The Food Bank of Reno County held a grand opening at its new location on Thursday morning.

The organization is now operating at 921 E. 4th Ave., Suite A, in Hutchinson, where individuals and families can visit during designated hours to receive food assistance.

Clients can now stop by during regular operating hours to shop for food and household essentials.

The Food Bank is closed on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Staff encourage residents with questions to call the Food Bank of Reno County at 620-665-4076.

The move and updated service model are aimed at improving accessibility for Reno County residents facing food insecurity, allowing clients to receive assistance more easily during the week.

Food Bank of Reno County holds grand opening at new location

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

Three-day Outlook

By TISA MASON FHSU president

In the spring of 2020, the world went quiet. For Ryan Funai, then a high school freshman, the silence of the pandemic was loud with the frustrations of a disrupted education. Like millions of other students, Ryan found himself staring at a screen, relegated to an online modality that felt more like a barrier than a bridge to learning.

Many students waited for the world to return to "normal." Ryan Funai, however, decided to build a new one.

His journey from a 16-year-old GED student to a 2025 FHSU Homecoming King nominee and future PhD candidate is a story of unconventional paths. But more importantly, it is a story that illustrates the soul of Fort Hays State University: the belief that with a bit of grit and a community that cares, there is no limit to how far a student can go.

Resilience is often defined as the ability to bounce back, but for Ryan, it was about pivoting. Recognizing that the traditional high school structure was no longer serving his growth during the pandemic, Ryan approached his mother, Angela, with a bold proposal: he wanted to leave high school, pursue his GED as a homeschool student, and accelerate his path to adulthood.

It was a risk, but it was grounded in a clear-eyed understanding of his own needs. With a comprehensive study guide and a state-mandated prep course, Ryan didn't just pass; he aced all four GED modules on his first attempt. By the time his peers were starting their sophomore year, Ryan had already completed his secondary education.

However, ambition requires as much patience as it does speed. Knowing he wasn't quite ready for the social landscape of a university at 16, Ryan spent what would have been his junior year working full-time. He saved his earnings, gained experience, and by the age of 17, he arrived at Fort Hays State University not just as a freshman, but as a young man with a plan.

Ryan’s connection to FHSU began even before his first official class. The summer before his freshman year, he took a job at the Tebo Library. It was here that the "small school" advantage of FHSU first changed his life.

While shelving books and assisting patrons, Ryan began meeting faculty members who treated him not as a temporary summer hire, but as a future colleague. Among them was Dr. Todd Moore, the Department of Geosciences chairman, whose encouragement left a lasting impression. Ryan’s 'calling' wasn't just found in books, but in the mentorship of those who saw his potential before he even declared a major.

"Meeting so many people early on encouraged me to get involved," Ryan recalls. "It made college less intimidating."

This early immersion enabled Ryan to shape his college experience. He didn't just join the campus; he became deeply rooted in the university. Now a senior majoring in Geology with a minor in Biology and a Leadership certificate, Ryan has maintained a trajectory of excellence, placing him on track to graduate with academic honors. He is already enrolled in an accelerated master’s program at FHSU, eyeing a PhD and a future career as a university professor.

When asked about his academic success, Ryan quickly pivots to the people he serves. This “ethic of care” is a hallmark of the FHSU community, and Ryan brings it to life through his dedicated leadership in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity.

Serving as the president, Ryan has led his brothers in supporting the WeKan Center, a program of Hays USD 489. The center serves students with intellectual or developmental disabilities who have finished high school but still require support before age 21. For Ryan, this isn't just a "philanthropy project"—it’s a manifestation of the SAE creed: being a "true gentleman."

"I think of my fraternity’s creed...putting other people before yourself and being honest and being the best person you can be," Ryan says. "That aligns with a lot of the principles of Fort Hays. Putting other people before yourself is a big aspect of what I strive to do."

This semester, his commitment to the Hays community continues through his LDRS 310 (Field Work in Leadership) course, where he and his team are organizing a 5K Run for First Call for Help, a local organization providing vital social services.

Ryan’s academic pursuits in geology are not merely clinical; they are humanitarian. His research focuses on water, specifically within the complex cave systems of southern Kansas.

"I want to be able to help people as much as I can, and water is an essential part of everyday life," he explains. "The desire to help people spreads into all the other areas of my studies and my involvement on campus."

