President Trump announced on Monday that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.&nbsp;

Wiles, is 68, and rose from Trump's campaign co-chair to his closest adviser and counsel. She is the first woman to become&nbsp;White House chief of staff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773678044050.png" alt="Susie Wiles shown sitting next to President Trump during a Monday morning news conference-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Susie Wiles shown sitting next to President Trump during a Monday morning news conference-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>President Trump announced on Monday that White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has been diagnosed with early stage breast cancer.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Trump on White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles breast cancer diagnosis: &quot;She&#39;s going to take care of immediately as opposed to waiting...the faster the better...so she just started...the prognosis there is excellent, beyond excellent.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/ZarTZNpGmY">pic.twitter.com/ZarTZNpGmY</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2033588645584605441?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Susie Wiles epitomizes what it means to be a strong leader. She is also one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. Susie led President Trump’s historic 2024 comeback campaign and is now spearheading the most successful administration in history. I know I speak for the President… <a href="https://t.co/hCoLnd4lC5">https://t.co/hCoLnd4lC5</a>&mdash; Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) <a href="https://twitter.com/PressSec/status/2033580036972765335?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Wiles, is 68, and rose from Trump's campaign co-chair to his closest adviser and counsel. She is the first woman to become&nbsp;White House chief of staff.

President Trump's White House Chief of Staff diagnosed with cancer

The changes tighten oversight of the state’s troubled marijuana microbusiness program, but lawmakers stripped out a proposal targeting people tied to denied or revoked licenses

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri lawmakers signed off on&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/12/new-rules-take-aim-at-predatory-contracts-in-missouri-cannabis-microbusiness-program/">proposed cannabis rules</a>&nbsp;Thursday meant to curb abuse in the state’s microbusiness licensing program, but not before stripping out a ban on people tied to denied or revoked licenses from holding interests in future microbusinesses.

The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, made up of lawmakers from both the House and Senate, approved changes that would move regulators’ ownership review to before licenses are issued rather than after, a shift aimed at preventing another wave of revocations in the microbusiness program — sometimes called the social-equity cannabis program.

But the committee rejected a proposed rule barring the “owners, agents or representatives” of denied or revoked applicants from controlling another microbusiness license. Republican state Rep. Ben Keathley of Chesterfield said the language was too broad and needed to be more specific.

The microbusiness program was designed to boost opportunities in the cannabis industry for people in disadvantaged communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs. It began in 2023, after passing as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XIV%20%20%202&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022.

For&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/26/applicants-recruited-on-craigslist-competed-for-missouri-social-equity-cannabis-licenses/">the last two years</a>, The Independent has documented a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/08/missouri-lawyer-for-cannabis-trade-group-behind-contracts-tied-to-revoked-licenses/">pattern of well-connected groups</a>&nbsp;and individuals flooding the microbusiness lottery by recruiting people to submit applications and then offering them contracts that limit their profit and control of the business.&nbsp;

Of the 105 microbusiness licenses issued so far, 35 have been revoked.

“There’s really no question in many cases,” Amy Moore, director of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation, said during a hearing with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules this week. “Third parties used eligible individuals, names and circumstances to attempt to acquire licenses for themselves.”

In order to prevent the continued cascade of revocations, the division is proposing to adjust when its extensive application-review period occurs.&nbsp;

The state has held two lotteries for microbusiness licenses so far, Moore told committee members. After each lottery, she said the winners were issued licenses and then her team conducted an investigation into all contracts to verify the winner was eligible to hold the license.&nbsp;

“Our investigation found instances of licenses that were awarded to individuals who very clearly, through review of agreements and interviews, were not owning and operating the license,” she said.&nbsp;

Even after taking “very strong action” and revoking several licenses after the first lottery, it was not the deterrent her team expected.&nbsp;

“In the second round, we had to revoke almost half of the licenses for this type of non compliance,” she said. “So that brings us to this set of amendments. We could have kept going with additional rounds of licensure, additional revocations. I’m not sure how many rounds we would have to go through to finally get to the minimum number of licenses that are required by the constitution, which is 144.”

The proposed rules would change the point when regulators would review questionable contracts to take place before the license is issued, instead of afterwards as it is now.

Also, under the new rules, “majority owned and operated” would be defined as the eligible individuals who are listed as having majority ownership must have a level of operational control that would be expected of an owner.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The designated-contact role was envisioned as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees. However, regulators found in their&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/23/alleged-predatory-contracts-continue-to-surface-in-missouri-social-equity-marijuana-program/">investigations</a>&nbsp;that designated contacts have kept the actual eligible applicants in the dark about business and license dealings. The new rules would require the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/17/new-rules-target-middlemen-in-missouri-cannabis-industry-to-prevent-predatory-practices/">designated contact&nbsp;</a>for a microbusiness applicant to be a majority owner of the microbusiness license.

Eligible individuals must have the power to order or direct the management, managers, and policies of the license, enter into agreements on behalf of the license, and otherwise make decisions for the business.

The committee approved these provisions on Thursday, but it put the brakes on a rule preventing decision-makers of a microbusiness license that regulators have denied or revoked from holding a voting or financial interest in any other microbusiness license.

“If we have good reasons for those denials,” Keathley said, “let’s make those reasons the basis for the denial going forward.”

The rule was removed from the proposed draft, and the committee agreed to approve the proposed rules and waive a 30-day review period.

“We’ve taken that out,” Moore said, “but appreciated the support for the concept that those who choose to violate the constitution probably shouldn’t participate in any role where they could repeat that behavior.”

Moore said there is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/03/02/missouri-cannabis-regulators-target-rule-breakers-delays-in-ownership-approval/">another set of cannabis rules</a>&nbsp;that deals with ownership that will come before the committee this year, and the division and the committee agreed that the language could be included in this set of rules.&nbsp;

“We will continue to work with the committee and other stakeholders to better address that need,” Moore said.&nbsp;

