The Reno County Planning Commission has taken two key steps toward a proposed destination-style golf resort planned for the former Cottonwood Hills Golf Course property, approving both a rezoning request and a conditional use permit during a public hearing. 

In the first action, commissioners unanimously recommended rezoning roughly 180 acres from the R-2 Suburban Residential District to the AG Agricultural District. County Planner Mark Vonachen said the request was made largely to remove the possibility of future high-density residential subdivision development on that portion of the property, noting that the project’s current proposed uses could be allowed under either zoning classification with a conditional use permit.

“This is really more of a protection for the surrounding property owners,” Vonachen told the commission, explaining that maintaining R-2 zoning could allow higher-density residential development without the same rezoning process and public notification requirements that would apply under AG zoning. 

No written public comments were submitted on the rezoning request, according to staff, though one audience member asked whether the zoning change would affect existing water rights. Vonachen said the zoning classification itself does not change water rights. 

The commission then moved into a second public hearing on the conditional use permit request for a golf course resort on land zoned AG, located near the northeast corner of East Fourth Avenue and North Buhler Road. 

Brent Hugo of CE Golf Design, one of the project’s golf course architects, outlined plans for what he described as a high-end, public-access “destination” facility. The project includes two 18-hole courses, a 9-hole par-3 course, and a lighted putting course adjacent to the clubhouse. Hugo said the design will emphasize natural features, including sand dunes on the property, drawing comparisons to other destination courses in the Midwest and nationally.

Plans also include a central clubhouse with fine dining, a cart and caddie operation, and on-site lodging. He also told commissioners the resort concept would include an off-season hunting lodge component, with hunting activities occurring off-site through leased property and local guides, and no firearms use planned on the golf resort property itself. 

Public comment on the conditional use permit included a wide range of concerns and criticisms, particularly from residents who live in the area and experienced the wildfire that previously swept through the sand hills. 

Several speakers raised concerns about water use for multiple golf courses, water pressure for fire suppression due to the site’s elevation, and whether hydrants or other infrastructure would be provided for emergency response. 

Sewer and wastewater were also a major topic. One resident questioned the proximity of a proposed lagoon system to an existing rubber-lined irrigation pond and expressed concern about flood conditions and potential contamination. Commissioners and the applicant said the wastewater system would be permitted through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, with the applicant stating state requirements would address flooding and system performance. 

Fire safety and evacuation was another recurring issue. Commissioners questioned whether a primary paved access road and a secondary access route would be sufficient given wildfire risks and the potential for guests on site. The applicant said the main entrance would be paved, the secondary access would be gravel, and buildings would include fire protection systems such as sprinklers. Tornado shelter planning was also discussed, with the applicant indicating a shelter may be incorporated into central facilities. 

Other audience members cited issues they said have already occurred during site activity, including nails and debris on nearby roadways causing flat tires, smoke and flames from brush pile burns, and ongoing stress for families who lost homes in the prior wildfire. One speaker asked about potential hazards from ice shedding off a nearby tower, saying ice had fallen in the area in the past. 

Airport-related impacts were also raised in support of the project. One speaker from the aviation community said destination-style recreation and lodging can increase business traffic through the Hutchinson airport and spur broader economic activity. 

Vonachen told commissioners staff recommended approval of the conditional use permit, citing consistency with county planning goals related to rural development, transportation impacts, and adequate services. He noted internal roads would be private and maintained by the developer, not the county or township. 

Staff outlined multiple conditions of approval tied to the submitted site plan and operational documents, including requirements for paved access and parking at the main entrance, minimum widths for access routes to accommodate emergency vehicles, and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Staff also included provisions requiring additional review if future changes significantly alter the project’s character or intensity beyond what the current approval contemplates. 

During commission discussion, members amended one access condition to increase the minimum width of the secondary entrance route, reflecting concerns raised during testimony. 

The Planning Commission ultimately voted unanimously to recommend approval of the conditional use permit, granting waivers related to certain parking, loading, and stall-count requirements as described in the staff report. 

The recommendations now advance to the Reno County Commission for final consideration at a future meeting, with the record of the Planning Commission hearing forming the basis for the county commission’s review. Under the county’s stated procedures, additional materials or public comment at the county commission level would be limited to specific circumstances such as claims of incomplete process or genuinely new information that was not available at the time of the Planning Commission hearing. 

Planning commission approves rezoning, special use permit for golf resort

The debate over immigration enforcement—particularly the visibility and conduct of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—has once again moved to center stage. Headlines dwell on tactical deployments, workplace raids, and local cooperation agreements. But while enforcement tactics often dominate the conversation, Kansans’ views are far more nuanced than the “for or against” frame suggests. If we’re serious about making humane, effective policy, we need to start with what our neighbors actually believe.

