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 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

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. ——————————————

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+

Daily Bookings

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

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

Three-day Outlook

Just six weeks after finishing high school, Brian Walker wasn’t aiming for a high-powered job. He worked full-time at a gas station, living week to week, until a surprise phone call changed his path.

That call brought him to a flour mill and into an industry most people only think about when they buy bread. On a recent episode of the&nbsp;Wheat’s On Your Mind&nbsp;podcast, Walker talked with host Aaron Harries and Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin about the key moments in his 45-year milling career and what the wheat industry is really like.

Walker’s first job at Seaboard Allied Milling in Kansas City, Missouri, had an official title, assistant quality control manager, but the labor was hard and hands-on. He managed sample cans, moved samples through the lab and learned how wheat quality could affect everything from flour performance to baking consistency.

The schedule was even tougher than the work itself. Walker said he had to be there whenever the mill was running, even on weekends. In his first weeks, the mill shipped flour overseas in 140-pound jute bags and Walker worked six straight weeks without a day off, earning $4 an hour.

The job was demanding, but it gave Walker a close look at the wheat supply chain. Early on, he learned about crop surveys, wheat types and baking tests, building the skills that later took him to a 20-week course at the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan.

As Walker moved through jobs at Seaboard, Cargill, Ardent Mills, and Miller Milling, he watched the industry change through consolidation. He saw the early 1980s as a turning point, when more companies were bought out and competition became more strategic.

The changes went beyond new owners. Walker explained that consolidation also changed how people talked about crop quality. Millers used to meet and share information, but that became less common.

“All the millers would come openly talk about the crop, talk about the quality, where the issues were, where the opportunities were,” Walker said. “By the time 85, 86 rolled around… it became clear that… the work that you did on the crop, you kept to yourself and you used that as a competitive edge for your company.”

As the baking industry modernized, Walker said the pace and pressure increased. Big commercial bakeries ran longer and faster, needing more consistent wheat. At the same time, bakers started using new ingredients, moving away from potassium bromate to such as enzymes, which changed how they kept dough strong and loaves high quality.

These pressures affected farmers, too. Walker said that better wheat varieties, disease control, and new breeding tools helped the industry keep milling quality steady, especially as food safety issues like fusarium head blight and vomitoxin became bigger concerns.

Now living in Minnesota, Walker is still active in the wheat industry. He works with the National Wheat Foundation, stays involved with the Wheat Quality Council, and consults for U.S. Wheat Associates, which keeps him connected to both American farmers and flour customers around the world.

At the end of the episode, Walker shared the most important lesson since his early days in the mill: show up, work hard, and stay involved.

“You got to be willing to work. And you need to work hard,” Walker said. “Be involved… it’s a people business.”

Wheat quality and flour milling: Lessons from Brian Walker

Seven months from now, on August 6, 2026, Kansas voters will see on their primary ballots an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://legiscan.com/KS/text/SCR1611/2025">amendment to the state constitution</a>&nbsp;that they can vote “yes” or “no” on:

The citizens of Kansas who are qualified electors shall elect the justices of the supreme court. The rules applicable for such elections and the designation of position numbers shall be provided by law.

The supporters of this amendment—primarily the Republican caucus in the Kansas legislature, as they were the ones who pushed to get the amendment on the ballot, but also conservative organizations like Americans for Prosperity and the Kansas Policy Institute—insist that their aim,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_s_fed_st_1/documents/testimony/20250225_02.pdf">in the words of Senate President Ty Masterson</a>, is to “shine the light of democracy” on the selection of state Supreme Court justices, a process that is currently, “veiled by a commission.”

Kansans love the idea of transparency and choice, at least in principle. But when it comes to extending that idea to the judiciary, this claim sometimes confuses people. Since those who serve as justices on the U.S. Supreme Court are, like every judge on the federal level, appointed for life rather than elected, it seems perfectly normal to many to see the judicial branch as entirely apolitical, so much so that I occasionally have students who are first-time voters ask worryingly as to why retention votes for state judges show up on their ballots. (When I tell them that Thomas Jefferson, responding to the unavoidably political nature of some Supreme Court decisions, was sympathetic to the idea that the House of Representatives should elect the justices rather than the president appointing them, they get even more perplexed.)

In truth, once one embraces the idea of a supposedly independent judiciary to interpret the law, every system for determining who will serve as those judges is a complicated compromise.

