There has been a steady uptrend to today's setup over the
last 48 hours, and now we are looking at a potentially significant severe
weather event for the region. The main window for severe weather opens up
beginning from 4 p.m. this afternoon and lasts until 1 a.m. &nbsp;Wednesday.

The storm system responsible for the severe risk tonight is
continuing to move into Oregon and Idaho. This system is expected to move
southeast during the day. At the surface, moisture will haul northward, thanks
to stiff south winds to 45 mph. A wind advisory has been issued for the region
from 10 a.m. this morning until 1 a.m. Wednesday.

On the north end, a cold front will be moving into northwest
and north-central Kansas north of I-70 during the late afternoon hours, and
that may be where the event first fires off, in the 4 p.m.to 6 p.m. timeframe.
There, we expect clusters of severe storms with very large hail being the main
threat. There could be an isolated tornado.

South of US 56, supercells are forecast to be the main storm
mode. Models continue to differ on where storms may initiate, but the general
theme has been for areas west of I-35, south of US 56, east of US 183, and
north of US 412 in Oklahoma. Timing for initiation appears to be in the 5 p.m.
to 8 p.m. timeframe. 

These storms will move northeast into an extremely potent
environment. Suffice it to say, any storm that can remain sustained and
independent would be capable of very large hail (tennis to baseball size),
damaging winds over 70 mph, and the potential does exist for strong, long-track
tornadoes.

Stay tuned to KWBW, Country 102.9 and My 93-1 for updates throughout
the day.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/weather">You can get the complete KS Storm Info forecast on our weather page.&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

Severe Weather Awareness Day: Severe storm risk for tonight

TOPEKA – Today, Governor Laura Kelly issued a proclamation declaring the month of April as Kansas Safe Digging Month. The proclamation, in concurrence with National Safe Digging Month, reminds Kansans to call 811 before starting any outdoor digging projects, large or small.

The Kansas Corporation Commission, Kansas 811, Kansas utilities, and Governor Kelly are encouraging excavators and homeowners to call 811 to have utility lines marked before they begin digging projects to prevent injuries, property damage, and inconvenient outages. The depth of utility lines varies and there may be multiple lines in a common area. Some utility lines are buried only a few inches below the surface, making them easy to strike during shallow digging projects. Installing a mailbox, landscaping, putting in a fence, or building a deck are all examples of residential projects that necessitate a call to 811.

Nationwide, 26 percent of damages reported are caused by the failure of the professional excavator or homeowner to call 811 before digging according to the Common Ground Alliance’s most recent damage information reporting tool (DIRT). Statistics show the facilities damaged most often are telecom (47%) and natural gas (40%).

Dialing 811 connects callers to Kansas 811, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of the intent to dig. Calls are taken 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Locate requests can also be made online at www.kansas811.com. Requests should be made at least two working days prior to beginning a digging project. Professional locators are sent to the site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines with flags or spray paint. Once lines have been accurately marked, digging can begin.

Underground utility locate concerns such as timeliness, accuracy, utility damages, and other potential violations of Kansas One Call laws should be reported to the KCC for investigation. The agency also provides education and training opportunities for excavators year-round.

Gov. Kelly proclaims April as Kansas Safe Digging Month

TOPEKA, Kan.&nbsp; – The State of Kansas ends March 2025 with total tax collections at $636.9 million. That is $13.6 million, or 2.1%, below the estimate. Total tax collections were down 16.2% from March 2024.

Individual income tax collections were $261.6 million. That is $3.4 million, or 1.3% below the estimate. Individual income tax collections were down 28.3% from March 2024. Corporate income tax collections were $50.1 million. That is $26.9 million, or 34.9% below the estimate, and down 35.0% from March 2024. &nbsp;

Combined retail sales and compensating use tax receipts were $246.8 million, which is $8.2 million, or 3.2% below the estimate and down $14.5 million, or 5.5%, from March 2024.&nbsp;

The Consensus&nbsp;Revenue&nbsp;Estimating Group (CRE), comprised of the Department of&nbsp;Revenue, Division of Budget, Legislative Research Department, and economists from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and Wichita State University, will meet on April 17, 2025, to review the fall estimate and make any revisions it may consider necessary.

Kansas tax collections 2.1% below estimate 

The Reno County Department of Aging has announced that they will have a series of presentations of interest to Reno County citizens.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The series of presentations begins on Friday, April 4 and is on each Friday in the Month of April.&nbsp; The presentations are at the Department of Aging and begin at 9:30 a.m.&nbsp;

The topics of the presentations are:&nbsp;

Friday, April 5 - Using Nutrition to prevent Alzheimer's, Diabetes, Cancer and Auto-Immune Diseases.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Friday, April 11 - Dementia - It's just losing your keys.&nbsp;

Friday, April 18 - Managing stress.&nbsp;

Friday, April 25 - Caregiver burnout and resources.