Let’s begin with the bedrock: most Kansans recognize that legal immigration is a net positive. About two‑thirds of respondents in the 2025 Kansas Speaks survey conducted by Fort Hays State University’s Docking Institute agreed that legal immigrants contribute to the economic growth of the US (66.2%), to Kansas’ overall vitality (64.1%), and to the economic health of their own communities (64.3%). Roughly 15% disagreed with these statements. That’s not a razor-thin margin, it’s a solid majority consensus. In a state where small businesses and agriculture depend on steady labor and local spending, this matters.

The cultural and fiscal story mirrors the economic one. More than half of respondents agreed that legal immigrants pay taxes and contribute to government revenue (55.1%), enrich American culture and values (55.1%), and often take jobs that Americans don’t want (56.1%). About 18% disagreed with these statements. These survey results complicate the caricature of immigration as purely a strain on public resources. Kansans are saying: immigrants are part of the economic and civic fabric of our communities and our state is stronger because of them.

That said, Kansans have concerns about the country’s immigration policies. A plurality still believes the country is receiving “too many” immigrants (43.7% agree; 31.2% disagree). And while nearly half reject the notion that legal immigrants take jobs from American citizens (48.4%), almost a third (31%) claim immigrants displace workers. Opinions split on social services (38.1% agree immigrants take services away; 42.2% disagree) and on expanding admissions for low‑skilled immigrants (27.4% agree; 30.9% disagree). Yet Kansans exhibit openness to skills-based immigration: 48% support accepting more high‑skilled immigrants, with only 17.8% opposed.

In sum, if Washington was looking to Kansans for a policy blueprint it would be one that protects broad legal immigration flows, invests in workforce integration, and aligns admissions with labor market realities—without losing sight of humanitarian obligations.

Where does ICE fit into this picture? Kansans’ views on unauthorized immigration reflect both pragmatism and caution. A sizable share believe that if people are undocumented but otherwise law‑abiding, authorities should leave them alone (44.4% agree; 36.3% disagree). Nearly as many say unauthorized immigrants contribute more to society than they take (41.8% agree; 39.2% disagree). At the same time, concerns persist: 43% view unauthorized immigrants as a danger to public safety, while 33.3% disagree. Though on detention, Kansans lean against the most punitive approach—more oppose (42.2%) than support (38.1%) arresting and placing unauthorized immigrants in detention camps while awaiting hearings.

Taken together, Kansans are signaling a clear preference on immigration policy: focus enforcement on genuine threats, avoid sweeping tactics that ensnare families and threaten community trust, and expand lawful pathways that match our economy’s needs. These signals reject both extremes: hardline “open borders” and the punitive “lock ‘em up” approach.

These attitudes highlight a preference for policies that are pragmatic, balanced, and firmly grounded in both security and dignity—prioritizing violent offenders and trafficking rings instead of mass raids at schools, churches, and workplaces; investing in due‑process safeguards; and coordinating with local officials to ensure that public safety—not political theater—drives deployment decisions.

The Kansas Speaks survey reminds us that Kansans, can hold two ideas at once: immigrants strengthen our economy and communities, and immigration enforcement should be smart, lawful, and humane.

The message from Kansas is clear: immigration policy works best when it reflects both economic realities and human dignity. That means focusing on real threats, not political talking points.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

Insight: What Kansans really think about immigration

Adults looking to build confidence with technology can now get hands-on help through a digital literacy program offered by the International Rescue Committee at the Hutchinson Public Library.

The program is designed for adults 18 and older who may struggle with smartphones, computers, Wi-Fi, or online safety. Classes are held Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 8 p.m., combining walk-in technical support with small-group instruction.

From 2 to 4 p.m., participants can stop in for one-on-one help with technical issues such as phone setup, tablet use, computer basics, or internet connectivity. Structured classes follow from 4 to 6 p.m. and again from 6 to 8 p.m., with limited class sizes to ensure personalized instruction.

Donne' Aholu, a digital literacy coordinator with the International Rescue Committee, said the program begins with an assessment to identify what participants want and need to learn. Instruction is then tailored to each group, allowing the six-week program to focus on practical skills that directly benefit participants.

The curriculum includes 12 modules, but instructors also provide assistance outside the coursework when needed. Aholu said that flexibility has helped participants gain confidence quickly, including learning how to recognize online scams.

In one recent success story, an elderly participant was able to identify and stop a financial scam after just a few weeks in the program, preventing a potential loss of money.

