Hutchinson Public Schools is accepting nominations for its 2025–26 Classified Employee of the Year, Certified Employee of the Year and the Davis Foundation Educator of the Year awards.

District officials said Salthawk staff play a critical role in the success of the school system, carrying out daily operations, educating students and providing a supportive learning environment. The awards are intended to recognize employees whose skills, dedication and commitment support the district’s mission of educating and empowering every student for life.

Certified staff eligible for nomination include teachers, social workers, special education teachers, nurses and other licensed professionals. Classified staff include secretaries, para-educators, custodians, nurses and other support personnel.

Anyone may submit nominations for the Classified Employee of the Year and Certified Employee of the Year awards, including staff members, students, parents and community partners. The Certified Employee of the Year honor is separate from the Davis Teacher of the Year and the Kansas State Department of Education’s Kansas Teacher of the Year awards.

In addition, the district is seeking nominations for the James A. and Juliet L. Davis Foundation Educator of the Year award. This honor is open to outstanding classroom teachers currently serving in Hutchinson Public Schools. Administrators and non-teaching personnel are not eligible. Past recipients may not be nominated for five years following their selection.

The Davis Foundation selection process includes a review of nominations by a committee designated by the foundation’s trustees. Finalists will be interviewed, and winners will be announced at the district’s opening convocation in August 2026. Each selected teacher will receive a $4,000 cash award.

The Davis Foundation awards are organized by teaching level — elementary, middle school and high school — to ensure recognition across all grade levels.

All nominations are due by Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. The names of nominators will remain confidential.

Nominations can be submitted online at <a href="http://www.usd308.com/eoy">www.usd308.com/eoy</a>

USD 308 accepting nominations for 2025–26 annual awards

The first Legislative Forum of the 2026 Kansas legislative session is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E. 11th Ave.

Reno County legislators invited to participate include Sen. Michael Murphy, Rep. Joe Seiwert, Rep. Paul Waggoner, Rep. Kyler Sweely and Rep. Kevin Schwertfeger.

Written questions will be accepted the morning of the forum. Questions may also be submitted in advance through the advocacy page of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce website.

The forum is presented by AT&amp;T, with supporting sponsorship from Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, and is organized by the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee.

There is no cost to attend. Chamber members and the general public are encouraged to participate.

Legislative forum to be held Saturday

The United Way of Reno County will host a Spring Residential Community&nbsp;Work Day&nbsp;on April 25, launching a new volunteer-driven initiative aimed at helping residents with outdoor and exterior home projects.&nbsp;

The one-day effort is designed to support neighbors who may be unable to complete routine maintenance on their own, with a focus on improving safety,&nbsp;accessibility&nbsp;and overall quality of life. Volunteers will&nbsp;assist&nbsp;with non-structural projects such as yard clean-up, debris removal, small tree or limb removal, exterior painting, flower bed&nbsp;care&nbsp;and fence repairs.&nbsp;

United Way of Reno County is accepting nominations for residents who could&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;from&nbsp;assistance. Priority will be given to households that are elderly, disabled, lower income, ALICE households — an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained,&nbsp;Employed&nbsp;— or those experiencing hardship. Organizers ask nominators to provide detailed information to help match projects with volunteer teams.&nbsp;

Volunteers of all skill levels are encouraged to&nbsp;participate. Participants will work in teams at selected homes and complete outdoor projects intended to make neighborhoods safer,&nbsp;cleaner&nbsp;and more connected. Individuals,&nbsp;friends&nbsp;and groups are all welcome to sign up.&nbsp;

Organizers say the initiative addresses a common challenge for many residents who face physical limitations, financial constraints or unexpected setbacks that can make basic outdoor maintenance overwhelming.&nbsp;

United Way to host spring Community Work Day

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Stage&nbsp;9&nbsp;Theatre will present&nbsp;A Crazy Little Cafe Called Love&nbsp;this weekend, offering audiences a lighthearted comedy centered on a single day inside a neighborhood café.&nbsp;

