Hutchinson voters will decide March 3 whether to double the city’s local sales tax, a move that city officials say would significantly increase revenue but would also raise the amount residents pay on everyday purchases.&nbsp;

The proposal would add a new 0.75% city sales tax to Hutchinson’s existing 0.75% tax, bringing the total local rate to 1.5%. The current sales tax is divided between 0.50% for&nbsp;general use&nbsp;and 0.25% distributed among&nbsp;Strataca, the Cosmosphere, street&nbsp;improvements, and property tax relief.&nbsp;

Data provided by the City of Hutchinson shows $687,420 in sales tax revenue in January 2026. Total collections for 2025 were $9,051,442.&nbsp;

Under the current rate, a resident who spends $1,000 per month on taxable purchases within the city pays about $7.50 in local sales tax, or $90 annually. The tax applies to all purchases, including groceries, because Kansas law does not allow cities to exempt food from local sales taxes.&nbsp;

If voters approve the increase, that same spending level would result in $15 per month in local sales tax, or $180 per year.&nbsp;

Using the city’s figures, officials estimate that if the higher rate had been in place in January, Hutchinson would have collected $1,374,840 in sales tax revenue for the month. Applied to all of 2025, the higher rate would have generated an estimated $18,102,884.&nbsp;

Supporters of the measure argue the&nbsp;additional&nbsp;revenue would strengthen city finances and support long-term infrastructure and service needs. Opponents have raised concerns about the cumulative tax burden on residents, particularly those on fixed incomes.&nbsp;

While Hutchinson residents often cite concerns about being among the most heavily taxed, several smaller cities already have higher local sales tax rates.&nbsp;

Seven cities have local sales tax rates of 3.0%.&nbsp; Those cities are Caney, Cherryvale, Coffeyville, Conway Springs, Independence, LaCrosse and Neodesha.&nbsp;

Here is the breakdown of the sales tax rates for the&nbsp;top 15 cities by population in Kansas.

The March 3 vote will&nbsp;determine&nbsp;whether Hutchinson joins a growing number of Kansas&nbsp;cities&nbsp;relying more heavily on local sales taxes to fund municipal operations and community priorities to keep property tax mill rates to a minimum.&nbsp;

City tax rate not excessive as compared to similar size cities

A Reno County man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to insurance fraud and related charges, according to Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.

Larry Wilson, 54, was sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty Dec. 11, 2025, in Reno County District Court to one felony count of insurance fraud, two felony counts of making false information and two felony counts of forgery. He will also serve 12 months of probation following his release.

Prosecutors said Wilson fraudulently filed an insurance claim seeking lost wages for workdays he claimed to have missed due to injuries from a prior automobile accident. Authorities said Wilson forged his supervisor’s signature on falsified documents to support the claim.

“Insurance fraud costs all Kansans in the form of increased premiums every year,” Schmidt said in a statement. “The Department will continue pursuing penalties against anyone committing insurance fraud in Kansas.”

The case was investigated by the Kansas Department of Insurance and prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

Hutch man sentenced for insurance fraud

By TISA MASON FHSU president

In the quiet hours before the Kansas sun touches the horizon, Gabrielle Davis is already immersed in her studies. It’s 5 a.m., and while most of the neighborhood is still asleep, Gabrielle is navigating the complex anatomy and pharmacology content she must master in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. 

Across the state line in Arapahoe, Nebraska, Janine Van Niekerk, serving as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in a rural nursing home,&nbsp;is balancing a similarly delicate act.

Janine and Gabrielle are pioneers. As members of the inaugural BSN hybrid (combined on-campus and online) program cohort at Fort Hays State University, they represent a shift in nursing education—one built for people with a deep connection to their hometowns and families, coupled with a purposeful commitment to ensure their rural communities have access to highly trained, compassionate nursing care.

For both women, nursing is a profound calling rooted in an ethic of care. 

Gabrielle, an LPN at the HaysMed walk-in clinic, represents the deep roots of Kansas healthcare. A third-generation nurse, she was inspired by her grandmother, mother, and an uncle, a physician. “I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a nurse,” Gabrielle says. “Especially watching my mom. She is the nurse that I aspire to be.”

Gabrielle’s resilience was forged during the COVID-19 pandemic. While still in high school, she completed her courses via Zoom and then worked until 10 p.m. at a nursing home in Atwood to help cover staffing shortages. She continues to work there one weekend a month because of the deep bond she shares with the residents. “I don’t want to give up my residents,” she says. “A lot of them I call grandparents. They consider me their grandchild.”

This same dedication drives Janine Van Niekerk. Originally from South Africa, the 45-year-old mother of six now lives in a rural area of Nebraska. 

