A 37-year-old Hutchinson woman died Friday night after being shot in the 800 block of West Fourth Avenue, and the suspect later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound following a vehicle pursuit in Pratt County, authorities said.

Officers with the Hutchinson Police Department were dispatched at approximately 8:19 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, to a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they located Lacy D. Nelson, 37, of Hutchinson, with multiple gunshot wounds.

Officers began rendering first aid until Reno County EMS arrived. Nelson was transported by ambulance to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, where she later succumbed to her injuries.

During the investigation, Curtis E. Richardson, 49, of Hutchinson, was identified as a person of interest. A statewide “be on the lookout,” or BOLO, alert was issued for Richardson at 9:17 p.m. Friday.

At approximately 7 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, the Pratt County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Preston, Kansas, in reference to a reported robbery. A victim reported that a male forced entry into her residence and took her vehicle without permission.

While en route, a Pratt County sheriff’s deputy located the reported stolen vehicle traveling southbound on K-61 Highway in Pratt County. The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Richardson, refused to stop and a vehicle pursuit ensued.

Authorities said the stolen vehicle left the roadway and entered a field near Northeast 30th Avenue and Northeast 20th Street in Pratt County, where it became stuck. A deputy secured the scene until additional units arrived.

The Pratt County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team responded. Richardson refused to exit the vehicle despite multiple commands from deputies and continued efforts by a negotiator, authorities said. Less-lethal tactics were deployed in an attempt to gain compliance.

Richardson was later located inside the vehicle with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Pratt County EMS initiated lifesaving measures, and he was transported to Pratt Regional Medical Center, where he later died.

Authorities said the investigation remains active. As of the latest release, there are no additional persons of interest.

Hutchinson woman killed in Friday shooting; suspect dies after pursuit in Pratt County

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan. — A grain bin accident in southern Harvey County left one-person dead Saturday afternoon.

Emergency personnel were dispatched at approximately 2:30 p.m. to the 2100 block of South Spencer Road after receiving a report of a man trapped inside a grain bin.

Authorities said three men were working to level and empty soybeans inside a large grain bin when the contents suddenly shifted, trapping one of the workers.

The trapped man was pronounced dead at the scene. The other two men were able to escape without injury.

The man’s identity is being withheld pending notification of family.

Officials have ruled the death accidental.

Traffic along South Spencer Road was temporarily rerouted during the emergency response but has since reopened.

One dead in grain bin collapse

Dear Dave, I talked to my dad the other day, and he wants me to pay for his life insurance policy. He says I should look at it as an investment, and he doesn’t want to pay for it himself anymore, since he’ll never get any benefit from the policy.

My dad is 65 and in pretty good health. I’m 24 and not sure how I feel about his request. Can you give me some advice on handling the situation?

Frankie, This is really weird. I’m sure it was doubly weird for you to hear it from your dad! Even if you didn’t say it out loud, you had to have asked yourself, “Say what?”

I’d take a hard pass on this one. Do you get what I’m saying? The answer to this question is no. Plain and simple. If your dad is in good health, you could be paying on this thing for another 20 or 30 years. That’s ridiculous! 

Plus, it sounds like someone needs to explain the purpose of life insurance to him. The proceeds from a life insurance policy are there to protect the ones you leave behind when you die — your family — so they can cover the bills and be financially stable without your income. Life insurance is not an investment.

Now, I know he’s your dad. That makes the situation a little touchy. But if I were you, I would sit down with him and respectfully let him know I have no intention of “investing” in his death. You’re 24. And in my mind, that means you have other kinds of investing you should be looking into — like retirement planning.

If you’re anything like me, you’re fighting the impulse to be a little snarky about this whole thing. But this is your dad. A little respect is in order. Besides, being snarky isn’t going to solve anything, even if it does make you feel better for a minute.

Something tells me your dad does crazy things like this from time to time. He’s little quirky, maybe. But deep down, he knows this is a strange request. My advice? Don’t go into a lengthy discussion about it. Just smile, thank him for the offer and let him know you’re going another route with your investments. Two sentences and a kind, but firm, no.