Supported by an Undergraduate Scholarly Experience Grant, Ryan will return to the caves of southern Kansas this spring to conduct advanced research. For Ryan, the dark, damp passages of a cave are a laboratory for the greater good, ensuring that the most essential resource for life is understood and protected for the community.

The FHSU community recognized Ryan’s impact by nominating him for Homecoming King in 2025. While the title was an honor, for Ryan, the "unique experience" was the opportunity to meet people from across the university—many of whom he remains in close contact with today.

But perhaps the most personal symbol of Ryan’s ethic of care is something many might have missed. In 2020, as he began his unconventional journey through the GED, Ryan started growing out his hair. It became a four-year project that recently concluded at the Hays Academy of Hair Design. Ryan didn't just get a haircut; he donated his hair to organizations that provide hairpieces for children experiencing hair loss. It was a quiet, years-long commitment to a stranger’s well-being—a physical representation of his "others-first" philosophy.

As Ryan prepares to transition from an undergraduate leader to a graduate researcher, his goal remains clear. He wants to teach at a university like Fort Hays State.

"I would choose a smaller school so I can make connections with students, considering how impactful that has been for my own education," he says.

Ryan Funai’s story is not just about a student who beat the odds of a pandemic. It is about a student who found a university that matched his values. At FHSU, Ryan didn't just find a degree; he found a platform for his resilience, a laboratory for his innovation, and a community that shared his heart for service.

As he heads back into the caves of Kansas this spring, he does so not just as a geologist, but as a Tiger—grounded in the earth, but reaching for the stars.

One treated after Hutchinson house fire on Justice Street

SEDGWICK COUNTY -&nbsp;Tyrone Carter, 55, of Newton, was killed and a 21-year-old Wichita man was critically injured Wednesday night after a vehicle-pedestrian crash in south Wichita, according to the Wichita Police Department.

Just before 10p.m., police were dispatched to the 1200 block of South Topeka for a report of a vehicle crash and a man lying in the street. When they arrived, officers found a white Ford Focus that had collided with a parked vehicle. The 21-year-old driver was located inside the car and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

Carter was found lying in the roadway and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Wichita Police Department’s Critical Accident Team responded and is leading the investigation. Preliminary information indicates the driver was traveling south on Topeka when he struck Carter who was walking in the roadway, before crashing into a parked vehicle.

The driver was admitted to the hospital under police watch and custody. Upon release, he will be booked on a charge of second-degree murder.

Alcohol and speed are believed to be contributing factors.

Police: Alcohol a factor in crash that killed Kansas man

HARVEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Thursday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Ford F600 driven by&nbsp;Andrew Tyler Williams Andrew, 30, Vallley Center, was westbound on U.S. 50 one half mile east of Ridge Road. The driver had a medical emergency. The vehicle traveled off the roadway, through a KDOT fence and came to a stop in a field.

EMS transported the driver to Newton Medical Center. A passenger was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas man had a medical emergency before truck crash

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An unusually mild winter has led to an early and active tick season in Kansas, prompting veterinarians to urge pet owners to begin prevention measures sooner than normal.

Dr. Jon Austin of Hutchinson Small Animal Hospital said ticks have been especially active since early February, weeks earlier than many Kansas pet owners typically expect.

“Once the nights stop freezing, they come out,” Austin said. “The people that live in the sand hills to the north, where they’re really prevalent, have been seeing them since early February.”

Austin said a hard freeze, with temperatures near 18 degrees, could temporarily reduce tick activity, but he said the warm winter has allowed pests to emerge sooner and in greater numbers.

“Anyone who’s born and raised here like I was knows this is not a normal winter,” Austin said. “We’ve had way too many beautiful days, way too many 60- and 70-degree days through this winter. That’s wonderful for us, but it doesn’t let the normal cycles of nature happen the way they should.”

He said extended cold stretches typically help control weeds and insects, benefiting both people and pets. Without that cold, Kansas conditions can begin to resemble southern states where fleas and ticks remain active year-round.

“When we have this warm weather, we begin to start to have environments a whole lot more like South Texas or Louisiana, the places where we have fleas and ticks year-round,” Austin said.