The production is directed by Jo Stropes, who said the play blends laugh-out-loud humor with warm, heartfelt moments as it explores love in many forms — from romance and friendship to family and human connection.&nbsp;

“The play shows a day in the life of a friendly neighborhood café,”&nbsp;Stropes&nbsp;said. “It’s&nbsp;filled with quirky, lovable regular customers.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;really meant to be a good-time comedy that people can just enjoy.”&nbsp;

Stropes&nbsp;said the show was chosen in part because it fits the intimate nature of&nbsp;Stage Nine Theatre, which seats fewer than 100 patrons and favors productions with smaller casts and limited scene changes.&nbsp;

“We needed a light comedy, and this one checked all the boxes,” she said. “It has the right number of characters, it’s charming, and it really works in a small venue.”&nbsp;

The cast features eight actors portraying an eclectic group of café regulars, including a waitress who anchors the story, a horror movie writer hoping to break through, a bride anxiously waiting for her missing fiancé, a man considering life as a monk, and an older patron whose visit sparks an unexpected spiritual experience.&nbsp;

Rehearsals began in December following auditions, with&nbsp;Stropes&nbsp;estimating the cast logged more than 30 rehearsals before&nbsp;opening&nbsp;weekend. She said the production came together fully by late January as the ensemble found its rhythm.&nbsp;

Stage&nbsp;9’s small setting,&nbsp;Stropes&nbsp;said, creates a close connection between performers and the audience.&nbsp;

“It’s a very intimate auditorium,” she said. “You can really feel the energy between the actors and the audience.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;a completely&nbsp;different experience&nbsp;than a large theater.”&nbsp;

Performances are scheduled for&nbsp;Feb. 13 through Feb. 16.&nbsp;Thursday through Saturday&nbsp;performances&nbsp;are at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday’s&nbsp;matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online and at the door.&nbsp;

Stage 9 to present 'Crazy Little Cafe Called Love'

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has launched a new Travel &amp; Health webpage to help health care and public health partners prepare for increased domestic and international travel tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Kansas City is expected to see a surge in visitors during the tournament, raising the risk of exposure to infectious diseases, including illnesses rarely seen in Kansas. State health officials are urging clinicians to routinely consider recent travel when evaluating patients.

“With the World Cup approaching, early recognition starts with asking about travel,” KDHE Deputy Secretary for Public Health Ashley Goss said. “This new webpage gives providers a central resource to quickly access guidance and stay prepared for travel-related disease risks.”

The Travel &amp; Health webpage includes current travel health notices, disease-specific reporting and testing information, infection prevention and control resources for health care facilities, and provider training webinars focused on domestic and international infectious diseases.

KDHE said additional tools will be added in the coming weeks, including expanded training webinars, a clinical support dashboard allowing clinicians to search outbreaks and endemic diseases by country, and a Kansas-specific dashboard tracking emergency department visits and wastewater surveillance data.

State officials said the new resources are designed to support early detection, timely reporting and coordinated response as Kansas prepares for increased travel and mass gatherings associated with the World Cup.

KDHE launches new webpage ahead of World Cup

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. ——————————————

Dawn	Marie	Siebert		2/10/2026 10:39&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Travis	Cole	Helt		2/10/2026 11:12&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Montre	Tyrell	Toney		2/10/2026 2:22&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Grant	Levi	Smith		2/10/2026 2:54&nbsp;PM	Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision

Joshua	Harold	Watkins		2/10/2026 6:10&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Possession of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Carla	Delores	Green		2/10/2026 6:12&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant, Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Todd	Joseph	Schremmer		2/10/2026 6:12&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Possession of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Alphinia	Aliza	Toney		2/10/2026 8:54&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Fabrice	Deshawn	Nelson		2/10/2026 10:59&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Daily Bookings

 About 40 residents attended the first of two public meetings Tuesday at Memorial Hall to learn more about a proposed city sales tax increase that will appear on the March 3 ballot.

