower than the 20% tariff that Trump had set for goods from the European Union, 24% on imports from Japan and 25% on products from South Korea. Still, 10% would represent an increase in the tariffs previously charged by the U.S. government.

The announcement came after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">global economy</a>&nbsp;appeared to be in open rebellion against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump's</a>&nbsp;tariffs as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-higher-rates-china-9645cf4608a8c153e90bdd10263ccb01">took effect</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, a signal that the U.S. president was not immune from market pressures.

Business executives were warning of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recession-tariffs-economy-inflation-5a24ff198dcd6813b53f44c662354b6a">potential recession</a>&nbsp;caused by his policies, some of the top U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-europe-trump-2c4f1519373803ac1f7c1744b69812d0">trading partners</a>&nbsp;are retaliating with their own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-response-us-tariffs-104-d40d497f6e07ee4163d88443cb75ab3f">import taxes</a>&nbsp;and the stock market is quivering after days of decline.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the walk back was part of some grand negotiating strategy by Trump.

“President Trump created maximum negotiating leverage for himself,” she said, adding that the news media "clearly failed to see what President Trump is doing here. You tried to say that the rest of the world would be moved closer to China, when in fact, we’ve seen the opposite effect the entire world is calling the United States of America, not China, because they need our markets.”

But market pressures had been building for weeks ahead of Trump's move.

Particularly worrisome was that U.S. government debt had lost some of its luster with investors, who usually treat Treasury notes as a safe haven when there's economic turbulence. Government bond prices had been falling, pushing up the interest rate on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note to 4.45%. That rate eased after Trump's reversal.

Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities, said before the announcement that markets wanted to see a truce in the trade disputes.

“Markets more broadly, not just the Treasury market, are looking for signs that a trade de-escalation is coming," he said. "Absent any de-escalation, it’s going to be difficult for markets to stabilize.”

John Canavan, lead analyst at the consultancy Oxford Economics, noted that while Trump said he changed course due to possible negotiations, he had previously indicated that the tariffs would stay in place.

“There have been very mixed messages on whether there would be negotiations," Canavan said. "Given what's been going on with the markets, he realized the safest thing to do is negotiate and put things on pause.”

Presidents often receive undue credit or blame for the state of the U.S. economy as their time in the White House is subject to financial and geopolitical forces beyond their direct control.

But by unilaterally imposing tariffs, Trump is exerting extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce, creating political risks and pulling the market in different directions based on his remarks and social media posts. There still appear to be 25% tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, with more imports set to be tariffed in the weeks ahead.

On CNBC, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the administration was being less strategic than it was during Trump's first term. His company had in January projected it would have its best financial year in history, only to scrap its expectations for 2025 due to the economic uncertainty.

“Trying to do it all at the same time has created chaos in terms of being able to make plans,” he said, noting that demand for air travel has weakened.

Before Trump's reversal, economic forecasters say his second term has had a series of negative and cascading impacts that could put the country into a downturn.

“Simultaneous shocks to consumer sentiment, corporate confidence, trade, financial markets as well as to prices, new orders and the labor market will tip the economy into recession in the current quarter,” said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at the consultancy RSM.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously said it could take months to strike deals with countries on tariff rates, and the administration has not been clear on whether the baseline 10% tariffs imposed on most countries will stay in place. But in an appearance on “Mornings with Maria,” Bessent said the economy would “be back to firing on all cylinders” at a point in the “not too distant future.”

He said there has been an "overwhelming" response by “the countries who want to come and sit at the table rather than escalate.” Bessent mentioned Japan, South Korea, and India. "I will note that they are all around China. We have Vietnam coming today,” he said.

What's not yet known is what Trump does with the rest of his tariff agenda. In a Tuesday night speech, he said taxes on imported drugs would happen soon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744220879736.png" alt="President Trump speaking Tuesday night at the National Republican Committee Dinner-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Trump speaking Tuesday night at the National Republican Committee Dinner-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Facing a global market meltdown, President Donald Trump on Wednesday abruptly backed down on his tariffs on most nations for 90 days, but raised the tax rate on Chinese imports to 125%.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecScottBessent?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecScottBessent</a>: &quot;Do not retaliate and you will be rewarded. So every country in the world wants to come and negotiate. We are willing to hear you. We are going to go down to a 10% baseline tariff for them and China will be raised to 125% due to their insistence on escalation.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/dA2HnbmE0M">pic.twitter.com/dA2HnbmE0M</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1910028221120213237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NEW TRUTH SOCIAL FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP: 🇨🇳125% TARIFF ON CHINA 🌎90-DAY PAUSE &amp; LOWERED 10% RECIPROCAL TARIFF FOR OTHER COUNTRIES 🚨EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY <a href="https://t.co/Gt5Bd6276m">pic.twitter.com/Gt5Bd6276m</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1910025543434789291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>It was seemingly an attempt to narrow what had been an unprecedented trade war between the U.S. and most of the world to a showdown between the U.S. and China. The S&amp;P 500 stock index jumped nearly 7% after the announcement, but the precise details of Trump's plans to ease tariffs on non-China trade partners were not immediately clear.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 NEW from <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: <a href="https://t.co/HWEV2vb225">pic.twitter.com/HWEV2vb225</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1910019818910015687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump posted on Truth Social that because “more than 75 Countries” had reached out to the U.S. government for trade talks and have not retaliated in meaningful way “I have authorized a 90 day PAUSE, and a substantially lowered Reciprocal Tariff during this period, of 10%, also effective immediately.”The 10% tariff was the baseline rate for most nations that went into effect on Saturday. It's meaningfully lower than the 20% tariff that Trump had set for goods from the European Union, 24% on imports from Japan and 25% on products from South Korea. Still, 10% would represent an increase in the tariffs previously charged by the U.S. government.The announcement came after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">global economy</a>&nbsp;appeared to be in open rebellion against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump's</a>&nbsp;tariffs as they&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-higher-rates-china-9645cf4608a8c153e90bdd10263ccb01">took effect</a>&nbsp;Wednesday, a signal that the U.S. president was not immune from market pressures.Business executives were warning of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/recession-tariffs-economy-inflation-5a24ff198dcd6813b53f44c662354b6a">potential recession</a>&nbsp;caused by his policies, some of the top U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-europe-trump-2c4f1519373803ac1f7c1744b69812d0">trading partners</a>&nbsp;are retaliating with their own&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-response-us-tariffs-104-d40d497f6e07ee4163d88443cb75ab3f">import taxes</a>&nbsp;and the stock market is quivering after days of decline.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the walk back was part of some grand negotiating strategy by Trump.“President Trump created maximum negotiating leverage for himself,” she said, adding that the news media "clearly failed to see what President Trump is doing here. You tried to say that the rest of the world would be moved closer to China, when in fact, we’ve seen the opposite effect the entire world is calling the United States of America, not China, because they need our markets.”But market pressures had been building for weeks ahead of Trump's move.Particularly worrisome was that U.S. government debt had lost some of its luster with investors, who usually treat Treasury notes as a safe haven when there's economic turbulence. Government bond prices had been falling, pushing up the interest rate on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note to 4.45%. That rate eased after Trump's reversal.Gennadiy Goldberg, head of U.S. rates strategy at TD Securities, said before the announcement that markets wanted to see a truce in the trade disputes.“Markets more broadly, not just the Treasury market, are looking for signs that a trade de-escalation is coming," he said. "Absent any de-escalation, it’s going to be difficult for markets to stabilize.”John Canavan, lead analyst at the consultancy Oxford Economics, noted that while Trump said he changed course due to possible negotiations, he had previously indicated that the tariffs would stay in place.“There have been very mixed messages on whether there would be negotiations," Canavan said. "Given what's been going on with the markets, he realized the safest thing to do is negotiate and put things on pause.”Presidents often receive undue credit or blame for the state of the U.S. economy as their time in the White House is subject to financial and geopolitical forces beyond their direct control.But by unilaterally imposing tariffs, Trump is exerting extraordinary influence over the flow of commerce, creating political risks and pulling the market in different directions based on his remarks and social media posts. There still appear to be 25% tariffs on autos, steel and aluminum, with more imports set to be tariffed in the weeks ahead.On CNBC, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the administration was being less strategic than it was during Trump's first term. His company had in January projected it would have its best financial year in history, only to scrap its expectations for 2025 due to the economic uncertainty.“Trying to do it all at the same time has created chaos in terms of being able to make plans,” he said, noting that demand for air travel has weakened.Before Trump's reversal, economic forecasters say his second term has had a series of negative and cascading impacts that could put the country into a downturn.“Simultaneous shocks to consumer sentiment, corporate confidence, trade, financial markets as well as to prices, new orders and the labor market will tip the economy into recession in the current quarter,” said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at the consultancy RSM.Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has previously said it could take months to strike deals with countries on tariff rates, and the administration has not been clear on whether the baseline 10% tariffs imposed on most countries will stay in place. But in an appearance on “Mornings with Maria,” Bessent said the economy would “be back to firing on all cylinders” at a point in the “not too distant future.”He said there has been an "overwhelming" response by “the countries who want to come and sit at the table rather than escalate.” Bessent mentioned Japan, South Korea, and India. "I will note that they are all around China. We have Vietnam coming today,” he said.What's not yet known is what Trump does with the rest of his tariff agenda. In a Tuesday night speech, he said taxes on imported drugs would happen soon.

