HUTCHINSON — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education heard updates Monday that included a Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson presentation spotlighting National Mentoring Month, a student-led push for naloxone access, and several district operations and safety items.

Aaliyah Gray, marketing and development coordinator for Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, thanked USD 308 for its partnership and highlighted programs serving local youth, including initiatives such as Passport to Manhood and Smart Girls. Gray introduced Gabriel Marcum as the organization’s 2026 Youth of the Year, noting the club serves roughly 2,000 youth countywide.

Marcum told the board the club has been a second home for him for more than six years and credited staff mentors and family support for helping him find his voice and passion for community service. Marcum said he advocated for Narcan (naloxone) availability at both the Shadduck Park and Avenue A club sites, calling it a “life-saving” tool that can reverse opioid overdoses. He also referenced a Kansas legislative proposal aimed at requiring fentanyl education in public schools and expanding naloxone access statewide.

Separately, district leaders discussed school safety and security, including building mapping work tied to city and law enforcement coordination and a potential grant-funded camera software program designed to detect firearms and rapidly alert school and police contacts.

In board action items, USD 308 approved a Skyward student information system migration, with work anticipated to begin around October 2026 and conclude in summer 2027. The proposal approved by the board totals $42,837.&nbsp;

The board also approved purchases related to facilities operations, including robotic mowers for athletic field maintenance and a playground package for the district’s 'Lil Hawks childcare center. 

Administrators said that completion of the childcare center is expected in late February or early March with a possible opening later in March, pending licensing and final preparations.

The next meeting of the Board of Education is set for Monday, Feb. 9.

BOE hears update on Lil Hawks, approves Skyward migration

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Hutchinson Community College will celebrate jazz tradition and education during the 51st annual Bryce Luty Jazz Festival, scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6, with a featured concert and two days of clinics for middle school and high school musicians.

The festival’s main concert begins at 7 p.m. at the Stringer Fine Arts Center and will feature guest artist Bryan Lynch, the Bryce Luty All-Star Band and the HutchCC Concert Jazz Band. The long-running event honors Bryce Luty, a nationally respected jazz educator who helped establish collegiate jazz programs in Kansas.

“Bryce Luty had quite a reputation,” said Jack Cassidy, HutchCC’s jazz program coordinator. “He was the first collegiate jazz educator in the state of Kansas.”

Cassidy said Luty’s influence extended well beyond Hutchinson. Luty helped establish the National Association of Jazz Educators and was later named Jazz Educator of the Year in 2000.

“So they’re quite proud of him here in Hutch, and this is just my second year, so I’ve been learning a lot about him as time goes by,” Cassidy said. “Big shoes to fill.”

The festival will feature Lynch, a Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and professor of jazz studies at the University of Miami. Lynch has performed with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Horace Silver and Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Big Band, among others.

“He has quite a reputation and quite a resume, and we’re very fortunate to get him to come with us,” Cassidy said.

In addition to the Friday night concert, Lynch will work directly with students during adjudications and clinics Thursday and Friday. Visiting middle school and high school bands will perform prepared selections and receive feedback from professional musicians.

“They’ll perform the songs that they’ve been working on, and then the three clinicians will discuss their performance stylistically, historically, ways to maybe improve what they were doing,” Cassidy said. “They’ll discuss jazz harmony, and of course jazz improvisation, because that’s the basis of jazz.”

Cassidy said one of the festival’s distinguishing features is the opportunity for students to hear and interact with professional musicians.

“To hear the pros and to get to meet them,” Cassidy said. “That’s really the basis of the entire thing, is to give the kids an opportunity to see it up close.”

Cassidy added that the festival can serve as a stepping stone for students considering music beyond high school.

“If it’s something they’re interested in pursuing, there’s being on the team and then there’s being an expert,” he said. “This gives them the opportunity to do that.”

Tickets for the concert are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students. HutchCC students and staff are admitted free with a college ID. Tickets are available through the HutchCC Fine Arts Department. Doors to the concert will open at 6:30 p.m.