Enrico Villegas said the city is asking only for what it needs, noting the proposal would fund core services and infrastructure. Voters are being asked to approve a 0.75% sales tax increase that would take effect Oct. 1, 2026.

Finance Director Angela Richard said the city’s sales tax “pull factor” of 1.45 means Hutchinson serves a customer base about 45% larger than its population, helping shift some costs to nonresidents and easing pressure on property taxes.

Officials said departments have already reduced spending where possible and warned that if the measure fails, the city would need to consider a range of service reductions, prioritizing police and fire response. The city placed the question on a March ballot to align with its budget certification timeline.

City holds first sales tax meeting

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

Three-day Outlook

A popular 90s country revival show is headed back to Hutchinson this weekend, with strong ticket demand already signaling a packed dance floor at the 1861 Club on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

The Kansas State Fair Foundation is hosting “90s Revival: All Hat, No Cadillac” on Saturday, Feb. 14, at the 1861 Club. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the concert beginning at 8 p.m. Table seating for the event sold out within hours late last year, leaving standing-room-only tickets still available.

James Fisher, with the Kansas State Fair Foundation, said the Austin-based band drew overwhelming positive feedback after performing at the foundation’s Boots &amp; Bling fundraiser last August.

“If we had one person ask us to bring them back, we had 100,” Fisher said. “Once they start playing, people hit the dance floor and they don’t leave.”

The concert features the band All Hat No Cadillac, known for high-energy performances and crowd interaction. Fisher said nearly all table purchases came from attendees who had previously seen the group perform.

The show also marks the launch of the Liquid Aloha Concert Series at the 1861 Club, sponsored by Kona Brewing.

Maddie Burns, venue and operations manager at the 1861 Club, said guests should be prepared to dance rather than sit.

“If you love 90s country, you’re not going to need a seat,” Burns said. “You’ll be on the dance floor all night.”

The venue will offer cocktail tables, a coat check, and indoor amenities to make winter travel easier for attendees. Organizers are also encouraging guests to support local restaurants before the show as part of a Valentine’s Day evening out.

Beyond the concert, the Kansas State Fair Foundation is also preparing for several upcoming events at the 1861 Club. On Sunday, Feb. 22, the venue will host Everything Weddings &amp; Events from 1 to 4 p.m. The showcase will feature local vendors offering services for weddings, corporate gatherings, fundraisers, and other special events. Admission is $10.

Later in March, the Liquid Aloha series continues with “HaHa Hutch” on March 27, featuring Hutchinson native and comedian Brett Riley. Tickets for that event are now on sale.

Standing-room tickets for the 90s Revival concert and information on upcoming events can be found at <a href="http://1861club.com">1861club.com</a>.

90s country revival coming to 1861 Club Saturday

Hutchinson Polar Plunge Returns Saturday to Benefit Special Olympics Kansas 

The Hutchinson Polar Plunge is set to return this Saturday at Midwest Superstore, raising funds to support Special Olympics athletes across Kansas after weather forced a postponement earlier this winter. 

The annual event, organized by Sgt. Andrew Soule of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, is scheduled to begin with on-site registration at 9 a.m., followed by plunges starting at 10 a.m. or shortly thereafter. The plunge was originally planned for late January but was rescheduled due to extreme cold conditions. 

Soule said the local Polar Plunge began in either 2018 or 2019 after law enforcement officials saw the success of similar events across the state through the Law Enforcement Torch Run movement. 

“We looked at what other communities were doing and decided to give it a try here,” Soule said. “It’s been very successful for us since we started.” 

This year’s plunge returns to Midwest Superstore, a longtime host and sponsor. Additional local supporters include Pools Plus and People’s Bank and Trust.

Funds raised through the event benefit Special Olympics Kansas. While donations are collected locally, Soule explained that all funds raised through Torch Run–affiliated events go to the state level and are then distributed back to local athletes through Special Olympics Kansas programs. 

