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>

USD 332 Cunningham - Closed Friday USD 349 Stafford - Closed Friday USD 350 St. John-Hudson - Closed Friday USD 351 Macksville - Closed Friday USD 438 Skyline Schools - Closed Friday

American Legion Bingo - Canceled, Post is closed Christian Soup Ministry, Hutchinson - Closed Delos V. Smith Senior Center - Closing at 1 p.m. Friday Eagle Media Studios - Closed Opening Monday at 8 a.m. Hutchinson Fair Price Clothing - Closing at 1 p.m. Hutchinson Art Center - Closing at 12 p.m. Hutchinson Meals on Wheels - No meal delivery today

American Legion Post #68 - Post closed Buhler, USD 313 - All activities canceled Carl's Bar &amp; Delicatessen - Closed Christian Soup Ministry, Hutchinson - Closed Cosmosphere - Closed Dillon Nature Center trails/grounds and Visitor Center - Closed Hutch Rec youth basketball games canceled - Postponed to Feb. 28 Hutchinson Art Center - Closed Hutchinson Daylight Donuts - Closed Hutchinson Fair Price Clothing - Closed Hutchinson Public Library - Closed HutchCC basketball vs Butler CC - Postponed to Monday, 5:30/7:30 McPherson Invitational Basketball Tourn. - Games postponed to Jan. 31 Peoples Bank and Trust, all locations - Closed Polar Plunge for Special Olympics - Postponed to Feb. 14

Buhler Mennonite South Church - No Sunday services Faith United Methodist Church, Hutchinson - Closed, online services only First Congregational Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services First Presbyterian Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services First Presbyterian Church, McPherson - No Sunday services Mitchell Chapel United Methodist Church - No Sunday services New Life Christian Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services Nickerson United Methodist Church - No Sunday services Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Burrton - No Sunday Services South Hutchinson United Methodist Church - No Sunday Services Trinity United Methodist Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services

American Legion Post #68 - Post closed Christian Soup Ministry, Hutchinson - Closed Dillon Nature Center trails/grounds and Visitor Center - Closed TEFAP commodities distribution - Postponed to Feb. 1

Women for Kansas - Hutchinson Area Chapter meeting - Canceled&nbsp;

Closings and cancellations

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — Three people were injured, one critically, in a three-vehicle crash involving two commercial vehicles on U.S. Highway 50 early Friday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to the scene just before 12:50 p.m. The collision involved a truck tractor-semi trailer, a single-unit commercial work vehicle, and a pickup truck. The accident occurred between South Halstead Road and South Hertzler Road.&nbsp;

According to authorities, the crash occurred when one vehicle crossed the center line on the two-lane highway and sideswiped the pickup. That impact caused the pickup to veer off the roadway and roll onto its side in the ditch. The same vehicle then continued westbound in the eastbound lane and struck the semi in an offset head-on collision. After the impact, the vehicle that crossed the center line left the roadway and came to rest in the ditch.

The semi driver was able to maintain control and safely stop on the roadway.

Three people were transported from the scene. Two were taken to Newton Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. A third person, who sustained critical injuries, was transported to a Wichita hospital.

The crash remains under investigation, and additional details may be released as they become available.

3 injured in Harvey County accident

West Avenue A in Hutchinson will reopen to traffic at noon Tuesday, Jan. 27, restoring a key east–west connection through the city following months of construction tied to the Woodie Seat Project.

According to the City of Hutchinson, the reopening applies to Avenue A between South Adams Street and South Madison Street and represents a significant milestone in the long-term infrastructure effort.

Before vehicles return to the roadway, the public is invited to walk the project site and view the completed improvements up close. The walk-through is scheduled for Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., offering residents a chance to see the work firsthand before traffic resumes.

While Avenue A will reopen, city officials note that the Woodie Seat Freeway on-ramp at the roundabout will remain closed until the Avenue C Bridge Rehabilitation Project is finished. That work is currently anticipated to wrap up in mid-summer.

