The Hutchinson Public Schools Board of Education will tackle accreditation updates, curriculum changes, and several major spending items when it meets for its regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 9.&nbsp;

One of the key presentations on the agenda is a presentation on Kansas Education Systems&nbsp;Accreditation (KESA). Dr. Krystal Young and Director of Curriculum Lisa Yantes are scheduled to present information related to the district’s Kansas Education Systems Accreditation, which evaluates school improvement efforts, student outcomes, and continuous improvement goals across the district. The KESA process operates on a five-year cycle, during which districts are evaluated based on specific criteria that include the develop implementation of school improvement plans.&nbsp;

The Board of Education will vote on the purchase of 1100 Google Chromebooks. &nbsp;These new devices will replace 5-year-old or older Chromebooks currently used by students.&nbsp;Each Chromebook will come with a Google Chrome academic license. &nbsp;The total for the winning bid&nbsp;submitted&nbsp;by Network Management Group totals&nbsp;$417,175.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Also,&nbsp;up for board approval is the replacement purchase of 145 replacement Clear Touch panels to update classroom display technology. &nbsp;The winning bid was&nbsp;submitted&nbsp;by Kansas City Audio Visual for a total of $321,311. Each Clear Touch panel comes with a five-year warranty.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;agenda also includes approval of a beverage contract&nbsp;with Pepsi-Cola Beverages&nbsp;

One of the largest action items on the agenda is the proposed adoption of a new math curriculum. Lisa Yantes will present the recommendation, which carries a total cost of $1,208,016.39. The adoption includes instructional materials from McGraw Hill and associated math programs designed to support student learning at all grade levels. If approved, the new curriculum would&nbsp;represent&nbsp;a significant instructional investment by the district.&nbsp;

The board will also consider routine financial matters, including approval of the December 2025 treasurer’s report and January 2026 accounts payable.&nbsp;

Additional&nbsp;consent items include approval of furniture and equipment&nbsp;purchases&nbsp;for the Lil’ Hawks Childcare Center, totaling $138,383.62, as well as acceptance of gifts donated to district schools.&nbsp;

The board of education will conclude the meeting by entering executive session to discuss personnel matters under the non-elected personnel exception of the Kansas Open Meetings Act. 

Following the closed session, the board will reconvene in open session to consider approval of the personnel report before adjourning.&nbsp;

Board of Education to consider Chromebook purchase, math curriculum

Circles Reno County is proud to recognize&nbsp;Erica LaForce&nbsp;as a recent program graduate whose journey reflects perseverance, growth, and community impact.

During her time in Circles, LaForce achieved several meaningful milestones, including purchasing a home with her significant other and increasing her wages to more than 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. She also strengthened her social connections and community involvement, building a foundation for long-term stability.

LaForce is an active member of the local Master Gardeners program and is known for her selfless spirit, compassion, and ability to lead with kindness and without judgment. She is also a devoted mother to her two daughters, Lila and Violet, who are a beloved part of the Circles community.

Circles Reno County celebrates graduate

The Hutchinson Art Center has released details on its upcoming art classes and workshops scheduled for February and March, offering creative opportunities for children, teenagers, and adults of all skill levels.

Creative Jump Start Workshop (Teenagers &amp; Adults)

One of the featured offerings is the Creative Jump Start Workshop, set for Saturday, March 14, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The one-day mixed media workshop will be led by Haven, Kansas artist Kayann Ausherman.

Participants will learn easy, intuitive techniques to create a series of 12 mixed media artworks, each measuring 6 by 6 inches. By layering materials and experimenting with texture and composition, students will produce visually rich and engaging pieces in a supportive learning environment.

Tuition is $70 for non–Art Center members and $60 for Art Center members.

The registration deadline is Friday, February 27, at 5 p.m.

Monthly Children’s Art Projects: Lester Raymer’s Sun Faces (Ages 6–12)

For younger artists, the Art Center will host its Monthly Children’s Art Projects on Saturday, February 21, 2026, led by artist and educator Beckie Vega. These make-and-take classes are designed for children ages 6 through 12.

Students will be divided into two sessions: Group A from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and Group B from 3 to 4:30 p.m., with each group focusing on different skills. The cost is $8 per child per session.

February’s theme is Lester Raymer’s Sun Faces, introducing students to the life and work of the Lindsborg, Kansas artist. Children will explore basic facial features, collage techniques, and the use of color, line, texture, pattern, and variety.

The registration deadline is Friday, February 20, at 4:30 p.m.

These classes are made possible by the Ginger Mayfield Memorial Fund.

Saturday Morning Artists (Teenagers &amp; Adults)

The Art Center also continues its popular Saturday Morning Artists sessions for teenagers and adults on February 14, 21, and 28, and March 7, 21, and 28. There will be no session on March 14 due to the Creative Jump Start Workshop.