“This is a inexpensive way to immerse yourself in jazz quickly,” Cassidy said. “His music is fantastic.”

Bryce Luty Jazz Festival returns to HutchCC for 51st year

Click here for the KSStorm.info forecast.&nbsp;

Three-day outlook

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. ——————————————

Stephanie	Chandel	Robinson		1/26/2026 10:34&nbsp;AM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Timothy	Tairen	Perry		1/26/2026 12:28&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Andre	Ryan	Byrd		1/26/2026 3:18&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Christopher	Allen	Jenkins		1/26/2026 3:22&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Thomas	Richard	Cummings	III	1/26/2026 4:17&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Aggravated endangering a child; Reckless situation to child &lt;18

Angel	Antonio	Estrada	III	1/26/2026 4:30&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Aggravated endangering a child; Reckless situation to child &lt;18

Marissa	Marie	Peavy		1/26/2026 5:04&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Aggravated endangering a child; Reckless situation to child &lt;18

Joshua	Matthew	Stubby		1/26/2026 9:45&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant, Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body, Poss&nbsp;of marijuana; 1 prior conviction

Daily Bookings

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson community exceeded expectations on the opening day of the Battle of the Badges community blood drive, collecting more donations than organizers anticipated and adding momentum to an ongoing effort to address a severe regional blood shortage.

According to Tianna Frazell, the new local contact for the American Red Cross, donors contributed 121 total units of blood on day one, surpassing the daily goal of 116 units by five.

The friendly competition between local first responders is already heating up. After the first day of donations, Hutchinson Fire Department supporters lead the Battle of the Badges scoreboard with 60 ballots, while Hutchinson Police Department supporters recorded 48 ballots.

In total, donors contributed 83 units of whole blood and completed 19 Power Red procedures, yielding an additional 38 units. Organizers say every unit collected will help patients in area hospitals who rely on regular blood transfusions for emergencies, surgeries, and ongoing treatments.

“The energy today was amazing,” Frazell said. “Every single donation is making a real impact on patients in need, and we are incredibly grateful for the community’s continued support.”

Appointments remain available for the remaining days of the drive:

While turnout has been strong, Red Cross officials emphasize that the blood supply remains critically low and encourage residents who are eligible to schedule an appointment and keep the momentum going.

The Battle of the Badges blood drive continues through Wednesday, combining friendly rivalry with a shared goal of saving lives across the Hutchinson community.

Fire department has early lead in 'Battle of the Badges'

DENNIS DUTTON Executive Director for the Arts, Sterling College

Editor's Note: Due to the winter weather on Jan. 24, the program will be held this Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

Sterling College Theatre will celebrate three of its most familiar and celebrated performers with Senior Spotlight: An Evening of Musical Theatre, Saturday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Culbertson Auditorium on the Sterling College campus. The concert is free and open to the public and will run approximately two hours, including one intermission.

The evening features graduating seniors Mary Little of Hutchinson, Noah Svaty of Sterling, and Morgan Pellegrino of Las Vegas, Nevada, whose performances have helped define recent Sterling College musical theatre seasons. Together, the three have appeared in many of the program’s major productions and are well known to local audiences. The trio will be joined by 18 of their friends in the production which will include songs and scenes from several familiar and new musicals.

Svaty has performed in all eight musicals produced at Sterling College during his tenure, including leading roles as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Gomez Addams in The Addams Family, and Phil Davis in White Christmas. Little has portrayed several principal roles, including Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods, and Pennywise in Urinetown. Pellegrino joined the musical theatre program during her junior year and quickly made her mark with leading performances as the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, and Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie.

Accompanied by Marisa Callan, Sterling College Director of Musical Theatre, the seniors will present a program that highlights their artistic range and growth. The production also features a supporting cast of 19 performers, including Sterling College students and community members.