You can hear Dave Ramsey, Monday through Friday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on KWBW, unless it is preempted by sports coverage.&nbsp;

Dave says: Pay for dad’s life insurance policy

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. ——————————————

Wesley		Randy	Joel	2/20/2026 10:12&nbsp;AM	DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Haugsness		Mason	Kyle	2/20/2026 10:14&nbsp;AM	Agg endangering a child;Reckless &lt;18;Bodily harm

Pederson		Gunner	Dale	2/20/2026 11:12&nbsp;AM	Battery; Against LEO, Rude, Insulting or Angry Physical Contact,					Criminal Threat; with Intent to Terrorize or cause Evacuation,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant,					Agg assault of LEO; w/ deadly weapon

Juarez		Joseph	Michael	2/20/2026 1:27&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Baker		Caleb	Allen	2/20/2026 2:22&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

White		Noah	Joseph	2/20/2026 3:59&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					DWS; 2nd or subs conviction,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Insurance; Permit the use of uninsured vehicle

Campa		Michael	Jesus	2/20/2026 4:48&nbsp;PM	DWS; 1st conviction,					DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Kukula		Dirk	Jacob	2/20/2026 4:48&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Daily Bookings

Officers with the Hutchinson Police Department responded to a reported shooting near 4th Avenue and Whiteside Street shortly after 8:15 p.m. Friday.

Dayton Gates confirmed officers were dispatched to a shooting call in the area. When officers arrived at the K-Go convenience store, they located a female victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.

The victim was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. Her condition has not been released.

Police remained on scene Friday night as the investigation continued. No additional details were immediately available.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

If you have information regarding this incident, please contact the Hutchinson Police Department at 620-694-2816, your local law enforcement agency, or Crime Stoppers of Reno County at 800-222-TIPS. 

You can also use the P3Tips App on your smartphone, or text RENOKS to 738477 to receive a link to an anonymous tip form. (Msg frequency varies. Msg &amp; data rates may apply. Text HELP for help and STOP to cancel. P3 Terms and Privacy Policy.)&nbsp;

Hutchinson Police investigating shooting near 4th and Whiteside

Work Begins on Fairgrounds Park Playground Upgrade

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Work is underway this week on a playground renovation project at Fairgrounds Park, with city crews beginning the first phase of improvements to the popular community space.

Residents will notice caution tape and construction activity as crews remove the existing play structure and prepare the site for new equipment. The demolition marks the start of a project aimed at creating a safer and more modern play environment.

Following the removal of the old structure, workers will install new playground equipment along with updated surfacing designed to enhance safety and durability.

City officials said the project is part of ongoing efforts to invest in public spaces and provide updated recreational amenities for families.

Additional updates on the project’s progress will be shared as construction continues.

Work begins on new Fairgrounds Park playground

Sign up for the daily Hutch Post morning news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Delivered to your virtual porch every morning — on time and free.

<a href="https://email.em.audience.io/CSB/Public/Form.aspx?fid=1950312&amp;ac=grno">CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!</a>

Sign up for the Hutch Post Morning News Update!

The Dillon Lecture Series is back for the 2026 school year at Hutchinson Community College, continuing a tradition that has brought nationally recognized speakers — along with notable Kansas voices — to Hutchinson for more than four decades.

Now entering its 45th year, the lecture series will kick off Tuesday afternoon with longtime Wichita broadcaster Larry Hatteberg. Many in south-central Kansas recognize Hatteberg from his decades of storytelling at KAKE-TV, where his “Hatteberg’s People” segments highlighted thousands of personal stories from across the region.

Denny Stoecklein the Director of Marketing and Public Relations said the Dillon Lecture Series began back in 1982 as a way to provide educational opportunities not only for Hutchinson Community College students, but for the broader community as well. Since then, the program has hosted nearly 200 speakers from across the country and around the world.

This year’s opening lecture will feature a couple of changes from past events. Tuesday’s presentation will take place at 2 p.m. — rather than the traditional morning time slot — inside the recital hall at the Stringer Fine Arts Center. Doors will open at 1:15 p.m.

Stoecklein said the lecture series is financially independent, relying on sponsorships, memberships and ticket sales to bring speakers to Hutchinson each year, while still offering an accessible opportunity for residents, students and area school groups to hear from influential voices.

Additional speakers scheduled for the 2026 season include Taryn Southern in April and Liz Murray in October.

Advance tickets are available online through the Hutchinson Community College website, or attendees may purchase admission at the door prior to Tuesday’s lecture.

Hatteberg to kick off 2026 Dillon Lecture Series

HUTCHINSON, Kan.&nbsp;— Giselle Rodriguez, a senior at Hutchinson High School, was surprised this week with a full-ride Rudd Scholarship during a special presentation that left her overwhelmed with joy.

Counselors invited Rodriguez to the office under the pretense of signing a scholarship application. Instead, she walked into a room filled with coaches, teachers, administrators, her best friend and members of the Rudd Foundation team — all gathered to celebrate her achievement. The moment culminated with the presentation of a ceremonial check and the life-changing scholarship announcement.