Austin said older over-the-counter flea and tick products may no longer be as effective because pests can develop resistance over time. He encouraged owners to consult veterinarians about newer prescription options, including oral medications, topicals and longer-lasting injectables.

“The products that were the first generation of the good products, like Frontline, those products still work, but they only work for about a week,” Austin said. “They don’t work for a month anymore.”

Austin said veterinarians now have options that last from one month to three months, and an injectable product introduced late last year can provide protection for up to a year.

Tick-borne disease remains a concern in Kansas, he said, though Lyme disease is not the most common diagnosis seen in dogs locally. Austin said his clinic more frequently finds ehrlichia, a tick-borne illness that can damage the liver and kidneys if left untreated.

“We certainly see more ehrlichia than we do Lyme disease,” Austin said. “Thankfully, it’s treatable. If you don’t treat it, it can be a slow-burn disease.”

Austin said his clinic tests dogs annually for heartworm and four common tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, ehrlichia, anaplasmosis and Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

He said the best defense is consistent annual veterinary care, blood testing and reliable preventatives.

“Heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, and your animal won’t have any issues,” Austin said. “Go see your veterinarian every year, get that physical, get that blood test, and then use the good preventatives.”

Beyond tick concerns, Austin said his clinic has also seen an unusual increase in gastrointestinal illness in both dogs and cats over the past several months, with cases involving unexplained vomiting and diarrhea.

“This has been kind of an unusual last four months,” Austin said. “We’ve just seen a heightened frequency of kind of unknown vomiting and diarrhea for dogs and cats.”

He said most pets recover with supportive care, including fluids and nausea control, though some cases have been severe enough to involve bloody stools. Parvovirus tests have been negative, leaving the cause uncertain.

Austin also used the radio appearance to remind pet owners about broader responsibilities, including pet-proofing homes, grooming long-haired animals appropriately, spaying and neutering pets, and planning for long-term care.

“It’s a lifetime commitment,” Austin said. “It changes your daily schedule. It requires time every day to address the needs of that animal, just like if you were having a child.”

Austin, who has practiced alongside his father at the East 30th Avenue clinic, also said veterinary medicine remains a strong career path, especially in rural Kansas, where both veterinarians and veterinary technicians are in short supply.

He said scholarship and loan-forgiveness programs can help students willing to serve in underserved rural communities.

“It’s a wonderful profession. It’s an honorable profession,” Austin said. “We need more people to do it.”

Mild winter fuels early tick season in Kansas

Residents across central and south central Kansas are being urged to avoid outdoor burning Thursday as the National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Red Flag Warning for extreme grassland fire danger.

The warning will be in effect from noon until 8 p.m. Thursday, when weather conditions are expected to create a high risk for rapidly spreading wildfires.

Forecasters say southwest winds of 25 to 35 miles per hour, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph, combined with relative humidity levels dropping as low as 20 percent, will create dangerous fire conditions across the region.

Under these conditions, any fires that start could spread quickly and behave erratically, making them difficult for firefighters to control.

A Red Flag Warning indicates that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring or expected to develop soon. The combination of strong winds, dry air and warm temperatures can allow fires to grow rapidly, especially in dry grassland areas common across Kansas.

Officials are urging residents to avoid outdoor burning and activities that could spark a fire, such as burning brush, welding outdoors or discarding cigarettes improperly.

Red Flag Warning issued

Hutchinson and Reno County residents are reporting fraudulent text messages and phone calls claiming they owe money for traffic tickets. Many of these messages falsely identify the sender as the “Kansas Department of Motor Vehicles,” a court, or another government-related agency. These messages are scams.

At this time, the messages being reported do not specifically reference Hutchinson Municipal Court or other local courts; however, our Municipal Court has received numerous calls from residents asking whether the messages are legitimate. If you receive a similar text message or phone call, do not respond. If it is a call, hang up immediately.

Residents should be especially cautious of any message that creates urgency, threatens arrest, suspension of a driver’s license, a warrant, or increased fines if payment is not made right away. Government agencies and courts do not demand immediate payment by text message, and they do not require payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, peer-to-peer payment apps, or “click-to-pay” links sent via unsolicited messages. Do not click any links or open attachments. Never provide personal or financial information such as your date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license number, bank information, or card numbers in response to an unexpected message.