Registration remains open up until plunge time Saturday morning. Participants can sign up in advance online at soks.org by selecting the Polar Plunge tab and choosing the Hutchinson location, or they can register in person the day of the event. A $75 donation is requested to participate, though organizers work with individuals who want to take part. 

Those who prefer not to plunge can still support the cause by making a donation online or in person at the event. Spectators are also encouraged to attend, with food, drinks, and opportunities to meet local Special Olympics athletes available throughout the morning. 

Soule said the event is about more than just fundraising. 

“These athletes are wonderful people,” he said. “This is our chance to support them and help them continue to compete in the events they take so much pride in throughout the year.” 

Organizers have set a fundraising goal of $8,000 for this year’s Polar Plunge. As of Tuesday morning, approximately $2,445 had been raised.  

If you would like to donate, but don’t want to plunge, you can make a donation to their effort using this link.  

The Hutchinson Polar Plunge will take place Saturday morning at Midwest Superstore, with registration opening at 9 a.m. and plunging beginning around 10 a.m. Community members are invited to attend, cheer on participants, and support Special Olympics athletes. 

Rescheduled Polar Plunge set for Saturday

Here's a list of events happening around the area.&nbsp; If your club or organization has an event, you can e-mail the information to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">HutchPost@eaglemedia.com.</a>

Hutch High basketball vs Valley Center – 6 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Salthawk&nbsp;Activity Center&nbsp;&nbsp;

HutchCC Men’s and Women’s Basketball vs Dodge City 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Sports Arena&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/">“The Princess Bride” Fox Classic/Retro Film Series</a> — 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Fox Theatre – 18 East First&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/45b532b0-b050-4bc8-a05e-ccdf10f283d0">“Newsies” - Family Community Theater</a> — 7:30&nbsp;p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 301 North Main Street&nbsp;

“Crazy Little Cafe Called Love” - Stage&nbsp;9 — 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 9 South Main&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hutch High basketball vs Derby — 6 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Salthawk&nbsp;Activity Center&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/">“The Princess Bride” Fox Classic/Retro Film Series </a>— 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Fox Theatre – 18 East First&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/45b532b0-b050-4bc8-a05e-ccdf10f283d0">“Newsies” - Family Community Theater </a>— 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 301 North Main Street&nbsp;

Polar Plunge for Special Olympics&nbsp;— 9 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Midwest Superstore - 1100 East 30th Avenue

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonartcenter.net/">Saturday Morning Artists</a> — 9 to 11:30 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Art Center&nbsp;

Valentine’s Day Movie Night at the Cosmosphere – 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1100 North Plum&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/">“Casablanca” Fox&nbsp;Classic/Retro Film Series</a> – 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Fox Theatre – 18 East First&nbsp;

“Crazy Little Cafe Called Love” - Stage&nbsp;9 — 7:30&nbsp;p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 9 South Main&nbsp;

90’s Revival "All Hats No Cadillac" - 1861 Club — 8 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Kansas State Fairgrounds&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Crazy Little Cafe Called Love” - Stage&nbsp;9&nbsp;— 2 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 9 South Main&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/">“Casablanca” Fox Classic/Retro Film Series</a> — 2 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Fox Theatre – 18 East First&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/45b532b0-b050-4bc8-a05e-ccdf10f283d0">“Newsies” - Family Community Theater</a> — 3 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 301 North Main Street&nbsp;

 Happenings Around Hutch • Feb. 10 - 15

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

On February 9, Officer J. Paulakovich assisted the Kansas Highway Patrol in a vehicle pursuit that ended when the suspect’s car struck a citizen’s vehicle. Thankfully, there were no injuries. Officer Paulakovich arrested the suspect and located fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in the vehicle. 

The suspect had multiple outstanding warrants, including possession of controlled substances, burglary, and parole violations. He was taken into custody and charged.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the suspect.