For her, the FHSU hybrid program provided a way forward that seemed almost tailored to her life. She began her general education courses while still living abroad and was moved by the university's support during her transition back to the States. “Everyone was so helpful in helping me register, so patient in going through my credits,” Janine recalls. “I knew FHSU was the right choice.”

The stories of Janine and Gabrielle are individual threads in a much larger tapestry. Fort Hays State University serves as a primary engine for the Kansas nursing workforce with a simple priority: getting nurses to rural Kansas. The university doesn’t just graduate students; it delivers them where the need is most acute.

Currently, approximately 70% of FHSU BSN graduates and more than 90% of family nurse practitioners go straight to work in rural communities. With 80% of total nursing graduates staying in Kansas, FHSU is a proven, high-yield investment in our state’s future. 

Beyond the classroom, FHSU serves as a regional hub for healthcare excellence, providing guaranteed&nbsp;admission to Kansas community college students and serving as a vital training ground for HaysMed, EagleMed, and 25 critical access hospitals.

The hybrid BSN program is the latest tool in this mission, combining the convenience of online learning with the rigor of on-campus clinical clusters. For Janine, whose husband travels for work, this flexibility is a necessity. “For me, time is vital,” she says. “The hybrid gives me more flexibility with my schedule and everything I’m responsible for.”

Janine’s passion is fueled by a desire to rectify disparities she sees in rural healthcare. “I’m very disappointed in the healthcare system, the more I learn, especially in rural areas,” she explains, noting the high costs of basic lab tests and clinic fees. “Ultimately, what I’ve decided now to do is look into being a legal nurse consultant, so that I can help rectify the wrongs that are so very evident in healthcare.”

Gabrielle similarly integrates her clinical training into the margins of a busy life, studying between serving patients and after shifts. She finds a spiritual anchor in her daily routine. “Before I go to work, I pray about my day,” she says. “I pray for good patient outcomes. I pray that all my patients are safe and healthy. That helps me, or else I get very burned out.”

As the first BSN cohort to navigate this hybrid path, Janine and Gabrielle are doing more than just earning a degree; they are helping FHSU refine the program for future generations. 

Gabrielle is already looking toward the finish line in May 2027 with plans to eventually teach. “It opens up a whole new universe of opportunities,” she says. “We are helping them (the FHSU Hybrid BSN Program) figure out their trials and errors for the future of the program.”

For Tanya Smith, BSN Coordinator and Professor of Nursing, the pride in her first Hybrid BSN cohort is apparent.

“The students are very dedicated to the program and have shown resilience despite growth challenges along the way,” she said. “Each student has had becoming a BSN-prepared RN as a personal goal.”

FHSU’s Hybrid pathway has been the route to achieving this goal.

“The students have expressed many thanks to the Department of Nursing for creating this learning path for the BSN degree,” Tanya shared. “As we continue to grow the Hybrid BSN cohort, we are excited to partner with community hospitals across the state to ensure students are receiving clinical experiences close to home.”

The journey of these program pioneers reflects the heart of the FHSU mission. Through grit and a commitment to innovation, they are preparing to meet their communities' healthcare needs with expertise and empathy. Their progress is a testament to the power of a program designed&nbsp;with people, place, and purpose at its core.

Women for Kansas provides non-partisan dialogue

Drivers may notice gas prices ticking up slightly ahead of the holiday weekend. The national average for a gallon of regular is up a couple of cents from last week to $2.94.

 Current prices remain below what they were this time last year when the national average was $3.16.&nbsp;

 According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.15 million b/d to 8.30 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 257.9 million barrels to 259.1 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.1 million barrels per day.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose 67 cents to settle at $64.63 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil increased by 8.5 million barrels from the previous week. At 428.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Gas prices tick up headed into holiday weekend

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. ——————————————

Mark	Andrew	Norton	II	2/12/2026 1:12&nbsp;PM	Harassment by Telephone; Calling to harass or threaten,					Stalking; Conduct causing fear to a person or person's family

Wade	Hampton	Kennon		2/12/2026 2:15&nbsp;PM	In Transit From-To Other Agency

Celia	DeAnne	Ferguson		2/12/2026 3:44&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Audra	Lynn	Sisler		2/12/2026 4:14&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Destiny	Rose	Harper		2/12/2026 7:44&nbsp;PM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000,					Disorderly Conduct; Brawling or fighting

Alexus	Ann&nbsp;Canady&nbsp;2/12/2026 9:00 PM&nbsp;Failure to Appear



Daily Bookings

The Hutchinson Art Center is seeking original vintage artwork from local, regional and national artists for an upcoming fundraising auction scheduled for June 6, 2026.

