Local News
Former Miss Kansas Contestant and Harvard-Trained Attorney Kiah Duggins Identified Among Victims of D.C. Mid-Air Collision
Kiah Duggins, a former Miss Kansas contestant, Harvard-trained civil rights attorney, and passionate advocate for justice, has been identified as one of the victims of Wednesday night’s tragic mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport.
Duggins, who was a top 10 finalist in both the 2014 and 2015 Miss Kansas Pageants, had been flying into Washington, D.C., in preparation for a new chapter in her career—teaching as a law professor at Howard University this fall, her former pageant director Larry Strong shared in a heartfelt tribute on Facebook.
Her close friend Kiana Knolland honored Duggins’ memory with a moving tribute, emphasizing the profound impact she had on those around her.
“Kiah Duggins. Say her name because it deserves to live on forever,” Knolland wrote. “Kiah was a Harvard-trained civil rights attorney, a freedom fighter, an abolitionist, a global traveler, and a radiant force of light and joy. Speaking of her in the past tense feels unbearable.”
Knolland recounted Duggins’ unwavering commitment to justice, her boundless intellect, and her compassionate spirit, noting that she carried her brilliance with grace and humility.
“She made you want to be better—smarter, kinder, bolder. Her presence alone challenged you to be your most fearless, compassionate self. She fearlessly confronted systems, institutions, and individuals, always pushing for change,” she wrote.
Their friendship spanned years, beginning in their high school’s gifted program in Wichita, Kansas. From their early academic journeys to shared experiences in Washington, D.C., and even overseas in Taiwan, Knolland described Duggins as an unwavering source of inspiration and strength.
“When she graduated from Harvard, I gifted her a framed quote: ‘The light in me honors the light in you.’ It was the perfect reflection of who she was,” she shared. “I am broken. I am hurting, but I will spend the rest of my life honoring you, sweet sister. Your legacy will live on forever.”
Duggins was among the 60 passengers and four crew members aboard American Airlines Flight 5342, which collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River while approaching Reagan National Airport. Officials have confirmed there were no survivors, and recovery efforts continue as authorities investigate the cause of the disaster.
As tributes pour in from friends, colleagues, and loved ones, Duggins is remembered not only for her remarkable accomplishments in law and advocacy but for the light, joy, and passion she brought into every space she entered.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.