Firefighters responded to a large outside fire early Tuesday morning at the Hutchinson landfill, where burning debris in a designated disposal pit prompted an hours-long operation involving both fire crews and landfill personnel.

The Hutchinson Fire Department was dispatched at 2:38 a.m. to the landfill area for a report of a possible fire. Upon arrival, crews confirmed a working fire in what is known as the “Pit,” an area used for dumping waste. The initial fire covered an estimated area of 200 feet by 300 feet, according to a department news release.

Firefighters coordinated efforts with landfill staff, using multiple bulldozers and front-end loaders to scrape away burning materials. The debris was separated to allow it to be smothered and fully extinguished. Crews remained on scene throughout the morning to continue removing hot spots and ensure the fire was completely out.

No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Hutchinson Fire Department also issued a reminder to residents about the dangers of improperly disposing of lithium-ion batteries, which are increasingly common in household electronics.

“With the increase in lithium-ion batteries in our households, they need to be disposed of properly,” the department said in a statement. “Please locate your closest lithium-ion battery recycling drop-off location and dispose of them there instead of in your household waste containers.”

Fire crews fight fire at Reno County landfill

The city’s splash pad season kicked off Tuesday as two of its three locations officially opened for the summer.

Families can now enjoy water features at the Fairgrounds and Rice Park splash pads, which are open and fully operational, city officials announced. The popular summer spots are expected to draw crowds as temperatures rise.

However, the Avenue A splash pad will not open as scheduled due to a mechanical issue that requires a replacement part. City staff said they are working quickly to complete repairs and will provide updates on the opening timeline.

Rice Park, Fairgrounds splash pads open 

Ag Minute: Sen. Grassley talks Farm Bill 

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. ——————————————

Wayne Williamson 5/12/2025 8:47 AM&nbsp;&nbsp;Direct Contempt

Krystal	Dawn Estes 5/12/2025 10:49 AM&nbsp;&nbsp;Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant,&nbsp;Traffic Contraband in Correctional Institution; Unauthorized Possession; Firearm, Ammo, Explosive, Controlled Substance,&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,&nbsp;Interference with Law Enforcement; Conceal /alter/destroy evidence Felony case,&nbsp;Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,&nbsp;DWS; 1st conviction,&nbsp;Theft; Possess Stolen Property; $25,000 to $99,999,&nbsp;Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant,&nbsp;Registration Violation; Display or Possess a False, Cancelled, Suspended or Revoked Title, Plate, Decal, Placard,&nbsp;

Matthew	Wayne&nbsp;Sparks&nbsp;5/12/2025 11:35 AM&nbsp; Probation Violation,&nbsp;Theft; By Deception; Less than $1,500,&nbsp;Counterfeiting currency; Distribute; $25K+



&nbsp; William Neal Fishback&nbsp;5/12/2025 3:05 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Probation Violation



Dakota Jordán&nbsp;Pearman&nbsp;5/12/2025 3:15 PM&nbsp; Failure to Appear,&nbsp;Probation Violation


Chelsie	Kay Allison&nbsp;5/12/2025 3:53 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO,&nbsp;Interference with Law Enforcement; Conceal /alter/destroy evidence Misdemeanor case

David	Ruben Benitez&nbsp;5/12/2025 4:42 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Probation Violation



Daily Bookings 

The Kansas Highway Patrol is warning the public about a fraudulent text message circulating across the state that falsely claims to be selling discounted shirts in support of the agency.

Officials say the message includes a suspicious link and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Kansas Highway Patrol. The texts are part of a “smishing” scam — a phishing attempt delivered via SMS — designed to trick recipients into revealing personal information.

Authorities urge anyone who receives such a message not to click the link.&nbsp;

"The Kansas Highway Patrol does not send unsolicited text messages and does not sell merchandise online," the agency said in a statement Monday.

Residents who receive similar messages are encouraged to report them to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at <a href="http://www.ic3.gov">www.ic3.gov</a> to help authorities track and stop the scam.

Fake text message scam targets residents with KHP shirt offer 

The Kansas Department of Revenue is excited to announce that the popular blackout-style license plates will soon be coming to Kansas vehicles. Beginning July 1, 2025, this highly anticipated new plate design will be available to Kansas drivers to purchase from their local county treasurer's office.  

“I’m always happy to listen to my constituents about issues that matter to them,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “By introducing the blackout license plate style, we are giving Kansans more options on the road while still adhering to safe license plate requirements.”