Kansas’s system for state judges is not unique, but it is a relatively rare combination of merit (nomination by a judicial commission, appointment by governor) and voting (elections to stay in office at the end of one’s term). It’s an approach shared, in one form or another, by 17 other states. Not that straightforward elections are employed by all the rest; only 21 states allow voters to choose their state Supreme Court justices directly. Ultimately, the methods of choosing justices, on any court level,&nbsp;vary greatly from state to state—and there is&nbsp;no clear evidence that one method is always better&nbsp;in terms of judicial trust, fairness, and accountability than any other.

Former Kansas Chief Justice Lawton Nuss is one of those who has&nbsp;criticized the amendment, calling the election of state Supreme Court justices a “really bad idea.” He is joined by numerous state organizations, many of which point out that the arguments for the amendment made by the Republican majority in Topeka often just focused on electing judges who would overturn past rulings on abortion and education, rather than principled concerns about democracy.

I would just add that it’s important to note that the amendment says nothing about the “rules” of the “elections” that “shall be provided by law.” Most of the states that hold elections for their state justices require those elections to be nonpartisan. Others require them to be held by district throughout the state. Without any such language, one should probably assume that whatever elections emerge from the amendment will be state-wide, majority-driven, and partisan. Something to keep in mind before next summer’s vote.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita, KS

Insight Kansas: State Supreme Court justices, and how to choose them

As winter approaches, it’s important to recognize the health risks that come with freezing temperatures and winter weather. While weather can vary across the state, preparing for a strong cold front is especially important for rural areas where access to healthcare facilities and emergency services may be impeded.

One of the most common winter health concerns is respiratory illness, including coronavirus, influenza (flu), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). According to Johns Hopkins physician Michael Albert, every year 5% to 20% of Americans will catch the flu, and 60,000 to 160,000 older adults are hospitalized with RSV. This is in addition to COVID-19 variants which are contagious and tend to occur in waves. 

These illnesses often spike during the winter months for several reasons. According to the Mayo Clinic Minute, these illnesses often spike during winter months as people spend more time indoors, allowing viruses to spread more quickly. Cold, dry air&nbsp;also allows respiratory droplets to stay airborne longer, while the cilia (hairlike projections in the&nbsp;upper respiratory tract that help clear out germs) do not function as well in dry, cold conditions.

Fortunately, there are several simple ways to reduce the risk of infection. Regular handwashing is&nbsp;one of the most important steps, especially after being in public spaces. Cleaning and sanitizing&nbsp;frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, countertops, and phones can also help&nbsp;limit spread. 

Staying up to date on recommended vaccinations each year provides added protection, particularly for older adults and those with chronic conditions. Covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding close contact when sick, and staying home when you have symptoms (such as&nbsp;cough, sore throat, or fever) can help protect family members, coworkers, and the broader community.

Cold-related illnesses are another important winter health concern. Hypothermia occurs when the&nbsp;body loses heat faster than it can produce it, and can happen during prolonged outdoor exposure, power outages, or when homes are not adequately heated. Warning signs include uncontrollable&nbsp;shivering, confusion, slurred speech, and extreme fatigue. 

There’s also frostbite which&nbsp;occurs when skin and underlying tissues freeze, most often affecting fingers, toes, ears, and&nbsp;nose. Early signs include numbness, tingling, and pale or waxy skin. To reduce risk of both illnesses, dress in layers, keep clothing dry, cover exposed skin, limit time outdoors during extreme&nbsp;cold, and check on neighbors, especially older adults, during severe weather.

Lastly, winter can impact mental health. Shorter days, reduced sunlight, and increased isolation, especially&nbsp;in rural areas, can contribute to low mood, anxiety, or symptoms of seasonal depression. Some easy ways to protect your mental health include staying connected with friends&nbsp;and family, maintaining daily routines, and spending time outdoors when weather allows.

You can also reach out to local resources or healthcare providers if symptoms persist. As&nbsp;a community, we all play a role in staying safe and healthy during the winter. Checking in on neighbors, preparing homes, and taking simple preventive steps can make a huge difference.

Midwestern winters can be challenging, but with awareness and preparation many winter related&nbsp;health risks can be reduced.

Shelby Coons is a second-year medical student at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She graduated from Field Kindley High School in Coffeyville, KS in 2020, and the University of Kansas in 2024. Growing up in a small town inspired her passion for serving rural and underserved communities.

Winter health Risks: What to know and how to stay safe

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

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

Recent obituaries and service times

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Local fire officials are urging residents to take a few minutes to review home fire safety practices, noting that most residential fires are preventable with basic precautions.

According to fire safety data highlighted during Community Risk Reduction Week, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires. Firefighters stress the importance of staying in the kitchen when frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food and keeping flammable items away from stovetops. In the event of a grease fire, residents are reminded to slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat — never use water, which can cause flames to spread rapidly.

