By <a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hannah Stoecklein, a second-grade teacher at Allen STEM Magnet School, has been named the Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Teacher of the Month for January.

Stoecklein was surprised in her classroom earlier this month by Cris Schul and Sandy Baker of Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, along with Ashley Weve of Eagle Media, who presented her with a certificate and a gift basket recognizing her work in the classroom.

“I am very honored that I got this award, because I think teaching can kind of have a bad rap or doesn’t get a lot of positive attention,” Stoecklein said. “And to get an award, you just kind of feel honored and you feel seen.”

Stoecklein is in her fourth year teaching and previously worked as a paraeducator. She said her decision to become a teacher was inspired by her own second-grade teacher, who took extra time to help her succeed when school was challenging.

“School has always been hard for me, and she was kind of the first teacher to truly take time out of her day,” Stoecklein said. “She would stay after school with me or use her plan time just to help me. Now that I’m a teacher, I think that’s even more amazing that she took her free time to help me.”

Originally from the small rural town of Montezuma in southwest Kansas, Stoecklein attended South Gray High School before earning her elementary education degree from Newman University in Wichita. She completed her student teaching at St. Dominic Catholic School in Garden City, then taught and coached in Nickerson for two years before joining USD 308. This is her second year in the district.

Stoecklein transferred to Allen STEM in late October of last year and said the move has been a positive experience.

“Allen has been phenomenal. Their staff has been so supportive,” she said. “It has been really cool to see the STEM side of things. Even in second grade, I can say we’re doing a STEM challenge, and the kids know what’s expected of them.”

She also praised the support system within USD 308.

“The resources in this district are outstanding,” Stoecklein said. “If you don’t know where to find something, someone will help you find it. That goes for teachers and administration.”

Stoecklein’s class also took part in the celebration, receiving pizza from Pizza Hut and ice cream sundaes from Braum’s.

Stoecklein encouraged prospective teachers to get involved firsthand.

“I would encourage them to volunteer in schools or become a substitute teacher and see for themselves,” she said. “Teaching can look intimidating, especially with what we see on social media, but there are a lot of good teachers, and we always need more.”

For Stoecklein, the most rewarding part of teaching comes from the small, daily victories.

“Small steps matter,” she said. “Their scores may not go up largely, but you see little improvements. It could be as simple as a kid following a direction the first time. Those small steps matter, and seeing that effort every day is one of my favorite things about teaching.”

Allen STEM's Hannah Stoecklein named Teacher of the Month

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. ——————————————

Jeromy	Wayne	Brown		1/30/2026 8:44&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Shayla	Nicole	Brown		1/30/2026 3:57&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

David	Larry	Mendoza		1/30/2026 5:42&nbsp;PM	Agg assault; w/ deadly weapon,					Criminal Threat; with Intent to Terrorize or cause Evacuation,					Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction),					Criminal Trespass; Defiance of Order

Esaiahs	Xavier	Flores		1/30/2026 7:42&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

William	Raleigh	Glenn		1/30/2026 8:39&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear,					Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction,					Insurance; Fail to Show Proof of Liability Insurance,					Registration Violation; No/Expired License Plate

Daily Bookings

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is nearing a major milestone in its effort to move away from traveling medical staff and toward a fully local workforce, a shift hospital leaders say is improving care continuity, reducing costs and strengthening the community economy.

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center CEO Benjamin Anderson and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Samuel Akidiva said the hospital’s emergency department is now almost entirely staffed by physicians who live in Hutchinson or the immediate area.

Two years ago, Anderson said, the hospital relied heavily on physicians who traveled in from cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City and Tulsa to work short-term shifts — a model that was costly and created challenges in consistency and accountability.

“We set out to transform our emergency department medical staff to be almost exclusively local,” Anderson said. “When physicians live here, shop here, and raise their families here, there’s a different level of connection and consistency for patients.”

According to Anderson, the hospital has now recruited a full emergency department physician team, with the final physician — who grew up in Sterling — expected to arrive this summer. With one long-tenured physician still living in Wichita, the rest of the team now resides in Hutchinson.

The hospital has also made significant progress reducing its reliance on contract nurses. At one point, Hutchinson Regional employed nearly 70 traveling nurses on short-term contracts. That number has now dropped to 16, with plans to eliminate the remaining contract positions by this summer.

