The Hutchinson City Council approved an ordinance adopting the city’s STAR Bond project plan—an action city officials emphasized is a required legal step that advances the proposal but does not authorize issuing bonds or spending city money at this time.

City staff explained the ordinance approves a framework document under the Kansas STAR Bond Act, formally known as Sales Tax and Revenue Bonds. Under the program, new sales tax revenue generated within a defined project district can be used to pay for eligible public improvements tied to tourism- and destination-oriented projects. Officials repeatedly noted the bonds are not backed by property taxes and not backed by the City’s general fund; instead, repayment depends on the project area generating incremental sales tax.

“This is approving the rule book, but not starting the game yet,” staff told council, describing the vote as a checkpoint that preserves the city’s ability to consider STAR Bond financing later, subject to additional approvals.

As presented Tuesday, the STAR Bond project plan contemplates three components

City leaders also referenced elements intended to reinforce Hutchinson’s identity around space tourism, including a proposed $1 million component previously discussed by the city.

Bond counsel Dominic Act, with Gilmore &amp; Bell, told council the primary “safeguard” for a future bond issue is the underwriting and revenue-sizing process. Following project plan approval, an underwriting firm would conduct deeper due diligence and commission third-party revenue projections to determine an appropriate bond size that can be repaid through incremental sales tax over time.

Council members and staff compared the earlier feasibility work to a preliminary screening, while underwriting was described as the more detailed step required to market and sell the bonds.

Act said the council would see the proposal again for additional votes, including a “sale resolution” authorizing preparation of bond documents and a later approval of the final bond terms after pricing, including interest rates and final amounts. He indicated the timeline from this point could be “another couple months,” driven by underwriting schedules and cash-flow needs across the project components.

Council members acknowledged ongoing public confusion, noting multiple overlapping discussions, including the city’s separate sales tax vote tied to eliminating a stormwater fee and broader infrastructure funding conversations. Several council members encouraged residents to contact elected officials directly with questions rather than relying on social media commentary.

To help clarify how STAR Bonds work, council members and bond counsel repeatedly stressed the concept of “incremental” sales tax: the program does not impose a new tax rate inside the district; rather, it redirects the additional sales tax generated above an established baseline within the project area toward bond repayment.

Examples cited: Strataca STAR Bonds paid off early

When asked for examples of STAR Bond projects, officials and community members pointed to Hutchinson’s own experience with Strataca, calling it one of the state’s most successful STAR Bond projects. Strataca Director Rachel Woods told the council Strataca utilized approximately $10 million in STAR Bonds and paid them off early, adding that the attraction likely would not have been possible without the financing mechanism.

Council members also referenced other STAR Bond-related developments around Kansas, including projects in Goddard, Salina, Manhattan, and those tied to major venues such as Kansas Speedway.

Council member Stacy Goss asked about discussion in Topeka regarding potential changes to the STAR Bond program. Act noted the STAR Bond Act currently has an expiration date at the end of June 2026, though it has historically been renewed. He said the city would retain authority to proceed under current law through at least that date, and that the city and bond team would monitor any legislative developments closely.

After closing the public hearing, the council voted unanimously to adopt the STAR Bond project plan ordinance and authorize the mayor to sign, moving the plan into the next phase that includes development agreement negotiations, coordination with the Kansas Department of Commerce, and further financial refinement.

City council approves STAR Bond project plan

Farm Bureau members of Kansas were well represented at the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Convention in Anaheim, Calif., earlier this month. Young Farmers and Ranchers representatives did well in their respective competitive events, with Lane County’s Mindy McMillen winning the national Discussion Meet and Jacquelyne Leffler placing in the top 10 for the Achievement Award.

The state’s voting delegates successfully lobbied to include policy supporting federal funding of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Laboratory in Manhattan to address current and emergent threats.

And four county Farm Bureaus were selected to share programs they developed through AFBF’s County Activities of Excellence (CAE) Awards. As part of the honor, the counties represented Kansas in the convention trade show and shared their award-winning programs with attendees from across the country who could take those ideas back to their own communities.

It’s worth noting that only 24 counties were recognized, so Kansas accounted for one-sixth of the CAE trade show booths, consisting of the following programs:

Atchison County: Started its Local Fresh for All program to provide gift certificates to the local farmers market for youth ages 9-19.

Franklin County: Partnered with a local recreation commission to host the Ag Education Summer Series, which facilitated and hosted lessons, demonstrations and farm tours over eight weeks in the summer.

