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GOP leadership of Kansas Legislature vote to form elite budget-writing committee • Kansas Reflector

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GOP leadership of Kansas Legislature vote to form elite budget-writing committee • Kansas Reflector


TOPEKA — Top leaders of the Kansas Legislature authorized on a party-line vote Wednesday the formation of a special committee responsible for developing a state government budget plan before start the 2025 session in January.

The 23-person committee, with 16 Republicans and seven Democrats, would meet five times between the Nov. 5 general election and the Jan. 13 launch of the annual session. The objective would be to produce a legislative draft of the budget before Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly outlined her priorities in the State of the State speech and in written budget recommendations.

The Legislative Coordinating Council, with support of only Republican House and Senate members, embraced the departure from precedent in Kansas.

For years, the Legislature has used a governor’s budget to initiate work on spending bills. Under the alternative inspired by House Speaker Dan Hawkins and Senate President Ty Masterson, both Republicans, the recommendations from Kelly would be relegated to the backburner.

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Hawkins said the modified process would give members of the Republican-led Legislature an additional three weeks to compare agency budget requests with last session’s spending bills. No longer would the Legislature’s existing budget committees sit on their hands for weeks waiting for a governor’s budget reports, he said.

“Everybody wants more time to dive into these budgets,” Hawkins said. “This is an opportunity for us to really work hard on doing good budgeting instead of just accepting the governor’s budget.”

Kelly said there was no merit to the GOP’s overhaul of the budget process while House Minority Leader Vic Miller, D-Topeka, questioned the wisdom of appointing an elite contingent of “super legislators” with power to carve the base budget.

Masterson challenged Miller’s suggestion Republicans were creating a two-tier system relative to legislative input on the budget.

“I just disagree with that comment on some type of super legislators,” said Masterson, who argued the special committee’s budget would be vetted by both chambers of the Legislature before sent to the governor.

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Miller said the regular House and Senate budget committees could perform extra scrutiny of the state budget if GOP leaders stopped declaring “pro forma” days at the Capitol. In 2023, the Legislature was given seven days off in January but were paid by virtue of the pro forma designation. There were nine such days in January 2024, he said.

He said it would be fair to describe the pro forma concept as an opportunity for elected officials to “get paid for not doing anything.”

In addition, Miller questioned why the draft of the 2025 budget would be shaped by eight Senate Republicans, eight House Republicans, three Senate Democrats and four House Democrats who may or may not return to the Legislature in January. Committee appointments haven’t been made public, but all House and Senate seats are up for reelection Nov. 5.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat who voted against the special committee plan along with Miller, said the Legislature should certainly dig deeper into nuances of state spending. But she expressed concern the expanding budget process could potentially burden legislative staff.

Eventually, Republicans plan to introduce a bill that would make the special budget committee a permanent fixture in state law.

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Rep. Blake Carpenter, R-Derby, said it was best to not think about the budget reform in context of the Kelly administration. A future Republican governor would operate with the same limitations imposed on Kelly, he said.

“If we put politics aside for a second, it’s not about the person that’s in the governor’s office,” he said. “Don’t look at the person. Don’t look at the party. It’s the right thing to do.”



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Kansas City murder suspect added to FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list

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Kansas City murder suspect added to FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list


Woman on the run in connection with Kansas City murder added to FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list

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KaShawn Nicola Roper, who is wanted in connection with a 2020 shooting in Kansas City, should be considered “armed and dangerous,” officials say.