Heating equipment is another major risk, particularly during the winter months. Nationwide, tens of thousands of heating-related fires occur each year, resulting in hundreds of deaths and more than a billion dollars in property damage. Safety officials recommend keeping heaters and fireplaces at least three feet away from anything that can burn and turning off space heaters before leaving home or going to sleep.

Electrical issues also remain a top cause of house fires. Residents are encouraged to replace damaged cords, avoid overloading outlets and power strips, and never plug space heaters into extension cords.

Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are considered one of the most effective fire safety measures. Nearly 60 percent of fire-related deaths occur in homes without functioning alarms. Fire officials advise testing alarms monthly, changing batteries regularly, and installing alarms in bedrooms and hallways.

As part of a “Home Fire Risk Reset,” residents are encouraged to spend just 10 minutes reviewing safety steps, including testing smoke alarms, maintaining a three-foot safety zone around heat sources, ensuring someone stays in the kitchen when cooking, plugging space heaters directly into wall outlets, and practicing a home escape plan with at least two exits from every room.

Fire officials say these simple actions can significantly reduce the risk of fire and help protect lives, property, and families.

Fire safety reminder highlights common home fire causes

Buhler MB Church - No Sunday services Buhler Mennonite South Church - No Sunday services Calvary Baptist Church, McPherson - No Sunday services Canton Community Church - No Sunday Services Cheney Community Church - No Sunday Services Countryside Covenant Church, McPherson - 11 a.m. service only Eastwood Church of Christ - Online services only Emanuel Lutheran Church - No Sunday services Faith United Methodist Church, Hutchinson - Closed, online services only First Baptist Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services First Church of God - No Sunday services First Church of Nazarene, Newton - No Sunday Services First Congregational Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services First Mennonite Church, Halstead - No Sunday services First Mennonite Church, Newton - No Sunday services First Presbyterian Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services First Presbyterian Church, Newton - No Sunday services First Presbyterian Church, McPherson - No Sunday services First Southern Baptist Church - No Sunday services First United Methodist Church, Hutchinson - Online services only First United Methodist Church, Newton - No Sunday services First United Methodist Church, Sterling - No Sunday services Full Gospel Church - No Sunday services Galva Christian Church - No Sunday services Galva Community Church - No Sunday services Grace Lutheran Church, Lyons - No Sunday services Hope Church - No Sunday services Journey at McPherson - No Sunday services Journey at South Hutch - No Sunday services Kingman Christian Church - No Sunday services Koerner Heights Church, Newton - Online services only Living Grace Church, Inman - No Sunday services McPherson Church of the Nazarene - No Sunday services Mitchell Chapel United Methodist Church - No Sunday services Morningstar Baptist Church, McPherson - No Sunday services Mount Hope Bible Fellowship - No Sunday services New Covenant Presbyterian Church - No Sunday services New Gottland Covenant Church, McPherson - No Sunday services New Life Assembly of God, Newton - No Sunday services New Life Christian Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services New Life Foursquare Church, McPherson - No Sunday services Newton Bible Church - 10:30 a.m. service only Newton Christian Church - No Sunday services - Online service at 10 a.m. Newton Grace Community Church - 10:45 a.m. service only Newton Shalom Mennonite Church - No Sunday services Nickerson United Methodist Church - No Sunday services Park Place Christian Church - No Sunday services or activities Partridge Community Church - No Sunday services Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Burrton - No Sunday services Pratt Church of Christ - No Sunday services Pratt Friends Church - No Sunday services Pratt Presbyterian Church - No Sunday services Salt City Cowboy Church, South Hutchinson - No Sunday services Soul Winner's Mission Church - Online only South Hutchinson United Methodist Church - No Sunday services St. Matthew's Episcopal Church - Online services only Stafford United Methodist Church - No Sunday services Sylvia Church of Christ - No Sunday services Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton - No Sunday services Temple Baptist Church - Services canceled Trinity United Methodist Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Newton - No Sunday services Union Valley Bible Church - No Sunday service

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

USD 267 Renwick - No classes USD 268 Cheney - Closed USD 311 Pretty Prairie -&nbsp;2-hour delay; no AM-only Pre-K sessions USD 312 Haven - Closed USD 313 Buhler - Classes canceled USD 373 Newton - Classes canceled USD 419 Canton Galva - No classes or activities USD 423 Moundridge - Closed USD 439 Sedgwick - Closed

Moundridge Senior Center - Closed Monday Women for Kansas - Hutchinson Area Chapter meeting - Canceled&nbsp;

Closings and cancellations

ARLINGTON, Kan. — Firefighters battled extreme cold and challenging conditions Saturday afternoon while responding to a structure fire in Arlington.