Jackson County: Created a Livestock Summit to strengthen knowledge of 4-H exhibitors on livestock selection, nutrition, showmanship and carcass evaluation.

Meade County: Started the Silver Plate Project as a community-focused effort that provided shelf-stable and easy-to-prepare meals for senior citizens in rural areas to reduce food insecurity.

Walking through the two dozen booths, it was impossible to point to one program or activity as the best, aside from our four homegrown honorees, of course.

While the programs were broadly similar, they were also carefully tailored to the specific needs identified by county Farm Bureaus. One program provided broad instruction to a general audience while another sought to educate a narrow group on specific topics.

The other two counties identified those in need of nutritional assistance in their communities, even though the targets were at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of age.

They all started as good ideas, but ideas don’t actually do anything on their own. They require the effort of individuals or groups to move beyond the theoretical and make it reality. Ideas are easy, but their execution requires more than just a belief. Ideas require champions if they are to make any real impact.

While these four ideas originated in Kansas, it was their champions who rightfully got the change to present on a national stage. The best ideas inspire others. Hopefully, these ideas will ignite new champions across the country who will borrow the goals and intentions and adapt them into projects tailored to their communities.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Insight: Champions of ideas

KANSAS DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) has announced that applications are now being accepted for the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). The application period runs from&nbsp;Tuesday, Jan. 20, through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

LIEAP&nbsp;provides a one-time per year benefit to help qualifying households pay winter heating costs, whether the home is heated with electricity, natural gas, propane, or other home heating fuels. In 2025, more than 43,000 Kansas households received an average benefit of about $680.

“LIEAP&nbsp;plays a critical role in helping Kansas families remain safe and warm through the state’s often harsh winter months,”&nbsp;said DCF Secretary Laura Howard.

The federal government shutdown in late 2025 delayed the distribution of&nbsp;LIEAP&nbsp;funding to states for the 2026 season, which in turn delayed DCF’s planning efforts and the start of the 2026 application period.

To qualify, households must have an adult at the address responsible for the home's heating costs. Applicants must be at or below 150% of the federal poverty level (see the 2026 income eligibility guidelines below).&nbsp;The level of benefit received varies according to household income, number of people living in the home, type of residence, type of heating fuel, and utility rates.

Applications can be accessed online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dcf.ks.gov/Pages/default.aspx">dcf.ks.gov​</a>&nbsp;by clicking the “Apply for Services” button on the top right side of the website.

DCF is planning in-person events to help Kansans submit their&nbsp;LIEAP&nbsp;applications. For a schedule of in-person&nbsp;LIEAP&nbsp;application events, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.dcf.ks.gov%2Fservices%2Fees%2FPages%2FEnergyAssistance.aspx/1/0101019bdc5b0014-f87f2f0f-06ef-4863-b014-e164840cde80-000000/UrkU3ZX3i_7wEOXfwUbtudFgngWtVUEs_gN507hNe9c=441">lieap.dcf.ks.gov</a>&nbsp;and click on “Where are the in-person&nbsp;LIEAP&nbsp;application events being held this year” in the drop-down menu.

When applying for&nbsp;LIEAP, Kansans should have their identification, proof of income for all adult household members, copies of heating utility bills (gas, electric, propane, etc.), and a copy of their rental agreement if they are living in subsidized housing.

DCF opens applications for LIEAP

A small overnight electrical incident prompted a temporary closure Wednesday at The R-B, though owners say damage was minimal and no injuries were reported.

According to a post shared by the business on social media, an unused transformer dating back to the 1950s shorted out beneath an east-side soffit. The transformer had originally been installed to power early neon lighting but has not been in use since the 1970s.

The electrical failure caused limited exterior and eave damage. As a precaution, the business announced it would remain closed for the day while the issue is addressed.

Owners expressed appreciation for members of the public who noticed the issue and alerted authorities, as well as first responders who quickly arrived on scene — including Hutchinson Fire Department.

R-B Drive in closed Wednesday due to overnight fire

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas Corporation Commission has scheduled a public hearing on Evergy’s request to site a new high-voltage electric transmission line in Reno County.

Evergy is seeking approval to construct a 15-mile, 345-kilovolt transmission line that would connect the future McNew natural gas plant near South McNew Road and Highway 50 to the existing Reno County Substation.

