The Reno County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss a possible countywide sales tax.

The meeting is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, in the Veterans Room of the Reno County Courthouse at 206 West First Avenue.

Commissioners are expected to talk about whether to pursue a new countywide sales tax and the timeline required to place the question on the ballot later this year.

To meet that deadline, Reno County would need to submit a notice to the Kansas Legislature by Monday, Jan. 26.

County commission to hold special meeting

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. ——————————————&nbsp;&nbsp;

Daniel	Phillip	Moody		1/19/2026 2:06&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Lisa	Michelle	Williamson		1/19/2026 2:24&nbsp;PM	Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 to $24,999,					Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Christopher	Terry	1/20/2026 2:40&nbsp;AM	Wilson		Violation of Offender Registration Act; AGGRAVATED; Non Person,					Violation of Offender Registration Act; 1st Conv; Person,					Failure to Appear,					Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction),					Criminal Deprivation of Property; Other than Motor Vehicle or Firearm,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant

Daily Bookings

Kansas Master Naturalists continue to play a vital role in conservation, education, and environmental stewardship across the state, while a new South Central Kansas training class is set to begin in early 2026.

A Kansas Master Naturalist (KMN) is a trained volunteer who provides expertise and hands-on service for natural resource projects that benefit local communities. Volunteers complete specialized training in Kansas natural resource concepts and, in return, commit their time and skills to a wide range of conservation and educational efforts.

Since the program’s launch in 2011, Kansas Master Naturalists have contributed more than 1,800 volunteer hours and reached over 25,500 people through community service and outreach. The program is designed to multiply the impact of natural resource work by equipping volunteers with the knowledge needed to support local, state, and national initiatives.

Master Naturalist projects span a broad range of activities, including youth and adult education programs, bee removal, riverbank restoration, park restoration at the national, state, and city levels, native plant establishment, and the installation and maintenance of nature trails.

Training for Kansas Master Naturalists is offered in the spring of even-numbered years. The upcoming 2026 South Central Kansas Master Naturalist training class will be held Tuesday afternoons from February 17 through April 21, 2026. The course also includes an all-day field trip scheduled for Saturday, April 11.

Organizers say the program not only strengthens conservation efforts but also builds a network of informed volunteers dedicated to protecting and enhancing Kansas’ natural resources for future generations.

K-State Research and Extension to hold Master Naturalist Training Class

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

Three-day Outlook

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DENNIS DUTTON Executive Director for the Arts, Sterling College

Sterling College Theatre will celebrate three of its most familiar and celebrated performers with Senior Spotlight: An Evening of Musical Theatre, Saturday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Culbertson Auditorium on the Sterling College campus. The concert is free and open to the public and will run approximately two hours, including one intermission.

The evening features graduating seniors Mary Little of Hutchinson, Noah Svaty of Sterling, and Morgan Pellegrino of Las Vegas, Nevada, whose performances have helped define recent Sterling College musical theatre seasons. Together, the three have appeared in many of the program’s major productions and are well known to local audiences. The trio will be joined by 18 of their friends in the production which will include songs and scenes from several familiar and new musicals.

Svaty has performed in all eight musicals produced at Sterling College during his tenure, including leading roles as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Gomez Addams in The Addams Family, and Phil Davis in White Christmas. Little has portrayed several principal roles, including Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods, and Pennywise in Urinetown. Pellegrino joined the musical theatre program during her junior year and quickly made her mark with leading performances as the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, and Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie.

Accompanied by Marisa Callan, Sterling College Director of Musical Theatre, the seniors will present a program that highlights their artistic range and growth. The production also features a supporting cast of 19 performers, including Sterling College students and community members.

Senior Spotlight offers audiences a final opportunity to experience three standout performers whose work has been central to the success of Sterling College Theatre.

Sterling College Theatre to celebrate three leading performers in “Senior Spotlight”

A section of Hendricks Street will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, due to utility repair work.

The closure affects Hendricks Street between 56th Avenue and 69th Avenue. City officials say the road will remain closed until further notice while crews complete the necessary repairs.

A signed detour will be in place to direct drivers around the work zone. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and use alternate routes when traveling in the area.

No timeline has been announced for when the street will reopen. 