At approximately 12:55 p.m. units from Reno County Fire District 1 were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 200 block of South Vine Street.

Upon arrival, crews found smoke coming from the attic and active fire located in a bathroom. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack; however, multiple ceiling layers inside the home made it difficult to access the fire in the attic space. During suppression efforts, crews were forced to evacuate the structure due to a roof collapse.

The home sustained extensive damage as a result of the fire.

Reno County EMS was on scene providing rehabilitation services to firefighters. No injuries were reported.

Firefighting efforts were further complicated by bitterly cold conditions. Temperatures at the time of the fire were around 5 degrees, with a negative wind chill causing equipment to freeze.

The American Red Cross responded to assist the occupants displaced by the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters battle fire, elements in Saturday fire

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Detectives with the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department are investigating the death of a juvenile in the 700 block of Pacific Avenue.

Just before 5p.m. Sunday, police were dispatched to a home on a report of an unresponsive juvenile. The juvenile was transported to the University of Kansas Medical&nbsp; Center where they were pronounced deceased. 

&nbsp;The KCKPD Major Case Unit is in charge of the investigation. Police released no additional details including the age and name of the child.

Police investigate death of child at Kansas home

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.&nbsp;– A General Court-Martial is scheduled to begin on Monday at McConnell Air Force Base.

According to a statement from the base, Senior Airman Randall Moore, 22nd&nbsp;Maintenance Squadron, faces one charge and two specifications of violating Article 120b of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), sexual abuse of a child; one charge and two specification specifications of violating Article 131b of the UCMJ, obstruction of justice; and one charge and five specifications of violating Article 134 of the UCMJ, child pornography and indecent conduct.

If convicted of all charges and specifications, Moore faces a maximum sentence of 15 years if served concurrent or 70 years if served consecutive, as well as a Dishonorable Discharge, reduction in rank to the grade of Airman Basic, and total forfeiture of all pay and allowances.

Court-Martial: Kansas airman charged with child sex crimes

While Department of Homeland Security officials and others investigate after a&nbsp;U.S. Border Patrol agent&nbsp;fatally&nbsp;shot a man on Saturday in Minneapolis, two former Presidents of the United States have shared their thoughts on the tragedy and accountability.

Meanwhile President Donald Trump is calling on Democrat governors to enforce the nation's laws rather than resist.

2 former U.S. Presidents speak out on fatal Minneapolis shooting

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

In the early morning Saturday before the snow started to fall, troopers initiated a traffic stop for a traffic violation, and the driver fled, according to a social media report from the Kansas Highway Patrol. 

After a short pursuit, the vehicle came to a stop. The driver was arrested, and troopers located drugs inside the vehicle. The Patrol did not report the name of the suspect or possible charges involved.

KHP: Drug suspect captured after running from traffic stop

LYON COUNTY —The Emporia Police Department, with the assistance of K9 Daisy and her team from Search &amp; Rescue of Kansas, have recovered the body of a missing woman approximately 300 yards from the area 28-year-old Rebecca Rauber was last seen on video, according to a statement from Emporia Police Captain Lisa Hayes.

Just after 1a.m. Saturday, Emporia Police received a report of a missing woman identified as&nbsp;

The report indicated that Rebecca Rauber, a school teacher from Emporia, had left the Town Royal bar in the 400 block of Commercial Street, on foot without her purse, phone, or jacket.

Officers began searching for Rebecca immediately and utilized business surveillance cameras in the area. Rebecca was observed walking alone westbound on West 5th Avenue. Video footage from a residence showed Rebecca walking north on Neosho Street from West 5th Avenue at approximately 11:37 p.m. on Friday, January 22.

Several additional videos from the intersection of 6th Avenue and Neosho Street were reviewed; however, Rebecca did not appear to cross 6th Avenue at that location.

 During the investigation on Sunday, an additional video showed Rebecca in the 700 block of W. 4th Ave. at approximately 11:44 p.m on January 23rd.  Rebecca's body was found approximately 300 yards south of West 4th Avenue, where she was last seen on video.  Rebecca was located in a wooded area. At this time, it appears, Rebecca may have succumbed to hypothermia early on in her disappearance as she was covered in snow due to the snowstorm that became heavy on Saturday.

Police detectives were processing the scene and the investigation is still continuing, according to Hayes.

Police: Body of missing Kansas teacher found in wooded area

DOUGAS COUNTY —It was supposed to be a traffic stop, but the driver didn’t – and ended up crashing into five parked cars and narrowly escaping serious injury of his own and that of his passenger, according to a social media report from police in Lawrence.