Participants who complete the program may receive a free smartphone with one year of service, helping remove long-term barriers to digital access. The program also assists with finding affordable internet options and can provide in-home troubleshooting when necessary.

Due to high demand, the program is seeking additional classroom space, volunteer instructors, and bilingual Spanish-English interpreters to expand services beyond the current two days per week.

Community members interested in participating, volunteering, or offering space for classes can contact Aholu at 316-833-6521.

IRC helps Hutchinson residents navigate technology

Dear Dave, My wife and I own three commercial properties. They are all leased out long-term. Currently, we owe about $400,000 each on two of the buildings, and a little over $500,000 on the other. The only other debt we have is our home mortgage, and we should have that paid off in two or three years. I know you hate debt, but how do you feel about owing on commercial properties that are consistently making good money?

—Dean                                                                       

Dear Dean, From what you’ve told me, it doesn’t sound like you two need to shift into panic mode and start selling everything in sight. But I do 100% believe you and your wife should sit down together, and formulate a sensible plan that will enable you to systematically work your way out from under all that debt.

I own several commercial buildings. And guess what? I don’t owe a dime on any of them. Never have. So, based on that—and the other principles I teach teach—I can’t tell you I think it’s okay to have debt on commercial buildings. I believe the best plan for building wealth is to become completely debt-free. 

If I were in your situation, Dean, I’d focus my energy on getting my home paid off first. Then, I’d take a look at the commercial properties and begin working the debt snowball on them. Start with throwing as much money as you can at the smallest debt, while making minimum payments on the other two. When you get the first one paid off, roll that amount over—along with every penny you can scrape together—and attack the second largest one. Continue following these steps until you’ve paid off all your commercial property.  

In your case, it might take several years to get this accomplished. I mean, no matter what these properties bring in, we’re still talking about well over a million dollars in debt. And debt equals risk. If you have a bunch of equity in one you don’t particularly like, you might consider selling it and throwing the cash at the other two. But whatever the timeline, I’d develop a serious game plan to get rid of this debt as fast as possible.

You can hear Dave Ramsey, Monday through Friday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on KWBW, unless it is preempted by sports coverage.&nbsp;

Dave Says: It’s Still a Mountain of Debt

Hunk-a-chunk of burning love! This all-pro linebacker loves to chill in his wading pool on hot summer days , munching dogoritos and sipping refreshing barkaritas while watching the latest Chiefs endzone dance-a-thon.

When there's a chill in the air, Thor will snuggle in with a blanket and never get tired of watching "Friend's" re-runs with you and will comfort you through your latest bad relationship or job experience.

Regardless of the season, with THOR, you've got a Friend!

To adopt Thor, contact the Kingman County Humane Society. You can reach them by phone at 316-542-1812 or visit them on the <a href="https://www.kingmancountyhumanesociety.org/">web.</a>&nbsp;

The Kingman County Humane Society is located at&nbsp;811 East C Ave. in Kingman.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🐶Adopt a Furry Friend: Thor

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. ——————————————

Martin	Luther	Tolbert	II	1/16/2026 9:24&nbsp;AM	Probation Violation

Samantha	Kylee	Page		1/16/2026 10:11&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear,					Failure to Appear

Bryson	Paul	Allen		1/16/2026 12:28&nbsp;PM	Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Interfere w/ LEO; unknown circ; felony

Rusty	Scott	Weers		1/16/2026 2:04&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Justin	Huu	Nguyen		1/16/2026 2:54&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation,					Forgery; Making, altering, endorsing

Keeon	Patrick	Roberts		1/16/2026 3:33&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Gage	Ryan	Lank		1/16/2026 3:51&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Adam	Casey	Sharp		1/16/2026 6:46&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Levi	Charles	Trammell		1/16/2026 6:58&nbsp;PM	Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner

Edward	Matthew	Trammell	Jr	1/16/2026 8:59&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Faith	Elisabeth Kathryn	Jarrett		1/16/2026 10:33&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Condition of release

Sarah	Rene	Blanton		1/17/2026 12:21&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Cory	Matthew	Coburn		1/17/2026 12:42&nbsp;AM	Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision

Kenneth	Mitchell	Johnson		1/17/2026 12:53&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+,					DWS; 1st conviction

Nathan	Jay	Clanton		1/17/2026 4:38&nbsp;AM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body, Agg burglary; Dwelling for felony, theft, sex, dv

Daily Bookings

Reno County voters appear open to a modest countywide sales tax increase, but support drops sharply at higher levels, according to the results of a recently completed survey commissioned by the Reno County Commission.