Senior Spotlight offers audiences a final opportunity to experience three standout performers whose work has been central to the success of Sterling College Theatre.

Sterling College Theatre to celebrate three leading performers in “Senior Spotlight”

A full house is expected this weekend as Salt Hawk Community Support hosts its signature fundraising event, “Men Can Cook”, returning Saturday night at the Hutchinson Art Center. 

Now in its fifth year, the popular tasting competition brings together a wide cross-section of local men — not professional chefs — who prepare their favorite dishes for an evening of food, friendly rivalry, and community support. Attendees sample each entry, cast ballots for their favorites, and help crown the night’s champions. 

“This is one of those events that just keeps growing,” said Claire Foy, one of the event organizers. “It’s competitive, it’s fun, and it’s completely different from anything else in the community.” 

The concept was introduced by Sally Russell who is a past president of Salthawk Community Support. Foy said “An organization in Wichita does it, but on a much larger scale.” 

After a pandemic pause, the fundraiser returned stronger than ever, drawing roughly 150 people when cooks and guests are combined. Despite serving only tasting portions, organizers say guests are often full before dessert. 

Chris Corey, a board member and one of the event’s participating “hype men,” said the variety of food is part of the appeal. “There’s everything from barbecue to Thai food, chicken and waffles, Mexican dishes — really a wide range,” said Corey. 

This year’s lineup includes about 18 cooks representing a broad mix of professions and backgrounds, including educators, retirees, business owners, a physician, a commercial pilot, clergy family members — and even Hutchinson Mayor Scott Meggers. While there are no professional chefs competing, organizers note that creativity and presentation are just as important as flavor, with awards for both food and décor. 

The winning cooks receive a custom metal Salt Hawk medal crafted by students in the Hutchinson High School Technical Education Department. 

In addition to food, guests can enjoy beverages from Salt City Brewing, a longtime supporter of the event. 

Proceeds from "The Men Cook" directly support Salt Hawk Community Support, which provides services and programming for students at Hutchinson Middle School 8 and Hutchinson High School. 

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Kylie Campbell, site administrator for Salthawk Community Support at HMS 8. “The support we get from this event helps fund programs for our students and raises awareness about the services we offer. It’s also my favorite event — seeing the community come together is incredible.” 

The event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan 31. at the Hutchinson Art Center. Tickets are $45 per person and are available in advance at the Art Center, Apron Strings, Trinity United Methodist Church, through board members, or at the door the night of the event. 

Organizers are already looking ahead to next year and encouraging additional participants to get involved. 

“The cooks cover the cost of their own food, which makes this a huge benefit for our organization,” Foy said. “We’re incredibly grateful, and we’re always looking to add more men to the lineup.” 

For those interested in attending or cooking in future years, organizers say The Men Cook is more than a food contest — it’s one of Hutchinson’s premier community events.

'The Men Cook' returns on Saturday

Here's a list of events happening around the area.&nbsp; If your club or organization has an event, you can e-mail the information to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">HutchPost@eaglemedia.com.</a>

HutchCC Men's and Women's Basketball vs Butler CC - 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Sports Arena&nbsp;&nbsp;

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive - Noon to 6:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; First Presbyterian Church, 201 East Sherman, Hutchinson

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive - 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; First Presbyterian Church, 201 East Sherman, Hutchinson

Hutch High Boys Basketball at Derby - 7:15 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Derby High School

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; First Presbyterian Church, 201 East Sherman, Hutchinson

HutchCC Men's and Women's Basketball vs Indy - 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Sports Arena&nbsp;

Hutch High Girls' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - TBD &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; vs. Olathe South, McPherson Roundhouse

Fox Classic/Retro Film Series: "Tommy Boy" - 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave.

Hutch High Girls' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - TBD &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; vs. TBD, McPherson Roundhouse

Fox Classic/Retro Film Series: "Tommy Boy" - 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave.