Rodriguez has distinguished herself at Hutchinson High School by balancing rigorous academics, athletics and employment. A member of the National Honor Society, she upholds the organization’s values of scholarship, service, leadership and character. A varsity soccer player, Rodriguez is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme in health sciences. She also serves as president of HOSA–Future Health Professionals and participates in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The IB Career-related Programme combines a rigorous academic framework with career-focused learning, allowing students to align coursework with their professional interests while gaining practical skills, industry certifications and real-world experience. Hutchinson High School offers 22 career pathways, including health sciences, engineering, business management and entrepreneurship, marketing, government and public administration, programming and software development, and family and consumer sciences.

The Rudd Scholarship is a comprehensive, full-ride, four-year award recognizing grit, determination and strong work ethic. The scholarship covers tuition, room and board, books, supplies and other college expenses. Scholars also receive mentoring, professional development, networking opportunities and individualized support throughout their college careers.

“Receiving this scholarship opens many doors for me. This opportunity will allow me to pursue higher education alongside other students with similar goals, values and drive,” Rodriguez said. “Not only have I been awarded a scholarship, but I now have the privilege to navigate my academic journey with the help and support of an amazing cohort and mentors. I couldn’t be more excited to gain the knowledge and experience I need to serve others and contribute to my community.”

The program boasts a 100% four-year graduation rate among retained scholars, with 60% of recipients being first-generation college students. Since its inception, the Rudd Foundation has awarded more than 200 scholarships, investing over $10 million in Kansas students.

Rodriguez was initially hesitant to apply because of the scholarship’s competitive and prestigious nature. The application window runs from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1. Out of more than 700 applicants in 2025, only 50 scholarships were awarded. Eligibility requirements include a minimum 3.0 GPA, ACT or SAT submission, Kansas residency and demonstrated financial need. The application process includes letters of recommendation, essays and a final-round interview.

Rodriguez credits her IB teachers and counselors with encouraging her to apply, and her personal and professional skills teacher, Kelli Lusk, with helping her prepare for the interview process.

“I would tell other students that there’s nothing to lose by applying, so just do it,” Rodriguez said. “The process can help anyone grow and gain experience. It is important to learn how to advocate for yourself and take a moment to reflect on your goals.”

She plans to attend Fort Hays State University to pursue a degree in nursing. In December, Rodriguez was pinned as a certified nursing assistant after completing the CNA program at Hutchinson High School. She credits her instructor, Addie Ehling, RN, medical science teacher and HOSA advisor, with inspiring her to enter the nursing field.

“Giselle is an excellent student whose work ethic and positive attitude set a strong example for others,” Ehling said. “She is an active member of our medical science program and approaches challenges with confidence. It has truly been an honor to have her serve as our HOSA Future Health Professionals chapter president. She consistently demonstrates leadership, dedication and a passion for helping others. I am excited to see the positive impact she will have on the health care field in the years to come.”

Rodriguez said balancing a rigorous course load with athletics and extracurricular activities was challenging but rewarding. She credits her family for their unwavering support and recognizes that the scholarship is life-changing not only for her but for them as well. Rodriguez is the daughter of Salvador and Berenice Rodriguez.

“To my family, this news was the biggest blessing. Both of my parents are immensely proud and overjoyed on my behalf, as this moment is also a culmination of their hard work and sacrifices throughout the years,” Rodriguez said. “I owe my work ethic and determination to them. They have always instilled in me the importance of giving my full effort in anything I do. Throughout my senior year, my objective of making my family proud has persisted, and today I was able to fulfill that pursuit.”

After receiving the surprise news, Rodriguez called her parents, sharing tearful excitement as they celebrated together over the phone — a moment that reflected years of hard work, perseverance and determination.

Hutch High senior earns prestigious full-ride Rudd Scholarship

WASHINGTON, DC –&nbsp;The national average for a gallon of regular gasoline dropped slightly&nbsp;from the previous week to $2.92. 

Pump prices are expected to&nbsp;start&nbsp;their seasonal climb soon, as spring&nbsp;approaches&nbsp;and summer-blend gasoline&nbsp;production begins. 