Hendricks closed between 56 and 69 Avenues

The Sterling High School Thespian Troupe has been recognized with a Silver Honor Troupe Award at the Kansas Thespian Conference, held earlier this month at Century II Performing Arts &amp; Convention Center in Wichita.

More than 1,500 high school theatre students from across the state attended the annual conference, which featured three days of stage performances, technical and acting workshops, and auditions.

This marks the first year Sterling has fielded an official Thespian troupe. The program is led by theatre teacher Greg McGlynn, who guided students through the troupe’s inaugural season.

The Silver Honor Troupe Award is based on multiple criteria, including the quality and scope of student productions, participation in service projects, and comprehensive documentation of a troupe’s activities throughout the year.&nbsp;

The recognition highlights both the students’ commitment to theatre arts and the rapid growth of Sterling’s drama program in its first year of participation at the state level.

Sterling High School Thespian Troupe receives Silver Honor

Mittens is perfect for someone seeking a loving yet independent cat who appreciates quality time and personal space. She'll be a steadfast companion in a tranquil home. Are you ready to meet this elegant lady?

Personality:&nbsp; Solo Artist: Prefers to be the only pet at home, basking in undivided attention.

Selective Affection: Enjoys love on her own terms—delights in cuddles but will signal when she's had enough.

Communicator: Gently swats to express overstimulation; it's harmless and just her way of saying she's done for now.

Ideal Environment:&nbsp; Suited for a quiet, peaceful home without young children.

Thrives in a well-mannered setting where her boundaries are respected.

To adopt Mittens, contact The Hutchinson Animal Shelter at&nbsp;<a href="tel:620-694-1924">620-694-1924</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Hutchinson Animal shelter is located at 1501 South Severance Street.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

😺Adopt a Furry Friend: Mittens

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 Girls Basketball at Derby - 6:00 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Derby High School

<a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/event/talk-together-tuesday/2026-01-20/">Talk Together Tuesday</a>&nbsp;- 6 to 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Public Library - 901 North Main Street

<a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/event/3d-printing-certification-66/">3D Printing Certification</a> - 6 to 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Public Library - 901 North Main Street&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

HutchCC Men's and Women's Basketball at Garden City - 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Conestoga Arena, Garden City

AVCTL Boy's and Girl's Varsity Wrestling meet - 10 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Salt Hawk Activity Center

Hutch High Boys' Basketball at McPherson Invitational vs Topeka Seaman 4:35 p.m.

<a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/event/salt-city-readers-13/">Salt City Readers </a>- 6 to 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Public Library - 901 North Main Street&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hutch High Boys' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - Time and opponent TBD

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/f887c4cc-d41f-4828-b2db-c99f54b318a7">Fox Live Series - The Brothers Doobie </a>- 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Fox Theatre, 18 East First

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/34fcaa53-f853-4274-aea1-4cda4aabf002">Flapjacks at the Fire Station</a>&nbsp;- 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Cheney Fire Station - 525 North Main Street, Cheney

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive - 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; New Covenant Presbyterian Church - 700 East 25th Avenue, Hutchinson

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/7f5c3f39-804b-4c18-9027-3c7cbee3e328">Hutchinson Polar Plunge</a> - 10 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Midwest Superstore, 1100 East 30th Ave.

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonartcenter.net/classes">Saturday Morning Artists</a>&nbsp;- 9 to 11:30 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Art Center - 405 North Washington

HutchCC Men's and Women's Basketball vs Butler CC - 2 and 4 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Sports Arena&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Senior Spotlight" - 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Culbertson Auditorium, Sterling College

Here's what's happening: Jan. 19-25

As communities across the country marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a local conversation highlighted the depth and continued relevance of Dr. King’s life and work.

The Rev. JK Vann shared reflections on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., emphasizing that King’s impact extends far beyond his widely known role as a civil rights leader.

“Dr. King was a civil rights leader, but that was only one part of who he was,” Vann said. “He was an advocate for education, unity, and equal rights. He was a minister, a husband, a father, and a statesman. All of those elements together make Dr. King who he was—and why he is still remembered and celebrated today.”

Vann noted that one of the most defining aspects of Dr. King’s leadership was his commitment to nonviolence and peaceful resolution. While King’s assassination stands in stark contrast to his message, Vann said it underscores the sincerity and courage behind his work.