These informal figure-drawing sessions operate on a “come and go” basis between 9 and 11 a.m., typically wrapping up by 11:30 a.m. The cost is $8 per person, and participants must bring their own supplies. While the Art Center provides a model, there is no formal instruction—artists work alongside peers in a relaxed, judgment-free environment.

Sessions may be canceled due to holidays or special events. Participants are encouraged to call 620-663-1081 to confirm the schedule if needed.

More information and registration details for all classes and workshops are available through the Hutchinson Art Center.

Hutchinson Art Center announces Feb.-March classes and workshops

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/weather">Click here for the KSStorm.info 7-day forecast.&nbsp;</a>

Three-day Outlook

RENO COUNTY —Two people died in an accident just after 10a.m. Saturday in Reno County.

According to the Reno County Sheriff's Office, preliminary information indicates that a silver Jeep Liberty was North bound on Kansas 14 Highway one half mile north of US 50.&nbsp; The Jeep and southbound&nbsp; Chevy Malibu&nbsp; were involved in a collision. Both drivers were pronounced deceased by emergency medical personnel.

 A passenger from one of the vehicles was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. The sheriff's office did not have details on the condition of the passenger early Saturday afternoon.

The cause of the crash remains under active investigation.&nbsp; The sheriff's office did not release the names of the victims.

2 dead, 1 injured in 2-vehicle Reno County crash

Dear Dave,&nbsp; My wife and I have paid off all of our credit card debt, but she doesn’t want to follow your suggestion to cut up the cards and close the accounts. She wants us to keep the cards in a safe deposit box at the bank, and use them for nothing but emergencies.

I think this has something to do with the fact she grew up in a poor family. We’re doing okay, but it makes me wonder if some part of her is afraid of being poor again. We both know this isn’t what you recommend, but what can I do to convince her we should get rid of the credit cards once and for all?&nbsp;

Dear Geoff,&nbsp; Honestly, I’m not sure I’d approach this with the idea of&nbsp;convincing&nbsp;her of something. Under the circumstances, maybe it’d be a better idea to start off by having a gentle, understanding conversation, and talking things through.

I say this because one of the things you mentioned is that she grew up poor. In my mind, this could mean that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/how-credit-cards-work">the credit cards</a>&nbsp;represent security for her. But, if you had $10,000 or so set aside for emergencies, you’d have the security of knowing that a transmission repair, or a new water heater wouldn’t really be an emergency—it’d be reduced to a minor inconvenience. On top of that, having an actual cash emergency fund sitting there would mean you wouldn’t have to go right back into debt again when something goes wrong.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There are lots of deep emotions involved in this situation, Geoff. Let her know you understand her concerns, and that you respect and sympathize with everything she has experienced. But also explain how financial security wouldn’t be disappearing by doing this. The credit cards would be replaced by your very own money. In addition, you’d also be substituting what the credit cards do with a debit card.

After this, ask her if there’s a reasonable amount you two could have in the bank that would make her feel comfortable, and take away the worry and stress. Talk it out, see if you can settle on an amount, and then agree that when you’ve saved and hit that number, the cards get cut up and you close the account.&nbsp;You’ll have to be patient and understanding. Above all, you’ll have to communicate and work together as a&nbsp;team&nbsp;on this. But trust me, it’ll be worth it!

Dave says: They represent security to her

HUTCHINSON/RENO COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber is pleased to present the January Small Business Award to Leading Edge Technology Partners owned and founded by Gavin Lusk. Founded in 2004, the business began as a part-time, one-person operation while Gavin was between IT roles at Tyson Foods. Working in information technology had always been his calling, but at the time, he never imagined he was building something long-term. That quickly changed after securing his first client, Fee Insurance, followed by the City of South Hutchinson. What started as a temporary solution soon became a growing business with a clear purpose.

As demand increased, so did the scope of services. Leading Edge evolved into a full-service managed IT provider with a strong focus on municipalities and law enforcement agencies—organizations that rely heavily on dependable, secure, and responsive technology. By the late 2010s, Gavin recognized that for the business to grow, the vision needed to grow too.

In 2017, the company began shifting from an owner-operated model to an employee-driven organization. In 2019, Leading Edge hired its first full-time employee, and in 2021, Gavin partnered with fellow IT professional Brian Moore. That partnership helped accelerate growth, led to a company rebrand, and resulted in a move to their current location here in Hutchinson—one that has already expanded multiple times and is expanding again to support future positions.

What truly sets Leading Edge Technology Partners apart is their commitment to relationships. Clients are never treated as numbers. Instead, the team works to build trust and personal connections, delivering a managed IT experience that makes clients feel as though they have their own in-house IT department. This approach is especially important today as cybersecurity threats, online scams, and AI-driven risks continue to evolve. By investing heavily in ongoing education for both employees and clients, Leading Edge stays proactive rather than reactive.