The survey, conducted by the Wichita State University Public Policy and Management Center, was mailed to a random sample of registered voters across Reno County. Just under 400 responses were returned, representing close to 10 percent of those contacted — a response rate county officials say provides statistically valid results.

Reno County Administrator Randy Partington said approximately 70 percent of respondents indicated they would support or might support a half-cent countywide sales tax. However, willingness declined significantly when respondents were asked about higher rates, such as three-quarters of a cent or a full cent.

“That really tells us that anything above a half-cent is unlikely to pass with voters,” Partington said during a recent interview on the BW Morning Show.

The survey also measured public trust in county government. Results showed 79 percent of respondents expressed moderate trust, a finding Partington said was higher than he expected and notable compared to other communities he has worked in. He noted that trust levels can vary depending on the specific service or issue being considered.

Among spending priorities, county roads ranked as one of the top areas of support, with roughly 90 percent of respondents identifying road maintenance as an important investment. However, Partington acknowledged that some respondents may not fully understand the distinction between county and township responsibilities.

Reno County is responsible for maintaining paved county roads that are not part of the state highway system. Dirt and gravel roads, often referred to as township roads, are maintained by individual townships, not the county.

“There’s a lot of confusion about who maintains which roads, and that’s not unique to Reno County,” Partington said.

The survey also revealed misconceptions about how countywide sales tax revenue is distributed. Under Kansas law, sales tax revenue is split using a formula based on population and tax levy. In Reno County, that means the county receives about 40 cents of every dollar collected, while the City of Hutchinson receives approximately 49 cents, with the remaining share divided among smaller cities.

County commissioners also discussed whether a sales tax increase could provide property tax relief. Partington said that comparison is difficult because property values vary widely and sales tax impacts depend on individual spending habits.

“Sales tax spreads the burden more broadly, including to visitors and people passing through the county,” he said. “Property tax only applies to property owners.”

In addition to the mailed survey, the county also hosted an online public survey open to anyone. That survey showed similar trends, though with slightly lower levels of support. Because participation was unrestricted, county officials view those results as supplemental rather than statistically representative.

With the survey now complete, county officials face a tight timeline. To pursue a countywide sales tax referendum, enabling legislation must be introduced during the current Kansas legislative session. The deadline to request a bill introduction is Jan. 26.

The Board of County Commissioners will meet at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the Veterans Room of the Reno County Courthouse to consider a resolution to submit their request to the legislature.&nbsp; The meeting is open to the public.&nbsp;

Reno County survey finds support for half-cent sales tax

K-State Research and Extension will host a series of regional Local Food Producer Workshops in February and March, offering farmers and small food businesses practical guidance on expanding their reach in local markets.

The annual workshops are held in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Center for Sustainable Agriculture &amp; Alternative Crops. They are designed to help producers learn more about selling through farmers markets, direct-to-consumer channels, and other local food market opportunities, while also providing a forum to connect with peers and share best practices.

According to organizers, the workshops focus on improving business success for local food producers by combining educational sessions with networking opportunities. Each workshop location will offer free scale certification and lunch. Select locations will also include training for the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program; participants are encouraged to review the agenda for their chosen location to confirm available topics.

The workshops are organized through K-State Research and Extension, the statewide outreach arm of Kansas State University.

Additional details, including dates, locations, and agendas, are available online through K-State Research and Extension’s workshop page.

K-State Research and Extension to host local food producer workshops across Kansas

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

Three-day Outlook

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks to Leslie Grant with Wichita State University's Community Education program to discuss their free lifelong learning program.

For more details go to the web site Wichita.edu/lifelonglearning&nbsp; &nbsp;Or call the office 316-978-3731

🎙 Forward Ever: Leslie Grant with WSU's Community Education Program

TOPEKA, Kan. – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for available talent to take part in this year’s first Virtual Statewide Job Fair, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, January 22.

“The new year is all about new doors opening and new opportunities on the horizon,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “And what better way to kickstart your new year than exploring the wide array of fulfilling career opportunities available in Kansas.”

The Virtual Job Fair format allows anyone searching for a new job to fill out applications, chat live and interview virtually with participating employers.

This month’s Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as they might be asked to engage in an interview.

Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodation by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.

Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fapp.premiervirtual.com%2Fevents%2F4fa13887-56f5-4f70-8a8e-15ad40a883d7%2Fkansasworks-virtual-statewide-job-fair-january-22,-2026/1/0101019b9e563bde-3582bec5-c4b5-4a92-b26a-425ebfb89d80-000000/AcS4yBb1tab0tbPVNUe0q3N2geF3QYIdyaodDh0okxU=439">here</a>.

State to hold first virtual job fair of the year

GEARY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Junction City.

