DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">ceasefire pausing two years of war</a>&nbsp;that pummeled the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">territory</a>, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in militant hands.

Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of more than 1,900 of prisoners held by Israel, with the first two buses leaving Ofer Prison in the early afternoon.

The 20 hostages, all men, arrived back Israel, where they will reunite with their families and undergo medical checks. The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also expected to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remained unclear.

While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners raised hopes for ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.

The ceasefire is also expected to be accompanied by a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, parts of which are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-famine-hunger-israel-ceasefire-a5f88e20db2a5c4f754117de9bdada69">experiencing famine</a>.

U.S. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-egypt-6347e7da64f6c97b95109558096c0b6c">arrived in the region</a>, where he plans to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-peace-deal-trump-hostages-aid-3d994f7d482783da6fe7e18460ef06ab">U.S.-proposed deal</a>&nbsp;and postwar plans with other leaders.

The war began when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-hostages-2-years-10-07-2025-6f19cb2eee5e05091c74f0e6f1bc356a">Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.

In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the dead were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

The toll is expected to grow as bodies are pulled from rubble previously made inaccessible by fighting.

The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its some 2 million residents. It has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/un-commission-of-inquiry-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza-ap-explains-2688e01c38c144c3842e3d810ab14309">allegations of genocide</a>&nbsp;that Israel denies.

“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the AP on Sunday.

People gathered in a square in Tel Aviv sobbed as photos of the hostages reuniting with their families flashed up on the large screens. The hostages have become household names and their faces familiar across Israel over the past two years, and tens of thousands of Israelis watched the transfers at public screenings across the country.

Soon after the hostages arrived back — after being handed first to the Red Cross, then to the military — Israel released the first photos of hostages arriving home. They included one showing 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing as they were reunited. Hostages previously released had said the twins from Kfar Aza were held separately.

The photos of the first seven hostages released Monday showed them looking pale but less gaunt than some of the hostages freed in January.

Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of prisoners. An armored vehicle flying an Israeli flag fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a crowd. As drones buzzed overhead, the group scattered.

The tear gas followed the circulation of a flier warning that anyone supporting what it called “terrorist organizations” risked arrest. Israel’s military did not respond to questions about the flier, which The Associated Press obtained on site.

The prisoners slated for release include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.

The hostages' return caps a painful chapter for Israel. Since they were captured in the attack that ignited the war, newscasts have marked their days in captivity and Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity. Tens of thousands have joined their families in weekly demonstrations calling for their release.

As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political purposes, even as he accused Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under heavy international pressure and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-netanyahu-pariah-sanctions-rights-16c2a6774d4cf68194f7ae331a585007">increasing isolation for Israel</a>, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire.

It remains unclear when the remains of 28 dead hostages will be returned. An international task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and the missing.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">ceasefire pausing two years of war</a>&nbsp;that pummeled the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">territory</a>, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in militant hands.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We’ve been waiting for this moment for so, so long. PURE JOY. But it won’t be complete until the last hostage is home. Credit: Danor Aharon <a href="https://t.co/P9I2Ebni0S">pic.twitter.com/P9I2Ebni0S</a>&mdash; Bring Them Home Now (@bringhomenow) <a href="https://twitter.com/bringhomenow/status/1977614940270936376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of more than 1,900 of prisoners held by Israel, with the first two buses leaving Ofer Prison in the early afternoon.The 20 hostages, all men, arrived back Israel, where they will reunite with their families and undergo medical checks. The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also expected to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remained unclear.While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners raised hopes for ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.The ceasefire is also expected to be accompanied by a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, parts of which are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-famine-hunger-israel-ceasefire-a5f88e20db2a5c4f754117de9bdada69">experiencing famine</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“I want to sincerely thank you” ❤️ President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> meets with hostage families and listens to their stories <a href="https://t.co/SNQCpTVUU4">pic.twitter.com/SNQCpTVUU4</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1977668287258595604?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>U.S. President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-egypt-6347e7da64f6c97b95109558096c0b6c">arrived in the region</a>, where he plans to discuss the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-war-peace-deal-trump-hostages-aid-3d994f7d482783da6fe7e18460ef06ab">U.S.-proposed deal</a>&nbsp;and postwar plans with other leaders.The war began when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-hostages-2-years-10-07-2025-6f19cb2eee5e05091c74f0e6f1bc356a">Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel</a>&nbsp;on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the dead were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and many independent experts consider its figures to be the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.The toll is expected to grow as bodies are pulled from rubble previously made inaccessible by fighting.The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its some 2 million residents. It has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/un-commission-of-inquiry-accuses-israel-of-genocide-in-gaza-ap-explains-2688e01c38c144c3842e3d810ab14309">allegations of genocide</a>&nbsp;that Israel denies.“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the AP on Sunday.<h2>Living hostages released first</h2>People gathered in a square in Tel Aviv sobbed as photos of the hostages reuniting with their families flashed up on the large screens. The hostages have become household names and their faces familiar across Israel over the past two years, and tens of thousands of Israelis watched the transfers at public screenings across the country.Soon after the hostages arrived back — after being handed first to the Red Cross, then to the military — Israel released the first photos of hostages arriving home. They included one showing 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing as they were reunited. Hostages previously released had said the twins from Kfar Aza were held separately.The photos of the first seven hostages released Monday showed them looking pale but less gaunt than some of the hostages freed in January.Palestinians, meanwhile, awaited the release of prisoners. An armored vehicle flying an Israeli flag fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a crowd. As drones buzzed overhead, the group scattered.The tear gas followed the circulation of a flier warning that anyone supporting what it called “terrorist organizations” risked arrest. Israel’s military did not respond to questions about the flier, which The Associated Press obtained on site.The prisoners slated for release include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.<h2>A painful chapter</h2>The hostages' return caps a painful chapter for Israel. Since they were captured in the attack that ignited the war, newscasts have marked their days in captivity and Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity. Tens of thousands have joined their families in weekly demonstrations calling for their release.As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political purposes, even as he accused Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under heavy international pressure and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-netanyahu-pariah-sanctions-rights-16c2a6774d4cf68194f7ae331a585007">increasing isolation for Israel</a>, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire.It remains unclear when the remains of 28 dead hostages will be returned. An international task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and the missing.

Hamas releases all 20 remaining living hostages as part of Gaza ceasefire

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 12:30 a.m. Oct. 8, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a tan 1997 Chevrolet 1500 near NW Jay Street and North Kansas Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, it was discovered that the passenger had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest through Shawnee County and illegal narcotics were located.

Frederick D. Anguish, 54, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and&nbsp;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into the human body.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759849979752.png" alt="Anguish photo Shawnee County" />
 <figcaption>Anguish photo Shawnee County</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.Just before 12:30 a.m. Oct. 8, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a tan 1997 Chevrolet 1500 near NW Jay Street and North Kansas Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. During the investigation, it was discovered that the passenger had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest through Shawnee County and illegal narcotics were located.Frederick D. Anguish, 54, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and&nbsp;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into the human body.

Passenger in Kansas traffic stop had a warrant for arrest

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Sunday warned Russia that he may send Ukraine long-range&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-tomahawk-missile-defense-0bcabfc4a87bf1a16beceec1b0c426fb">Tomahawk missiles</a>&nbsp;if Moscow doesn’t settle its war there soon — suggesting that he could be ready to increase the pressure on Vladimir Putin's government using a key weapons system.

“I might say, ’Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-trump-b86ea472e290947b98976eb9b7ef6994">flew to Israel</a>. “The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon. And honestly, Russia does not need that.”

Trump also said, "I might tell them that if the war is not settled -- that we may very well." He added, "We may not, but we may do it. I think it’s appropriate to bring up.”

His comments came after Trump spoke with Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy,</a>&nbsp;and Trump said he mentioned possibly sending Tomahawks during that conversation.

“Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said of Russia. “I think I might speak to Russia about that.” He added that “Tomahawks are a new step of aggression.”

His suggestions followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia having attacked</a>&nbsp;Ukraine’s power grid overnight, part of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-energy-drones-zelenskyy-sanctions-tomahawks-95e542fb1030e7e89fc8ac45afe3307a">ongoing campaign</a>&nbsp;to cripple Ukrainian energy infrastructure before winter. Moscow also expressed “extreme concern” over the U.S. potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Putin himself has previously suggested that the United States supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington.

For his part, Zelenskyy described his latest call with Trump as “very productive,” and said the pair had discussed strengthening Ukraine’s “air defense, resilience, and long-range capabilities,” along with “details related to the energy sector.”