That same people-first philosophy extends to their employees. Today, the company has six full-time team members, including two who have been with the business for more than five years. Employees enjoy paid major holidays, floating holidays, and rotating hybrid Fridays off. The culture is built on respect, trust, and shared goals, where dedication and hard work are recognized and appreciated.

Community involvement is also central to the company’s mission. Gavin serves as a board member and major sponsor of the Cancer Council of Reno County and is an active member of Rotary. The company supports the Boys &amp; Girls Club of Reno County, Child Care Links, Beyond Barriers, and other local organizations. Partner Brian Moore is also engaged in community efforts, including participation in events like the annual Toy Run.

For Gavin, success is best measured by trust—especially when new clients come through referrals. From its humble beginnings as a one-person startup to a respected managed IT provider serving organizations across Kansas, Leading Edge Technology Partners exemplifies innovation, leadership, and commitment to both clients and community.

Please join us in congratulating Leading Edge Technology Partners, our January Small Business of the Month!

Leading Edge Technology Partners receives Small Business Award

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. ——————————————

Raymond	Lee	Bell		2/6/2026 1:38&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Forgery; Making, altering, endorsing,					Making False Information,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Conceal /alter/destroy evidence Felony case,					Theft; By Deception; $1,500 to $24,999,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Travis	James	Wasinger		2/6/2026 1:43&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Meraly	Saramy	Menjivar		2/6/2026 10:55&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Elisha	LeAnn	Kinast		2/6/2026 10:57&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Gregory	Bryon	Norris		2/6/2026 12:28&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Nathan	Kent	Myers		2/6/2026 3:56&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Taylor	Nichole	Ryan		2/6/2026 4:34&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Matthew	Lee	Cole		2/6/2026 4:53&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear,					Theft; Possess Stolen Property; $1,500 to $24,999,					Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Marcus	Juanell	Hill		2/6/2026 5:11&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Shyann	Taylor	Cullison		2/6/2026 6:44&nbsp;PM	Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct,					Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Jessica	Dawn	Wornkey		2/6/2026 7:16&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Abram	Jon	Roth		2/6/2026 9:10&nbsp;PM	Direct Contempt

Gwendolynn	Deann	Conde		2/6/2026 9:35&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Nicholas	Dwight	Wilmurth		2/7/2026 12:45&nbsp;AM	Fleeing or attempting to elude a LEO; Unknown felony,					DUI; 2nd conv; incapable of safely driving,					Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conviction, Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misdemeanor case, Execution of Misdemeanor Warrant,					Possession of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Insurance; Fail to Show Proof of Liability Insurance

Daily Bookings

The American Heart Association is renewing its push at the Kansas Statehouse this session, focusing on policies aimed at increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest through improved CPR access, training, and emergency response systems.

Kari Rinker, the organization’s region senior state government relations lead, said advocacy has become a critical part of the association’s mission as cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. An estimated 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur nationwide each year, with only about one in 10 victims surviving without immediate intervention.

“One of our goals is turning bystanders into lifesavers,” Rinker said. “We want people to be prepared and confident to step in and act when a cardiac arrest happens.”

A major priority this year is expanding telecommunicator CPR across Kansas. Telecommunicator CPR allows 911 dispatchers to provide real-time, verbal CPR instructions to callers witnessing a cardiac arrest until first responders arrive.

Rinker said a recent work group involving the American Heart Association, the Kansas 911 Board, and the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association found that about half of Kansas counties do not currently have telecommunicator CPR protocols in place. That means whether a caller receives CPR guidance can depend entirely on where the emergency occurs.

“To us, 911 dispatchers are truly the first first-responders,” Rinker said. “They can make the difference between life and death.”

Legislation introduced last year, Senate Bill 11, would require all Kansas 911 medical dispatchers to receive standardized telecommunicator CPR training. Similar laws have already been adopted in Oklahoma and Nebraska. However, the bill has faced resistance, largely due to concerns over state mandates.

While statewide legislation has stalled, Rinker noted that free online training—four hours initially, with a two-hour annual refresher—has already been developed and could be accessed by dispatch centers. Even so, without a requirement, some agencies may choose not to participate.

Progress being made in Kansas schools

Another advocacy success cited by Rinker is the requirement that all Kansas public schools have a cardiac emergency response plan. The law, passed several years ago with bipartisan legislative support, requires schools to prepare for cardiac emergencies involving students, staff, and visitors.

As of July of 2025, about 87 percent of Kansas schools have submitted their plans to the state health department. However, surveys show that many districts—particularly in rural areas—still lack adequate automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and CPR training equipment.

“We’ve learned that having a plan and being able to fully implement it are two different things,” Rinker said.

The American Heart Association is now working with lawmakers to establish a grant program that would help schools purchase AEDs and training equipment, with hopes of securing funding during the current legislative cycle.