The public hearing is set for Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E. 11th Ave. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. and will provide Kansas residents an opportunity to learn more about the proposed route, ask questions and offer public comment to the commission.

Prior to the hearing, commission staff and Evergy representatives will host an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. The open house will include maps of the proposed route and allow attendees to ask questions and discuss the project.

Those unable to attend in person may participate in the hearing via Zoom. Advance registration is required by noon the day before the hearing. The commission is also accepting written public comments through 5 p.m. CST on Jan. 26, 2026.

Residents can register to participate by Zoom or submit written comments online at <a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fkcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov%2Fs%2Fpublic-comments%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019bbcf71e6a-2fda36a1-68d1-4d2a-b9fd-1e3b59995359-000000/Va6WGGD-r9bAaCqeoKLUQKDc8ThJuBudeFGCX5RuEmI=440">kcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov/s/public-comments</a>. The hearing will also be broadcast live on the commission’s YouTube channel and will be available for later viewing.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

KCC schedules public hearing on Evergy transmission line in Reno County

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. ——————————————

David	Michael	Keever		1/20/2026 11:52&nbsp;AM	Theft; Possess Stolen Property; $1,500 to $24,999,					Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 to $24,999,					Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises,					Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000,					Burglary; Dwelling for felony, theft, dv, sex

Andrew	William	Avena		1/20/2026 12:44&nbsp;PM	In Transit From-To Other Agency

Thaddeus	Xavier Nathanie	Krill		1/20/2026 3:06&nbsp;PM	Interference with Law Enforcement; Conceal /alter/destroy evidence Misd. case

John	Timothy	Baker		1/20/2026 3:10&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear (13 counts)

Brandon	Thomas	McMann		1/20/2026 6:21&nbsp;PM	Burglary; Dwelling for felony, theft, dv, sex, Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Destin	Lucas	Pope		1/20/2026 11:00&nbsp;PM	DWS; 2nd or subs conviction

Everett	Stewart	Mclver	II	1/21/2026 2:11&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; blood or breath .08 or higher

Daily Bookings

The Reno County Commission voted 3-1 Tuesday to take no action on a request that would have asked the Kansas Legislature to grant the county authority to consider placing a countywide sales tax question on a ballot later this year.

County Administrator Randy Partington told commissioners the special meeting was prompted by a state deadline: local legislators would need to request bill drafting by next Monday for the county to have a path—through legislation—to potentially seek voter approval for an additional county sales tax. Partington emphasized the discussion was not a vote to impose a sales tax, but a preliminary step to ask the Legislature for permission to let voters decide at a later date.

Partington said Reno County currently lacks “home rule” authority to enact an additional county sales tax without state approval. He outlined possible legislative options referenced in the meeting packet, including proposals that would allow the county to submit a question to voters for a sales tax tied to property tax (ad valorem) reduction, economic development, and/or public infrastructure. He also cited survey results presented previously to commissioners indicating near 70% support among surveyed registered voters for a half-cent sales tax, with more than 50% support in an online public survey.

Commissioners discussed concerns raised by residents that the survey was not widely known and did not reflect broad county sentiment. Commissioner comments also addressed uncertainty over whether a sales tax would represent a true offset to property taxes or could effectively become an overall tax increase, depending on future commission decisions, economic conditions, and inflation-driven budget pressures.

Partington and commissioners noted that dedicating portions of a sales tax to replace certain budgeted property-tax-funded items—such as economic development allocations and road and bridge spending—could indirectly reduce pressure on the property tax levy, but exact impacts would depend on future decisions and election outcomes.

During public comment, several residents argued the county’s overall sales tax burden is already high and urged commissioners to focus on spending restraint rather than new revenue options. Others questioned transparency and outreach around the survey and asked for clearer public engagement. One speaker encouraged the commission to at least seek legislative authority so county voters could weigh in at a later election, noting the discussion was separate from Hutchinson’s upcoming city sales tax vote.

Commissioners also discussed the concept of exempting groceries from any potential new tax, but Partington said state law does not currently provide a mechanism for a county-level food exemption, though commissioners could potentially request the Legislature consider it.

Ultimately, the commission voted on a motion “not to do anything at this time” regarding the legislative request. Commissioners Vincent, Winger, and Boegner voted yes; Commissioner Hurst voted no, and the motion carried 3-1, ending the issue for now unless brought back in a future year.