President Trump explains why he will pause tariffs on most nations for 90 days

Governor signs bill tweaking K-12 public school graduation rate calculations

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 — Gov. Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation Tuesday establishing a task force dedicated to developing a long-term investment strategy for Kansas water resources modeled after the state’s rolling 10-year transportation program.

The Democratic governor praised members of the Republican-led Legislature for approving&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2172_00_03252025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2172</a>&nbsp;to create a dedicated funding source for addressing&nbsp; the state’s water challenges. The task force with 13 voting members must work to get a better handle on evaluation of water appropriations and state water laws.&nbsp; The task force will submit to Kelly and the Legislature a preliminary report in 2026 and a final report in 2027.

“Developing a comprehensive, long-term and sustainable water program is long overdue and a significant step forward in ensuring Kansas’ water supply is preserved for generations to come,” Kelly said. “I commend the Legislature for advancing my proposal and acting on this critical issue.”

The bill passed the House on a vote of 116-8 and it received unanimous support in the Senate. In January, Kelly recommended the Legislature authorize the task force. The Kansas Water Authority and Kelly administration conducted 14 public meetings last year to gather input on water policy.

The task force, with members from each of the state’s five conservation regions, must work to evaluate major risks to Kansas’ water quality and quantity, including issues of current and future economic growth. It must evaluate water infrastructure needs in every corner of the state.

“This is a critical step forward in addressing Kansas’ water challenges by establishing a dedicated task force and work group to guide our state’s water policy and funding decisions,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover.&nbsp;“This bill reflects a bipartisan legislative commitment to ensuring sustainable water resources for future generations, and I’m proud to see it move forward with the governor’s support.”

Kelly also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_sb45_01_032525.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 45</a>, which created an alternative school district graduation rate calculation that excluded students who transferred to homeschools and nonaccredited private schools or who enrolled as a credit-deficient student.

The governor signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_sb54_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 54</a>&nbsp;to require disclosure in court proceedings of third-party litigation funding agreements as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2118_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2118</a>&nbsp;requiring private entities that solicit a fee for filing or retrieving government documents to tell consumers the solicitations weren’t made on behalf of a government agency.

Kelly put a signature to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2030_01_03242025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2030</a>&nbsp;to exclude dealers and manufacturers of nonmotorized trailers from the vehicle dealers licensing law. It wouldn’t apply to dealers of semitrailers and travel trailers.

Her signing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2122_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2122</a>&nbsp;meant the annual license fee of electric and hybrid vehicles would increase. The fee for electric hybrid vehicles would go from $50 to $70, while the plug-in electric hybrid vehicle fee would rise from $50 to $100. The all-electric vehicle would be hit with a fee of $165, up from $100.

She placed into law contents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2016_01_03242025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2016</a>&nbsp;to give active military members, their spouses and dependents stationed in Kansas but maintaining residency in another state to serve as poll workers for Kansas elections. In addition, the bill permitted county election officers to rely on obituaries posted online to remove a voter’s name from registration books.

The governor agreed to sign&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2168_01_03242025landsurveyreports.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2168</a>&nbsp;to extend the time required for filing of public land surveys from 30 days to 90 days to comply with industry standards. Meanwhile, Kelly signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2242_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2242</a>&nbsp;to authorize a Kansas governor to accept requests for concurrent jurisdiction from the federal government.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729533905311.png" alt="&nbsp;Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signs a bill complying with her request for the Legislature to create a special task force to put together a comprehensive&nbsp;water planning and investment task force modeled after the state's 10-year planning horizon for highway projects. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly signs a bill complying with her request for the Legislature to create a special task force to put together a comprehensive&nbsp;water planning and investment task force modeled after the state's 10-year planning horizon for highway projects. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Governor signs bill tweaking K-12 public school graduation rate calculations</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed bipartisan legislation Tuesday establishing a task force dedicated to developing a long-term investment strategy for Kansas water resources modeled after the state’s rolling 10-year transportation program.The Democratic governor praised members of the Republican-led Legislature for approving&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2172_00_03252025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2172</a>&nbsp;to create a dedicated funding source for addressing&nbsp; the state’s water challenges. The task force with 13 voting members must work to get a better handle on evaluation of water appropriations and state water laws.&nbsp; The task force will submit to Kelly and the Legislature a preliminary report in 2026 and a final report in 2027.“Developing a comprehensive, long-term and sustainable water program is long overdue and a significant step forward in ensuring Kansas’ water supply is preserved for generations to come,” Kelly said. “I commend the Legislature for advancing my proposal and acting on this critical issue.”The bill passed the House on a vote of 116-8 and it received unanimous support in the Senate. In January, Kelly recommended the Legislature authorize the task force. The Kansas Water Authority and Kelly administration conducted 14 public meetings last year to gather input on water policy.The task force, with members from each of the state’s five conservation regions, must work to evaluate major risks to Kansas’ water quality and quantity, including issues of current and future economic growth. It must evaluate water infrastructure needs in every corner of the state.“This is a critical step forward in addressing Kansas’ water challenges by establishing a dedicated task force and work group to guide our state’s water policy and funding decisions,” said Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover.&nbsp;“This bill reflects a bipartisan legislative commitment to ensuring sustainable water resources for future generations, and I’m proud to see it move forward with the governor’s support.”Kelly also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_sb45_01_032525.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 45</a>, which created an alternative school district graduation rate calculation that excluded students who transferred to homeschools and nonaccredited private schools or who enrolled as a credit-deficient student.The governor signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_sb54_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 54</a>&nbsp;to require disclosure in court proceedings of third-party litigation funding agreements as well as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2118_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2118</a>&nbsp;requiring private entities that solicit a fee for filing or retrieving government documents to tell consumers the solicitations weren’t made on behalf of a government agency.Kelly put a signature to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2030_01_03242025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2030</a>&nbsp;to exclude dealers and manufacturers of nonmotorized trailers from the vehicle dealers licensing law. It wouldn’t apply to dealers of semitrailers and travel trailers.Her signing of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2122_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2122</a>&nbsp;meant the annual license fee of electric and hybrid vehicles would increase. The fee for electric hybrid vehicles would go from $50 to $70, while the plug-in electric hybrid vehicle fee would rise from $50 to $100. The all-electric vehicle would be hit with a fee of $165, up from $100.She placed into law contents of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2016_01_03242025.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2016</a>&nbsp;to give active military members, their spouses and dependents stationed in Kansas but maintaining residency in another state to serve as poll workers for Kansas elections. In addition, the bill permitted county election officers to rely on obituaries posted online to remove a voter’s name from registration books.The governor agreed to sign&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/ccrb_hb2168_01_03242025landsurveyreports.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2168</a>&nbsp;to extend the time required for filing of public land surveys from 30 days to 90 days to comply with industry standards. Meanwhile, Kelly signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2242_01_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2242</a>&nbsp;to authorize a Kansas governor to accept requests for concurrent jurisdiction from the federal government.