Just after 1:30a.m. Jan. 21, a&nbsp; patrol officer noticed a car run through a red light at a high rate of speed at 11th and Tennessee in Lawrence. The officer activated his lights, but the driver didn’t stop.  The car continued south on Tennessee at more than 50 miles per hour until he wasn’t able to navigate the lanes and swiped through five parked cars.

He crashed near 19th Street, got out, and ran. Officers caught up with him between nearby houses.  His passenger was trapped in the wreckage.  Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical responded to get the passenger out of the crumpled metal.  Both the driver and the passenger refused further medical treatment.

The 22-year-old driver, whose name was not released, was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility suspected of several crimes including Possession of Drugs, Possession of a Firearm under the Influence, Driving Under the Influence, Flee and Elude, and additional traffic violations.&nbsp;

Kan. driver left passenger in wreckage after police chase, crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a chase and arrest with a stolen vehicle.

Just before&nbsp;&nbsp;1:30 a.m. Jan. 22, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a gray 2025 Ford SUV, that was recently reported stolen through the City of Topeka, near Interstate 70&nbsp; and SE Adams Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 The driver refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. The vehicle pursuit ended in the 1900 block of South Kansas Avenue and the driver fled the scene on foot. A K-9 Unit located the suspect exiting a nearby creek and wooded area. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Joshua S. Bessette, 45, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Jail on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stolen vehicle, Possession of stolen property; value $25,000 to $100,000 and Interference with LEO; knowingly flee by means other than motor vehicle for felony case.

Sheriff's K9 helps track down Kansas stolen car suspect 

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — American rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any ropes or protective equipment.

Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top of the spire of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower about 90 minutes after he started. Wearing a red short-sleeve shirt, Honnold waved his arms back and forth over his head.

“It was like what a view, it’s incredible, what a beautiful day,” he said afterward. “It was very windy, so I was like, don’t fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.”

Honnold, known for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/movies-travel-ff106c6b8ad54702bdcaab40988b0ad7">his ropeless ascent</a>&nbsp;up Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan, climbed up one corner of Taipei 101 using small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Periodically, he had to maneuver around and clamber up the sides of large ornamental structures that jut out from the tower, pulling himself up with his bare hands.

The building has 101 floors, with the hardest part being the 64 floors of the middle section — the “bamboo boxes” that give the building its signature look. Divided into eight, each segment has eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies, where he took short rests as he made his way upward.

Honnold's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-honnold-taipei-101-climb-netflix-0709f4d062923a09ff6da3786131fdd0">free solo climb of the iconic building</a>&nbsp;in Taiwan's capital city was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. The ascent, originally scheduled for Saturday, was delayed for 24 hours due to rain.

Having a cheering crowd was unusual and a bit unnerving at first for Honnold, whose climbs are usually in remote areas.

“When I was leaving the ground, you're like oh it’s kind of intense, there’s so many people watching,” he said. “But then honestly, they’re all wishing me well. I mean basically it just makes the whole experience feel almost more festive, all these nice people are out supporting me and having a good time.”

The climb drew both excitement and concern over the ethical implications of attempting such a high-risk endeavor on live broadcast.

Honnold isn't the first climber to ascend Taipei 101, but he is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of the grand opening of what was then the world’s tallest building.

Associated Press video journalist Taijing Wu and writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed.

American rock climber reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

It’s been a year since a measles outbreak began in West Texas, and international health authorities say they will meet in April to determine if the U.S. has lost its measles-free designation.

Experts fear the vaccine-preventable virus has regained a foothold and that the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-loses-measles-elimination-status-1ac3a4bdc7546fac5d8e111bf5196e1e">may soon follow Canada</a>&nbsp;in losing the achievement of having eliminated it.

The reevaluation is largely symbolic and hinges on whether a single measles chain has spread uninterrupted within the U.S. for at least 12 months.

Public health scientists around the country are investigating whether the now-ended Texas outbreak is linked to active ones in Utah, Arizona and South Carolina. But doctors and scientists say the U.S. — and North America overall — has a measles problem, regardless of the decision.

“It is really a question of semantics,” said Dr. Jonathan Temte, a Wisconsin family physician who helped certify the U.S. was measles-free in 2000. “The bottom line is the conditions are sufficient to allow this many cases to occur. And that gets back to de-emphasizing a safe and effective vaccine.”

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 2,144 measles cases across 44 states —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-us-texas-mmr-vaccine-rfk-144ed193e13de675a750e52a505423e9">the most since 1991</a>&nbsp;— and nearly 50 separate outbreaks.