Because the commission did not approve sending a request to Topeka, Partington said the county would be unable to pursue a countywide sales tax ballot question under the current timeline and would need to revisit the matter during a future legislative session if commissioners want to consider it again.

County commission votes to not pursue sales tax

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Three-day Outlook

KINGMAN COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday in Kingman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Chevy Malibu driven by&nbsp; Margaret Sue Thompson, 68, Murdock, was westbound on Southeast 20th Street seven miles west of Cheney. The car crossed into the eastbound lane. The car and an eastbound 2026 International semi&nbsp;took evasive maneuvers resulting in a head-on collision in the westbound lane. After impact, both vehicles came to rest in the north ditch.

Thompson and a passenger identified as Marvin Eugene Thompson, 72, Murdock, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to&nbsp;Livingstons Funeral Home. The semi driver Michael Stephen&nbsp;Blackway, 42, Wichita, was not injured. The occupants of the Chevy were not wearing seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas couple killed after head-on crash with a semi

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Investigation of deadly Kansas officer shooting continues

State auditors urged Legislature to find new way of determining at-risk student aid

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Members of the Kansas House Welfare Reform Committee debated Tuesday implications of a jarring state audit that estimated 54% to 72% of Kansas students who qualified for the free-lunch program through a national application process were likely ineligible during the 2023-2024 academic year.

If that assessment was accurate, the Legislature’s auditors said, the U.S. Department of Agriculture overpaid Kansas school districts $10 million to $14 million during that year for meals that shouldn’t have been subsidized. The report held implications beyond the cost of school meals, because enrollment in Kansas’ free-lunch program determined how much the state paid school districts to deliver services to at-risk students. Auditors said $38 million to $53 million in extra at-risk funding was apparently distributed to school districts due to enrollment problems with the free-lunch program.

Rep. Francis Awerkamp, a St. Marys Republican and chairman of the committee, said the audit would be useful to the committee as it sorted out questions about oversight and fraud in state or federal programs.

“One of the discussions we often have is, you know, should there be more oversight on welfare programs or less oversight? If there is fraud or is there not fraud?” he said.

The state auditors issued one recommendation for the Legislature: Consider an alternate method of calculating how much at-risk student aid should be paid annually to K-12 districts. Auditors concluded that figures of the children taking part in the free-lunch program “may no longer be an accurate measure for determining the number of students at risk of academic failure in a district.”

Rep. Charlotte Esau, R-Olathe, said that as a child her family probably would have qualified for a school lunch program, but her father refused to apply. She said she wasn’t an at-risk student, despite being part of a lower-income family. She told House colleagues it made sense to find a new method of calculating state appropriations for students struggling academically.

“I’m seeing your conclusion makes logical sense to me,” Esau told auditors.

Under existing Kansas law, no mechanism exists to claw back from school districts any overpayment of at-risk dollars. In most cases, individual school districts didn’t have access to information that would confirmed which students qualified for the free-lunch program. The state’s ability to evaluate applicants was constrained by accuracy of information gathered by several state agencies and rules enforced by the USDA limiting annual auditing to 3% of a district’s student applications or a maximum of 3,000 students in a district.

Rep. Alexis Simmons, D-Topeka, warned House colleagues eager to reform the at-risk funding formula for schools by relying on a different metric of poverty and need. She said there was a strong connection between feeding students during the school day and the ability to learn in the classroom.

Simmons said it would be a mistake to assume fraud when state auditors said it was challenging to verify whether students were eligible for free lunches at school.

State auditor Heidi Zimmerman said the report published in July outlined federal overpayments to school districts for the free lunch program. The audit also linked that idea to state overpayments to school districts for at-risk education, she said.

“We cannot claim there was fraud,” Zimmerman said. “We can tell you there are students who are ineligible. Ineligibility is not the same as fraud. Fraud requires a specific intent. You might have just made a mistake. That’s not fraud. So, this report does not claim that we found fraud anywhere.”

“Very much appreciate that clarification,” Simmons said.

Rep. Wanda Brownlee Paige, D-Kansas City, said the audit didn’t take into account the lower literacy rate among some parents expected to fill out school lunch program applications. She said the Kansas minimum wage of $7.25 per hour — less than half the $15 per hour minimum wage in Missouri — exacerbated financial hardships faced by families desperate for government assistance in providing nutritional meals to their school-age children.

“I can see a whole lot of people struggling,” she said. “The kids are hungry.”