The goal of each presentation is to provide information on the services and providers that can assist with the topics covered.&nbsp;

To reserve a seat at any of these presentations, please Call Cara Conway at 620-964-2977 or you can email her at cara.conway@renocountyks.gov

These like all the services of the Reno County Department of Aging are free to the public.&nbsp;

Reno County Department of Aging launches collaboration series 

STATE OF KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE&nbsp;

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Commerce today launched the Supporting Innovative Growth through New Signage (SIGNS) grant, a new initiative aimed improving the appearance and appeal of retail and commercial business signage in downtowns across the state. The total funding amount available is $250,000 and will be distributed to support innovative, high-quality signage projects.

“Downtown districts are the heartbeat of our rural communities,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “Through the new SIGNS grant, we’re directly investing in locally owned businesses and their ability to attract more customers while preserving the charm and character of their historic downtowns.”

Eligible applicants are businesses or building owners, municipalities, Main Street organization, economic development groups, chambers, foundations, tribal organization and other nonprofit community entities. Communities can apply for funding ranging from $1,000 to $50,000, with a required cash match based on the community’s population:

50% match for communities with populations between 2,500 and 50,000

25% match for communities with fewer than 2,500 residents

To preserve the unique character of Kansas’ historic downtowns, the grant prioritizes projects that adhere to the Kansas Commerce Sign Guidelines, ensuring that all signage complements existing architectural features. Preference will be given to three-dimensional signs created and installed by Kansas-based businesses.

Funds will be used to enhance community vitality and contribute to the downtown’s historical and aesthetic character. Awarded funds can be used for the design, purchase, lighting and installation of signs. The program is intended to support multiple buildings and businesses in a downtown region. A minimum of three signs must be proposed in each application.

Applications will be reviewed on a monthly first-come, first-served basis, until the funds are fully allocated. Applicants should ensure proposed projects comply with state and local regulations and that all grant-funded signage is completed within six months of the award approval.

“Historically, rural and small communities often lack the resources to revitalize their towns — that’s why this new funding opportunity is critical,” Assistant Secretary of Quality Places Matt Godinez said. “These investments in our downtowns and small businesses will foster growth and drive economic vitality across the state.”

For more information about the SIGNS grant, click here or contact Quality Places Manager Sara Bloom at Sara.Bloom@ks.gov or (785) 506-9278.

Kansas Dept. of Commerce launches SIGNS grant 

The Hutchinson Art Center is excited to host their Spring Consignment Art Auction on&nbsp;April 5. 

This year's consignment art auction will feature&nbsp;over 120 works of art, including&nbsp;works by local, regional, national, and international artists. 

Doors open at 9 a.m., with the auction starting at 11 a.m. Lunch will be available for purchase, there will be plenty of seating, and admission is free and open to the public. 

All artwork from the auction is&nbsp;on display in their Main Gallery now through April 5th. This is a great opportunity to view the artwork in-person. Additionally,&nbsp;images of the artwork are available for online viewing on their website&nbsp;at this <a href="https://hutchinsonartcenter.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e136f828c31f7cf3b79305fba&amp;id=afd26eda13&amp;e=d8bd047192">link. </a>

If you are unable to attend the auction in-person, call at&nbsp;620-727-4555&nbsp;to leave an absentee bid.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hutchinson Art Center to hold consignment auction on Saturday

Meet Obi....&nbsp; The Jedi Pup of Paws.&nbsp;

Named after the legendary Jedi, Obi is a wise and noble canine with a presence as powerful as the Force itself. Known for his fast pace moves and wise demeanor, Obi brings harmony to his family and playmates alike. 

Obi has mastered the art of melting hearts with a single gaze, often securing extra treats from unsuspecting humans. Equally skilled at snoozing as he is at play, Obi can find serenity in busy spaces, much like a true Jedi. 

&nbsp;Whether embarking on a walk around the block or undertaking a daring mission to the dog park, Obi approaches each journey with the curiosity and courage befitting his namesake.

Obi loves to engage in epic tug-of-war battles reminiscent of saber duels and practicing calm reflection during sunlit nap sessions. 

He is known Galaxy-Wide for his ability to unite the household with his clever antics, making him a beloved companion to all.&nbsp;&nbsp;

To adopt this young Jedi contact the Hutchinson Animal Shelter at 620-694-1924 or visit them at 1501 South Severance Street.

The Animal Shelter offers a year-round special discount to adopters who are Veterans or First Responders! Adopter(s) must ask for this discount and provide a valid military and work ID as proof of their status and the adoption fee will be half price.