As part of preparations for reopening Avenue A, the city’s Street Department is converting the temporary three-way stop at Avenue A and Adams Street back to traffic signals.&nbsp;

City officials thanked residents and drivers for their patience during construction and said the reopening of Avenue A marks another step forward in the broader Woodie Seat Project.

Avenue A to reopen for east-west traffic

NASA’s giant new moon rocket, Artemis II, moved to the launch pad Jan. 17, in preparation for astronauts’ first fly-around the moon in more than half a century. The out-and-back trip could blast off as early as February.

The trip will send astronauts farther than any crew has traveled.  Last spring we visited with the pilot of the mission, Victor Glover.

He was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and most recently served as pilot of the Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft which flew to the International Space Station.  Here is our interview with NASA astronaut Victor Glover.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;&nbsp;Welcome again to "Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times" with a special guest from Houston, astronaut Victor.&nbsp;Thanks for being on our program today.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Thanks, Gary, great to be here. Thanks for&nbsp;having me.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;&nbsp;You know, one of the things I know that we talk about on this program is leadership. You have walked in space four times. I believe you've been on the space station. You've lived up there for a while. What puts you in position?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;You know, from a leadership, from a career standpoint, to be in the astronaut program, I love talking about leadership.&nbsp;I love the subject and, well, I think a part of it would be following having a bunch of great leaders to work with and look up to. 

Initially, when you're put into a leadership position, you can freestyle it, or you can mimic what you've seen. So I would say some great leaders do imitate. 

I worked for some amazing people. My squadron commanders, I worked for John McCain for almost a year. Charlie Bolden, who ran NASA, but he was a Marine Corps general when I worked for him the first time, and so I think that's a big part of it, having some really amazing leaders to look up to in the beginning.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Were there some key moments in your career that kind of turned you towards being an astronaut?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Key moments? Wow. I was in college, tutoring for a program, and loved working with kids, teaching engineering, and felt like I really had found my calling. I was considering the military and teaching at the time.

So my boss in that program, thinking she was going to help, really set the hook for being an educator, had me meet the executive director of this program.

I went up to the University of California office, and I walk in his office, and there's a constellation of our solar system and a rocket. And he sees me, leans back in his chair, he takes his glasses off and sets it on a book.

I shake his hand, and sit down, and he taps on that book. And he says, you see that right there? That's how I live my dreams of space exploration and flying. And he says, You have a chance to go fly in the Navy. Go do it, and if anything else, it'll make you a better educator. 

That conversation, which was that quick, really turned my thinking. I've always loved education and the impact we can have on young people, but that really helped me get comfortable with the idea of going and starting this Navy journey, which, you know, lots of other decisions on the way, but that was the big one, whether or not to leave college and go be an educator or to go serve in the military.

Gary Shorman: In our story, you talk to students about that. I'm sure you make those choices, make those things that can change your life. You've done that.

You had a chance to be at the space station, walk in space. Let's talk a little bit about that. What did it feel like to step outside the spaceship and just go shooting? I see space right there that has to be a breathtaking experience.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;That is it? It is breathtaking because you don't know what it's going to feel like when you first get out there. The advice I received that really just kept repeating in my head was, "Keep your world small."

 One of my classmates said to me, and so I just focused on right what was in front of my face, my hands and the handrail, where I'm going next. And so it took me about three hours before I felt like, OK.

I kind of got the hang of this. I'm going to start looking around and maybe taking some pictures. Actually, on my first spacewalk, I did not take a single picture. There were no selfies to be taken on. it, but it was busy. 

I'll tell you, that's what it is. You're busy. When you're outside, there's a lot to be done, and it all requires intense focus. 

I&nbsp;wrestled in college, and I think space walking has a lot in common with wrestling, even though it may be physical in a different way. It's very physical. It's very three-dimensional.

Your success requires you to integrate the three dimensions and to think about what's coming next. And that's very true in wrestling and space walks. It's so challenging. It's busy physically and mentally.