Kelly signs bill creating long-term water resource planning, investment task force

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health reported eight new case of measles over the past week in the state, according to the the KDHE's online reportable infections disease web site. One person is hospitalized.

Kansas has 32 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state as of Wednesday, including Morton Stevens, Haskell, Kiowa, Grant, and Gray counties. Finney and Ford county are new to the list with active outbreaks.

The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.

Already, the U.S. has more measles cases this year than in all of 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">Other states with outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Ohio and Oklahoma. Since February, two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes.

The multi-state outbreak confirms health experts' fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. The World Health Organization said last week that cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the Texas outbreak.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;(MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.

Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.

A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don't always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.

People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744217207299.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health reported eight new case of measles over the past week in the state, according to the the KDHE's online reportable infections disease web site. One person is hospitalized.Kansas has 32 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state as of Wednesday, including Morton Stevens, Haskell, Kiowa, Grant, and Gray counties. Finney and Ford county are new to the list with active outbreaks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744217094136.png" alt="Outbreak counties in yellow-KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>Outbreak counties in yellow-KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744217179217.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Already, the U.S. has more measles cases this year than in all of 2024, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">Other states with outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Ohio and Oklahoma. Since February, two unvaccinated people have died from measles-related causes.The multi-state outbreak confirms health experts' fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-outbreak-mmr-vaccine-6cfda9a944084c390bc70f0e7a37a426">could stretch on for a year</a>. The World Health Organization said last week that cases in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2025-DON561">Mexico</a>&nbsp;are linked to the Texas outbreak.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.<h2>Do you need an MMR booster?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;(MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.Adults with “presumptive evidence of immunity” generally don’t need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don't always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary.Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don’t know which type they got.<h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.<h2>Why do vaccination rates matter?</h2>In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called “herd immunity.”But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.The U.S. saw&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-cdc-outbreak-chicago-mmr-vaccine-7ecdfef41e6dbd659c7ac8b80d5de38f">a rise in measles cases in 2024</a>, including an outbreak in Chicago that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-chicago-migrant-shelter-cdc-e58517c830f73e42266d45d45983c12b">sickened more than 60.</a>-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

KDHE: Measles now reported in 8 counties in Kansas

SEDGWICK, Kan. — Two unauthorized individuals gained access to a Sedgwick school building in the 400 West 4th Street in Sedgwick on Tuesday afternoon prompting a swift response from staff and law enforcement, according to USD 439 Superintendent Dr. Rae Niles.

In a message sent to parents and guardians, Niles said the incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. when two men entered a school building through a side door. A high school senior working as a student aide initially turned the pair away at the grade school entrance, instructing them to go to the high school’s main entrance. The men then spent nearly an hour wandering school grounds before being let in by a student through a side door.

Once inside, the men ended up in the school courtyard, where Mavis, the district’s therapy dog, alerted staff to their presence. Librarian Leah Gaede spotted the intruders and contacted elementary principal Julie Scott, who escorted them to the high school office before they were removed from the building.

“There could have been a far worse outcome, but it was a frightening situation nonetheless,” Niles wrote.

Authorities later identified the two men, who were located at their home in Park City. Niles said they are not connected to the Sedgwick community and have never attended school there. The district worked with local police to issue trespass orders against both individuals. Photos of the men have been distributed to staff and posted in school offices.

Emergency staff meetings were held Wednesday morning to reinforce security protocols and remind employees of the importance of reporting unauthorized individuals. Students were also briefed on safety practices, including the district’s “See Something, Say Something” policy.

Niles emphasized that the district will be reviewing and strengthening safety procedures in the coming weeks and thanked families for their continued support.

“We know we can always do better,” she said. “Keeping your child safe is our top priority.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744214256071.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK, Kan. — Two unauthorized individuals gained access to a Sedgwick school building in the 400 West 4th Street in Sedgwick on Tuesday afternoon prompting a swift response from staff and law enforcement, according to USD 439 Superintendent Dr. Rae Niles.In a message sent to parents and guardians, Niles said the incident occurred shortly after 1 p.m. when two men entered a school building through a side door. A high school senior working as a student aide initially turned the pair away at the grade school entrance, instructing them to go to the high school’s main entrance. The men then spent nearly an hour wandering school grounds before being let in by a student through a side door.Once inside, the men ended up in the school courtyard, where Mavis, the district’s therapy dog, alerted staff to their presence. Librarian Leah Gaede spotted the intruders and contacted elementary principal Julie Scott, who escorted them to the high school office before they were removed from the building.“There could have been a far worse outcome, but it was a frightening situation nonetheless,” Niles wrote.Authorities later identified the two men, who were located at their home in Park City. Niles said they are not connected to the Sedgwick community and have never attended school there. The district worked with local police to issue trespass orders against both individuals. Photos of the men have been distributed to staff and posted in school offices.Emergency staff meetings were held Wednesday morning to reinforce security protocols and remind employees of the importance of reporting unauthorized individuals. Students were also briefed on safety practices, including the district’s “See Something, Say Something” policy.Niles emphasized that the district will be reviewing and strengthening safety procedures in the coming weeks and thanked families for their continued support.“We know we can always do better,” she said. “Keeping your child safe is our top priority.”

Unauthorized entry at Kan. school prompts security response, policy review

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man found guilty for his role in a deadly crash while racing another car will learn his fate today.

Ahmed Juma, 22, Wichita, is scheduled to appear before&nbsp;Judge Quentin Pittman for sentencing.

He was originally charged with two counts reckless involuntary manslaughter and two alternative counts of involuntary manslaughter in commission of another crime: racing.

Just before 2:30a.m. November 15, 2023, a Lexus GS350 driven by Juma was westbound in the 6200 Block of East Pawnee, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs. The Lexus left the road, struck a utility pole, rolled and all three occupants were ejected.