Adopt a Furry Friend: Obi 

One agribusiness analyst says there is more fearmongering over a proposal to increase fees on ocean carriers with ties to China.&nbsp;

 The American Farm Bureau conducted a study that shows ag exporters would have to pay millions more in annual transportation costs if the fees went into effect.&nbsp;

 President Trump has proposed a series of fees as high as $1.5 million dollars that would target Chinese-operated vessels and Chinese-built vessels that access American ports.&nbsp;

You can hear John's commentary in the player below.&nbsp;

Ag Minute:  Tariff and fees for China 

KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher

There have been noticeable signs that spring has arrived on our farm. Following a snowfall during the kids’ spring break, the sun has come out and the temperatures have warmed up. It’s a different feel of seasons. 

The flowers have begun appearing in my yard and on my fruit trees. The bees have been out scouting and gathering water. The wheat in the fields has begun to turn a vibrant green. Migratory birds are moving north. The daylight is present longer.

The consistent signs of this season I watch for every year are once again, like clockwork, appearing. It’s something I find peace in knowing that while there are many unknowns in this world, there are natural elements of the season that steadily persist year after year.

One of the consistent events on our farm every spring is the preparation for planting. The winter shop work has been completed. The machines and equipment have been serviced and we prepare to plant seeds in the ground once more.

Over the years, I’ve heard time and time again that one must be an eternal optimist in order to farm as there are so many uncertainties. There are so many things one does not and cannot control in farming, which still determines the outcome of the investments we make. Weather, pests, disease, costs and the markets are just a sampling of areas that could cause sleepless nights for many if one allows those uncertainties to consume their thoughts.

Yet, just like clockwork, we still plant those seeds into the ground every spring. We believe the sun will rise and the right amount of rain will come when needed. We believe we will have enough hands available to help harvest the crop. We trust there is demand for our grain, which will allow us to continue for another year.

This year is no different. We are preparing to begin the planting our fall crops in the coming days. 

We are preparing for the spring rains that will provide essential moisture to these newly planted seeds. We are preparing for the routines of the work that is done every year as we raise a new crop for another season.

We are preparing for the consistencies we experience every year during this season and are mindful that inconsistencies will appear.

Yes, there are many things we can’t control which at times can cause concern.

Yet despite those unknowns, we still prepare to plant the next crop. We prepare to plant seeds that are full of hope.

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

Insight Kansas:  Hope springs eternal

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries">Click&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners</a>.

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

Recent obituaries and service times

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Lauren Storm, Hutchinson Reno County Chamber of Commerce 

👟 WSU's Masters named AAC Field Athlete of the Week

🥎 HutchCC sweeps KJCCC weekly honors

⚾ HutchCC's Roehler named KJCCC West Player of the Week

The Hutchinson High School girls varsity swim invitational scheduled for April 1 has been postponed due to HVAC issues within the Hutchinson YMCA.&nbsp;

The event was scheduled to have student-athletes from Buhler, Dodge City, Garden City, Holcomb, Hutchinson, Liberal and Marion.

The invitational will be rescheduled to a later date, but that has not been set yet.

🏊‍♀️ Hutch High swim invitational postponed

The annual league meeting for NFL coaches and owners is ongoing at The Breakers in Palm Beach, Fla. There are several different topics and possible rule changes discussed and voted on.&nbsp;

One of the biggest topics was possibly banning&nbsp;the Green Bay Packers' proposal to ban the push sneak, popularly known as the tush push. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the NFL owners have tabled the tush push conversation, saying there will not be a decision made at this league meeting.

Some of the other notables from Schefter below.

🏈 Takeaways from annual NFL owners meeting

It has been 365 days since the Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team won it's first national title in program history, an 88-80 win over Northwest Florida State in Casper, Wyo.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hutchinson CC Sports Information Article from April 1, 2024

CASPER, Wyoming – Hutchinson Community College women's basketball was indeed golden on Monday night.

Trailing by six points with 2:32 to play in the fourth quarter, the top-seeded Blue Dragons were able to force overtime and then dominate the extra session, outscoring defending national champion Northwest Florida State 19-11 in overtime and winning the program's first national championship with an 88-80 victory in the 2024 NJCAA Division I Women's Tournament championship game at the Ford Wyoming Center.

The Blue Dragons complete their 50th season with an undefeated 37-0 record – a school record for wins, longest winning streak (37) and best start to a season (37-0).

This was Hutchinson's fourth attempt to win a women's basketball national championship, coming up short in 2012, 2014 and 2015. The Blue Dragon won their second women's national championship (women's cross country in 2001) and 10th overall team national championship (Men's basketball – 1988, 1994, 2017; Men's Golf – 2021, 2022; Football – 2020-21; and men's track and field – 1954, 1959).