“Peace is not simply the absence of conflict,” Vann said. “It’s the willingness to learn from another perspective, to find common ground, and to set aside prejudice and preconceived notions. Dr. King consistently challenged people to rethink how they relate to one another.”

Working closely with young people, Vann said he often explains Dr. King’s legacy through the lens of education. He recalled a recent conversation with his daughter, who described Dr. King as a “superhero.”

“When she asked what his superpower was, I told her it was his ability to educate,” Vann said. “He taught people things they might never have learned otherwise. His work still speaks decades after his death, and we are standing on the shoulders of that history.”

According to Vann, an essential lesson for future generations is the importance of learning from the past.

“History has a way of repeating itself,” he said. “One of the responsibilities we have is to learn from the mistakes of our forefathers and choose to do differently.”

Vann agreed that Dr. King’s work remains unfinished, pointing to ongoing systemic and societal barriers that continue to divide people.

“As long as those barriers exist, the work continues,” Vann said. “At its core, this is an issue of humanity. Dr. King advocated strongly for African Americans and minorities, but his ultimate vision was for the greater good of humanity as a whole.”

He cautioned against limiting Dr. King’s legacy to a narrow racial framework, arguing that doing so diminishes its broader relevance.

“We can’t confine this conversation to just a black-and-white issue,” Vann said. “We have to ask what is robbing society of being truly connected and what is preventing humanity from being humane. Sometimes the solution starts with simple acts—acknowledging one another, showing kindness, and being willing to engage.”

When discussing how barriers can be broken down today, Vann pointed to the necessity of confronting difficult issues directly.

“If we’re unwilling to confront a problem, we give it permission to continue,” he said. “Confrontation doesn’t mean violence. It means having honest, responsible conversations and working through issues peacefully—the same approach Dr. King modeled.”

Vann also reflected on visits to historic civil rights sites such as Selma and Montgomery, describing them as powerful reminders of the sacrifices made during the movement. He said those experiences help him explain history to his daughter, who is growing up navigating questions of difference, inclusion, and belonging.

“She’s being raised to see people, not color,” Vann said. “But she still notices when others treat her differently. Those moments open the door to conversations about Dr. King and others who faced similar challenges in their time. The context may be different today, but the underlying issues remain familiar.”

J.K. Vann reflects on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s enduring legacy

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Wichita.

Just after 1a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a 911 call at an apartment complex in the 2300 block of North Woodlawn in Wichita, acccording to an online statement from Wichita police.

Officers "did not hear loud yelling" but&nbsp; heard individuals inside the apartment and knocked on the door. Officers identified themselves as police. A man inside the apartment stated he was going to get his gun. Officers knocked on the door again and a man inside stated again he was going to get his gun and was threatening to shoot the officers.

Officers took a defensive stance and retreated from the apartment doorway. The man stepped out of the apartment and had a firearm in his hand. The man pointed a firearm at the officers. One officer returned fire and struck the man. The officer immediately ran to get his medical kit bag to provide medical aid to the man.&nbsp;

The man was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; No officers were injured. Police took one other individual from the apartment into custody.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff's office will be in charge of the investigation.

Check to Post for additional details as they become available.

Man dead in Kansas officer-involved shooting

By GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO Associated Press

Several faith leaders called urgently for protecting the rights of worshippers while also expressing compassion for migrants after anti-immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-doj-church-protest-st-paul-46dac5c5595ec78e3360ec927eef92d2">protesters disrupted a service</a>&nbsp;at a Southern Baptist church in Minnesota.

About three dozen protesters entered the Cities Church in St. Paul during Sunday service, some walking right up to the pulpit, others&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/doj-vows-to-press-charges-after-activists-disrupt-church-where-minnesota-ice-official-is-a-pastor-0ba96f12bda841f69064e457a4370ca3">loudly chanting “ICE out”</a>&nbsp;and “Renee Good,” referring to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-shooting-crackdown-surge-173e00fa7388054e98c3b5b9417c1e5a">a woman who was fatally shot</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 7 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

One of the church’s pastors, David Easterwood, leads the local ICE field office, and one of the leaders of the protest and prominent local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong said she’s also an ordained pastor.

The Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention called what happened “an unacceptable trauma,” saying the service was ”forced to end prematurely" as protesters shouted “insults and accusations at youth, children, and families.”

“I believe we must be resolute in two areas: encouraging our churches to provide compassionate pastoral care to these (migrant) families and standing firm for the sanctity of our houses of worship,” Trey Turner, who leads the convention, told The Associated Press on Monday. Cities Church belongs to the convention.

The U.S. Department of Justice said it has opened a civil rights investigation.

The recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-protests-shootings-minneapolis-portland-3f9db36657dda5bfebf9c240b6011ee5">surge in operations</a>&nbsp;in Minnesota has pitted more than 2,000 federal immigration officers against community activists and protesters. The Trump administration and Minnesota officials have traded blame for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-crackdown-protests-96888fbbf2b5939aa7abdc0380773e46">heightened tensions</a>.

“No cause — political or otherwise — justifies the desecration of a sacred space or the intimidation and trauma inflicted on families gathered peacefully in the house of God,” Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, said in a statement. “What occurred was not protest; it was lawless harassment.”

Jonathan Parnell, the pastor who led the disrupted service, is a missionary with Ezell’s group and serves dozens of Southern Baptist churches in the area. Cities Church, housed in a Gothic-style, century-old stone building next to a college campus on one of the Twin Cities’ landmark boulevards, has not returned AP requests for comment.

Christians disagree on immigration enforcement

Christians in the United States are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-trump-border-christian-3c0a48d4ce37baa8d9e05786716a7b00">divided on the moral and legal dilemmas</a>&nbsp;raised by immigration, including the presence of an estimated 11 million people who are in the country illegally and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-map-biden-trump-top-destinations-c49da44347307374166ca6169e82a66f">the spike</a>&nbsp;in illegal border crossings and asylum requests during the Biden administration.

Opinions differ between and within denominations on whether Christians must prioritize care for strangers and neighbors or the immigration enforcement push in the name of security. White evangelicals tend to support strong enforcement, while Catholic leaders have spoken in favor of migrant rights.

The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. and has a conservative evangelical theology.

Miles Mullin, the vice-president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said faith leaders can and often have led protests on social issues, but those should never prevent others from worshipping.

“This is something that just shouldn’t happen in America,” Mullin said. “For Baptists, our worship services are sacred.”

On Facebook, Levy Armstrong wrote about Sunday's protest in religious terms: “It’s time for judgment to begin and it will begin in the House of God!!!”

But Albert Mohler, the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called the protesters' tactics unjustifiable.

“For Christians, the precedent of invading a congregation at worship should be unthinkable,” Mohler said in an interview. “I think the political left is crossing a threshold.”

Brian Kaylor, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-affiliated minister and leader of the Christian media organization Word&amp;Way, called having an ICE official serve as a pastor “a serious moral failure.”

But Kaylor, who has spoken out against the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants, said he was “very torn” by the protesters’ action inside a church.

“It would be very alarming if we come to see this become a widespread tactic across the political spectrum,” he said.

Federal protections for houses of worship

Many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-churches-trump-immigration-crackdown-sanctuary-2746fa5c80aa8e2ce6db878e0d6e1c24">faith leaders were dismayed</a>&nbsp;when the government announced last January that federal immigration agencies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-ice-raids-school-2d899678264f44fe1021847ee385fd15">can make arrests in churches, schools and hospitals</a>, ending the protection of people in sensitive spaces.

No immigration raids during church services have been reported, but some churches have posted notices on their doors saying no federal immigration officers are allowed inside. Others have reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-crackdown-catholic-church-washington-874e6deca9e54a4e14081c63adca7718">a drop in attendance</a>, particularly during enforcement surges.

Following the protest in Cities Church, Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, said her office is investigating “potential violations of the federal FACE Act,” calling the protest “un-American and outrageous.”

The 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act prohibits interference or intimidation of “any person by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned in a social media post that “President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship.”