Fentanyl and cocaine found after Kan. police chase and crash

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A judge on Wednesday kept former New York Jets first-round draft pick&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f49699b7c048415a9bad415a69e3b871">Darron Lee</a>&nbsp;in jail without bond as he faces a first-degree murder charge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f49699b7c048415a9bad415a69e3b871">in the death of his girlfriend</a>&nbsp;in Tennessee.

The ruling by Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Tori Smith came after Lee was arrested and charged late last week. He also faces a charge of tampering with or fabricating evidence.

Lee is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on March 9.

Authorities identified the victim in the case as Gabriella Perpétuo. The couple had been living in a home they rented where the incident occurred for about 10 days, Hamilton County Sheriff's Office Detective Brian Lockhart testified Wednesday.

Lockhart said he was present during the autopsy and learned the potential manner of death is blunt force trauma homicide, though an autopsy report has not been released yet.

According to an arrest affidavit, first responders on Feb. 5 went to a home in the Chattanooga suburb of Ooltewah for a call of CPR in progress, where they found the woman already deceased.

Lee told deputies that the woman may have fallen in the shower, but according to the affidavit, there were extensive amounts of blood in different areas of the residence that were inconsistent with Lee's statement.

Authorities carrying out a search warrant found multiple kinds of trauma to the woman's body, including a stab wound to her abdomen, an apparent human bite mark on her shoulder, a large bruise on her head, black eyes with heavy swelling, and dried blood on her face and neck, the affidavit said.

Lockhart testified that she also had a severe brain injury and a broken neck. She had more stab wounds on her legs while wearing pants without cut marks, suggesting the pants were put on afterward, Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp said.

Investigators also found alcohol, narcotics and a gun, the affidavit said.

The affidavit said Lee had a facial injury, lacerations on his hands, wounds on his chest and blood inside the case of his cellphone.

Crime scene detectives also identified blood that had been attempted to be cleaned in multiple areas of the house, in addition to cleaning supplies near where testing confirmed blood stains but no blood was visible, the affidavit said.

Wamp said the case is eligible for capital punishment, but prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.

“Mr. Lee was in a home with a female that was, for lack of a better term, beaten to death,” Wamp said in court, arguing for the judge to withhold bond. “And the explanation that he gave doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.”

Wamp said Lee was on probation in Florida for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in one county and battery in another, and on probation in Ohio for attempted batteries.

Lee was represented at the hearing by deputy public defender Mike Little, who said in court that bond is often set for homicide or first-degree murder defendants, including those with prior felonies.

Responding to a request for comment from The Associated Press, Little said it is too early in the case for him to be making any statements.

The 31-year-old Lee played 58 games with the Jets, Kansas City and Buffalo from 2016 through the 2020 seasons. The former Ohio State linebacker was the 20th overall pick in 2016 by the Jets. He was the defensive MVP of the 2015 Sugar Bowl.

Former KC Chief jailed without bond in death of girlfriend

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Pam Bondi launched into a passionate defense of President Donald Trump Wednesday as she tried to turn the page from relentless criticism of the Justice Department’s handling of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-client-list-sex-trafficking-049c96080a2ca2c12c84ac506437e50b">the Jeffrey Epstein files</a>, repeatedly shouting at Democrats during a combative hearing in which she postured herself as the Republican president's chief protector.

Besieged by questions over Epstein and accusations of a weaponized Justice Department, Bondi aggressively pivoted in an extraordinary speech in which she mocked her Democratic questioners, praised Trump over the performance of the stock market and openly aligned herself as in sync with a president whom she painted as a victim of past impeachments and investigations.

“You sit here and you attack the president and I’m not going to have it," Bondi told lawmakers on the House Judiciary Committee. "I am not going to put up with it.”

With victims of Epstein seated behind her in the hearing room, Bondi forcefully defended the department's handling of the files related to the well-connected financier that have dogged her tenure. She accused Democrats of using the Epstein files to distract from Trump's successes, when it was Republicans who initiated the furor over the files and Bondi herself fanned the flames by distributing binders to conservative influencers at the White House last year.