Freshman guard&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/bios/smith_kiki_x1vf">Kiki Smith</a>&nbsp;was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. She scored 23 points on Monday night to finish with a four-game scoring total of 68 points. Smith broke the freshman season scoring record and finished second in single-season scoring with 652 points.

Both freshman&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/bios/jackson_hailey_x66o">Hailey Jackson</a>&nbsp;and sophomore&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/bios/armstead_journey_w1mg">Journey Armstead</a>&nbsp;were named to the all-tournament team on Monday. Jackson had a postseason-high and team-high 25 points to lead the Blue Dragons. She hit three critical free throws with 0.7 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. Jackson finished seventh on the freshman season scoring list with 478 points, including 65 points in the tournament.

Armstead had 11 points and three assists before fouling out with 5:09 to play in the fourth quarter.

Blue Dragon head coach John Ontjes was named the Coach of the Tournament

<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/bios/duffy_monae_og8s">Monae Duffy</a>&nbsp;had 10 points and 9 rebounds for the Blue Dragons.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/bios/muggeridge_akaysha_rpaz">Akaysha Muggeridge</a>&nbsp;scored six of her eight points in overtime. Muggeridge added seven rebounds and four assists.

The Blue Dragons led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, but Northwest Florida State rallied to take a 57-55 lead after three quarters and led 68-62 with 2:27 to play in regulation.

The Dragons rallied back, closing with a 7-1 run, getting three free throws from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/bios/jackson_hailey_x66o">Hailey Jackson</a>&nbsp;with 0.7 seconds to play to tie the game at 69-all. Trailing 69-66, Jackson was fouled with 0.7 seconds left in regulation. The freshman from Tulsa, Oklahoma, hit all three free throws to force overtime.

In overtime, Muggeridge, Jackson and Smith scored on consecutive possessions for a 77-71 lead and upped the lead to eight at 81-73 on a Muggeridge hoop with 1:18 to go. The Blue Dragons were 6 of 6 shooting from the floor and 7 of 10 from the foul line in overtime. Northwest Florida State was 5 of 12.

The Blue Dragons had to overcome the 30-point performance of Northwest Florida State's Destiney McPhaul, who was 10 of 20 shooting and 10 of 12 from the free-throw line. Nevaeh Scott had 13 points and Celia Riviere had 10 points.

After shooting 52.2 percent in the first half, the Blue Dragons shot 49.2 percent for the game (30 of 61). The Blue Dragons were 3 of 16 from 3-point range and 25 of 33 from the free-throw line. The Dragons out-rebounded the Raiders 36-29, but committed an NJCAA-Tournament high 19 turnovers.

Northwest Florida State shot 51.7 percent for the game – just the 15th time in Ontjes' 578 games coached an opponent shot 50 percent or better. The Raiders were 1 of 8 from 3-point range and 17 of 23 from the free-throw line.

Both teams came out on fire – Northwest Florida State shot 63.6 percent and the Blue Dragons shot 53.8 percent – in an opening quarter that had three lead changes and four ties. The Dragons built a 6-3 lead on a Smith jumper with 7:56 to play in the first quarter. The Raiders answered with six unanswered to take a 9-6 lead after a McPhaul bucket at the 5:48 mark. The Dragons took an 11-9 lead after an Armstead transition basket with 3:34 to go. Smith's steal and layup bumped the lead to 15-11 with 2:28 to go. Northwest rallied to tie the game at 15-all, but Jackson hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key for an 18-15 Hutchinson lead after one quarter.

The Dragons opened a six-point lead when Armstead had a strong drive to the hoop for a 23-17 lead with 8:22 to play in the second quarter. The Dragons then went on a 10-2 run to build its first double-digit lead of 33-22 on a Jackson 15-footer with 4:57 to play. Smith hit a pull-up jumper with 1:51 left to build a 37-24 lead. The Dragons led 39-28 at halftime.

The Blue Dragons led 48-35 after a Jackson inside basket with 7:21 remaining in the third quarter. Turnovers started to become an issue. Seven Dragon miscued led to 14 Northwest points off turnovers as the Raiders outscored the Blue Dragons 22-10 over the final 7 minutes to take a 57-55 lead heading to the fourth quarter, closing the period on an 8-0 run.

Facing major foul trouble in the fourth quarter, the Blue Dragons trailed 68-62 with 2:37 to play in regulation. Jackson hit two free throws with 1:37 left and Smith had a steal and layup with 1:37 left to cut the deficit to 68-66. The Raiders had a chance to put the game away with 2.6 seconds left, but Riviere missed the second of two free throws and the Dragons corralled the rebound and called timeout to advance the ball. On the inbound, Jackson was fouled attempting a 3-pointer and she made all three free throws to give the Blue Dragons new life, tied at 69-all at the end of regulation.