Hutch Police warn of fraudulent texts and phone calls

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. ——————————————

Todd	James	Lloyd		3/11/2026 10:11&nbsp;AM	In Transit From-To Other Agency

Roy	Allen	Crosson		3/11/2026 8:41&nbsp;AM	Lewd and lascivious; Exposing to person =&gt;16,					Harassment by Telephone; Calling to harass or threaten

Simon	Matthew	Hernandez		3/11/2026 12:22&nbsp;PM	Criminal Threat; with Intent to Terrorize or cause Evacuation,					Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction),					Battery; Knowing/recklessly causing bodily harm,					Interfere w/ LEO; unknown circumstance,					Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises,					Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct,					Poss of marijuana; 2 or more prior convictions,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

William	Arthur	McMurry	Jr	3/11/2026 3:39&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Gayle	Lee	Benitez		3/11/2026 3:52&nbsp;PM	Interfere w/ LEO; unknown circ; felony

David		Villarreal		3/11/2026 6:02&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Samuel	Clyde	Martin		3/11/2026 6:57&nbsp;PM	Distr heroin/certain stim/fent;3.5 - &lt;100grams,					Drugs; Arrange sale/purchase of controlled substance using a communication facility,					Distrib heroin/certain stim/fentanyl; &gt;100grams,					Drugs; Arrange sale/purchase of controlled substance using a communication facility,					Distr heroin/certain stim/fent;3.5 - &lt;100grams,					Drugs; Arrange sale/purchase of controlled substance using a communication facility

Daily Bookings

Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then &amp; Now Collection."

STEVE HARMON Hutch Post Contributor

Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the 100 block of North Halstead on the east side.

In 1908, a group of investors came together to form the Western Straw Products Co. with a capital stock of $100,000. It was born on May, 17, 1909. The first photo shows the original plant in a split view in 1910.

From 1909 to 1913, the company struggled.

In 1913, Emerson Carey took over the plant and named it the Hutchinson Boxboard &amp; Paper Co.  Emerson placed his son Charles Carey as plant manager.

In 1919, they added wallboard products to the line and renamed the company Carey Fibre Products. The second photo is a 1920's aerial showing the plant with all the straw bales out front.

The third photo is a 1930 aerial showing how the plant had grown.

In 1931, nine companies came together to form the Central Fibre Products Co. The fourth photo shows the plant during that era in 1957.

The fifth photo shows the plant about 1950 with their signage of Atlas &amp; Bison Wallboard.

In 1959, the company went public and the Packaging Corporation of America bought the plant.

In 1983, one of Packaging Corp's largest customers, Republic Gypsum, purchased the plant.

Then, in 2001, the Sonoco Corporation purchased the Republic Paperboard Group. The sixth photo shows the Sonoco plant during that time frame.

In 2023, Sonoco closed the facility, and dismantled and scrapped the equipment so no competitor could use it. The seventh photo shows the property today at 100 N. Halstead, sitting idle, and now owned by Murdock Properties L.L.C. out of Park City.

To purchase a photo print, contact:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sharmon5@cox.net">sharmon5@cox.net</a>.

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

<a href="https://www.hutchchamber.com/">Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce</a> <a href="https://underkansas.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_KHt9Zeq_QIVwRPUAR3CTwTSEAAYASAAEgJDJPD_BwE">STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anchorinnhutch">Anchor Inn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Anchorawayhutch/">Anchor Away</a>

📷 Throwback Thursday: 100 N. Halstead - Vol. 165

WASHINGTON. – At approximately 2 pm ET on March 12, a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft went down in western Iraq, according to a statement from the U.S. Central Command.

 Four of six crew members on board the aircraft have been confirmed deceased as rescue efforts continue.

The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.

The identities of the service members are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin have been notified.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. military says a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-aircraft-down-loss-iraq-6d182239315cf9d2a20c669c5ac8418d">crashed in western Iraq</a>&nbsp;and rescue operations are underway.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4432850/loss-of-us-kc-135-over-iraq/" target="_blank">U.S. Central Command</a>, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace,” and that the other plane landed safely.

Here’s what is known so far about the tanker, which is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft to crash during the war against Iran:

The KC-135 is a long-serving tanker plane

The KC-135 Stratotanker is a U.S. Air Force aircraft used to refuel other planes in midair, allowing them to travel longer distances and maintain operations longer without landing. The plane is also used to transport wounded personnel during medical evacuations or conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts.

