By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/berenice-garcia/">Berenice Garcia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-shuran-yu/">Jessica Shuran Yu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carlos-nogueras-ramos/">Carlos Nogueras Ramos</a>, Graphics by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/chris-essig/">Chris Essig</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edison-wu/">Edison Wu</a> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a>

Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday morning for 10 missing&nbsp;girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic,&nbsp;a Christian camp for young girls at the center of the&nbsp;catastrophic floods that swept&nbsp;the Texas Hill Country, local officials said at a news conference.

At least 68 people were killed by the flooding in Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Leitha said. At least 11 additional deaths were confirmed in surrounding counties, pushing the storm's overall toll to at least 79. That surpassed the estimated 68 deaths directly caused by Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas in 2017.

More than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies were on the ground combing the&nbsp;area Sunday, Leitha said.

Among the dead in Kerr County were 28 children and 30 adults.

"We have increased our number of personnel who are navigating the really challenging shores along the bank line, but we're continuing to make progress," said Dalton Rice, city manager of Kerrville.

Friends and families posted desperate messages online seeking help locating the missing campers. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned, noting that visitors to the area for the July 4th weekend make it difficult to assess an exact number of people unaccounted for.

"We will be relentless in going after and assuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event," Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference held earlier in the day with state and federal officials.

At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Abbott said he visited Camp Mystic the previous day and saw the aftermath of the flood's devastation.

"It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," he said. "We know that parents and families, they want information, they want closure, and we want them to know that we are working as swiftly as possible to get them accurate information that will provide that closure."

Colonel Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said officials expect the death toll to rise between Sunday and Monday.

Abbott expanded the disaster declaration he issued Friday night to include Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties given continued rain and ongoing flooding. And on Sunday, President Donald Trump approved Abbott's request for a federal disaster declaration, making Kerr County eligible for federal aid. The move opens up grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday said that the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol had already been involved in rescue efforts while U.S. Customs and Border Protection were assisting with coordination.

In the span of 36 hours, first responders have rescued more than 850 people, some clinging to trees to stay safe amid the rising water, Abbott said.

In response to criticisms of the warning provided by National Weather Service ahead of the flood, Noem said upgrading their technology was among the reforms Trump sought to make at the department.

However, the agency has been dealing with staffing shortages after cuts by the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/weather/nws-job-cuts-weather-service-hiring.html">led to nearly 600 layoffs and retirements.</a>&nbsp;Whether those cuts had any effect on the National Weather Service's ability to predict or warn people of the oncoming flood remains an open question. Though, the agency itself said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-floods-warning-forecast-nws/">adequate staffing.</a>

As floodwaters receded in the Kerrville area, the damage was becoming clear. Dozens of tree trunks were snapped in half, some at 90 degree angles. Black and silver power lines were tangled with branches along the side of the road. A few tree trunks appeared to have been stripped bare of their bark from the rushing water.

At Cross Kingdom Church, Pastor Justin Carpenter started collecting clothing, nonperishable food, toiletries and cat and dog food Friday afternoon. They had reached capacity with donations and were turning other potential helpers away. So far, only about half a dozen people had shown up seeking help. Because the areas most affected has lost cell service, it’s been hard to reach people in need.

“The biggest thing would be to get the word out into the community that we’re here and ready to give everything out,” he said.

Billy Lawrence, a 73-year-old San Angelo man, has dealt with this type of tragedy before. During flooding in the summer of 1987, he spent more than 30 days looking for bodies. The first one he found was of a child in a tree, 20 feet up.

But he said this flood is twice as bad as it was in 1987. On Saturday, he was back patrolling the river for bodies. A former volunteer with the Red Cross, he said he's gotten used to the morbid practice.

“I’m used to death. I’ve been around it a lot," Lawrence said.

He noted there are about 20 camps along the river in this area and said the camp counselors should receive training to check the weather every night.

"I'm not blaming them. They just have to do that,” he said.

Nearly 20 camps are clustered along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville

An early morning flash flood swept through Camp Mystic on July 4. It’s one of nearly 20 camps along the Guadalupe River that serve school-aged children.

President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.

"Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy," Trump wrote. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!"

About 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours, causing flooding along the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.

The death toll in an area historically prone to major flooding has raised questions about whether people near the river, including many vacationers in town for the Fourth of July weekend, received sufficient warning

The private forecasting company AccuWeather and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.

“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement that called the Texas Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.

Local officials defended their actions Friday while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.

One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week had called for up to six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. “It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.

However, Porter emphasized that people and officials should always take safety precautions when there is a potential for flooding.

"People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast," Porter said. "Flash Flood Warnings indicate an immediate risk to life and property in the warned area."

At the Sunday afternoon news conference, Abbott said local officials in Kerrville faced a tough decision about whether to order residents to evacuate after the flash flood warnings.