Talk20 Hutch: The Final Edition - 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Public Library, 901 North Main

Hutch High Girls' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - TBD &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;vs. TBD, McPherson Roundhouse

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/34fcaa53-f853-4274-aea1-4cda4aabf002">Flapjacks at the Fire Station</a>&nbsp;- 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Cheney Fire Station - 525 North Main Street, Cheney

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonartcenter.net/classes">Saturday Morning Artists</a>&nbsp;- 9 to 11:30 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Art Center - 405 North Washington

HutchCC Men's and Women's Basketball at Seward County &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2 and 4 p.m., The Greenhouse, Liberal

Hutch High Boys' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - 3 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; vs. Blue Valley, McPherson Roundhouse (Rescheduled from Jan. 24)

Fox Classic/Retro Film Series: "Snow White" - 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave.

"Senior Spotlight" - 7:30 p.m. (Rescheduled from Jan. 24.) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Culbertson Auditorium, Sterling College

"Men Can Cook" - 7 to 8:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Art Center

Fox Classic/Retro Film Series: "Snow White" - 2 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave.

Here's what's happening: Jan. 26 - Feb 1

Michael	Paul	Mattox		1/25/2026 6:35&nbsp;PM	Harassment by Telephone; Texting to harass or threaten, Criminal Threat; with Intent to Terrorize or cause Evacuation,					Failure to Appear

Cody	Donald	Willhaus		1/26/2026 12:09&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Here are the current cancellations and submitted to Hutch Post.&nbsp; To submit a cancellation, please send an email to <a href="mailto:hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://eaglepost.netlify.app/dashboard/hutch/posts/5008cda3-3e87-4169-a064-a84877914989">LINK:&nbsp;Winter Weather: How to submit closures, delays, and cancellations</a>

Central Christian School - Closed Elyria Christian School - 2-hour delay Hutchinson Catholic Schools - Closed St. Joseph Elementary, McPherson - Closed USD 267 Renwick - Closed USD 268 Cheney - Closed USD 308 Hutchinson - Closed, MS Basketball canceled USD 309 Nickerson/S. Hutchinson - Closed USD 310 Fairfield - 2-hour delay USD 311 Pretty Prairie - Closed USD 312 Haven - Closed USD 313 Buhler - Closed USD 331 Kingman-Norwich - Closed USD 332 Cunningham - 2-hour delay USD 349 Stafford - Closed USD 350 St. John-Hudson - Closed USD 369 Burrton - Closed, all activities canceled USD 373 Newton - Closed USD 382 Pratt - Closed USD 418 McPherson - Closed USD 419 Canton Galva - No classes or activities USD 423 Moundridge - Closed USD 438 Skyline - 2-hour delay USD 439 Sedgwick -Closed USD 448 Inman - Closed USD 460 Hesston - Closed

Church of the Holy Cross - Office closed Delos V. Smith Senior Center - Closed&nbsp; Hesston Area Senior Center - Closed, No meals served or delivered Hutchinson Art Center - Closed Hutchinson Everfull - Closed Monday Kingman Friendship Meals - No Meals Monday&nbsp; Moundridge Senior Center - Closed Pratt Friendship Meals - Closed today South Central Kansa Area on Aging and Friendship Meals - Closed Monday (McPherson, Reno, Rice, and Kingman counties) Sterling/Nickerson Meals on Wheels - Closed&nbsp; Women for Kansas - Hutchinson Area Chapter meeting - Canceled&nbsp;

Closings, delays and cancellations

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department responded Sunday to a reported structure fire in the 100 block of West 7th Street, where crews found a small fire burning in the attic of a two-story, balloon-frame home.

According to the department, firefighters were able to make entry into the attic space and quickly extinguish the fire. Officials said there were no complications during the response and damage to the home was minimal.

The residence was occupied at the time of the call. The occupants alerted emergency dispatch and were able to safely exit the home before firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.