Trading buckets on the first two possessions of overtime, Muggeridge, Jackson and Smith scored on consecutive possessions to build a 77-71 lead with 2:44 to go. After Northwest hit a 3-pointer to cut the Dragon lead to 82-78 with 42 seconds left,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2023-24/bios/norris_kahlen_azmu">Kahlen Norris</a>&nbsp;had a strong take to the hoop to score for an 84-78 lead with 33 seconds left.

GAME NOTES&nbsp;– The Blue Dragons are now 24-12 all-time in the NJCAA Tournament, 22-10 under head coach John Ontjes. … The Blue Dragons are now 3-0 all-time against Northwest Florida State, all three wins coming in the NJCAA Tournament. … The Blue Dragons have a 50-year record of 1,112-405, including 94-50 all-time in postseason play. … The Blue Dragons were 4-0 when trailing after three quarters this season. … This was Hutchinson's first overtime game of the season. … This was Hutchinson's second win this season over a Top-5 ranked opponent, also defeating No. 3 Butler in January.

🏀 This Date in Basketball - HutchCC women win first national title

The Hutchinson Community College softball team is receiving votes in the latest NJCAA Top 25 poll released on Monday afternoon.

The Blue Dragons are 23-5 overall, 17-1 in Jayhawk Conference play. HutchCC maintains a two-game lead on Barton in the conference standings beginning the month of April.

Hutchinson will host Fort Hays Tech Northwest (0-24, 0-16) on Wednesday at Fun Valley with the doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.

The Blue Dragons will travel to El Dorado on Friday for a doubleheader against No. 17 Butler (23-5, 12-4) beginning at 1 p.m.

Hutch has 16 games remaining in the regular season, but only four of them will be played at Fun Valley, the other 12 will all be on the road.&nbsp;

🥎 Jayhawk Conference leader HutchCC receiving votes in NJCAA Top 25

🎧 LISTEN: ⚽⚾🥎 Area results, ⚾ Royals win opener in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Kris Bubic struck out eight in six shutout innings in his first start in nearly two years, and the Kansas City Royals spoiled Milwaukee's home opener with an 11-1 victory over the winless Brewers on Monday.

Maikel Garcia and Salvador Perez homered for the Royals. Jonathan India had three hits and drove in two runs one day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-jonathan-india-21ca211a9ceab0a802ad3e0161c98cd7">he was struck</a>&nbsp;on the left side of his face by a 98.9-mph pitch from Cleveland's Emmanuel Clase.

Bubic (1-0) allowed three hits and walked two in his first start since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/braves-royals-0901437988ea02e1d63792b0b8fcbcb7">April 15, 2023.</a>&nbsp;The 27-year-old left-hander had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-kris-bubic-e784a60aeb5aa900ac518966b0a6446b">Tommy John surgery</a>&nbsp;later that month, and he filled a relief role in all 27 of his appearances last season, going 1-1 with a 2.67 ERA.

The two-time&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/milwaukee-brewers-984ada478789a7727c5f1333df7afddd">defending NL Central champion</a>&nbsp;Brewers are 0-4 for the first time since 2015, when they finished 68-94.

Garcia connected for a 428-foot drive to center on a 2-1 fastball from Elvin Rodriguez (0-1) in the second. Perez went deep on a 2-2 slider from Elvis Peguero in the seventh, sending a 418-foot drive just inside the left-field foul pole.

Brewers associate manager Rickie Weeks was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Brennan Miller after arguing a ball-strike call from the dugout in the seventh.

After India and Bobby Witt opened the game with back-to-back singles, Rodríguez retired the next two batters and seemed on the verge of getting out of the inning until Michael Massey ripped a 1-1 fastball that bounced over the left-field wall for a ground-rule RBI double. Hunter Renfroe followed with a two-run single.

The Brewers have been outscored 47-15 through their first four games. They opened their season by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/torpedo-bats-yankees-6ac6c797ea935941ed1c0d0e51a7d870">getting swept</a>&nbsp;in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

Right-hander Michael Lorenzen starts for the Royals as the three-game series continues Tuesday. The Brewers haven't announced their starting pitcher.

⚾ Bubic sparkles in first start since April 2023 as Royals trounce Brewers

Wichita Wind Surge WICHITA, Kan.—In conjunction with the Minnesota Twins, the Wichita Wind Surge is pleased to announce its 2025 Opening Day Roster, including four members of the Twins Top 30 Prospects list, courtesy of MLB.com.

Leading those four is Walker Jenkins, Minnesota’s leading and the third-best prospect in all of baseball. Less than six weeks removed from his 20th birthday, Jenkins is the youngest name among the top-15 on the MLB.com list. He also is the highest-ranked farmhand beginning a season in Wichita in the history of the Wind Surge. Alongside Jenkins is southpaw hurler Connor Prielipp (#5 Twins), backstopper/outfielder Ricardo Olivar (#17 Twins), and fellow outfielder Kala’i Rosario (#21 Twins).