Based on the same design as the Boeing 707 passenger plane, the tanker has been in service for more than 60 years, supporting the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as allied aircraft, according to an Air Force description. The aging plane is set to be phased out as the air force receives a full complement of next-generation KC-46A Pegasus tankers.

Despite upgrades over the years, the KC-135s’ age has fueled concern about their reliability and durability.

“The last of these planes were produced in the 1960s,” said Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He added that the transition to the KC-46A has progressed more slowly than expected.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve.

A basic KC-135 crew has three people: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Nurses and medical technicians are added in aeromedical evacuation missions.

Refueling typically happens at the back of the plane, where the boom operator is located. A fuel boom is lowered to connect with fighters, bombers or other aircraft. On many of the planes, the boom operator works lying face down while looking out of a window on the underside of the plane.

Some KC-135s can also refuel planes from pods on their wings. The tankers also have room above the fuel stores to carry cargo or passengers if needed.

Refueling tankers could play an increasingly important role if the Iran war drags on, as U.S. aircraft may need to fly longer missions to pursue Iranian forces retreating deeper into the country, said Yang.

Cause of crash and condition of crew not immediately known

It was not immediately clear if there were any casualties from the crash in Iraq. A U.S. official, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss the developing situation, said the plane was carrying at least five crew members.

A second U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said the other plane involved in the incident was also a KC-135. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., wrote on X that the other plane landed safely in Israel.

The U.S. Central Command did not elaborate on the circumstances of the crash, but said it “was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.”

Yang said it would be rare for a refueling tanker to be downed by enemy fire because such operations are usually conducted in the rear of combat zones.

The crash came after three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly downed last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jets-downed-kuwait-friendly-fire-iran-f15-1151e092db4597e93e83c04f3b44bddc">by friendly Kuwaiti fire</a>.

KC-135s have been involved in several fatal accidents. The most recent happened on May 3, 2013, when a KC-135R crashed after takeoff south of Chaldovar, Kyrgyzstan while taking part in the war in Afghanistan.

In that crash, the crew experienced problems with the plane’s rudder, according to a U.S. Air Force investigation. While they struggled to stabilize the plane, the tail section broke away and the plane exploded midair, killing all three crewmembers onboard.

The most serious mid-air collision involving the plane happened in 1966, when a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs struck a tanker near Palomares, Spain.

The accident caused the tanker to crash, killing four onboard. The disaster led to an extensive decontamination effort to clean up nuclear material dispersed when conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated after hitting the ground.

Schreck reported from Bangkok. AP writers Ben Finley and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed.

4 confirmed dead in US military refueling plane crash

PAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas boy died in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Thursday in Pawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda CRF 150 driven by Gabriel Mull, 12, Larned, was southbound on 210th Avenue at Kansas 156.&nbsp; The dirt bike traveled into the path of an eastbound 2001 Ford F250 driven by Robert L. Seder, 55, Great Bend. The passenger side of the pickup struck the dirt bike.&nbsp;

Mull was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Beckwith Mortuary. Seder was properly restrained and not injured. Mull was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

12-year-old Kansas boy dies in pickup, dirt bike crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man was injured and later arrested after an incident at the law enforcement center in Topeka.

Just after 10 a.m. Thursday, Topeka Police Department officers responded to a medical call in the lobby of the Law Enforcement Center at 320 South Kansas Avenue, according to a media release.

 A man, later identified as 31-year-old Casey Eastman of Topeka, set his clothing on fire. The Topeka Fire Department, American Medical Response and Topeka Police Behavioral Health Unit also responded to the scene.

AMR transported Eastman to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;Eastman was treated and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Arson; No substantial risk to bodily harm and Criminal Damage to Property; Misdemeanor

Kan. man set his clothes on fire inside police headquarters

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.– Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just afater 7p.m. March 6, Sheriff’s Deputies, with the assistance of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Charles Weston Alford, 40, of Topeka, on a Jackson County District Court Warrant in the 3400 block of NE Happy Hollow Road, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

Alford was arrested in connection with illegal methamphetamine sales, which allegedly took place during a multi-month drug investigation earlier this year in collaboration with the Kansas Bureau of Investigations.