Designed with an all-black background and sharp white lettering, the blackout plate adds a sleek and stylish plate design to the selection of distinctive license plates. The introduction of this plate design is in response to the increasing interest from Kansans in having a blackout-style plate option for their vehicles.

“The blackout plate design has proven to be very popular in surrounding states, and we’ve had many Kansans ask for it to come to Kansas,” said Division of Vehicles Director Deann Williams. “We’ve heard them loud and clear, and we are very excited to bring this highly requested plate design to Kansas vehicles this year.”

Blackout plates will be available for standard passenger vehicles and motorcycles. The cost breakdown is as follows: • One-time plate fee: $40 • Annual royalty fee: $50 • Personalization fee: $45.50 (optional)

The royalty fee collected for the blackout plate will go to the License Plate Replacement Fund, and the funds will be used by the Department of Revenue to replace deteriorated license plates.

To see all the distinct license plates currently on offer, visit <a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovplates.html">www.ksrevenue.gov/dovplates</a>

Black-out license plates coming to Kansas 

The Cosmosphere’s popular “Coffee at the Cosmo” series returns this Thursday at 9 a.m. with a special program dedicated to the legacy of the space shuttle.

Titled Coffee at the Cosmo: Legacy of the Space Shuttle, this month’s event will be held virtually via Zoom, allowing attendees to join from anywhere. The panel features a distinguished lineup of voices with deep ties to space exploration and storytelling.

Retired NASA astronaut Don Thomas, a veteran of four shuttle missions, will lead the panel, reflecting on the impact and legacy of the shuttle program. Thomas flew aboard Columbia and Discovery between 1994 and 1997.

Joining Thomas will be Bruce McCandless III, the son of famed shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II, who was the first human to fly untethered in space using the Manned Maneuvering Unit. Also on the panel is Bruce McCandless II himself—represented through discussion of his life and legacy by his son—as well as author Emily Carney, whose book Starbound explores the culture and community of spaceflight enthusiasts. Carney is also co-host of the Space and Things podcast.

The event marks a shift from the typical in-person format to a digital one, creating broader access while maintaining the intimate, educational atmosphere the program is known for. While the panel will take place online, local guests who attend in person at the Cosmosphere can still enjoy complimentary coffee and snacks.

“This one’s special,” said Sherry Treece, a Cosmosphere spokesperson. “We’re talking about the space shuttle era that many of us grew up with—Discovery, Challenger, Endeavour—and how that’s transitioned into today’s Artemis generation. It’s a great opportunity to hear stories from people who lived that history.”

Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to grab refreshments and a good seat before the discussion begins. Doors open shortly before 9 a.m.

Coffee at the Cosmo to discuss the Legacy of the Space Shuttle 

Sherry Treece of the Cosmosphere stopped by the BW Morning Show to visit about upcoming Cosmosphere camps and Coffee at the Cosmo on May 15 as they have a discussion on The Legacy of the Space Shuttle&nbsp;

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Sherri Treece, Cosmosphere 

Major Paul James of the Salvation Army stopped by to visit the BW Morning Show.&nbsp; He talked about the upcoming Donut Day, and about summer camps that benefit from the proceeds of the donut day fundraiser.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Major Paul James, Salvation Army 

 Sydney Fountain, instructor of psychology at Hutchinson Community College, has been named the 2024-25 Dragon Educator of the Year.

The honor, awarded annually by the HutchCC Student Government Association, recognizes outstanding teaching and student engagement across all academic areas. Students nominate instructors for the award, followed by a selection process that includes personal interviews conducted by SGA members.

Fountain, who received the award during the college’s commencement ceremony on May 9, joined HutchCC in 2021. She teaches General Psychology and Abnormal Psychology.

Students praised Fountain for her dedication to their academic and personal success.

“She really cares about our wellbeing as well as our education,” one student wrote in a nomination. Another noted, “Mrs. Fountain is an amazing professor. She creates a great environment to learn in by making sure students are engaged and are understanding the concepts of each lesson.”

Fountain earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Southwestern College and her Masters degree in Psychology from Stephen F. Austin University.

Fountain named HutchCC Dragon Educator of the Year

<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

⛳ HutchCC's Box named PING First-Team All-American

⚾ Dragons open Plains District Tournament with Cowley

Football fans can plan on wrapping up Christmas with an AFC West rivalry that could come with plenty of playoff implications.

The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos on Christmas at 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video, the NFL announced on Monday.