In an interview with Fox News Channel’s “The Sunday Briefing” after his call with Trump, Zelenskyy was asked whether Trump had approved the Tomahawks and said, “we work on it.”

“I’m waiting for president to yes,” Zelenskyy said. “Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see. We will see.”

The Ukrainian president said Friday that he was in talks with U.S. officials about the possible provision of various long-range precision strike weapons, including Tomahawks and more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-1000-days-attack-06002c8c50bfb2fc622f446a8580bc0e">ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.</a>

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in remarks published Sunday that “the topic of Tomahawks is of extreme concern.”

Trump, who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-europe-next-steps-527983fab40e58208e9e18c943de696a">frustrated by Russia in his efforts</a>&nbsp;to end the war, said last week that he has “sort of made a decision” on whether to send Tomahawks to Ukraine, without elaborating. A senior Ukrainian delegation is set to visit the U.S. this week.

The U.S. president in recent weeks has taken a notably tougher tact with Putin, after the Russian leader has declined to engage in direct talks with Zelenskyy about easing fighting.

Last month, Trump announced that he now believes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-un-zelenskyy-trump-f28942b3915e40226654548bb3ee7919">Ukraine could win back</a>&nbsp;all the territory lost to Russia — a dramatic shift from the Republican’s repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-trump-summit-zelenskyy-a01a6dbae85b10cc710c48f1558c1401">calls for Kyiv to make concessions</a>&nbsp;to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war in Ukraine</a>.

But Trump, at least so far, has resisted Zelenskyy’s calls for Tomahawks. They would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory and put the sort of pressure on Putin that Zelenskyy argues is needed to get the Russians to seriously engage in peace talks.

Trump said aboard Air Force One of the war: “I really think Putin would look great if he got this settled" and that “It’s not going to be good for him” if not.

Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report from Washington.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760318404384.png" alt="President Trump spoke to reporters on his way to Israel late Sunday -image from White House video" />
 <figcaption>President Trump spoke to reporters on his way to Israel late Sunday -image from White House video</figcaption>
 </figure>ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Sunday warned Russia that he may send Ukraine long-range&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/japan-us-tomahawk-missile-defense-0bcabfc4a87bf1a16beceec1b0c426fb">Tomahawk missiles</a>&nbsp;if Moscow doesn’t settle its war there soon — suggesting that he could be ready to increase the pressure on Vladimir Putin's government using a key weapons system.“I might say, ’Look: if this war is not going to get settled, I’m going to send them Tomahawks,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-ceasefire-hostages-trump-b86ea472e290947b98976eb9b7ef6994">flew to Israel</a>. “The Tomahawk is an incredible weapon, very offensive weapon. And honestly, Russia does not need that.”Trump also said, "I might tell them that if the war is not settled -- that we may very well." He added, "We may not, but we may do it. I think it’s appropriate to bring up.”His comments came after Trump spoke with Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy,</a>&nbsp;and Trump said he mentioned possibly sending Tomahawks during that conversation.“Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don’t think so,” Trump said of Russia. “I think I might speak to Russia about that.” He added that “Tomahawks are a new step of aggression.”His suggestions followed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia having attacked</a>&nbsp;Ukraine’s power grid overnight, part of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-energy-drones-zelenskyy-sanctions-tomahawks-95e542fb1030e7e89fc8ac45afe3307a">ongoing campaign</a>&nbsp;to cripple Ukrainian energy infrastructure before winter. Moscow also expressed “extreme concern” over the U.S. potentially providing Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine.Putin himself has previously suggested that the United States supplying long-range missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington.For his part, Zelenskyy described his latest call with Trump as “very productive,” and said the pair had discussed strengthening Ukraine’s “air defense, resilience, and long-range capabilities,” along with “details related to the energy sector.”In an interview with Fox News Channel’s “The Sunday Briefing” after his call with Trump, Zelenskyy was asked whether Trump had approved the Tomahawks and said, “we work on it.”“I’m waiting for president to yes,” Zelenskyy said. “Of course we count on such decisions, but we will see. We will see.”The Ukrainian president said Friday that he was in talks with U.S. officials about the possible provision of various long-range precision strike weapons, including Tomahawks and more&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-1000-days-attack-06002c8c50bfb2fc622f446a8580bc0e">ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles.</a>Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in remarks published Sunday that “the topic of Tomahawks is of extreme concern.”Trump, who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-trump-europe-next-steps-527983fab40e58208e9e18c943de696a">frustrated by Russia in his efforts</a>&nbsp;to end the war, said last week that he has “sort of made a decision” on whether to send Tomahawks to Ukraine, without elaborating. A senior Ukrainian delegation is set to visit the U.S. this week.The U.S. president in recent weeks has taken a notably tougher tact with Putin, after the Russian leader has declined to engage in direct talks with Zelenskyy about easing fighting.Last month, Trump announced that he now believes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-un-zelenskyy-trump-f28942b3915e40226654548bb3ee7919">Ukraine could win back</a>&nbsp;all the territory lost to Russia — a dramatic shift from the Republican’s repeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-trump-summit-zelenskyy-a01a6dbae85b10cc710c48f1558c1401">calls for Kyiv to make concessions</a>&nbsp;to end&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">Russia’s war in Ukraine</a>.But Trump, at least so far, has resisted Zelenskyy’s calls for Tomahawks. They would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory and put the sort of pressure on Putin that Zelenskyy argues is needed to get the Russians to seriously engage in peace talks.Trump said aboard Air Force One of the war: “I really think Putin would look great if he got this settled" and that “It’s not going to be good for him” if not.___Weissert reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani contributed to this report from Washington.

Trump issues new warning to Russia if Moscow doesn't settle war soon

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman was sentenced in federal court&nbsp; for her leadership role in two cases that resulted in more than $500,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and more than $3,000,000 in stolen Treasury checks, according to the United State's Attorney.

Briauna Adams, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 11 years imprisonment based upon her guilty pleas to wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of government funds relating to a counterfeit check scheme and stolen United States Treasury checks.&nbsp; The defendant also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the SBA under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

According to court documents, Adams rented a townhome in Raymore, Mo., using the name and personal identification information of another person.&nbsp;On July 27, 2024, Adams opened an individual investment account from the Raymore residence.&nbsp; On Aug. 15, 2024, Adams deposited a Treasury check worth $1,445,443.69 in her name to the investment account. Fraud investigators with the investment account company determined the $1,445,443.69 Treasury check was fraudulent and&nbsp;reversed the deposit before suffering a financial&nbsp;loss.

On Nov. 14, 2024, a search warrant was executed on Adam’s rental townhome in Raymore.&nbsp; Approximately 253 stolen Treasury checks were found in the residence.&nbsp; The total value of the checks was approximately $700,000.

Finally, Adams conspired with others to prepare and file fraudulent PPP loan applications on their behalf.&nbsp; Adams filed false PPP loan applications for numerous persons resulting in a loss of approximately $540,302, which she was ordered to pay back in a restitution judgment.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman was sentenced in federal court&nbsp; for her leadership role in two cases that resulted in more than $500,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and more than $3,000,000 in stolen Treasury checks, according to the United State's Attorney.Briauna Adams, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 11 years imprisonment based upon her guilty pleas to wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of government funds relating to a counterfeit check scheme and stolen United States Treasury checks.&nbsp; The defendant also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the SBA under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).According to court documents, Adams rented a townhome in Raymore, Mo., using the name and personal identification information of another person.&nbsp;On July 27, 2024, Adams opened an individual investment account from the Raymore residence.&nbsp; On Aug. 15, 2024, Adams deposited a Treasury check worth $1,445,443.69 in her name to the investment account. Fraud investigators with the investment account company determined the $1,445,443.69 Treasury check was fraudulent and&nbsp;reversed the deposit before suffering a financial&nbsp;loss.On Nov. 14, 2024, a search warrant was executed on Adam’s rental townhome in Raymore.&nbsp; Approximately 253 stolen Treasury checks were found in the residence.&nbsp; The total value of the checks was approximately $700,000.Finally, Adams conspired with others to prepare and file fraudulent PPP loan applications on their behalf.&nbsp; Adams filed false PPP loan applications for numerous persons resulting in a loss of approximately $540,302, which she was ordered to pay back in a restitution judgment.