The problem has been years in the making, as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f">fewer kids</a>&nbsp;get routine vaccines due to parental waivers, health care access issues and rampant disinformation. More recently, Trump administration health officials have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-safety-mmr-autism-rfk-hepatitis-20d3122d7a9a339cd8447a347bd49928">questioned</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-autism-vaccines-7b1890f626dd5921fafd00fdd1e6425a">sown doubt</a>&nbsp;about the established safety of vaccines at an unprecedented level while also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">defunding local efforts</a>&nbsp;to improve vaccination rates.

“The most important thing that we can do is to make sure the people who aren’t vaccinated get vaccinated,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown University’s Pandemic Center. “We have not issued a clear enough message about that.”

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said Thursday that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has consistently emphasized vaccines as the best way to prevent measles, adding that the CDC is responding to outbreaks and working to increase vaccination rates.

As of Thursday, the department said it doesn't have evidence that a single chain of measles has spread for a year.

There is little room for error in trying to stop measles. The virus is one of the most contagious, infecting 9 out of every 10 unvaccinated people exposed. Community-level protection takes a 95% vaccination rate. The current rate nationally is 92.5%, according to CDC data, but many communities fall far below that.

The patient in Texas’ first known case developed the telltale rash on Jan. 20, 2025, according to state health department data.

From there, the outbreak exploded. Officially, 762 people fell ill, most of them in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">rural Gaines County</a>, and two children died. Many more got sick and were never diagnosed: 182 potential measles cases among children in Gaines County went unconfirmed in March 2025 alone, state health officials said, a possible undercount of 44% in that county.

Such data gaps are common, though, making it especially hard to track outbreaks. Many people living in communities where the virus is spreading face health care barriers and distrust the government.

Contact tracing so many cases is also expensive, said behavioral scientist Noel Brewer, who chairs the U.S. committee that will finalize the data for international health officials. Research shows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-health-departments-723baa2b92828b04092475f4763585a6">a single measles case</a>&nbsp;can cost public health departments&nbsp;<a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/2025/estimating-the-financial-costs-of-measles-outbreaks">tens of thousands of dollars</a>.

CDC data on measles is still among the best worldwide, Brewer said, but “the U.S. has changed its investment in public health, so we’re less able to do the case tracking that we used to do.”

But that's not always enough to say the outbreaks are connected. Genetically, the measles virus doesn't change as often as, say, flu.

“Within an outbreak, everybody is going to look the same,” said Justin Lessler, a University of North Carolina disease researcher.

The key question may then be how PAHO experts will navigate final data gaps, said Dr. Andrew Pavia, a Utah physician and longtime CDC consultant.

“My best guess is we will lose elimination status,” Pavia said. “The case for this not being continuous transmission is tenuous, and I think they are likely to err on the side of declaring it a loss of elimination status.”

Scientists have confirmed the same measles strain in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, South Carolina, Canada, Mexico and several other North American countries, said Sebastian Oliel, a spokesperson for the Pan American Health Organization, which will make the final decision on U.S. measles elimination at an April 13 meeting.

Oliel said when there is a case of unknown origin in a country with ongoing local spread, “the most conservative approach is to consider the case part of the existing national transmission.”

PAHO will review Mexico's measles-free status alongside the U.S., Oliel said. That country's largest outbreak has roots in Texas. It started when an 8-year-old boy from Chihuahua state got sick after visiting family in Seminole, Texas. Since last February, 6,000 people have gotten sick in Mexico, and 21 have died in Chihuahua state.

But under PAHO's definition of elimination, borders matter. If, for example, the chain of measles that started in the U.S. spread to Mexico and then returned to the U.S. anew, it would be considered a new chain, experts said. Still, many experts call that standard outdated.

What's clear is that measles found ample fertile ground in the U.S. in 2025, infiltrating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-school-attendance-absences-0384199ace95b4088f60864ce9ec8315">schools</a>&nbsp;and day cares, churches, hospital waiting rooms and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-new-mexico-detention-facility-migrants-outbreak-c7f5897ebba85a59548d279c500adaea">a detention center</a>. New Mexico logged 100 cases and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">one adult died</a>. Kansas officials spent seven months trying to control an outbreak that sickened nearly 90 people across 10 counties. Ohio confirmed 40 cases. Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin each had 36.

Now, more than 800 people have gotten sick across Utah, Arizona and South Carolina since late summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-south-carolina-utah-arizona-845643cd1342f1ce2ea01d11b74ee77b">with no end in sight</a>.

“2025 was the year of measles,” Brewer said. “Will 2026 be the year of rising or falling measles cases? Does it get worse or does it get better? No one knows the answer.”