Updated: 11:40 AM CDT Apr 14, 2026

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A woman who has been on the run for years in connection with a Kansas City, Missouri, homicide has been added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. KaShawn Nicola Roper, 50, is wanted for murder after a shooting on Aug. 23, 2020. Roper allegedly fired shots at a vehicle, striking two female victims. One of the victims, 23-year-old Jazmyn Henrion, was killed. Roper was charged on Sept. 10, 2020, with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. At that time, a state warrant was issued for her arrest. A federal warrant was issued on July 1, 2021, after she was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. More than five years later, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department Chief Stacey Graves, along with the FBI and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, announced that Roper was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted on April 14. Officials say Roper should be considered “armed and dangerous.” She is described as a Black female who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and approximately 120 pounds. She has tattoos on her left arm, upper right arm, left calf, neck, right wrist, right side of her chest and her abdomen. She has pierced ears. She was born in Kansas and previously lived in Kansas City, but she has ties to Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, Georgia and South Dakota. Authorities are offering a $1 million reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction. Anyone with information on Roper’s whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest FBI office or local law enforcement agency. Calls can be directed to 1-800-CALL-FBI. Those outside of the U.S. should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. Tips can be submitted online to tips.fbi.gov. All tips can remain anonymous. Since the inception of the Ten Most Wanted list in 1950, 21 fugitives wanted within the FBI’s Kansas City are of responsibility have been placed on the list. Fourteen of those fugitives have been arrested in the Kansas City region. “When a life is taken in our community, our commitment to justice does not waver. For nearly five years, this case has remained unresolved, and we are continuing to pursue every lead to bring answers to a grieving family,” Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said. “We are grateful to the FBI for bringing additional tools and national attention to this case. Someone somewhere has information that can help move this investigation forward. We urge anyone with knowledge of KaShawn Roper’s whereabouts to come forward. Your voice could make all the difference for a family still seeking justice.” “This announcement reflects the great collaboration between the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and our federal partners — specifically, the long-standing partnership with FBI, resulting in a safer Kansas City,” Graves said. “A safer Kansas City means holding offenders accountable through arrest and prosecution. For too long, KaShawn Roper has remained a fugitive and avoided accountability. With the assistance of the FBI and the attention brought by her addition to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, we are confident she will be apprehended. We are committed to ensuring justice is served for the victims and their loved ones.”

A woman who has been on the run for years in connection with a Kansas City, Missouri, homicide has been added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

KaShawn Nicola Roper, 50, is wanted for murder after a shooting on Aug. 23, 2020. Roper allegedly fired shots at a vehicle, striking two female victims. One of the victims, 23-year-old Jazmyn Henrion, was killed.

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Roper was charged on Sept. 10, 2020, with second-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful use of a weapon. At that time, a state warrant was issued for her arrest.

A federal warrant was issued on July 1, 2021, after she was charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

A poster shows KaShawn Nicola Roper's photo and lists her as part of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

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More than five years later, Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department Chief Stacey Graves, along with the FBI and the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, announced that Roper was added to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted on April 14.

Officials say Roper should be considered “armed and dangerous.”

She is described as a Black female who is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and approximately 120 pounds. She has tattoos on her left arm, upper right arm, left calf, neck, right wrist, right side of her chest and her abdomen. She has pierced ears.

She was born in Kansas and previously lived in Kansas City, but she has ties to Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, Colorado, Georgia and South Dakota.

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Authorities are offering a $1 million reward for information leading to an arrest or conviction.

Anyone with information on Roper’s whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest FBI office or local law enforcement agency. Calls can be directed to 1-800-CALL-FBI. Those outside of the U.S. should contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Tips can be submitted online to tips.fbi.gov. All tips can remain anonymous.

Since the inception of the Ten Most Wanted list in 1950, 21 fugitives wanted within the FBI’s Kansas City are of responsibility have been placed on the list. Fourteen of those fugitives have been arrested in the Kansas City region.

“When a life is taken in our community, our commitment to justice does not waver. For nearly five years, this case has remained unresolved, and we are continuing to pursue every lead to bring answers to a grieving family,” Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson said. “We are grateful to the FBI for bringing additional tools and national attention to this case. Someone somewhere has information that can help move this investigation forward. We urge anyone with knowledge of KaShawn Roper’s whereabouts to come forward. Your voice could make all the difference for a family still seeking justice.”

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“This announcement reflects the great collaboration between the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and our federal partners — specifically, the long-standing partnership with FBI, resulting in a safer Kansas City,” Graves said. “A safer Kansas City means holding offenders accountable through arrest and prosecution. For too long, KaShawn Roper has remained a fugitive and avoided accountability. With the assistance of the FBI and the attention brought by her addition to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list, we are confident she will be apprehended. We are committed to ensuring justice is served for the victims and their loved ones.”



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Multiple communities report damage, 3 people injured after tornado-producing storms

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Multiple communities report damage, 3 people injured after tornado-producing storms


KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Multiple communities in Kansas have had damage after reported tornadoes and severe storms.

The city of Ottawa, Kansas, says that after the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning at approximately 7:25 p.m. on Monday, April 13, a storm caused structural damage.

Hillsdale Kansas suffered storm damage from possible tornado-producing storm.