Prison: Kansas City woman for Covid-19 fraud, ID theft

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-sanchez-stabbing-felony-779e3e7c8a746b6218dfda8fcdb8d153">NFL quarterback and sports analyst Mark Sanchez</a>&nbsp;was released from custody Sunday, about a week after police said he was stabbed during a fight with a truck driver outside an Indiana hotel.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Sanchez's release. He faces a felony battery charge, along with several misdemeanor charges, for what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-sanchez-stabbing-felony-779e3e7c8a746b6218dfda8fcdb8d153">prosecutors have said was a fight over parking.</a>

A police affidavit says the 38-year-old Sanchez, smelling of alcohol, accosted 69-year-old Perry Tole, who had backed his truck into a hotel’s loading docks in downtown Indianapolis on Oct. 4. Tole claims in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-sanchez-stabbing-lawsuit-fox-3b1baf3a3bd68770857fbcbfcd6e478b">lawsuit filed Monday</a>&nbsp;that Sanchez entered the truck without permission, then physically blocked and shoved Tole, who then doused Sanchez with pepper spray.

When Sanchez advanced after being sprayed, Tole pulled a knife to defend himself, authorities said.

Sanchez was hospitalized with stab wounds to his upper right torso, according to a police affidavit. A picture of Tole circulating online shows him in a neck brace on a hospital bed, covered in blood with a deep slash to the side of his face.

Sanchez was in Indianapolis for Fox’s coverage of last Sunday’s game between the Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Sanchez had a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He spent four seasons with the New York Jets and also appeared in games with Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington.

He appeared on ABC and ESPN for two years before joining Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021.

A defense attorney for Sanchez didn't immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760301166685.png" alt="Mark Sanchez booking photo Marion County Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Mark Sanchez booking photo Marion County Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-sanchez-stabbing-felony-779e3e7c8a746b6218dfda8fcdb8d153">NFL quarterback and sports analyst Mark Sanchez</a>&nbsp;was released from custody Sunday, about a week after police said he was stabbed during a fight with a truck driver outside an Indiana hotel.The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Sanchez's release. He faces a felony battery charge, along with several misdemeanor charges, for what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-sanchez-stabbing-felony-779e3e7c8a746b6218dfda8fcdb8d153">prosecutors have said was a fight over parking.</a>A police affidavit says the 38-year-old Sanchez, smelling of alcohol, accosted 69-year-old Perry Tole, who had backed his truck into a hotel’s loading docks in downtown Indianapolis on Oct. 4. Tole claims in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-sanchez-stabbing-lawsuit-fox-3b1baf3a3bd68770857fbcbfcd6e478b">lawsuit filed Monday</a>&nbsp;that Sanchez entered the truck without permission, then physically blocked and shoved Tole, who then doused Sanchez with pepper spray.When Sanchez advanced after being sprayed, Tole pulled a knife to defend himself, authorities said.Sanchez was hospitalized with stab wounds to his upper right torso, according to a police affidavit. A picture of Tole circulating online shows him in a neck brace on a hospital bed, covered in blood with a deep slash to the side of his face.Sanchez was in Indianapolis for Fox’s coverage of last Sunday’s game between the Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders.Sanchez had a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He spent four seasons with the New York Jets and also appeared in games with Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington.He appeared on ABC and ESPN for two years before joining Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021.A defense attorney for Sanchez didn't immediately respond to a telephone message seeking comment.

 Ex-NFL QB released from custody after knife fight over parking

FORD COUNTY —Three people died in a fire Sunday in Dodge City.

Just after 9:30a.m., the Dodge City Fire Department received a call&nbsp; regarding a structure fire in the area between McArtor Road and Agnes Street, according to a media release from the fire department.

Firefighters found two trailer homes and three vehicles involved in the fire, with one trailer home already fully engulfed in flames.

Crews worked quickly to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading further. Fhree fatalities resulted from the incident. The Dodge City Police Department is currently interviewing family members to gather additional information to help identify those in the fire.

Although the fire is out, a Dodge City Fire Department engine remains on scene to monitor for any potential flare-ups and to assist the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office once they arrive to conduct a full investigation on the cause of the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760352435825.png" alt="Photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>FORD COUNTY —Three people died in a fire Sunday in Dodge City.Just after 9:30a.m., the Dodge City Fire Department received a call&nbsp; regarding a structure fire in the area between McArtor Road and Agnes Street, according to a media release from the fire department.Firefighters found two trailer homes and three vehicles involved in the fire, with one trailer home already fully engulfed in flames.Crews worked quickly to contain and extinguish the fire, preventing it from spreading further. Fhree fatalities resulted from the incident. The Dodge City Police Department is currently interviewing family members to gather additional information to help identify those in the fire.Although the fire is out, a Dodge City Fire Department engine remains on scene to monitor for any potential flare-ups and to assist the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office once they arrive to conduct a full investigation on the cause of the fire.

Three found dead in southwest Kansas fire

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/tom-murphy">TOM MURPHY</a> Associated Press

Fewer choices may be on the menu again as Medicare patients shop for prescription coverage this fall.

The number of available, stand-alone drug plans has fallen for a few years, and that trend will continue for 2026. Most markets will still have several choices, but some options are becoming particularly sparse for shoppers with low-income subsidies. And help may be harder to find because some insurers no longer pay brokers commissions for new business.

Shoppers have from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 to find new coverage that starts in January.

Here’s who needs a Medicare Part D plan

Regular Medicare, which most people qualify for after turning 65, does not come with prescription coverage, known as Part D. People must choose that separately.

About 23 million people with regular Medicare have this standalone coverage, according to the non-profit KFF, which studies health care.

Another roughly 34 million people have Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run versions of Medicare that often come with prescription coverage.

A typical shopper will be able to choose a standalone drug plan from among eight to 12 options for 2026, according to KFF Medicare expert Juliette Cubanski. That’s down from 12 to 16 options in 2025.

Shoppers had nearly 30 choices as recently as 2021, according to the Commonwealth Fund’s Gretchen Jacobson.

Depending on the state, a range of one to four plans will be available at no premium to people who qualify for low-income subsidies, according to KFF. Eight were available in 2021.

Some insurers are reducing their presence in standalone Part D plans, while the Blue Cross-Blue Shield carrier Elevance is leaving the market entirely. Insurers and analysts who follow the industry note that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">the Inflation Reduction Act</a>, which will cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 in 2026, puts more financial pressure on insurers. The same law now allows patients to spread the cost of prescriptions over the year.

There are still many Medicare Part D options

Most markets will have several choices. But experts say Medicare Part D customers don’t like to shop, especially if they already have a plan that covers their medications. Finding affordable coverage for multiple prescriptions can be tricky.

“I think there’s a lot of inertia and, frankly, people may be concerned that if they switch, they’re going to end up worse off,” Cubanski said.

More people are being pushed to shop. Nearly 11% of those with standalone prescription drug coverage lost their plan in 2024, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2834155?guestaccesskey=945ba919-ae7d-4e09-9372-d5c7ba67e606&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=postup_jn&amp;utm_campaign=article_alert-jama&amp;utm_content=etoc-tfl_&amp;utm_term=072225" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Before 2023, that figure was often under 1%, said Dr. Christopher Cai, one of the researchers involved in the study.

Here’s how Medicare Part D prices are changing

Monthly premiums, or coverage prices, will fall nearly 10% on average to $34.50, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-advantage-medicare-prescription-drug-programs-expected-remain-stable-2026" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;last month.

At least one option with a premium of under $20 exists in almost every region of the country, according to the consulting firm Oliver Wyman.

Individual prices will range widely, with premiums for the same plan varying by state, Cubanski noted.

But while plans may provide lower coverage prices, they could also raise deductibles or offer more limited lists of covered drugs, which are called formularies. Shoppers should check these details.

Insurers will be allowed to raise premiums by as much as $50 a month for 2026, up from a $35 increase allowed this year. But Cubanski said only some plans will hit that higher limit and not necessarily in all states.

Where to get help shopping for Medicare Part D plans

Shoppers can use a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2025&amp;lang=en" target="_blank">federal government website</a>&nbsp;to compare plan prices and coverage.

States also have a State Health Insurance Program created specifically to help people on Medicare find coverage.

Consumers can help themselves by checking their coverage for changes and comparing it with other plans.

Shoppers also should consider whether their pharmacy is in the network covered by any plan they are considering, said Jacobson, Commonwealth’s vice president of Medicare.

Some might also consider switching to Medicare Advantage plans with prescription coverage. But those plans can have more limited networks of covered doctors, which can pose a problem for people with fewer care choices in rural areas.