"It's a difficult decision about whether or not to begin evacuating people, because if you have a warning telling everybody to evacuate, you could actually lead them to their death," Abbott said. "But we know that some deaths in Kerrville were people ... who got swept away who were trying to evacuate, and so local officials know best about the terrain, the danger spots and things like that."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751840301335.jpeg" alt="A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville. Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune" />
 <figcaption>A small boat is wrapped around a tree along with other debris in Ingram on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Ingram is a small town about seven miles northwest of Kerrville. Credit: Ronaldo Bolaños/The Texas Tribune</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/berenice-garcia/">Berenice Garcia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/jessica-shuran-yu/">Jessica Shuran Yu</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/carlos-nogueras-ramos/">Carlos Nogueras Ramos</a>, Graphics by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/chris-essig/">Chris Essig</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/edison-wu/">Edison Wu</a> <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/">Texas Tribune</a>Search and rescue efforts continued Sunday morning for 10 missing&nbsp;girls and one counselor from Camp Mystic,&nbsp;a Christian camp for young girls at the center of the&nbsp;catastrophic floods that swept&nbsp;the Texas Hill Country, local officials said at a news conference.At least 68 people were killed by the flooding in Kerr County, Sheriff Larry Leitha said. At least 11 additional deaths were confirmed in surrounding counties, pushing the storm's overall toll to at least 79. That surpassed the estimated 68 deaths directly caused by Hurricane Harvey in southeast Texas in 2017.More than 400 first responders from over 20 agencies were on the ground combing the&nbsp;area Sunday, Leitha said.Among the dead in Kerr County were 28 children and 30 adults."We have increased our number of personnel who are navigating the really challenging shores along the bank line, but we're continuing to make progress," said Dalton Rice, city manager of Kerrville.Friends and families posted desperate messages online seeking help locating the missing campers. Many more people could still be unaccounted for, officials warned, noting that visitors to the area for the July 4th weekend make it difficult to assess an exact number of people unaccounted for."We will be relentless in going after and assuring that we locate every single person who's been a victim of this flooding event," Gov. Greg Abbott said during a news conference held earlier in the day with state and federal officials.At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Abbott said he visited Camp Mystic the previous day and saw the aftermath of the flood's devastation."It was nothing short of horrific to see what those young children went through," he said. "We know that parents and families, they want information, they want closure, and we want them to know that we are working as swiftly as possible to get them accurate information that will provide that closure."Colonel Freeman Martin, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, said officials expect the death toll to rise between Sunday and Monday.Abbott expanded the disaster declaration he issued Friday night to include Bexar, Burnet, Caldwell, Guadalupe, Travis and Williamson counties given continued rain and ongoing flooding. And on Sunday, President Donald Trump approved Abbott's request for a federal disaster declaration, making Kerr County eligible for federal aid. The move opens up grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals recover from the effects of the disaster.U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on Saturday said that the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Border Patrol had already been involved in rescue efforts while U.S. Customs and Border Protection were assisting with coordination.In the span of 36 hours, first responders have rescued more than 850 people, some clinging to trees to stay safe amid the rising water, Abbott said.In response to criticisms of the warning provided by National Weather Service ahead of the flood, Noem said upgrading their technology was among the reforms Trump sought to make at the department.However, the agency has been dealing with staffing shortages after cuts by the Trump administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/02/weather/nws-job-cuts-weather-service-hiring.html">led to nearly 600 layoffs and retirements.</a>&nbsp;Whether those cuts had any effect on the National Weather Service's ability to predict or warn people of the oncoming flood remains an open question. Though, the agency itself said it had&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/05/texas-hill-country-floods-warning-forecast-nws/">adequate staffing.</a>As floodwaters receded in the Kerrville area, the damage was becoming clear. Dozens of tree trunks were snapped in half, some at 90 degree angles. Black and silver power lines were tangled with branches along the side of the road. A few tree trunks appeared to have been stripped bare of their bark from the rushing water.At Cross Kingdom Church, Pastor Justin Carpenter started collecting clothing, nonperishable food, toiletries and cat and dog food Friday afternoon. They had reached capacity with donations and were turning other potential helpers away. So far, only about half a dozen people had shown up seeking help. Because the areas most affected has lost cell service, it’s been hard to reach people in need.“The biggest thing would be to get the word out into the community that we’re here and ready to give everything out,” he said.Billy Lawrence, a 73-year-old San Angelo man, has dealt with this type of tragedy before. During flooding in the summer of 1987, he spent more than 30 days looking for bodies. The first one he found was of a child in a tree, 20 feet up.But he said this flood is twice as bad as it was in 1987. On Saturday, he was back patrolling the river for bodies. A former volunteer with the Red Cross, he said he's gotten used to the morbid practice.“I’m used to death. I’ve been around it a lot," Lawrence said.He noted there are about 20 camps along the river in this area and said the camp counselors should receive training to check the weather every night."I'm not blaming them. They just have to do that,” he said.<h2>Nearly 20 camps are clustered along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville</h2>An early morning flash flood swept through Camp Mystic on July 4. It’s one of nearly 20 camps along the Guadalupe River that serve school-aged children.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751840204584.png" alt="Source: Google Map and American Camp Association Credit: Edison Wu" />
 <figcaption>Source: Google Map and American Camp Association Credit: Edison Wu</figcaption>
 </figure>President Donald Trump expressed his condolences in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social."Melania and I are praying for all of the families impacted by this horrible tragedy," Trump wrote. "Our Brave First Responders are on site doing what they do best. GOD BLESS THE FAMILIES, AND GOD BLESS TEXAS!"About 10 inches of rain fell within a few hours, causing flooding along the Guadalupe River which rose 26 feet in 45 minutes.The death toll in an area historically prone to major flooding has raised questions about whether people near the river, including many vacationers in town for the Fourth of July weekend, received sufficient warningThe private forecasting company AccuWeather and the National Weather Service sent warnings about potential flash flooding hours before the devastation.“These warnings should have provided officials with ample time to evacuate camps such as Camp Mystic and get people to safety,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a statement that called the Texas Hill Country one of the most flash-flood-prone areas of the U.S. because of its terrain and many water crossings.Local officials defended their actions Friday while saying they had not expected such an intense downpour that was the equivalent of months' worth of rain for the area.One National Weather Service forecast earlier in the week had called for up to six inches of rain, said Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management. “It did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” he said.However, Porter emphasized that people and officials should always take safety precautions when there is a potential for flooding."People, businesses, and governments should take action based on Flash Flood Warnings that are issued, regardless of the rainfall amounts that have occurred or are forecast," Porter said. "Flash Flood Warnings indicate an immediate risk to life and property in the warned area."At the Sunday afternoon news conference, Abbott said local officials in Kerrville faced a tough decision about whether to order residents to evacuate after the flash flood warnings."It's a difficult decision about whether or not to begin evacuating people, because if you have a warning telling everybody to evacuate, you could actually lead them to their death," Abbott said. "But we know that some deaths in Kerrville were people ... who got swept away who were trying to evacuate, and so local officials know best about the terrain, the danger spots and things like that."

Texas flooding death toll rises as search continues for missing girls, other survivors

Without access to funds, leaders worry about future of after-school, English learner and other programs.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>

The U.S. Department of Education’s decision this week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services.

The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding&nbsp;has put states in “triage mode” as they scramble to decide what programs may be cut without that funding, said Mary Kusler, senior director for the Center for Advocacy&nbsp;at the&nbsp;National Education Association. The money was approved by Congress to support education for English language learners, migrants, low-income children and adults learning to read, among others.

As of July 1, school systems are unable to draw down funding, jeopardizing summer programs, hiring and early-year planning for the 2025–26 school year.

The funding freeze affects several core programs: Title II-A (educator training and recruitment), Title III-A (English learner support), Title IV-A (student enrichment and after-school), as well as migrant education and adult education and literacy grants. Trump has proposed eliminating all those programs in his proposed budget for next fiscal year, but that proposal hasn’t gone through Congress.

State superintendents sent out missives to school districts early this week and now are scrambling to make choices.&nbsp;

“This is not about political philosophy, this is about reliability and consistency,” Alabama state Superintendent Eric Mackey said to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/trump-school-money-state-authorities-scrambling-00436737" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;this week. “None of us were worrying about this.”

The administration says it is reviewing the programs.

“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the U.S. Department of Education wrote to states in its announcement Monday.&nbsp;

Historically, the department releases allocations by July 1 to ensure schools can budget and plan effectively for the coming school year. Withholding the money could result in canceled programs, hiring freezes and the loss of essential support for English learners, migrant children and other high-need populations, education and state officials told Stateline.

“America’s public school leaders run district budgets that are dependent on a complex partnership between federal, state, and local funding,” said David R. Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association in a statement. “For decades, school districts have relied on timely confirmation of their federal allocations ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year — ensuring stability, allowing for responsible planning, and supporting uninterrupted educational services for students.”&nbsp;

The states facing the largest withheld amounts include California ($810.7 million), Texas ($660.9 million), and New York ($411.7 million), according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/federal-education-funding-selected-programs-state-and-program" target="_blank">NEA&nbsp;</a>and<a href="https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-face-uncertainty-k-12-funding-remains-unreleased" target="_blank">&nbsp;the Learning Policy Institute</a>, an education think tank.&nbsp;

For 17 states and territories, the freeze affects over 15% of their total federal K-12 allocations, according to the Learning Policy Institute. For smaller jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Vermont, the disruption hits even harder: More than 20% of their federal K-12 budgets remain inaccessible.

Colorado Education Commissioner Susan Córdova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdecomm/commissionerupdate-20250630" target="_blank">urged</a>&nbsp;school districts to begin contingency&nbsp;planning in case funds are not released before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hinted at possible legal action, which has become a trend as states fight the second Trump administration’s funding revocations or delays.

“California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress,” Thurmond said in a statement.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/articles/coalition-moves-injunction-stopping-trump-administrations-actions-dismantle-department#:~:text=FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE-,July%201%2C%202025,Those%20actions%20include:" target="_blank">NEA and the NAACP have filed for a preliminary injunction</a>, calling the administration’s delay an illegal “impoundment” — a violation of the federal Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval.

Education advocates warn the recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold funding reflects a broader pattern of federal disengagement from public education.

Community nonprofits said the withholding could devastate their programming too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America could have to close more than 900 centers — bringing the loss of 5,900 jobs and affecting more than 220,000 children,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2025/July/statement-from-boys-girls-clubs-of-americas-president-ceo-jim-clark/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;President and CEO Jim Clark in a statement.

The 1974 Impoundment Control Act lets the president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/095406" target="_blank">propose canceling funds</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to approve the request; if they don’t, it’s denied. Meanwhile, agencies can be directed not to spend the funds during that time.