Anderson credited Chief Nursing Officer Jill White for leading a scholarship and workforce pipeline program in partnership with local community colleges and regional nursing schools. With nursing staffing stabilizing, the hospital is now looking to redirect future scholarship funding toward other high-need allied health and technical positions.

Hospital leaders say the shift to a local workforce is already having ripple effects beyond the hospital walls.

“When you recruit an emergency department team that lives here, it’s like the Chamber recruiting a business with several million dollars in payroll,” Anderson said. “It impacts housing, schools, and the overall local economy.”

Looking ahead, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is also advancing plans for a new childcare center designed to support hospital employees and other working families in the community. The project is a partnership with the Cosmosphere, the YMCA of Greater Wichita, and Horizons Mental Health Center.

The proposed facility, to be located just east of the new YMCA, would offer 130 childcare slots. Thirty of those would be dedicated to children with special needs, supported by additional staffing and space under Horizons’ oversight. The remaining 100 slots would primarily serve hospital employees, with the YMCA operating the center. The program will feature a STEM-focused curriculum developed in partnership with the Cosmosphere.

The total project cost is estimated at $8 million. Anderson said several million dollars have already been raised, with hospital leaders currently meeting with foundations about potential seven-figure gifts. If fundraising stays on track, construction could begin later this year, with the center opening by summer 2027.

Hospital officials say access to reliable childcare is becoming increasingly critical for recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals, particularly physicians and young families.

“We’re not just bringing in doctors — we’re bringing in families,” Anderson said. “Childcare is one of the biggest barriers, and this project is about fixing that here in Hutchinson.”

Anderson noted that during recent meetings with foundations, hospital leaders even brought along the one-year-old child of a newly recruited family physician to underscore the real-world need for childcare capacity in the community.

“This is about supporting the families we already have and the ones we’re working to bring here,” Anderson said. “And we’re committed to making that happen.”

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center nears all-Local staff, advances childcare center plans

MCPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — Law enforcement officials are warning residents about a scam email circulating locally that falsely claims the recipient has purchased a high-priced smartphone and urges them to call a number to cancel the charge.

The message typically states something along the lines of: “You have purchased Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max. If you did not make this purchase, call to cancel this order or your account will be charged.” The amount listed is often several thousand dollars.

According to authorities, the goal of the scam is to pressure recipients into calling the phone number provided in the email. Once on the line, the scammer pretends to be a helpful customer service representative and claims they can “fix” the issue.

That’s where the scam becomes more serious.

Investigators say victims are sometimes instructed to download new apps to their phone or computer, which allows scammers to track activity and access sensitive information. Once scammers have that access, they may begin stealing money or threatening victims with blackmail to continue extracting payments.

A McPherson County deputy recently received one of the scam emails and, having dealt with similar reports from the public in the past, decided to call the number and play along. When the scammers attempted to convince the deputy to download tracking apps, he confronted them. At that point, the polite customer service act quickly ended, and the callers began yelling, cursing, and making threats — a clear sign the operation was fraudulent.

Law enforcement stresses that anyone who receives a similar email should not call the number listed, click on attachments, or download any apps.

Instead, officials recommend contacting your bank directly and using a known, verified phone number for services like PayPal or other financial institutions to confirm whether any charges are legitimate. Once confirmed as a scam, the email should be deleted.

Authorities also remind the public never to give out personal or financial information to anyone whose identity cannot be confirmed.

“If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts,” officials said. “At a minimum, never share sensitive information with someone you don’t know.”

McPherson County Sheriff's Office warns public about fake purchase scam

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Couples looking for a unique Valentine’s Day experience are invited to celebrate at the Cosmosphere with a special Valentine’s Day party on Saturday, Feb. 14.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with live harp music, complimentary food and drinks, and a relaxed social atmosphere. At 7 p.m., guests will enjoy a cozy movie experience in one of two iconic Cosmosphere settings.

Couples can personalize their evening by choosing between two romantic films, Solo Mio or Sleepless in Seattle. Tickets are $30 per couple and include admission for two, free hors d'oeuvres and drinks, an Apollo Combo, and the selected movie screening.

The Valentine’s Day party is designed to offer a blend of romance, entertainment, and indulgence, creating a memorable and elevated night out for couples celebrating the holiday.

The event is made possible through the generous support of Don’s Custom Floral, Jackson Meat, and Smith’s Market.

Tickets are limited and available now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit <a href="http://cosmo.org/explore/upcoming-events">cosmo.org/explore/upcoming-events</a>.