From this point, the division will need to file a new draft of the rules with the Missouri Secretary of State that will be published two more times before being enacted at the end of May or early June.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735211951533.jpeg" alt="The microbusiness program was designed to boost opportunities in the cannabis industry for people in disadvantaged communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>The microbusiness program was designed to boost opportunities in the cannabis industry for people in disadvantaged communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The changes tighten oversight of the state’s troubled marijuana microbusiness program, but lawmakers stripped out a proposal targeting people tied to denied or revoked licenses</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri lawmakers signed off on&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/12/new-rules-take-aim-at-predatory-contracts-in-missouri-cannabis-microbusiness-program/">proposed cannabis rules</a>&nbsp;Thursday meant to curb abuse in the state’s microbusiness licensing program, but not before stripping out a ban on people tied to denied or revoked licenses from holding interests in future microbusinesses.The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, made up of lawmakers from both the House and Senate, approved changes that would move regulators’ ownership review to before licenses are issued rather than after, a shift aimed at preventing another wave of revocations in the microbusiness program — sometimes called the social-equity cannabis program.But the committee rejected a proposed rule barring the “owners, agents or representatives” of denied or revoked applicants from controlling another microbusiness license. Republican state Rep. Ben Keathley of Chesterfield said the language was too broad and needed to be more specific.The microbusiness program was designed to boost opportunities in the cannabis industry for people in disadvantaged communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs. It began in 2023, after passing as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XIV%20%20%202&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022.For&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/26/applicants-recruited-on-craigslist-competed-for-missouri-social-equity-cannabis-licenses/">the last two years</a>, The Independent has documented a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/08/missouri-lawyer-for-cannabis-trade-group-behind-contracts-tied-to-revoked-licenses/">pattern of well-connected groups</a>&nbsp;and individuals flooding the microbusiness lottery by recruiting people to submit applications and then offering them contracts that limit their profit and control of the business.&nbsp;Of the 105 microbusiness licenses issued so far, 35 have been revoked.“There’s really no question in many cases,” Amy Moore, director of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation, said during a hearing with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules this week. “Third parties used eligible individuals, names and circumstances to attempt to acquire licenses for themselves.”In order to prevent the continued cascade of revocations, the division is proposing to adjust when its extensive application-review period occurs.&nbsp;The state has held two lotteries for microbusiness licenses so far, Moore told committee members. After each lottery, she said the winners were issued licenses and then her team conducted an investigation into all contracts to verify the winner was eligible to hold the license.&nbsp;“Our investigation found instances of licenses that were awarded to individuals who very clearly, through review of agreements and interviews, were not owning and operating the license,” she said.&nbsp;Even after taking “very strong action” and revoking several licenses after the first lottery, it was not the deterrent her team expected.&nbsp;“In the second round, we had to revoke almost half of the licenses for this type of non compliance,” she said. “So that brings us to this set of amendments. We could have kept going with additional rounds of licensure, additional revocations. I’m not sure how many rounds we would have to go through to finally get to the minimum number of licenses that are required by the constitution, which is 144.”The proposed rules would change the point when regulators would review questionable contracts to take place before the license is issued, instead of afterwards as it is now.Also, under the new rules, “majority owned and operated” would be defined as the eligible individuals who are listed as having majority ownership must have a level of operational control that would be expected of an owner.&nbsp;&nbsp;The designated-contact role was envisioned as a way to ensure clear communication between the state and licensees. However, regulators found in their&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/23/alleged-predatory-contracts-continue-to-surface-in-missouri-social-equity-marijuana-program/">investigations</a>&nbsp;that designated contacts have kept the actual eligible applicants in the dark about business and license dealings. The new rules would require the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/17/new-rules-target-middlemen-in-missouri-cannabis-industry-to-prevent-predatory-practices/">designated contact&nbsp;</a>for a microbusiness applicant to be a majority owner of the microbusiness license.Eligible individuals must have the power to order or direct the management, managers, and policies of the license, enter into agreements on behalf of the license, and otherwise make decisions for the business.The committee approved these provisions on Thursday, but it put the brakes on a rule preventing decision-makers of a microbusiness license that regulators have denied or revoked from holding a voting or financial interest in any other microbusiness license.“If we have good reasons for those denials,” Keathley said, “let’s make those reasons the basis for the denial going forward.”The rule was removed from the proposed draft, and the committee agreed to approve the proposed rules and waive a 30-day review period.“We’ve taken that out,” Moore said, “but appreciated the support for the concept that those who choose to violate the constitution probably shouldn’t participate in any role where they could repeat that behavior.”Moore said there is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/03/02/missouri-cannabis-regulators-target-rule-breakers-delays-in-ownership-approval/">another set of cannabis rules</a>&nbsp;that deals with ownership that will come before the committee this year, and the division and the committee agreed that the language could be included in this set of rules.&nbsp;“We will continue to work with the committee and other stakeholders to better address that need,” Moore said.&nbsp;From this point, the division will need to file a new draft of the rules with the Missouri Secretary of State that will be published two more times before being enacted at the end of May or early June.

Missouri panel approves new cannabis rules, drops ban tied to revoked licenses

MIAMI COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack on her mother.

Just before 11a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to 601 17th Street in Osawatomie where a woman had reportdly fled to home after being struck in the head and body multiple times with a baseball bat,&nbsp;according to Police Chief David Stuteville.

The victim was identified as 68-year-old Tina L. Day and the alleged suspect her 50-year-old daughter Anegela M. Platt.

Miami County EMS transported Day to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Meanshile, Platt locked herself inside the home and would not respond to police.

After multiple attempts to get Platt to exit the home, an officer finally convinced Platt to step outside onto an elevated deck at the rear of the home.&nbsp; As the officer and Platt were talking, two officers including Chief Stuteville made their up the side of the deck near the residence, as to be able to keep Platt from being able to go back inside. Once on the deck, Platt was safely taken into custody without futher incident.

After getting a search warrant, officers collected evidence related to the reported assault of Mrs. Day.

Platt was transported to the Miami County Jail where she is being held on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery and criminal damage to property.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773658026439.png" alt="Platt from an October drug arrest in Johnson County" />
 <figcaption>Platt from an October drug arrest in Johnson County</figcaption>
 </figure>MIAMI COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack on her mother.Just before 11a.m. Saturday, police were dispatched to 601 17th Street in Osawatomie where a woman had reportdly fled to home after being struck in the head and body multiple times with a baseball bat,&nbsp;according to Police Chief David Stuteville.The victim was identified as 68-year-old Tina L. Day and the alleged suspect her 50-year-old daughter Anegela M. Platt.Miami County EMS transported Day to Overland Park Regional Medical Center. Meanshile, Platt locked herself inside the home and would not respond to police.After multiple attempts to get Platt to exit the home, an officer finally convinced Platt to step outside onto an elevated deck at the rear of the home.&nbsp; As the officer and Platt were talking, two officers including Chief Stuteville made their up the side of the deck near the residence, as to be able to keep Platt from being able to go back inside. Once on the deck, Platt was safely taken into custody without futher incident.After getting a search warrant, officers collected evidence related to the reported assault of Mrs. Day.Platt was transported to the Miami County Jail where she is being held on requested charges of aggravated domestic battery and criminal damage to property.

Kan. woman accused of baseball bat attack on her mother

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an other homicide in Kansas City.

Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shoosting in the 2600 block of NE. 42nd Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.

At the scene, officers heard the sound of a gunshot coming from inside an upstairs apartment. Officers made entry inside of the residence to search for any victims and render any necessary medical aid. An adult male was located suffering from gunshot trauma. He was unresponsive. An additional adult female was located. She unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and declared both individuals deceased.

Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the scene to begin collecting evidence and gathering any witness statements. This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Detectives are not currently seeking any person of interest, according to Gonzalez.

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating an other homicide in Kansas City.Just before 4:30a.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a shoosting in the 2600 block of NE. 42nd Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez.At the scene, officers heard the sound of a gunshot coming from inside an upstairs apartment. Officers made entry inside of the residence to search for any victims and render any necessary medical aid. An adult male was located suffering from gunshot trauma. He was unresponsive. An additional adult female was located. She unresponsive and suffering from apparent gunshot trauma. EMS responded to the scene and declared both individuals deceased.Homicide detectives and crime scene personnel responded to the scene to begin collecting evidence and gathering any witness statements. This incident is being investigated as a homicide. Detectives are not currently seeking any person of interest, according to Gonzalez.

Homicide: Man and woman found dead in KC apartment

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person was injured in a&nbsp; weekend house fire.

Just before 11p.m. Saturday, crews&nbsp;responded to a house fire located at 417 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to a media release.

Crews encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the residence. Firefighters initiated fire attack operations and were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

Fire crews rescued a woman from a first-floor apartment within the home. American Medical Response transported her to a local hospital in critical condition. A second occupant who resides in a second-floor apartment was able to escape prior to the arrival of firefighters.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Non-working smoke detectors were found in the home.

SHAWNEE COUNTY—One person was injured in a&nbsp; weekend house fire.Just before 11p.m. Saturday, crews&nbsp;responded to a house fire located at 417 SW Polk Street in Topeka, according to a media release.Crews encountered heavy smoke and fire coming from the residence. Firefighters initiated fire attack operations and were able to quickly extinguish the fire.Fire crews rescued a woman from a first-floor apartment within the home. American Medical Response transported her to a local hospital in critical condition. A second occupant who resides in a second-floor apartment was able to escape prior to the arrival of firefighters.The cause of the fire is under investigation. Non-working smoke detectors were found in the home.

Woman hospitalized after fire at a Kansas home

TOPEKA, KAN. – A previously convicted sex offender was sentenced to 137 months in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while he was on supervised release for similar crimes, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Michael Pinkerton, 48, of Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child pornography.

In September 2010, a U.S. District Court judge in the Western District of Missouri sentenced Pinkerton to 120 months in prison followed by 60 months of supervised release after convictions for attempted receipt of child pornography and attempted possession of child of pornography.&nbsp;

In April 2024, while Pinkerton was living in Kansas on supervised release, two U.S Probation Office officers went to his home in Topeka. They observed Pinkerton attempting to hide something and asked him what it was. Pinkerton admitted to having an unauthorized smartphone that contained saved images of CSAM. Investigators later confirmed the phone contained CSAM.