Just after 4p.m. on Saturday, police were dispatched to the 300 block of West 4th Street in Junction City for a subject reported to be suffering from possible gunshot wounds, according to a media release.

Upon arrival, officers located 66-year-old John Day of Junction City suffering from what was believed to be a gunshot wound. Day was transported to Stormont Vail Flint Hills Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.

This incident remains an active investigation. The Junction City Police Department has identified and interviewed all individuals present during the incident. At this time, no arrests have been made.

There is no ongoing threat to the community related to this incident.

Homicide: 66-year-old dies from gunshot wound in Junction City

While some states are seeing more enrollees, there has been a drop nationwide.

By:<a href="https://stateline.org/author/nhassanein/">Nada Hassanein</a>

Nationwide, the number of people buying health plans on Obamacare insurance marketplaces is down by about 833,000 compared with a year ago, according to federal data released this week.

Many states are reporting fewer new enrollees, more people dropping their coverage, and more people choosing cheaper and less generous health insurance plans with higher deductibles.

Across most states, Thursday was the last day to enroll for plans that start in February. But nine states and Washington, D.C., have deadlines later this month, so the numbers could change.

There are 21 states with state-run health insurance marketplaces, and the rest use the federal website. The vast majority of states have seen declines in enrollment&nbsp;so far, compared with around this time last year.

Preliminary data&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/marketplace-2026-open-enrollment-period-report-national-snapshot-0#AnchorFour" target="_blank">released</a>&nbsp;Monday by the federal Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services shows 22.8 million enrollees, down from a record total of 24.3 million last year.

Premiums have surged as a result of the expiration of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/issue-brief/inflation-reduction-act-health-insurance-subsidies-what-is-their-impact-and-what-would-happen-if-they-expire/#:~:text=The%20Inflation%20Reduction%20Act%20(IRA,three%20years%2C%20ending%20after%202025." target="_blank">enhanced federal subsidies</a>&nbsp;first made available by the American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 and later extended through the end of 2025 by the Inflation Reduction Act. The availability of the subsidies spurred a sharp increase in the number of people buying health plans on the marketplaces. In 2020, 11.4 million people were enrolled in marketplaces through Obamacare, formally known as the Affordable Care Act. More than double that amount enrolled last year.

Congress failed to reach an agreement on extending the subsidies before the end of last year and still hasn’t reached one. As a result, premiums were expected to increase this year by 114% on average — from $888 last year to about $1,904, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/aca-marketplace-premium-payments-would-more-than-double-on-average-next-year-if-enhanced-premium-tax-credits-expire/" target="_blank">estimates</a>&nbsp;made in September by health policy research organization KFF.

The higher costs appear to be driving many people to forgo insurance or opt for cheaper, less generous plans this year, health officials and analysts say. Several states with state-based marketplaces — including Georgia, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Virginia and Washington — are reporting fewer enrollments this year in comparison with enrollments through early January 2025, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/affordable-care-act/state-indicator/marketplace-enrollment-snapshot-for-open-enrollment-2026/?currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D" target="_blank">early data</a>. Other states, such as California, are reporting fewer new enrollees.

“It’s important to consider that this is preliminary data, so this represents people who have signed up and selected the plan — but they probably haven’t received their first premium bill,” said Elizabeth Lukanen, executive director of the health policy research organization State Health Access Data Assistance Center at the University of Minnesota. “Once that happens, I think there’s concern — and it seems very possible — that people may decide to drop coverage. So, the decline could get bigger.

“On the other hand, open enrollment hasn’t closed, so you have two things sort of competing. It seems pretty likely that there will be a decline,” she said.

If the downward trend continues, the nation could see the first decline in enrollment since 2020, Lukanen said, adding that a full picture of income levels and demographics of people who have dropped coverage&nbsp;won’t be clear&nbsp;until the summer.

In Pennsylvania, data updated through Tuesday shows more than 15,000 previously enrolled adults between the ages of 55 and 64 have dropped coverage entirely — the most of any age bracket.

Pennsylvania’s state-based exchange, Pennie, has seen about 15% fewer new enrollments compared with last year. The state is also reporting 1,000 residents dropping coverage per day during open enrollment — with the most coverage losses among people with incomes 150% to 200% of the poverty level. These could include families of two adults and two children with an income between $48,225 and $64,300.

The state is seeing an “unprecedented” number of previously enrolled people dropping coverage, said Devon Trolley, executive director of the Pennsylvania Health Insurance Exchange Authority.

California is reporting 31% fewer new enrollees this year compared with last year, and more than a third of new enrollees are choosing bronze plans — the lowest, least generous coverage tier — up from less than a quarter at this time last year.