Cosmosphere to host Valentine’s Day party for couples

WASHINGTON, DC –&nbsp;The winter storm that wreaked havoc on most of the nation has&nbsp;led to supply disruptions and pushed up the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline&nbsp;to $2.87.&nbsp;

Below-freezing temperatures and lingering snow have disrupted some crude production and refinery operations, while gasoline demand&nbsp;increased&nbsp;pre-storm as drivers filled up their tanks ahead of the severe winter weather.&nbsp;

Those factors have led to a rise&nbsp;at&nbsp;the pump&nbsp;over the last week&nbsp;but not enough to match last year’s national average&nbsp;at this time of $3.12.&nbsp;

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 7.83 million b/d to 8.75 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 257 million barrels to 257.2 million. 

Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.6 million barrels per day.&nbsp;

Wobbly gas prices following winter storm

HUTCHINSON — As flu season continues across Kansas, officials at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center say influenza — not COVID-19 — is driving the majority of respiratory-related hospital visits, with older adults and those with underlying conditions most at risk.

During a recent appearance on the BW Morning Show, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Samuel Akidiva said the hospital has seen a steady increase in flu cases, including some severe infections requiring intensive care.

“We are clearly in flu season,” Akidiva said. “Most patients are being treated on regular hospital floors and discharged within two to three days, but we have seen some serious cases, particularly when flu is followed by bacterial pneumonia.”

Akidiva said the hospital is seeing multiple strains, including influenza A and B, RSV, and other respiratory viruses identified through expanded diagnostic panels. He emphasized that patients most likely to experience complications are older adults and those with conditions such as emphysema or compromised immune systems.

“That’s why we strongly encourage vaccinations — flu, RSV and pneumonia — especially for higher-risk patients,” he said.

In addition to respiratory illness, hospital leaders noted an uptick in cold-related medical emergencies during recent extreme winter weather. Akidiva said patients have been treated for hypothermia and cold exposure, often discovered during welfare checks.

“When people are exposed to cold for too long, confusion can set in, and that affects judgment,” he said. “Prevention is critical — dress appropriately, monitor how long you’re outside, and take breaks to warm up.”

Hospital operations are also affected during winter storms, as hazardous road conditions can delay patient discharges and increase strain on inpatient capacity.

HRMC Medical Director talks about seasonal illness and cold exposure

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Beyond Barriers released its 2025 service impact data, reporting thousands of services delivered to Kansans with disabilities across much of the state.

According to the organization’s annual figures, Beyond Barriers served 770 individuals in 60 Kansas counties in 2025, responding to 3,744 requests for assistance. Services were provided at no cost and focused on helping individuals pursue goals related to independent living, employment, housing, and accessibility.

Beyond Barriers is a nonprofit organization that provides person-centered support to people with disabilities, including advocacy, legal assistance, and independent living services. 

In 2025, service requests included advocacy and systems navigation, legal services, assistive technology support, housing assistance, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and vocational and employment services.

“These figures reflect the scope of need across Kansas and the importance of accessible, community-based supports,” said Erica Rivera, Executive Director of Beyond Barriers. “Each request represents someone working toward greater independence and self-determination.”

Beyond Barriers operates under an Independent Living philosophy, emphasizing consumer choice and self-direction. The organization reports that more than half of its board members are individuals with disabilities, and services are available without eligibility screening or proof of disability.

Looking ahead to 2026, Beyond Barriers expects service demand to continue. While grant funding supports part of its operations, the organization notes that community donations play a key role in maintaining free and responsive services for Kansans with disabilities.

More information about services and support opportunities is available at <a href="http://www.BeyondBarriersKS.com">www.BeyondBarriersKS.com</a>.

Beyond Barriers reports 2025 Service Impact for Kansas with disabilities

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">Ariana Figueroa</a> <a href="https://statesnewsroom.com/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — The federal government began a partial shutdown early Saturday, even though Senate Democrats and President Donald Trump reached a deal that allows lawmakers more time to negotiate new constraints on immigration enforcement.&nbsp;

The Senate&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00020.htm" target="_blank">voted 71-29</a>&nbsp;on Friday evening to pass the reworked government funding package before a midnight deadline. But the earliest the House could clear it for Trump’s signature is Monday evening, when members return from a recess.