Several pastors called for better security in churches.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conservative-christians-sin-of-toxic-empathy-c9ab96faf99605e010f487df61d92d8f">Rev. Joe Rigney</a>, one of the founding pastors at Cities Church in 2015 who served there until 2023, said safety would have been his first concern had a group disrupted service, especially since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-school-shooting-annunciation-0fb27d2c911fe63a9f04791b444f298f">the fatal shooting</a>&nbsp;at a Minneapolis Catholic school Mass last summer.

In a statement to the AP, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's spokesperson said that while people have a right to speak out, the governor doesn't support interrupting a place of worship.

Legal developments and protests in the Twin Cities

Also Monday, the Department of Justice notified a federal appeals court that it will appeal a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-operation-lawsuit-8805b301ff4a7bfb0058e085ffa8c034">ruling that federal officers</a>&nbsp;in the Minneapolis area cannot detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities. The case was filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists who are among thousands of people observing the activities of federal immigration officers in the area.

Yet more protesters braved temperatures that dipped below zero (minus 8 Celsius) Monday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in St. Paul. Some waved signs from vehicles bearing messages including, “What did you do while your neighbors were being kidnapped?” and “We love our Somali neighbors.”

Dozens of protesters also staged a brief sit-in at a Target store in St. Paul demanding that the retailer bar entry to federal agents. Target, headquartered in Minneapolis, has been criticized by activists after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aliya-rahman-minneapolis-ice-arrest-videos-b277e328a2053fde361c6a74295efb06">a video showed federal agents</a>&nbsp;detaining two employees at a store in Richfield, Minnesota.

Associated Press journalists Holly Meyer in Nashville, Tennessee, Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis and Jack Brook in St. Paul, Minnesota, contributed.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Christian leaders urge protecting worshippers' rights after protesters interrupt service

KANSAS CITY—Four puppies were rescued after they were found outside Monday and nearly froze to death, according to the&nbsp; Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.

These four pups were rescued by a kind community member who found them outside, alone, nearly frozen to death. They are now in the care of the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, receiving the care they need.  Once stabilized, they will go to foster homes and will be available for adoption in a few weeks.

If you feel inclined to support the work of the Humane Society, please donate today.&nbsp;info@hsgkc.org

Humane society: Nearly frozen puppies rescued near Kansas City

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self did not accompany the Jayhawks to Boulder for their game Tuesday night at Colorado after being taken to a hospital in Lawrence on Monday, the school said.

Kansas' athletic department said in a statement that Self was feeling under the weather and went to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. Self felt better after receiving IV fluids, the school said.

It was not immediately clear if Self would attempt to travel for the game or if an assistant would run the bench for the 19th-ranked Jayhawks.

Self, 63, missed the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments in 2023 because of a heart condition, getting a standard catheterization and having two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-self-kansas-basketball-coach-stents-heart-765a63dee3b9d55d73baba3e6f7ff2b7">had two more stents inserted</a>&nbsp;in July.

Now in his 23rd season, Self led Kansas to national titles in 2008 and 2022 and is the program's career wins leader with a 609-156 record. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, the former Oklahoma State player also coached at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois.

KU coach Bill Self hospitalized, did not travel with team to Boulder

KANSAS CITY —A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court earlier this month for fentanyl distribution and illegally possessing firearms.

Darius Burnett, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a total sentence of 13 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney.

Burnett pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on May 8, 2025.

On Nov. 8, 2023, investigators with the ATF, DEA, and Springfield Police Department executed a search warrant at Burnett’s residence. During the search of Burnett’s apartment and vehicle, officers located four loaded semi-automatic pistols, including two with extended magazines, body armor, ammunition, marijuana, over 1,000 pills containing fentanyl, and $78,935.80 in cash. 

In an interview, the defendant described himself as the “top dude” in Springfield, Missouri, for fentanyl sales, stated that he was purchasing 5,000 pills a month from a source in St. Louis, Missouri, and admitted that the cash located by law enforcement were drug proceeds.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Prison for man who described himself as 'top dude' in fentanyl sales

By CARA ANNA and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

At least eight more countries say the United States has invited them to join&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-board-of-peace-gaza-un-b27d17190177041865c6827acd042e56">President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace,</a>&nbsp;a new body of world leaders meant to oversee next steps in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-ceasefire-yellow-line-062f3a55d737cc83607c0ddacf312df0">Gaza</a>&nbsp;that shows ambitions for a broader mandate in global affairs. Two of the countries, Hungary and Vietnam, said they have accepted.