Kansas Advocacy Day set for March 4

These priorities will be front and center during Kansas Advocacy Day on March 4 in Topeka. Advocates from across the state will meet with legislators to share information and personal stories about cardiac arrest survival and bystander CPR.

“Personal stories are the most powerful thing elected officials can hear,” Rinker said. “We’ll be joined by survivors and by people whose lives were saved because someone stepped in and performed CPR.”

Rinker emphasized that learning CPR does not have to be intimidating or time-consuming. Short instructional videos are widely available, and even basic knowledge—pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest—can save a life.

“We train kids as young as 12,” she said. “Anyone can do CPR, and people shouldn’t hesitate because they think they need a full certification first.”

Those interested in heart-health advocacy or Advocacy Day can get more information by texting KS to 46839.

“Every person who learns CPR or speaks up for these policies helps make Kansas a safer place,” Rinker said.

American Heart Association advocating lifesaving policies

Garage Fire Causes Damage on North Grimes Street in McPherson

McPherson emergency crews responded Friday afternoon to a structure fire involving a detached garage in the 800 block of North Grimes Street.

According to the McPherson Fire Department, the call came in at approximately 2:15 p.m. on Friday, February 6, 2026, after passersby noticed smoke coming from a two-car detached garage behind a residence and alerted 911.

Firefighters arrived on scene with two engines and a command vehicle and found heavy fire involvement inside the garage. Additional fire department units were called in to assist with extinguishment efforts. Crews were able to bring the fire under control, limiting damage to the two-car garage, its contents, and a vehicle parked in front of the structure.

Fire investigators with the McPherson Fire Department, assisted by the McPherson Police Department, identified an area of origin but were unable to determine the exact ignition sequence. Officials say no foul play is suspected.

The McPherson EMS also responded to the scene as a precaution.

Garage fire causes damage on North Grimes Street in McPherson

Bill voids decades of regulatory decisions amid concern about investigatory process

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Lacey Grogan, Joshua Conner and Melissa Vaughn recounted traumatic nursing regulatory experiences in Kansas House testimony supporting an extraordinary bill written to force administrative changes at the Kansas State Board of Nursing.

The bill, if signed into law, would void state Board of Nursing disciplinary actions executed between Jan. 1, 2005, and July 1, 2026, including cases of licensure renewal and unprofessional conduct. Documents in the deleted cases would be sealed from the Kansas Open Records Act. Steps would be taken to remove from national databases information on nurses sanctioned by the Board of Nursing during the period.

A revised definition of unprofessional conduct for nurses — intended to rein in the Board of Nursing — would be retroactively applied to 2025. The definition would focus on alleged misconduct performed intentionally or carelessly but no longer include issues related to failure to timely renewal of a license.

In addition, the Board of Nursing would be required to adhere to a higher standard of proof in nurse disciplinary cases. It would shift from a preponderance of evidence to the more rigorous clear and convincing evidence.

Appointees of the Kansas governor to the Board of Nursing would undergo Senate confirmation. No member of the Legislature or the attorney general or a governor could serve on the board.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2528_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2528 would make a series of other changes</a>&nbsp;at the Board of Nursing applicable to the 74,000 nursing professionals licensed in Kansas.

The House Health and Human Services Committee gathered testimony Thursday from critics and champions of the Board of Nursing. The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/08/07/kansas-legislators-alarmed-nurses-suffer-draconian-penalty-for-license-renewal-errors/">Board of Nursing came under intense scrutiny by the Legislature in&nbsp;</a>mid-2025 as allegations of regulatory abuse became public.

Grogan, a registered nurse for 20 years who lives in St. Francis, told legislators she welcomed change at the Board of Nursing. While working at an understaffed rural Kansas hospital, Grogan said, she complied with professional standards by reporting a patient fall. The hospital’s administration retaliated by filing complaints against her with the Board of Nursing. Two were promptly dismissed, she said, but a third “lacking substantiated evidence was nevertheless pursued” by the Board of Nursing.

“I was denied a meaningful opportunity to speak on my own behalf without legal representation, pressured into signing a consent agreement for conduct I did not commit and ultimately fined and stripped of my nursing license,” Grogan said. “My name was included in a disciplinary mailer distributed to nurses statewide. Once reported to the national database, my licensure was called into question in nearly every other state where I held licensure.”

During emotional testimony, Grogan told legislators the “future of nursing depends on the decisions made in this room” to deal with the state regulatory board.

More than 25 people submitted testimony in support of the 23-page House bill. Seven individuals declared opposition.

Carol Moreland, executive administrator of the Board of Nursing since 2017, said provisions of HB 2528 could violate federal mandates and increased the risk of nurses harming the public. She questioned the Legislature’s heavy-handed approach to modifying authority of the Board of Nursing.

“No other regulatory board in Kansas is under this scrutiny and is being asked to make these unprecedented changes,” she said.