Alford was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of Distribute methamphetamine, no drug tax stamp for controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas man accused of selling meth

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri court has rejected a legal challenge to new U.S. House districts backed by President Donald Trump that are aimed at helping Republicans win an additional seat in the midterm elections.

Opponents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-trump-missouri-936e8daecadb32556fcfbd2eb9f7457b">the new districts</a>&nbsp;claimed they violated a state constitutional provision requiring districts to be compact. But Jackson County Circuit Judge Adam Caine rejected that in a ruling Thursday.

Although the decision marked a victory for Republicans, a separate legal challenge remains pending at the Missouri Supreme Court alleging that mid-decade redistricting is unconstitutional. Opponents also have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-redistricting-referendum-trump-gerrymandering-utah-14312a112b6e32d15e5ef36b83cdc6a7">submitted over 300,000 petition signatures</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to force a statewide vote on the new congressional map.

Missouri is one of several states targeted for congressional redistricting by Trump, who has been angling for an edge in the November elections as Republicans try to hold their narrow House majority. After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-house-republicans-texas-redistricting-d18e8280a32872d9eefcbb26f66a0331">Trump called on Texas Republicans</a>&nbsp;to redistrict, Democrats countered with new districts in California, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-house-trump-gerrymander-2e5948055064f6e335170977bc4247f0">a redistricting battle</a>&nbsp;soon spread to other states.

Missouri currently is represented in the U.S. House by six Republicans and two Democrats under a map passed in 2022 based on the most recent census. At the time, Republican lawmakers turned back an attempt by some in the party to push a map giving Republicans a shot at winning seven seats. They cited concerns that it could spread Republicans too thin and backfire in losses if Democrats enjoyed a favorable election year.

But Republicans set aside those concerns last year under pressure from the White House to revise the districts for partisan advantage.

A new map passed during a September special legislative session is intended to help Republicans win a Kansas City-area seat currently held by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-missouri-trump-e5b75246cbee8eb674dfdb27381cc8ac">Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver</a>. It reassigns portions of Kansas City to two neighboring districts represented by Republicans and stretches the remainder of his 5th Congressional District eastward into Republican-heavy rural areas.

Court filings on behalf of suing voters asserted that the new map “radically departs” from historical norms by splitting apart and stretching out the 5th District, which previously had been more concentrated in Kansas City.

But attorneys for Republican Attorney General Catherine Hanaway countered that the new map actually is an improvement. Although the 5th District may be less compact, the state asserted that the map overall is more compact and splits fewer local governments among multiple districts. Caine agreed with that in his ruling.

The judge said the implicit argument of those suing is that rural voters don't belong in the same district as urban voters in Kansas City. But the judge cited other instances where rural and urban voters have been combined in congressional districts, including under a map used from from the 2012 through 2020 elections that merged Kansas City's central business district with rural areas to the east.

“The decision of what municipalities to split is a political and policy determination that is properly left in the hands of the General Assembly and Missouri’s political processes,” Caine wrote.

Groups representing the voters who sued criticized the court ruling but did not say whether they will appeal.

“If allowed to stand, it would represent a significant setback for fair representation in Missouri,” the American Civil Liberties Union and the Campaign Legal Center said in a joint statement.

Judge rules Missouri's new congressional map is constitutional

WASHINGTON —Two U.S. sailors are recovering after a fire on board an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.

On March 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire that originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces, according to a statement fro&nbsp;U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet.

The cause of the fire was not combat-related and is contained.

There is no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant, and the aircraft carrier remains fully operational.

Two Sailors are currently receiving medical treatment for non-life-threatening injuries and are in stable condition. The U.S. Navy reported no additional details

The Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is currently operating in the Red Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury.

2 injured after fire aboard aircraft carrier in support of Operation Epic Fury

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate passed a broad bill on Thursday to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, a rare bipartisan effort in Congress to address a growing national problem.

The bill, which passed 89-10, would reduce regulations, regulate corporate investors and expand how housing dollars can be used to build affordable homes and rentals. It will now head back to the House, which passed a similar bill earlier this year.

“There is growing demand for affordable housing in rural communities in Kansas and across the country, underscoring the importance of practical and innovative solutions to help meet that need,”&nbsp;said Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“This legislation will streamline rural housing programs, reduce unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and help expand access to affordable housing for rural families. I urge the House of Representatives to pass this legislation and send it to the President to be signed into law so we can continue to strengthen rural America and improve access to affordable housing.”