The art center is accepting a wide range of media, with a preference for paintings, drawings, original prints and three-dimensional works such as sculpture, ceramics and glass. Limited-edition reproduction prints will also be considered if they are signed by the artist and produced in restricted quantities.

Organizers are encouraging artists, collectors and community members to consign or donate qualifying pieces for the auction. Artwork may be delivered during regular business hours now through Saturday, April 18, 2026.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction will support daily operations at the art center, helping sustain exhibitions, programs and community arts initiatives.

Those interested in participating or seeking additional information may contact the Hutchinson Art Center by email at <a>hac@hutchinsonartcenter.net</a>, by phone at 620-663-1081, or by visiting the front desk in person.

Hutchinson Art Center seeks items for June auction

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/weather">Click here for the KSStorm.info 7-day forecast.&nbsp;</a>

Three-day Outlook

JEREMY BOHN K-State Salina Marketing and Communications

Field maintenance is one of Kansas agriculture's most constant needs, and a new professional training through&nbsp;<a href="http://salina.ksu.edu/">Kansas State University Salina</a>&nbsp;— the premier drone educator in the region — will help agricultural producers learn how to use drones to protect plants, manage weeds and pests and boost yields.

With K-State Salina's new professional training on aerial applications and regulations with uncrewed aircraft systems, or UAS, farmers can acquire skills that will save them both time and money in their agricultural operations.

The campus is providing two options —&nbsp;<a href="https://reg.learningstream.com/view/cal4a.aspx?ek=&amp;ref=&amp;aa=&amp;sid1=&amp;sid2=&amp;as=38&amp;wp=378&amp;tz=&amp;ms=&amp;nav=&amp;cc=&amp;cat1=&amp;cat2=&amp;cat3=&amp;aid=KSU-S&amp;rf=&amp;pn=">March 9-10 or May 28-29</a>&nbsp;— for the two-day training.

As a part of the training, attendees will gain hands-on experience in everything from drone setup and maintenance to the preflight inspection process and compass and flowmeter calibration. Also included will be instruction from K-State Salina’s expert drone educators in mastering both manual and automated spray missions using multiple spray types, which equips users with the skills to excel in precision agriculture and aerial spraying operations.

Hunter Allison, a K-State Salina UAS flight instructor pilot who will be instructing the Aerial Applications and Regulations course, said the course will teach drone operators how to confidently plan and execute legally compliant aerial application operations while ensuring personal and aircraft safety.

"Not everybody can say that they spray with these ag drones or even drones in general," Allison said. "This course will instruct users to operate larger drones—some up to 400 pounds, if not bigger as the industry goes that direction. But you will be learning about the regulatory environment, going through the step-by-step process, as well as flying one of these drones as well."

Attendees are strongly encouraged to have a Remote Pilot Certificate or have completed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salina.k-state.edu/professional-education/uncrewed-training/part-107/">sUAS Commercial Remote Pilot Training program</a>&nbsp;through K-State Salina before enrolling. Those considering attending without the training are asked to contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salina.k-state.edu/professional-education/">K-State Salina Professional Education and Outreach</a>&nbsp;for training options.

K-State Salina offers a wide-range of UAS training courses through its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/news/articles/2026/02/Professional%20Education%20and%20Outreach">Professional Education and Outreach program</a>&nbsp;that teams up with the campus’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salina.k-state.edu/research-engagement/applied-aviation-research-center/">Applied Aviation Research Center</a>, or AARC. This collaboration provides drone expertise and instruction to professionals who can gain the skills to advance their careers and organization’s capabilities across the public safety, agriculture, engineering, utility and other industries.

AARC provides professional flight instructors, cutting-edge applied and unique flight instruction locations that make for elite UAS training opportunities. Courses are available to help prepare the training professionals for the Federal Aviation Administration knowledge exam, develop or enhance flight skills, and collect and process quality data and imagery. Many organizations and businesses across the country&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salina.k-state.edu/professional-education/uncrewed-training/">have trusted K-State Salina’s UAS expertise</a>&nbsp;to help develop their drone capabilities.

Those interested in the professional training may learn more and register for one of the two course date options at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salina.k-state.edu/professional-education/uncrewed-training/aerial-application/">UAS Aerial Applications and Regulations</a>&nbsp;website.

K-Salina to offer drone training for AG producers

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As Valentine’s Day approaches, Americans are showing their love not just to partners and family members, but to their pets — spending an estimated $2.8 billion nationwide on pet-related gifts, according to recent reports.

The trend reflects how deeply pets are woven into family life, especially for people whose animals are their primary companions. But they also warn that some popular Valentine’s gifts can pose serious health risks to dogs and cats.

“Pets are family for a lot of people, so it’s not surprising to see owners wanting to spoil them,” Dr. Erica Miller of Apple Lane Animal Hospital tells us. “New beds, sweaters, toys and pet-specific treats are generally fine. The problems come when people share human foods or leave dangerous items within reach.”