She objected to wiping out disciplinary decisions of the Board of Nursing for a period of two decades. She said that part of the bill would reverse sanctions against a school nurse who engaged in sexually inappropriate conduct with a student, a nurse who solicited prostitution at work and a nurse who stole credit cards from a patient and made purchases after the patient died.

“It’s not clear to us at the Board of Nursing what really happens next. If it’s voided, do they automatically have their license back?” Moreland said.

Another flaw in the bill required the Board of Nursing to send a flurry of notices to nurses approaching their two-year license renewal date, said Carol Moore, a retired advance practice nurse and former associate dean of Baker University’s nursing program. The bill would mandate renewal notices go out 90 days, 60 days, 30 days and seven days prior to the deadline, on the renewal date and seven days after that date.

“How much handholding does an educated professional require?” Moore said. “I do not see anything as written in this bill to enhance the care of patients nor to advance the stature of nursing.”

Topeka registered nurse Kelly Sommers said the Legislature should “put a stop to this embarrassment” of a bill. She said reforms in the bill appeared to be crafted in a way “to satisfy a handful of nurses who refuse to accept personal responsibility.”

Joshua Connor, an opponent of the bill, said he worked for a decade with elderly adults as a licensed practical nurse. He lived in Manhattan before taking a job in Florida. He said he didn’t renew his Kansas nursing license because his job didn’t require the credential.

Connor was subsequently diagnosed with cancer requiring surgery, but his employer didn’t want to accommodate his absence from work. He was fired and won a wrongful termination lawsuit. He considered returning to Kansas to resume his nursing career. After contacting the Board of Nursing to renew his license, the agency put him under investigation for allegedly working in Florida without a nursing license.

“My real nightmare began,” said Connor, who eventually secured a new Kansas nursing license. “I was coerced to sign a consent agreement that labeled me with unprofessional conduct.”

The Board of Nursing placed his name in a database for nurses guilty of unprofessional conduct. His request to have Florida recognize his nursing license was rejected because he was disciplined in Kansas.

“I am working over 60 hours a week now at 7-11 to support my family,” he said. “KSBN’s draconian actions have cost me thousands of dollars in lost wages and attorney fees. The emotional toll is indescribable.”

Melissa Vaughn, a Kansas registered nurse from Kansas City, Missouri, has worked the past five years as a Hy-Vee floral designer. She shared with legislators her “unimaginable experience” with staff at the Board of Nursing. Her career in nursing began in 1996. She graduated from nursing school at University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2012.

She presented House members a detailed outline of her licensing renewal battle with the Board of Nursing that came to a head in 2013.

“I pursued my case honestly with the mindset that if KSBN is doing this to me I have no doubt they are doing it to other nurses,” she said.

In 2013, Vaughn accidently checked a box on her renewal application indicating she hadn’t completed 30 hours of mandatory continuing education. She corrected her application. At one point, the Board of Nursing accepted documentation showing she met the requirement. She later received a letter from the Board of Nursing indicating her application was being audited. Another letter said her case was referred to a disciplinary attorney “for further disposition.”

Vaughn’s alleged offense: She applied for renewal of her license on March 18, 2013, before the 30-hour continuing education credit was affirmed by the Board of Nursing on April 16, 2013. It was a confusing development, she said, because her Kansas nursing license was, at that moment, still valid and wouldn’t lapse until May 31, 2013.

The Board of Nursing offered her a diversion agreement declaring she broke state licensing regulations with a flawed application. She said she rejected the plea deal because the agreement’s “statement of facts” included false information. An assistant attorney general at the Board of Nursing threatened her with license revocation for alleged “unprofessional conduct by fraud or deceit in practicing nursing.”

The Board of Nursing issued a 15-day license suspension but later reversed the order. She paid a $250 fine for failure to exhibit a “cooperative attitude toward the disciplinary proceedings.”

More than a decade later, Vaughn said, she was grateful introduction of the House bill offered her an opportunity to advocate for reform that addressed “a sickening mix of KSBN’s schemes, incompetence, ignorance and greed.”

Kansas House responds to complaints, unveils bill revamping Board of Nursing’s authority

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a homicide after two men were shot early Saturday in north Wichita.

Just after 3 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 3900 block of E. 13th Street in Wichita after receiving a gunshot detection alert, according to a media release from Wichita Police.

While officers were responding, police received a report of a walk-in shooting victim at a local hospital. Shortly afterward, two adult men arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds. A 36-year-old man was pronounced dead at 3:42 a.m. A second victim, a 43-year-old man, suffered serious injuries and is expected to survive.

Preliminary information indicates the victims were at a business in the 3900 block of E. Vesta when a disturbance occurred and shots were fired. Police reported property damage in the area, but no other injuries.

Homicide: Kansas hospital walk-in shooting victim has died

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">MARIA SHERMAN</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — There are stages, and then there is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;halftime show.