In Minnesota, data as of Dec. 3 shows more than half of active enrollees are opting to keep their coverage tier. But of those changing plans, more than a third — 37% — are going to cheaper plans. The state notes a full picture won’t be available until March.

Meanwhile, some states are seeing roughly the same number of enrollees or more. Texas, for example, is reporting about 4.1 million people enrolling this year compared with 4 million last year.

Charles&nbsp;Miller, health and economic mobility policy director at&nbsp;Texas 2036, a policy research nonprofit, said it’s unclear why enrollments are up, but pointed to some clues.

“Texas had a uniquely large population of uninsured individuals eligible for free and inexpensive plans that hadn’t enrolled previously … [and] has more affordable bronze and gold plans than many states,” he said.

He attributes that to a bipartisan state law, enacted in 2021, that had the effect of increasing subsidies for those plans, Miller said.

Nevada is seeing fewer enrollees overall. But compared with this time last year, the state is seeing 29% more people who are actively shopping the website to explore plans, said Katie Charleson, communications officer at the Nevada Health Authority Division of Consumer Health Services.

The state introduced a new public option, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nevadacurrent.com/2026/01/08/with-health-insurance-premiums-rising-nevadas-new-public-option-is-proving-popular/" target="_blank">Nevada Current</a>, and health officials told lawmakers last week that about 1 in 5 active shoppers are opting for that plan.

In addition to the expiration of the subsidies, the cost of coverage has risen because of other factors, according to insurers. They say&nbsp;<a href="https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-much-and-why-aca-marketplace-premiums-are-going-up-in-2026/#Distribution%20of%20proposed%202026%20rate%20changes%20among%20312%20ACA%20Marketplace%20insurers" target="_blank">they’ve had to raise premiums</a>&nbsp;because of rising prescription drug costs, inflation and workforce challenges, such as provider shortages.

But the enhanced premium tax credits were aimed at buffering those year-to-year changes for Americans with lower incomes, said Trolley, adding that the tax credit structure “helps make sure that [enrollees] don’t see those really larger drops that happen from time to time, sort of from those market forces.”

“When there are broader rate increases of … the total cost of the coverage, the tax credits are structured so that people who get a tax credit don’t feel a lot of that increase. They’re sort of sheltered from it on a year to year basis,” Trolley said. “The tax credit is tied to someone’s income and limits what they pay as part of their income, not necessarily tied to the cost of the coverage.”

She added that she’s also heard from some residents who say they are waiting to enroll in a plan to see if Congress takes action.

“People are leaving the ACA marketplace because the trade-offs have just become harder to justify,” Lukanen said. “What worries me is that when the coverage becomes unaffordable, it isn’t that people suddenly stop needing care. They just lose the protection that insurance offers, and those health care costs don’t go away.”

Lukanen added that if more people forgo coverage, health care services may end up costing the nation more overall.

“If people are going to the doctor and they don’t have insurance, these costs are then just shifted. They’re shifted to hospitals, ultimately to the community and the taxpayer.”

Trolley echoed that, saying she’s concerned about the overall burden on providers in rural counties, which are seeing the highest drops in Obamacare coverage in Pennsylvania.

“Any increase in the uninsured rate is going to further strain providers that are in rural areas, especially — further strain their financial situation,” she said. “We are very concerned about that in Pennsylvania.”

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nhassanein@stateline.org">nhassanein@stateline.org</a>.

Far fewer people buy Obamacare coverage as insurance premiums spike

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education, for now, is backtracking on plans to garnish wages and seize tax refunds of student loan borrowers in default, the department announced Friday.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-garnish-wages-defaulted-student-loans" target="_blank">Less than a month</a>&nbsp;after the agency said it would begin garnishing wages by sending notices to roughly 1,000 borrowers in default the first full week of January, the department&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-delays-involuntary-collections-amid-ongoing-student-loan-repayment-improvements" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;that the temporary delay would allow it to implement “major student loan repayment reforms” under Republicans’ tax and spending cut bill that President Donald Trump signed into law in 2025.

The delay would “give borrowers more options to repay their loans,” the department said.&nbsp;

It was not immediately clear from the announcement how long the pause would last.&nbsp;

Education Secretary Linda McMahon signaled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/AsuO9zf7WxY?t=685s" target="_blank">earlier this week</a>&nbsp;during the&nbsp;<a href="https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2026/01/12/us-education-secretary-promotes-returning-school-autonomy-to-states/" target="_blank">Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;portion of her Returning Education to the States Tour that wage garnishment has been “put on pause for a bit.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The agency resumed collections for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-education-department-restart-defaulted-student-loan-collections" target="_blank">defaulted federal student loans</a>&nbsp;in May after a pause that began during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A borrower can have their wages garnished as a consequence of defaulting on their loans, and a loanholder can order an employer to withhold up to 15% of their disposable pay to collect defaulted debt without being taken to court, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/what-is-wage-garnishment" target="_blank">Federal Student Aid</a>, an office of the Education Department.