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

US is on the verge of losing its measles elimination status

JERUSALEM (AP) — Several countries have said they will join U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-israel-ceasefire-netanyahu-trump-6a29026f0308ba3757c975810e2f90c4">Board of Peace</a>, while a few European&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-gaza-board-of-peace-trump-1-21-2026-2f0e063d03babbd3276f31289ba5f2a2">nations have declined their invitations</a>. Many have not yet responded to Trump’s invites.

Chaired by Trump, the board was originally envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. But the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-board-of-peace-gaza-un-b27d17190177041865c6827acd042e56">ambitions have since expanded</a>, with Trump extending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-trump-board-79586f87db667d61dbbd6a4e59dcb5cb">invitations to dozens of nations</a>&nbsp;and hinting at the board’s future role as conflict mediator.

A White House official has said about 30 countries were expected to join the board, without providing details, while about 50 had been invited.

Here is a tally by The Associated Press on what countries are joining, which are not and which are undecided.

Countries that have accepted invitations to join the board

Countries that will not join the board, at least for now

Countries that have been invited but remain noncommittal:

List of countries on Trump's Board of Peace and those that said no

SEATTLE (AP) — Sam Darnold threw for three touchdowns, the Seahawks’ “Dark Side” defense came up with a critical fourth-down stop, and Seattle advanced to the Super Bowl, beating the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in an electrifying NFC championship game on Sunday.

Led by second-year coach Mike Macdonald and Darnold — an eight-year veteran playing for his fifth team — the Seahawks (16-3) reached the fourth Super Bowl in franchise history and first in 11 years. Seattle lost that most recent appearance to New England, its opponent in two weeks at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

With Los Angeles (14-6) facing fourth-and-4 at the Seattle 6, coach Sean McVay elected to go for it and Matthew Stafford’s pass was&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/2015612455158976655" target="_blank">broken up in the end zone</a>&nbsp;by Devon Witherspoon. The Rams didn’t get the ball back until there were 25 seconds left, and Puka Nacua was tackled inbounds near midfield on the final play.

Stafford threw for 374 yards and three touchdowns, but the Rams were undone by critical errors, including a muffed punt by Xavier Smith in the third quarter. On the next play, Darnold connected with Jake Bobo for a 17-yard touchdown and a 24-13 lead.

Darnold, who flopped in his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seahawks-sam-darnold-bye-playoffs-489ae91973a720c23bdbadb54676785e">playoff debut last season</a>&nbsp;with the Minnesota Vikings,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seahawks-darnold-injury-74267fccc18bb171a3858acdb3f4e7e1">played through an oblique injury</a>&nbsp;and completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with no turnovers. Jaxon Smith-Njigba had 153 yards receiving — the second-most in a playoff game in franchise history — and a touchdown on 10 catches.

“It’s amazing,” Darnold said. “To be able to do it with these guys in this locker room, though, with this coaching staff, that’s why it means the world to me.”

The Seahawks led 31-20 late in the third quarter on Darnold’s 13-yard TD pass to Cooper Kupp, but the Rams got back into the game when Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen was&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/NFLonFOX/status/2015606662904918099" target="_blank">flagged for taunting</a>&nbsp;after breaking up a pass to Nacua on third-and-12, giving Los Angeles a first down.

On the next play, Stafford threw at Woolen again, and Nacua beat him in the corner of the end zone for a 34-yard touchdown.

The Rams forced a punt on Seattle’s next possession and went on a 14-play, 84-yard drive that came up empty thanks to Witherspoon’s pass breakup.

Seattle stayed aggressive on its final possession, with Darnold throwing for three first downs to run out most of the clock.

Davante Adams and Kyren Williams had receiving TDs for the Rams, and Kenneth Walker III rushed for a score for the Seahawks.

Rams: WR Jordan Whittington (chest) left in the third quarter. Defensive end Kobie Turner (cramps) also exited in the third.

Seahawks: LB Drake Thomas (shoulder) left in the fourth quarter. FB Brady Russell (hand) was injured in the second half and did not return.

Rams: Stafford turns 38 next month and has to wonder if this was his last, best chance at a second Super Bowl title.

🏈 Sam Darnold and Seahawks advance to Super Bowl with thrilling win over Rams in NFC title game

🏀 KU women beat K-State for Sunflower Showdown win

DENVER (AP) — Drake Maye handled the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patriots-broncos-afc-title-game-b1f16622fe4e7d14f4558e40ce5afe7a">sloppy, snowy conditions</a>&nbsp;better than the home team and he scored New England’s only touchdown on a 6-yard keeper, propelling the Patriots to their 12th Super Bowl with a 10-7 win over the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship game Sunday.