On Sunday, fresh off his historic win at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards">the Grammys</a>&nbsp;for his love letter to Puerto Rico, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Bad Bunny will once again surprise audiences with a performance that is gearing up to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/why-bad-bunnys-super-bowl-show-will-be-a-landmark-moment-for-puerto-rico/" target="_blank">landmark moment for Latino culture.</a>

Apple Music’s Zane Lowe mentioned that Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance is 13 minutes long during an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-f441549a00166a39309233f689163105">interview with the superstar</a>&nbsp;on Thursday. Historically, they run 12 to 15 minutes.

In the same conversation, Bad Bunny offered few specifics about what viewers will see Sunday.

“It’s going to be a huge party,” he said, playfully dodging questions about surprise guests and other details. “What people can expect from me … I want to bring to the stage, of course, a lot of my culture. But I really don’t, I don’t want to give any spoilers. It’s going to be fun.”

Beyond that: A minute-and-a-half long trailer for the halftime show posted last month set a jovial tone for his performance. In it,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bad-bunny">Bad Bunny</a>&nbsp;approaches a Flamboyan tree — more on that below — and presses play on his single “Baile Inolvidable” (“Unforgettable Dance”).

The song is modern salsa, performed with students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan. It is a featured single from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos-review-856f8e4f89e48e6ab104a491ae3dbcde">“Debí Tirar Más Fotos,”</a>&nbsp;an album that marries folkloric tradition in local Borinquen genres like bomba, plena, salsa and música jíbara with contemporary styles like reggaeton, trap and pop.

In the clip, Bad Bunny sways as he’s joined by different dancers across genders, races and ages: Those include a traditional salsa dancer in a red dress, a firefighter, a cowboy and a viejito wearing a pava (“viejito” is an affectionate term for an older man and a “pava” is a kind of straw hat). It’s representative of the superstar’s international appeal; he is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spotify-wrapped-2025-bad-bunny-taylor-swift-fb021e2387d6aff7e4d8353a067f1664">the most-streamed artist globally</a>&nbsp;on Spotify.

Will Bad Bunny perform entirely in Spanish?

All of Bad Bunny’s music is recorded in Spanish, so it seems like a safe bet. Were he to include English into his set, it would likely appear in a spoken interjection — or it would be featured in text.

In October, Bad Bunny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snl-premiere-bad-bunny-doja-cat-108cbe04aa05205f7c04ff29c6d60d0f">hosted “Saturday Night Live”</a>&nbsp;and said a few sentences in Spanish during his opening monologue. When he concluded, he joked in English, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn,” a reference to the Super Bowl and his critics.

On Thursday, he joked that fans didn’t actually need to learn Spanish to enjoy his set — but they should be prepared to dance.

There’s no way to know for sure, but here are a few educated guesses.

Puerto Rican flags: In his song&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-superbowl-2026-quiz">“La Mudanza,”</a>&nbsp;Bad Bunny sings, “Aquí mataron gente por sacar la bandera / Por eso es que ahora yo la llevo donde quiera.” In English: “Here they killed people for showing the flag / That’s why I bring it everywhere I want now.” It appears to be a reference to Law 53 of 1948, better known as the Gag Law, a ruling by the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly which attempted to suppress the independence movement on the island and criminalized displaying the Puerto Rican flag. It was repealed in 1952. It is also one of many reasons Puerto Ricans are known for waving their flag with pride for their island.

It is almost certain the flag of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/puerto-rico">Puerto Rico</a>&nbsp;will appear in some form on the Super Bowl stage. But its colors are worth noting. If it is shown in red, white and blue, that is the current flag of Puerto Rico and has been since 1952. If there are flags that feature light blue, that is reflective of the Puerto Rican independence movement. A black and white version of the flag has become synonymous with Puerto Rican struggle and resiliency. And if there is a flag that more closely resembles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dominican-republic">the Dominican Republic’s</a>&nbsp;flag, that is the flag of the Puerto Rican mountain town Lares. It was used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-hip-hop-and-rap-residente-music-music-videos-07e1a4067be8e48f197661c90b31aefd">the Grito de Lares,</a>&nbsp;the first short revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico in the 19th century.

Puerto Rican expressions: There may be a few Puerto Rican expressions uttered on stage, beyond just those found in Bad Bunny’s music. That could be anything from “Wepa!” which is used in moments of excitement, not unlike exclaiming “Wow!.” It grew in popularity after the release of Alfonso Vélez’s 1974 salsa song “El Jolgorio (Wepa Wepa Wepa).” Or “Acho, PR es otra cosa,” a phrase that became a fan chant during Bad Bunny’s performance of “Voy a llevarte pa’ PR” during his residency. It translates to “Damn, PR is something else.”

Casita: At&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-bad-bunny-concert-46e33b429e8ea4a08f52b0ae53b42d30">Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico</a>&nbsp;last summer, he performed across two stages. One was built to resemble a casita (“little house”), for the pari de marquesina, a house party. These structures are synonymous with Puerto Rico and the Caribbean at large.