Chocolate remains one of the most common hazards for dogs, particularly dark chocolate. Sugar-free candy and gum are even more dangerous. Products containing xylitol, a common sugar substitute, can cause a rapid drop in blood sugar in dogs, leading to seizures, coma or death.

Flower arrangements also carry hidden risks, especially for cats. Lilies — a popular Valentine’s Day flower — are highly toxic to cats. Any part of the plant, including pollen, can cause acute kidney failure. Cats may be exposed simply by brushing against flowers and later licking pollen from their paws.

Veterinarians urge pet owners to keep chocolates, candy, flowers and gift wrappings securely stored and out of reach, including trash containers that pets can knock over. They recommend choosing treats specifically formulated for pets and checking with a veterinarian if there are questions about safety.

Dr. Miller says that they are also seeing a rise in overweight pets.&nbsp;

"So many are overweight and I have the talk probably at least once a day, every day, with someone with their pet being overweight, and we need to increase activity and get out their feed, less calories, less treats," says Dr. Miller.

"It's just about having an honest conversation with our clients of ways to help improve their pet's quality of life and helping reduce the risk of certain diseases going forward," Dr. Logan Druecker said. "So certainly again, now, getting some exercise with your pet. It's great bonding. It's great exercise."

As pet owners celebrate Valentine’s Day, experts say a little extra caution can help ensure the holiday ends with happy memories — and healthy pets.

Veterinarians urge caution ahead of Valentine's Day

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Republicans and a Palantir-backed think tank want to require students to learn about communist and socialist regimes and pass a civics exam to graduate, all in response to political skepticism by Gen Z.

Sen. Brad Starnes, a Republican from Riley and a former district superintendent,&nbsp; introduced the bill Tuesday before the Senate Education Committee. He brought forward statistics: 19% of Americans under age 45 can pass the citizenship test, 34% of Americans ages 18-29 say they have a “favorable view” of communism, and a rising number of Gen Z and millennials who believe the “Communist Manifesto” guarantees freedom and equality better than the Declaration of Independence.&nbsp;

The statistics were provided by the Cicero Institute, a Texas-based conservative think tank founded by the billionaire co-founder of Palantir —&nbsp;the technology software company that combines&nbsp;<a href="https://newjerseymonitor.com/2026/01/30/nj-pension-fund-ice/" target="_blank">government data</a>&nbsp;into platforms for immigration agents. Cicero also lobbies for bills that&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/03/kansas-lawmakers-entertain-texas-groups-plan-to-penalize-homeless/">criminalize being homeless</a>.&nbsp;

More moderate to left-leaning think tanks have found the statistics to be more convoluted. While Gen Z women are the most&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/aug/07/gen-z-voters-political-ideology-gender-gap#:~:text=Percentage%20of%20men%20aged%2018,somewhat%20agree%20with%20the%20following&amp;text=33-,Guardian%20graphic.,conservative%20than%20their%20millennial%20counterparts." target="_blank">progressive group</a>&nbsp;in American history, Gen Z men are becoming increasingly conservative — much more so than millennials when measured at the same age. In large metropolises like New York City, where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/energized-dems-trumpet-wins-state-elections-buckle-midterms" target="_blank">residents just elected</a>&nbsp;the city’s first Democratic Socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, support for socialism is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.independent.org/article/2025/11/24/the-wave-of-evolutionary-socialism-in-american-cities/" target="_blank">on the rise</a>.&nbsp;

Starnes’ bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb381/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 381</a>, would direct the Kansas State Board of Education to develop curriculum to give K-12 public school students an understanding of “communist and socialist regimes and ideologies.”

The bill also would require all public and private school students to pass a civics exam in order to graduate high school. Students could retake it as many times as needed, and the bill would respect a student’s individualized education plan.&nbsp;

The questions of the civics exam would be modeled after the U.S. citizenship test.

Opponents — all of whom work in the education space — repeated a phrase commonly heard in Statehouse education hearings: “local control.” Timothy Graham, director of government relations and legislative affairs for the Kansas National Education Association, said he is tired of saying it.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“What we’re saying is when you guys decide to get into these decisions that are traditionally left to the locals, because that is the ideal place for them to take place, if you’re going to get into that, then give a compelling reason why you should do that,” Graham said. “I don’t think Senate Bill 381 is a compelling reason. I don’t think it addresses anything that we need to be worried about in schools.”&nbsp;

Leah Fliter, assistant executive director of advocacy for the Kansas Association of School Boards, said: “It’s covered. And the teachers have the ability and the competency to cover that as is already described in graduation standards.”