Kansas City has dominated the AFC West over the last decade, winning nine straight division titles from 2016-2024, but Denver's rise to prominence under Sean Payton in 2024 suggests the going may not be as easy for the Chiefs in 2025. With&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/players/bo-nix/">Bo Nix</a>&nbsp;and a collection of talent at his disposal, Payton's Broncos are aiming to take the next step by challenging for a throne that the Chiefs have claimed annually for the entirety of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nfl.com/players/patrick-mahomes/">Patrick Mahomes</a>' career.

If they reach the holidays with a chance to accomplish that goal, the matchup will make for a highly intriguing closer for the Christmas Day slate.

Chiefs to host Broncos on Christmas night 

HOUSTON (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. and Jonathan India each drove in two runs to help Michael Wacha and the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 7-5 on Monday night.

Michael Massey homered as Kansas City improved to 8-2 in its last 10 games. India finished with three hits, and Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino and Kyle Isbel each had two.

Wacha (3-4) allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings. Carlos Estévez got three outs for his 12th save.

Massey sparked Kansas City's four-run second with a leadoff drive against rookie Ryan Gusto (3-2) for his second homer. India hit a two-out RBI single and scored on Witt's first triple of the season. Pasquantino added a run-scoring single.

The Royals added three more in the third. Drew Waters and India each hit an RBI single, and Witt drove in Waters with a sacrifice fly.

Jake Meyers had two hits and scored two runs for Houston, which had won three of four.

Zach Dezenzo hit an RBI double in the seventh for the Astros, and Jeremy Peña added a sacrifice fly. Meyers' RBI single helped his team close to 7-5 in the eighth.

Gusto allowed seven hits and walked three in 2 1/3 innings.

Jose Altuve hit a leadoff single in the ninth for Houston. But Isaac Paredes flied out, Christian Walker struck out and Yainer Diaz flied out.

Wacha entered with the least run support among starters at 1.79 runs per game. The Royals had not scored more than two runs with him on the mound in any of his eight starts.

LHP Kris Bubic (4-2, 1.69 ERA) starts on Tuesday for the Royals against LHP Framber Valdez (2-4, 3.94 ERA).

⚾ Witt and India each drive in 2 runs as the Royals beat the Astros 

<a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON </a>Hutch Post

St. Thomas Aquinas 8, Hutchinson 0

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — St. Thomas Aquinas jumped out to a five-run lead in the first inning and never looked back, blanking Hutchinson 8-0 on Monday at Hobart-Detter Field.

Arkansas commit Lincoln Boyle and Will Ray each delivered RBI singles in the top of the first, while Ernesto Lopez drove in two with a double and Nic Sabers added another run with a single to put the Saints firmly in control early.

Boyle was dominant on the mound, tossing a seven-inning no-hitter with seven strikeouts and just one walk. Cole Bleything took the loss for Hutchinson, allowing five runs on four hits while recording just one out.

Gabe Valadez provided 5 2/3 innings of relief for the Salthawks, giving up two runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.

Aquinas finished with 13 hits. Lopez, Ray and Westin Boyle each drove in two runs, while Lopez, Boyle, Ray, Cru Huenfeld and Brady Stewart all had multi-hit games. Defensively, the Saints were flawless in the field with no errors, and Sabers led with nine chances.

St. Thomas Aquinas - 500 200 1 - 8 13 0 Hutchinson - 000 000 0 - 0 0 2 W: L. Boyle (6-0). L: Bleything (1-1). Time: 1:34.

⚾ Saints no-hit Salthawks in regular season finale

🏀 WSU adds former standout guard to coaching staff

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson High School varsity baseball team will wrap up their regular season schedule for 2025 by hosting the St. Thomas Aquinas in a single game this afternoon at Hobart-Detter. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Senior day activities will begin at 4:30 p.m.

The Salthawks enter the game with a 15-10 record and are fresh off&nbsp; a sweep of Maize last Friday at home.

The Saints are the top team in class 5A East coming off a 8-5 win over Spring Hill last week.

🎧🎥⚾ Hutch High wrap up regular season with St. Thomas Aquinas on senior day

Get ready to make those viewing plans. The NFL schedule is coming out.

The league’s broadcast partners will begin to announce select games Monday and the full slate of games will be revealed Wednesday night.

The thirst for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">football</a>&nbsp;is so great the schedule release is a three-hour, prime-time broadcast on the NFL Network.

Teams have known their 2025 opponents since last season ended but everyone is waiting on dates and times.

There will be seven international games in five countries, including three in England, one in Germany, one in Brazil and the first-ever games in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/miami-dolphins-madrid-spain-nfl-e97aefbb45fed3006330cc679a2793db">Spain</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nfl-dublin-2025-ireland-steelers-07d3f607b8c9caa43d638db39255b5fc">Ireland</a>.

