Kansas

Kansas cult leaders convicted of forcing children to work 16-hour days without pay

Published

2 years ago

September 18, 2024

Kansas cult leaders convicted of forcing children to work 16-hour days without pay

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Six members of a Kansas-based cult have been convicted in a scheme to house children in overcrowded, rodent-infested facilities and force them to work up to 16 hours a day without pay while subjecting them to beatings and other abuse.

The defendants were either high-ranking members of the organization formerly known as the United Nation of Islam and the Value Creators, or were wives of the late founder, Royall Jenkins, the U.S. Department of Justice said Monday in announcing the verdict.

After a 26-day trial, jurors convicted all six defendants of conspiracy to commit forced labor. One of the six, Kaaba Majeed, 50, also was convicted of five counts of forced labor.

“Under the guise of false pretenses and coercion, these victims, some of whom were as young as eight years old, endured inhumane and abhorrent conditions,” FBI Special Agent Stephen Cyrus said in a written statement.

Prosecutors said the group, which was labeled a cult by a federal judge in 2018, beat children and imposed severe dietary restrictions. One of the victims was held upside down over train tracks because he would not admit to stealing food when he was hungry, prosecutors said. Another victim resorted to drinking water from a toilet because she was so thirsty.

Jenkins, who died in 2021, had been a member of the Nation of Islam until 1978, when he founded the separate United Nation of Islam. He persuaded his followers that he was shown the proper way to rule the Earth after being “taken through the galaxy by aliens on a spaceship,” according to the indictment. At one point, the group had hundreds of followers.

Prosecutors said that beginning in October 2000, the organization ran businesses such as gas stations, bakeries and restaurants in several states using unpaid labor from group members and their children.

Parents were encouraged to send their children to an unlicensed school in Kansas City, Kansas, called the University of Arts and Logistics of Civilization, which did not provide appropriate instruction in most subjects.

Instead, some of the child victims worked in businesses in Kansas City, while others were trafficked to businesses in other states, including New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Maryland, Georgia and North Carolina, the indictment alleges.

Prosecutors said the children lived in overcrowded facilities often overrun with mold, mice and rats. There were strict rules about what they could read, how they dressed and what they ate. Some were forced to undergo colonics. Punishments included being locked in a dark, frightening basement, prosecutors said.

They were told they would burn in “eternal hellfire” if they left.

In May 2018, U.S. Judge Daniel Crabtree called the group a cult and ordered it to pay $8 million to a woman who said she spent 10 years performing unpaid labor.

Sentencing hearings are set for February in the child labor case. The convictions carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison for Majeed and up to five years for the other defendants: Yunus Rassoul, 39; James Staton, 62; Randolph Rodney Hadley, 49; Daniel Aubrey Jenkins, 43; and Dana Peach, 60.

Emails seeking comment were sent Tuesday to attorneys for all six defendants.

Two other co-defendants previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit forced labor.

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Kansas

Where to watch Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Guardians: TV channel, start time, streaming for Apr. 8

Published

5 hours ago

April 8, 2026

Press Room

Where to watch Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Guardians: TV channel, start time, streaming for Apr. 8

Baseball is back and finding what channel your favorite team is playing on has become a little bit more confusing since MLB announced plans to produce and distribute broadcasts for nearly a third of the league.

We’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know Wednesday as the Kansas City Royals visit the Cleveland Guardians.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Guardians?

First pitch between the Cleveland Guardians and Kansas City Royals is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, Apr. 8.

How to watch Kansas City Royals vs Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at 6:32 a.m.

Matchup: KC at CLE
Date: Wednesday, Apr. 8
Time: 1:10 p.m. (ET)
Venue: Progressive Field
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
TV: Guardians.TV and Royals.TV
Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo

Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for Apr. 8 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 winning numbers for April 7, 2026

Published

17 hours ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at April 7, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 7 drawing

05-15-22-33-37, Mega Ball: 02

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 7 drawing

Midday: 6-3-9

Evening: 2-0-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from April 7 drawing

Red Balls: 06-19, White Balls: 01-20

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kansas

Kansas’ Bidunga, Wake Forest’s Harris, Saint Mary’s Murauskas among players entering men’s portal

Published

1 day ago

April 7, 2026

Press Room

Kansas’ Bidunga, Wake Forest’s Harris, Saint Mary’s Murauskas among players entering men’s portal

Kansas big man Flory Bidunga, Wake Forest’s Juke Harris and Saint Mary’s Paulius Murauskas were among the parade of players entering the transfer portal Tuesday, the first of 15 days Division I men’s basketball players can go looking for a new school.

Bidunga finished his second season with the Jayhawks as the Big 12 defensive player of the year and an Associated Press All-Big 12 second-team pick. He averaged 13.3 points and 9.0 rebounds per game and was a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year finalist. He led the Big 12 and was fourth nationally with 91 blocked shots and 10th in field-goal shooting at 64%.

Bidunga recorded 13 double-doubles and was the only Division I player to average more than 13 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots.

Harris was voted the Atlantic Coast Conference’s most improved player after he increased his scoring average from 6.1 points per game as a freshman to 21.4 this past season. He also was an AP All-ACC second-team pick after becoming one of two players in program history to score 750 points in a season.

Murauskas was the West Coast Conference’s second-leading scorer with 18.4 points per game and had two 30-point games. He was an All-WCC first-team pick both years he was with the Gaels after transferring from Arizona.

Purdue announced it had signed forward Caden Pierce, who played three seasons at Princeton and sat out this year as a redshirt while completing his degree. Pierce started 89 games for the Tigers and was 2023-24 Ivy League player of year after averaging 16.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists. He chose the Boilermakers over Duke, Gonzaga, Louisville and Connecticut.

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