Sen. Doug Shane, a Republican from Louisburg whose kids are home-schooled, questioned Fliter.&nbsp;

“To say that yeah we have courses in American history, yeah that’s true, but the content that’s being taught is un-American,” Shane said. “And this rise of anti-Americanism is fomented and breeding in our K-12 institutions. So to the point about local control, local control went out the door when unfortunately — not every single Kansas public school — but public schools have been used to foment anti-Americanism. And it’s really, really tragic.”&nbsp;

“Is this a question?” Fliter asked.&nbsp;

“It’s more of a statement,” Shane responded.

Fliter looked at the camera used to livestream hearings and raised her hands in apparent exasperation.

Shane, 37, said he was taught in school that Ronald Reagan was America’s worst president and that Nazism rose from a far-right government, when Shane said it actually emerged from socialism.&nbsp;

Adolf Hitler tied much of his far-right fascist ideas to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.britannica.com/story/were-the-nazis-socialists" target="_blank">socialist rhetoric</a>&nbsp;— like&nbsp;<a href="https://famous-trials.com/hitler/2529-1923-interview-with-adolf-hitler" target="_blank">“our socialism is national</a>” — and both were geared toward appealing to the lower middle class.&nbsp;

“I would imagine that a textbook from 20 years ago is quite different from a textbook being used today,” Fliter said.&nbsp;

Kathy Brown, who identified herself as a Topeka attorney, although she&nbsp;<a href="https://directory-kard.kscourts.gov/" target="_blank">doesn’t appear to be licensed</a>&nbsp;in Kansas, was among seven proponents who testified in support of the bill. There were seven opponents.&nbsp;

“As we see in this Legislature, our public schools are dominated by the left, they describe marxism as ‘Nirvana’, they teach our Judeo-Christian heritage as evil, Satan worshipers and Islam as diverse,” Brown said, without providing evidence to support her claims. “They frame the founders as white supremacists. They’re teaching racism though now, but against a new color — whiteness.”

Kansas bill calls for communism class, civics test amid claims of ‘anti-Americanism’ in schools

DENVER (AP) — Four people are dead after a small plane crashed Friday into mountainous terrain near the Colorado ski resort community of Steamboat Springs, authorities said.

An Epic E1000, a six-seat turboprop plane, crashed around 12:20 a.m. with four people on board, the Federal Aviation Administration said. Four people died at the scene, Routt County coroner Mitch Locke said.

The plane crashed into mountainous terrain in unknown circumstances, according to preliminary information, the National Transportation Safety Board said.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board both said they are investigating the crash.

4 dead in small plane crash near Colorado ski resort

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Ukrainian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/heraskevych-helmet-ukraine-olympics-skeleton-9f304e1ff834ddab33af2f4e003f04a8">skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych</a>&nbsp;lost an appeal of his disqualification from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Milan Cortina Olympics</a>&nbsp;on Friday, yet already knew there was no pathway for him to compete in the race.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport denied the appeal, agreeing with the International Olympic Committee and the sliding sport's federation that Heraskevych's plan to wear a helmet showing the faces of more than 20 Ukrainian coaches and athletes killed since Russia invaded their country four years ago would be in violation of Olympic rules.

CAS, in a brief statement, said the sole arbitrator who heard the case had no choice but to side with IOC policy about what athletes at an Olympics can say on a field of play — and that the “memory helmet” Heraskevych brought to the Milan Cortina Games would not align with the rules athletes have to follow.

The arbitrator, CAS said, “found these limitations reasonable and proportionate, considering the other opportunities for athletes to raise awareness in mixed zones, in press conferences, on social networks, or in Mr. Heraskevych’s case, wearing the helmet during four training runs.”

CAS added that the arbitrator “wished to state that she is fully sympathetic to Mr. Heraskevych’s commemoration and to his attempt to raise awareness for the grief and devastation suffered by the Ukrainian people, and Ukrainian athletes because of the war.

Ukrainian star disqualified from Olympics over helmet honoring war dead

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military on Thursday reported two major incidents that occurred in recent days tied to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-warships-troops-venezuela-caribbean-f0cea0fbfcd991066b2489460f685001" target="_blank">massive buildup of forces in the Caribbean Sea</a>&nbsp;— a Marine who died after falling overboard and a collision between two Navy ships that left two sailors with minor injuries.

A report was made Saturday that Lance Cpl. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, of Florida, had fallen from the USS Iwo Jima amphibious assault ship, the Marine Corps said in a press release. The military used five Navy ships, 10 aircraft and an Air Force Reaper drone in “an extensive, around-the-clock 72-hour search and rescue operation,” the release said, but he was declared dead Tuesday.