The scheduling problem guarantees the current spending law, which Congress approved in November at the end of the last shutdown, will expire without a replacement.&nbsp;

However, the effects on the nation are not expected to be as dramatic as those during the historic 43-day shutdown last year. Since Congress has already passed half of the dozen annual appropriations bills, this shutdown will only affect part of the government, and possibly with moderate impacts since it may only last a few days until the House acts.

The unexpected hitch in progress toward passing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7148/text" target="_blank">the $1.2 trillion package</a>&nbsp;came about after immigration agents killed a second person in Minneapolis and Senate Democrats demanded reforms be included in the Department of Homeland Security spending bill. Trump has agreed to two weeks of negotiations on the DHS bill, which includes funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection and other immigration enforcement agencies.

Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, said the full-year measures are “fiscally responsible bills that reflect months of hard work and deliberation from members from both parties and both sides of the Capitol.”

“The package also continues funding for the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks to allow us additional time to evaluate further changes in ICE procedures beyond those that we have already included in this bill,” she said.&nbsp;

Once the package becomes law, she said, 96% of government will be funded for the fiscal year that began back on Oct. 1.&nbsp;

Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, said approving the five full-year bills and a stopgap for the Homeland Security Department represented “a simple, commonsense path forward.”

“It is good news we have a deal to fund these key programs families count on while work continues on serious DHS accountability over the next two weeks,” Murray said. “It could not be more clear that ICE and CBP are out of control and that we cannot just wait for the same president who caused this mess to address it.”

Senators from North Carolina, South Carolina tangle

South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a floor speech several hours before voting began that he would hold up quick consideration of the funding package until leaders agreed to schedule floor votes on two separate proposals.&nbsp;

The first would establish some sort of criminal penalty for local or state officials who do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement agents, often called sanctuary cities. The second would clear the way for conservative organizations to file lawsuits against former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith for his investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.&nbsp;

“What is the right answer when a state or a mayor says, ‘I don’t like this federal law, I’m not going to do it because there’s good politics for me.’ I think you risk going to jail,” Graham said. “We cannot live in a country this way, where you get to pick and choose the laws you don’t like.”

A spokesperson for Graham later confirmed to States Newsroom that the senator didn’t want the votes Friday but “just sometime down the road.” Graham released a statement later in the afternoon that Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., had agreed to schedule floor votes “at a time to be determined.”

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis spoke directly after Graham and rebuked him for delaying the entire funding package.&nbsp;

Tillis called on senators from both political parties to start negotiations about “common sense sorts of ways to lower the temperature” on immigration enforcement.

He said officials should “hold people accountable when they’re harming ICE agents, and hold ICE agents accountable if they reacted in a way that’s not consistent with their law enforcement training.”

Tillis argued that Graham’s approach to pushing for amendment votes that are unlikely to succeed wouldn’t have any tangible, real-world impacts.&nbsp;

“One senator has a lot of power. And if you use it judiciously, you can be productive and make a difference,” Tillis said. “But if you use it in the heat of the moment, you can make a point that not a damn person is going to remember a month later.”

The departments of Defense, Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, State, Transportation and Treasury will all experience the funding lapse. The Executive Office of the President, Supreme Court and judicial branch will also be affected.&nbsp;

All other federal programs will continue uninterrupted, since their spending bills have become law, including those at the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Interior, Justice and Veterans Affairs, as well as military construction projects and funding for Congress.&nbsp;

A spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts wrote in a statement earlier this week that “operations would continue using court fees and other available balances through Wednesday, February 4.&nbsp;

“The following day, on February 5, the Judiciary would begin operating under the terms of the Anti-Deficiency Act. Federal courts would continue operating, but would be limited to activities needed to support the exercise of the Judiciary’s constitutional functions and to address emergency circumstances.”

House Democrats demand changes in DHS bill

A spokesperson for the White House budget office said the departments and agencies affected by the funding lapse can use their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/how-federal-shutdown-playing-out-across-government" target="_blank">contingency plans from the last shutdown</a>&nbsp;unless they had “big changes.”

Those documents detail how many employees continue working without pay during a shutdown and how many are furloughed.&nbsp;

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Democrats wouldn’t support the spending bill unless major reforms are made in the way immigration officers conduct enforcement.

“We’re going to have to evaluate what the real opportunity is to get dramatic changes at the Department of Homeland Security. It has to be bold,” he said during a morning press conference. “The Senate has to do its thing before we have anything to evaluate.”