A White House statement&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">shared</a>&nbsp;with States Newsroom this week said&nbsp;“initial findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”&nbsp;

“Kids, educators, and working families are the ones losing,” said&nbsp;Kusler, of the NEA. “We need governors and communities to step up — now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713959557029.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Without access to funds, leaders worry about future of after-school, English learner and other programs.</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/rsequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a>The U.S. Department of Education’s decision this week to hold back $6.8 billion in federal K-12 funds next year has triggered alarm among state education officials, school leaders and advocacy groups nationwide over how the lack of funds will affect their after-school, enrichment and language-learning services.The Trump administration’s decision to freeze the funding&nbsp;has put states in “triage mode” as they scramble to decide what programs may be cut without that funding, said Mary Kusler, senior director for the Center for Advocacy&nbsp;at the&nbsp;National Education Association. The money was approved by Congress to support education for English language learners, migrants, low-income children and adults learning to read, among others.As of July 1, school systems are unable to draw down funding, jeopardizing summer programs, hiring and early-year planning for the 2025–26 school year.The funding freeze affects several core programs: Title II-A (educator training and recruitment), Title III-A (English learner support), Title IV-A (student enrichment and after-school), as well as migrant education and adult education and literacy grants. Trump has proposed eliminating all those programs in his proposed budget for next fiscal year, but that proposal hasn’t gone through Congress.State superintendents sent out missives to school districts early this week and now are scrambling to make choices.&nbsp;“This is not about political philosophy, this is about reliability and consistency,” Alabama state Superintendent Eric Mackey said to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/02/trump-school-money-state-authorities-scrambling-00436737" target="_blank">Politico</a>&nbsp;this week. “None of us were worrying about this.”The administration says it is reviewing the programs.“The Department remains committed to ensuring taxpayer resources are spent in accordance with the President’s priorities and the Department’s statutory responsibilities,” the U.S. Department of Education wrote to states in its announcement Monday.&nbsp;Historically, the department releases allocations by July 1 to ensure schools can budget and plan effectively for the coming school year. Withholding the money could result in canceled programs, hiring freezes and the loss of essential support for English learners, migrant children and other high-need populations, education and state officials told Stateline.“America’s public school leaders run district budgets that are dependent on a complex partnership between federal, state, and local funding,” said David R. Schuler, executive director of the School Superintendents Association in a statement. “For decades, school districts have relied on timely confirmation of their federal allocations ahead of the July 1 start of the fiscal year — ensuring stability, allowing for responsible planning, and supporting uninterrupted educational services for students.”&nbsp;The states facing the largest withheld amounts include California ($810.7 million), Texas ($660.9 million), and New York ($411.7 million), according to data from the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nea.org/resource-library/federal-education-funding-selected-programs-state-and-program" target="_blank">NEA&nbsp;</a>and<a href="https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/blog/states-face-uncertainty-k-12-funding-remains-unreleased" target="_blank">&nbsp;the Learning Policy Institute</a>, an education think tank.&nbsp;For 17 states and territories, the freeze affects over 15% of their total federal K-12 allocations, according to the Learning Policy Institute. For smaller jurisdictions such as the District of Columbia and Vermont, the disruption hits even harder: More than 20% of their federal K-12 budgets remain inaccessible.Colorado Education Commissioner Susan Córdova&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdecomm/commissionerupdate-20250630" target="_blank">urged</a>&nbsp;school districts to begin contingency&nbsp;planning in case funds are not released before the federal fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond hinted at possible legal action, which has become a trend as states fight the second Trump administration’s funding revocations or delays.“California will continue to pursue all available legal remedies to the Trump Administration’s unlawful withholding of federal funds appropriated by Congress,” Thurmond said in a statement.The&nbsp;<a href="https://naacp.org/articles/coalition-moves-injunction-stopping-trump-administrations-actions-dismantle-department#:~:text=FOR%20IMMEDIATE%20RELEASE-,July%201%2C%202025,Those%20actions%20include:" target="_blank">NEA and the NAACP have filed for a preliminary injunction</a>, calling the administration’s delay an illegal “impoundment” — a violation of the federal Impoundment Control Act, which bars the executive branch from withholding appropriated funds without congressional approval.Education advocates warn the recent decision by the Trump administration to withhold funding reflects a broader pattern of federal disengagement from public education.Community nonprofits said the withholding could devastate their programming too. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America could have to close more than 900 centers — bringing the loss of 5,900 jobs and affecting more than 220,000 children,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bgca.org/news-stories/2025/July/statement-from-boys-girls-clubs-of-americas-president-ceo-jim-clark/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;President and CEO Jim Clark in a statement.The 1974 Impoundment Control Act lets the president&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gao.gov/products/095406" target="_blank">propose canceling funds</a>&nbsp;approved by Congress. Lawmakers have 45 days to approve the request; if they don’t, it’s denied. Meanwhile, agencies can be directed not to spend the funds during that time.A White House statement&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-tells-states-its-freezing-68-billion-k-12-school-programs" target="_blank">shared</a>&nbsp;with States Newsroom this week said&nbsp;“initial findings have shown that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda.”&nbsp;“Kids, educators, and working families are the ones losing,” said&nbsp;Kusler, of the NEA. “We need governors and communities to step up — now.”

States in ‘triage mode’ over $6B in withheld K-12 funding

As it did in 2023, the ACLU of Missouri is arguing that the ballot summary for a constitutional amendment on abortion is misleading and should be rewritten

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

A fight over wording for a proposal to reverse the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">abortion rights amendment</a>&nbsp;Missouri voters added to the state Constitution in November will look very much like a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/31/appeals-court-swats-down-ashcroft-arguments-on-missouri-abortion-rights-petitions/">similar fight in 2023</a>.

The ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Cole County with two objectives: Keep the proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" target="_blank">designated as Amendment 3</a>&nbsp;off of the November 2026 ballot or, failing that, completely reword the ballot language crafted by lawmakers. The job of defending the proposal and the way it is written will fall to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who is the lead defendant.

In 2023, the ACLU of Missouri also challenged ballot language, written by then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, but with the intent of getting a citizen initiative on the ballot.

“It certainly feels a lot like deja vu to go back into Cole County and argue again over a misleading and inaccurate ballot summary statement from a Missouri politician,” ACLU attorney Tori Schafer said in an interview with The Independent.

One of the main proponents of the legislative measure, Sam Lee of Campaign Life Missouri, said the lawsuit was expected. He said he doesn’t think the measure will be thrown off the ballot and said the ballot language is defensible and should stand.

“You get a dozen lawyers in a room, and they’ll write it 12 different ways,” Lee said. “And as long as it’s fair and impartial, there are a variety of ways of doing it.”

When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, it triggered a Missouri law&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/24/abortion-is-now-illegal-in-missouri-in-wake-of-u-s-supreme-court-ruling/">banning abortions</a>&nbsp;in almost all instances. That led to an initiative campaign, which resulted in a 52% majority approving a constitutional amendment that made abortion legal up until the point of fetal viability.

But except for a short period, abortions have remained unavailable because the question of which of Missouri’s abortion regulations remain in force&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-supreme-court-reinstates-abortion-restrictions-imposing-de-facto-ban/">is tied up in court</a>. Prior to the total ban, for example, Missouri required a 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion, that a woman seeking an abortion be given a lengthy document about fetal development and that all abortions take place in specially licensed ambulatory surgical centers.

The lawsuit over those issues is being heard in Jackson County Circuit Court, where Judge Jerri Zhang could issue a decision at any time on a request for an injunction against the laws.

The proposal passed by lawmakers would repeal the voter-approved initiative in its entirety and replace it with language that would allow the ban to be reinstated. It would carve out limited exceptions, allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest, fetal anomaly or medical emergencies during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

The proposal would also ban gender transition surgeries or medications for people under 18, and require all lawsuits that raise questions about state laws on reproductive health care be filed in Cole County.

The ballot language written by lawmakers, and being challenged in the lawsuit, would state:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu-mo.org/sites/default/files/petition_for_declaratory_judgment_and_injunctive_relief.pdf" target="_blank">the lawsuit</a>, the ACLU is arguing that the ballot language is unfair and misleading.