Maye threw for just 86 yards, but ran for 65 and iced the win with a 7-yard keeper on third-and-5 in the waning minutes to send the Patriots (17-3) to the Super Bowl in Mike Vrabel’s first year as coach.

The Patriots will play the winner of the NFC championship game between the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara, California.

“I’m just proud of this team,” said the 23-year-old Maye, who’s the second-youngest starting quarterback to reach the Super Bowl, behind only Miami’s Dan Marino. “Don’t have many words. Just thankful for this team. Love each and every one of them. It took everybody.”

Christian Gonzalez intercepted Jarrett Stidham, starting in place of an injured Bo Nix, with 2:11 remaining for New England’s second takeaway. The first set up the Patriots with a short field and led to Maye’s touchdown scamper that tied it at 7 heading into halftime.

With Nix looking on from a suite following ankle surgery Tuesday in Alabama, Stidham made his first start in more than two years. His first completion since the 2023 regular-season finale was a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Broncos/status/2015518892354117789?s=20" target="_blank">52-yard dart</a>&nbsp;to Marvin Mims Jr. to the New England 7 that set up&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Broncos/status/2015519475064541595?s=20" target="_blank">Courtland Sutton’s 6-yard touchdown catch</a>.

That was Stidham’s highlight as he turned the ball over twice and finished 17 of 31 for 133 yards with the TD.

“I was super excited for the opportunity and just hate that we fell short,” Stidham said.

New England, which went 4-13 last year under Jerod Mayo, became the third team in the Super Bowl era to win a conference championship with 10 points or less. Buffalo beat Denver 10-7 in the 1991 AFC title game, and Los Angeles beat Tampa Bay 9-0 in the 1979 NFC championship game.

Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a playmaking linebacker for the Patriots, could become the first person in NFL history to also win as a head coach for the same franchise.

“I won’t win it. It’ll be the players that’ll win the game,” Vrabel said. “I promise you, it won’t be me that’ll win it, and I promise you that I’ll do everything I can, and our staff, to have them ready for the game.”

The Broncos (15-4) finished one step shy of fulfilling Sean Payton’s preseason prediction of a trip to Super Bowl 60, and he pointed the finger right at himself.

He said he regretted his call on fourth-and-1 from the New England 14 in the second quarter when a chip-shot field goal before the snow came in would have given Denver a double-digit lead. Stidham’s throw to running back R.J. Harvey was incomplete and the Broncos’ early momentum vanished.

“There’s always regrets,” Payton said. “Yeah, I mean, look, I felt like here we are, fourth-and-1. We felt close enough ... So, yeah, there’ll always be second thoughts.”

The Broncos were left clinging to a 7-0 lead that was short-lived. Elijah Ponder recovered&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Patriots/status/2015532622156636284?s=20" target="_blank">Stidham’s backward pass</a>&nbsp;at the Denver 12, setting up the tying touchdown two plays later.

“I thought I threw it forward and obviously the replay said differently,” Stidham said. “Probably should have just eaten the sack and let (Jeremy) Crawshaw punt the ball and flip the field.”

Both kickers missed two field goals in the frigid conditions with Denver’s Wil Lutz and New England’s Andy Borregales wide on long tries just before the snow came in at halftime. Lutz’s 45-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter was tipped by Leonard Taylor III.

The Patriots’ victory was their 40th in the playoffs, breaking a tie with the San Francisco 49ers for the most in NFL history.

It was sunny at kickoff with a temperature of 26 degrees, but by halftime the snowflakes began falling and grounds crews had to use snowblowers to mark the hashmarks and yard lines by the fourth quarter, when it was 16 degrees.

“It was a lot of fun out there,” Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “Snow game, for the conference, to go to the Super Bowl — it doesn’t get any better than that. I felt like I was a little kid out there just playing in the snow.”

And the Patriots had the most fun of all.

“What an atmosphere out here,” said Maye, in his second NFL season. “Battle of the elements. Love this team. How about the defense? I love each and every one of them.”

The Patriots have allowed 26 points across three playoff games. The only team to allow fewer points over three playoff games before a Super Bowl appearance was the 2000 Ravens, who allowed just 16 points.

After gaining just 72 yards in the first half, the Patriots opened the second half in swirling snow with a 16-play, 64-yard drive that ate up 9 1/2 minutes and ended with a 23-yard field goal by Borregales that proved the difference.

Stidham, who was drafted by the Patriots in 2019, made his first start since the 2023 regular-season finale. The Broncos were the only team in the league that didn’t give their backup QB any snaps or handoffs the last two seasons.

The Patriots have averaged 18 points per game in the playoffs, the fewest by any team to make the Super Bowl since the 1979 Rams, who averaged 15.

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