Fire officials said damage was contained to the attic and ceiling areas. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Hutchinson Fire Department thanked assisting agencies for their support at the scene, including Reno County EMS, Reno County Emergency Communications, Evergy, Kansas Gas, and the Hutchinson Police Department.

Attic fire contained with minimal damage

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Mexican national was sentenced in federal court earlier this month for possessing methamphetamine to distribute, illegally possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and illegally reentering the United States after having previously been deported, according to the United State's Attornehy.

Jose Alberto Rodriguez-Landeros (also known as Raul Garcia, Raul Garcia Rodriguez, Saul Dias Gonzalez, Miguel Angel Garcia Perez, Miguel Garcia Perez, Jose Alberto Landeros, Angel Saucedo, Jose M. Rodriguez, Ivan M. Pantoja, Guillermo Gonzalez-Dias), 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Roseann Ketchmark to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

On Nov. 14, 2024, Rodriguez-Landeros pleaded guilty to one count of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, and one count of illegally reentering the United States after previously being deported.&nbsp;

Based on the written plea agreement, Rodriguez-Landeros admitted to selling methamphetamine to a confidential source on three separate occasions on Oct. 11, 2022, Oct. 21, 2022, and Nov. 22, 2022.&nbsp; On Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant of the defendant’s residence located in Kansas City, Mo.&nbsp; Officers discovered the following items: a Keltec, Model P-32, .32 caliber pistol; identification documents with various aliases utilized by Rodriguez-Landeros; approximately 2 kilograms of methamphetamine; approximately 148 grams of powder cocaine; and $9,500 in U.S. currency.&nbsp; Also on Dec. 13, 2022, law enforcement officials arrested the defendant while driving on Indiana Avenue in Kansas City, Mo. During the arrest, officers seized approximately 380 grams of methamphetamine and 75 grams of cocaine found on Rodriguez-Landeros’s person and in his vehicle. Immigration and Customs Enforcement records confirmed that Rodriguez-Landeros was previously deported from the United States on at least three occasions since 2000.

Illegal alien sold meth to confidential source in KC three times

WICHITA, KS – The Kansas Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for the cases of Reginald and Jonathan Carr for Wednesday, January 28.

Below is a summary provided by the district attorney's office on the current status of these appeals, and a summary of what has happened in the cases so far.

Prosecutors said the brothers broke into a Wichita home in December 2000 and forced the three men and two women there to have sex with one another and later to withdraw money from ATMs.

According to authorities, the women were raped repeatedly before all five were taken to a soccer field and shot. Four victims died: Aaron Sander, 29; Brad Heyka, 27; Jason Befort, 26; and Heather Muller, 25. One of the women survived to testify against the Carr brothers. Other crimes over six days left a fifth person dead.

The defendants each appealed Judge Goering’s denial that was issued in April of 2024.&nbsp; The arguments on those appeals scheduled for next week are to resolve those appeals.&nbsp; The defendants’ arguments are (summarized) that they should be granted new sentencing hearings at which point the question of the death penalty would have to be re-litigated.&nbsp; The State’s argument (summarized) is that the question has been resolved, and no new sentencing should be granted.

When any capital murder or other “off-grid” case is appealed in Kansas, the appellate proceedings are as follows:

Then when the direct appeals are exhausted,

Then when the collateral attacks are exhausted,

Kan. High Court to hear death row appeal in Wichita massacre

WASHINGTON (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday a “big investigation” was underway into the killing of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">protester and ICU nurse</a>&nbsp;Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis.

“I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it, and I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself,” the president said as he left the White House.

The comment is the latest marker of Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pretti-minnesota-immigration-enforcement-eb9e63a625b624d2ba4ed467cb0f956c">sudden turnabout on the issue</a>&nbsp;as his administration confronts growing pushback — including from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-republicans-trump-pretti-988f694e4e1187033551fd23afde4c02">some Republicans</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-pretti-minnesota-second-amendment-ice-ffef56cab9930e52273f8227251452f4">Second Amendment advocates</a>&nbsp;— on federal agents’ tactics in the second fatal shooting from the aggressive immigration operation in Minnesota.