The hearing quickly devolved into a partisan brawl, with Bondi repeatedly lobbing insults at Democrats while insisting she was not “going to get in the gutter” with them. In one particularly fiery exchange, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland accused Bondi of refusing to answer his questions, prompting the attorney general to call the top Democrat on the committee a “washed-up loser lawyer — not even a lawyer.”

Trying to help Bondi amid an onslaught of Democratic criticism, Republicans tried to keep the focus on bread-and-butter law enforcement issues like violent crime and illegal immigration. Bondi repeatedly deflected questions from Democrats, responding instead with attacks seemingly gleaned from news headlines as she sought to paint them as uninterested about violence in their districts. Democrats became exasperated as Bondi declined time and again to directly answer.

“This is pathetic. I am not asking trick questions," said Becca Balint, a Vermont Democrat who tried to ask Bondi whether the Justice Department had questioned different Trump administration officials about their ties to Epstein. “The American people deserve to know.”

Bondi has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-pam-bondi-trump-1a6af3e9fa1cfb6d267985a971a4929a">struggled to move past the backlash</a>&nbsp;over the Epstein files since handing out binders to a group of social media influencers at the White House in February 2025. The binders included no new revelations about Epstein, leading to even more calls from Trump’s base for the files to be released.

In her opening remarks, Bondi told Epstein victims to come forward to law enforcement with any information and about their abuse and said she “deeply sorry” for what they had suffered. She told the survivors that “any accusation of criminal wrongdoing will be taken seriously and investigated.”

But she refused when pressed by Rep. Pramila Jayapal to turn and face the Epstein victims in the audience and apologize for what Trump's Justice Department has “put them through" and accused the Democrat of “theatrics.”

Bondi’s appearance on Capitol Hill comes a year into her tumultuous tenure that has amplified concerns that the Justice Department is using its law enforcement powers to target political foes of the president. Just a day earlier, the department sought to secure charges against Democratic lawmakers who produced a video urging military service members not to follow “illegal orders.” But in an extraordinary rebuke of prosecutors, a grand jury in Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-military-orders-democrats-video-e1435655587ad9715c4d1cc776edd545">refused to return an indictment.</a>

Turning aside criticism that the Justice Department under her watch has become politicized, Bondi touted the department’s work to reduce violent crime and said she was determined to restore the department to its core missions after what she described as “years of bloated bureaucracy and political weaponization.”

GOP Rep. Jim Jordan praised Bondi for undoing actions under President Joe Biden's Justice Department that Republicans say unfairly targeted conservatives — including Trump, who was charged in two criminal cases that were abandoned after his 2024 election victory.

“What a difference a year makes," Jordan said. "Under Attorney General Bondi, the DOJ has returned to its core missions — upholding the rule of law, going after the bad guys and keeping Americans safe."

Democrats, meanwhile, excoriated Bondi over haphazard redactions in the Epstein files that exposed intimate details about victims and also included nude photographs.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-28a28aeebcfd49890e0810eb69992724">A review by The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;and other news organizations has found countless examples of sloppy, inconsistent or nonexistent redactions that have revealed sensitive private information.

“You’re siding with the perpetrators and you’re ignoring the victims," Raskin told Bondi in his opening statement. “That will be your legacy unless you act quickly to change the course. You're running a massive Epstein coverup right out of the Department of Justice."

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky lawmaker who broke with his party to advance the legislation that forced the released of the Epstein files, also took Bondi to task for the release of victims’ personal information, telling her: “Literally the worst thing you could do to survivors, you did.”

Bondi told Massie that he was only focused on the files because Trump is mentioned in them, calling him a “hypocrite” with “Trump-derangement syndrome."