“After child sex offenders complete their prison sentences, tools like supervised release and registries are used to monitor them and try to keep our communities safe from deviant behavior. &nbsp;These mechanisms worked in this case thanks to the proactive work of our probation officers.” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773574635248.png" alt="Pinkerton photo KBI Offender Registry" />
 <figcaption>Pinkerton photo KBI Offender Registry</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, KAN. – A previously convicted sex offender was sentenced to 137 months in prison for possessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) while he was on supervised release for similar crimes, according to the United State's Attorney.According to court documents, Michael Pinkerton, 48, of Topeka pleaded guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possession of child pornography.In September 2010, a U.S. District Court judge in the Western District of Missouri sentenced Pinkerton to 120 months in prison followed by 60 months of supervised release after convictions for attempted receipt of child pornography and attempted possession of child of pornography.&nbsp;In April 2024, while Pinkerton was living in Kansas on supervised release, two U.S Probation Office officers went to his home in Topeka. They observed Pinkerton attempting to hide something and asked him what it was. Pinkerton admitted to having an unauthorized smartphone that contained saved images of CSAM. Investigators later confirmed the phone contained CSAM.“After child sex offenders complete their prison sentences, tools like supervised release and registries are used to monitor them and try to keep our communities safe from deviant behavior. &nbsp;These mechanisms worked in this case thanks to the proactive work of our probation officers.” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.

Kan. sex offender caught with child porn on his cell phone

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Johnson County, Kansas.

Just after 4:30a.m. Sunday, police&nbsp; were dispatched to a burglary in progress at Target, 6100 Broadmoor in the city of Mission, Kansas, according to a media release. Officers responded to both the front and rear of the store to establish a perimeter. 

Soon after arrival an officer witnessed a person at the rear of the store carrying duffle bags. The officer confronted the suspect who fled on foot. The officer gave chase. The suspect then fired a handgun at the officer, discharging multiple rounds toward the officer.

 The officer returned fire, striking the suspect. First aid was rendered by officers on scene, and the suspect was transported to a local hospital. The suspect’s injuries are non-life threatening. No officers were hurt during this incident. 

The Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Team will be handling the investigation and all media inquiries should be directed to that team.

The Target store is one of multiple crime scenes in this incident. Police released no additional details.

JOHNSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an officer-involved shooting in Johnson County, Kansas.Just after 4:30a.m. Sunday, police&nbsp; were dispatched to a burglary in progress at Target, 6100 Broadmoor in the city of Mission, Kansas, according to a media release. Officers responded to both the front and rear of the store to establish a perimeter. Soon after arrival an officer witnessed a person at the rear of the store carrying duffle bags. The officer confronted the suspect who fled on foot. The officer gave chase. The suspect then fired a handgun at the officer, discharging multiple rounds toward the officer. The officer returned fire, striking the suspect. First aid was rendered by officers on scene, and the suspect was transported to a local hospital. The suspect’s injuries are non-life threatening. No officers were hurt during this incident. The Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Team will be handling the investigation and all media inquiries should be directed to that team.The Target store is one of multiple crime scenes in this incident. Police released no additional details.

Kan. burglary suspect injured in exchange of gunfire with police

HARVEY COUNTY —A Newton woman died in a house fire late Sunday morning in the 500 block of West Fourth Street , according to a statement from Newton Fire and EMS.

Just after 11:30 a.m.&nbsp; crews responded to the call and found the home engulfed in fire and smoke. An active power line was on the ground. Crews pushed through the fire and found the woman inside. She has been identified as Susan Taylor, 74. Two dogs also died in the fire. 

The fire was extinguished but caused heavy damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773605631515.png" alt="Photo Newton Fire and EMS" />
 <figcaption>Photo Newton Fire and EMS</figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY —A Newton woman died in a house fire late Sunday morning in the 500 block of West Fourth Street , according to a statement from Newton Fire and EMS.Just after 11:30 a.m.&nbsp; crews responded to the call and found the home engulfed in fire and smoke. An active power line was on the ground. Crews pushed through the fire and found the woman inside. She has been identified as Susan Taylor, 74. Two dogs also died in the fire. The fire was extinguished but caused heavy damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Kansas woman, her two dogs killed in house fire

Months after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-mint-treasury-department-penny-end-production-86139df5644ef0885a9baf98e9677380">last of the United States' 1-cent coins</a>&nbsp;were pressed, some states are beginning to offer their own 2 cents on the penny problem by setting rounding guidance for cash purchases.

President Donald Trump announced early last year an end to penny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-penny-treasury-mint-192e3b9ad9891d50e7014997653051ba">production</a>, saying it was wasteful. It cost 3.7 cents to make each 1-cent coin in 2024, according to the U.S. Mint. The move led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penny-coins-lincoln-shortage-us-mint-trump-089cf657b3fa4d6dc21533cf6bb08cf3">shortage of pennies</a>&nbsp;in cash registers last summer, forcing consumers and businesses to confront a penniless future in which making exact change would be difficult.

The Treasury Department has said it will continue circulating the roughly 114 billion pennies that exist for “as long as possible.” Pennies must still be accepted as payment.

One solution to the penny problem is rounding to the nearest nickel, using a practice called symmetrical rounding. If the final price, after taxes, ends in one, two, six or seven cents, payment in cash rounds down. For example, $1.91 or $1.92 becomes $1.90. If the price ends in three, four, eight or nine, cash payment rounds up. For $1.98 or $1.99, the consumer pays $2.

A bill introduced last year in Congress and passed out of the House financial services committee would apply symmetrical rounding across the country. U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., said in an email the federal law is important to prevent a “confusing patchwork of state policies.”

The bill hasn’t been voted on in the House and would still need to move through the U.S. Senate before reaching Trump’s desk.

In the meantime, bills to deal with penniless cash transactions have passed both chambers and await the governor's signature in Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. Some states are proposing to allow businesses to round cash purchases, while others consider requiring it.

In Indiana, a bill signed into law this month by Republican Gov. Mike Braun tells businesses they must round cash purchases for all transactions that do not end in a zero or five. Lawmakers revised that provision in a second bill that makes rounding optional, which would take effect Sunday if Braun signs it into law.

In both bills, Indiana businesses can choose to always round cash purchases up to the nearest nickel, always round down or round up or down depending on the amount.

In Republican-led Tennessee, legislation makes symmetrical rounding exempt from legal claims under a state consumer protection law but does not require rounding.

“It is to provide safe harbor for private businesses,” said Republican Rep. Charlie Baum, the bill sponsor in Tennessee, during floor debate.

Rounding bills have been introduced in about two dozen states since late last year, according to an Associated Press analysis using the&nbsp;<a href="https://pluralpolicy.com/app/tagged-bills/49286">bill-tracking service Plural</a>.

Outside of lawmaking bodies, some state agencies have published guidelines to advise that rounding should happen after tax, and that businesses must make sure the full taxed amount still goes to the state.

Cash isn’t used as ubiquitously since the rise in electronic payment methods. Still, about 8 in 10 U.S. adults said they recently used cash in a 2024 survey conducted by the Federal Reserve. Cash was more often used by older adults and those in lower-income households.

The Treasury&nbsp;<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/penny-production-cessation-faqs">wrote online</a>&nbsp;that prices would be “rounded down just as often as they will be rounded up, so there should be no overall effect on consumer prices.”

But researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond used a 2023 survey to show prices that didn’t end in zero or five were especially likely to end in eight or nine. Payment amounts could be different when multiple items are purchased or depending on the tax rate, but overall, prices more often being rounded up would lead to millions of dollars gained by businesses and lost by consumers collectively, amounting to a few pennies lost per person.

As businesses have introduced rounding, some Americans have taken to social media to say they feel scammed, even if it is a penny or two at a time.

Nikki Capozzo-Hennessy, 50, said she tends to pay in cash because it makes her more conscious of her spending. The Trumbull, Connecticut, resident posted her grocery store receipt online when she noticed the rounding adjustment on a purchase of $8.73, with tax. The store chose to round down and she gained three cents.

Capozzo-Hennessy said it might feel taxing if she had to hand over extra pennies every time, but she also thinks it’s practical to stick with one rule. She runs a food truck business and said they’d likely use symmetrical rounding to be consistent.

“At the end of the day it’s three cents, but I can imagine with all the purchases that you make, it can add up,” Capozzo-Hennessy said.

Washington state Rep. April Berg, who introduced a rounding bill there, said she understands people who feel frustrated losing a penny but that the elimination of the hard currency leaves little option.