A day earlier, the White House made an effort to distance Trump from some early comments by high-ranking administration officials who had branded Pretti as a domestic terrorist despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-alex-pretti-videos-861a0d8f3ee182f3b5909b3613900e2e">videos of the encounter contradicting their narrative.</a>

Immigration agents were active Tuesday across the Twin Cities region, but it was unclear if officials had changed tactics after the shift in tone from the White House.

President Trump says Pretti ‘shouldn’t have been carrying a gun’

As he greeted diners in a Des Moines-area restaurant, Trump again weighed in on the Minnesota shooting.

“We view that as a very unfortunate incident, OK?,” he said, adding that everyone “unless you’re a stupid person” viewed it that way.

In comments that were likely to further irritate his backers who are also strong Second Amendment supports, he said: “I don’t like that he had a gun. I don’t like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That’s a lot of bad stuff.”

Trump suggests his shakeup of federal officials in Minnesota may ‘de-escalate’ thing

Trump said during an interview on Fox News’ “Will Cain Show” of his sending Homan to Minnesota, “we’re going to de-escalate a little bit.”

That’s significant since White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, when questioned repeatedly Monday about Homan’s being dispatched to Minnesota, refused to say that doing so was an effort to calm the situation.

The president added of Homan, “Tom, as tough as he is, gets along” with governors and mayors, even in Democratic areas.

Trump also spoke of Bovino, who has been sent out of Minnesota. He said Bovino is “very good” but also that “he’s a pretty out-there kind of a guy” and “maybe it wasn’t good here.”

Schumer says Noem is ‘incompetent’ and a ‘liar’ and should be fired

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is “a liar,” “vicious” and “incompetent” and must be fired after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">fatal shootings of two Minneapolis protesters</a>&nbsp;by federal authorities.

In opening floor remarks as the Senate returned to Washington, Schumer said that Democrats will not vote for Homeland Security funding as part of a wide-ranging spending bill passed by the House last week. The government will partially shut down if the Senate doesn’t pass the legislation by Friday.

Schumer said Republicans should strip the Homeland spending portion out of the bill and should not force a vote on legislation “that everyone knows cannot pass.”

“The ball is in Leader Thune’s court,” Schumer said of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D.

Democrats have criticized Noem and other officials for saying that 37 year-old Alex Pretti “approached” immigration officers with a gun and acted violently when video evidence appears to show otherwise.

Schumer stopped short of saying that Noem should be impeached as dozens of Democrats have signed on to an impeachment resolution in the House.

Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin supports impeaching Kristi Noem if she’s not fired

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, of Wisconsin where Alex Pretti grew up and graduated from high school, said she supports impeaching Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

“She has to go,” Baldwin told reporters during an online news conference Tuesday. “She needs to be fired or she should resign. ... If impeachment is the way to do it, I’d support it.”

Baldwin also said she would not vote for the DHS funding bill before the Senate without additional accountability measures for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“ICE is out of control and they are wreaking havoc on American cities, including Minneapolis-St. Paul,” Baldwin said. “The question is are my Republican colleagues just going to look away or are they going to join us in adding accountability measures that rein in ICE?”

Minneapolis mayor asks border czar to quickly end immigration enforcement surge

Mayor Jacob Frey told President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, that the city will not enforce federal immigration laws, and he asked that the immigration enforcement surge “come to an end as quickly as possible.”

Homan met with Frey and Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara Tuesday morning.

“Public safety works best when it’s built on community trust — not tactics that create fear or division,” Frey said in a statement released after the meeting. “I shared with Mr. Homan the serious negative impacts this operation has had on Minneapolis and surrounding communities, as well as the strain it has placed on our local police officers.”

Frey said the city would “remain focused on keeping our neighbors and streets safe.”