Tensions between the U.S. and Iran are another factor that could drive up crude oil prices. Right now, gas prices are the lowest&nbsp;they’ve&nbsp;been for this time of year since 2021.&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to&nbsp;new data from the Energy Information Administration&nbsp;(EIA), gasoline&nbsp;demand&nbsp;increased&nbsp;last week&nbsp;from&nbsp;8.30&nbsp;million&nbsp;b/d&nbsp;to&nbsp;8.74&nbsp;million. Total&nbsp;domestic gasoline supply decreased from 259.1 million barrels to 255.8 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.4 million barrels per day.&nbsp;

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI&nbsp;rose&nbsp;$2.86&nbsp;to&nbsp;settle at&nbsp;$65.19&nbsp;a barrel.&nbsp;The EIA&nbsp;reports&nbsp;crude oil inventories&nbsp;decreased by 9 million barrels from the previous week. At 419.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 5% below the&nbsp;five-year&nbsp;average for this time of year.&nbsp;

The nation’s&nbsp;top&nbsp;10&nbsp;most expensive gasoline&nbsp;markets are California ($4.59), Hawaii ($4.40), Washington ($4.18), Oregon ($3.71), Nevada ($3.64), Alaska ($3.51), Arizona ($3.19), Pennsylvania ($3.10), Washington, DC ($3.09), and Vermont ($3.00).&nbsp;

The nation’s&nbsp;top 10&nbsp;least&nbsp;expensive&nbsp;gasoline&nbsp;markets&nbsp;are&nbsp;Oklahoma ($2.28),&nbsp;Arkansas ($2.45),&nbsp;Kansas ($2.46), Mississippi ($2.49),&nbsp;Iowa ($2.50),&nbsp;Louisiana ($2.50),&nbsp;Missouri ($2.51),&nbsp;North Dakota ($2.53),&nbsp;Wisconsin&nbsp;($2.53), and Texas ($2.55).&nbsp;

Pump prices holding steady for now

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

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

Recent obituaries and service times

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/josh-funk">JOSH FUNK</a>

More than 550 commercial driving schools in the U.S. that train truckers and bus drivers must close after investigators found they employed unqualified instructors, failed to adequately test students and had other safety issues, the federal Transportation Department announced this week.

The move marks the Trump administration’s latest effort to improve safety in the trucking industry. And unlike its actions last fall to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/commercial-drivers-license-trucking-california-pennsylvania-96fee86df4f9bfb0ef65af20da878a57">decertify up to 7,500 schools</a>&nbsp;that included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trucking-duffy-cdl-immigrant-commercial-license-schools-ef4ade6ada39cbbab0c56d14dc9d9d1f">many defunct operations</a>, this latest step is focused on&nbsp;<a href="https://tpr.fmcsa.dot.gov/Provider/InReview" target="_blank">active schools</a>&nbsp;inspectors identified as having significant shortcomings in 1,426 site visits completed in December.

The department has been aggressively going after states that handed out commercial driver’s licenses to immigrants who shouldn’t have qualified for them ever since a fatal crash in August. A truck driver who Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says wasn’t authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fatal-uturn-florida-california-immigration-b2db54aef36c178e2d0bb299f907603d">that killed three people</a>. Other fatal crashes since then, including one in Indiana that killed four earlier this month, have only heightened concerns.

Duffy said 448 schools failed to meet basic safety standards. Inspectors found such deficiencies as employing unqualified instructors, failing to test students’ skills or teach them how to handle hazardous materials and using the wrong equipment to teach drivers. Another 109 schools removed themselves from the registry of schools when they learned inspections were planned.

“American families should have confidence that our school bus and truck drivers are following every letter of the law and that starts with receiving proper training before getting behind the wheel,” Duffy said.

The list of schools officials want to decertify now are generally smaller ones, including a number of programs run by school districts. Five of the bigger, more reputable schools represented by the national Commercial Vehicle Training Association were audited but those all passed.

Jeffery Burkhardt, chair of the national trucking schools group, said established schools welcome the enforcement effort to eliminate bad schools that aren’t meeting the standards. He said these audits mark the first time regulators have enforced the standards for driving schools that were passed in 2022.

“You know, the good players have no problem with it. Absolutely none,” said Burkhardt, who is also is senior director of operations at Ancora, which provides CDL training at colleges, community colleges and companies.

Another 97 schools are currently under investigation for compliance issues.

There has been limited oversight in the past

Part of the industry problem is that schools and trucking companies can essentially self certify themselves when they apply to begin operating, observers note, and questionable operations might not be caught until much later when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration gets a chance to audit them.

It wasn’t immediately clear how many students were enrolled at these schools that are being decertified or how many graduated with questionable qualifications. A Transportation Department spokeswoman said officials may follow up on those graduates later. Burkhardt said that hopefully most of the unqualified drivers were weeded out before they got on the highway by the skills tests states administer before handing out commercial licenses.