Including Prielipp, 15 pitchers are on Wichita’s Opening Day roster, including six returning Wind Surge arms: RHP Darren Bowen, RHP Trent Baker, RHP Ricky Castro, RHP Joel Cesar, RHP Chase Chaney, RHP John Klein, RHP Cody Laweryson, RHP Angel Macuare, RHP Michael Martinez, LHP Jaylen Nowlin, RHP Mike Paredes, LHP Connor Prielipp, LHP Aaron Rozek, RHP John Stankiewicz, RHP Jarret Whorff.

Rounding out the roster, 14 position players will start the year in the ICT. 12 of the 14 donned a Wind Surge uniform last season, including the trio in the catchers room: C Noah Cardenas, C Andrew Cossetti, C/OF Ricardo Olivar, INF Rubel Cespedes, INF/OF Jorel Ortega, INF/OF Ben Ross, INF Jake Rucker, INF Tanner Schobel, INF/OF Dalton Shuffield, OF Allan Cerda, OF Tyler Dearden, OF Kyler Fedko, OF Walker Jenkins, OF Kala’i Rosario.

A mostly fresh-faced coaching staff surrounds Brian Dinkelman in his first season managing at the Double-A level. Dinkelman spent the previous five seasons as the manager of the Twins' High-A affiliate Cedar Rapids Kernels, posting a winning record each time and propelling the Kernels to four consecutive postseason berths, including a Midwest League Championship in 2023. Dinkelman will work alongside hitting coaches Andrew Cresci and Yeison Perez, with Perez being the lone returning coaching staff member from the 2024. Ryan Ricci and Jesus Sanchez are the pitching coaches in their respective first years coaching Double-A baseball.

⚾️ Wind Surge announce Opening Day roster

JOHNSON COUNTY —A former Kansas high school Choir Director is going to prison for sex crimes.

On Friday, Judge Thomas Sutherland sentenced 35-year-old Micah Horton to 34-months for unlawful sexual relations, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

After an investigation in March of 2024, Olathe Police arrested Horton who was&nbsp;the Choir Director at Olathe North High School. He pleaded guilty to three counts of unlawful sexual relations. 

Prison: Former Kan. school choir director admits to unlawful sexual relations 

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/mike-catalini">MIKE CATALINI</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a feat of determination, New Jersey Democratic Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-cory-booker-senate-speech-4540f0c98e620b591bfbea8c1001419a">Cory Booker</a>&nbsp;held the Senate floor with a marathon speech that lasted all night and into Tuesday evening, setting a historic mark to show Democrats’ resistance to President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-campaign-promise-tracker/">sweeping actions</a>.

Booker took to the Senate floor on Monday evening, saying he would remain there as long as he was “physically able.” More than 24 hours later, the 55-year-old senator, a former football tight end, was still going. It set the record for the longest continuous Senate floor speech in the chamber’s history, though Booker was assisted by fellow Democrats who gave him a break from speaking by asking him questions on the Senate floor.

It was a remarkable show of stamina as Democrats try to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/democrats-anger-backlash-trump-musk-426c189225ee978b4eea09352ac122b7">show their frustrated supporters</a>&nbsp;that they are doing everything possible to contest Trump’s agenda. Yet Booker also provided a moment of historical solace for a party searching for its way forward: By standing on the Senate floor for more than a night and day and refusing to leave, he had broken a record set 68 years ago by then Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, a segregationist, to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/about/resources/pdf/thurmond-strom-filibuster-1957.pdf">filibuster the advance</a>&nbsp;of the Civil Rights Act in 1957.

Now, Booker, who spoke openly on the Senate floor of his roots as the descendant of both slaves and slave-owners, holds that record. In his speech, Booker said he drew upon the entirety of his ancestry because "they speak to the complicated history of America.”

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, the first Black party leader in Congress who had slipped into the Senate chamber to watch Booker on Tuesday afternoon, called it “an incredibly powerful moment" because he had broken the record of a segregationist and was “fighting to preserve the American way of life and our democracy.”

Still, Booker centered his speech on a call for his party to find its resolve, saying, “We all must look in the mirror and say, ‘We will do better.’”

“These are not normal times in our nation,” Booker said as he began the speech Monday evening. “And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate. The threats to the American people and American democracy are grave and urgent, and we all must do more to stand against them.”