The rear passenger Carol Chakra, 19, Wichita, was pronounced deceased on scene, according to Gibbs. EMS transported the front seat passenger Lian Awadi 19, Wichita, to a local hospital in critical condition and she later died.&nbsp; Juma was treated at a local hospital and released.

The second vehicle at the scene did not have any physical contact with the Lexus however the occupants knew the individuals involved in the collision. It does not appear alcohol was a factor in the crash at this time. Speed is a likely factor, Lt. Gibbs reported at the time of the preliminary investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737649438557.png" alt="Juma-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Juma-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man found guilty for his role in a deadly crash while racing another car will learn his fate today.Ahmed Juma, 22, Wichita, is scheduled to appear before&nbsp;Judge Quentin Pittman for sentencing.He was originally charged with two counts reckless involuntary manslaughter and two alternative counts of involuntary manslaughter in commission of another crime: racing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700074597542.png" alt="View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>View of the crash scene -photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Just before 2:30a.m. November 15, 2023, a Lexus GS350 driven by Juma was westbound in the 6200 Block of East Pawnee, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs. The Lexus left the road, struck a utility pole, rolled and all three occupants were ejected.The rear passenger Carol Chakra, 19, Wichita, was pronounced deceased on scene, according to Gibbs. EMS transported the front seat passenger Lian Awadi 19, Wichita, to a local hospital in critical condition and she later died.&nbsp; Juma was treated at a local hospital and released.The second vehicle at the scene did not have any physical contact with the Lexus however the occupants knew the individuals involved in the collision. It does not appear alcohol was a factor in the crash at this time. Speed is a likely factor, Lt. Gibbs reported at the time of the preliminary investigation.

Sentencing Day: Kansas street racing crash killed two women

NEMAHA COUNTY —The community of Seneca, Kansas will honor a beloved priest who was shot and killed last week .

Father Arul Carasala&nbsp;will lie in state at Saints Peter &amp; Paul Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Rosary prayers will be offered at 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 7:00 PM, according to Lauer Funeral Home.

He will lie in state with an overnight vigil until 9:00 AM on Thursday.&nbsp; A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 10, 2025. 

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/nTkaBA4zrAY">Click here to view </a>the Mass streamed on YouTube.&nbsp;

 Following the service, Father Arul will return to India, where a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at his home parish, Sacred Heart Church, Kilachery Parish in Kilacheri, Tamil Nadu. His Funeral Mass will be live streamed on YouTube. He will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Church Cemetery with his parents.

Memorials may be made to Fr. Arul Carasala Memorial 411 Pioneer Seneca, Kansas 66538.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lauerfuneralhome.com/obituary/father-arul-raj-balaswamy-carasala/">Click here to read the full obituary.</a>

Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. was charged Friday with Carasal's murder. He is being held in the Nemaha County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond, according to the Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert.

The charging complaint says that Hermesch “intentionally and with premeditation” killed Carasala, Lippert said. Authorities have not released a possible motive for the shooting or said whether the suspect and the priest knew each other.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744196756788.png" alt="Father Arul Carasala" />
 <figcaption>Father Arul Carasala</figcaption>
 </figure>NEMAHA COUNTY —The community of Seneca, Kansas will honor a beloved priest who was shot and killed last week .Father Arul Carasala&nbsp;will lie in state at Saints Peter &amp; Paul Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. Rosary prayers will be offered at 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 7:00 PM, according to Lauer Funeral Home.He will lie in state with an overnight vigil until 9:00 AM on Thursday.&nbsp; A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, April 10, 2025. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/nTkaBA4zrAY">Click here to view </a>the Mass streamed on YouTube.&nbsp; Following the service, Father Arul will return to India, where a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at his home parish, Sacred Heart Church, Kilachery Parish in Kilacheri, Tamil Nadu. His Funeral Mass will be live streamed on YouTube. He will be laid to rest at Sacred Heart Church Cemetery with his parents.Memorials may be made to Fr. Arul Carasala Memorial 411 Pioneer Seneca, Kansas 66538.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.lauerfuneralhome.com/obituary/father-arul-raj-balaswamy-carasala/">Click here to read the full obituary.</a>Gary Hermesch, 66, of Tulsa, Oklahoma. was charged Friday with Carasal's murder. He is being held in the Nemaha County Jail in lieu of $1 million bond, according to the Nemaha County Attorney Brad Lippert.The charging complaint says that Hermesch “intentionally and with premeditation” killed Carasala, Lippert said. Authorities have not released a possible motive for the shooting or said whether the suspect and the priest knew each other.

Memorial services for slain Kansas priest 

RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a rural home in Reno County.

Just before 1:30a.m. Wednesday, crews responded to a fire at a home in the 1600 Block of North Wilson Road, according to a media release from Jeremy Unruh Division Chief of Operations.

First arriving crews found the single story home with heavy fire. The detached garage and a 28-foot camper were also burning.&nbsp; Crews started a defensive attack as rural water supply operations were initiated with the assistance of mutual aid water tenders.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Crews were eventually able to knock down a majority of the fire and enter the home. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire. The garage and camper are a total loss. The fire damage approximately 70 percent of the home.&nbsp; Wind&nbsp; was a significant factor with the behavior of the fire. There were no injuries reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744195260743.png" alt="Photos Hutchinson Fire Department" />
 <figcaption>Photos Hutchinson Fire Department</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a rural home in Reno County.Just before 1:30a.m. Wednesday, crews responded to a fire at a home in the 1600 Block of North Wilson Road, according to a media release from Jeremy Unruh Division Chief of Operations.First arriving crews found the single story home with heavy fire. The detached garage and a 28-foot camper were also burning.&nbsp; Crews started a defensive attack as rural water supply operations were initiated with the assistance of mutual aid water tenders.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744195917193.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Crews were eventually able to knock down a majority of the fire and enter the home. The occupants were not home at the time of the fire. The garage and camper are a total loss. The fire damage approximately 70 percent of the home.&nbsp; Wind&nbsp; was a significant factor with the behavior of the fire. There were no injuries reported.

Wind driven fire damages rural Kansas home, destroys garage and camper 

CRAWFORD COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a vehicle in crash and looking for the driver who left a lot of merchandise behind.

On Tuesday, the Crawford County Kansas Sheriff shared photos of a crash involving a Chrysler 300.&nbsp; The Sheriff's office wrote, "Heyyyyy… if you left your camouflage Chrysler 300 with those stolen guns and the weed in it, we’d like to speak with you! Give us a call! 620-724-8274"

The sheriff's office did not report if they had received a response or possibly made an arrest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744147265812.png" alt="Photos Crawford Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Photos Crawford Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>CRAWFORD COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a vehicle in crash and looking for the driver who left a lot of merchandise behind.On Tuesday, the Crawford County Kansas Sheriff shared photos of a crash involving a Chrysler 300.&nbsp; The Sheriff's office wrote, "Heyyyyy… if you left your camouflage Chrysler 300 with those stolen guns and the weed in it, we’d like to speak with you! Give us a call! 620-724-8274"<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744147484559.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The sheriff's office did not report if they had received a response or possibly made an arrest.

Kan. sheriff looking for crash victims who left stolen guns behind

WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run have identified the victim as 66-year-old Jeffrey Leigh of Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 8:30a.m. April 1, police were dispatched to report of an accident in the 4300 block of State Line Road, according to a statement from KCK Officer Jovanna Cheatum.