There is steady demand for truck drivers because there is high turnover in the industry, and it has been difficult to attract enough drivers willing to spend days away from home delivering heavy loads. But there is some cushion in the industry right now because there are currently more drivers than needed in the midst of a 10% drop in shipments since 2022 owing to economic uncertainty. Nonetheless, many trucking companies still struggle to find enough well-qualified drivers with clean records.

Trucking industry groups praise the effort

Both the American Trucking Association and the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association praised the decisive action to shut down “sham schools” that aren’t meeting basic safety standards. Todd Spencer, President of the independent owners group, said the reliance of some companies on these questionable schools “fueled a destructive churn” in the industry.

“Rather than fix retention problems and working conditions, some in the industry chose to cut corners and push undertrained drivers onto the road. That approach has undermined safety and devalued the entire trucking profession,” Spencer said.

Besides threatening to withhold federal funding from states that don’t clean up their commercial driver’s license programs, the administration has demanded truck drivers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/truck-drivers-english-language-required-92c733048e85c34b1822cc4403eaf262">meet English proficiency standards</a>. California is the only state to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-commercial-drivers-license-immigrants-funding-a8904a07754ba2a5c8ec9781e6262ec1">lose funding</a>&nbsp;so far with the federal government planning to withhold $160 million.

The Transportation Department is threatening to withhold $128 million from Illinois after the latest state audit announced earlier this week found problems with nearly 20% of the 150 licenses they reviewed. The most common problems uncovered in state audits across the country have been licenses that remained valid long after an immigrant’s authorization to be in the U.S. expired and instances when the states couldn’t show that they checked a driver’s immigration status before giving them a license.

Problems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/commercial-drivers-license-immigrants-trucking-crash-duffy-c4023a6beac854a5af31d5a8c98040f2">have been found</a>&nbsp;in 10 states so far, including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Minnesota, South Dakota and Texas.

DOT: Hundreds of driving schools must close over safety failures

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>

Complex legislation two years in the making addresses market dominance of PBMs

TOPEKA — A bipartisan majority in the Kansas Senate passed a complex bill increasing state oversight of prescription drug middlemen companies accused of manipulating lax regulations to promote anti-competitive practices, monopolize the market for maximum profit, undermine local pharmacies and raise costs for consumers.

Thirty-five states have taken legislative steps to intensify regulation of pharmacy benefit managers that were created to work with drug manufacturers to lower costs for health insurance plans, pharmacies and customers. Advocates of reform asserted PBMs — CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx control 80% of the U.S. market — stepped away from this fiduciary role and took command of the prescription drug market by negotiating mostly on their own behalf.

Under&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/supp_note_sb360_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">Senate Bill 360</a>, which advocates spent two years writing, the state insurance commissioner would have more tools to regulate PBMs in Kansas.

The bill would require transparency from PBMs in terms of pharmacy reimbursement and drug pricing. It would deal with PBMs giving their own retailers better deals by requiring all Kansas pharmacies to be reimbursed at or above the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost. A pharmacy dispensing fee would be implemented to better cover costs incurred by local or independent pharmacies, especially in rural communities.

Sen. Brenda Dietrich, a Topeka Republican who carried the bill on the Senate floor, said the time had come for Kansas to answer persistent complaints about pharmacy benefit companies operating in Kansas.

“I feel like this is a bit of a David versus Goliath situation with hometown pharmacies versus billion-dollar PBMs,” Dietrich said. “We’ve just got to stop feeding the beast. The imbalance of power and wealth is inherently unfair and frightening. SB 360 is about saving local pharmacies, fairness and transparency.”

Dietrich highlighted the harm of “spread pricing” in which PBMs charged health plans or insurers more for prescription drugs than PBMs paid a dispensing pharmacy. The PBMs simply retained the difference as profit, she said. The senator referred to spread pricing as “a big black box used by the PBMs to siphon millions from plans and patients with no actual benefit to the plan or patients.”

The bill addressed another state regulatory failing — PBMs have gotten away with auditing pharmacies but refused to allow auditing of their operations, Dietrich said.

“The PBMs are watching out for their exorbitant profit margins,” she said. “They are overcharging our health plans with hidden fees and costs through price spreading, keeping rebates and not reimbursing your local hometown pharmacies as much as they reimburse their own brick-and-mortar pharmacies or their mail-order pharmacies.”

Dietrich said Kansas was so far behind the PBM reform movement that even the federal government approved changes to the industry that would take effect in 2028 and 2029.