“We have a housing shortage all across America,” said Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who worked with Republicans to win overwhelming support from both parties for the legislation. “We need more housing of every kind. More housing for first-time home buyers, more housing for renters, more housing for seniors, more housing for people with disabilities, more rural housing, more urban housing, more, more, and more."

The legislation, she said, "will help drive down prices.”

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Scott, R-S.C., led the effort with Warren. He said ahead of the vote that the Senate would “do what so many people failed to do in this legislative body for the last few decades, and that is pass consequential legislation that makes it easier to become a homeowner.”

Despite the bipartisan vote in the Senate and a shared eagerness to pass the legislation ahead of the midterm elections, It’s unclear whether the House will take up the bill again — or if President Donald Trump will sign it.

Trump has backed the legislation through the bipartisan negotiations, but he has also slowed its momentum with a declaration last weekend that he won’t sign any new measures unless Congress passes legislation that would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-save-america-act-congress-voting-midterms-e4223827fff131d9b8f0afabccd56325">require voters to show proof of citizenship</a>&nbsp;and end most mail-in balloting. The Senate is expected to begin consideration of that bill next week, but it is unlikely to pass as all Democrats oppose it.

At the same time, House leaders have indicated that they are unlikely to accept the Senate version of the housing legislation and have suggested they could launch a formal conference process to negotiate a final deal between the chambers — a process that could take months.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said ahead of the bill’s passage that conference negotiations are a possibility, “but obviously the quickest way to do this would be to pick up the Senate bill and pass it.”

If the White House wants that to happen, he said, “they’ll probably have to make that argument to House leadership.”

House Financial Services Chairman French Hill, R-Ark., said in a statement that Senate passage is “an important step” but added that, “it is critical we get the details right and mitigate some of the concerns raised by House members with the Senate bill.”

Both Republicans and Democrats have embraced the legislation as there has been a national shortage of home construction and as prices have climbed faster than incomes. The bill would give local governments more power on housing issues, allow banks to invest more in affordable housing and lift limits on the number of public housing units that can receive private financing through Section 8 funding to rehabilitate properties.

“You’ve got many provisions in this bill that stop treating the U.S. like one single housing market and start giving local leaders the tools they need to fix their unique regional puzzle,” said Peter Carroll with Cotality, a company that tracks housing data.

The bill aims to make homebuilding easier by streamlining some regulations that require environmental reviews and inspections. It also lifts a limit on a grant for emergency shelter beds and street homelessness outreach.

As many affordable housing developers are leaning on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3d-printing-homes-manufactured-modular-housing-crisis-b61a54e0caee09f221b859fd99b18a43">manufactured and modular homes</a>&nbsp;that can be transported to areas that need housing, the legislation also would eliminate the requirement that they have to be built on a permanent chassis, reducing costs and making them easier to build and design.

One of the more contested provisions of the bill would bar institutional investors from buying single-family homes — a top priority for Trump.

The bill defines such investors as any that directly or indirectly own 350 or more single-family homes. Investors of any size would not be required to sell single-family homes bought before the date that the bill becomes a law.

They would still be allowed to buy or build single-family homes if they rent them out, but would be required to sell them to an individual homebuyer after seven years.

Trump has pushed the ban as he has been under pressure to address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-high-prices-inflation-angry-voters-e6e65165deaf9dfc8dbb986f43b1a61a">voters’ concerns about affordability</a>&nbsp;ahead of the midterm elections. “People live in homes, not corporations,” Trump said in a social media post in January, calling on Congress to act.

Critics of the bill’s limits on large institutional investors say it will lead to less rental housing inventory and higher rents as landlords face less competition. At the same time, it’s unclear how a ban that targets institutional investors that own 350 or more single-family homes would meaningfully reduce competition that ordinary homebuyers may face when they shop for a home.

The U.S. housing market has been in a slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows.

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023 — well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm. They slowed last year to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">a 30-year low and</a>&nbsp;have remained sluggish so far this year, declining in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-c284d47896979530871c1660b0e05ca6">January</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-29d84f7fa22d4b8ccc2d2906e9e58618">February</a>&nbsp;versus a year earlier.

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