When officers arrived on scene, they located a pedestrian later identified as Leigh deceased in the roadway. The initial investigation revealed a large construction dump truck struck Leigh and left the scene. Police&nbsp;located the driver of the vehicle, according to Cheatum. They are cooperating with detectives.&nbsp; An autopsy on the victim helped police identify him.

This remains incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Traffic Division.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743534048942.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal hit-and-run have identified the victim as 66-year-old Jeffrey Leigh of Kansas City, Missouri.Just after 8:30a.m. April 1, police were dispatched to report of an accident in the 4300 block of State Line Road, according to a statement from KCK Officer Jovanna Cheatum.When officers arrived on scene, they located a pedestrian later identified as Leigh deceased in the roadway. The initial investigation revealed a large construction dump truck struck Leigh and left the scene. Police&nbsp;located the driver of the vehicle, according to Cheatum. They are cooperating with detectives.&nbsp; An autopsy on the victim helped police identify him.This remains incident is under investigation by the KCKPD Traffic Division.

Police ID victim in fatal dump truck, pedestrian hit-and-run

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Global agrochemical manufacturer Bayer has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether federal law preempts thousands of state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller could cause cancer.

Bayer's new request to the nation's highest court comes as it is simultaneously pursing legislation in several states seeking to erect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bayer-legislation-glyphosate-roundup-lawsuits-cancer-warning-4fa2e6662479f3e60a409ce4439a40ed">a legal shield against lawsuits</a>&nbsp;targeting Roundup, a commonly used weedkiller for both farms and homes. Bayer disputes the cancer claims but has set aside $16 billion to settle cases and asserted Monday that the future of American agriculture is at stake.

In a court filing, Bayer urged the Supreme Court to take up a Missouri case that awarded $1.25 million to a man who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after spraying Roundup on a community garden in St. Louis. The federally approved label for Roundup includes no warning of cancer. Bayer contends federal pesticide laws preempt states from adopting additional labeling for products and thus prohibits failure-to-warn lawsuits brought under state laws.

The Supreme Court in 2022 declined to hear a similar claim from Bayer in a California case that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lifestyle-environment-and-nature-california-san-francisco-b0ef61238f5e83778fb12e748bc97593">awarded more than $86 million</a>&nbsp;to a married couple.

But Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Roundup maker Monsanto in 2018, contends the Supreme Court should intervene now because lower courts have issued conflicting rulings. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Bayer's favor last year while the 9th and 11th Circuits have ruled against its stance.

An attorney representing the St. Louis gardener said Bayer is “really grasping at straws."

“The reality is they don’t want to put the warning on it because they’re afraid" that if people "realize it’s unsafe, it will reduce sales,” said attorney Jim Onder, whose firm has more than 20,000 clients with failure-to-warn claims regarding Roundup.

Bayer faces about 181,000 Roundup claims, mostly from residential users.

Because of that, Bayer stopped using the key ingredient glyphosate in Roundup sold for home uses. But glyphosate remains in agricultural products. It's designed to be used with genetically modified seeds that can resist the weedkiller’s deadly effect, thus allowing farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less.

Bayer has said it might have to consider pulling glyphosate from U.S. agricultural markets if the lawsuits persist.

“This is a bigger threat to innovation in general, when we think about agriculture," said Jess Christiansen, head of communications for Bayer’s crop science division. "If glyphosate falls to the litigation industry, what could be next?”

Bayer has made similar arguments to lawmakers in several states. Georgia recently became the first to pass legislation backed by Bayer that would deem federally approved pesticide labels sufficient to satisfy any state-law duty to warn customers. Gov. Brian Kemp has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.

A jury in Georgia recently ordered Bayer to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roundup-monsanto-cancer-lawsuit-2-billion-7f903acb350dd6f6ce09b102914eabc1">pay nearly $2.1 billion</a>&nbsp;to a man who claimed Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Legislation barring similar state failure-to-warn claims for pesticide makers passed the Tennessee Senate on Thursday and the North Dakota House earlier this year and is now pending in the second chamber in each state.

Bayer also has focused heavily on Missouri and Iowa, home respectively to its North America crop science division and a Roundup manufacturing facility.

The Republicna-led Missouri House narrowly passed the legislation in February. But a coalition of Republican senators has vowed to block it. State Sen. Nick Schroer has said it “would be a betrayal to the public trust” and the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial to grant “immunity” to pesticide manufactures against particular legal claims.

Similar legislation advanced through the Iowa Senate this year with exclusively Republican support. But the Iowa House declined to bring the bill forward before last week’s legislative deadline. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters Thursday “there’s not support” within the Republican House caucus at this time.

The bill drew staunch opposition from environmental justice groups that denounced it as a “cancer gag act,” saying it would limit the rights of Iowans to hold pesticide companies accountable if their products cause harm. During a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bayer-roundup-glyphosate-pesticide-liability-cancer-7d7885e55e228fae8ed8ec7b207a65b8">February protest</a>&nbsp;at the Iowa capitol building, speakers took turns telling stories of family members throughout the state who have been diagnosed with cancers.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Global agrochemical manufacturer Bayer has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether federal law preempts thousands of state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller could cause cancer.Bayer's new request to the nation's highest court comes as it is simultaneously pursing legislation in several states seeking to erect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bayer-legislation-glyphosate-roundup-lawsuits-cancer-warning-4fa2e6662479f3e60a409ce4439a40ed">a legal shield against lawsuits</a>&nbsp;targeting Roundup, a commonly used weedkiller for both farms and homes. Bayer disputes the cancer claims but has set aside $16 billion to settle cases and asserted Monday that the future of American agriculture is at stake.In a court filing, Bayer urged the Supreme Court to take up a Missouri case that awarded $1.25 million to a man who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after spraying Roundup on a community garden in St. Louis. The federally approved label for Roundup includes no warning of cancer. Bayer contends federal pesticide laws preempt states from adopting additional labeling for products and thus prohibits failure-to-warn lawsuits brought under state laws.The Supreme Court in 2022 declined to hear a similar claim from Bayer in a California case that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lifestyle-environment-and-nature-california-san-francisco-b0ef61238f5e83778fb12e748bc97593">awarded more than $86 million</a>&nbsp;to a married couple.But Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Roundup maker Monsanto in 2018, contends the Supreme Court should intervene now because lower courts have issued conflicting rulings. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Bayer's favor last year while the 9th and 11th Circuits have ruled against its stance.An attorney representing the St. Louis gardener said Bayer is “really grasping at straws."“The reality is they don’t want to put the warning on it because they’re afraid" that if people "realize it’s unsafe, it will reduce sales,” said attorney Jim Onder, whose firm has more than 20,000 clients with failure-to-warn claims regarding Roundup.Bayer faces about 181,000 Roundup claims, mostly from residential users.Because of that, Bayer stopped using the key ingredient glyphosate in Roundup sold for home uses. But glyphosate remains in agricultural products. It's designed to be used with genetically modified seeds that can resist the weedkiller’s deadly effect, thus allowing farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less.Bayer has said it might have to consider pulling glyphosate from U.S. agricultural markets if the lawsuits persist.“This is a bigger threat to innovation in general, when we think about agriculture," said Jess Christiansen, head of communications for Bayer’s crop science division. "If glyphosate falls to the litigation industry, what could be next?”Bayer has made similar arguments to lawmakers in several states. Georgia recently became the first to pass legislation backed by Bayer that would deem federally approved pesticide labels sufficient to satisfy any state-law duty to warn customers. Gov. Brian Kemp has not indicated whether he will sign the bill.A jury in Georgia recently ordered Bayer to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roundup-monsanto-cancer-lawsuit-2-billion-7f903acb350dd6f6ce09b102914eabc1">pay nearly $2.1 billion</a>&nbsp;to a man who claimed Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.Legislation barring similar state failure-to-warn claims for pesticide makers passed the Tennessee Senate on Thursday and the North Dakota House earlier this year and is now pending in the second chamber in each state.Bayer also has focused heavily on Missouri and Iowa, home respectively to its North America crop science division and a Roundup manufacturing facility.The Republicna-led Missouri House narrowly passed the legislation in February. But a coalition of Republican senators has vowed to block it. State Sen. Nick Schroer has said it “would be a betrayal to the public trust” and the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial to grant “immunity” to pesticide manufactures against particular legal claims.Similar legislation advanced through the Iowa Senate this year with exclusively Republican support. But the Iowa House declined to bring the bill forward before last week’s legislative deadline. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley told reporters Thursday “there’s not support” within the Republican House caucus at this time.The bill drew staunch opposition from environmental justice groups that denounced it as a “cancer gag act,” saying it would limit the rights of Iowans to hold pesticide companies accountable if their products cause harm. During a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bayer-roundup-glyphosate-pesticide-liability-cancer-7d7885e55e228fae8ed8ec7b207a65b8">February protest</a>&nbsp;at the Iowa capitol building, speakers took turns telling stories of family members throughout the state who have been diagnosed with cancers.___