The “summary statement uses language which is intentionally argumentative and likely to create prejudice for the measure,” the petition states.

The most glaring omission is that it does not mention what it is replacing, the lawsuit states.&nbsp;

“Among other things, the summary statement fails to advise voters that it will repeal a measure they just adopted in the last election cycle,” attorneys wrote.

The language should at least inform voters that there will be no protected right to obtain an abortion, Schafer said.

“The courts back in 2023 made sure we had a fair and accurate ballot summary statement and fair ballot language,” she said. “We know that they’ll do the same this year.”

The gender-affirming treatments language and the provision directing venue of reproductive health care cases to Cole County are impermissible, the lawsuit states. They violate the Constitution’s requirement that constitutional amendments address&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XII++++2(b)&amp;bid=32078&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">only one subject</a>.

“We know that the reason that Missouri politicians put that piece about Cole County in there is because they don’t like the fact that we’ve been successful on the (legal challenges to restrictive laws) in Jackson County,” Schafer said. “It was a very politically motivated reason that they put that in.”

Lee said he thinks all the subjects relate to reproductive health care and will survive that part of the challenge.

“It’s a weak argument, because even supporters of what passed in November last year link reproductive health care with transgender care,” he said.

The return to court over ballot language on abortion rights is the latest round of a seemingly endless contest.&nbsp;

Abortion rights supporters will never give up, Schafer said.

“I feel like what we’re asking for is a very simple thing, which is just get politicians out of health care and let people make their own health care decisions,” she said. “And so that is our stance on that.”

If the legislative measure makes it to the ballot and passes, Lee said, he expects a new initiative to reverse it. Lee has been an anti-abortion activist for decades, including many years as an influential lobbyist.

Asked when he expects the debate to end, Lee said:

“Not in my lifetime. I’m not saying that because of me personally. I’m just saying I don’t expect it to be settled anytime soon.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719493597787.png" alt="The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>The Cole County Courthouse in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>As it did in 2023, the ACLU of Missouri is arguing that the ballot summary for a constitutional amendment on abortion is misleading and should be rewritten</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A fight over wording for a proposal to reverse the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">abortion rights amendment</a>&nbsp;Missouri voters added to the state Constitution in November will look very much like a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/31/appeals-court-swats-down-ashcroft-arguments-on-missouri-abortion-rights-petitions/">similar fight in 2023</a>.The ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit Wednesday in Cole County with two objectives: Keep the proposal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/petitions/2026BallotMeasures" target="_blank">designated as Amendment 3</a>&nbsp;off of the November 2026 ballot or, failing that, completely reword the ballot language crafted by lawmakers. The job of defending the proposal and the way it is written will fall to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who is the lead defendant.In 2023, the ACLU of Missouri also challenged ballot language, written by then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, but with the intent of getting a citizen initiative on the ballot.“It certainly feels a lot like deja vu to go back into Cole County and argue again over a misleading and inaccurate ballot summary statement from a Missouri politician,” ACLU attorney Tori Schafer said in an interview with The Independent.One of the main proponents of the legislative measure, Sam Lee of Campaign Life Missouri, said the lawsuit was expected. He said he doesn’t think the measure will be thrown off the ballot and said the ballot language is defensible and should stand.“You get a dozen lawyers in a room, and they’ll write it 12 different ways,” Lee said. “And as long as it’s fair and impartial, there are a variety of ways of doing it.”When the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, it triggered a Missouri law&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/24/abortion-is-now-illegal-in-missouri-in-wake-of-u-s-supreme-court-ruling/">banning abortions</a>&nbsp;in almost all instances. That led to an initiative campaign, which resulted in a 52% majority approving a constitutional amendment that made abortion legal up until the point of fetal viability.But except for a short period, abortions have remained unavailable because the question of which of Missouri’s abortion regulations remain in force&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-supreme-court-reinstates-abortion-restrictions-imposing-de-facto-ban/">is tied up in court</a>. Prior to the total ban, for example, Missouri required a 72-hour waiting period between an initial appointment and an abortion, that a woman seeking an abortion be given a lengthy document about fetal development and that all abortions take place in specially licensed ambulatory surgical centers.The lawsuit over those issues is being heard in Jackson County Circuit Court, where Judge Jerri Zhang could issue a decision at any time on a request for an injunction against the laws.The proposal passed by lawmakers would repeal the voter-approved initiative in its entirety and replace it with language that would allow the ban to be reinstated. It would carve out limited exceptions, allowing abortions in cases of rape, incest, fetal anomaly or medical emergencies during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.The proposal would also ban gender transition surgeries or medications for people under 18, and require all lawsuits that raise questions about state laws on reproductive health care be filed in Cole County.The ballot language written by lawmakers, and being challenged in the lawsuit, would state:“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:<ul>
 <li>Guarantee access to care for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and miscarriages;</li><li>Ensure women’s safety during abortions;</li><li>Ensure parental consent for minors;</li><li>Allow abortions for medical emergencies, fetal anomalies, rape, and incest;</li><li>Require physicians to provide medically accurate information; and</li><li>Protect children from gender transition?”</li>
 </ul>In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aclu-mo.org/sites/default/files/petition_for_declaratory_judgment_and_injunctive_relief.pdf" target="_blank">the lawsuit</a>, the ACLU is arguing that the ballot language is unfair and misleading.The “summary statement uses language which is intentionally argumentative and likely to create prejudice for the measure,” the petition states.The most glaring omission is that it does not mention what it is replacing, the lawsuit states.&nbsp;“Among other things, the summary statement fails to advise voters that it will repeal a measure they just adopted in the last election cycle,” attorneys wrote.The language should at least inform voters that there will be no protected right to obtain an abortion, Schafer said.“The courts back in 2023 made sure we had a fair and accurate ballot summary statement and fair ballot language,” she said. “We know that they’ll do the same this year.”The gender-affirming treatments language and the provision directing venue of reproductive health care cases to Cole County are impermissible, the lawsuit states. They violate the Constitution’s requirement that constitutional amendments address&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=XII++++2(b)&amp;bid=32078&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">only one subject</a>.“We know that the reason that Missouri politicians put that piece about Cole County in there is because they don’t like the fact that we’ve been successful on the (legal challenges to restrictive laws) in Jackson County,” Schafer said. “It was a very politically motivated reason that they put that in.”Lee said he thinks all the subjects relate to reproductive health care and will survive that part of the challenge.“It’s a weak argument, because even supporters of what passed in November last year link reproductive health care with transgender care,” he said.The return to court over ballot language on abortion rights is the latest round of a seemingly endless contest.&nbsp;Abortion rights supporters will never give up, Schafer said.“I feel like what we’re asking for is a very simple thing, which is just get politicians out of health care and let people make their own health care decisions,” she said. “And so that is our stance on that.”If the legislative measure makes it to the ballot and passes, Lee said, he expects a new initiative to reverse it. Lee has been an anti-abortion activist for decades, including many years as an influential lobbyist.Asked when he expects the debate to end, Lee said:“Not in my lifetime. I’m not saying that because of me personally. I’m just saying I don’t expect it to be settled anytime soon.”

Lawsuit challenges ballot language for proposed Missouri abortion ban 

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City Missouri.

Just after 5a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 100 block of N Belliare in Kansas City, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.

First responders were directed to the rear of a nearby residence where an adult male victim was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency aid was immediately rendered by responding officers until EMS arrived on scene. EMS pronounced him deceased.

Preliminary investigation indicates this occurred as a result of an argument that escalated to gunfire.&nbsp; Police do not have a suspect in custody or and have not released the name of the victim.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751741241391.png" alt="Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photos Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City Missouri.Just after 5a.m. Saturday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to report of a shooting in the 100 block of N Belliare in Kansas City, according to Officer Alayna Gonzalez.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751741015533.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>First responders were directed to the rear of a nearby residence where an adult male victim was located suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency aid was immediately rendered by responding officers until EMS arrived on scene. EMS pronounced him deceased.Preliminary investigation indicates this occurred as a result of an argument that escalated to gunfire.&nbsp; Police do not have a suspect in custody or and have not released the name of the victim.