“We did make sure that everyone is allowed to pay exactly what they owe,” Berg said of her legislation.

The Treasury says ceasing penny production will save $56 million annually, but rounding could increase demand for nickels. The 5-cent coins also are costly to make, reaching nearly 14 cents each in 2024, according to the Mint.

The proposed federal legislation currently includes a potential cost-saving solution, allowing the Treasury to adjust the coin’s composition to use cheaper zinc and nickel instead of copper and nickel.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739192025836.png" alt="Photo photo" />
 <figcaption>Photo photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By HANNAH FINGERHUT&nbsp;Months after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-mint-treasury-department-penny-end-production-86139df5644ef0885a9baf98e9677380">last of the United States' 1-cent coins</a>&nbsp;were pressed, some states are beginning to offer their own 2 cents on the penny problem by setting rounding guidance for cash purchases.President Donald Trump announced early last year an end to penny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-penny-treasury-mint-192e3b9ad9891d50e7014997653051ba">production</a>, saying it was wasteful. It cost 3.7 cents to make each 1-cent coin in 2024, according to the U.S. Mint. The move led to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/penny-coins-lincoln-shortage-us-mint-trump-089cf657b3fa4d6dc21533cf6bb08cf3">shortage of pennies</a>&nbsp;in cash registers last summer, forcing consumers and businesses to confront a penniless future in which making exact change would be difficult.The Treasury Department has said it will continue circulating the roughly 114 billion pennies that exist for “as long as possible.” Pennies must still be accepted as payment.One solution to the penny problem is rounding to the nearest nickel, using a practice called symmetrical rounding. If the final price, after taxes, ends in one, two, six or seven cents, payment in cash rounds down. For example, $1.91 or $1.92 becomes $1.90. If the price ends in three, four, eight or nine, cash payment rounds up. For $1.98 or $1.99, the consumer pays $2.A bill introduced last year in Congress and passed out of the House financial services committee would apply symmetrical rounding across the country. U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., said in an email the federal law is important to prevent a “confusing patchwork of state policies.”The bill hasn’t been voted on in the House and would still need to move through the U.S. Senate before reaching Trump’s desk.<h2>Some states are looking to what's next</h2>In the meantime, bills to deal with penniless cash transactions have passed both chambers and await the governor's signature in Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington. Some states are proposing to allow businesses to round cash purchases, while others consider requiring it.In Indiana, a bill signed into law this month by Republican Gov. Mike Braun tells businesses they must round cash purchases for all transactions that do not end in a zero or five. Lawmakers revised that provision in a second bill that makes rounding optional, which would take effect Sunday if Braun signs it into law.In both bills, Indiana businesses can choose to always round cash purchases up to the nearest nickel, always round down or round up or down depending on the amount.In Republican-led Tennessee, legislation makes symmetrical rounding exempt from legal claims under a state consumer protection law but does not require rounding.“It is to provide safe harbor for private businesses,” said Republican Rep. Charlie Baum, the bill sponsor in Tennessee, during floor debate.Rounding bills have been introduced in about two dozen states since late last year, according to an Associated Press analysis using the&nbsp;<a href="https://pluralpolicy.com/app/tagged-bills/49286">bill-tracking service Plural</a>.Outside of lawmaking bodies, some state agencies have published guidelines to advise that rounding should happen after tax, and that businesses must make sure the full taxed amount still goes to the state.<h2>Will consumers pay more with rounding?</h2>Cash isn’t used as ubiquitously since the rise in electronic payment methods. Still, about 8 in 10 U.S. adults said they recently used cash in a 2024 survey conducted by the Federal Reserve. Cash was more often used by older adults and those in lower-income households.The Treasury&nbsp;<a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/penny-production-cessation-faqs">wrote online</a>&nbsp;that prices would be “rounded down just as often as they will be rounded up, so there should be no overall effect on consumer prices.”But researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond used a 2023 survey to show prices that didn’t end in zero or five were especially likely to end in eight or nine. Payment amounts could be different when multiple items are purchased or depending on the tax rate, but overall, prices more often being rounded up would lead to millions of dollars gained by businesses and lost by consumers collectively, amounting to a few pennies lost per person.<h2>Do people think it's fair?</h2>As businesses have introduced rounding, some Americans have taken to social media to say they feel scammed, even if it is a penny or two at a time.Nikki Capozzo-Hennessy, 50, said she tends to pay in cash because it makes her more conscious of her spending. The Trumbull, Connecticut, resident posted her grocery store receipt online when she noticed the rounding adjustment on a purchase of $8.73, with tax. The store chose to round down and she gained three cents.Capozzo-Hennessy said it might feel taxing if she had to hand over extra pennies every time, but she also thinks it’s practical to stick with one rule. She runs a food truck business and said they’d likely use symmetrical rounding to be consistent.“At the end of the day it’s three cents, but I can imagine with all the purchases that you make, it can add up,” Capozzo-Hennessy said.Washington state Rep. April Berg, who introduced a rounding bill there, said she understands people who feel frustrated losing a penny but that the elimination of the hard currency leaves little option.“We did make sure that everyone is allowed to pay exactly what they owe,” Berg said of her legislation.<h2>What about the nickel?</h2>The Treasury says ceasing penny production will save $56 million annually, but rounding could increase demand for nickels. The 5-cent coins also are costly to make, reaching nearly 14 cents each in 2024, according to the Mint.The proposed federal legislation currently includes a potential cost-saving solution, allowing the Treasury to adjust the coin’s composition to use cheaper zinc and nickel instead of copper and nickel.

State lawmakers rush to set rounding rules for when there are no pennies

The Department of War has released the names of the six service members who were killed on March 12 when a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed during&nbsp;combat operations in support of Operation Epic Fury.

According to the U.S. Department of War the six are Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky., were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. and Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773573408043.png" alt="Clockwise from top left: Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, and Maj. John A. Klinner.-Photos National Guard" />
 <figcaption>Clockwise from top left: Capt. Seth R. Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Ariana G. Savino, and Maj. John A. Klinner.-Photos National Guard</figcaption>
 </figure>The Department of War has released the names of the six service members who were killed on March 12 when a U.S. Air Force KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed during&nbsp;combat operations in support of Operation Epic Fury.According to the U.S. Department of War the six are Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Ala.; Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Wash.; and Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Ky., were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. and Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Ind.; Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio were assigned to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio.

DOW identifies six airmen killed in KC-135 crash in support of Epic Fury

KANSAS CITY —&nbsp; Six people were injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Saturday outside a nightclub in Kansas City.

According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez,&nbsp; a Chevrolet Impala carrying five women occupants was stopped in the streetcar lane in front of Aura,&nbsp;3832 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri,&nbsp; while speaking with a bouncer. 

At the same time, a southbound Chevrolet Malibu was traveling on Main from&nbsp;38th Street&nbsp;at a high rate of speed and rear-ended the Impala with significant force.

 All individuals involved were transported to area hospitals for treatment. A passenger in the Malibu was listed in critical condition. impairment appears to be a factor, according to Gonzalez.

KANSAS CITY —&nbsp; Six people were injured in an accident just before 1a.m. Saturday outside a nightclub in Kansas City.According to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez,&nbsp; a Chevrolet Impala carrying five women occupants was stopped in the streetcar lane in front of Aura,&nbsp;3832 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri,&nbsp; while speaking with a bouncer. At the same time, a southbound Chevrolet Malibu was traveling on Main from&nbsp;38th Street&nbsp;at a high rate of speed and rear-ended the Impala with significant force. All individuals involved were transported to area hospitals for treatment. A passenger in the Malibu was listed in critical condition. impairment appears to be a factor, according to Gonzalez.

KCPD: 5 women hospitalized after crash outside nightclub

PETTIS COUNTY —Authorities are investigating a small plane crash that occurred Friday in Sedalia.

The city of Sedalia reported the plane crashed at the&nbsp;Sedalia Regional Airport. The aircraft involved is not owned or operated by the City of Sedalia.

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported and no fire associated with the incident.&nbsp;

Emergency responders and airport personnel were quickly on scene and worked together to ensure the area was secured and the situation was handled safely.