Rep. Brian Bergkamp, R-Wichita, asked Frank Harwood, deputy commissioner of the Kansas Department of Education, to provide the committee with statistics on the quantity of food thrown away in Kansas public school cafeterias. He said the amount was more than most people might realize.

Harwood said USDA reimbursed school districts only for meals served to an eligible student. Under federal law, he said, children automatically qualified for free meals if they were in a household receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid or food distribution programs on an Indian reservation.

In addition, he said, a child was eligible for free meals at public schools if determined to be homeless, a runaway or migrant child, in foster care or enrolled in Head Start.

Kansas House studies free-lunch enrollment audit, implications of at-risk overpayment to schools

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a southwest Kansas man on multiple allegations a

Just after 8:30p.m. January 18, police responded to a reported robbery that occurred in the southwest part of Garden City, according to a media release.

Officers spoke with a woman who reported an altercation with a man known to her, identified as 37-year-old Enrique Rodriguez Hevia. The investigation revealed an argument between the two turned physical, after which Rodriguez Hevia took several of the woman’s possessions and refused to return them until she drove him to his vehicle. 

The woman attempted to drive to the police department, but Rodriguez Hevia got into the vehicle and interfered with her ability to leave by placing the vehicle into different gears and restraining the steering wheel. 

When the victim called out to nearby neighbors for help, Rodriguez Hevia fled the area with her possessions. Rodriguez Hevia later turned himself in at the Finney County Law Enforcement Center, where he was arrested and booked into jail on requested charges of Aggravated Auto Burglary, Robbery, and Domestic Battery.&nbsp;

SW Kansas robbery, domestic battery suspect turns himself in

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plane, Air Force One, returned to Joint Base Andrews about an hour after departing for Switzerland on Tuesday evening.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision to return was made after takeoff when the crew aboard Air Force One identified “a minor electrical issue” and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to turn around.

A reporter on board said the lights in the press cabin of the aircraft went out briefly after takeoff, but no explanation was immediately offered. About half an hour into the flight reporters were told the plane would be turning around.

Trump boarded another aircraft, an Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 normally used by the president for domestic trips to smaller airports, and continued on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos shortly after midnight.&nbsp;Air Force One touched down in Zurich a little after 12:30 p.m. local time, nearly two hours after he was originally scheduled to arrive.

Rubio says he slept at a table on Air Force One

The U.S. secretary of state joked with reporters as he picked up a coffee toward the end of the flight and said he tried to get some rest at a conference table aboard the aircraft.

Marco Rubio joked that the accommodations were still nicer than the plane he travels on for State Department business.

The two planes currently used as Air Force One have been flying for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">nearly four decades</a>. Boeing has been working on replacements, but the program has faced a series of delays. The planes are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world.

Last year, the ruling family of Qatar gifted Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be added into the Air Force One fleet, a move that faced great scrutiny. That plane is currently being retrofitted to meet security requirements.

Leavitt joked to reporters on Air Force One Tuesday night that a Qatari jet was sounding “much better” right now.

Last February, an Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-plane-mechanical-issue-munich-conference-031928b920ff8e8d495d1590d508e1e5">Marco Rubio to Germany</a>&nbsp;had to return to Washington because of a mechanical issue. In October, a military plane carrying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had to make an emergency landing in United Kingdom due to a crack in the windshield.

Air Force One turns around after 'electrical issue,' delaying Trump's arrival in Davos

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Over the past week, the Kansas City Police Vice Squad, in coordination with the Kansas City, Missouri's Multidisciplinary Public Safety Task Force, conducted an illegal gaming machine operation at three businesses in Kansas City.
&nbsp;
Two stores are now closed. Altogether, the KCPD&nbsp; Vice Squad issued 23 citations, according to a social media report from the KCPD.

Municipal ordinance 50-16 prohibits the operation and maintenance of certain electronic gaming machines that offer a monetary prize to the user.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police released no additional details.

Police shut down 2 KC businesses in illegal gaming crackdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela on Tuesday as part of the Trump administration's broader efforts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">to take control</a>&nbsp;of the South American country's oil.

U.S. Southern Command said in a social media post that U.S. forces apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta “without incident” and that the tanker was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s "established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.”

The military command did not say whether the U.S. Coast Guard took control of the tanker as has been the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-sanctioned-oil-tanker-seized-a415e247fca429b00b9fbcf6b6cd90a5">in prior seizures</a>. Both the Pentagon and Southern Command said they had nothing to add when asked for more details.