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, said she welcomed the state Senate legislation because&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/10/kansas-pharmacists-fight-for-better-oversight-of-pharmacy-middleman-companies/">Kansas pharmacies are struggling</a>&nbsp;to keep their doors open and patients are unable to afford high prices for medications.

“Gigantic insurance monopolies are controlling every aspect of our health care system and they’re using their power to increase costs and eliminate competition,” she said.

The Senate bill was backed by pharmacies in Hoisington, Wichita, Downs, El Dorado, Galena, Winfield, Hesston, Hillsboro, Humboldt, Lawrence, Junction City, Coldwater, Mankato, Holton, Basehor, Phillipsburg, Mulvane, Oakley, Scott City and Baxter Springs. It was endorsed by Hy-Vee, Walgreens, the Independent Pharmacy Association of Kansas, the Kansas Hospital Association as well as individual pharmacists, pharmacy students and consumers.

The bill was derided by PBMs, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, as well as the Kansas Bankers Association and the Kansas Chamber because it could drive up the cost of health insurance.

“I fear this bill doesn’t consider the full potential cost shifting that will happen,” said Sen. Mike Thompson, R-Shawnee.

He echoed the message of BCBS of Kansas lobbyist Sarah Fertig, who said the bill incorrectly assumed business issues confronting Kansas pharmacies were the fault of PBMs. She said the bill would increase drug prices for Kansas consumers, but that assertion was criticized by the bill’s proponents.

“The reality is that making Kansans pay more for prescription drugs will not guarantee that all independent pharmacies can stay afloat,” she said. “Consumer choice, population shifts and other players in the drug distribution chain are more impactful to a pharmacy’s success.”

The legislation was approved Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/vote_view/je_20260218181550_042722/" target="_blank">on a vote of 32-8</a>&nbsp;and sent to the Kansas House. The Senate rejected amendments beneficial to PBMs. The measure included an amendment from Sen. Kellie Warren, R-Leawood, to forbid sharing protected, personal health information with the state insurance commissioner.

Sen. Beverly Gossage, the Eudora Republican, said PBM reform was the responsibility of Congress rather than state legislatures. She offered an amendment to remove a requirement that pharmacies receive a $10.50 prescription processing fee. Currently, local pharmacies were paid a fraction of the actual cost of handling prescriptions through PBMs.

Dietrich, the Topeka Republican, said about 20 states had a comparable fee to balance those business transactions.

Gossage’s amendment was blocked by the bipartisan majority, but the concept was supported by Sen. Jeff Klemp, R-Lansing, and Sen. TJ Rose, R-Olathe. It was Rose who said he supported the idea of deleting the “pill tax” fee, while Klemp said the Legislature needed to err on the side of fiscal responsibility when regulating PBMs.

“The government has no role in ensuring one private industry profits over another,” Klemp said. “The key to this is no other Kansas statute requires a business to pay another a fixed fee. We’re moving into uncharted waters.”

Klemp and others seeking to weaken the PBM bill found themselves facing a tidal wave of opposition from their Republican and Democratic brethren.

“Personally, my own pharmacy was closed because of PBMs and I’m sick of it,” said Sen. Bill Clifford, a Garden City Republican with 138 small pharmacies in his Senate district.

GOP Sen. Michael Murphy of Sylvia said he considered attempts to diminish the bill nothing more than a “PBM enrichment amendment.”

“It’s time to stop out-of-state middlemen companies and corporations from starving our pharmacists, especially our Main Street pharmacists,” said Sen. Caryn Tyson, R-Parker.

Sen. Stephen Owens, R-Hesston, said the Senate bill should be placed in law despite the instinct to avoid government intrusion into the economy. He said PBMs operating in Kansas were “playing favorites” and placed local pharmacies at a heavy disadvantage.

“When the free market is no longer free, we as a government have got to step in,” Owens said.

He said Gossage was wrong to expect the federal government to promptly address the long list of shortcomings in the PBM-dominated drug market.

“If we’ve learned anything, it is we cannot have faith in our federal government to do what needs to be done when it needs to be done,” Owens said.

Sen. Scott Hill, R-Abilene, piled on. He said the rise of PBMs was destroying local pharmacies that were more to communities than places to pick up a prescription. He said anyone embracing the PBM model was naive.

“This is about price fixing,” he said. “This is about charging me, for my cancer drugs, $14,000 for a drug that costs $750. This is about gouging and increasing prices.”

He said more than 250 years ago colonists in America objected to a British company’s monopoly on tea.