Weedkiller maker asks Supreme Court to intervene in cancer claim lawsuits

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office have positively identified human remains that were found near Garnett, Kansas in April of 1973, providing answers to a family after 52 years.

On April 18, 1973, the decomposing remains of an unidentified male were located three miles southeast of Garnett, Kansas, off 1550 Road. He was found wearing a brown corduroy jacket, a green long-sleeved buttoned shirt, jeans, a black leather belt with a large belt buckle, brown hiking boots, and a navy blue stocking cap. He was also wearing two gold rings with crosses, a ring with the number “78” and a silver chain with a large cross.

During the autopsy in 1973, the coroner ruled the man’s manner of death a homicide due to signs of trauma. It was determined the man was around 20-years-old and believed to have brown hair and a slender build. Over the years, many attempts were made to identify the remains and learn what happened to the man.

In 2024, DNA was extracted from the remains so that a DNA profile could be utilized for forensic genetic genealogy testing. This advanced testing, conducted by Othram, attempts to uncover family relationships in order to identify any living relatives of the person who is unidentified. The funding to conduct the testing was provided by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), administered by the National Institute of Justice, and managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International.

In early 2025, KBI learned the testing had identified relatives of the unknown man. After further investigation, KBI agents and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office located the man’s siblings. They conducted interviews and collected DNA from a sibling for comparison. The unidentified person was then positively identified as Jimmy Allen Dollison.

Jimmy Dollison had been living in Kansas City, Kansas when he went missing. He disappeared sometime in October or November of 1972, when he was 16-years-old. According to family members, he was reported missing by his parents, but the family never learned what happened to Jimmy.

The KBI and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the circumstances of Dollison’s death. Anyone who has information about the disappearance or murder of Jimmy Dollison is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or report tips online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kbi.ks.gov%2Fsar%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019616f0254d-ff9985bf-4b8c-4d01-bc48-88282324d6fb-000000/tIjY96t5nUzkLaJWYi5w37hsskU2VE0j-PuUqXq3654=400">https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744141977526.png" alt="Jimmy Dollison courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jimmy Dollison courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office have positively identified human remains that were found near Garnett, Kansas in April of 1973, providing answers to a family after 52 years.On April 18, 1973, the decomposing remains of an unidentified male were located three miles southeast of Garnett, Kansas, off 1550 Road. He was found wearing a brown corduroy jacket, a green long-sleeved buttoned shirt, jeans, a black leather belt with a large belt buckle, brown hiking boots, and a navy blue stocking cap. He was also wearing two gold rings with crosses, a ring with the number “78” and a silver chain with a large cross.During the autopsy in 1973, the coroner ruled the man’s manner of death a homicide due to signs of trauma. It was determined the man was around 20-years-old and believed to have brown hair and a slender build. Over the years, many attempts were made to identify the remains and learn what happened to the man.In 2024, DNA was extracted from the remains so that a DNA profile could be utilized for forensic genetic genealogy testing. This advanced testing, conducted by Othram, attempts to uncover family relationships in order to identify any living relatives of the person who is unidentified. The funding to conduct the testing was provided by the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), administered by the National Institute of Justice, and managed through a contract with Research Triangle Institute International.In early 2025, KBI learned the testing had identified relatives of the unknown man. After further investigation, KBI agents and the Anderson County Sheriff's Office located the man’s siblings. They conducted interviews and collected DNA from a sibling for comparison. The unidentified person was then positively identified as Jimmy Allen Dollison.Jimmy Dollison had been living in Kansas City, Kansas when he went missing. He disappeared sometime in October or November of 1972, when he was 16-years-old. According to family members, he was reported missing by his parents, but the family never learned what happened to Jimmy.The KBI and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office continue to investigate the circumstances of Dollison’s death. Anyone who has information about the disappearance or murder of Jimmy Dollison is asked to call the KBI at 1-800-KS-CRIME, or report tips online at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kbi.ks.gov%2Fsar%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019616f0254d-ff9985bf-4b8c-4d01-bc48-88282324d6fb-000000/tIjY96t5nUzkLaJWYi5w37hsskU2VE0j-PuUqXq3654=400">https://www.kbi.ks.gov/sar</a>.

KBI: Remains found in 1973 positively identified as Kansas teen

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday helped shovel dirt onto the replacement for a historic White House tree that had to be removed because of safety concerns around its deteriorating condition.

“We have a beautiful tree now at the White House,” Trump said.

The White House did not allow news media coverage of the tree planting, but afterward shared a brief video clip on social media. Dale Haney, the longtime grounds superintendent, also participated.

“Dale’s been here 53 years. He’s fantastic,” Trump said.

The Republican president had announced March 30 on his social media platform that the nearly 200-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-landscaping-tree-21d3f53568bf5f9c64050a2732c034c6">tree, known as the Jackson Magnolia, was in “terrible condition,</a>&nbsp;a very dangerous safety hazard, at the White House Entrance, no less, and must now be removed.”

The southern magnolia had stood for decades near the west side of the South Portico of the White House. It’s where presidents and prime ministers often are welcomed on their visits, as well as where the president himself exits to board the Marine One helicopter or returns after a trip.

According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/whho/learn/historyculture/jackson-magnolia.htm" target="_blank">National Park Service website</a>, “folklore tells us” that President Andrew Jackson brought the tree’s seeds from his home near Nashville, Tennessee. The seeds apparently were planted in honor of his wife Rachel, who died shortly before he took office in 1829.

A 12-year-old sapling that is a direct descendant of the Jackson Magnolia was planted in its place on Tuesday, the White House said. The National Park Service, which manages the White House grounds, said the sapling was grown at its offsite greenhouse specifically to replace the Jackson Magnolia.

The decision to remove the tree followed an assessment by Peter Hart, a registered consulting arborist and member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists, which concluded that the tree had “surpassed the time of serving as an aesthetic and historic landmark due to the potential harm it may cause because of the risk of structural failure,” the White House said.