It appears to be the first publicly announced death of a service member during the U.S. military operation in the region. The Trump administration built up the largest military presence in the region in generations before carrying out a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-military-death-toll-venezuela-20cef307b035c386f390df846b6056b7" target="_blank">deadly strikes on alleged drug boats</a>&nbsp;since September, seizing sanctioned oil tankers and conducting a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-maduro-what-to-know-a57528ff315a7f70ed51a1721f5e0bc2" target="_blank">surprise raid last month that captured Venezuela’s then-president</a>, Nicolás Maduro.

Also Thursday, U.S. Southern Command announced that the destroyer USS Truxtun and the supply ship USNS Supply collided as the warship was getting a new load of supplies. The maneuver typically has the vessels sailing parallel, usually within hundreds of feet, while fuel and supplies are transferred across the gap via hoses and cables.

The collision occurred when the supply ship was refueling the cruiser USS Gettysburg on one side and the Truxtun approached from the other side, according to a U.S. official familiar with the collision, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a mishap that is under investigation.

Southern Command said two personnel reported minor injuries and that both were in stable condition. The two ships now are sailing safely, the military statement said.

The USS Truxtun left its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, on Feb. 3. The destroyer had to return to port for several days to conduct “an emergent equipment repair” and it ultimately set sail for the Caribbean on Feb. 6, according to a Navy official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operational details.

In the Caribbean, the naval presence alone stands at 12 ships, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/navy-aircraft-carriers-military-strategy-eda233a4dd0055695fa6d92ccc7c0d05" target="_blank">the world’s largest aircraft carrier</a>, the USS Gerald R. Ford, as well as the Iwo Jima and two other amphibious assault ships, which are carrying thousands of Marines.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the collision, which is rare for warships. The Navy's most recent collision occurred in February 2025 when the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/truman-aircraft-carrier-collision-merchant-vessel-50e039f339c4658d246a08ca496a21d9" target="_blank">collided with a merchant vessel</a>&nbsp;just outside the Suez Canal near Port Said, Egypt. That resulted in minor damage to the Truman but no injuries.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/navy-investigations-mishaps-houthis-takeaways-8fd391e23315f93842e4f2a4756a3dc0" target="_blank">An investigation released in December revealed</a>&nbsp;that as the aircraft carrier was running behind schedule, the officer navigating the ship drove it at an unsafely high speed.

Marine becomes first American to die in drug boat targeting operation

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key measure of inflation fell to nearly a five-year low last month as apartment rental price growth slowed and gas prices fell, offering&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-federal-reserve-ed245660d83628e9ff3df1988bdf6d00">some relief</a>&nbsp;to Americans grappling with the sharp cost increases of the past five years.

Inflation dropped to 2.4% in January compared with a year earlier, down from 2.7% in December and not too far from the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. Core prices, which exclude the volatile&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aldi-trump-tariff-inflation-amazon-a84ce4d5938a15c3c6d7349c7e89f01b">food</a>&nbsp;and energy categories, rose just 2.5% in January from a year ago, down from 2.6% the previous month and the smallest increase since March 2021.

Friday’s report suggests inflation is cooling, but the cost of food, gas, and apartment rents have soared after the pandemic, with consumer prices still about 25% higher than they were five years ago. The increase in such a broad range of costs has kept&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cost-of-living-affordability-message-republicans-22511695fd763ccdb6461f7d65fc7a06">“affordability,”</a>&nbsp;a topic that helped shape the most recent U.S. presidential election, front and center as a dominant political issue.

And on a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.2% in January from December, while core prices rose 0.3%. Core inflation was held down by a sharp drop in the price of used cars, which fell 1.8% just in January from December.

“Inflation continues to decelerate and is not threatening to move back up, and that will enable more rate cuts by the Fed,” said Luke Tilley, chief economist at Wilmington Trust.

There were signs in the report that retailers are passing on more of the costs of President Donald Trump's tariffs to consumers for goods such as furniture, appliances, and clothes. But those increases were offset by falling prices elsewhere. In other areas, Trump has delayed, scrapped, or provided exemptions to his duties.

Furniture prices jumped 0.7% in January from the previous month and are up 4% from a year ago. Appliances rose 1.3% in January though are only slightly more expensive than a year earlier. Clothing price rose 0.3% in January from December and have increased 1.7% in the past year.

Some services prices also rose: Airline fares soared 6.5% just in January, after a 3.8% jump in November, though they rose only 2.2% from a year earlier. Music streaming subscriptions increased 4.5% in January and are 7.8% higher than a year ago.

Yet those increases were largely offset by price declines, or much slower price growth, in other areas, including many that make up a greater share of Americans' spending.