"We are grateful for the swift response from first responders and relieved that no one was hurt."&nbsp; &nbsp; The FAA and NTSB will investigate. Authorities reported no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773528494371.png" alt="google map" />
 <figcaption>google map</figcaption>
 </figure>PETTIS COUNTY —Authorities are investigating a small plane crash that occurred Friday in Sedalia.The city of Sedalia reported the plane crashed at the&nbsp;Sedalia Regional Airport. The aircraft involved is not owned or operated by the City of Sedalia.Fortunately, there were no injuries reported and no fire associated with the incident.&nbsp;Emergency responders and airport personnel were quickly on scene and worked together to ensure the area was secured and the situation was handled safely."We are grateful for the swift response from first responders and relieved that no one was hurt."&nbsp; &nbsp; The FAA and NTSB will investigate. Authorities reported no additional details.

Small plane crash at airport in Missouri

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach launched a statewide public awareness campaign to address the growing fentanyl crisis that is taking a devastating toll on our communities.

More than 1,500 Kansans have already lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses, and the threat continues to rise. This deadly drug is not only consumed by those who seek it out, but is increasingly laced into other substances, a social event, with friends, online, or unknowingly consuming pills that contain fentanyl. Since an overdose can happen anywhere at any time, it’s critical to have easy access to Naloxone to save a life.

Each distribution box contains naloxone -&nbsp;2 doses per box.

To maximize access, we have collaborated with 40 colleges and universities across Kansas to place these boxes in visible, public, temperature-controlled locations where community members could easily find and use them.

Every host site receives ongoing support, including box refills and assistance asneeded,&nbsp;from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and DCCA. Throughout the program, Emily’s Hope tracks distribution data toevaluate impact and guide future efforts.

<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/reports-resources/emily-s-hope-naloxone-distribution-program?fbclid=IwY2xjawQdBilleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCZGtWNnBXaHREREJCdmZhc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmrKcrsqrxJ1He_Glz-i0Gt229RZ6DnW96Wtt3oIlyUu_BDZtLwS4cgBKoZB_aem_gsRusthn-mjqRIEqfF55HA">Click here to</a> find a box near you.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773151867930.png" alt="Naloxone box at Fort Hays Tech Northwest" />
 <figcaption>Naloxone box at Fort Hays Tech Northwest</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Kansas Attorney GeneralKansas Attorney General Kris Kobach launched a statewide public awareness campaign to address the growing fentanyl crisis that is taking a devastating toll on our communities.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773152077450.png" alt="--This week, the Kansas AG's office delivered a naloxone distribution box to Washburn University, providing free, easy access to this critical overdose-reversal medication for students, faculty, and visitors.- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>--This week, the Kansas AG's office delivered a naloxone distribution box to Washburn University, providing free, easy access to this critical overdose-reversal medication for students, faculty, and visitors.- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>More than 1,500 Kansans have already lost their lives to fentanyl overdoses, and the threat continues to rise. This deadly drug is not only consumed by those who seek it out, but is increasingly laced into other substances, a social event, with friends, online, or unknowingly consuming pills that contain fentanyl. Since an overdose can happen anywhere at any time, it’s critical to have easy access to Naloxone to save a life.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773152109117.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Locations so far include:<ul>
 <li>Feb. 6th:&nbsp;&nbsp;The University of Kansas - Watkins Memorial Health Center&nbsp;1200 Schwegler Drive - Located in the Health Department Lobby</li><li>Feb. 6th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas University Medical Center&nbsp; 39th and Rainbow Boulvard - Located In the Health Education Building</li><li>Feb. 10th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Butler Community College&nbsp;901 S Haverhill Road - Located in the Student Union lobby</li><li>Feb. 11th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Wichita State University&nbsp;1845 Fairmount Street - Located in the Rhatigan Student Center</li><li>Feb. 12th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Pittsburg State University&nbsp;1701 S Broadway - Located in the Student Union</li><li>Feb. 12th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Fort Scott Community College&nbsp;2108 S Horton Street - Located in Bailey Hall Student Center</li><li>Feb. 17th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Sterling College&nbsp;- 125 W. Cooper Street - Located in the Student Union</li><li>Feb 17th:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Dodge City Community College&nbsp;- 2501 N 14th Avenue – Located in the Student Union</li><li>Feb 17th:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hutchinson Community College&nbsp;- 1300 N Plum Street - Located in the Student Union</li><li>Feb. 18th:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Garden City Community College&nbsp;- 801 Campus Drive - Located in the Student Center</li><li>Feb. 18th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Fort Hays State University&nbsp;- 600 Park Street - Located in the Student Center</li><li>Feb. 18th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas State University&nbsp;- 919 Mid-Campus Drive North - Located in the Student Union</li><li>Feb. 19th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Pratt Community College&nbsp;348 KS-61 - Located in the Main Campus Building</li><li>Feb. 25th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Allen Community College&nbsp;- 1801 N Cottonwood Street – Located in Student Center</li><li>Feb. 25th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Coffeyville Community College&nbsp;- 400 W 11th Street – Located in Student Center</li><li>Feb. 25th:&nbsp; Independence Community College&nbsp;- 1057 W College Avenue – Located in Resource Center</li><li>Feb. 25th:&nbsp; Labette Community College&nbsp;- 200 S 14th Street – Located in Student Union</li><li>Feb. 25th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Neosho Community College&nbsp;– 800 West 14th Street – Located in Student Union</li><li>Feb 25th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Southwestern College&nbsp;- Winfield100 N College Street – Located in Student Union</li><li>March 3rd:&nbsp;&nbsp;Colby Community College&nbsp;-&nbsp;1255 S Range Avenue – Located in Barnett Student Union</li><li>March 3rd:&nbsp;&nbsp;Fort Hays Tech-Northwest&nbsp;-1209 Harrison Avenue – Located in Main Building</li><li>March 4th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Seward County Community College&nbsp;-1801 N Kansas Avenue – Located in Student Union</li><li>March 4th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Barton Community College&nbsp;-245 NE 30 Road – Located in Student Union</li><li>March 4th:&nbsp;&nbsp;Bethany College&nbsp;- 335 E Swensson Street – Located in Student Union</li>
 </ul>Each distribution box contains naloxone -&nbsp;2 doses per box.To maximize access, we have collaborated with 40 colleges and universities across Kansas to place these boxes in visible, public, temperature-controlled locations where community members could easily find and use them.Every host site receives ongoing support, including box refills and assistance asneeded,&nbsp;from the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and DCCA. Throughout the program, Emily’s Hope tracks distribution data toevaluate impact and guide future efforts.<a href="https://www.ag.ks.gov/reports-resources/emily-s-hope-naloxone-distribution-program?fbclid=IwY2xjawQdBilleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFCZGtWNnBXaHREREJCdmZhc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHmrKcrsqrxJ1He_Glz-i0Gt229RZ6DnW96Wtt3oIlyUu_BDZtLwS4cgBKoZB_aem_gsRusthn-mjqRIEqfF55HA">Click here to</a> find a box near you.

Kansas AG's statewide campaign to address the growing fentanyl crisis

KANSAS CITY – A Missouri man has been indicted with two counts of willful transmission of national defense information.&nbsp; The indictment was returned by a grand jury under seal and was made public this week after the arrest and initial appearance of the defendant, according to the United State's Attorney.

Seth Chambers, 35, a former United States Marine Corps. Intelligence Analyst, was employed as a civilian contractor and stationed in Iraq during the time frame alleged in the indictment.&nbsp;The indictment states that, as part of his duties, he held a security clearance that authorized him to view classified material up to a TOP SECRET level and therefore had access to national defense and classified information.

According to court documents, on two separate occasions, the defendant willfully transmitted SECRET level documents to two separate individuals who were not entitled or authorized to receive it.&nbsp; 

The first transmission occurred on Dec. 10, 2022, when the defendant transmitted a white paper containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents and was sent to an individual in Maryland.&nbsp; The second transmission of a document containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents occurred on April 20, 2023, and was sent to an individual believed to be in the People’s Republic of China.