Hart’s report also recommended that the tree be removed as soon as possible “to eliminate the risk of personal injury and/or property damage,” according to the White House.

The park service is keeping a sample of the downed tree for historical and archival purposes and transferring any remaining wood to the Executive Residence. Trump had said the wood “may be used for other high and noble purposes!!!!”

The tree was significantly pruned in 2017 during Trump’s first term. It also had suffered damage in 1994 when a small Cessna plane crashed onto the South Lawn and skidded into the White House.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744153092134.png" alt="White House photo" />
 <figcaption>White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday helped shovel dirt onto the replacement for a historic White House tree that had to be removed because of safety concerns around its deteriorating condition.“We have a beautiful tree now at the White House,” Trump said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Donald J. Trump planted a new MAGAnolia sapling at the White House — a direct descendant of the historic &quot;Jackson Magnolia.&quot; 🌳🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/aSJn8Zo4pp">pic.twitter.com/aSJn8Zo4pp</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1909663068130255206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The White House did not allow news media coverage of the tree planting, but afterward shared a brief video clip on social media. Dale Haney, the longtime grounds superintendent, also participated.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump plants a new descendant sapling of the historic &quot;Jackson Magnolia.&quot; The White House remains committed to the stewardship and preservation of its historic grounds. &quot;We have a beautiful tree now in the White House.&quot; - <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/0wA8ShWye2">pic.twitter.com/0wA8ShWye2</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1909675396402233544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Dale’s been here 53 years. He’s fantastic,” Trump said.The Republican president had announced March 30 on his social media platform that the nearly 200-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/white-house-landscaping-tree-21d3f53568bf5f9c64050a2732c034c6">tree, known as the Jackson Magnolia, was in “terrible condition,</a>&nbsp;a very dangerous safety hazard, at the White House Entrance, no less, and must now be removed.”The southern magnolia had stood for decades near the west side of the South Portico of the White House. It’s where presidents and prime ministers often are welcomed on their visits, as well as where the president himself exits to board the Marine One helicopter or returns after a trip.According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/whho/learn/historyculture/jackson-magnolia.htm" target="_blank">National Park Service website</a>, “folklore tells us” that President Andrew Jackson brought the tree’s seeds from his home near Nashville, Tennessee. The seeds apparently were planted in honor of his wife Rachel, who died shortly before he took office in 1829.A 12-year-old sapling that is a direct descendant of the Jackson Magnolia was planted in its place on Tuesday, the White House said. The National Park Service, which manages the White House grounds, said the sapling was grown at its offsite greenhouse specifically to replace the Jackson Magnolia.The decision to remove the tree followed an assessment by Peter Hart, a registered consulting arborist and member of the American Society of Consulting Arborists, which concluded that the tree had “surpassed the time of serving as an aesthetic and historic landmark due to the potential harm it may cause because of the risk of structural failure,” the White House said.Hart’s report also recommended that the tree be removed as soon as possible “to eliminate the risk of personal injury and/or property damage,” according to the White House.The park service is keeping a sample of the downed tree for historical and archival purposes and transferring any remaining wood to the Executive Residence. Trump had said the wood “may be used for other high and noble purposes!!!!”The tree was significantly pruned in 2017 during Trump’s first term. It also had suffered damage in 1994 when a small Cessna plane crashed onto the South Lawn and skidded into the White House.

🎥Trump helps plant replacement for a historic White House tree

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop in Shawnee County.

Just after 9a.m. April 4, a Sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black 2006 Audi A6 with an expired license plate that did not belong to that vehicle near South Kansas Avenue and SE 15th Street, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

The driver, David R. Adams, 51, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Vehicles; operate a vehicle without registration or with an expired tag and&nbsp;Vehicle liability insurance

A passenger, Raven A. Coats, 42, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body,

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744146541300.png" alt="Adams photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Adams photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on drug allegations after a traffic stop in Shawnee County.Just after 9a.m. April 4, a Sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a black 2006 Audi A6 with an expired license plate that did not belong to that vehicle near South Kansas Avenue and SE 15th Street, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.During the investigation, the deputy found illegal narcotics.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744146523383.png" alt="Coats photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Coats photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The driver, David R. Adams, 51, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, Vehicles; operate a vehicle without registration or with an expired tag and&nbsp;Vehicle liability insuranceA passenger, Raven A. Coats, 42, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of&nbsp;Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body,

Sheriff: Stolen license plate led to Kan. traffic stop drug bust

By MIKE STOBBE and KASTURI PANANJADY&nbsp;

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he wants communities to stop fluoridating water, and he is setting the gears of government in motion to help make that happen.

Kennedy this week said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide. And he said he's assembling a task force of health experts to study the issue and make new recommendations.

At the same time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would review new scientific information on potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water. The EPA sets the maximum level allowed in public water systems.

Here's a look at how reversing fluoride policy has become an action item under President Donald Trump's administration.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the CDC. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and in 1962 set guidelines for how much should be added to water.

Fluoride can come from a number of sources, but drinking water is the main one for Americans, researchers say. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population gets fluoridated drinking water, according to CDC data.

The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water was long considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. The American Dental Association credits it with reducing tooth decay by more than 25% in children and adults.

About one-third of community water systems — 17,000 out of 51,000 across the U.S. — serving more than 60% of the population fluoridated their water, according to a 2022 CDC analysis.

The potential problems of too much fluoride

The CDC currently recommends 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water.

Over time, studies have documented potential problems when people get much more than that.

Excess fluoride intake has been associated with streaking or spots on teeth. And studies also have traced a link between excess fluoride and brain development.

A report last year by the federal government's National Toxicology Program, which summarized studies conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico, concluded that drinking water with more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter — more than twice the CDC's recommended level — was associated with lower IQs in kids.

Meanwhile, last year, a federal judge ordered the EPA to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it's not certain fluoride is causing lower IQ in kids, but he concluded that research pointed to an unreasonable risk that it could be.

Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has called fluoride a "dangerous neurotoxin" and "an industrial waste" tied to a range of health dangers. He has said it's been associated with arthritis, bone breaks, and thyroid disease.

Some studies have suggested such links might exist, usually at higher-than-recommended fluoride levels, though some reviewers have questioned the quality of available evidence and said no definitive conclusions can be drawn.

How fluoride recommendations can be changed

The CDC's recommendations are widely followed but not mandatory.

State and local governments decide whether to add fluoride to water and, if so, how much — as long as it doesn't exceed the EPA's limit of 4 milligrams per liter.

So Kennedy can't order communities to stop fluoridation, but he can tell the CDC to stop recommending it.

It would be customary to convene a panel of experts to comb through the research and assess the evidence that speak to the pros and cons of water fluoridation. But Kennedy has the power to stop or change a CDC recommendation without that.

"The power lies with the secretary," but public trust would erode if recommendations are changed without a clear scientific basis, said Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University.

"If you're really serious about this, you don't just come in and change it," he said. "You ask somebody like the National Academy of Sciences to do a study — and then you follow their recommendations."

On Monday, Kennedy said he was forming a task force to focus on fluoride, while at the same time saying he would order the CDC to stop recommending it.

HHS officials did not answer immediately questions seeking more information about what the task force would be doing.

Some places are already pulling back on fluoridation

Utah recently became the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water, and legislators elsewhere are looking at the issue.