The enrollment window spans several weeks, but brokers say many people wait until that first week in December to make decisions, often after talking with family during holiday dinners.

That can create a deadline crunch that makes it harder to find help in early December.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760272024204.png" alt="Post photo" />
 <figcaption>Post photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/tom-murphy">TOM MURPHY</a> Associated PressFewer choices may be on the menu again as Medicare patients shop for prescription coverage this fall.The number of available, stand-alone drug plans has fallen for a few years, and that trend will continue for 2026. Most markets will still have several choices, but some options are becoming particularly sparse for shoppers with low-income subsidies. And help may be harder to find because some insurers no longer pay brokers commissions for new business.Shoppers have from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 to find new coverage that starts in January.Some things to consider:<h2>Here’s who needs a Medicare Part D plan</h2>Regular Medicare, which most people qualify for after turning 65, does not come with prescription coverage, known as Part D. People must choose that separately.About 23 million people with regular Medicare have this standalone coverage, according to the non-profit KFF, which studies health care.Another roughly 34 million people have Medicare Advantage plans, which are privately run versions of Medicare that often come with prescription coverage.<h2>How Medicare Part D plans are changing</h2>A typical shopper will be able to choose a standalone drug plan from among eight to 12 options for 2026, according to KFF Medicare expert Juliette Cubanski. That’s down from 12 to 16 options in 2025.Shoppers had nearly 30 choices as recently as 2021, according to the Commonwealth Fund’s Gretchen Jacobson.Depending on the state, a range of one to four plans will be available at no premium to people who qualify for low-income subsidies, according to KFF. Eight were available in 2021.Some insurers are reducing their presence in standalone Part D plans, while the Blue Cross-Blue Shield carrier Elevance is leaving the market entirely. Insurers and analysts who follow the industry note that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-climate-health-tax-law-economy-inflation-f112d7c78abaa724d22964317d213deb">the Inflation Reduction Act</a>, which will cap annual out-of-pocket drug costs at $2,100 in 2026, puts more financial pressure on insurers. The same law now allows patients to spread the cost of prescriptions over the year.<h2>There are still many Medicare Part D options</h2>Most markets will have several choices. But experts say Medicare Part D customers don’t like to shop, especially if they already have a plan that covers their medications. Finding affordable coverage for multiple prescriptions can be tricky.“I think there’s a lot of inertia and, frankly, people may be concerned that if they switch, they’re going to end up worse off,” Cubanski said.More people are being pushed to shop. Nearly 11% of those with standalone prescription drug coverage lost their plan in 2024, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2834155?guestaccesskey=945ba919-ae7d-4e09-9372-d5c7ba67e606&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=postup_jn&amp;utm_campaign=article_alert-jama&amp;utm_content=etoc-tfl_&amp;utm_term=072225" target="_blank">research</a>&nbsp;published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association.Before 2023, that figure was often under 1%, said Dr. Christopher Cai, one of the researchers involved in the study.<h2>Here’s how Medicare Part D prices are changing</h2>Monthly premiums, or coverage prices, will fall nearly 10% on average to $34.50, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/medicare-advantage-medicare-prescription-drug-programs-expected-remain-stable-2026" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;last month.At least one option with a premium of under $20 exists in almost every region of the country, according to the consulting firm Oliver Wyman.Individual prices will range widely, with premiums for the same plan varying by state, Cubanski noted.But while plans may provide lower coverage prices, they could also raise deductibles or offer more limited lists of covered drugs, which are called formularies. Shoppers should check these details.Insurers will be allowed to raise premiums by as much as $50 a month for 2026, up from a $35 increase allowed this year. But Cubanski said only some plans will hit that higher limit and not necessarily in all states.<h2>Where to get help shopping for Medicare Part D plans</h2>Shoppers can use a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2025&amp;lang=en" target="_blank">federal government website</a>&nbsp;to compare plan prices and coverage.States also have a State Health Insurance Program created specifically to help people on Medicare find coverage.Consumers can help themselves by checking their coverage for changes and comparing it with other plans.Shoppers also should consider whether their pharmacy is in the network covered by any plan they are considering, said Jacobson, Commonwealth’s vice president of Medicare.Some might also consider switching to Medicare Advantage plans with prescription coverage. But those plans can have more limited networks of covered doctors, which can pose a problem for people with fewer care choices in rural areas.<h2>Why delaying may not be wise</h2>The enrollment window spans several weeks, but brokers say many people wait until that first week in December to make decisions, often after talking with family during holiday dinners.That can create a deadline crunch that makes it harder to find help in early December.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Prescription drug coverage options are shrinking for Medicare shoppers

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sarah-raza">SARAH RAZA</a>

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — When Rob Coverdale started his job in 2023 as superintendent of the K-12 Crow Creek Tribal School in South Dakota, there were 15 unfilled teaching positions.

Within nine months, he had filled those vacancies with Filipino teachers, the majority of whom arrived on the H-1B, a visa for skilled workers in specialty occupations.

“We’ve hired the H-1B teachers because we quite simply didn’t have other applicants for those positions,” Coverdale said. “So they’re certainly not taking jobs from Americans. They’re filling jobs that otherwise just simply we would not get filled.”

Now a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-explainer-7d5dae2c65b2fa27a7730be3c6833d32">$100,000 fee</a>&nbsp;for H-1B visa applications spells trouble for those like Coverdale in rural parts of the country who rely on immigrants to fill vacancies in skilled professions like education and health care.

The Trump administration announced the fee on Sept. 19, arguing that employers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-8d39699d0b2de3d90936f8076357254e">replacing</a>&nbsp;American workers with cheaper talent from overseas. Since then, the White House has said the fee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-changes-trump-cbb0995814cf2c9a3c74a6dcf2b31d72">won’t apply</a>&nbsp;to existing visa holders and offered a form to request exemptions from the charge.

H-1Bs are primarily associated with tech workers from India. Big tech companies are the biggest user of the visa, and nearly three-quarters of those approved are from India. But there are critical workers, like teachers and doctors, who fall outside that category.

Over the last decade, the U.S. has faced a shortage in those and other sectors. One in eight public school positions are vacant or filled by uncertified teachers, and the American Medical Association projects a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-doctors-trump-medical-residents-j1-visa-4d1aafa387086518735b385809bd4e1f">shortage</a>&nbsp;of 87,000 physicians in the next decade. The shortages are often worse in small, rural communities that struggle to fill jobs due to lower wages and often lack basic necessities like shopping and home rental options.

<a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7Tv2j59PwNEyqGCi1y" target="_blank">▶ Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel.</a>

H-1B and J-1 visas provide communities an option to hire immigrants with advanced training and certification. The J-1s are short-term visas for cultural exchange programs that aren’t subject to the new fee but, unlike the H-1B, don’t offer a pathway to permanent residency.

While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-explainer-7d5dae2c65b2fa27a7730be3c6833d32">large companies</a>&nbsp;may be able to absorb the new fee, that’s not an option for most rural communities, said Melissa Sadorf, executive director of the National Rural Education Association.

“It really is potentially the cost of the salary and benefits of one teacher, maybe even two, depending on the state,” she said. “Attaching that price tag to a single hire, it just simply puts that position out of reach for rural budgets.”

A coalition of health care providers, religious groups and educators filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-h1b-visa-trump-8afc10165ce911d43a4cd47ade4268e1">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;on Friday to stop the H-1B fee, saying it would harm hospitals, churches, schools and industries that rely on the visa. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment and referred a query to its website.

Filling classrooms where Americans won’t go

Coverdale said spots like Stephan, where Crow Creek is based, struggle to attract workers in part because of their isolation. Stephan is nearly an hour’s drive from the nearest Walmart or any place that sells clothes, he said.

“The more remote you are, the more challenging it is for your staff members to get to your school and serve your kids,” he said.

Among Coverdale’s hires is Mary Joy Ponce-Torres, who had 24 years of teaching experience in the Philippines and now teaches history at Crow Creek. It was a cultural adjustment, but Ponce-Torres said she’s made friends and Stephan is now a second home.

“I came from a private school,” she said. “When I came here, I saw it was more like a rural area ... but maybe I was also looking for the same vibe, the same atmosphere where I can just take my time, take things in a much slower pace.”

Many immigrants like Ponce-Torres leave their family behind to pursue the experience and higher wages that a U.S. job can provide.