But most importantly, you're working with a team. And that team, Mike Hopkins, who had been out on a spacewalk before, and led our first one, the first one I went on, and also the ground team, they all helped to make that possible. 

But that first moment when you look out, and you can see that for real, there are just no words to describe it. We train in a pool where you can see the bottom of the pool. When you look out, and it's 250 miles straight down, you go, "Wow! this is amazing and special. But also, what am I doing?"

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Letting go to actually float would have to be one of those experiences that you can think about, and I can say, "Boy, that'd be hard to do." But letting go when you're out there, and you see that space out there, that's amazing. What did it feel like when you were named to be on the Artemis mission?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Ah, wow. It's interesting, because people ask about the excitement, and excitement is a part of it. But the professionals who do what I do, understand the risks associated with this.

There's a lot of software, a lot of pieces and parts to this, hardware, lots of people. This is made all over the country, in all 50 states of the Union, and then also parts overseas. 

And it all has to work flawlessly the first time for the duration of the mission. 

So we understand the risk. And so I would say the overriding feeling was, first of all shocked, because I didn't expect to be on this mission, so I was a little shocked. But then also, I know focus isn't a feeling, but the seriousness, that's my overriding feeling, was the seriousness of this. 

This means a lot for our country, for our agency, for our Artemis Accords, international partners, and it's risky. My family is going to have to go on this journey with&nbsp;me. We have a lot to get done in the next couple of years. And so, yeah, profundity, if it's a if that's an emotion, it was profundity.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;If you look at 50 years since we've had a mission like this, and you'll be the first one to head to the moon, there's more to it than just circling the moon, though. Tell us a little bit more about the long-term plans for the Artemis mission.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Artemis is our generation's deep-space exploration program. It's not just the Moon Program. We're going to make sure this Orion capsule is safe for humans to fly, so that we can fly it to eventually dock to a lunar lander.

That will get us to the surface of the moon, or to a gateway space station that's orbiting the moon. Both of those things are going to enable future technologies and future techniques and future teams to go beyond the moon on to Mars.

And continue to understand, maybe, how the Earth looked in its past, or where we may be headed in the future, if we don't take better care of our planet. 

So the Artemis program is a big campaign. The moon is just one destination, and that's our mission. Our mission is to do the free return trajectory around the moon, but really to test out Orion as one big step on this journey that's going to eventually get humans to Mars.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Orion is your spaceship, and you'll be the pilot of that as you approach the moon and circle the moon. What are you going to be looking for?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Oh, wow. So there's a potential. The region of the moon, what we would call the Western Hemisphere, looking at it from Earth on the far side. That part has not been completely seen by human eyes, and I just learned that recently.

So the fact that there's a potential for us to see something that's never been seen before, that's amazing. 

But no matter what, even if it's completely dark, to look out the window of the spacecraft and to look at the moon in the foreground, and then see the Earth in the background, in the distance, a quarter of a million miles away, with my crewmates, Reed, Cristina, and Jeremy. I don't know what that's going to feel like, but I'm looking forward to that. That's going to be amazing.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;I hope you send us pictures back, Victor.&nbsp; I know you're short on time because you have a lot of people and you have a lot of training to do. That has to be intense training, because there are so many moving parts, as you say, that intensity, that focus it takes. How many hours a day do you train?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;So we will start training next month, and I imagine it's going to be chock full. I think they're going to schedule our days full. And you know, while some of it will be technical training, some of it will be continuing to engage the public, like we are now.

But also, we will be engaging the team that's developing the hardware or building hardware and software, and thanking them for their hard work and letting them know how much we count on their technical expertise. And so they're going to keep us busy. Gary, you can be best believe we'll have some full days until launch.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;I can't wait to see how this all develops. Look forward to it, and maybe again later on, once you're back, get a chance to follow up on that. But Victor, thanks for being on our program.

🎥 Forward Ever: Astronaut Victor Glover discusses Artemis II mission to moon

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With dangerously cold temperatures and snow expected across central Kansas throughout the weekend, the Kansas Department of Transportation is urging motorists to stay off the roads unless travel is essential, warning that standard pretreatment methods are largely ineffective in extreme cold.