Department officials have said they took pains to protect survivors, but that errors were inevitable given the volume of the materials and the speed at which the department had to release them. Bondi told lawmakers that the Justice Department took down files when they were made aware that they included victims’ information and that staff had tried to do their "very best in the time frame allotted by the legislation” mandating the release of the files.

After raising the expectations of conservatives with promises of transparency last year, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">said in July that</a>&nbsp;it had concluded a review and determined that no Epstein “client list” existed and there was no reason to make public additional files. That set off a furor that prompted Congress to pass the legislation demanding that the Justice Department release the files.

The acknowledgment that the well-connected Epstein did not have a list of clients to whom underage girls were trafficked represented a public walk-back of a theory that the Trump administration had helped promote when Bondi suggested in a Fox News interview last year that it was sitting on her desk for review. Bondi later said she was referring to the Epstein files in total, not a specific client list.

🎥Epstein files: Bondi's Oversight hearing erupts into shouting match

By: NICOLAS FIERRO Salina Post

The family of the late Riley Dean Faris, is questioning why no criminal charges were placed on an individual involved in the crash that took away his life.

Riley Faris passed away at age 30 on&nbsp;October 17, 2025 after riding his motorcycle, when he was hit from behind on a Brookville road. The crash happened at approximately 6:53 pm on K-140 Highway at Perry Street. Faris was headed westbound when a 2003 Subaru Forester operated by Kiley Barnett (39) from Kanopolis, hit him from behind.&nbsp;

Barnett was booked into the Saline County Jail that same night with requested charges of No Proof of Insurance, Driving While Suspended (DWS) and Following Too Close. She was then released.

According to Kansas Court records, Barnett has 40 traffic violations.

Colton Faris, brother of Riley <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DZBboGCVw/">made a Facebook video on February 3, 2026</a>&nbsp;discussing a conversation he had with Saline County Attorney, John Reynolds.

Colton stated his mother got in contact via phone with Reynolds and wondered why they have not received an accident report after five months since the incident.&nbsp;During the phonecall, Colton said Reynolds explained to his mother the charges placed on Barnett and further said "that is just what happens when you ride a motorcycle."

Colton then called Reynolds on why he made the comment. According to Colton, Reynolds described to him that he thinks there was no evidence to place any sort of murder or involuntary manslaughter charge on Barnett.

"He (Reynolds) said, yes she killed him but it was not criminal. I don't understand that when you don't have a license, you are not supposed to be driving and when you don't have insurance, which is required to drive a car, how killing him is not a criminal offense," said Colton Faris on the video.

Reynolds told Salina Post he did not make explicitly make the comment of "that is just what happens when you ride a motorcycle," but instead was "taken out of context."

He said the context was he explained how "when cars and motorcycles collide, it always ends up bad for the motorcyclist."

Saline County Sheriff's Office on accident report

The Saline County Sheriff's Office told Salina Post why the Faris family received the accident report 3 and one half months later.

According to the Sheriff's Office, reports are available through the <a href="https://www.dol.ks.gov/labor-relations/kansas-open-records-act-kora">Kansas Open Records Act</a>, but with fluid cases (evolving) and cases with the potential to result in criminal charges without a criminal court disposition, are two of the several exemptions to the act.

In this case, the law enforcement agency did not have a court disposition, or any information if criminal charges were not going to be filed by the County Attorney until the week of Feb. 2 - 6, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office wanted to confirm there were not going to be criminal charges filed prior to releasing a narrative report that could potentially interfere with criminal prosecution. 

Once this was learned, the Sheriff's Office encouraged the Faris family to request the case again and the report was disseminated within 48 hours.

"We strive to provide the appropriate information at the appropriate time while adhering to the Kansas Open Records Act," said the Sheriff's Office.

Reynolds stated the charges placed on Barnett were "traffic violations" and not criminal charges.

Reynolds provided details on what happened in the accident.