The Jaguars, Jets and Browns are the designated home teams for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/browns-jaguars-jets-london-1ab1da4c589d154f6a0e1873fc1938ff">three games in London</a>. The Colts are playing in Berlin, the Chargers in São Paulo, the Dolphins in Madrid and the Steelers in Dublin.

A triple-header on Christmas Day is among the highlights.

Here are 10 of the most anticipated matchups:

For the second time in three years, these two teams will play a Super Bowl rematch at Arrowhead Stadium.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-2025-eagles-chiefs-score-e2ff209c074a00a6faff39750ff048f8">Philadelphia dominated Kansas City</a>&nbsp;in the Super Bowl in February with Jalen Hurts earning the MVP award. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl after the 2022 season but Philly won the rematch on the road the following November.

Mahomes and Josh Allen face off again in a rematch of the AFC championship game. Allen and the Bills have defeated Mahomes and the Chiefs four straight times in the regular season, but Kansas City has won all four playoff matchups between the two rivals over the past five years. The game will be played in Buffalo.

Ben Johnson leads the Bears against his former team after guiding one of the league’s most prolific offenses in Detroit. Johnson was the Lions’ offensive coordinator for three seasons. The team led the NFL in scoring in 2024, setting a franchise record with an average of 33.2 points per game.

Assuming Aaron Rodgers joins Pittsburgh, he’ll get a chance to face his former team after a contentious departure from New York. Rodgers, a four-time NFL MVP in Green Bay, said he felt disrespected by Jets coach Aaron Glenn after flying from California for a face-to-face meeting only to be told minutes into the conversation that the team didn’t want him.

New Patriots&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mike-vrabel-new-england-patriots-6ccb261ca025911432bfe19226544401">coach Mike Vrabel</a>&nbsp;faces his former team in Tennessee. Vrabel was Coach of the Year with the Titans in 2021 and was fired after the 2023 season.

The matchup many fans wanted to see in the NFC championship game last season but it didn’t pan out because the Commanders knocked off the No. 1 seed on the road at Detroit. The Eagles beat the Lions 38-35 the most recent time the teams met in Week 1 of the 2022 season.

Lamar Jackson is 1-4 against Mahomes, including a home loss in the AFC championship game in January 2024. The Chiefs kicked off last season with a 27-20 victory over the Ravens after a potential game-tying TD catch by Isaiah Likely was overturned and his toe was ruled out of bounds.

Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels go head-to-head for the second straight season. The quarterbacks were drafted 1-2 in 2024. Daniels led the Commanders to a comeback win against the Bears last season on a desperation last-second TD pass. Chicago spiraled after the disappointing loss, dropping nine in a row.

Sam Darnold takes on his former team after helping the Vikings win 14 games last season. Minnesota let Darnold walk away after a career season and the Seahawks gave him a three-year, $100.5 million deal. The Vikings are counting on 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy.

The Rams were Philadelphia’s toughest playoff opponent last season. Down 28-22 with just over one minute left, Los Angeles had the ball at the Eagles 13 on third down. But Jalen Carter sacked Matthew Stafford for a 9-yard loss and then pressured him into an incomplete pass on fourth down to secure the win. The Eagles went on to rout Washington in the NFC title game and Kansas City in the Super Bowl.

🏈 Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl rematch and another Allen-Mahomes matchup are among biggest 2025 NFL games

Former Hutchinson Community College men’s basketball coach Steve McClain has joined Rick Barnes’ staff at the University of Tennessee as an assistant coach.

McClain, 62, served as head coach at Hutchinson from 1991 to 1994, leading the Blue Dragons to the NJCAA national championship in his final season.

🏀 Former HutchCC head coach McClain joining Tennessee staff

KSHSAA regional baseball begins this week for class 3A and class 2-1A. See below for Hutch Post-area schools' schedules.

Regional softball for these classifications begin Monday, May 19.

⚾ 3A, 2-1A regionals begin Wednesday

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

TOPEKA — Former Gov. Jeff Colyer’s campaign for governor accelerated with appointment of a treasurer in advance of filing for the Republican Party’s nomination in 2026.

Colyer, 64, served as Kansas chairman of last year’s campaign by President Donald Trump. He is a former Johnson County member of the Kansas House and Senate who was lieutenant governor on the ticket with GOP Gov. Sam Brownback. Upon Brownback’s resignation to serve in the first Trump administration, Colyer was sworn in as governor in 2018.