Trump says Minneapolis victim’s parents’ support for him makes him feel ‘even worse’

Trump called the fatal shootings of two Americans by federal agents in Minneapolis “terrible” and said that hearing that one was the daughter of Trump supporters makes it even worse for him.

Renee Good, 37, was shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">on Jan. 7</a>. Alex Pretti, also 37, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">killed on Jan. 24</a>.

“I’m not sure about his parents but I know her parents were big Trump fans. Makes me feel bad anyway. But I mean, I guess you could say even worse,” he said.

Trump made the comments Tuesday in an interview with Fox News in Iowa, where he had flown earlier that day to speak at a rally in the Des Moines area.

House Democratic leader says Noem must go — or face impeachment proceedings

“The country is disgusted by what the Department of Homeland Security has done,” said Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a statement.

The Democrat is the latest in a growing number of voices — from party leaders to advocacy groups to the most centrist of lawmakers in Congress — insisting on dramatic changes in the aftermath of the shooting deaths in Minnesota.

“Kristi Noem should be fired immediately or we will commence impeachment proceedings in the House,” said Jeffries, whose party would need GOP support on any legislation to launch such an effort.

“The violence unleased on the American people by the Department of Homeland Security must end.”

Trump disputes staff and says slain Alex Pretti was not an ‘assassin’

Trump was asked if the killed Minneapolis protester was an “assassin” as a key aide has claimed and the president answered “no.”

The president added, however, that protesters “can’t have guns” as Pretti did and “it’s just a very unfortunate incident.” Trump has said he wants the death investigated.

On Saturday, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller on social media described Pretti as an “assassin” who “tried to murder federal agents.” Vice President JD Vance shared the post on X as well.

Asked by reporters as he left the White House on Tuesday for a trip to Iowa whether Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is going to step down, Trump had a one-word answer: “No.”

Democrats in Congress have called for Noem’s exit after federal agents fatally shot two people in Minneapolis protesting immigration enforcement actions.

🎥What President Trump said about Alex Pretti carrying a gun

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Police investigating another deadly shooting in Wichita reported an arrest.

Just after 8a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to the&nbsp;the 900 block of East Indianapolis in Wichita&nbsp;for a reported welfare check after receiving information about a man down, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

Upon arrival, officers located a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Wichita police officers and detectives conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation, working through challenging weather conditions and utilizing multiple departmental resources.

Officers from multiple WPD sections, Crime Scene Investigators,&nbsp;K-9 Mantra, and&nbsp;Flock technology&nbsp;were utilized to canvass the area, locate evidence, and develop investigative leads.&nbsp;K-9 Mantra located multiple shell casings in the snow during the search.

As a result of this coordinated effort, detectives were able to quickly identify a suspect identified as 27-year-old Donny J. Harris of Springfield, Missouri, and establish probable cause. An arrest warrant was issued for first-degree murder.

Working in close coordination with the Springfield Police Department, Harris was located and arrested Monday evening in Springfield, Missouri. He is being held in the Greene County, Missouri jail, according to online jail records.

Suspect in Kansas homicide captured in Missouri

DICKINSON COUNTY—Authorities are investigating a fatal fire in rural Dickinson County.

Just before 6p.m. Monday,&nbsp;Deputies with the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a house fire in the 1500 block of 1400 Avenue in rural Dickinson County, according to Undersheriff Jeff Vaughan. The residence was fully engulfed when firefighters and deputies arrived.

Deputies located an man and a child outside the residence. Deputies were advised a two-year-old boy was unaccounted for and may be inside the residence. After the fire was brought under control by firefighters, the two-year-old victim was located deceased inside of the residence.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation.

Undersheriff: 2-year-old dies in rural Kansas house fire

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street ticked to a record on Tuesday, as stocks zigzagged under the market’s surface following mixed profit reports from UnitedHealth, General Motors and other big companies.