Pavas: A symbol that is likely familiar to Bad Bunny fans everywhere, a pava is a straw hat traditionally worn by jíbaros, or Puerto Rican rural farmers. It has become a symbol of pride for the island. The singer even wore a leather version of the hat on the red carpet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/met-gala-2025-fashion-updates">at the 2025 Met Gala.</a>

Flamboyan tree: The second of the two stages at Bad Bunny’s residency focused on showcasing the island’s natural beauty with its flamboyan and plantain trees. The former are a common feature in Puerto Rican art for its flowers, most commonly seen in brilliant red, orange and yellow hues. The image of the tree evokes Puerto Rico almost as immediately as the sound of its national nocturnal residents, el coquí (a frog with a distinctive sing-song-y call heard only at night.)

El Sapo Concho: Not to be mistaken with el coquí, el sapo concho is the endangered Puerto Rican crested toad that Bad Bunny has used an animated version of in his visuals for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”

Traditional Puerto Rican instruments: Because much of Bad Bunny’s music pulls from bomba and plena, it is likely that a few of those traditional instruments will be on stage. Look out for a cuatro (a small, four-stringed guitar), güiro/güira (a percussive instrument made of a hollow gourd), palitos (also a percussive instrument resembling two long, wood sticks), cencerro (cow bell) and maracas. For the bomba songs, specifically, there may be a barriel (a barrel) and for plena, a pandereta (tambourine.)

Will there be special guests during the halftime show?

It is impossible to predict, but it would be surprising if Bad Bunny wasn’t joined by other performers — particularly other giants of Latin music, and probably, other Puerto Rican performers. The band Chuwi joined Benito for every night of his San Juan residency; it wouldn’t be out of the question to see them on stage for their collaboration, “Weltita.”

Other potential guests, if the residency is a framework to follow, could include&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marc-anthony">Marc Anthony,</a>&nbsp;Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2025-grammy-awards-young-miko-interview-36adcfcc6e418494632b835fd4d20bd5">Young Miko,</a>&nbsp;Wisin y Yandel, Gilberto Santa Rosa and Alfonso Vélez. But the list goes on and on.

That is in the eye of the beholder. But there is historical precedent for it at the Super Bowl. In 2020, the NFL asked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-jennifer-lopez-entertainment-sports-sports-general-6218a84a9cd3d702826afe4a7cb6fff3">Jennifer Lopez</a>&nbsp;to cut a segment featuring children in cages during her halftime performance, a critique of U.S. immigration policies. She refused. (Bad Bunny was actually a guest performer during that halftime show, which was headlined by Lopez and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/shakira">Shakira.)</a>

Last year, Kendrick Lamar’s set was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-halftime-show-review-1dc2bce615ebfba0c8af0ea7c3ce4b9d">artful confrontation of American history</a>&nbsp;and racial dynamics through metaphor, as the actor Samuel L. Jackson, dressed as Uncle Sam, complained of a performance that was “too loud, too reckless, too ghetto” and reminded Lamar to “play the game.”

Bad Bunny has never steered clear of political messaging. He has criticized President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on everything from his hurricane response in his native Puerto Rico to his treatment of immigrants. At the Grammys Sunday, he said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2026-grammy-awards-4d631de5d968b51276a8f06b76580e20">“ICE out”</a>&nbsp;while accepting his first televised award of the night. His latest tour skipped the continental U.S.; in an interview he said it was at least partially inspired by concerns that his fans could be targeted by immigration agents.

Trump, a Republican, has said he doesn’t plan to attend this year’s game, unlike last year, and he has derided Bad Bunny as a “terrible choice.”

Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show: Some things to expect and what they mean

President Donald Trump's administration can continue to detain immigrants without bond, marking a major legal victory for the federal immigration agenda and countering a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-judge-schiltz-immigration-dba9ee031a23602ba2f6404262496ea5">slew of recent</a>&nbsp;lower court decisions across the country that argued the practice is illegal.

A panel of judges on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Friday evening that the Department of Homeland Security's decision to deny bond hearings to immigrants arrested across the country is consistent with the constitution and federal immigration law.

Specifically, circuit judge Edith H. Jones wrote in the 2-1 majority opinion that the government correctly interpreted the Immigration and Nationality Act by asserting that “unadmitted aliens apprehended anywhere in the United States are ineligible for release on bond, regardless of how long they have resided inside the United States."

Under past administrations,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detention-ice-trump-e1c2322c3f88c1f7d7e83c8c42109cb6">most noncitizens</a>&nbsp;with no criminal record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-court-judges-trump-ice-229830c0779857164a832793c2a8f3e4">who were arrested away</a>&nbsp;from the border had an opportunity to request a bond hearing while their cases wound through immigration court. Historically, bond was often granted to those without criminal convictions who were not flight risks, and mandatory detention was limited to recent border crossers.