If convicted, under federal statutes, Chambers is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole on each count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher and Trial Attorneys Nicolas Hunter and Sean O’Dowd of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by FBI Kansas City Field Office.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773437840937.png" alt="Chambers photo Greene Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Chambers photo Greene Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY – A Missouri man has been indicted with two counts of willful transmission of national defense information.&nbsp; The indictment was returned by a grand jury under seal and was made public this week after the arrest and initial appearance of the defendant, according to the United State's Attorney.Seth Chambers, 35, a former United States Marine Corps. Intelligence Analyst, was employed as a civilian contractor and stationed in Iraq during the time frame alleged in the indictment.&nbsp;The indictment states that, as part of his duties, he held a security clearance that authorized him to view classified material up to a TOP SECRET level and therefore had access to national defense and classified information.According to court documents, on two separate occasions, the defendant willfully transmitted SECRET level documents to two separate individuals who were not entitled or authorized to receive it.&nbsp; The first transmission occurred on Dec. 10, 2022, when the defendant transmitted a white paper containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents and was sent to an individual in Maryland.&nbsp; The second transmission of a document containing verbatim and near verbatim excerpts from classified U.S. government documents occurred on April 20, 2023, and was sent to an individual believed to be in the People’s Republic of China.If convicted, under federal statutes, Chambers is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole on each count. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Kelleher and Trial Attorneys Nicolas Hunter and Sean O’Dowd of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. It was investigated by FBI Kansas City Field Office.&nbsp;

Former U.S. intelligence analyst accused of sending classified info to China

KANSAS CITY —Three people were injured in an accident involving a car crash into a building.

Just before noon Thursday, Kansas City Fire Department crews responded to a reported car into a building in the 4200 block of 31 Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

First responders found two vehicles had been involved in a motor vehicle accident with one of the vehicles crashing into the building located on the corner. 

Three patients were transported to local hospitals for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;The building houses an automotive shop nad sustained significant damage, according to Hopkins.

Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were requested to the scene. No other injuries were reported at this incident other than the three occupants of the vehicles.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773344383086.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Three people were injured in an accident involving a car crash into a building.Just before noon Thursday, Kansas City Fire Department crews responded to a reported car into a building in the 4200 block of 31 Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.First responders found two vehicles had been involved in a motor vehicle accident with one of the vehicles crashing into the building located on the corner. Three patients were transported to local hospitals for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.&nbsp;The building houses an automotive shop nad sustained significant damage, according to Hopkins.Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were requested to the scene. No other injuries were reported at this incident other than the three occupants of the vehicles.&nbsp;

Three hospitalized after car crash into a building in Kansas City

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773456294669.png" alt="President Trump met with rodeo champions on Friday in the Oval Office- photo White House" />
 <figcaption>President Trump met with rodeo champions on Friday in the Oval Office- photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night, U.S. forces executed a large-scale precision strike on Kharg Island, Iran. The strike destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites. U.S. forces successfully struck more than 90 Iranian military targets on Kharg… <a href="https://t.co/2X1glD4Flt">pic.twitter.com/2X1glD4Flt</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2032777791247155482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island... Iran has NO ability to defend anything that we… <a href="https://t.co/2iEzCOyA3P">pic.twitter.com/2iEzCOyA3P</a>&mdash; The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/2032596037303697430?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/pkODSYMAo4">pic.twitter.com/pkODSYMAo4</a>&mdash; DOW Rapid Response (@DOWResponse) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOWResponse/status/2032591643694739823?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;To me, it means very simply that we are in a position of dominance,&quot; says <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> on &quot;unconditional surrender&quot; by Iran. &quot;Their navy is gone. Their air force is gone. Most of their military is gone... Just about everything is gone, and you&#39;ll see that.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/I4pyhEs4N9">pic.twitter.com/I4pyhEs4N9</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2032590590643220870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump: US struck military targets on Iran's key oil export hub island

CASS COUNTY, Mo.—A Nebraska man died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Friday near Kansas City.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford Explorer driven by a 30-year-old Lee's Summit man was southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 49 at MO 291&nbsp; &nbsp;The SUV struck a 2012 Toyota Prius driven by a 22-year-old Seward, Nebraska man.

The driver of the Prius was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Forensic Medical of Kansas.&nbsp;

 EMS transported the SUV driver and two passengers in the Prius including a 21-year-old man a 24-year-old Lincoln, Nebraska man to Research Medical Center. EMS also transported a third passenger in the Prius, a. 21-year-old Omaha, Nebraska man to Belton Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; The Omaha man was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. 

The Patrol did not report the hometown of the 21-year-old transported to Research Medical Center. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CASS COUNTY, Mo.—A Nebraska man died in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Friday near Kansas City.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Ford Explorer driven by a 30-year-old Lee's Summit man was southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 49 at MO 291&nbsp; &nbsp;The SUV struck a 2012 Toyota Prius driven by a 22-year-old Seward, Nebraska man.The driver of the Prius was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to the Forensic Medical of Kansas.&nbsp; EMS transported the SUV driver and two passengers in the Prius including a 21-year-old man a 24-year-old Lincoln, Nebraska man to Research Medical Center. EMS also transported a third passenger in the Prius, a. 21-year-old Omaha, Nebraska man to Belton Regional Medical Center.&nbsp; The Omaha man was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol did not report the hometown of the 21-year-old transported to Research Medical Center. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

One dead, 4 hospitalized after wrong-way crash on Mo. highway

KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City man faces charges connection with the fatal shooting of a teenage boy that occurred in 2023.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2824/AndersonTaron-Complaint-Packet-1">Taron Anderson</a>, 21,&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of Weapon; shooting at a person, according&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

 Anderson was a juvenile at the time of the shooting. Family Court certified him to stand trial as an adult and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office then officially charged him.&nbsp;

According to court records, a shooting victim was transported to the hospital on January 8, 2023, and was pronounced deceased. The shooting originally occurred in front of a residence in south Kansas City. &nbsp;

Based on witness reports and doorbell video footage, detectives determined the shooting occurred when Anderson attempted to rob the victim at gunpoint during a marijuana sale. Anderson agreed to purchase marijuana from the victim. Anderson pulled out a firearm and fired several shots at the victim and then fled.&nbsp;

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $150,000 cash only.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773174962632.png" alt="Anderson photo Jackson County" />
 <figcaption>Anderson photo Jackson County</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY — A Kansas City man faces charges connection with the fatal shooting of a teenage boy that occurred in 2023.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2824/AndersonTaron-Complaint-Packet-1">Taron Anderson</a>, 21,&nbsp;faces 2nd Degree Murder and Unlawful Use of Weapon; shooting at a person, according&nbsp;Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. Anderson was a juvenile at the time of the shooting. Family Court certified him to stand trial as an adult and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office then officially charged him.&nbsp;According to court records, a shooting victim was transported to the hospital on January 8, 2023, and was pronounced deceased. The shooting originally occurred in front of a residence in south Kansas City. &nbsp;Based on witness reports and doorbell video footage, detectives determined the shooting occurred when Anderson attempted to rob the victim at gunpoint during a marijuana sale. Anderson agreed to purchase marijuana from the victim. Anderson pulled out a firearm and fired several shots at the victim and then fled.&nbsp;A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $150,000 cash only.

KC man allegedly killed teen during marijuana sale

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

Just after 3a.m.&nbsp;March 9, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop of a Chevy Malibu for a traffic violation near U.S. Highway 75 and 150th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The passenger of the vehicle was identified as Toni Jo Messenger, 48, of Keokuk, Iowa. 

During the course of the traffic stop, a Jackson County Sheriff K-9 detected the odor of illegal drugs or narcotics inside the vehicle. A probable cause search resulted in the discovery of illegal drugs or narcotics.

Messenger was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for requested charge that include Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic, or certain stimulant (methamphetamine),&nbsp;Possession of controlled substance and&nbsp;Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773264676189.png" alt="Messenger -photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Messenger -photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;Just after 3a.m.&nbsp;March 9, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop of a Chevy Malibu for a traffic violation near U.S. Highway 75 and 150th Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse. The passenger of the vehicle was identified as Toni Jo Messenger, 48, of Keokuk, Iowa. During the course of the traffic stop, a Jackson County Sheriff K-9 detected the odor of illegal drugs or narcotics inside the vehicle. A probable cause search resulted in the discovery of illegal drugs or narcotics.Messenger was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail for requested charge that include Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic, or certain stimulant (methamphetamine),&nbsp;Possession of controlled substance and&nbsp;Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Iowa woman caught transporting meth in Kansas

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 a bill enabling homeless veterans to be eligible for a non-driver identification card by the state of Kansas without charge and designating Aug. 7 of each year as Purple Heart Day in Kansas.