A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the Trump-led board instead of a three-year appointment, which has no contribution requirement, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the charter, which hasn’t been made public. The official said the money raised would go to rebuilding Gaza.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accepted an invitation to join the board, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told state radio Sunday. Orbán is one of Trump’s most ardent supporters in Europe.

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief, To Lam, also has accepted, a foreign ministry statement said.

India has received an invitation, a senior government official with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the information hadn’t been made public by authorities.

Australia has been invited and will talk it through with the U.S. “to properly understand what this means and what’s involved,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday.

Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan said Sunday they had received invitations. Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already said they were invited. It was not clear how many have been invited in all.

The U.S. is expected to announce its official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Those on the board will oversee next steps in Gaza as the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10 moves into its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-israel-hamas-gaza-trump-witkoff-bb39015d25aeb627a5b9ce73dd4e1155">challenging second phase</a>. It includes a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, the deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas and reconstruction of the war-battered territory.

In letters sent Friday to world leaders inviting them to be “founding members,” Trump said the Board of Peace would “embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict.”

That could become a potential rival to the U.N. Security Council, the most powerful body of the global entity&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/un-80-anniversary-funding-divided-war-reform-985385cba3547a2e4286091ff36a1207">created in the wake of World War II</a>. The 15-seat council has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-resolution-israel-hamas-hostages-ceasefire-f11ff1d39387062455c0b0bf4bdea1e4">blocked by U.S. vetoes</a>&nbsp;from taking action to end the war in Gaza, while the U.N.'s clout has been diminished by major funding cuts by the Trump administration and other donors.

Trump’s invitation letters for the Board of Peace noted that the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-gaza-ceasefire-us-resolution-russia-107e44e276fe04a5365ff6d914545718">Security Council had endorsed</a>&nbsp;the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-israel-hamas-war-gaza-708a08671b8842d7a7a5e250ec51351c">20-point Gaza ceasefire plan</a>, which includes the board’s creation. The letters were posted on social media by some invitees.

The White House last week also announced an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-gaza-appointments-efe95e29fb1cfe099f44e3ac48d06fa2">executive committee of leaders</a>&nbsp;who will carry out the Board of Peace’s vision, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-white-housoe-gaza-next-steps-17579d16219d79982e48556d85a47e81">Israel on Saturday objected</a>&nbsp;that the committee “was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy,” without details. The statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was rare criticism of its close ally in Washington.

The executive committee’s members include U.S. Secretary of State Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, along with an Israeli business owner, billionaire Yakir Gabay.

Members also include representatives of ceasefire monitors Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. Turkey has a strained relationship with Israel but good relations with Hamas and could play an important role in persuading the group to yield power in Gaza and disarm.

Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Justin Spike in Budapest, Hungary, Rajesh Roy in New Delhi and Rod McGuirk in Canberra, Australia, contributed to this report.

Trump sets large price tag for a permanent seat on Board of Peace for Gaza

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man with a history of crime died in a deputy involved shooting in Sedgwick County January 12.

Wichita Police, as part of the Wichita-Sedgwick County Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team, is charge of the investigation. On Friday, Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan provided an update on the investigation.

Just after 5:30a.m. January 12, Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a shirtless man holding a handgun in the roadway near 55th Street South and Hoover Road, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.

Deputies responded to the scene and found 32-year-old Trey Houlden of Wichita near the intersection, still armed. Deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation for several minutes.

During the encounter, Houlden fired at deputies, striking at least one patrol vehicle. Deputies returned fire, striking Houlden multiple times.

Deputies immediately provided aid and requested assistance from Sedgwick County EMS and the Wichita Fire Department. EMS transported Houlden to a local hospital in critical condition, where he later died. Hospital staff pronounced him dead at 6:51 a.m.

No deputies were injured during the incident.

Sheriff Jeff Easter activated the Wichita-Sedgwick County Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team. Under the ALERT agreement, the Wichita Police Department will lead the investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Houlden had a history of crime with previous convictions that included aggravated domestic battery, aggravated intimidation of a witness, aggravated assault and aggravated battery.