Homicide: Argument escalated to gunfire outside KC home

KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City man has pleaded guilty for hacking into the computer system at an area nonprofit, according to the United State's Attorney.

Nicholas Michael Kloster, 32, admitted during his plea that he caused reckless damage to a protected computer owned by an area nonprofit during unauthorized access. Kloster admitted that he entered the premises of a nonprofit corporation on May 20, 2024. Kloster entered an area that is not available to the public and accessed a computer with access to the company’s network.

Kloster specifically admitted that he utilized a boot disk to access the computer through multiple user accounts. By accessing the computer in this manner, Kloster was able to circumvent the password requirements by changing the password assigned to one or more users. Kloster was then able to install a virtual private network on this computer. Since Kloster’s intrusion into its computer and its network, the company has sustained significant losses in an attempt to remediate the effects from this intrusion.

Under federal statutes, Kloster is subject to a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment in federal prison without parole, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and an order of restitution. 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. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Heberle and Patrick D. Daly. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City man has pleaded guilty for hacking into the computer system at an area nonprofit, according to the United State's Attorney.Nicholas Michael Kloster, 32, admitted during his plea that he caused reckless damage to a protected computer owned by an area nonprofit during unauthorized access. Kloster admitted that he entered the premises of a nonprofit corporation on May 20, 2024. Kloster entered an area that is not available to the public and accessed a computer with access to the company’s network.Kloster specifically admitted that he utilized a boot disk to access the computer through multiple user accounts. By accessing the computer in this manner, Kloster was able to circumvent the password requirements by changing the password assigned to one or more users. Kloster was then able to install a virtual private network on this computer. Since Kloster’s intrusion into its computer and its network, the company has sustained significant losses in an attempt to remediate the effects from this intrusion.Under federal statutes, Kloster is subject to a sentence of up to five years’ imprisonment in federal prison without parole, a fine of up to $250,000, up to three years of supervised release, and an order of restitution. 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. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicholas Heberle and Patrick D. Daly. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.

How a KC man hacked computer system of area nonprofit firm

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The search for two bodies after a boating incident at Kanopolis Reservoir is over.

According to a social media report from the Ellsworth County Sheriff's office both bodies have now been recovered.

According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at 7p.m. on Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people went missing after being on a boat at the lake.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.

According to Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl were the two missing.

The sheriff's office wrote on Saturday afternoon, "Our heartfelt condolences go out to all of the victim's, their family and friends. Many Many thanks go out to all of the assisting agencies who came running including all of the First Responders, Area Dive Teams and other Volunteers who have given so much of themselves and their time."

The sheriff's office did not release any additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751708351076.png" alt="google map" />
 <figcaption>google map</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The search for two bodies after a boating incident at Kanopolis Reservoir is over.According to a social media report from the Ellsworth County Sheriff's office both bodies have now been recovered.According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at 7p.m. on Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people went missing after being on a boat at the lake.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.According to Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl were the two missing.The sheriff's office wrote on Saturday afternoon, "Our heartfelt condolences go out to all of the victim's, their family and friends. Many Many thanks go out to all of the assisting agencies who came running including all of the First Responders, Area Dive Teams and other Volunteers who have given so much of themselves and their time."The sheriff's office did not release any additional details.

Sheriff: Bodies of man, teen recovered from Kansas lake

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/uriel-j-garcia/">Uriel J. García</a>, The Texas Tribune, and Hannah Fingerhut

State officials said Friday night that at least 24 people have died in the catastrophic flood that swept through Kerr County early Friday morning, and 23 girls from Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ camp, are still unaccounted for.

In a news conference in Kerrville, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an emergency disaster declaration, which allows numerous counties affected by the floods to get the state resources needed to help with ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.

Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said one other person was found dead in nearby Kendall County but it’s unclear if that person was a flood victim.

Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said local officials were caught off guard by the volume of rain, adding that the National Weather Service advisory issued Thursday “did not predict the amount of rain that we saw.”

Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the head of the Texas Military Department, said 237 people have been rescued and evacuated so far. Officials said they couldn’t provide the number of people who are unaccounted for, but they include the 23 girls from Camp Mystic.

In an earlier press conference Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the dead include adults and children, and some were found in cars “that were washed out upstream.” He said officials aren't sure whether any of the bodies were children from Camp Mystic, and stressed that the campers are only considered missing at this point.

“We will do anything humanly possible to find your daughter,” Patrick said, adding that search and rescue teams are looking for survivors, along with 14 state helicopters, 12 drones and 400 to 500 people on the ground helping with the search. He added that if parents haven't been personally contacted by the camp, they can assume their daughters have been accounted for.

As much as 10 inches of heavy rain fell in just a few hours overnight in central Kerr County, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River. Patrick said the river, which winds through Kerr County in Central Texas, rose 26 feet in 45 minutes during torrential rains overnight.

“It’s going to be a mass casualty event,” said Freeman Martin, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Patrick added that San Antonio and Waco also could see flash flooding in the next 24 to 48 hours.

Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in Kerr County, said authorities are still working to identify those whose lives were lost.

“Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” Kelly said during a news conference. “One of them was completely naked, he didn’t have any ID on him at all. We’re trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don’t have it yet.”

A flood watch issued Thursday afternoon estimated isolated amounts up to 7 inches of rising water. That shifted to a flood warning for at least 30,000 people overnight.

According to the National Weather Service website, the flash flood watch, which included Kerr County, was issued at 1:18 p.m. Thursday. Nearly 12 hours later, a "life threatening" flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m., according to the website.

When asked about the suddenness of the flash flooding overnight, Kelly said “we do not have a warning system” and that “we didn’t know this flood was coming,” even as local reporters pointed to the warnings and pushed him for answers about why more precautions weren’t taken.

“Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” he said. “We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.”

Abbott said the state was providing resources to Hill Country communities dealing with the flooding, including in Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt.

“I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas,” Abbott said in a statement.

The Guadalupe’s river gauge at the unincorporated community of Hunt, where the river forks, recorded a 22 foot rise in just about two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. Fogarty said the gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet.

“We think the river’s higher than that,” Fogarty said. “The gauge is completely underwater.”

The riverfront communities include several camps, wildlife habitats and campgrounds. Texas Game Wardens, part of the state parks and wildlife agency, said on Facebook that search and rescue teams are conducting rescues throughout the region and sending more boats to help.

“This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware,” Fogarty said. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”

Erin Burgess’ home sits directly across from the river in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood, west of Ingram. When she woke up to thunder at 3:30 a.m. Friday morning, “it was raining pretty heavy, but no big deal,” she said.

Just 20 minutes later, Burgess said water was coming in through the walls and rushing through the front and back doors. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree and waiting for the water to recede enough that they were able to walk up the hill to a neighbor's.

“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said, becoming emotional.

Of her 19-year-old son, Burgess said: “Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him.”

Dozens of people posted on Facebook asking for any information on their children, nieces and nephews attending one of the many camps in the area, or family members that went camping during the holiday weekend.

Ingram Fire Department posted a photo of a statement from Camp Mystic, saying the private Christian summer camp for girls experienced “catastrophic level floods.” Parents with a daughter not accounted for were directly contacted, the camp said.

Another camp on the river located east of Hunt, Camp Waldemar, said in an Instagram post that “we are all safe and sound.”