The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.4% and edged past its prior&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-powell-trump-rates-9eb79e89fec160c7c64dfcef6871e693">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set a couple weeks ago, even though more stocks fell within the index than rose. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 408 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.9%.

UnitedHealth Group tumbled 19.6% despite reporting a profit for the latest quarter that was a bit better than analysts expected. More attention was on the company’s forecast for revenue in the upcoming year, which fell short of Wall Street’s expectations and could be weaker than it was in 2025.

Health care stocks also felt tremendous pressure from a projected rate increase for Medicare Advantage by the U.S. government, which fell well short of what investors had hoped. Humana skidded by 21.1%, Elevance Health dropped 14.3% and CVS Health sank 14.2%.

Helping to offset those losses was Corning, which climbed 15.6% after announcing a deal with Meta Platforms that’s worth up to $6 billion. Corning will supply optical fiber and cable to help build out data centers for Meta, enough that Corning is expanding its optical-fiber manufacturing facility in Hickory, North Carolina.

Also supporting the U.S. stock market were gains for General Motors, which rose 8.7%, and hospital-operator HCA Healthcare, which rallied 7.1%. Both delivered profits for the end of 2025 that topped Wall Street’s expectations. Each also approved programs to send billions of dollars to their investors by buying back their own stock.

Profit reports elsewhere on Wall Street were mixed. UPS added 0.2% after reporting a stronger profit and forecasting better revenue for 2026 than analysts expected, while announcing the elimination of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ups-amazon-workforce-job-cuts-57b40623628ebe741a9bfb16161fff30">30,000 jobs</a>. American Airlines lost 7% after delivering a profit for the end of 2025 that fell well short of analysts’ expectations.

The pressure is on companies to deliver strong growth in profits following record-setting runs for their stock prices. Stock prices tend to follow the path of corporate profits over the long term, and earnings need to rise to quiet criticism that stock prices have grown too expensive.

Several of Wall Street’s most influential stocks will deliver their latest earnings reports later this week. They include Meta Platforms, Microsoft and Tesla on Wednesday and Apple on Thursday.

Several of those Big Tech stocks were among the strongest forces lifting the S&amp;P 500 Tuesday, including gains of 2.2% for Microsoft and 1.1% for Apple.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 28.37 points to 6,978.60. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 408.99 to 49,003.41, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 215.74 to 23,817.10.

Another way stock prices can look less expensive to investors is if interest rates fall. The Federal Reserve will announce its next move on interest rates Wednesday, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-powell-inflation-c1e2c5222795bda4a1d294f6406f66fc">widespread expectation is that it will hold</a>&nbsp;its main interest rate steady for now.

Inflation remains stubbornly above the Fed’s 2% target, and lower interest rates could worsen increases in prices for U.S. consumers at the same time that they give the economy a boost. Traders expect the Fed to resume its cuts to interest rates later this year.

In the bond market, Treasury yields were relatively steady ahead of the Fed’s decision. The yield on the 10-year Treasury inched up to 4.23% from 4.22% late Monday.

It had edged lower earlier in the day, after a report from the Conference Board said confidence weakened among U.S. consumers last month. Economists had expected to see a slight improvement, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-spending-inflation-conference-board-f36b997dc46ac9c3577d05db52166846">confidence dropped to its lowest level since 2014</a>, even lower than it was during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia.

India’s Sensex index added 0.4% after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the country had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/india-eu-modi-trade-wine-auto-74b8744b2ef562d2e820b238e6ce8d38">reached agreement on a free trade deal</a>&nbsp;with the European Union.

The accord, which touches 2 billion people, followed nearly two decades of negotiations. It’s one of the biggest bilateral engagements on commerce. The timing comes as Washington targets both India and the EU with steep import tariffs.

South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.7%, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rallied 1.4% for two of the world’s bigger moves.

Wall Street sets another record after a mixed day of trading

By RIO YAMAT AP Airlines and Travel Writer

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