Sean Rickert, superintendent of the Pima Unified School District in Pima, Arizona, said he would stop seeking H-1B teachers if the new fee is imposed. “I just plain don’t have the money,” he said.

Though schools can also use J-1 visas to bring in immigrant teachers, it increases turnover because it is shorter term.

“It’s so important that we find permanent people, people who can buy homes, who can become part of our community,” said George Shipley, superintendent at Bison Schools in the town of Bison, South Dakota. “So the H-1B opens that possibility. It is super important, in my opinion, to actually transition from the J-1 visas to the H-1B.”

Without enough staff, schools may hire uncertified teachers, combine classes, increase caseloads for special education managers or drop some course offerings. Shipley said any future shortage of teachers in Bison would force some classes to move online.

The rural reliance on immigrant teachers is concentrated on harder-to-fill specialties, Sadorf said.

“It’s a lot more difficult to find a high school advanced math teacher that’s qualified than it is to fill a second or third grade elementary class position,” she said.

Closing gaps in the nation’s doctor shortage

The fee could be a “huge problem” for health care, said Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association and a doctor in Flint, Michigan. Without enough doctors, patients will have to drive farther and wait longer for care.

One-quarter of the nation’s physicians are international medical graduates, according to the AMA.

“It’s just going to be terrible for the physician shortage, particularly in rural areas,” said Mukkamala, whose parents came to the U.S. as international medical graduates. “The people that do graduate from here, who want to practice medicine, obviously have a choice and they’re going to pick Detroit, they’re going to pick Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco. ... This is kind of where everybody goes.”

Leading medical societies have called on the Trump administration and lawmakers to grant exemptions from the fee to immigrant health care workers.

“Given the staffing and financial challenges our hospitals are already facing, the increased petition fees outlined in the September 19 Proclamation would likely prevent many of them from continuing to recruit essential health care staff and could force a reduction in the services they are able to provide,” the American Hospital Association said in a statement.

Allison Roberts, vice president of human resources at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown, South Dakota, said the change could be dire for health care in rural America.

“If we end up not being exempt, the variation between what it is now and that $100,000 fee is going to really take your smaller, rural health care institutions out of the picture,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1758369495841.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sarah-raza">SARAH RAZA</a>SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — When Rob Coverdale started his job in 2023 as superintendent of the K-12 Crow Creek Tribal School in South Dakota, there were 15 unfilled teaching positions.Within nine months, he had filled those vacancies with Filipino teachers, the majority of whom arrived on the H-1B, a visa for skilled workers in specialty occupations.“We’ve hired the H-1B teachers because we quite simply didn’t have other applicants for those positions,” Coverdale said. “So they’re certainly not taking jobs from Americans. They’re filling jobs that otherwise just simply we would not get filled.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> signs a Proclamation to restrict the entry of certain H-1B aliens into the U.S. as nonimmigrant workers, requiring a $100,000 payment to accompany or supplement H-1B petitions for new applications. AMERICA FIRST! <a href="https://t.co/AzAUJzXawV">pic.twitter.com/AzAUJzXawV</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1969155493701571049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Now a new&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-explainer-7d5dae2c65b2fa27a7730be3c6833d32">$100,000 fee</a>&nbsp;for H-1B visa applications spells trouble for those like Coverdale in rural parts of the country who rely on immigrants to fill vacancies in skilled professions like education and health care.The Trump administration announced the fee on Sept. 19, arguing that employers were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-8d39699d0b2de3d90936f8076357254e">replacing</a>&nbsp;American workers with cheaper talent from overseas. Since then, the White House has said the fee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-changes-trump-cbb0995814cf2c9a3c74a6dcf2b31d72">won’t apply</a>&nbsp;to existing visa holders and offered a form to request exemptions from the charge.H-1Bs are primarily associated with tech workers from India. Big tech companies are the biggest user of the visa, and nearly three-quarters of those approved are from India. But there are critical workers, like teachers and doctors, who fall outside that category.Over the last decade, the U.S. has faced a shortage in those and other sectors. One in eight public school positions are vacant or filled by uncertified teachers, and the American Medical Association projects a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/international-doctors-trump-medical-residents-j1-visa-4d1aafa387086518735b385809bd4e1f">shortage</a>&nbsp;of 87,000 physicians in the next decade. The shortages are often worse in small, rural communities that struggle to fill jobs due to lower wages and often lack basic necessities like shopping and home rental options.<a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va7Tv2j59PwNEyqGCi1y" target="_blank">▶ Stay up to date with the latest U.S. news by signing up to our WhatsApp channel.</a>H-1B and J-1 visas provide communities an option to hire immigrants with advanced training and certification. The J-1s are short-term visas for cultural exchange programs that aren’t subject to the new fee but, unlike the H-1B, don’t offer a pathway to permanent residency.While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-explainer-7d5dae2c65b2fa27a7730be3c6833d32">large companies</a>&nbsp;may be able to absorb the new fee, that’s not an option for most rural communities, said Melissa Sadorf, executive director of the National Rural Education Association.“It really is potentially the cost of the salary and benefits of one teacher, maybe even two, depending on the state,” she said. “Attaching that price tag to a single hire, it just simply puts that position out of reach for rural budgets.”A coalition of health care providers, religious groups and educators filed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-h1b-visa-trump-8afc10165ce911d43a4cd47ade4268e1">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;on Friday to stop the H-1B fee, saying it would harm hospitals, churches, schools and industries that rely on the visa. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment and referred a query to its website.<h2>Filling classrooms where Americans won’t go</h2>Coverdale said spots like Stephan, where Crow Creek is based, struggle to attract workers in part because of their isolation. Stephan is nearly an hour’s drive from the nearest Walmart or any place that sells clothes, he said.“The more remote you are, the more challenging it is for your staff members to get to your school and serve your kids,” he said.Among Coverdale’s hires is Mary Joy Ponce-Torres, who had 24 years of teaching experience in the Philippines and now teaches history at Crow Creek. It was a cultural adjustment, but Ponce-Torres said she’s made friends and Stephan is now a second home.“I came from a private school,” she said. “When I came here, I saw it was more like a rural area ... but maybe I was also looking for the same vibe, the same atmosphere where I can just take my time, take things in a much slower pace.”Many immigrants like Ponce-Torres leave their family behind to pursue the experience and higher wages that a U.S. job can provide.Sean Rickert, superintendent of the Pima Unified School District in Pima, Arizona, said he would stop seeking H-1B teachers if the new fee is imposed. “I just plain don’t have the money,” he said.Though schools can also use J-1 visas to bring in immigrant teachers, it increases turnover because it is shorter term.“It’s so important that we find permanent people, people who can buy homes, who can become part of our community,” said George Shipley, superintendent at Bison Schools in the town of Bison, South Dakota. “So the H-1B opens that possibility. It is super important, in my opinion, to actually transition from the J-1 visas to the H-1B.”Without enough staff, schools may hire uncertified teachers, combine classes, increase caseloads for special education managers or drop some course offerings. Shipley said any future shortage of teachers in Bison would force some classes to move online.The rural reliance on immigrant teachers is concentrated on harder-to-fill specialties, Sadorf said.“It’s a lot more difficult to find a high school advanced math teacher that’s qualified than it is to fill a second or third grade elementary class position,” she said.<h2>Closing gaps in the nation’s doctor shortage</h2>The fee could be a “huge problem” for health care, said Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association and a doctor in Flint, Michigan. Without enough doctors, patients will have to drive farther and wait longer for care.One-quarter of the nation’s physicians are international medical graduates, according to the AMA.“It’s just going to be terrible for the physician shortage, particularly in rural areas,” said Mukkamala, whose parents came to the U.S. as international medical graduates. “The people that do graduate from here, who want to practice medicine, obviously have a choice and they’re going to pick Detroit, they’re going to pick Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco. ... This is kind of where everybody goes.”Leading medical societies have called on the Trump administration and lawmakers to grant exemptions from the fee to immigrant health care workers.“Given the staffing and financial challenges our hospitals are already facing, the increased petition fees outlined in the September 19 Proclamation would likely prevent many of them from continuing to recruit essential health care staff and could force a reduction in the services they are able to provide,” the American Hospital Association said in a statement.Allison Roberts, vice president of human resources at Prairie Lakes Healthcare System in Watertown, South Dakota, said the change could be dire for health care in rural America.“If we end up not being exempt, the variation between what it is now and that $100,000 fee is going to really take your smaller, rural health care institutions out of the picture,” she said.

Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee threatens rural schools and hospitals 

Residents deal with mile-long walks, corner store diets and poorer health as grocers are forced to close unprofitable locations on both sides of the state line

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/thomaswhite/">Thomas White</a>

Phillip Ramsey is a master gardener who’s planting fall produce in one of the community gardens he manages. It’s just two blocks from the Sun Fresh grocery store that operated at 31st Street and Prospect Avenue until it shut down in August.

The retired Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient has lived in the neighborhood for 35 years. He’s seen the area when it was a&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/26/kansas-grocery-stores-closure-rural-healthy-foods-initiative/" target="_blank">food desert</a>&nbsp;before and is troubled by the desert’s return.

Ramsey is trying to do his part by growing and giving away more than 1,000 pounds of produce. But he knows that’s only a bandage for a bigger wound. He is worried for his neighbors — often elderly or low-income — who will now have a harder time finding nutritious food.

“I’ve seen an uptick in neighbors needing the service of the community garden,” Ramsey said. “The impact of the store closing is being felt throughout the neighborhood, and we’ll get by because we always get by. But I’m beginning to see resentment set in, and that scares me.”

The Sun Fresh closure is just part of a growing urban food desert and food insecurity problem in the area. Six miles away in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, the Merc Co+op will close at the end of the year, returning that area to food desert status after just five years of operation.

“I live in a food desert if I am not able to get to a full service grocery store easily,” said&nbsp; Kristina Bridges, a research assistant professor in University of Kansas Medical Center’s department of family medicine and community health. Food insecurity is defined as whether “in the past 12 months, have you run out of food before you could get more? If the answer is yes, you have food insecurity.”

Together, the two grocery store closures will hamper thousands of residents in low-income and low-food-access areas that Dina Newman from the Center for Neighborhoods calls “communities of concern.”

Tight profit margins at grocery stores mean that grocers often avoid the risk of investing in these communities of concern. As a result, food desert maps follow disinvestment patterns that resemble historic redlining.

Those living in a food desert or experiencing food insecurity have measurably worse health outcomes including a life expectancy shortened by 2.29 years, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pressroom.cancer.org/releases?item=1237" target="_blank">American Cancer Society researchers</a>. While some like Ramsey work to provide short-term community-level solutions, Bridges says broader long-term approaches are also needed.

With the two local grocery stores closing, new food deserts will emerge.

In the late 1980s, Newman was a single mother without a car. She knows the struggle of navigating a food desert firsthand.

“So if I’m working … I have to plan it out to get to the bus to get over to a store. Then l’m waiting at the bus stop, which is sometimes just a patch of dirt,” Newman said. “Then I have to transfer buses with a full load of groceries. What about my child, are they with me? Am I safe alone after dark? You are juggling all this just trying to get to the grocery store, that’s the challenge.”

She recalled one incident during the winter when an ice storm came while she was shopping. Out of necessity, she put her socks over her shoes in an attempt to get some traction and not fall and spill her groceries.

“This is all your hard-earned money in these groceries, you’ve got to get them home,” she said.

Ramsey says that many people in his neighborhood now have to walk up to a mile or take the bus to get fresh food at places like Aldi or Happy Foods. He says the effort required to get nutritious food means that many with limited means will just turn to more convenient options like corner stores and gas stations.

“I can’t throw a rock without hitting a fried chicken spot,” Ramsey said. “So we’re eating processed food, cheap food that we can get our hands on, because access to fresh healthy food is not an option for us.”

Historic patterns with current consequences

While food deserts and food insecurity touch both urban and&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/26/kansas-grocery-stores-closure-rural-healthy-foods-initiative/" target="_blank">rural populations</a>, there is a racial disparity. According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/108905/EIB-269.pdf?v=75617" target="_blank">2024 USDA report,</a>&nbsp;8% of white households face food insecurity while the number is 21% for Black households and 16.9% for Hispanic households nationwide.

Notably, that report is the last USDA survey on food security for the foreseeable future. The Trump administration has labeled the report “<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/09/20/usda-terminates-redundant-food-insecurity-survey" target="_blank">redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous</a>.”If a census tract was redlined as “declining” or “hazardous” in the 1930s Home Owners’ Loan Corp. maps, that translated into a 107% and 149% increase in the likelihood that the same census tract would be a food desert today, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9303837/" target="_blank">2022 study covering 102 U.S. cities</a>.

“It just feels like this is all intentional,” Ramsey said.

Bridges says KU Medical system has been mapping food insecurity among patients since 2017 and sees a strong correlation between rates of Type 2 diabetes, modern food insecurity and historic redlining.

“It’s really no surprise that the bubbles (on the map) overlapped,” said Bridges. “We have big food insecurity bubbles, big Type 2 diabetes bubbles. … They were north, where downtown KCK and the Merc is, and the east side where the Sun Fresh was. …If we pull out our old redlining maps, it’s exactly the same pattern.”

The seemingly structural nature of the problem has led many advocates to use the term “food apartheid” instead of “food desert,” since a desert occurs naturally while food insecurity appears to occur as the result of man-made systems.

“I knew what food apartheid was before food apartheid was a phrase,” Ramsey said. “You go to certain places and the quality of the food is vastly different. … We’re forced to take the scraps and it’s an affront to our personhood.”

The lack of access to nutritious food has hurtful consequences. Chronic diseases like obesity, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes become more common, but so do complications from deficiencies in fiber and good gut bacteria that are primarily found in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Bridges says understanding these connections between food deserts, food insecurity and chronic disease is something that even some doctors need education on. She recalls speaking to a practitioner who said they didn’t believe there was a problem with food insecurity because “his patients were all fat.”

“That completely misses the mark,” Bridges said. “Just the long-term chronic stress of being food insecure or living in a food desert releases cortisol in your body that can cause a host of things … including obesity.”

Economic reality of grocery stores closing

Both the Prospect Sun Fresh and the KCK Merc Co+op faced the economic headwinds of operating a grocery store in a historically disinvested neighborhood. While each faced unique issues with their locations, they shared similar challenges.

The Prospect Sun Fresh’s former operator — nonprofit developer Community Builders, which also runs Sun Fresh at 4209 E. 50th Terrace&nbsp; — said they faced a litany of operating challenges at the Prospect location and lost approximately $5 million trying to keep the store open from February 2022 to August 2025.

“We stepped up to fill a void that no one else was going to fill,” said Community Builders CEO Emmet Pearson at an Urban Summit meeting after the Prospect Sun Fresh closed. “The previous operator reached out to us because he tried to get other operators to come forward and no one else would.”

The city had previously invested $17 million to $18 million into shopping center infrastructure at Linwood Boulevard and Prospect Avenue and was the landlord of the Sun Fresh location. Pearson says that meant Community Builders couldn’t fully control the environment around the store due to limitations in their lease. Board of directors member Kiki Curls says that directly hurt business.

“It’s the element that’s outside the store that impacted us doing business,” said Curls at the Urban Summit meeting. “When you have open prostitution, open drug use and drug sales, when you have folks that pull down their pants and defecate in front of the door when people are coming in store, people do not come back.”

Community Builders themselves received $750,000 in direct cash subsidy from the city to help at the Prospect Sun Fresh in May 2025 along with $161,500 in rent relief. Pearson and the board of directors say that was a drop in the bucket compared to their operational challenges.

Security was $5,000 to $6,000 a week with the cost of a single off-duty police officer paid between $60 and $90 an hour. The store had a “persistent sewer smell” for months that they say stemmed from infrastructure issues. Community Builders said these issues combined to drive sales down and customers away, which ultimately led to taking a loss and closing the store.

Across the state line, the Merc Co+op is in its waning days. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, had invested approximately $7 million to bring in the Lawrence-based fresh grocer.

After three years of planning and five years of operation the Merc announced in June that it would close at the end of this year. Merc cited poor financial performance at the downtown KCK location and that operating it further could hurt the long-term viability of the cooperative, which has operated in Lawrence for 50 years.

Contributing to the closure was the failure of promised nearby redevelopment, which was intended to increase population density, median wages and foot traffic in the area, needed to help support the grocer. A $25 million redevelopment of the Reardon Convention Center across the street from the Merc never came to fruition after several extensions. And a nearby $145 million Minnesota Avenue Triangle mixed-use project fell through, with developers citing funding gaps.