Disclosure: Facebook has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/support-us/corporate-sponsors/">list of them here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751724125124.png" alt="Heavy rains in Kerr County and elsewhere in Central Texas have caused severe flooding and loss of life. Credit: City of Kerrville Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Heavy rains in Kerr County and elsewhere in Central Texas have caused severe flooding and loss of life. Credit: City of Kerrville Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/uriel-j-garcia/">Uriel J. García</a>, The Texas Tribune, and Hannah FingerhutState officials said Friday night that at least 24 people have died in the catastrophic flood that swept through Kerr County early Friday morning, and 23 girls from Camp Mystic, a private Christian girls’ camp, are still unaccounted for.In a news conference in Kerrville, Gov. Greg Abbott signed an emergency disaster declaration, which allows numerous counties affected by the floods to get the state resources needed to help with ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said one other person was found dead in nearby Kendall County but it’s unclear if that person was a flood victim.Nim Kidd, the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management, said local officials were caught off guard by the volume of rain, adding that the National Weather Service advisory issued Thursday “did not predict the amount of rain that we saw.”Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the head of the Texas Military Department, said 237 people have been rescued and evacuated so far. Officials said they couldn’t provide the number of people who are unaccounted for, but they include the 23 girls from Camp Mystic.In an earlier press conference Friday, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said the dead include adults and children, and some were found in cars “that were washed out upstream.” He said officials aren't sure whether any of the bodies were children from Camp Mystic, and stressed that the campers are only considered missing at this point.“We will do anything humanly possible to find your daughter,” Patrick said, adding that search and rescue teams are looking for survivors, along with 14 state helicopters, 12 drones and 400 to 500 people on the ground helping with the search. He added that if parents haven't been personally contacted by the camp, they can assume their daughters have been accounted for.As much as 10 inches of heavy rain fell in just a few hours overnight in central Kerr County, causing flash flooding of the Guadalupe River. Patrick said the river, which winds through Kerr County in Central Texas, rose 26 feet in 45 minutes during torrential rains overnight.“It’s going to be a mass casualty event,” said Freeman Martin, the director of the Texas Department of Public Safety.Patrick added that San Antonio and Waco also could see flash flooding in the next 24 to 48 hours.Judge Rob Kelly, the chief elected official in Kerr County, said authorities are still working to identify those whose lives were lost.“Most of them, we don’t know who they are,” Kelly said during a news conference. “One of them was completely naked, he didn’t have any ID on him at all. We’re trying to get the identity of these folks, but we don’t have it yet.”<h2>Flood warning came after 1 a.m.</h2>A flood watch issued Thursday afternoon estimated isolated amounts up to 7 inches of rising water. That shifted to a flood warning for at least 30,000 people overnight.According to the National Weather Service website, the flash flood watch, which included Kerr County, was issued at 1:18 p.m. Thursday. Nearly 12 hours later, a "life threatening" flash flood warning was issued at 1:14 a.m., according to the website.When asked about the suddenness of the flash flooding overnight, Kelly said “we do not have a warning system” and that “we didn’t know this flood was coming,” even as local reporters pointed to the warnings and pushed him for answers about why more precautions weren’t taken.“Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming,” he said. “We have floods all the time. This is the most dangerous river valley in the United States.”Abbott said the state was providing resources to Hill Country communities dealing with the flooding, including in Kerrville, Ingram and Hunt.“I urge Texans to heed guidance from state and local officials and monitor local forecasts to avoid driving into flooded areas,” Abbott said in a statement.The Guadalupe’s river gauge at the unincorporated community of Hunt, where the river forks, recorded a 22 foot rise in just about two hours, according to Bob Fogarty, meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Austin/San Antonio office. Fogarty said the gauge failed after recording a level of 29 and a half feet.“We think the river’s higher than that,” Fogarty said. “The gauge is completely underwater.”The riverfront communities include several camps, wildlife habitats and campgrounds. Texas Game Wardens, part of the state parks and wildlife agency, said on Facebook that search and rescue teams are conducting rescues throughout the region and sending more boats to help.“This is the kind of thing that will catch you unaware,” Fogarty said. “The water’s moving so fast, you’re not going to recognize how bad it is until it’s on top of you.”<h2>Survivors describe overnight ordeal</h2>Erin Burgess’ home sits directly across from the river in the Bumble Bee Hills neighborhood, west of Ingram. When she woke up to thunder at 3:30 a.m. Friday morning, “it was raining pretty heavy, but no big deal,” she said.Just 20 minutes later, Burgess said water was coming in through the walls and rushing through the front and back doors. She described an agonizing hour clinging to a tree and waiting for the water to recede enough that they were able to walk up the hill to a neighbor's.“My son and I floated to a tree where we hung onto it, and my boyfriend and my dog floated away. He was lost for a while, but we found them,” she said, becoming emotional.Of her 19-year-old son, Burgess said: “Thankfully he’s over 6 feet tall. That’s the only thing that saved me, was hanging on to him.”Dozens of people posted on Facebook asking for any information on their children, nieces and nephews attending one of the many camps in the area, or family members that went camping during the holiday weekend.Ingram Fire Department posted a photo of a statement from Camp Mystic, saying the private Christian summer camp for girls experienced “catastrophic level floods.” Parents with a daughter not accounted for were directly contacted, the camp said.Another camp on the river located east of Hunt, Camp Waldemar, said in an Instagram post that “we are all safe and sound.”Disclosure: Facebook has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/support-us/corporate-sponsors/">list of them here</a>.

Death toll from Texas flash floods rises to 24 as rescue efforts continue

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo.&nbsp;– Approximately 200 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, are conducting a movement to Florida, to augment U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) interior immigration enforcement mission with critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed by ICE, according to a statement from the U.S. Northern Command.

Responding to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request received May 9, 2025, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4218703/statement-by-chief-pentagon-spokesman-sean-parnell-on-dod-administrative-and-lo">Secretary of Defense</a>&nbsp;approved a mobilization of up to 700 Active, National Guard, and Reserve component forces operating under Title 10 authority.

These Marines are the first wave of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM’s) support of this ICE mission. Other support locations will include Louisiana and Texas. Service members participating in this mission will perform&nbsp;strictly non-law enforcement&nbsp;duties within ICE facilities. Their roles will focus on administrative and logistical tasks, and they are&nbsp;specifically prohibited&nbsp;from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733965183962.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo.&nbsp;– Approximately 200 Marines from Marine Wing Support Squadron 272, Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina, are conducting a movement to Florida, to augment U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) interior immigration enforcement mission with critical administrative and logistical capabilities at locations as directed by ICE, according to a statement from the U.S. Northern Command.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740147958319.png" alt="File photo (Courtesy of Miami ICE Enforcement &amp; Removal Operations office)" />
 <figcaption>File photo (Courtesy of Miami ICE Enforcement &amp; Removal Operations office)</figcaption>
 </figure>Responding to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) request received May 9, 2025, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4218703/statement-by-chief-pentagon-spokesman-sean-parnell-on-dod-administrative-and-lo">Secretary of Defense</a>&nbsp;approved a mobilization of up to 700 Active, National Guard, and Reserve component forces operating under Title 10 authority.These Marines are the first wave of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM’s) support of this ICE mission. Other support locations will include Louisiana and Texas. Service members participating in this mission will perform&nbsp;strictly non-law enforcement&nbsp;duties within ICE facilities. Their roles will focus on administrative and logistical tasks, and they are&nbsp;specifically prohibited&nbsp;from direct contact with individuals in ICE custody or involvement in any aspect of the custody chain.

Military sending 200 Marines to help ICE in Florida

ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The recovery effort for a man and teen missing at Kanopolis Lake continues, according to a social media report from the Ellsworth Couinty Sheriff late Friday.

High winds have been hampering efforts. KDWP along with three area dive teams have been at it steadily since early Friday. The sheriff office asked holiday boaters, to stay away from the search personnel and vessels.

According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.

A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.

According to Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.

By:&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina Post

ELLSWORTH COUNTY - The search for two people missing at Kanopolis Lake in Ellsworth County continued Friday morning.

According to Sheriff Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.

Multiple agencies including the Rice County Sheriff's Office, Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Marquette Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department and Law Enforcement Dive Teams from Salina and the Kansas Game Wardens were assisting with the investigating at the scene.