“Pharmaceuticals have become the tea of our generation,” Hill said. “We have much to do on pharmacy reform as well as health care reform in general. This bill is a start, not an end.”

The bill was expected to receive a committee hearing in the House, but passage could be complicated given House Speaker Dan Hawkins of Wichita is a GOP candidate for state insurance commissioner.

Sen. Tim Shallenburger, a Baxter Springs Republican who worked for two years on drafting the bill, said the Legislature needed to push back against PBMs, including the PBM operated by BCBS of Kansas.

“This a terrible system we have,” Shallenburger said. “It’s not just transparency. We’re looking for equity. There is no reason a PBM should direct my benefit to an out-of-state pharmacy, pay them more money than they’re paying the Walker Pharmacy at home. It’s just not fair.”

He praised Senate President Ty Masterson and Senate Majority Leader Chase Blasi, both Republicans, for allowing the bill to come to the Senate floor for debate. Masterson and Blasi were among the eight GOP senators voting against the measure.

“Many times in this building good ideas don’t have a chance of a hearing. If they do have a hearing, they don’t have a vote,” Shallenburger said. “I hope the body across the rotunda takes the opportunity to have a hearing and a vote on this bill.”

Kansas Senate plunges ahead with bipartisan bill targeting prescription drug middlemen

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Saturday that he was raising the global tariff he wants to impose to 15%, up from 10% he had announced a day earlier.

Trump said in a social media post that he was making the decision “Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday,” by the U.S. Supreme Court.

After the court ruled he didn’t have the emergency power to impost many sweeping tariffs, Trump signed an executive order on Friday night that enabled him to bypass Congress and impose a 10% tax on imports from around the world. The catch is that those tariffs would be limited to just 150 days, unless they are extended legislatively.

Trump’s post significantly ratcheting up a global tax on imports to the U.S. yet again was the latest sign that despite the court’s check, the Republican president was intent on continuing to wield in an unpredictable manner his favorite tool to for the economy and to apply global pressure. Trump’s shifting announcements over the last year that he was raising and sometimes lowering tariffs with little notice jolted markets and rattled nations.

Under the order Trump signed Friday night, the 10% tariff was scheduled to take effect starting Feb. 24. The White House did not immediately respond to a message inquiring when the president would sign an updated order.

In addition to the temporary tariffs that Trump wants to set at 15%, the president said Friday that he was also pursuing tariffs through other sections of federal law which require an investigation by the Commerce Department.

President Trump to impose 15% tariff, up from 10% he announced after Supreme Court decision

Authorities trying to solve the disappearance of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Nancy Guthrie</a>&nbsp;say they might tap DNA genealogy databases, the same step that police took to unravel a decades-old series of murders in California and the fatal stabbings of four college students in Idaho.

The strategy could be fruitful: If unidentified DNA evidence can be connected to someone — even a distant relative — in a common genealogy database, it would give investigators more information and possibly lead to a suspect in Guthrie’s kidnapping in Arizona.

“It’s a fantastic tool,” said Ruth Ballard, a geneticist in California who specializes in DNA and has testified in hundreds of court cases. “If it’s a good quality sample and they’re able to get a profile, they could find a hit on that fairly quickly.”

The sheriff's department in Pima County, Arizona, said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-guthrie-missing-savannah-guthrie-aadbb20a613491c10373f55ba33d1831">DNA collected so far</a>&nbsp;in the investigation has not turned up any matches in a national criminal justice database known as CODIS, which has DNA profiles from convicted criminals and, in some states, people arrested for certain crimes.

“Investigators are currently looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options for DNA evidence to check for matches. CODIS is one option of many databases that are available,” the sheriff's department said Tuesday.

The department said Wednesday that biological evidence from Guthrie's Tucson-area home was being examined and that DNA profiles were at a lab for analysis.

Guthrie, the mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, has been missing from her home since Feb. 1. The FBI said gloves found about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away appeared to match those worn by a masked suspect who was recorded on a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-guthrie-nest-camera-footage-kidnapper-bd5f1d886543e23f2d105535031c9445">porch camera</a>.

Genealogy sites Ancestry, 23andMe and MyHeritage say they can be asked to comply with court orders seeking information. Another site, GEDmatch, said its policy is to ask users if they want to opt in to allow police to look at their data. The Associated Press e-mailed the companies, asking if they have a role in the Guthrie investigation.

GEDmatch has been credited with helping solve the case of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-us-news-08a241b485d1d7be03f62293e2da3277">so-called Golden State Killer</a>. Police used DNA from crime scenes to find a distant relative and build a family tree that led to Joseph DeAngelo Jr. In 2020, he pleaded guilty to 13 killings and dozens of rapes in California in the 1970s and '80s. He is serving life in prison without possibility of parole.