The legislation was part of a bundled bill about veterans affairs that was put together during the 2025 legislative session but not approved until the 2026 session.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2274_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2274</a>&nbsp;was unanimously passed by the House and Senate.

By expanding veterans’ access to ID cards, HB 2274 could help remove barriers to services, treatments or employment opportunities requiring a form of identification. The new law affirmed the state couldn’t charge a fee to homeless veterans eligible for the identification cards if the individual could verify military service with the Kansas Office of Veterans Service.

&nbsp;“This commonsense legislation is one way we can show our respect and appreciation for those who have served, while also making life a bit easier for veterans who are finding their footing upon return to civilian life,” Kelly said.

The ID portion of the bill was introduced by Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita.

Under the Purple Heart provisions, Kansas would formally recognize individuals who earned the military decoration by being wounded or killed by enemy action in service of the U.S. armed forces.

Rep. Nate Butler, a Junction City Republican and retired U.S. Army major, said the annual Aug. 7 observance would reinforce the state’s reputation as a military-friendly state. The date reflects the Aug. 7, 1782, creation of the “Badge of Military Merit” by George Washington, who was commander in chief of the Continental Army.

“Kansas has always taken pride in the men and women who were either drafted or volunteered to defend our nation,” Butler said.

Kelly also signed a bill articulating the scope of practice for optometry under House Bill 2223, which was adopted 98-23 by the House and 34-6 by the Senate.

The governor put her signature to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb348_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 348</a>&nbsp;to exempt not-for-profit, wholly owned subsidiaries of an public electric cooperative utility from jurisdiction of the Kansas Corporation Commission. The legislation was approved unanimously by the Legislature.

She signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_sb335_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 335</a>, which would require that public construction contracts in Kansas include a waiver for claims of “consequential” damages, but not direct damages. The bill approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20260218110624_918711/" target="_blank">37-2 by the Senate</a>&nbsp;and by a margin of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20260305120354_804505/" target="_blank">84-34 in the House</a>&nbsp;didn’t apply to private construction contracts.

Rep. Mike King, R-Hesston, said the objective was to have contractors and public entities sign a mutual waiver to block legal claims of indirect damages related to loss of future revenue, business, staff time, goodwill or reputation.

“These damages are difficult to predict and impossible to quantify,” said King, who was secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation under former Gov. Sam Brownback.

Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said the bill should have been rejected by the Legislature because its provisions didn’t put interests of taxpayers at the forefront.

“It removes an important legal tool that’s used to basically recover indirect costs incurred as a result of this contractor breach that costs taxpayers’ money. My duty lies with protecting the taxpayer,” Sawyer Clayton said.

The bill was endorsed by the Associated General Contractors of Kansas, Crossland Construction and the Kansas Department of Commerce, but opposed by the League of Kansas Municipalities and the cities of Olathe, Overland Park and Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773428587682.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly, shown here in a Feb. 24, 2026, interview at the Statehouse in Topeka, signed a bill unanimously supported by the Kansas Legislature to allow issuance of a state identification card to homeless veterans without charging a fee and to designate Aug. 7 each year as a day to memorialize U.S. military recipients of the Purple Heart. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly, shown here in a Feb. 24, 2026, interview at the Statehouse in Topeka, signed a bill unanimously supported by the Kansas Legislature to allow issuance of a state identification card to homeless veterans without charging a fee and to designate Aug. 7 each year as a day to memorialize U.S. military recipients of the Purple Heart. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly signed a bill enabling homeless veterans to be eligible for a non-driver identification card by the state of Kansas without charge and designating Aug. 7 of each year as Purple Heart Day in Kansas.The legislation was part of a bundled bill about veterans affairs that was put together during the 2025 legislative session but not approved until the 2026 session.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_hb2274_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2274</a>&nbsp;was unanimously passed by the House and Senate.By expanding veterans’ access to ID cards, HB 2274 could help remove barriers to services, treatments or employment opportunities requiring a form of identification. The new law affirmed the state couldn’t charge a fee to homeless veterans eligible for the identification cards if the individual could verify military service with the Kansas Office of Veterans Service.&nbsp;“This commonsense legislation is one way we can show our respect and appreciation for those who have served, while also making life a bit easier for veterans who are finding their footing upon return to civilian life,” Kelly said.The ID portion of the bill was introduced by Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau, D-Wichita.Under the Purple Heart provisions, Kansas would formally recognize individuals who earned the military decoration by being wounded or killed by enemy action in service of the U.S. armed forces.Rep. Nate Butler, a Junction City Republican and retired U.S. Army major, said the annual Aug. 7 observance would reinforce the state’s reputation as a military-friendly state. The date reflects the Aug. 7, 1782, creation of the “Badge of Military Merit” by George Washington, who was commander in chief of the Continental Army.“Kansas has always taken pride in the men and women who were either drafted or volunteered to defend our nation,” Butler said.Kelly also signed a bill articulating the scope of practice for optometry under House Bill 2223, which was adopted 98-23 by the House and 34-6 by the Senate.The governor put her signature to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_sb348_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 348</a>&nbsp;to exempt not-for-profit, wholly owned subsidiaries of an public electric cooperative utility from jurisdiction of the Kansas Corporation Commission. The legislation was approved unanimously by the Legislature.She signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_sb335_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 335</a>, which would require that public construction contracts in Kansas include a waiver for claims of “consequential” damages, but not direct damages. The bill approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20260218110624_918711/" target="_blank">37-2 by the Senate</a>&nbsp;and by a margin of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20260305120354_804505/" target="_blank">84-34 in the House</a>&nbsp;didn’t apply to private construction contracts.Rep. Mike King, R-Hesston, said the objective was to have contractors and public entities sign a mutual waiver to block legal claims of indirect damages related to loss of future revenue, business, staff time, goodwill or reputation.“These damages are difficult to predict and impossible to quantify,” said King, who was secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation under former Gov. Sam Brownback.Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said the bill should have been rejected by the Legislature because its provisions didn’t put interests of taxpayers at the forefront.“It removes an important legal tool that’s used to basically recover indirect costs incurred as a result of this contractor breach that costs taxpayers’ money. My duty lies with protecting the taxpayer,” Sawyer Clayton said.The bill was endorsed by the Associated General Contractors of Kansas, Crossland Construction and the Kansas Department of Commerce, but opposed by the League of Kansas Municipalities and the cities of Olathe, Overland Park and Wichita.

Kan. gov. signs bills about homeless veterans, utility regulation and construction lawsuits

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of fire in a rural Kansas City home.

Just after 1:30a.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;were dispatched to a reported fire in the 13000 block of Rickey Road in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

On arrival, crews reported fire showing from a 1-story residence. An offensive fire attack was initiated. Crews did change tactics, going to a defensive attack, due to the challenges of establishing a water source in the remote location. 

Relay pumping from a hydrant from a long distance and shuttling water with the rigs were utilized to get water. All occupants of the residence were able to get out on their own. The fire was brought under control at 3:08 a.m.

City Planning and Dangerous Building were requested to the scene. There were no injuries reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773409744310.jpeg" alt="Photo KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photo KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of fire in a rural Kansas City home.Just after 1:30a.m. Thursday, crews&nbsp;were dispatched to a reported fire in the 13000 block of Rickey Road in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.On arrival, crews reported fire showing from a 1-story residence. An offensive fire attack was initiated. Crews did change tactics, going to a defensive attack, due to the challenges of establishing a water source in the remote location. Relay pumping from a hydrant from a long distance and shuttling water with the rigs were utilized to get water. All occupants of the residence were able to get out on their own. The fire was brought under control at 3:08 a.m.City Planning and Dangerous Building were requested to the scene. There were no injuries reported.

Crews shuttle water to fight fire at remote KC area home

WASHINGTON — All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.

The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.

WASHINGTON. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.