Booker warns of a ‘looming constitutional crisis’

Shifting his feet, then leaning on his podium, Booker railed for hours against cuts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-offices-closures-doge-trump-b2b1a5b2ba4fb968abc3379bf90715ff">Social Security offices</a>&nbsp;led by Trump adviser Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. He listed the impacts of Trump's early orders and spoke to concerns that broader cuts to the social safety net could be coming, though Republican lawmakers say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/musk-trump-doge-social-security-92de2ce547df0dcdcc00a5876e1a7bd6">the program won't be touched</a>.

Booker also read what he said were letters from constituents, donning and doffing his reading glasses. One writer was alarmed by the Republican president's talk of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-imperialism-canada-panama-greenland-b4b53445dee97398b498b79eab54d49b">annexing Greenland and Canada</a>&nbsp;and a “looming constitutional crisis.”

Throughout the day Tuesday, Booker got help from Democratic colleagues, who gave him a break from speaking to ask him questions. Booker yielded for questions but made sure to say he would not give up the floor. He read that line from a piece of paper to ensure he did not slip and inadvertently end his speech. He stayed standing to comply with Senate rules.

“Your strength, your fortitude, your clarity has just been nothing short of amazing and all of America is paying attention to what you’re saying,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said as he asked Booker a question on the Senate floor. “All of America needs to know there’s so many problems, the disastrous actions of this administration.”

As Booker stood for hour after hour, he appeared to have nothing more than a couple glasses of water to sustain him. Yet his voice grew strong with emotion as his speech stretched into the evening, and House members from the Congressional Black Caucus stood on the edge of the Senate floor to support Booker.

“Moments like this require us to be more creative or more imaginative, or just more persistent and dogged and determined,” Booker said.

Booker's cousin and brother, as well as Democratic aides, watched from the chamber's gallery. Sen. Chris Murphy accompanied Booker on the Senate floor throughout the day and night. Murphy was returning the comradeship that Booker had given to him in 2016 when the Connecticut Democrat held the floor for almost 15 hours to argue for gun control legislation.

His Senate floor speech breaks Thurmond's record

As Booker neared Thurmond's record, he remarked, "I don’t have that much gas in the tank.”

Yet anticipation in the Capitol was growing that he could supplant Thurmond, who died in 2003, as the record holder for the longest Senate floor speech. Democratic senators sat at their desks to listen and the Senate gallery filled with onlookers.

He had already surpassed the longest speech time for a sitting senator — the 21 hours and 19 minutes that Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ted-cruz">Ted Cruz</a>, a Texas Republican, had held the floor to contest the Affordable Care Act in 2013. Responding to his record being broken, Cruz posted a meme of Homer Simpson crying on social media.

Throughout his determined performance, Booker repeatedly invoked the civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis of Georgia on Tuesday, arguing that overcoming opponents like Thurmond would require more than just talking.

“You think we got civil rights one day because Strom Thurmond — after filibustering for 24 hours — you think we got civil rights because he came to the floor one day and said, ‘I’ve seen the light,’” Booker said. "No, we got civil rights because people marched for it, sweat for it and John Lewis bled for it."

Booker's speech was not a filibuster, which is a speech meant to halt the advance of a specific piece of legislation. Instead, Booker's performance was a broader critique of Trump's agenda, meant to hold up the Senate's business and draw attention to what Democrats are doing to contest the president. Without a majority in either congressional chamber, Democrats have been almost completely locked out of legislative power but are turning to procedural maneuvers to try to thwart Republicans.

Can his speech rally the anti-Trump resistance?

Booker is serving his second term in the Senate. He was an unsuccessful presidential candidate in 2020, when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a4917019ce954f809677941533f38f51">launched his campaign from the steps of his home in Newark</a>. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-cory-booker-ia-state-wire-deval-patrick-iowa-a737f1e88c667cac19c59bf8acb2c16e">dropped out</a>&nbsp;after struggling to gain a foothold in a packed field, falling short of the threshold to meet in a January 2020 debate.

But as Democrats search for a next generation of leadership, frustrated with the old-timers at the top, Booker's speech could cement his status as a leading figure in the party.

On Tuesday afternoon, tens of thousands of people were watching on Booker’s Senate YouTube page, as well as on other live streams.

Even before taking to the national political stage, Booker was considered a rising star in the Democratic Party in New Jersey, serving as mayor of Newark, the state's largest city, from 2006 to 2013.

During college, he played tight end for Stanford University's football team. He became a Rhodes scholar and graduated from Yale Law before starting his career as an attorney for nonprofits.

He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2013 during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-senate-united-states-congress-general-news-senate-elections-united-states-government-31beb16e9f704852991d5e6576b2cdaf">a special election</a>&nbsp;held after the death of incumbent Democrat Frank Lautenberg. He won his first full term in 2014 and reelection in 2020.