The cost of used cars, for example, plunged 1.8% in January, the biggest decline in two years. Gas prices fell 3.2% last month, the third drop in the past four months, and are down 7.5% from a year earlier. Grocery prices rose just 0.2% in January, after a big 0.6% rise in December, and are up 2.1% from a year ago. Hotel prices ticked down 0.1% in January and have fallen 2% from last year.

Rental prices and the cost of owning a home, which make up a third of the inflation index, both rose just 0.2% in December, while rents increased only 2.8% from a year earlier. That is much lower than during the pandemic: Rents rose by more than 8% in 2022.

The tariffs have increased some costs and many economists forecast companies will pass through more of those increases to consumers in the coming months. A&nbsp;<a href="https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2026/02/who-is-paying-for-the-2025-u-s-tariffs/">study released Thursday</a>&nbsp;by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that U.S. companies and consumers are paying nearly 90% of the tariffs' costs, echoing similar findings in studies by Harvard and other economists.

Yet the increases haven't been as broad-based as many economists feared.

Tilley said that the higher tariffs have pulled some consumer spending away from other services, which has forced companies to keep those prices a bit lower as a result.

“We don’t think consumers are in a place to take on price increases across the board, so you’re not seeing those price increses,” he said. Hiring was particularly weak last year, slowing wage growth, and many Americans&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-spending-inflation-conference-board-f36b997dc46ac9c3577d05db52166846">remain gloomy</a>&nbsp;about the economy.

Some economists note that the rental figures were distorted by October's six-week government shutdown, which interrupted the Labor Department's gathering of the data. The government plugged in estimated figures for October which economists say have artificially lowered some of the housing costs.

Companies are still grappling with the higher costs from Trump's duties, though some have benefited from tariffs being delayed or scrapped.

Arin Schultz, chief growth officer at Naturepedic, which makes organic mattresses in Cleveland, breathed a sigh of relief when Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-kitchen-cabinets-furniture-tariffs-a89ea5c044af3c2ac8ffcb481e0150ef">postponed import duties</a>&nbsp;on upholstered furniture until 2027. They would have substantially pushed up the cost of the headboards the company imports.

Schultz welcomed the decision to lower tariffs on imports from India to 18%, from 50%. Naturepedic sources a lot of the cotton fabrics and bedding that it sells from India. When that reduction kicks in, he said, the company could even cut some prices.

Still, Naturepedic's costs jumped because of duties on imports from Vietnam and Malaysia, where it sources its organic latex, which can't be grown in the United States. Naturepedic makes its mattresses in the United States at a factory in Cleveland and employs about 200 workers.

“We're paying more now for that,” he said, and the company raised its prices about 7% last year as a result. "Tariffs are awful. We are less profitable now as a company because of tariffs.”

If inflation gets closer to the Federal Reserve’s target of 2%, it could allow the central bank to cut its key short-term interest rate further this year, as Trump has repeatedly demanded. High borrowing costs for things like mortgages and auto loans have also contributed to a perception that many big-ticket items remain out of reach for many Americans.

Inflation surged to 9.1% in 2022 as consumer spending soared as supply chains snarled after the pandemic. It began to fall in 2023 but leveled off around 3% in mid-2024 and remained elevated last year.

At the same time, measures of wage growth have declined as hiring has cratered. With companies reluctant to add jobs, workers don't have as much leverage to demand raises.

Good news for consumers: Inflation measure falls to five-year low 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—An Oklahoma truck driver accused of intentionally backing over and killing a Georgia man in the parking lot of a Wichita truck stop will return to court Friday.

Travis Briscoe, 46, is scheduled to attend a preliminary hearing in Judge Sean Hatfield's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He is charged with 2nd degree murder for the death of 57-year-old Abdelmuttalib Mohammed.

On August 13, police responded to the Love's Travel Stop in the 1500 block of East 21st Street North for an injury crash, according to Officer Kris Gupilan. They found 57-year-old Abdelmuttalib Mohammed of Georgia, under a truck. Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Services pronounced him dead at 5:32 p.m.

Investigators with the Wichita Police Department determined Mohammed had been in a verbal altercation with Briscoe. The two men did not know each other, according to Gupilan. During the altercation, Briscoe began backing into a parking stall with his semitractor-trailer striking&nbsp; Mohammed.

Briscoe remains jailed on a $150,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Driver who backed over, killed man at Kan. truck stop is due back in court

DOUGLAS COUNTY—Out of an abundance of caution School Resource Officers initiated a lockout – allowing no one to exit or enter – four Lawrence Public Schools Thursday afternoon, according to a statement from Lawrence Police.

Officers were investigating a potential threat. Police were called to 19th and Massachusetts because someone said a man was acting strangely and might have a gun. Another person heard the same man say there was going to be a mass-shooting at Lawrence High School.