WASHINGTON — All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that went down in western Iraq are now confirmed deceased. The aircraft was lost while flying over friendly airspace March 12 during Operation Epic Fury, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Secretary Hegseth: &quot;War is hell. War is chaos and as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/3w84K1c4kI">pic.twitter.com/3w84K1c4kI</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2032431696788791647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.---------------WASHINGTON. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command. Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Secretary Hegseth: &quot;War is hell. War is chaos and as we saw yesterday with the tragic crash of our KC-135 tanker, bad things can happen.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/3w84K1c4kI">pic.twitter.com/3w84K1c4kI</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2032431696788791647?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Gen. Cane on loss of KC-135 refueling aircraft: &quot;The incident occurred over friendly territory in western Iraq while the crew was on a combat mission...was not the results of hostile or friendly fire.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/yZ4oNN4Fj4">pic.twitter.com/yZ4oNN4Fj4</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2032431757484531817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refuels a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet over the middle east during Operation Epic Fury. <a href="https://t.co/3z9UzXyLt9">pic.twitter.com/3z9UzXyLt9</a>&mdash; U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) <a href="https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/2032115048340988255?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.

🎥New details: 6 aboard US military refueling plane killed in crash

TOPEKA — The Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly worked Thursday to resolve objections to a bill designed to make the state’s three largest public universities more financially efficient by removing layers of administrative red tape.

The bipartisan messages from House Majority Leader Chris Croft and Kelly’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, and their willingness to endorse two key amendments to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2798/" target="_blank">House Bill 2798</a>, were sufficient to convince the chairman of Kansas Board of Regents to offer qualified support for the legislation.

All three urged removal from the bill of a provision limiting the Board of Regents’ role in administering the University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Kansas State University to use of state-appropriated dollars. In addition, they agreed regulatory relief in the bill should be extended to Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University. The House Higher Education Budget Committee took the recommendations under advisement, and the committee’s chairman indicated the panel would start work on amending the bill on Monday.

“With the two changes you heard about today, the Board of Regents would be supportive of HB 2798 and its goal of improving university processes and operational efficiency,” said Blake Benson, chair of the state Board of Regents. “Our goal is to preserve accountability for public assets while thoughtfully addressing operational issues across all state universities.”

On Wednesday, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/03/12/kansas-house-studies-bill-granting-unprecedented-administrative-autonomy-to-ku-k-state-and-wsu/">oppose the current version of the bill</a>&nbsp;because of concerns it significantly eroded the nine-member board’s authority over the three largest public universities in Kansas.

The legislation emerged from behind-the-scenes meetings that began last fall among House Speaker Dan Hawkins, Senate President Ty Masterson, Kelly, Croft and Lawrence that eventually were broadened to include other legislators, university administrators and the Board of Regents. Initially, the idea was to expand the conversation to include the three smaller state universities, but there wasn’t time to engage with those institutions.

“The goal was, how do we enable our research universities to operate at the speed of innovation and to drive that speed of innovation,” said Croft, an Overland Park Republican. “That’s the underlying thing in everything we were trying to do. It relieves the R1s (doctoral research universities) of costly, bureaucratic entanglements while applying the appropriate oversight. We recognize this wasn’t an end-all, be-all. This is a good-faith effort.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773407038713.png" alt=" House Majority Leader Chris Croft, R-Overland Park, says months of behind-the-scene work went into a Kansas House bill designed to reduce administrative burdens at public universities under jurisdiction of the Kansas Board of Regents. This Jan. 8, 2026, image is of Croft on the House floor at the Capitol. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> House Majority Leader Chris Croft, R-Overland Park, says months of behind-the-scene work went into a Kansas House bill designed to reduce administrative burdens at public universities under jurisdiction of the Kansas Board of Regents. This Jan. 8, 2026, image is of Croft on the House floor at the Capitol. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly worked Thursday to resolve objections to a bill designed to make the state’s three largest public universities more financially efficient by removing layers of administrative red tape.The bipartisan messages from House Majority Leader Chris Croft and Kelly’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, and their willingness to endorse two key amendments to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2798/" target="_blank">House Bill 2798</a>, were sufficient to convince the chairman of Kansas Board of Regents to offer qualified support for the legislation.All three urged removal from the bill of a provision limiting the Board of Regents’ role in administering the University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Kansas State University to use of state-appropriated dollars. In addition, they agreed regulatory relief in the bill should be extended to Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University. The House Higher Education Budget Committee took the recommendations under advisement, and the committee’s chairman indicated the panel would start work on amending the bill on Monday.“With the two changes you heard about today, the Board of Regents would be supportive of HB 2798 and its goal of improving university processes and operational efficiency,” said Blake Benson, chair of the state Board of Regents. “Our goal is to preserve accountability for public assets while thoughtfully addressing operational issues across all state universities.”On Wednesday, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/03/12/kansas-house-studies-bill-granting-unprecedented-administrative-autonomy-to-ku-k-state-and-wsu/">oppose the current version of the bill</a>&nbsp;because of concerns it significantly eroded the nine-member board’s authority over the three largest public universities in Kansas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/3/1773407000646.png" alt="Blake Benson, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, says the higher education oversight board will back off opposition to Kansas House bill aimed at reducing administrative red tape at state universities if two key amendments are included in the legislation. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Legislature’s YouTube channel)" />
 <figcaption>Blake Benson, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, says the higher education oversight board will back off opposition to Kansas House bill aimed at reducing administrative red tape at state universities if two key amendments are included in the legislation. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from Legislature’s YouTube channel)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Speed of innovation’</h2>The legislation emerged from behind-the-scenes meetings that began last fall among House Speaker Dan Hawkins, Senate President Ty Masterson, Kelly, Croft and Lawrence that eventually were broadened to include other legislators, university administrators and the Board of Regents. Initially, the idea was to expand the conversation to include the three smaller state universities, but there wasn’t time to engage with those institutions.“The goal was, how do we enable our research universities to operate at the speed of innovation and to drive that speed of innovation,” said Croft, an Overland Park Republican. “That’s the underlying thing in everything we were trying to do. It relieves the R1s (doctoral research universities) of costly, bureaucratic entanglements while applying the appropriate oversight. We recognize this wasn’t an end-all, be-all. This is a good-faith effort.”Lawrence, the chief of staff to the governor and chair of the closed-door planning sessions for the bill, said the ad hoc group didn’t have time to bring ESU, PSU and FHSU into conversations about regulatory change. So, he said, the decision was made not to include those universities in the bill.“Didn’t want to put them in the bill, have them learn about it from the bill, freak out, not know what this is. So, we kept it to the three research universities,” he said.Lawrence said the Board of Regents and Kansas Legislature would maintain oversight of the university system. Changes contained in the bill would fall primarily on redundant business policies under jurisdiction of the Kansas Department of Administration. He said there was no effort made to modify the Legislature’s influence on the universities. He said some concerns expressed about the bill were “a little bit overblown.”Skeptics challenged the wisdom of lowering guardrails on state university contracting, procurement, construction, capital planning, property management and other business functions. There were questions about the bill’s impact on student tuition, faculty tenure, bans on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, private equity firms in athletics, control over hiring university CEOs and taxpayer accountability. There were questions about universities selling cherished campus landmarks in context of putting KU’s Allen Fieldhouse up for sale.“I’d just like assurance that this isn’t the beginning of the end for the Kansas Board of Regents,” said Rep. Kirk Haskins, D-Topeka.“I think we have our work cut out for us,” said Rep. Adam Turk, a Shawnee Republican who chairs the House higher education committee. “This is a bill that requires work.”<h2>Massive headwinds</h2>Advocates for the bill said economic pressures on higher education institutions, including a decline in the college-age population and limitations of public funding for universities, required exploration of new avenues for efficiencies while continuing to meet high academic standards.Doug Girod, chancellor at the University of Kansas, said the legislation would leave KU as a state-owned entity, a state agency and a state asset.He said the nation’s higher education system was facing tremendous headwinds in terms of student enrollment, loss of federal research funding, the trend of declining state funding as a percentage of overall costs and wariness about substantial tuition increases. He said the House bill would benefit KU without destroying what Kansas taxpayers had spent more than a century building.KU cut 140 jobs and $30 million from the budget, and since 2017, the university had found $145 million in efficiencies, Girod said. He said KU’s top goal was to find more resources to invest in faculty and staff salaries.“It doesn’t matter if we have pretty buildings if there’s nobody in them and we can’t serve students,” Girod said.