"That prior Administrations decided to use less than their full enforcement authority under" the law “does not mean they lacked the authority to do more,” Jones wrote.

The plaintiffs in the two separate cases filed last year against the Trump administration were both Mexican nationals who had both lived in the United States for over 10 years and weren't flight risks, their attorneys argued. Neither man had a criminal record, and both were jailed for months last year before a lower Texas court granted them bond in October.

The Trump White House reversed that policy in favor of mandatory detention in July, reversing almost 30 years of precedent under both Democrat and Republican administrations.

Friday's ruling also bucks&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-bond-hearings-detention-trump-b863c23d6f1740e2df0be59947a087c5">a November district court decision in California</a>, which granted detained immigrants with no criminal history the opportunity to request a bond hearing and had implications for noncitizens held in detention nationwide.

Circuit Judge Dana M. Douglas wrote the lone dissent in Friday's decision.

The elected congress members who passed the Immigration and Nationality Act “would be surprised to learn it had also required the detention without bond of two million people,” Douglas wrote, adding that many of the people detained are “the spouses, mothers, fathers, and grandparents of American citizens.”

She went on to argue that the federal government was overriding the lawmaking process with DHS' new immigration detention policy that denies detained immigrants bond.

“Because I would reject the government’s invitation to rubber stamp its proposed legislation by executive fiat, I dissent,” Douglas wrote.

Douglas' opinion echoed widespread tensions between the Trump administration and federal judges around the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-judge-schiltz-immigration-dba9ee031a23602ba2f6404262496ea5">who have increasingly</a>&nbsp;accused the administration of flouting court orders.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi celebrated the decision as “a significant blow against activist judges who have been undermining our efforts to make America safe again at every turn."

“We will continue vindicating President Trump’s law and order agenda in courtrooms across the country,” Bondi wrote on the social media platform X.

Appeals court affirms Trump policy of jailing immigrants without bond

CHEROKEE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with several local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, conducted a two-day enforcement operation this week targeting individuals who solicit minors for sex, according to a media release from the KBI.

The operation, which concluded Feb. 6, resulted in the arrest of five suspects on various charges, such as commercial sexual exploitation of a child, unlawful use of a communication facility, aggravated human trafficking, attempted aggravated indecent liberties, and electronic solicitation of a child.

The following individuals were taken into custody and booked into the Cherokee County Jail: Darin Price, 52, of Anderson, Missouri; Nicholes Reginal, 28, of Jackson, Mississippi;&nbsp; Trevor Porter, 34, of Pittsburg, Kansas; Nicolas Perez-Paxtor, 38, of Neosho, Missouri and Derek McKenney, 31, of Sarcoxie, Missouri.

The investigation was a collaborative effort to identify and apprehend predators who utilize digital platforms to prey upon underage victims. Following the arrests, case files were submitted to the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office for formal prosecution.

The KBI and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office were assisted in this operation by the Cherokee County Attorney’s Office, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office, the Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, the Ray County (Missouri) Sheriff’s Office, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

KBI: 5 jailed after allegedly soliciting minors for sex

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Savannah Guthrie</a>&nbsp;told the potential kidnappers of her mother&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-nancy-042abd04a6d87e14eecb22f0bc2893d1">Nancy Guthrie</a>&nbsp;on Saturday that the family is prepared to pay for her safe return, as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-0d6b55fd24f54b2526fd5f8894a52ff2">frantic search</a>&nbsp;for the 84-year-old has entered a seventh day.

“We received your message, and we understand. We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said in a video posted on social media, flanked by her siblings. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

It was not immediately clear if the longtime host of NBC's “Today” show was referring to a new message from someone who might have kidnapped Nancy Guthrie. The Associated Press reached out to the FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department seeking additional details.

Tucson TV station KOLD on Friday that it received a message via email that was tied to the Guthrie case, the contents of which it could not disclose. The FBI said it was aware of a new message and was reviewing its authenticity.

Investigators think Nancy Guthrie was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-6c7b78d17d7b647c64f71f64ecaecf8b">taken against her will</a>&nbsp;from her home just outside Tucson last weekend. DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch was a match to her, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said. Authorities have not identified any suspects or ruled anyone out.

The sheriff said Friday that he was frustrated that a camera at Nancy Guthrie’s home was not able to capture images of anyone the day she went missing.

Investigators have found that the home’s doorbell camera was disconnected early Sunday and that software data recorded movement at the home minutes later. But Nancy Guthrie did not have an active subscription, so none of the images were able to be recovered.

“It is concerning, it’s actually almost disappointing, because you’ve got your hopes up,” Nanos told The Associated Press in an interview. “OK, they got an image. ‘Well, we do, but we don’t.’”

President Donald Trump, speaking on Air Force One on Friday, said the investigation was going “very well.”

Local

Region

Sports