Sheila Watkins a resident of Salina who was at the scene after the report, commented on the investigation. "It is scary and sad," said Watkins. "I am hoping for the best possible scenario and I am just praying for the families."

&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751708351076.png" alt="google map" />
 <figcaption>google map</figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY —The recovery effort for a man and teen missing at Kanopolis Lake continues, according to a social media report from the Ellsworth Couinty Sheriff late Friday.High winds have been hampering efforts. KDWP along with three area dive teams have been at it steadily since early Friday. The sheriff office asked holiday boaters, to stay away from the search personnel and vessels.According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.According to Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.---------By:&nbsp;NICOLAS FIERRO Salina PostELLSWORTH COUNTY - The search for two people missing at Kanopolis Lake in Ellsworth County continued Friday morning.According to Ellsworth County Sheriff Kenny Bernard, at around&nbsp;7:15-7:30pm&nbsp;on&nbsp;Thursday,&nbsp;Ellsworth County dispatch reported three people who went missing after being on a boat at the lake.A 14-year old girl was recovered by an individual in the area and was taken for treatment.According to Sheriff Bernard, a 40-year old man and a 14-year old girl are the two who are still reportedly missing.Multiple agencies including the Rice County Sheriff's Office, Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office, Marquette County Sheriff's Office, Marquette Fire Department, Ellsworth Fire Department and Law Enforcement Dive Teams from Salina and the Kansas Game Wardens were assisting with the investigating at the scene.Sheila Watkins a resident of Salina who was at the scene after the report, commented on the investigation. "It is scary and sad," said Watkins. "I am hoping for the best possible scenario and I am just praying for the families."&nbsp;Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

Recovery effort continues for man, teen at lake in Kansas

Fighter jets and stealth bombers streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic on Friday.

“America's winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-sites-bombing-hegseth-trump-4014575fca3923cf29772d1c0b876206">bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;against Iran's nuclear program, which he said the flyover was meant to honor. “Promises made, promises kept, and we've kept them.”

The White House was hung with red, white and blue bunting for the Independence Day festivities. The U.S. Marine Band played patriotic marches.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751672721412.png" alt="The fighter jets and B2 bomber over the Washington monument on Friday-Image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>The fighter jets and B2 bomber over the Washington monument on Friday-Image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>Fighter jets and stealth bombers streaked through the sky over the annual White House Fourth of July picnic on Friday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">White House B-2 bomber flyover. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/4thofJuly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#4thofJuly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/July4th?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#July4th</a> <a href="https://t.co/aFcSxASKpM">pic.twitter.com/aFcSxASKpM</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1941279537704096154?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“America's winning, winning, winning like never before,” Trump said, noting last month's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-sites-bombing-hegseth-trump-4014575fca3923cf29772d1c0b876206">bombing campaign</a>&nbsp;against Iran's nuclear program, which he said the flyover was meant to honor. “Promises made, promises kept, and we've kept them.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751740938382.jpeg" alt="photo White House" />
 <figcaption>photo White House</figcaption>
 </figure>The White House was hung with red, white and blue bunting for the Independence Day festivities. The U.S. Marine Band played patriotic marches.

🎥 Dramatic flyover at White House Fourth of July picnic

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE LAW OF THE LAND! <a href="https://t.co/mOpYN0tiZ0">pic.twitter.com/mOpYN0tiZ0</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1941253557665321187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 Trump signs Big, Beautiful Bill into law

&nbsp;President Donald Trump signed the Big, Beautiful Bill into law during a ceremony at the White House Friday afternoon.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751667635743.png" alt="Missouri Congressman Jason Smith, center right wearing glasses, is on hand for the historic signing ceremony.-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Congressman Jason Smith, center right wearing glasses, is on hand for the historic signing ceremony.-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;President Donald Trump signed the Big, Beautiful Bill into law during a ceremony at the White House Friday afternoon.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL IS NOW OFFICIALLY THE LAW OF THE LAND! <a href="https://t.co/mOpYN0tiZ0">pic.twitter.com/mOpYN0tiZ0</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1941253557665321187?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1751666108451.png" alt="Missouri 8th District Rep. Jason Smith and Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall greet First Lady Melania Trump-image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>Missouri 8th District Rep. Jason Smith and Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall greet First Lady Melania Trump-image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Getting ready to watch President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> sign the One Big, Beautiful Bill on America’s birthday 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/L3NZojsnQ8">pic.twitter.com/L3NZojsnQ8</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1941247991123411282?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

 🎥Mo. Congressman in attendance as Big, Beautiful Bill signed into law

TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp;(KDHE)&nbsp;and&nbsp;local health departments&nbsp;continue to respond to measles cases in Kansas.

On Friday, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.

On Wednesday, the KDHE reported three new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 83 cases in 11 counties.

The measles virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Because the measles virus is highly contagious, anyone who was a patient, staff or visitor to the fifth-floor pediatric unit in Building 4 at Wesley Medical Center on any of the dates and times listed above may have been exposed to measles and should take the following steps:&nbsp;&nbsp;

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.&nbsp;

The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick.&nbsp;

For questions, contact the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline by phone at 877-427-7317 or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov">kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000197d6d48f8c-655dcf99-c212-4ab7-9b7a-feb6d4cd27e3-000000/79OTFaS4apBq2mxz6LWVEqeelC6ZsgOfH4u1hSxA6bM=412">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA –The Kansas Department of Health and Environment&nbsp;(KDHE)&nbsp;and&nbsp;local health departments&nbsp;continue to respond to measles cases in Kansas.On Friday, the&nbsp; KDHE reported a measles exposure that occurred at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita&nbsp;so individuals can take steps to protect their health and help prevent further spread.&nbsp;There is no risk of measles exposure outside&nbsp;of&nbsp;the&nbsp;specific unit,&nbsp;dates and times&nbsp;listed. Individuals who were not in the affected&nbsp;unit&nbsp;during that&nbsp;time, including those in other parts of the hospital or its departments,&nbsp;are&nbsp;not&nbsp;considered exposed.<ul>
 <li>Location:&nbsp;Fifth-Floor Pediatric Unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center</li><li>Address:&nbsp;550 N Hillside St, Wichita, KS 67214</li><li>Dates and times:&nbsp;Tuesday, July 1, 2025, from 10 p.m. until Thursday, July 3, 2025, 4:45 p.m.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>On Wednesday, the KDHE reported three new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 83 cases in 11 counties.The measles virus can stay in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours. Because the measles virus is highly contagious, anyone who was a patient, staff or visitor to the fifth-floor pediatric unit in Building 4 at Wesley Medical Center on any of the dates and times listed above may have been exposed to measles and should take the following steps:&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Understand if you are susceptible to infection.&nbsp;Check if you’ve received a measles-containing vaccine, like the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, have medical documentation of past measles infection, or have laboratory evidence of immunity. People who are not vaccinated and have not previously had measles are especially vulnerable to becoming infected.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Watch for symptoms.&nbsp;Monitor yourself for 21 days after your exposure. Look out for any symptoms—especially a fever and a new or unexplained skin rash—and contact your healthcare provider or local health department if symptoms develop.If you were at the fifth-floor pediatric unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center in Wichita on:&nbsp;July 1, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, July 22.July 2, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, July 23.July 3, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, July 24.</li><li>If you were at the fifth-floor pediatric unit, Building 4, Wesley Medical Center in Wichita on:&nbsp;July 1, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, July 22.July 2, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, July 23.July 3, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, July 24.</li><li>July 1, 2025, monitor until the end of Tuesday, July 22.</li><li>July 2, 2025, monitor until the end of Wednesday, July 23.</li><li>July 3, 2025, monitor until the end of Thursday, July 24.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Avoid high-risk settings.&nbsp;If you are not&nbsp;immune, consider staying home to prevent the spread of measles.&nbsp;If you cannot remain home,&nbsp;stay away from large gatherings and&nbsp;people&nbsp;that&nbsp;might&nbsp;be susceptible to measles, including those&nbsp;who&nbsp;are unvaccinated, pregnant women, infants, or people who are immunocompromised.&nbsp;If you need medical care, call your provider ahead of time&nbsp;and let them know you may have been exposed to measles&nbsp;so they can take any necessary steps&nbsp;to&nbsp;protect others from potential measles exposure.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Talk to&nbsp;a healthcare provider.&nbsp;If you have any questions about your health or your immunity status, contact&nbsp;your&nbsp;healthcare provider. If you are not immune to measles,&nbsp;a healthcare provider&nbsp;can&nbsp;determine&nbsp;whether you need&nbsp;treatment&nbsp;to help prevent or lessen the severity of infection.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It spreads easily when an infected person talks, sneezes or coughs. People who are not vaccinated or lack immunity are especially at risk of becoming infected. Symptoms of measles typically begin with a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a skin rash develops and usually starts on the face and spreads down to the neck, trunk, arms and legs.&nbsp;The best way to prevent measles is to get the MMR vaccine. If you have had measles or have been vaccinated, your risk of contracting the disease is very low. However, a few people (about three out of 100) can still get measles even after two MMR vaccine doses if they are near someone who is sick.&nbsp;For questions, contact the KDHE Epidemiology Hotline by phone at 877-427-7317 or by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov">kdhe.epihotline@ks.gov</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information about measles, how to find your vaccine records, and answers to common questions, visit the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Measles Resource Hub at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2Fmeasles%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/01000197d6d48f8c-655dcf99-c212-4ab7-9b7a-feb6d4cd27e3-000000/79OTFaS4apBq2mxz6LWVEqeelC6ZsgOfH4u1hSxA6bM=412">www.kdhe.ks.gov/measles</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