Nick Gosnell, public affairs manager for KDOT District 5, said road pretreatment generally is not effective when temperatures fall below 20 degrees. With wind chills dipping below zero and powdery snow forecast, pretreating roadways could actually worsen conditions by causing melted snow to refreeze.

“You might see some bridges pretreated, but road surfaces generally will not be,” Gosnell said during a Friday morning interview on BW Morning Show with Marc Jacobs. “The treatments just really are not effective when it is this cold.”

Bridges are handled differently due to their tendency to freeze faster, Gosnell said, but most KDOT roadways will rely on plowing operations once snow begins to fall.

KDOT crews have been preparing for winter weather since early fall, with all equipment tested and ready by Oct. 15. As the storm moves in, KDOT will shift to 12-hour plowing rotations, with crews working around the clock as needed, potentially through the weekend.

“We plan for this,” Gosnell said. “When a storm like this starts in the afternoon, our day crews go home at noon and our night crews take over.”

Gosnell said dozens of plows will be operating across District 5, which covers 18 counties and more than 4,200 miles of state highways, nearly half of Kansas’ total state-maintained roads.

While road crews will be out in force, Gosnell emphasized that motorists should avoid travel unless they absolutely must be on the road.

“If you are not in the group that has to go to work, stay home,” Gosnell said. “That helps everybody.”

For those who must drive, he urged motorists to slow down, allow extra following distance and give snow plows plenty of room.

“Do not crowd the plow,” Gosnell said. “Drivers flying past plows at near speed limits create dangerous conditions, especially with powdery snow and visibility issues.”

Gosnell also warned that motorists could face extended delays if they slide off the road, especially in rural areas. He encouraged drivers to prepare emergency supplies before traveling, including blankets, extra clothing, food, water and a full tank of gas.

“If you end up in the ditch, it could be a while before someone can get to you,” Gosnell said. “Fill your tank. That full tank can make a big difference.”

KDOT crews have been instructed to carry emergency “go bags” while plowing in case they become stranded themselves.

For the latest road conditions, Gosnell directed the public to <a href="https://www.kandrive.gov/@-100.55621,39.04521,6?show=roadReports,constructionReports,trafficSpeeds,normalCameras,winterDriving,oversizeLoads,stationsAlert,weatherRadar">Kandrive.gov</a> or the KanDrive mobile app, which provides real-time updates using reports from KDOT crews and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

“It is the best place to find the most accurate information,” Gosnell said.

Gosnell said road conditions may not return to normal until Monday or later, depending on snowfall totals and how long the storm lingers. He encouraged residents to use the weekend to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel.

“The best plan is to stay home,” Gosnell said. “Stay warm, stay safe and check KanDrive before you go anywhere.”

KDOT urges motorists to stay home as extreme cold limits pretreatment effectiveness

&nbsp;With bitter cold and dangerous wind chills forecast to move into the region, a local veterinarian is urging pet owners to take immediate steps to protect animals from extreme winter conditions.

Dr. Jon Austin of Hutchinson Small Animal Hospital joined the Morning Show on Thursday to share practical advice for keeping pets safe as temperatures plunge.

Austin said preparation is especially critical for animals that spend time outdoors. He emphasized the need for proper shelter that blocks wind and moisture, noting that even hardy animals can tolerate severe cold if they are protected correctly.

“Pets need a place that gets them out of the wind and up off the ground,” Austin said. “Cold transfers through the earth, so elevating shelters on blocks or bricks with an air gap underneath makes a big difference.”

Austin recommended insulated dog houses or plastic igloos, ideally filled with clean straw or hay rather than blankets, which can absorb moisture and freeze. He said animals instinctively create nests, so shelters should contain plenty of bedding and have small entrances facing south to reduce wind exposure. Rubber or heavy plastic flaps over openings can also help retain heat.