Patrick Shabram, a location research consultant with G2G analytics who helps grocers identify viable locations by projecting future sales, says there are many considerations to determining whether a grocery store will succeed. He said the top three indicators that most grocery stores look for are population density per area competitor, income level and the education level of a neighborhood.

As a general rule, Shabram said a grocery store targets $100,000 in sales per square foot in the first year of operation. Notably, the net profit margin for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-facts" target="_blank">grocery stores nationwide is just 1.7%</a>&nbsp;according to FMI, a food industry association, which means that even a slight dip in sales could doom a store.

Shabram said the challenge grocers face in opening in an underserved area is balancing the social good of opening a store in an area that needs it while also maintaining profitability.

“I provide the most accurate sales forecast I can so that there can be the proper expectations,” Shabram said. “Then I’m basically saying do what you can to make it work.”

He says that often means looking into grants and incentives to make it through the first couple of lean years while the store establishes itself. He says other ways grocery stores look to improve profitability are pulling in shoppers from neighboring areas or selling higher-margin items like prepared meals or retail. But he says visibility, access, parking lot size, the store’s fit in the neighborhood and size of the store are all major determinants of grocery store success.

“There’s no one answer for every scenario. But a lot of times I’m encouraging people to open smaller stores,” Shabram said. “That might mean it won’t have all the items needed for weekly shopping at the store, but you can provide access to fresh foods that weren’t available at the dollar store.”

Community solutions and addressing root causes

The local governments on both sides of the state line say that they are working to attract grocery stores to replace the recently shuttered locations.

In the meantime, stopgap solutions are being pursued.

Newman — in her capacity as founder of the Kansas City Black Urban Growers — partnered with area urban farmers and the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascitydefender.com/mutual-aid-community-programs/kcs-black-farms-unite-hamer-free-food-program/" target="_blank">Kansas City Defender</a>&nbsp;to create the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article311797218.html" target="_blank">Hamer Free Food Program</a>. They will give out monthly food boxes to residents within one mile of the closed Sun Fresh. The program is in the pilot phase, and 50 household slots were filled in a matter of hours.

Ramsey works with the nonprofit Urban Green Dreams and will continue to manage community gardens as he hopes to give away 2,000 pounds of food this year. He also works to help educate students in nearby classrooms about growing food.

“I’m running into kids who don’t know that potatoes come from the ground or that peaches come from trees,” he said. “They know every flavor of Takis, though.”

Throughout the metro area, nonprofit Kanbe’s Markets place coolers and tiered baskets of fresh produce in independent corner stores on a consignment basis. The idea is to bring fresh produce to where people shop in low-food-access census tracts. Kanbe’s has joined with 50 community partners to place fresh fruits and vegetables in 100 corner stores, including one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kanbesmarkets.org/healthy-corner-stores" target="_blank">five blocks from</a>&nbsp;the soon to close Merc Co+op.

“All these downstream things, just to feed people today, are essential,” Bridges said. “But we also need to be thinking of upstream and long-term solutions.”

Bridges said that the root causes of food deserts and food insecurity are a tangled web of health care, agriculture, education and economic factors. She believes a shift to viewing nutritious food as medicine could bring about a drop in chronic disease. That drop in preventable disease could also save the public and insurers money in the form of reduced insurance premiums, fewer claims and fewer overwhelmed emergency rooms.

“It wouldn’t obviously be a quick fix,” Bridges said. “But if you are going to do things like subsidize a building, but then not also address all the other things creating this poor economic situation like jobs, mental health, transportation access and quality of schools, then of course we’re not going to have an environment where a grocery store would survive.”

She points to some smaller programs that offer medically tailored groceries, ready-to-eat meals or fruit and vegetable vouchers. Bridges does say that getting multiple sectors to cooperate presents a sizable challenge in upscaling programs like those. But it’s a challenge that she says must be taken on to truly address the issue.