Barbara Rae-Venter, an expert genealogist who worked on the DeAngelo case, said patience often is needed in high-tech sleuthing.

“I’ve solved cases in less than eight hours where people shared a lot of DNA with the suspect. Other cases, you’re still working on them two years later. This could take awhile,” Rae-Venter told CNN, referring to the Guthrie effort.

In Idaho, DNA from a knife sheath helped point to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/bryan-kohberger-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-without-parole-for-murdering-4-idaho-students-a5e895b16155474ea89d258bf450a84d">Bryan Kohberger</a>&nbsp;in the killings of four University of Idaho students in 2022. Investigators used genealogy sites to build a family tree and pulled trash from the Pennsylvania home of Kohberger's parents to make a connection. Kohberger pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison.

Ballard said the source and quality of the DNA evidence held by police can be factors when trying to find matches on genealogy sites.

“It does require a much better sample than CODIS searching does,” she said.

“There are a lot of unknowns when you go into these databases,” Ballard said. “The databases are not equal in terms of ethnic distribution. It’s comparatively easier to find a Caucasian because more have uploaded their data and there are more family trees to mine.”

Police in Nancy Guthrie mystery might tap DNA genealogy databases

WASHINGTON —The Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s far-reaching global tariffs in a 6-3 decision on Friday.

On social media, Kansas Junior U.S. Senator Roger Marshall wrote, "President Trump’s tariffs secured 10 trade deals, brought supply chains back to America, and strengthened our national security. This decision is disappointing — but it won’t stop him from using every tool available to fight for American workers, rebuild U.S. manufacturing, and put America First."

During a press conference Friday afternoon, President Trump said he will impose a global 10% tariff as an alternative while pressing his trade policies by other means.&nbsp;

Kan. lawmakers react to court ruling on President Trump's tariffs

On Friday at the direction of U.S. Southern Command&nbsp; Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations, according to an online report from the U.S. Southern Command.

Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed.

🎥 3 more killed after new U.S. strike on a drug boat

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City man was charged with child pornography offenses in a now-unsealed federal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Missouri, according to the United State's Attorney.

Luis Leony Valentin, 34, was charged by federal criminal complaint with production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography over the internet, and possession of child pornography. Following his arrest Valentin had his first appearance in court.

An affidavit filed with the complaint alleges that Valentin communicated over the internet with a 14-year-old to obtain depictions of the minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Valentin possessed numerous videos of child pornography of minor females.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Maureen A. Brackett. It was investigated by the Kansas City Missouri Police Department and the FBI.

Sex crimes: KC man communicated online with 14-year-old

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matt-brown">MATT BROWN</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lisa-mascaro">LISA MASCARO</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The late Rev. Jesse Jackson will not lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda after a request for the commemoration was denied by the House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office due to past precedent.

Johnson’s office said it received a request from the family to have Jackson’s remains lie in honor at the Capitol, but the request was denied, because of the precedent that the space is typically reserved for former presidents, the military and select officials.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jesse-jackson-dies-43abb84d2ffc76d967f9a5596ebd0be1">civil rights leader died this week</a>&nbsp;at the age of 84. The family and some House Democrats had filed a request for Jackson to be honored at the U.S. Capitol.

Amid the country’s political divisions, there have been flare ups over who is memorialized at the Capitol with a service to lie in state, or honor, in the Rotunda. During such events, the public is generally allowed to visit the Capitol and pay their respects.

Recent requests had similarly been made, and denied, to honor Charlie Kirk, the slain conservative activist, and former Vice President Dick Cheney.

There is no specific rule about who qualifies for the honor, a decision that is controlled by concurrence from both the House and Senate.

The Jackson family&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jesse-jackson-memorial-funeral-south-carolina-washington-dc690a5153483549898d1dfc548015bb">has announced scheduled dates</a>&nbsp;for memorial services beginning next week that will honor the late reverend’s life in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. In a statement, the Jackson family said it had heard from leaders in both South Carolina, Jackson’s native state, and Washington offering for Jackson to be celebrated in both locations. Talks are ongoing with lawmakers about where those proceedings will take place. His final memorial services will be held in Chicago on March 6 and 7.

Typically, the Capitol and its Rotunda have been reserved for the “most eminent citizens,” according to the Architect of the Capitol’s website. It said government and military officials lay in state, while private citizens in honor.

Local

Region

Sports