Nutrition and hydration are equally important during extreme cold. Austin explained that animals burn more calories to stay warm and may need increased food intake. Access to unfrozen water is also essential, which may require heated bowls or stock-tank heaters. He cautioned owners to ensure electrical cords are safely installed to prevent injuries.

While the discussion focused heavily on household pets, Austin said the same principles apply to livestock. He expressed concern about cattle and horses left in open fields without windbreaks during severe weather, noting that even simple structures can significantly reduce stress and suffering.

“Nothing breaks your heart more than seeing animals huddled together with no protection,” he said. “It doesn’t take a large structure — just something to block the wind and give them a chance.”

Austin also addressed health concerns tied to rapidly changing weather. He said fluctuating temperatures, increased winds, and recent moisture have contributed to a rise in respiratory issues and allergies among pets. Clinics have seen more cases of nasal discharge, coughing, and skin conditions such as ringworm, which can be spread by spores stirred up from dry soil.

“Pets experience many of the same seasonal issues people do,” Austin said. “The environment affects them just like it affects us.”

As the cold snap approaches, Austin encouraged pet owners to act quickly.

“This isn’t something you do in ten minutes,” he said. “If you have animals outside, today or tomorrow is the time to get ready.”

Veterinarians say when conditions become dangerously cold, the safest option is always to bring pets indoors whenever possible.

Veterinarian urges pet owners to prepare for brutal cold snap

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. ——————————————

Obery	Lee	Logan	Sr	1/22/2026 9:06&nbsp;AM	Transmit/commun false info to req emerg srvc

Haley	Anne	Jay		1/22/2026 1:16&nbsp;PM	In Transit From-To Other Agency

Jesse	Ray	DeLaCruz		1/22/2026 3:39&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant, Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500

Marcy	Darlene	Currie		1/22/2026 6:22&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Russell	Alan	Keeler	Jr	1/22/2026 9:06&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Alexsa	Ann	Armstrong		1/22/2026 11:59&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Austin	Trinity	Mason		1/23/2026 3:04&nbsp;AM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Failure to Appear

Daily Bookings

The City of Hutchinson says Public Works crews are fully prepared for a winter weather event expected to begin around midday Friday and continue through the weekend.

According to the city, all snow-removal equipment has been readied, and primary snow routes have already been pretreated. Crews will transition to round-the-clock operations beginning at noon Friday as snowfall moves into the area.

Current forecasts call for just over six inches of snow, with precipitation expected to continue through midday Sunday. Snowplowing and road treatment will begin as soon as conditions warrant and will continue with both daytime and overnight shifts throughout the event.

City officials outlined what residents can expect during snow-removal operations:

In a lighter note, city officials say families may spot snowplows decorated by local children rolling through neighborhoods as crews work to keep streets passable.

The city is also asking residents to assist snow crews by parking vehicles off the street whenever possible. Streets with parked vehicles can be difficult to plow and may be temporarily skipped during operations.

Residents are encouraged to monitor local updates as conditions evolve throughout the weekend.

City of Hutchinson prepares for multi-day snow event

 With dangerously cold temperatures and subzero wind chills moving into the region, longtime emergency room physician Bryan Henderson is urging residents to take extra precautions to avoid frostbite, hypothermia, and other cold-related emergencies.

Dr. Henderson has worked the past 25 years in the emergency department in Hutchinson and says exposed skin can freeze quickly when wind chills plunge to 20 degrees below zero or colder. Fingers, toes, ears, and noses are especially vulnerable because they are farthest from the body’s core circulation.

“It doesn’t take very long,” Henderson said. “If you start feeling pain in your fingers or toes, that’s your warning sign. Pain means you’re not prepared to be out in that cold.”

He explained that frostbite often begins with severe pain before progressing to numbness — a concerning sign that tissue damage may already be occurring. After rewarming, injured areas may blister, discolor, or turn black, sometimes requiring advanced medical care or even amputation.

Simple precautions can prevent serious injuries

Dr. Henderson stressed that most cold-related injuries are preventable. Dressing in layers, wearing hats, gloves, warm socks, and proper footwear, and limiting time outdoors during extreme conditions are critical steps.

