Hailey
During a recent meeting, the Lawrence City Commission approved revised agreements with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) to facilitate the distribution of federal grant funding for key infrastructure projects, including the redesign of Massachusetts Street and the enhancement of sidewalks throughout the city.
These updates, passed through the commission’s consent agenda—a portion of the meeting that bundles non-controversial items for a single vote—finalize the city’s partnership with KDOT for using grant funds awarded in 2024.
Specifically, Lawrence received $2,376,000 in October 2024 and an additional $1 million in November 2024 under the Carbon Reduction Program, designated to support multimodal transportation initiatives like expanded bicycle infrastructure.
Why New Agreements Were Needed
While similar agreements had previously been approved in April 2025, they were never implemented due to minor discrepancies in contract language.
According to Jacob Baldwin, engineering program manager with the city’s Municipal Services and Operations department, the original wording implied that KDOT would oversee the bidding and management of the projects—something both the city and the state agency wanted to avoid.
The revised agreements correct this issue by clearly stating that Lawrence will take the lead in both awarding and managing the construction contracts for the road and sidewalk projects.
Project Timeline Remains on Track
Despite the administrative delays, project timelines remain unchanged.
One of the major efforts funded by these grants is the redesign of Massachusetts Street between 14th and 23rd Streets, which includes reducing traffic lanes from four to three and adding protected bike lanes to promote safer, eco-friendly travel.
This plan was unanimously approved in December 2024.
The final design is expected to be reviewed later in 2025, with construction anticipated to begin in 2026. The commission had no additional items on the regular meeting agenda during this session.
Massive National Crackdown Targets Health Care Fraud and Drug Distribution
In a nationwide law enforcement initiative, federal authorities have filed charges against 324 individuals, including 96 licensed healthcare professionals such as doctors, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners.
These individuals are accused of participating in fraudulent healthcare schemes that resulted in an intended loss of over $14.6 billion.
The crackdown is part of a coordinated effort led by the Department of Justice, involving 50 federal districts and 12 state attorneys general, and represents one of the largest healthcare fraud takedowns in U.S. history.
Assets Worth Over $245 Million Seized
As part of the operation, federal officials seized more than $245 million in assets, including cash, luxury cars, and cryptocurrency.
Many of the fraud cases involve bogus claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance firms for unnecessary or nonexistent medical procedures—often in connection with bribes and kickbacks.
Additionally, 170 more defendants were implicated in related schemes involving $1.84 billion in fraudulent healthcare claims. These cases focused on billing for services that were either medically unjustified or never delivered, further burdening already strained healthcare systems.
Oklahoma Doctor Charged in Fraud and Drug Scheme
One of the key figures charged is Ladd Clayton Atkins, a 50-year-old osteopathic doctor based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Prosecutors allege that Atkins conspired to illegally prescribe Adderall, a controlled Schedule II stimulant, in violation of federal law. He is also accused of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid through his actions.
The investigation into Atkins’ conduct involved multiple agencies, including the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joel-lyn McCormick, Attila Bogdan, and Vani Singhal.
Statements from Federal Authorities
U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson of the Northern District of Oklahoma condemned Atkins’ actions, emphasizing the public safety risk posed by illegal drug distribution.
“The actions of Ladd Atkins not only hurt taxpayers within the Northern District but also put illegal drugs on our streets,” Johnson stated. He thanked federal partners for their dedication to ensuring justice.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Pamela Bondi noted the importance of the broader enforcement action: “This record-setting Health Care Fraud Takedown delivers justice to criminal actors who prey upon our most vulnerable citizens and steal from hardworking American taxpayers.
Make no mistake—this administration will not tolerate criminals who line their pockets with taxpayer dollars while endangering the health and safety of our communities.”
National Collaboration Behind the Operation
The large-scale enforcement effort was made possible through the coordination of numerous strike forces and U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country, including regions such as Florida, California, Texas, New York, and Illinois, among many others.
State attorneys general from Arizona, Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, and several other states also contributed significantly to the investigation and prosecution process.
The operation was also supported by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team, which played a key role in identifying suspicious activity and prioritizing high-impact cases.
The City of Lawrence continues to advance critical infrastructure improvements with updated agreements that secure federal funding without disrupting project timelines.
Simultaneously, the federal government is cracking down on widespread health care fraud and prescription drug misuse, demonstrating a commitment to protecting taxpayer dollars and public health.
These actions reflect a broader effort to ensure transparency, accountability, and safety in both local and national systems.