KDHE: Measles exposure risk at a Kansas hospital

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“We’re going to have a UFC fight, think of this, on the grounds of the White House. We have a lot of land there. We&#39;re gonna build a little - Dana&#39;s gonna do it... Championship fight, full fight, like 20, 25,000 people. And we&#39;re going to do that as part of A250&quot; - Trump in Iowa <a href="https://t.co/5Dkam2IFWU">pic.twitter.com/5Dkam2IFWU</a>&mdash; Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) <a href="https://twitter.com/HowardMortman/status/1941078076903043230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥Trump says he plans to host UFC fight at the White House

A Jackson County judge on Thursday blocked enforcement of most of Missouri’s laws limiting abortion access and where abortion services can be offered

Abortion services will resume in Missouri on Monday following a Jackson County court order blocking enforcement of almost all of the state’s laws restricting the procedure.

On Thursday afternoon, Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang, for the third time,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2416-CV31931Comp%20HealthORDER.PDF?courtCode=16&amp;di=28244257" target="_blank">issued an order</a>&nbsp;to enforce the abortion rights amendment approved by voters in November. In her previous orders, one in December and one in February,&nbsp; Zhang pointed to the voter-approved constitutional amendment in issuing a temporary injunction blocking abortion restrictions enacted over numerous years by state lawmakers.

State lawmakers have passed a ballot measure asking voters&nbsp; to repeal the abortion rights amendment in 2026, a move being&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/lawsuit-challenges-ballot-language-for-proposed-missouri-abortion-ban/">challenged in Cole County Circuit Court</a>.

Surgical abortions resumed after the February decision but&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-supreme-court-reinstates-abortion-restrictions-imposing-de-facto-ban/">ended in May</a>&nbsp;when the Missouri Supreme Court struck down Zhang’s orders on technical legal grounds.&nbsp;

In a joint statement, the ACLU of Missouri and Planned Parenthood affiliates said the Kansas City clinic will resume abortion services on Monday. The statement said the ruling was incomplete because it did not enjoin enforcement of a state law requiring complication plans for abortion patients.&nbsp;

“Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO, Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.&nbsp;

Zhang found that the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/24/abortion-is-now-illegal-in-missouri-in-wake-of-u-s-supreme-court-ruling/">total ban on abortions</a>&nbsp;that took effect in 2022 clearly conflicted with the rights secured by the abortion amendment, which received 52% of the vote in November.

She also blocked enforcement of a law requiring two appointments 72 hours apart to obtain abortion services and that women be required to take state-produced material on fetal development.

The order blocks enforcement of laws requiring special abortion facility licensing and that doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.&nbsp;

<h2>A Jackson County judge on Thursday blocked enforcement of most of Missouri’s laws limiting abortion access and where abortion services can be offered</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Abortion services will resume in Missouri on Monday following a Jackson County court order blocking enforcement of almost all of the state’s laws restricting the procedure.On Thursday afternoon, Circuit Judge Jerri Zhang, for the third time,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2416-CV31931Comp%20HealthORDER.PDF?courtCode=16&amp;di=28244257" target="_blank">issued an order</a>&nbsp;to enforce the abortion rights amendment approved by voters in November. In her previous orders, one in December and one in February,&nbsp; Zhang pointed to the voter-approved constitutional amendment in issuing a temporary injunction blocking abortion restrictions enacted over numerous years by state lawmakers.State lawmakers have passed a ballot measure asking voters&nbsp; to repeal the abortion rights amendment in 2026, a move being&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/lawsuit-challenges-ballot-language-for-proposed-missouri-abortion-ban/">challenged in Cole County Circuit Court</a>.Surgical abortions resumed after the February decision but&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-supreme-court-reinstates-abortion-restrictions-imposing-de-facto-ban/">ended in May</a>&nbsp;when the Missouri Supreme Court struck down Zhang’s orders on technical legal grounds.&nbsp;In a joint statement, the ACLU of Missouri and Planned Parenthood affiliates said the Kansas City clinic will resume abortion services on Monday. The statement said the ruling was incomplete because it did not enjoin enforcement of a state law requiring complication plans for abortion patients.&nbsp;“Abortion is legal again in Missouri because voters demanded it and we fought for it,” said Emily Wales, president and CEO, Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains.&nbsp;Zhang found that the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/24/abortion-is-now-illegal-in-missouri-in-wake-of-u-s-supreme-court-ruling/">total ban on abortions</a>&nbsp;that took effect in 2022 clearly conflicted with the rights secured by the abortion amendment, which received 52% of the vote in November.She also blocked enforcement of a law requiring two appointments 72 hours apart to obtain abortion services and that women be required to take state-produced material on fetal development.The order blocks enforcement of laws requiring special abortion facility licensing and that doctors performing abortions have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.&nbsp;“The regulations require physicians to perform certain exams and tests that are unnecessary when the physicians themselves are authorized and enabled to make the determination on what is and is not necessary for their individual patients,” Zhang wrote. “Additionally, miscarriage management can be provided on an outpatient basis without a special facility license.”Zhang’s order keeps in place rules that only doctors can provide abortion services and that the woman seeking an abortion have an in-person appointment. The appointment can, however, be by telemedicine, Zhang ruled as she blocked a separate rule.Overall, Zhang’s ruling means the rights secured by the abortion amendment can be exercised.&nbsp;“As plaintiffs argue, they and their patients are suffering serious harm, whereas defendants only stand to lose the ability temporarily to enforce some laws that are likely to be held unconstitutional and which further no valid compelling state interest,” Zhang wrote.In a statement, Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s office said in a statement that he would immediately appeal the decision.“We respectfully but firmly disagree with the Court’s decision to once again block the enforcement of Missouri’s duly enacted health and safety regulations,” the statement read. “These requirements were designed to ensure that women receive care in sanitary conditions from qualified professionals, with emergency safeguards in place.”While services will resume in Kansas City on Monday, other clinics will open up appointment books quickly.“This decision is a step forward toward fully realizing Missourians’ right to reproductive freedom,” Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said in the release, “and the staff at our Central West End health center in St. Louis will work as quickly as possible to resume scheduling abortion appointments.”