An Associated Press analysis of CDC data for 36 states shows that many communities have halted fluoridation in recent years.

Over the last six years, at least 734 water systems that consistently reported their data in those states have stopped fluoridating water, according to the AP's analysis.

Mississippi alone accounted for more than 1 in 5 of those water systems that stopped. Most water systems that discontinued fluoridation mainly did so to save money, said Melissa Parker, the Mississippi state health department's assistant senior deputy.

During the pandemic, Mississippi's health department allowed local water systems to temporarily cease fluoridating because they could not purchase sodium fluoride in the midst of global supply chain issues. Many never restarted, Parker said.

CDC funding for fluoride is typically a small factor

Since 2003, CDC has funded a limited number of state oral health programs through cooperative agreements. The agreements run in cycles, and at the beginning of this year 15 states were each receiving $380,000 over three years.

The money can be used on a number of things, including collecting data on people with dental problems, dental care and technical assistance for community water fluoridation activities.

The current oral health funding is going to Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The states are told not to use the money for chemicals, because the funding is intended to help set up fluoridation, not for everyday expenses, federal officials have said. South Carolina, for example, sets aside up to $50,000 to help communities in that state fluoridate. Iowa spends about $65,000 to promote community water fluoridation.

By MIKE STOBBE and KASTURI PANANJADY&nbsp;NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he wants communities to stop fluoridating water, and he is setting the gears of government in motion to help make that happen.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/epaleezeldin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EPALeeZeldin</a> for joining me in Utah Monday. Utah has now become the first state in the nation to officially ban fluoride. I also celebrated other MAHA legislation in Arizona including removing harmful chemicals from school lunches and eliminating sugary sodas from SNAP… <a href="https://t.co/7VdlU5Vuhe">pic.twitter.com/7VdlU5Vuhe</a>&mdash; Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy/status/1909761205037924694?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SecKennedy?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SecKennedy</a> and Administrator <a href="https://twitter.com/epaleezeldin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@epaleezeldin</a> joined Utah elected officials for a press conference Monday to celebrate the passage of three MAHA bills: 1. Utah becomes the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water. 2. A ban on the use of specific dyes and chemical… <a href="https://t.co/YDWP1HzFv6">pic.twitter.com/YDWP1HzFv6</a>&mdash; HHS.gov (@HHSGov) <a href="https://twitter.com/HHSGov/status/1909631615719895536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kennedy this week said he plans to tell the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoridation in communities nationwide. And he said he's assembling a task force of health experts to study the issue and make new recommendations.At the same time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it would review new scientific information on potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water. The EPA sets the maximum level allowed in public water systems.Here's a look at how reversing fluoride policy has become an action item under President Donald Trump's administration.The benefits of fluorideFluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the CDC. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and in 1962 set guidelines for how much should be added to water.Fluoride can come from a number of sources, but drinking water is the main one for Americans, researchers say. Nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population gets fluoridated drinking water, according to CDC data.The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water was long considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. The American Dental Association credits it with reducing tooth decay by more than 25% in children and adults.About one-third of community water systems — 17,000 out of 51,000 across the U.S. — serving more than 60% of the population fluoridated their water, according to a 2022 CDC analysis.The potential problems of too much fluorideThe CDC currently recommends 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water.Over time, studies have documented potential problems when people get much more than that.Excess fluoride intake has been associated with streaking or spots on teeth. And studies also have traced a link between excess fluoride and brain development.A report last year by the federal government's National Toxicology Program, which summarized studies conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico, concluded that drinking water with more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter — more than twice the CDC's recommended level — was associated with lower IQs in kids.Meanwhile, last year, a federal judge ordered the EPA to further regulate fluoride in drinking water. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it's not certain fluoride is causing lower IQ in kids, but he concluded that research pointed to an unreasonable risk that it could be.Kennedy has railed against fluorideKennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has called fluoride a "dangerous neurotoxin" and "an industrial waste" tied to a range of health dangers. He has said it's been associated with arthritis, bone breaks, and thyroid disease.Some studies have suggested such links might exist, usually at higher-than-recommended fluoride levels, though some reviewers have questioned the quality of available evidence and said no definitive conclusions can be drawn.How fluoride recommendations can be changedThe CDC's recommendations are widely followed but not mandatory.State and local governments decide whether to add fluoride to water and, if so, how much — as long as it doesn't exceed the EPA's limit of 4 milligrams per liter.So Kennedy can't order communities to stop fluoridation, but he can tell the CDC to stop recommending it.It would be customary to convene a panel of experts to comb through the research and assess the evidence that speak to the pros and cons of water fluoridation. But Kennedy has the power to stop or change a CDC recommendation without that."The power lies with the secretary," but public trust would erode if recommendations are changed without a clear scientific basis, said Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert at Georgetown University."If you're really serious about this, you don't just come in and change it," he said. "You ask somebody like the National Academy of Sciences to do a study — and then you follow their recommendations."On Monday, Kennedy said he was forming a task force to focus on fluoride, while at the same time saying he would order the CDC to stop recommending it.HHS officials did not answer immediately questions seeking more information about what the task force would be doing.Some places are already pulling back on fluoridationUtah recently became the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water, and legislators elsewhere are looking at the issue.An Associated Press analysis of CDC data for 36 states shows that many communities have halted fluoridation in recent years.Over the last six years, at least 734 water systems that consistently reported their data in those states have stopped fluoridating water, according to the AP's analysis.Mississippi alone accounted for more than 1 in 5 of those water systems that stopped. Most water systems that discontinued fluoridation mainly did so to save money, said Melissa Parker, the Mississippi state health department's assistant senior deputy.During the pandemic, Mississippi's health department allowed local water systems to temporarily cease fluoridating because they could not purchase sodium fluoride in the midst of global supply chain issues. Many never restarted, Parker said.CDC funding for fluoride is typically a small factorSince 2003, CDC has funded a limited number of state oral health programs through cooperative agreements. The agreements run in cycles, and at the beginning of this year 15 states were each receiving $380,000 over three years.The money can be used on a number of things, including collecting data on people with dental problems, dental care and technical assistance for community water fluoridation activities.The current oral health funding is going to Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Wisconsin.The states are told not to use the money for chemicals, because the funding is intended to help set up fluoridation, not for everyday expenses, federal officials have said. South Carolina, for example, sets aside up to $50,000 to help communities in that state fluoridate. Iowa spends about $65,000 to promote community water fluoridation.Earlier this year, CDC officials declined to answer questions about how much of the total oral health money has been going toward fluoridation.Now, there is no one to ask: Last week, the CDC's entire 20-person Division of Oral Health was eliminated as part of widespread government staffing cuts.Congress appropriated money to CDC specifically to support oral health programs, and some congressional staffers say the agency must distribute those funds no matter who is running the HHS or CDC. But Trump-driven budget cuts have struck at a number of programs that Congress had called for, and it's not clear what will happen to the CDC oral health funding.Fluoridation is relatively cheap compared with other water department expenses, and most communities simply incorporate the cost into the water rates charged to customers, according to the American Water Works Association.In Erie, Pennsylvania, for example, fluoridating water for 220,000 people costs about $35,000 to $45,000 a year and is entirely funded by water rates, said Craig Palmer, the chief executive of the Erie Water Authority.So cutting off the CDC money would not have much impact on most communities, some experts said, although it could be more impactful for some smaller, rural communities.___Pananjady reported from Philadelphia.___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.