Officials say that 3 people suffered minor injuries at a home with significant damage east of Ottawa, in Franklin County. The city says that no injuries or fatalities have been reported within city limits.

Officials say the majority of the town is without power, and streetlights aren’t working. KCTV reported that Main St. from 1st to 6th does have lights back on, as of 10:36 p.m.

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Ottawa USD 290 has cancelled school on Tuesday, April 14, due to the storm aftermath.

Multiple buildings in Hillsdale, Kansas, were damaged after reports of a tornado.(DJ Inlow)

Officials are asking community members to stay off the roadways and to stay away from downed power lines. They also say that all City and County emergency personnel are responding to the weather event.

Ottawa’s Police Chief asked people to stay home overnight as they work to clear storm debris from streets

At this time, there is no estimate as to when power will be restored in Ottawa.

In Hillsdale, Kansas, a spotter shared a photo of a tornado. Viewer photos show significant damage there, as well.

Storm damage after reported tornado in Hillsdale, Kansas
Storm damage after reported tornado in Hillsdale, Kansas(DJ Inlow)

KCTV5 will make updates as they’re made available.

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Alert Days ahead: Multiple chances for rain, thunderstorms this week in the Kansas City metro

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Alert Days ahead: Multiple chances for rain, thunderstorms this week in the Kansas City metro


There are multiple chances for rain and thunderstorms this week, including two First Alert Weather Alert Days highlighting the potential for severe thunderstorms. The first Alert Day is Tuesday. Most of the morning and afternoon will be dry, warm, humid and windy. After 5 p.m., ongoing thunderstorms across Oklahoma and southern Kansas will begin moving northeast toward Kansas City. The risk of severe weather will increase after that time and continue through 1 a.m. Wednesday, as thunderstorms lift across areas primarily along and east of Interstate 35 in eastern Kansas and central Missouri. The primary threats are large to very large hail and damaging winds. The tornado risk is low. The severe weather potential on Wednesday depends on whether the atmosphere is able to recover and destabilize after Tuesday night’s storms, Wednesday morning rain and lingering cloud cover. A dryline and cold front will approach the region from the west during the afternoon and evening, providing the focus for showers and thunderstorms that may produce large hail and damaging winds. Another cold front will bring renewed chances for showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening, and with conditions similar to Wednesday in place, there is at least some potential for severe thunderstorms. Please keep in mind that while this is a common and favorable pattern for showers and thunderstorms, most thunderstorms this week will not produce severe weather. That said, sufficient wind shear, lift, instability and moisture on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday will provide an environment where thunderstorms could thrive and support all types of severe weather. Check the forecast twice daily for updates, review your severe weather safety plan and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.

There are multiple chances for rain and thunderstorms this week, including two First Alert Weather Alert Days highlighting the potential for severe thunderstorms.

The first Alert Day is Tuesday. Most of the morning and afternoon will be dry, warm, humid and windy. After 5 p.m., ongoing thunderstorms across Oklahoma and southern Kansas will begin moving northeast toward Kansas City. The risk of severe weather will increase after that time and continue through 1 a.m. Wednesday, as thunderstorms lift across areas primarily along and east of Interstate 35 in eastern Kansas and central Missouri.

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The primary threats are large to very large hail and damaging winds. The tornado risk is low.

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The severe weather potential on Wednesday depends on whether the atmosphere is able to recover and destabilize after Tuesday night’s storms, Wednesday morning rain and lingering cloud cover.

A dryline and cold front will approach the region from the west during the afternoon and evening, providing the focus for showers and thunderstorms that may produce large hail and damaging winds.

This KMBC 9 weather map shows that severe storms are possible around the entire Kansas City region on Wednesday afternoon and evening.

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Another cold front will bring renewed chances for showers and thunderstorms Friday afternoon and evening, and with conditions similar to Wednesday in place, there is at least some potential for severe thunderstorms.

Please keep in mind that while this is a common and favorable pattern for showers and thunderstorms, most thunderstorms this week will not produce severe weather. That said, sufficient wind shear, lift, instability and moisture on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday will provide an environment where thunderstorms could thrive and support all types of severe weather.

Check the forecast twice daily for updates, review your severe weather safety plan and have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.

This KMBC 9 weather map shows severe storms are possible in the entire Kansas City region on Friday.

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