Partial federal government shutdown begins, amid hopes it won’t last long

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kimberlee-kruesi">KIMBERLEE KRUESI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/holly-ramer">HOLLY RAMER</a> Associated Press

Protesters across the U.S. are calling for “no work, no school, no shopping” as part of a nationwide strike on Friday to oppose the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-renee-good-immigration-sweeps-6ae64be5a0d6a718b658a938fb56e567">Trump administration’s immigration crackdown</a>.

The demonstrations are taking place amid widespread outrage over the killing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse</a>&nbsp;who was shot multiple times after he used his cellphone to record Border Patrol officers conducting an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. The death heightened scrutiny over the administration’s tactics after the Jan. 7 death of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>, who was fatally shot behind the wheel of her vehicle by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.

“The people of the Twin Cities have shown the way for the whole country — to stop ICE’s reign of terror, we need to SHUT IT DOWN,” said one of the many websites and social media pages promoting actions in communities around the United States.

Some schools in Arizona, Colorado and other states preemptively canceled classes in anticipation of mass absences. Many other demonstrations were planned for students and others to gather at city centers, statehouses and churches across the country.

Just outside Minneapolis, hundreds gathered in the frigid cold early Friday at the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building, the site of regular protests in recent weeks.

After speeches from clergy members, demonstrators marched toward the facility’s restricted area, jeering at a line of DHS agents to “quit your jobs” and “get out of Minnesota.” Much of the group later dispersed after they were threatened with arrest by local law enforcement for blocking the road.

Michelle Pasko, a retired communications worker, said she joined the demonstration after witnessing federal agents stopping immigrants at a bus stop near her home in Minnetonka, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis.

“They’re roaming our streets, they’re staying in hotels near our schools,” she said. “Everyone in this country has rights, and the federal government seems to have forgotten that. We’re here to remind them.”

In Michigan, dozens of students walked out of Friday morning classes at Groves High School in Birmingham, north of Detroit. The students braved the zero-degree temperatures and walked about a mile to the closest business district where a number of morning commuters honked horns in support.

“We’re here to protest ICE and what they’re doing all over the country, especially in Minnesota,” said Logan Albritton, a 17-year-old senior at Groves. “It’s not right to treat our neighbors and our fellow Americans this way.”

Abigail Daugherty, 16, organized the walkout at Collins Hill High School in Suwanee, Georgia, on Friday.

“For years, I have felt powerless, and seeing other schools in the county being able to do this, I wanted to do something,” the sophomore said.

Numerous businesses announced they would be closed during Friday’s “blackout.” Others said they would be staying open, but donating a portion of their proceeds to organizations that support immigrants and provide legal aid to those facing deportation.

Otway Restaurant and its sister Otway Bakery in New York posted on social media that its bakery would stay open and 50% of proceeds would go to the New York Immigration Coalition. The restaurant remained open as well.

“As a small business who already took a huge financial hit this week due to the winter storm closures, we will remain open on Friday,” they posted.

In Maine, where Republican Sen. Susan Collins&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-maine-immigration-arrests-collins-ff774636a6e9825fb957e70a10c9ab01">announced that ICE is ending its surge</a>, people gathered outside a Portland church on Friday morning, holding signs that said “No ICE for ME,” a play on the state’s postal code.

Grace Valenzuela, an administrator with Portland Public Schools, decried an “enforcement system that treats our presence as suspect.” She said ICE’s actions brought “daily trauma” to the school system.

“Schools are meant to be places of learning, safety and belonging. ICE undermines that mission every time it destabilizes a family,” Valenzuela said.

Portland Mayor Mark Dion, a Democrat, spoke about the importance of speaking out in the wake of ICE’s actions in the city.

“Dissent is Democratic. Dissent is American. It’s the cornerstone of our democracy,” Dion said.

Associated Press reporters Emilie Megnien in Atlanta, Mae Anderson in New York, Jake Offenhartz in Minneapolis, Patrick Whittle in Portland, Maine, and Corey Williams in Detroit contributed to this report.

Protesters call for nationwide strike against Trump's immigration policies

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a house fire in Kansas City.&nbsp;

Just before 10:30p.m. Thursday Kansas City Fire Department companies were dispatched to a reported house fire in the 300 block of NE 86th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. On arrival, crews reported fire showing from a single-story house, and advanced 2 hose lines on an offensive fire attack.

Searches were performed and were all clear. The fire was brought under control at 10:42 p.m.&nbsp; Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were requested to the scene. There were no injuries have been reported.