He urged older adults who live alone to take special care, including carrying a phone even for short trips outside, such as checking the mail.

“One of the most dangerous situations we see is someone going out unprepared, slipping on ice, and not being able to get back up,” Henderson said. “That’s when hypothermia becomes deadly.”

He also encouraged residents to check on elderly, disabled, or isolated neighbors and to help them stock up on supplies before the worst weather arrives.

What to do if frostbite is suspected

If someone experiences numbness or loss of sensation after being in the cold, Henderson said the priority is to get out of the wind and into a warm environment. Gradual rewarming is key.

“Don’t rub the skin and don’t use hot water,” he said. “That can cause more damage.”
Instead, he recommends gentle warming with warm towels or mild heat wrapped in cloth. Rewarming can be painful as blood flow returns, but slow warming helps reduce injury.

Hypothermia and carbon monoxide risks

While frostbite can cause permanent damage, Henderson warned hypothermia is often more dangerous and can be fatal. People who fall outdoors or become stranded can lose consciousness as body temperature drops, slowing heart rate and breathing.

He also cautioned against unsafe heating methods inside the home. Improper use of generators or makeshift heaters can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning or house fires.

“Never bring a generator inside your house,” Henderson said. “Carbon monoxide can kill you quickly.”
He added that small, properly rated propane heaters may be used carefully, but layering clothing and staying indoors is often safer during power outages.

Henderson said the cold snap coincides with a surge in influenza cases in the emergency department, along with some COVID-19 infections. This year’s dominant flu strain has caused severe illness, especially among elderly patients and those with underlying health conditions.

“We’re seeing people develop serious pneumonia from influenza,” he said. “Some decline very fast.”

Final message: stay home if possible

As winter conditions worsen, Henderson urged residents to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary to reduce accidents and keep emergency resources available.

“The best first aid is preventing the injury in the first place,” he said. “If you don’t have to be out in this weather, stay home.”

ER doctor urges caution as extreme cold, flu season collide

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

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Recent obituaries and service times

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — United Way of Reno County (UWRC) is pleased to welcome Jodie Hess and Jeremy Stauffacher as new members of its Board of Directors. Both bring valuable professional experience and a strong commitment to community service which will support the mission and work of UWRC in the community.

Jodie Hess, CPA, serves as a Senior Manager at Adams Brown. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in accounting from Kansas State University. Prior to joining Adams Brown, Jodie held positions at Envista Credit Union in Hutchinson and American General Financial Services in Hutchinson, Kansas, and Crestview, Florida. Jodie and her husband, Kevin, have two sons, Austin and Aaron. In her free time, she enjoys weekends at the lake fishing and boating with her family, as well as cheering on K-State football and basketball.

Jeremy Stauffacher has worked in the financial industry since graduating from Wichita State University. He began his career as a loan officer at Bank of Kansas in South Hutchinson and later spent several years as a finance manager at a local dealership. In 2009, he joined Heartland Credit Union as an account representative, where he developed a passion for serving members and advancing the credit union industry. Jeremy and his wife are celebrating 20 years of marriage and have a 13-year-old son. As a family, they enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors, including riding mountain trails together in their RZR.

“Jeremy and Jodie each bring unique perspectives and expertise that will strengthen our board and our work in the community,” said Lacey Mills, UWRC CEO. “We are grateful for their willingness to serve and invest their time and talents in support of making Reno County a place where all can thrive.”

UWRC also recognizes its incoming executive officers, who will help guide the organization’s strategic direction. Those officers are:

For more information about United Way of Reno County, visit www.uwrenocounty.org.

About United Way of Reno County: United Way of Reno County works to improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community to advance the common good. Through strategic partnerships, innovative programs, and direct support, UWRC addresses critical needs in youth opportunity, financial stability, health and basic needs.

United Way of Reno County welcomes new board members

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.&nbsp;— The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday updated the ongoing death investigation involving the body recovered from Lake Afton earlier this month.

The Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center has completed its examination related to Ian Alexander Shelton, whose identity was previously confirmed.

On Jan. 13, an autopsy was completed and provisional anatomic diagnoses were released to the Sheriff’s Office. Provisional anatomic diagnoses are preliminary findings based on the physical examination of the body and may be updated pending additional testing.

Based on those findings, the cause of death was determined to be drowning, and the manner of death was ruled an accident. The autopsy did not identify any injuries or anatomic abnormalities. Full toxicology results remain pending.

This case remains an open and active investigation.

Sheriff: Autopsy determined cause of death of missing Kan. man

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/seth-borenstein">SETH BORENSTEIN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/tammy-webber">TAMMY WEBBER</a>

Smartphone weather apps that summarize their forecasts with eye-popping numbers and bright icons may be handy during mild weather, but meteorologists say it’s better to listen to human expertise during multi-faceted,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-power-outages-0fe4d9defd16e2beeebd42692f8c12c9">dangerous winter storms</a>&nbsp;like the one blowing through the U.S.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-polar-vortex-snow-ice-freezing-06beb5eef46fba3fc81ac3213e5568e0">multistate storm’s</a>&nbsp;combination of heavy snow, treacherous ice and subzero temperatures shows why it’s best to seek out forecasters who can explain its nuances via local TV or radio newscasts, online livestreams or detailed websites, said meteorologists interviewed by The Associated Press. The data is changing rapidly before and during the storm, and the distance of a few miles can mean the difference between snow, sleet or dangerous freezing rain.

“Weather apps are really bad at storms that have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/freezing-rain-cold-snow-winter-weather-storm-e0cb4200052f586b892f23ef05bec13a">multiple types of precipitation</a>&nbsp;and it really makes messaging hard,” said University of Georgia meteorology professor Marshall Shepherd, a past president of the American Meteorological Society. “Apps don’t understand the details of why snow, sleet or freezing rain happens.”

University of Oklahoma meteorology professor Jason Furtado and other experts said humans are important in these cases, especially those with local expertise.

“For extreme weather events, it is especially important to know there are human forecasters interpreting the data and making the best localized forecasts for your area,” Furtado said. “Unfortunately, many of the weather forecast apps use AI methods to either make the forecast or ‘interpolate’ from larger grids to your hometown, introducing the potential for significant errors.”

But some apps can be useful, especially those that pair National Weather Service data with meteorologists’ expertise, forecasters said. And they are definitely getting used right about now.

The Weather Channel app, which is seeing booming traffic this week, uses numerous models, data sources, weather observers and staff, said James Belanger, vice president of its parent company, which also owns the Weather Channel and weather.com. That level of proficiency matters, he said.

“It’s an all-hands-on-deck kind of approach that we take,” Belanger said, adding that “not all weather apps are created equal.”

Apps get much of their information from the National Weather Service and some companies augment it with proprietary information and the well-regarded European forecast models. Many offer forecasts by ZIP code or geographic areas far from weather stations by using software that focuses broader regional forecasts to where the phone is located.

While there are good apps, especially those displaying National Weather Service warnings and information, many “oversimplify uncertainty and present highly precise-looking numbers that imply more confidence than actually exists,” said Northern Illinois University meteorology professor Victor Gensini. This type of storm is where apps are weakest because they don’t get nuances, he said.

Weather apps are good for forecasting nice warm summer days, but not days like much of the country is facing now, said Steven DiMartino of NY NJ PA Weather. The paid online subscription service touts its human expertise with the slogan “Meteorology Not Modelology.”

“The problem with the weather app is that it just provides data, but not explanation,” DiMartino said. “Anyone can look at data, but you need a meteorologist, you need that human touch to look at it and say, ‘Hmm, that looks like an error; we’re gonna tweak this.’”

Cory Mottice, a National Weather Service meteorologist since 2014, developed the app EverythingWeather, which uses weather service data, as an easy place for the public to find the latest weather forecasts for their area without navigating the agency’s website. He said it’s “just for fun” and not affiliated with the weather service.