Patrol officers immediately began searching for the man.  The School Resource Officers quickly worked to secure LHS and three nearby schools – Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, Cordley Elementary School, and Schwegler Elementary School.

The lockout began shortly after 1pm.  Patrol officers continued their search for the man and found him in the 900 block of Vermont.  He was extremely combative.  Officers were forced to restrain the man to get him into a van, then transported him to the Douglas County Correctional Facility.

He faces several potential charges including possession of drug paraphernalia. He was not in possession of a gun at the time of his arrest.  

The schools were able to open back up for a regular dismissal.

4 Kan. schools locked out while police investigate potential threat

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A new crew rocketed toward the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-space-station-spacex-retire-plunge-3076b8f67488a699240b23bc7f27fc8d">International Space Station</a>&nbsp;on Friday to replace the astronauts who returned to Earth early in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-astronauts-space-crew-spacex-medical-california-13d6c5246a1afec200a811e6cfc049bf">NASA's first medical evacuation</a>.

SpaceX launched the replacements as soon as possible at NASA’s request, sending the U.S., French and Russian astronauts on an expected eight- to nine-month mission stretching until fall. The four should arrive at the orbiting lab Saturday, filling the vacancies left by their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-space-astronauts-crew-medical-spacex-d89651fb83a8eb32d8619052424a5cb8">evacuated colleagues</a>&nbsp;last month and bringing the space station back to full staff.

“It turns out Friday the 13th is a very lucky day,” SpaceX Launch Control radioed once the astronauts reached orbit. “That was quite a ride,” replied the crew's commander, Jessica Meir.

NASA had to put spacewalks on hold and deferred other duties while awaiting the arrival of Americans Meir and Jack Hathaway, France’s Sophie Adenot and Russia’s Andrei Fedyaev. They'll join three other astronauts — one American and two Russians — who kept the space station running the past month.

Satisfied with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-astronauts-medical-evacuation-crew-11-d501e91736371525e81d13794d5e9f01">medical procedures</a>&nbsp;already in place, NASA ordered no extra checkups for the crew ahead of liftoff and no new diagnostic equipment was packed. An ultrasound machine already up there for research went into overdrive Jan. 7 when used on the ailing crew member. NASA has not revealed the ill astronaut’s identity or health issue. All four returning astronauts went straight to the hospital after splashing down in the Pacific near San Diego.

It was the first time in 65 years of human spaceflight that NASA cut short a mission for medical reasons.

With missions becoming longer, NASA is constantly looking at upgrades to the space station’s medical gear, said deputy program manager Dina Contella. “But there are a lot of things that are just not practical and so that’s when you need to bring astronauts home from space,” she said earlier this week.

In preparation for moon and Mars trips where health care will be even more challenging, the new arrivals will test a filter designed to turn drinking water into emergency IV fluid, try out an ultrasound system that relies on artificial intelligence and augmented reality instead of experts on the ground, and perform ultrasound scans on their jugular veins in a blood clot study.

They also will demonstrate their moon-landing skills in a simulated test drawing extra attention because of the impending launch of four astronauts to the moon on Artemis II, humanity's first lunar voyage in more than half a century.

Adenot is only the second French woman to launch to space. She was 14 when Claudie Haignere flew to Russia’s space station Mir in 1996, inspiring her to become an astronaut. Haignere cheered her on from the Florida launch site, wishing her “Bon vol," French for “Have a good flight," and “Ad astra," Latin for “To the stars.”

Hathaway, like Adenot, is new to space, while Meir and Fedyaev are making their second station trip. On her first mission in 2019, Meir took part in the first all-female spacewalk. The other half of that spacewalk, Christina Koch, is among the four Artemis II astronauts waiting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-artemis-astronauts-moon-540260c90a45e0de4cb28f3e481777ff">to fly around the moon</a>&nbsp;as early as March. A ship-to-ship radio linkup is planned between the two crews.

Meir wasn’t sure astronauts would return to the moon during her career. “Now we’re right here on the precipice of the Artemis II mission,” she said ahead of liftoff. “The fact that they will be in space at the same time as us … it’s so cool to be an astronaut now, it’s so exciting.”

SpaceX launched the latest crew from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Elon Musk’s company is preparing its neighboring Kennedy Space Center launch pad for the supersized Starships, which NASA needs to land astronauts on the moon.

NASA’s new administrator Jared Isaacman said following Friday's liftoff that testing continues at the Artemis pad, where the Space Launch System moon rocket awaits liftoff. A practice fueling last week unleashed hydrogen fuel leaks. Two seals have since been replaced and a mini fueling conducted.

Isaacman stressed that no launch date will be set until additional fueling tests — potentially a series of them — are completed. The earliest that Artemis II could launch is March 3, he noted.

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.

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