Cause of Kansas City house fire under investigation

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Sinaloa, Mexico man was sentenced in federal court on Jan. 27, 2026, for his involvement in a fentanyl drug conspiracy.

Raymundo Guadalupe Felix-Perez, 34, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann A. Ketchmark to 20 years’ imprisonment without parole, 5 years supervised release, and a money judgment of $80,000.&nbsp; Felix-Perez previously pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl, between Oct. 27, 2020, and Jan. 24, 2023, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in the Western District of Missouri.

Beginning the fall of 2020, Felix-Perez sold M30 fentanyl pills to a co-conspirator in the Western District of Missouri.&nbsp; The initial indictment in this matter included two defendants that were charged, Troy Lee Palmer and Dallas W. Hughs, in a six-count indictment including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with the intent to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.&nbsp; During the initial investigation, other members of the conspiracy were identified, including Craig Troester, Dakota Morris, Cassidie Bumgarner, Lucas Coltrain, and Jessica Moody.&nbsp; The final superseding indictment charged Felix-Perez, Joshua Stramel, and Kaden Bernard with the conspiracy to distribute over 400 grams of fentanyl. All members of the conspiracy have been previously sentenced with Felix-Perez being the last.

Prior to his indictment, Felix-Perez returned to Sinaloa, Mexico, where he continued to distribute fentanyl to co-conspirators in Missouri, Iowa, Arizona, and Idaho.&nbsp; On June 30, 2024, Felix-Perez was arrested after attempting to enter the United States in the Southern District of California.

Prison: Mexican man sold fentanyl in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Friday to fund most of the government through the end of September after President Donald Trump made a deal with Democrats to carve out Homeland Security funding and allow Congress to debate new restrictions on federal immigration raids across the country.

With a weekend shutdown looming, Trump made the rare deal with Senate Democrats on Thursday in the wake of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-ice-b0cec9d1c5bae4b62469011775082300">deaths of two protesters</a>&nbsp;at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis. Under the agreement, the Homeland Security money will continue at current levels for two weeks while lawmakers consider Democratic demands to unmask agents, require more warrants and allow local authorities to help investigate any incidents.

The bill passed in a 71-29 vote. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted with the majority.

The bill will now head to the House, which is not due back until Monday. That means the government could be in a partial shutdown temporarily over the weekend until they pass it.

As lawmakers in both parties called for investigations into the fatal shootings by federal agents, Trump said he didn’t want a shutdown and encouraged members of both parties to cast a “much needed Bipartisan ‘YES’ vote.”

The president's concessions to Democrats prompted pushback from some Senate Republicans, delaying the final votes and providing a preview of the coming debate over the next two weeks. In a fiery floor speech, Trump ally Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina warned that Republicans should not give away too much.

“To the Republican party, where have you been?” Graham said, adding that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Border Patrol agents have been “slandered and smeared."

Still, some Republicans said they believe that changes to ICE’s operations were necessary, even as they were unlikely to agree to all of the Democrats’ requests.

“I think the last couple of days have been an improvement,” said Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul. “I think the rhetoric has been dialed down a little bit, in Minnesota.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protest-alex-pretti-minneapolis-immigration-0b34386da0bb3eeac939d9f934680b6c">Irate Democrats</a>&nbsp;say that they won't vote again to fund the Department of Homeland Security until Congress puts new curbs on ICE and other federal agencies conducting the raids.

“These are not radical demands,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. “They’re basic standards the American people already expect from law enforcement.”

Democrats have asked the White House to “end roving patrols” in cities and coordinate with local law enforcement on immigration arrests, including requiring tighter rules for warrants.

They also want an enforceable code of conduct so agents are held accountable when they violate rules. Schumer said agents should be required to have “masks off, body cameras on” and carry proper identification, as is common practice in most law enforcement agencies.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>, a 37 year-old ICU nurse, was killed by a border patrol agent on Jan. 24, two weeks after protester&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;was killed by an ICE officer. Administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, originally&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-administration-alex-pretti-their-own-words-27b7233380c68306a64317b3bf2aa4a3">said that Pretti had aggressively approached officers</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-ice-alex-pretti-videos-immigration-809506eb23f44a3e8f6e53b9fda7b700">multiple videos</a>&nbsp;contradicted that claim.

Republicans countered with their own demands, including restrictions on so-called “sanctuary cities” that they say do not do enough to enforce illegal immigration.