Kan. man who died in deputy shooting had a history of crime

KANSAS CITY—One firefighter was injured working a fire Sunday inKansas City, Missouri.

Just after 5:30a.m. Sunday, the Kansas City Fire Department responded to a reported fire in the Cargill plant, 2334 Rochester Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins. 

At the scene, fire department companies were met by Cargill staff stating there was a fire located in a material hopper housing soybean product. The hopper is located approximately 4 stories above the ground level. 

Working with on-site personnel, KCFD secured the power and electronics to the hopper and were able to access and extinguish the fire. The fire was placed under control a little before 7:00 a.m., according to Hopkins.

One KCFD firefighter sustained an injury and was transported to a local hospital to be evaluated. The firefighter was in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.&nbsp; The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

KC firefighter injured working fire in fourth-floor soybean hopper

By AAMER MADHANI, GEIR MOULSON and JILL LAWLESS Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump linked his aggressive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-us-trump-899d73348f2ee6c0cd2a8a6e6e136a90">stance on Greenland</a>&nbsp;to last year’s decision not to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, telling Norway’s prime minister that he no longer felt “an obligation to think purely of Peace,” in a text message released on Monday.

Trump's message to Jonas Gahr Støre appears to ratchet up a standoff between Washington and its closest allies over his threats to take over Greenland, a self-governing territory of NATO member Denmark. On Saturday, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/denmark-greenland-us-trump-4ad99ea3975a8b62d37bd04961feda55">announced a 10% import tax</a>&nbsp;starting in February on goods from eight nations that have rallied around Denmark and Greenland, including Norway.

Those countries issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/greenland-denmark-us-trump-eu-tariffs-4e63efa690604004c69fc89a7c14e7c2">forceful rebuke</a>. But British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sought to de-escalate tensions on Monday. While the White House has not ruled taking control of the strategic Arctic island by force, Starmer said he did not believe military action would occur.

"I think this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion,” he said.

Still, the American leader's message to Gahr Støre could&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-greenland-us-europe-history-disputes-bbd9b17ae1d653bd1544d8706277b0c3">further fracture a U.S.-European relationship</a>&nbsp;already strained by differences over how to end the nearly four-year war in Ukraine, previous rounds of tariffs, military spending and migration policy.

In a sign of how tensions have increased in recent days,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/photos-protest-greenland-trump-takeover-threats-nuuk-de1eedfae1d5b36a30adaaebb74e3966">thousands of Greenlanders</a>&nbsp;marched over the weekend in protest of any effort to take over their island. Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen said in a Facebook post Monday that the tariff threats would not change the their stance.

“We will not be pressured,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, Naaja Nathanielsen, Greenland’s minister for business, minerals, energy, justice and equality, told The Associated Press that she was moved by the quick response of allies to the tariff threat and said it showed that countries realize “this is about more than Greenland.”

“I think a lot of countries are afraid that if they let Greenland go, what would be next?”

Trump sends a message to the Norwegian leader

Trump's message to Gahr Støre, released by the Norwegian government, read in part: “Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace, although it will always be predominant, but can now think about what is good and proper for the United States of America.”

It concluded: “The World is not secure unless we have Complete and Total Control of Greenland.”

The Norwegian leader said Trump’s message was a reply to an earlier missive sent on behalf of himself and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, in which they conveyed their opposition to the tariff announcement, pointed to a need to de-escalate, and proposed a telephone conversation among the three leaders.

“Norway’s position on Greenland is clear. Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, and Norway fully supports the Kingdom of Denmark on this matter,” the Norwegian leader said in a statement. “As regards the Nobel Peace Prize, I have clearly explained, including to president Trump what is well known, the prize is awarded by an independent Nobel Committee and not the Norwegian Government.”

He told TV2 Norway that he hadn't responded to the message, but "I still believe it’s wise to talk," and he hopes to talk with Trump in Davos this week.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee is an independent body whose five members are appointed by the Norwegian Parliament.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the president’s approach in Greenland during a brief Q&amp;A with reporters in Davos, Switzerland, which is hosting the World Economic Forum meeting this week.

“I think it’s a complete canard that the president would be doing this because of the Nobel,” Bessent said, immediately after saying he did not “know anything about the president’s letter to Norway.”

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