The strength of his app, he said, is that the information comes from professional meteorologists at the more than 125 weather service offices. Many apps just use raw computer modeling data – which aren’t always reliable in extreme events — with no human oversight, “which can really lead to some very misleading numbers or graphics depending on what you’re at,” he said.

With his approach, “you have actual meteorologists that are experts in their field at different places all over the country for that specific area, looking at the data, adjusting it, making the forecast as needed,” Mottice said.

Mixing decades of experience, 100 meteorologists and AI

The popular Weather Channel app uses information from many sources, including the weather service and more than 100 weather models, including those from the U.S. and Europe and their own distinct model. They augment it with input from over 100,000 citizens to help forecast weather events, said The Weather Company’s Belanger. And it’s all synthesized by artificial intelligence to come up with a forecast, he said.

That’s more accurate than relying on a single model or provider, he said, because AI is able to learn which models are the most accurate in different conditions to help “create that optimal forecast.”

Even so, humans, including a team of more than 100 meteorologists, always have the final say about what goes on the app, Belanger said.

“One of the things that has been a lesson and a principle that we’ve adopted is that it’s the combination of advancements in technology with the human oversight,” that allows the company to provide the best forecasts — especially in situations like the current winter storm, Belanger said.

Forecasters also warn against another quick fix for weather information: social media, where hype, misinformation and short takes can spread quickly.

While social media can help amplify official sources like the weather service, “it’s also where misinformation spreads fastest,” Gensini wrote in an email.

“Weather is complex, and social media tends to reward confidence and drama, not nuance,” Gensini said. “That mismatch is a real challenge during major events like this.”

Kim Klockow McClain, an extreme weather social scientist at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, said people are “getting misled by hyped forecasts.”

“When people are continually exposed to only worst-case forecasts, research suggests they will lose trust over time,” she said.

Borenstein reported from Washington, Webber from Fenton, Michigan.

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What weather apps sometimes miss about winter storm conditions

KANSAS CITY —One person died in a fire Friday at a home in Kansas City.

Just after 5a.m. Friday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported house fire in the 4400 block of N. Indiana in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. It was reported there were residents in the home.

 On arrival crews reported fire showing from the single story home. One occupant had managed to escape but suffered severe smoke inhalation and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

 A second occupant, who was physically challenged, was unable to escape and is a fatality at this incident.

 Both the patient and the victim are women and appear to be mid to late 40's. KCFD was able to get the fire under control at 5:25 am. 

KCPD Bomb and Arson will conduct the investigation as part of protocol due to the fatality, KCFD will assist.

Women dies in fire at home in Kansas City

RILEY COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;Police in Manhattan seized significant quantities of illegal drugs during proactive investigations conducted throughout the last 30 days as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug-related crime in the community, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department

RCPD officers and detectives seized a variety of illegal substances, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine and marijuana, along with drug paraphernalia and other evidence related to drug distribution in Riley County.

In all, nearly 2 pounds of fentanyl powder was seized and more than 200 grams of methamphetamine, 96 grams of heroin, 8 grams of cocaine, and more than 100 pills of various controlled prescription drugs. In addition to the controlled substances, five handguns were seized during the investigations.

“Thanks to the hard work of our officers and detectives, RCPD has identified and arrested individuals who have sold a significant amount of deadly illegal narcotics throughout our community,” RCPD Director Brian Peete said.

“Illegal drugs destroy lives and families, and it is one of our biggest priority focuses. I would also like to thank the people of Riley County for their diligence in reporting illegal activities and their zero tolerance for illegal drugs.”

Police in Manhattan seized fentanyl, heroin and more over the past month

Most of the complaints against abortion facilities were unsubstantiated, a state health official testified, and were often made by the same groups of protesters who frequently stood outside of the clinics and tried to talk to anyone going inside

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kelcie-moseley-morris/">Kelcie Moseley-Morris</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">Anna Spoerre</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

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