According to Reynolds, there was a vehicle going southbound leaving Brookville and got onto K-140 westbound. He said the vehicle got right in front of Faris, which caused him to slow down. Barnett coming from behind was headed westbound and once she became aware of Faris slowing down, she had a "very narrowed reaction time, because she closed the gap between him and the vehicle in front," according to Reynolds.

Reynolds said Barnett tried to avoid colliding with Faris during this time.

"By the time she realizes what's going on, she goes to take evasive maneuvers to move over into the other lane to go around Faris," Reynolds said. "She almost missed him."

Reynolds further said he knew this happened, because he not only visited the accident scene, but also by determining the marks on the vehicles, roadway and review of law enforcement body cameras.

"There were two state troopers out there, they came to the same conclusion of the deputies and what I had," said Reynolds.

Additionally, Reynolds said Barnett should have been farther back before the crash. He placed the Following Too Close charge, because the crash resulted in a fatality.&nbsp;

He also said Faris was not wearing a helmet.

For Barnett to have been placed a requested charge of Involuntary Manslaughter, Reynolds stated the following would need to include:&nbsp;

- Killing someone while committing or attempting to commit a felony.   

- During to commission of an unlawful act in an unlawful manner; Or in attempting to commit, or in flight from, an act described in KSA 8-1567.

"I did not see any of these elements in the affidavit filed in this case," said Reynolds.

Petition started to demand felony charges and removal County Attorney

The cousin of the late Riley Faris, started a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-riley-demand-felony-charges-and-removal-of-saline-county-attorney-j-reynolds">petition</a> titled "JUSTICE FOR RILEY: Demand Felony Charges and Removal of Saline County Attorney J. Reynolds."

Stated in the petition, the writer brought up Kansas statutes for upgraded charges on Barnett.

"The charges against Kiley Barnett be upgraded to the highest extent of the law. Under&nbsp;K.S.A. 21-5403, a killing committed unintentionally but recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life is Second-Degree Murder.&nbsp;At a minimum, this must be prosecuted as Involuntary Manslaughter&nbsp;(K.S.A. 21-5405), a Level 5 Person Felony."

Furthermore, it stated Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct for the removal of Reynolds.

The petition currently has over 4,000 signatures.

Barnett is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on March 25. 

The Saline County court will determine to either take the Barnett case to trial on if she will be convicted for DWS, No Proof of Insurance and Following Too Close.

🎥 Family of Kan. motorcyclist speaks out after no criminal charges in fatal crash

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating the death of a baby.

On Tuesday night, Kansas City police were dispatched on a medical call in the 7500 Block of E. 75th Street, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'.&nbsp; First responders were told a 3-month old was bleeding and possibly deceased.&nbsp; The child was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sheriff Forte'.

A suspicious death is investigation underway.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details on Wednesday.

Death of 3-month old in Kansas City under investigation

WICHITA, KAN. – A $510,755.40 default judgment was entered against a Wichita area roofing&nbsp; company and its owner for unconscionable and deceptive acts under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, according to a media release from the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

The Office of the District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Division investigated the matter after&nbsp; receiving multiple complaints against Tyler Sims and his company, Flint Hills Roofing Co. LLC.

In a Sedgwick County case, the division alleged Sims and his company committed 28&nbsp; violations of the act, including failing to pull permits, skipping inspections and failing to finish&nbsp; contracted projects. Several roofs had to be partially or fully replaced to meet building codes.

In one case, Sims and Flint Hills replaced a metal roof using water-damaged, moldy plywood and heavy asphalt shingles. The weight of the materials rendered the structure unsafe to enter. 

When an insurance company requested two additional estimates, Sims provided one from a&nbsp; defunct company he formerly owned and forged a second using another company’s logo without permission.

The court ordered Sims and Flint Hills Roofing Co. LLC to pay $36,558.40 in restitution to consumers and $470,000 in civil penalties, along with court costs and investigative fees. Both Sims and the company are banned from doing business in Kansas until the judgment is paid in full, they are properly licensed and they obtain the necessary permits.

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