The Sagitta is a Liberian-flagged tanker and its registration says it is owned and managed by a company in Hong Kong. The ship last transmitted its location more than two months ago when exiting the Baltic Sea in northern Europe.

The tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under an executive order related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The post from U.S. Southern Command indicated the ship had taken oil from Venezuela. It said the capture of the tanker “demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully.”

The military command posted what appeared to be aerial footage of the Sagitta sailing on the ocean, but unlike in prior videos the clip did not show U.S. forces flying toward it in helicopters or landing on the deck of the ship.

Since the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-maduro-what-to-know-a57528ff315a7f70ed51a1721f5e0bc2">ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;in a surprise nighttime raid on Jan. 3, the Trump administration has set out to control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products.

Officials in Trump’s Republican administration have made it clear they see seizing the tankers as a way to generate cash as they seek to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry and restore its economy.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-oil-chevron-exxonmobil-conocophillips-0e0619a991e92fd546504f1a613161e7">met with executives from oil companies</a>&nbsp;nearly two weeks ago to discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to repair and upgrade its oil production and distribution. He said at the time that the U.S. expected to sell at least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-democrats-9d16138866bebdc2644eb009c6326066">30 million to 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;of Venezuelan oil.

Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. already has taken 50 million barrels of oil out of Venezuela.

“We’ve got millions of barrels of oil left,” he said at the White House. “We’re selling it on the open market. We’re bringing down oil prices incredibly.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">The first tanker was seized</a>&nbsp;off the coast of Venezuela on Dec. 10. Most of the other tankers also have been captured in the waters near Venezuela, with the exception of the Bella 1, which was captured in the North Atlantic.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">The Bella 1 had been cruising</a>&nbsp;across the Atlantic and nearing the Caribbean when on Dec. 15 it abruptly turned and headed north, toward Europe. The ship was ultimately captured on Jan. 7.

🎥 US forces seize another oil tanker linked to Venezuela 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect who admitted setting a fire near the historic Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita expected to learn his fate Tuesday.

Sentencing for 34-year-old Jeremy Wycoff, who in September pleaded guilty to aggravated arson, was delayed for the second time, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; The sentencing hearing is now scheduled for January 30.

On the evening of April 10, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;

"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.

Three days after the crime, police arrested Wycoff and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he remains jailed on a bond of just over $100,000.

Sentencing delayed for suspect in arson fire near historic Kan. theatre 

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a high speed chase in a stolen vehicle.

According to the Saline County Sheriff's Office on Friday at around

Just after 3 p.m. January 16, a sheriff's deputy was in the area of the 10,000 block of South 81 observed a 2027 KIA sedan traveling 68mph in a 55 mph zone, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.&nbsp; .

The driver fled northbound and pursuit ensued. The vehicle turned east on Water Well Road, with top speeds at approximately 120 mph, according to Soldan.

As the vehicle, which deputies confirmed was stolen from a Salina neighborhood January 12, continued east on Water Well and as it approached the intersection of Holmes Road, the car went airborne, leaving the roadway on the north side of the travel lanes and crashed into an area of trees behind a home in the area of Water Well Road.

Two occupants in the vehicle ran from the crash.

Law enforcement then received a call from a residence on S. Holmes Road about hearing the noise of the crash and spotting a woman run across their yard. Several deputies, along with officers from the Salina Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol arrived to the scene.

As they searched the area, they observed a man identified as 30-year-old Phoenix Leonard of Salina, on top of the roof of a home in the area of S. Holmes. Leonard voiced to officers that he was armed and refused to come down from the roof.

Officers set a perimeter around the home, as they were also actively searching for the other suspect.

Shortly after, a deputy noticed movement in a dog house in the area of the home. Deputies then discovered 23-year-old Katherine Lynn of Salina, as the other occupant of the vehicle who fled, and took her into custody.

With Leonard still on the roof, officers shot pepperballs in an attempt to get him off. Leonard was about to get off the roof and surrender, but noticed officers stopped shooting pepperballs and decided to stay on the roof.

Leonard then walked across the roof and fell through a skylight on an attached garage.&nbsp;

The homeowners gave officers the garage door opener, and officers opened the garage. Highway Patrol then released a K9 towards Leonard and the K9 bit him, as officers took him into custody. The pursuit, search and standoff for the suspects lasted until about 6:30 pm according to Soldan.