As Democratic colleagues made their way to the Senate chamber to help Booker by asking him questions, he also made heartfelt tributes to his fellow senators, recalling their personal backgrounds and shared experiences in the Senate. Booker also called on Americans to respond not just with resistance to Trump’s actions but with kindness and generosity for those in their communities.

Booker said, “I may be afraid — my voice may shake — but I’m going to speak up more."

Catalini reported from Trenton, N.J. Associated Press writer Matt Brown contributed.

Booker's anti-Trump speech rocks the U.S. Senate for over 24 hours

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was charged in federal court March 28 following his arrest during the execution of a federal search warrant last week, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jose Valencia-Soriano, 23, was charged in a three-count criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court of Kansas City, Mo., on Friday, March 28.&nbsp; 

As set forth in the attached complaint, Valencia-Soriano is charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, and one count of being an alien in possession of a firearm&nbsp; Valencia-Soriano was arrested yesterday and remains in federal custody pending a detention hearing.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on Thursday, March 27, agents with the Kansas City Field Division of the FBI, assisted by agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, were executing a federal search warrant at a home in the Kansas City area.&nbsp;According to the affidavit, during the execution of this warrant, Valencia-Soriano was discovered at the location, in addition to approximately 102 lbs. of finished crystal methamphetamine, over 406 lbs. of liquids containing methamphetamine in various states, three firearms in the main bedroom, and $48,634 in cash.&nbsp; Two of the firearms recovered had been listed as stolen.&nbsp; The underlying investigation is out of the St. Louis area and is primarily being handled by the St. Louis Field Division of the FBI.

"FBI St. Louis prioritized this drug trafficking investigation after we confirmed this defendant entered the U.S. illegally," said Special Agent in Charge Ashley Johnson of the FBI St. Louis Division. "With the help of our law enforcement partners, we seized a large quantity of illicit drugs to include 100 pounds of finished crystal meth and 406 pounds of liquid that contained meth."

“This case serves as an important reminder that, in addition to fentanyl, large quantities of other dangerous drugs, in this case methamphetamine, are still a significant problem in our community.&nbsp; This office is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute every one of these cases with the goal of making our communities a safer place to live,” said Acting United States Attorney Jeffrey P. Ray for the Western District of Missouri.

Mexican national caught in KC with 102 pounds of crystal meth

WOODSON COUNTY —A Kansas man died in an accident discovered on Tuesday in Woodson County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chevrolet Impala driven by&nbsp; Hayden T.&nbsp; Green, 21, Fredonia, was southbound on Kansas 105 just north of 30th Road.

The driver lost control of the car as it came over the hill. The vehicle entered the east ditch and struck a tree. Green was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Countryside Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

The crash was discovered just after 7:30a.m. Tuesday. The KHP is unsure what date and time that it occurred.

Kansas man dies after car strikes a tree

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;LISA MASCARO&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/leah-askarinam">LEAH ASKARINAM</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>&nbsp;exercised his power of the gavel Tuesday in an unusually aggressive effort to squash a proposal for new parents in Congress to able to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/history-in-the-making-as-house-casts-proxy-votes-in-pandemic-6f6fb7ab7ca80360117e0664d4b45682">vote by proxy</a>, rather than in person, as they care for newborns.

His plan failed, 206-222. Kansas GOP members of the House for the measure.

In an unprecedented move, the House Republican leadership had engineered a way to quietly kill the bipartisan plan from two new mothers — Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida and Democratic Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Colorado. Their plan has support from a majority of House colleagues. Some 218 lawmakers backed their effort, signing on to a so-called discharge petition to force their proposal on the House floor for consideration.

But Johnson, like GOP leaders before him, rails against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-us-supreme-court-health-voting-3ee9bf16c6575c973cebc962ede05fa7">proxy voting</a>, as President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;pushes people back to work in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic work-from-home trend.

A procedural vote Tuesday tested who had the tally on their side — the speaker or the plan’s sponsors. Nine Republicans joined all Democrats to sink the GOP leaders’ effort.

“If we don’t do the right thing now, it’ll never be done,” said Luna, who gave birth to her son in 2023.

Pettersen, with a diaper over her shoulder and 4-month-old son Sam in her arms, stood on the House floor and pleaded with colleagues to turn back the GOP leadership’s effort to stop their resolution.

“It is unfathomable that in 2025 we have not modernized Congress,” she said. “We’re asking you to continue to stand with us.”

Johnson had drawn the line against proxy voting as unconstitutional.

“Look, I’m a father, I’m pro-family,” the Republican speaker said late last month. But “I believe it violates more than two centuries of tradition and institution. And I think that it opens a Pandora’s box, where ultimately, maybe no one is here.”

It’s the first time in modern House history that the leadership was taking the extraordinary step to try to halt a discharge petition when it’s this far along. Next steps are uncertain.

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