“There no way in hell we’re going to let Democrats knee cap law enforcement and stop deportations in exchange for funding DHS,” said Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., ahead of the vote.

Graham held the spending bills up until Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., agreed to give him a vote on his sanctuary cities bill at a later date.

Separately, Graham was also protesting a repeal of a new law giving senators the ability to sue the government for millions of dollars if their personal or office data is accessed without their knowledge — as happened to him and other senators as part of the so-called Arctic Frost investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack by Trump supporters at the Capitol.

The spending bill, which was passed by the House last week, would repeal that law. But Graham said that Thune had agreed to consider a separate bill that would allow “groups and private citizens” who were caught up in Jack Smith's probe to sue.

The unusual bipartisan talks between Trump and Schumer, his frequent adversary, came after Pretti's death. Schumer called it “a moment of truth.”

The standoff threatened to plunge the country into another shutdown, just two months after Democrats blocked a spending bill over expiring federal health care subsidies. That dispute closed the government for 43 days as Republicans refused to negotiate.

That shutdown ended when a small group of moderate Democrats broke away to strike a deal with Republicans. But Democrats are more unified this time after the fatal shootings of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-administration-alex-pretti-their-own-words-27b7233380c68306a64317b3bf2aa4a3">federal agents</a>.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said he was opposed to breaking up the funding package, but “if it is broken up, we will have to move it as quickly as possible. We can’t have the government shut down.”

Johnson said he might have some “tough decisions” to make about when to bring the House back to Washington to approve the bills separated by the Senate.

House Republicans have said they do not want any changes to their bill.

“The package will not come back through the House without funding for the Department of Homeland Security,” members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus wrote Trump.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told reporters that any change in the homeland bill needs to be “meaningful and it needs to be transformative.”

Absent “dramatic change,” Jeffries said, “Republicans will get another shutdown.”

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves, Joey Cappelletti, Seung Min Kim, Michelle L. Price and Darlene Superville contributed to this report.

Moran, Marshall help Senate pass Trump's government funding deal

NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department on Friday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-justice-department-trump-ed743598c320b94bd9d91631618678d9">released many more records</a>&nbsp;from its investigative files on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>, resuming disclosures under a law intended to reveal what the government knew about the millionaire financier’s sexual abuse of young girls and his interactions with the rich and powerful.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here t</a>o view the latest files

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the department was releasing more than 3 million pages of documents in the latest Epstein disclosure, as well as more than 2,000 videos and 180,000 images. The files, posted to the department’s website, include some of the several million pages of records that officials said were withheld from an initial release of documents in December.

Congressional Democrats, who have been key to pushing for the release of case files on Epstein, are arguing that Friday’s release is only about half of the files that have been collected.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">The Epstein Files Transparency Act</a>, a law enacted after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-e1fa3b7cb64b6c678073744c7744c4a9">months of public and political pressure</a>, requires the government to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">open its files</a>&nbsp;on the convicted sex offender as well as his confidant and onetime girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein killed himself in a New York jail cell in August 2019, a month after he was indicted on federal sex trafficking charges.

Justice Department didn’t fully redact all documents

At least one of the files appears to show personal information that was meant to be kept from the public.

It’s an email exchange that appears to be marked for redactions but leaves names and telephone numbers visible. The December 2019 emails captured officials discussing missing surveillance video from the New York jail where Epstein&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/a104be68ede71c99f26c4e765d244e0e">survived an apparent suicide attempt</a>&nbsp;earlier that year.

Epstein advised Democrats to stop demonizing Trump

During Trump’s first term, Epstein emailed Kathy Ruemmler, a lawyer and former Obama White House official, to warn that Democrats should stop demonizing Trump as a Mafia-type figure even as he derided the president as a “maniac.”

“you might want to tell your dem friends that treatin= trump like a mafia don , ignores the fact that he has great dangerous pow.r..” Epstein wrote in a typo-filled email. “tightening the noose too slowly, risks a very bad =ituation.. gambino was never the commander in chief.”

Epstein supported Trump’s first-term efforts to oust Fed chair

In a 2018 exchange, Epstein and Trump advisor Steve Bannon discussed the president’s threats to oust Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, whom he had named to the post just the year prior.

“should have been done months ago too old!!!!” Epstein wrote.

“Can u get rid of Powell or really get rid of mnuchin,” Bannon replied, referring to then-Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.

“no, mnuchin is ok,” Epstein replied.

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