“Even though they (local governments) tried to be intentional in supporting the two grocery stores in these areas,” said Bridges, “it takes a bigger commitment from multiple sectors to really reinvest in the neighborhoods that have been divested from to address the root cause.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/03/grocery-stores-near-me-food-deserts-redlining-kansas-city/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1759841813161.png" alt=" Phillip Ramsey, a master gardener, stands in the Ruby Jeans Community Garden at 29th Street and Wabash Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, where he grows and distributes fresh produce to neighbors (Thomas White/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Phillip Ramsey, a master gardener, stands in the Ruby Jeans Community Garden at 29th Street and Wabash Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, where he grows and distributes fresh produce to neighbors (Thomas White/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Residents deal with mile-long walks, corner store diets and poorer health as grocers are forced to close unprofitable locations on both sides of the state line</h2>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/thomaswhite/">Thomas White</a>Phillip Ramsey is a master gardener who’s planting fall produce in one of the community gardens he manages. It’s just two blocks from the Sun Fresh grocery store that operated at 31st Street and Prospect Avenue until it shut down in August.The retired Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient has lived in the neighborhood for 35 years. He’s seen the area when it was a&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/26/kansas-grocery-stores-closure-rural-healthy-foods-initiative/" target="_blank">food desert</a>&nbsp;before and is troubled by the desert’s return.Ramsey is trying to do his part by growing and giving away more than 1,000 pounds of produce. But he knows that’s only a bandage for a bigger wound. He is worried for his neighbors — often elderly or low-income — who will now have a harder time finding nutritious food.“I’ve seen an uptick in neighbors needing the service of the community garden,” Ramsey said. “The impact of the store closing is being felt throughout the neighborhood, and we’ll get by because we always get by. But I’m beginning to see resentment set in, and that scares me.”The Sun Fresh closure is just part of a growing urban food desert and food insecurity problem in the area. Six miles away in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, the Merc Co+op will close at the end of the year, returning that area to food desert status after just five years of operation.“I live in a food desert if I am not able to get to a full service grocery store easily,” said&nbsp; Kristina Bridges, a research assistant professor in University of Kansas Medical Center’s department of family medicine and community health. Food insecurity is defined as whether “in the past 12 months, have you run out of food before you could get more? If the answer is yes, you have food insecurity.”Together, the two grocery store closures will hamper thousands of residents in low-income and low-food-access areas that Dina Newman from the Center for Neighborhoods calls “communities of concern.”Tight profit margins at grocery stores mean that grocers often avoid the risk of investing in these communities of concern. As a result, food desert maps follow disinvestment patterns that resemble historic redlining.Those living in a food desert or experiencing food insecurity have measurably worse health outcomes including a life expectancy shortened by 2.29 years, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pressroom.cancer.org/releases?item=1237" target="_blank">American Cancer Society researchers</a>. While some like Ramsey work to provide short-term community-level solutions, Bridges says broader long-term approaches are also needed.<h2>Logistics of a food desert</h2>With the two local grocery stores closing, new food deserts will emerge.In the late 1980s, Newman was a single mother without a car. She knows the struggle of navigating a food desert firsthand.“So if I’m working … I have to plan it out to get to the bus to get over to a store. Then l’m waiting at the bus stop, which is sometimes just a patch of dirt,” Newman said. “Then I have to transfer buses with a full load of groceries. What about my child, are they with me? Am I safe alone after dark? You are juggling all this just trying to get to the grocery store, that’s the challenge.”She recalled one incident during the winter when an ice storm came while she was shopping. Out of necessity, she put her socks over her shoes in an attempt to get some traction and not fall and spill her groceries.“This is all your hard-earned money in these groceries, you’ve got to get them home,” she said.Ramsey says that many people in his neighborhood now have to walk up to a mile or take the bus to get fresh food at places like Aldi or Happy Foods. He says the effort required to get nutritious food means that many with limited means will just turn to more convenient options like corner stores and gas stations.“I can’t throw a rock without hitting a fried chicken spot,” Ramsey said. “So we’re eating processed food, cheap food that we can get our hands on, because access to fresh healthy food is not an option for us.”<h2>Historic patterns with current consequences</h2>While food deserts and food insecurity touch both urban and&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/26/kansas-grocery-stores-closure-rural-healthy-foods-initiative/" target="_blank">rural populations</a>, there is a racial disparity. According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/108905/EIB-269.pdf?v=75617" target="_blank">2024 USDA report,</a>&nbsp;8% of white households face food insecurity while the number is 21% for Black households and 16.9% for Hispanic households nationwide.Notably, that report is the last USDA survey on food security for the foreseeable future. The Trump administration has labeled the report “<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/09/20/usda-terminates-redundant-food-insecurity-survey" target="_blank">redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous</a>.”If a census tract was redlined as “declining” or “hazardous” in the 1930s Home Owners’ Loan Corp. maps, that translated into a 107% and 149% increase in the likelihood that the same census tract would be a food desert today, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9303837/" target="_blank">2022 study covering 102 U.S. cities</a>.“It just feels like this is all intentional,” Ramsey said.Bridges says KU Medical system has been mapping food insecurity among patients since 2017 and sees a strong correlation between rates of Type 2 diabetes, modern food insecurity and historic redlining.“It’s really no surprise that the bubbles (on the map) overlapped,” said Bridges. “We have big food insecurity bubbles, big Type 2 diabetes bubbles. … They were north, where downtown KCK and the Merc is, and the east side where the Sun Fresh was. …If we pull out our old redlining maps, it’s exactly the same pattern.”The seemingly structural nature of the problem has led many advocates to use the term “food apartheid” instead of “food desert,” since a desert occurs naturally while food insecurity appears to occur as the result of man-made systems.“I knew what food apartheid was before food apartheid was a phrase,” Ramsey said. “You go to certain places and the quality of the food is vastly different. … We’re forced to take the scraps and it’s an affront to our personhood.”The lack of access to nutritious food has hurtful consequences. Chronic diseases like obesity, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes become more common, but so do complications from deficiencies in fiber and good gut bacteria that are primarily found in fresh fruits and vegetables.Bridges says understanding these connections between food deserts, food insecurity and chronic disease is something that even some doctors need education on. She recalls speaking to a practitioner who said they didn’t believe there was a problem with food insecurity because “his patients were all fat.”“That completely misses the mark,” Bridges said. “Just the long-term chronic stress of being food insecure or living in a food desert releases cortisol in your body that can cause a host of things … including obesity.”<h2>Economic reality of grocery stores closing</h2>Both the Prospect Sun Fresh and the KCK Merc Co+op faced the economic headwinds of operating a grocery store in a historically disinvested neighborhood. While each faced unique issues with their locations, they shared similar challenges.The Prospect Sun Fresh’s former operator — nonprofit developer Community Builders, which also runs Sun Fresh at 4209 E. 50th Terrace&nbsp; — said they faced a litany of operating challenges at the Prospect location and lost approximately $5 million trying to keep the store open from February 2022 to August 2025.“We stepped up to fill a void that no one else was going to fill,” said Community Builders CEO Emmet Pearson at an Urban Summit meeting after the Prospect Sun Fresh closed. “The previous operator reached out to us because he tried to get other operators to come forward and no one else would.”The city had previously invested $17 million to $18 million into shopping center infrastructure at Linwood Boulevard and Prospect Avenue and was the landlord of the Sun Fresh location. Pearson says that meant Community Builders couldn’t fully control the environment around the store due to limitations in their lease. Board of directors member Kiki Curls says that directly hurt business.“It’s the element that’s outside the store that impacted us doing business,” said Curls at the Urban Summit meeting. “When you have open prostitution, open drug use and drug sales, when you have folks that pull down their pants and defecate in front of the door when people are coming in store, people do not come back.”Community Builders themselves received $750,000 in direct cash subsidy from the city to help at the Prospect Sun Fresh in May 2025 along with $161,500 in rent relief. Pearson and the board of directors say that was a drop in the bucket compared to their operational challenges.Security was $5,000 to $6,000 a week with the cost of a single off-duty police officer paid between $60 and $90 an hour. The store had a “persistent sewer smell” for months that they say stemmed from infrastructure issues. Community Builders said these issues combined to drive sales down and customers away, which ultimately led to taking a loss and closing the store.Across the state line, the Merc Co+op is in its waning days. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, had invested approximately $7 million to bring in the Lawrence-based fresh grocer.After three years of planning and five years of operation the Merc announced in June that it would close at the end of this year. Merc cited poor financial performance at the downtown KCK location and that operating it further could hurt the long-term viability of the cooperative, which has operated in Lawrence for 50 years.Contributing to the closure was the failure of promised nearby redevelopment, which was intended to increase population density, median wages and foot traffic in the area, needed to help support the grocer. A $25 million redevelopment of the Reardon Convention Center across the street from the Merc never came to fruition after several extensions. And a nearby $145 million Minnesota Avenue Triangle mixed-use project fell through, with developers citing funding gaps.Patrick Shabram, a location research consultant with G2G analytics who helps grocers identify viable locations by projecting future sales, says there are many considerations to determining whether a grocery store will succeed. He said the top three indicators that most grocery stores look for are population density per area competitor, income level and the education level of a neighborhood.As a general rule, Shabram said a grocery store targets $100,000 in sales per square foot in the first year of operation. Notably, the net profit margin for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fmi.org/our-research/food-industry-facts" target="_blank">grocery stores nationwide is just 1.7%</a>&nbsp;according to FMI, a food industry association, which means that even a slight dip in sales could doom a store.Shabram said the challenge grocers face in opening in an underserved area is balancing the social good of opening a store in an area that needs it while also maintaining profitability.“I provide the most accurate sales forecast I can so that there can be the proper expectations,” Shabram said. “Then I’m basically saying do what you can to make it work.”He says that often means looking into grants and incentives to make it through the first couple of lean years while the store establishes itself. He says other ways grocery stores look to improve profitability are pulling in shoppers from neighboring areas or selling higher-margin items like prepared meals or retail. But he says visibility, access, parking lot size, the store’s fit in the neighborhood and size of the store are all major determinants of grocery store success.“There’s no one answer for every scenario. But a lot of times I’m encouraging people to open smaller stores,” Shabram said. “That might mean it won’t have all the items needed for weekly shopping at the store, but you can provide access to fresh foods that weren’t available at the dollar store.”<h2>Community solutions and addressing root causes</h2>The local governments on both sides of the state line say that they are working to attract grocery stores to replace the recently shuttered locations.In the meantime, stopgap solutions are being pursued.Newman — in her capacity as founder of the Kansas City Black Urban Growers — partnered with area urban farmers and the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascitydefender.com/mutual-aid-community-programs/kcs-black-farms-unite-hamer-free-food-program/" target="_blank">Kansas City Defender</a>&nbsp;to create the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article311797218.html" target="_blank">Hamer Free Food Program</a>. They will give out monthly food boxes to residents within one mile of the closed Sun Fresh. The program is in the pilot phase, and 50 household slots were filled in a matter of hours.Ramsey works with the nonprofit Urban Green Dreams and will continue to manage community gardens as he hopes to give away 2,000 pounds of food this year. He also works to help educate students in nearby classrooms about growing food.“I’m running into kids who don’t know that potatoes come from the ground or that peaches come from trees,” he said. “They know every flavor of Takis, though.”Throughout the metro area, nonprofit Kanbe’s Markets place coolers and tiered baskets of fresh produce in independent corner stores on a consignment basis. The idea is to bring fresh produce to where people shop in low-food-access census tracts. Kanbe’s has joined with 50 community partners to place fresh fruits and vegetables in 100 corner stores, including one&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kanbesmarkets.org/healthy-corner-stores" target="_blank">five blocks from</a>&nbsp;the soon to close Merc Co+op.“All these downstream things, just to feed people today, are essential,” Bridges said. “But we also need to be thinking of upstream and long-term solutions.”Bridges said that the root causes of food deserts and food insecurity are a tangled web of health care, agriculture, education and economic factors. She believes a shift to viewing nutritious food as medicine could bring about a drop in chronic disease. That drop in preventable disease could also save the public and insurers money in the form of reduced insurance premiums, fewer claims and fewer overwhelmed emergency rooms.“It wouldn’t obviously be a quick fix,” Bridges said. “But if you are going to do things like subsidize a building, but then not also address all the other things creating this poor economic situation like jobs, mental health, transportation access and quality of schools, then of course we’re not going to have an environment where a grocery store would survive.”She points to some smaller programs that offer medically tailored groceries, ready-to-eat meals or fruit and vegetable vouchers. Bridges does say that getting multiple sectors to cooperate presents a sizable challenge in upscaling programs like those. But it’s a challenge that she says must be taken on to truly address the issue.“Even though they (local governments) tried to be intentional in supporting the two grocery stores in these areas,” said Bridges, “it takes a bigger commitment from multiple sectors to really reinvest in the neighborhoods that have been divested from to address the root cause.”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/10/03/grocery-stores-near-me-food-deserts-redlining-kansas-city/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://thebeaconnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/iconbeacon-150x150.png?crop=1" alt="" />
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