Leonard was transported to Salina Regional Health Center for injuries he sustained and was later&nbsp;booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of Felony Flee and Elude, Interference w Law Enforcement, Aggravated Burglary, Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, Criminal Trespassing, Driving While Suspended, several Traffic Infractions and Kidnapping.

Lynn was booked on requested charges of Interference with Law Enforcement, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Trespassing.&nbsp;

Leonard was placed on a Kidnapping requested charge, because Lynn stated she wanted out of the vehicle during the chase but Leonard refused, according to Soldan.&nbsp; Leonard and Lynn are well acquainted according to Soldan.

Suspect who ran from Kan. stolen car chase was hiding in dog house

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>, are expecting a son in late July, they announced in a social media post Tuesday.

The couple said they were excited to share the news of their fourth child, who will join their other three young kids: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.

Vance, 41, and his wife, 40, said in the post that both mother and baby were doing well.

“During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children,” the post read.

The news of the Republican vice president’s growing family comes as he has spent years passionately advocating for Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies-birth-rates-555c0f78ef8dd4c13c88b9e8d5f0024a">have more children</a>.

Vance repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates as he launched his political career in 2021 with a bid for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. As vice president, he has continued on that mission, saying in a 2025 March for Life speech, “I want more babies in the United States of America.”

The vice president has been accompanied on overseas travels by Usha Vance and their children, the kids usually in pajamas as they board Air Force Two for overnight trips.

Throughout history, it’s been exceptionally rare for the occupants of the highest leadership roles in the U.S. to have children while in office. One well-documented exception was President Grover Cleveland, whose wife, Frances Cleveland, gave birth to their second child in 1893 during his second term in office.

The White House reposted Tuesday’s announcement, saying President Donald Trump’s administration is “the most pro-family administration in history.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, announced in December that she is expecting a baby girl in May.

Vice President JD Vance and his wife make a special announcement

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge ordered that actor Timothy Busfield be released from jail pending trial on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-83c82a8c5dbfabd4880f3c8af02fb523">child sex abuse charges</a>, at a detention hearing Tuesday.

The order from state district court Judge David Murphy is linked to accusations that Busfield inappropriately touched a minor while working as a director on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady.”

Busfield will be supervised upon release by a pretrial services office in Albuquerque, and can leave the state to return home, the judge said.

Busfield, an Emmy Award-winning actor who is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-3a467ec0e0a8be87d1142724fbbb8e1d">ordered to be held without bond</a>&nbsp;last week at his first court appearance. Busfield called the allegations lies in a video shared before he turned himself in.

The judge acknowledged evidence that Busfield is accused of crimes that are inherently dangerous and involve children, but said prosecutors didn't prove that there are no conditions of release that would protect the public's safety.

“There’s no evidence of a pattern of criminal conduct, there are no similar allegations involving children in his past," Murphy said. "Rather this defendant self-surrendered and submitted himself to this court’s jurisdiction, demonstrating compliance with the court order for his arrest.”

At the hearing, Busfield was handcuffed and dressed in an orange jail uniform in a New Mexico state district court, while wife and actor Melissa Gilbert watched from the court gallery.

Gilbert was tearful while exiting the courtroom after the judge ordered Busfield’s release.

Gilbert, who played&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-celebrity-9ba7c27a8ae04a3993864eea8508f2f3">Laura Ingalls in the 1970s to ’80s</a>&nbsp;TV series “Little House on the Prairie,” was on the list of potential witness submitted ahead of the hearing.

Albuquerque police issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-82d413e86b62a151564e75b0ba535551">warrant</a>&nbsp;for Busfield's arrest earlier this month on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady.”

According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the police department says the child reported Busfield touched him on private areas over his clothing on one occasion when he was 7 years old and another time when he was 8. The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble.

On Monday, Busfield’s attorneys submitted two brief audio recordings of initial police interviews in which the children say Busfield did not touch them in private areas. The attorneys in a court filing argue that the complaint characterizes the interviews as a failure to disclose abuse, but an “unequivocal denial is materially different from a mere absence of disclosure.”

According to the criminal complaint, one of the boys disclosed during a therapy session that he was inappropriately touched by the show's director. Those records were obtained by police during the investigation.

Arguing Tuesday for Busfield's continued detention, Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch called evidence of abuse against Busfield strong and specific.

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