The delay also applies to the Treasury Offset Program, which “allows the federal government to collect income tax refunds and certain government benefits (for example, Social Security benefits) from individuals who owe debts to the federal government,” per&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/help-center/answers/article/offset" target="_blank">FSA</a>.&nbsp;

Aissa Canchola Bañez, policy director for the advocacy group Protect Borrowers, said in a Friday statement that “after months of pressure and countless horror stories from borrowers, the Trump Administration says it has abandoned plans to snatch working people’s hard-earned money directly from their paychecks and tax refunds simply for falling behind on their student loans.”&nbsp;

“Amidst the growing affordability crisis, the Administration’s plans would have been economically reckless and would have risked pushing nearly 9 million defaulted borrowers even further into debt,” she added, while pointing to a&nbsp;<a href="https://protectborrowers.org/new-analysis-finds-that-a-student-loan-borrower-defaulted-every-nine-seconds-in-2025-as-trump-restarts-wage-garnishment/" target="_blank">Jan. 7 letter</a>&nbsp;from Protect Borrowers and other organizations calling on McMahon to “immediately halt its plan to resume garnishment of millions of struggling borrowers’ wages.”

US Education Dept. delays plan to garnish wages of student borrowers in default

KANSAS CITY—One person was injured in a house fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 4:30p.m. Saturday, Kansas City Fire Department&nbsp;companies were dispatched to a reported fire in the 7800 block of 48th Terrace, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

On arrival, crews reported the 1-story home was fully involved in fire. All residents were reported to be out of the house, and after performing searches, crews confirmed it was all clear

One occupant was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for burns sustained in the fire.&nbsp;

The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD and Bomb and Arson. &nbsp;City Planning and Dangerous Buildings have been requested to the scene.&nbsp;

One hospitalized after fire at home in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Thursday announced the outlines of a health care plan he wants Congress to take up as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-subsidies-obamacare-affordable-care-act-616758c58942125f34552913e24832ef">Republicans have faced increasing pressure to address rising health costs</a>&nbsp;after lawmakers let&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-35060610e82ca3257821c53f2a34ecf6">subsidies expire</a>.

<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/The-Great-Healthcare-Plan.pdf">Click here to read </a>additional details on the plan

The cornerstone is his proposal to send money directly to Americans for health savings accounts so they can handle insurance and health costs as they see fit. Democrats have rejected the idea as a paltry substitute for the tax credits that had helped lower monthly premiums for many people.

“The government is going to pay the money directly to you,” Trump said in a taped video the White House released to announce the plan. “It goes to you and then you take the money and buy your own health care.”

Trump’s plan also focuses on lowering drug prices and requiring insurers to be more upfront with the public about costs, revenues, rejected claims and wait times for care.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-affordable-care-act-health-subsidies-expire-2d9fad3c8132ae49a2b9bc27a7ac8531">has long been dogged by his lack of a comprehensive health care plan</a>&nbsp;as he and Republicans have sought to unwind former President Barack Obama’s signature legislation, the Affordable Care Act. Trump was thwarted during his first term in trying to repeal and replace the law.

When he ran for president in 2024, Trump said he had only “concepts of a plan” to address health care. His new proposal, short on many specifics, appeared to be the concepts of a plan.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oz-hhs-cms-kennedy-health-medicare-medicaid-ef02cafd3100a4794d8e882fdf2ad7b0">Dr. Mehmet Oz</a>, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, described it to reporters on a telephone briefing as a “framework that we believe will help Congress create legislation.”

A White House official who was not authorized to speak publicly and described some details on condition of anonymity said the administration had been discussing the proposal with allies in Congress, but was unable to name any lawmakers who were working to address the plan.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, the Republican chair of the Senate health committee, said in a social media post praising Trump’s plan that his committee “has and will take action on the President’s affordability agenda.”

The White House did not offer any details about how much money it envisioned being sent to consumers to shop for insurance, or whether the money would be available to all “Obamacare” enrollees or just those with lower-tier bronze and catastrophic plans.

The idea mirrors one floated among Republican senators last year. Democrats largely rejected it, saying the accounts would not be enough to cover costs for most consumers. Currently, such accounts are used disproportionately by the wealthiest Americans, who have more income to fund them and a bigger incentive to lower their tax rate.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked Thursday whether the president could guarantee that under his plan, people would be able to cover their health costs. She did not directly answer, but said, “If this plan is put in place, every single American who has health care in the United States will see lower costs as a result.”

Enhanced tax credits that helped reduce the cost of insurance for the vast majority of Affordable Care Act enrollees expired at the end of 2025 even though Democrats had forced a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">43-day government shutdown</a>&nbsp;over the issue.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, has been leading a bipartisan group of 12 senators trying to devise a compromise that would extend those subsidies for two years while adding new limits on who can receive them. That proposal would create the option, in the second year, of a health savings account that Trump and Republicans prefer.

The White House official denied that Trump was closing the door completely on those bipartisan negotiations, and said the White House preferred to send money directly to consumers.

Plan follows massive cuts to health programs

Trump’s plan comes months after the Republicans’ big tax and spending bill last year&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-bill-medicaid-cuts-snap-ed0d2c7c20b43c54265dbc9cb215b647">cut more than $1 trillion</a>&nbsp;over a decade in federal health care and food assistance, largely by imposing work requirements on those receiving aid and shifting certain federal costs to the states.

Democrats have blasted those cuts as devastating for vulnerable people who rely on programs such as Medicaid for their health care. The GOP bill included an infusion of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rural-hospitals-fund-medicaid-cuts-48fb63019a6e73504eb13411abc6bc1e">$50 billion over five years</a>&nbsp;for rural health programs, an amount experts have said is inadequate to fill the gap in funding.

The White House said Trump’s new proposal will seek to bring down premiums by fully funding cost-sharing reductions, or CSRs, a type of financial help that insurers give to low-income ACA enrollees on silver-level, or mid-tier plans.

From 2014 until 2017, the federal government reimbursed insurance companies for CSRs. In 2017, the first Trump administration stopped making those payments. To make up for the lost money, insurance companies raised premiums for silver-level plans. That ended up increasing the financial assistance many enrollees got to help them pay for premiums.

As a result, health analysts say that while restoring money for CSRs would likely bring down silver-level premiums, as Trump says, it could have the unwelcome ripple effect of increasing many people’s net premiums on bronze and gold plans.

Oz said Trump’s plans also seeks to have certain medications made available over the counter instead of by prescription if they are deemed safe enough. He mentioned higher-dose nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and peptic ulcer drugs as two examples.

It was unclear whether the White House is asking Congress to take steps to make more prescription drugs available over the counter. For decades, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-food-and-drug-administration">Food and Drug Administration</a>&nbsp;has had the ability to do that.

The heartburn drug Prilosec, as well as numerous allergy medications, are among those the FDA has approved for over-the-counter sales. The FDA only approves such changes if studies show patients can safely take the drug after reading the package labeling. Companies must apply for the switch.

The White House said Trump’s plan would also codify his efforts to lower drug prices by tying prices to the lowest price paid by other countries.

Trump has already struck deals with a number of drugmakers to get them to lower the prices. As part of that, the drugmakers have agreed to sell pharmacy-ready medicines directly to consumers who can shop online at the White House’s website for selling drugs directly to consumers, TrumpRx.gov.

TrumpRx did not yet have any drugs listed on Thursday. Oz said drugs will be available on the website at the end of the month.

AP Health Writer Matthew Perrone contributed to this report.

More details on the Great Health Care Plan Trump wants Congress to consider

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. overdose deaths fell through most of last year, suggesting a lasting improvement in an epidemic that had been worsening for decades.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/drug-overdose-data.htm">Federal data</a>&nbsp;released last week showed that overdose deaths have been falling for more than two years — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-overdose-deaths-opioids-1561a9f189255ad60c533462f10490a2">longest drop in decades</a>&nbsp;— but also that the decline was slowing.

And the monthly death toll is still not back to what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, let alone where it was before the current overdose epidemic struck decades ago, said Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends.

“Overall I think this continues to be encouraging, especially since we're seeing declines almost across the nation,” he said.

Overdose deaths began steadily climbing in the 1990s with overdoses involving opioid painkillers, followed by waves of deaths from heroin and — more recently — illicit fentanyl. Deaths peaked nearly 110,000 in 2022, fell a little in 2023 and then plummeted 27% in 2024, to around 80,000. That was the largest one-year decline ever recorded.

The new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data runs through August 2025 and represents the first update of monthly provisional drug overdose deaths since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">federal government shutdown</a>.

An estimated 73,000 people died from overdoses in the 12-month period that ended August 2025, down about 21% from the 92,000 in the previous 12-month period.

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