Colyer sought a full term as governor but narrowly lost the 2018 primary to Republican Kris Kobach, who was defeated in the general election by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. In terms of the 2026 race, Colyer has yet to formally register as a candidate with the secretary of state.

Colyer did announce selection of state Rep. Kyle Hoffman, a Coldwater Republican, as treasurer for his gubernational campaign.

“Kyle is a leading voice for rural Kansas and a great advocate for fiscal responsibility and conservative values,” Colyer said. “He’s going to be a huge asset as we carry our winning message to every county in Kansas.”

Kelly, who followed her defeat of Kobach with a victory over former GOP Attorney General Derek Schmidt in 2022, cannot seek reelection. Colyer was poised to seek the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, but withdrew following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Democratic Governors Association spokesman Sam Newton said in a statement Colyer was the “failed right-hand man” to Brownback.

“Besides reminding Kansans of the broken budgets and underfunded public schools of the Brownback era, Colyer’s announcement confirms that the GOP primary field is going to be crowded, chaotic and focused on extreme partisan policies,” Newton said.

Newton said Kansas would be better off with a governor like Kelly who took a middle-of-the-road approach to leadership, balanced the state budget, promoted business investment and ended the state’s sales tax on groceries.

Hoffman, treasurer of Colyer’s campaign, said Colyer was “more than a politician, he is a humanitarian – selflessly serving those in need around the world. He’ll make a great governor.”

Colyer, a surgeon in the Kansas City area who served international medical missions, was the state’s 47th governor from January 2018 to January 2019.

He was lieutenant governor under Brownback from 2011-2018. He was in the Senate from 2009-2011 and the Kansas House from 2007-2009. In 2002, he unsuccessful sought the GOP nomination for U.S. House.

Former Gov. Jeff Colyer maneuvers closer to 2026 GOP campaign for Kansas governor

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a fourth homicide in Kansas City in four days.

Just after 12:30p.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 1600 block of Topping in Kansas City, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

First responding officers were led to an alleyway next to a residence, where they located an adult female shooting victim later identified as 29-year-old Carissa Perryman unresponsive.

Officers rendered aid and called for EMS. EMS transported Perryman to the hospital for treatment of life threatening injuries. She was pronounced&nbsp;deceased at the hospital a short time later.

Responding officers detained one subject of interest, an adult female, for further investigation. Detectives were talking to people who were at the scene when officers arrived and are looking for witnesses. 

Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim and the subject of interest had an interaction next to the house that escalated and shots were fired that struck the victim.&nbsp; Police have released no additional detials.

KCPD: Woman shot, killed in alleyway near home

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (AP)—President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia, the first leg of his three-nation visit to the Middle East this week meant to tackle multiple crises and conflicts across the region. He was welcomed by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after Air Force One landed in Riyadh on Tuesday.

Trump and the crown prince are to hold talks on U.S. efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, end the war in Gaza, hold down oil prices and more. The prince is also expected to fete Trump with a formal dinner. American and Saudi flags lined the streets of the Saudi capital, along with a noticeable security presence of all American-made police cars.

Saudi crown prince’s airport greeting for Trump underscores the close relationship the de facto ruler of the kingdom wants to have with the American leader.

Typically, a provincial governor or another official will greet a foreign leader on arrival. King Salman once greeted President Barack Obama at the airport on a trip to the kingdom, but then lower-ranking officials did as the kingdom grew angry over his stance on the 2011 Arab Spring and the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

President Joe Biden also was greeted by a provincial governor on his 2022 trip to the kingdom, before having an awkward fist-bump with Prince Mohammed, who he derided as a “pariah” during his election campaign after the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Trump gets a horse escort to the Saudi palace

Trump’s armored limo, known as The Beast, was flanked by Saudi horsemen carrying American and Saudi flags as it pulled into Al Yamamah Palace.

Before going in, the Saudi crown prince walked Trump over to observe an honor guard.

The two leaders then received officials from their delegations ahead of a lunch.

The pomp began before Trump even landed. Royal Saudi Air Force F-15s provided an honorary escort for Air Force One as it approached the kingdom’s capital.

Trump and Prince Mohammed also took part in a lunch at the Royal Court, gathering with guests and aides in an ornate room with blue accents and massive crystal chandeliers.

As he greeted business titans with Trump by his side, Prince Mohammed was animated and smiling.

It was a stark contrast to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-israel-saudi-arabia-jamal-khashoggi-edba0435dedc08db952c406536d67713">his awkward fist bump</a>&nbsp;with then-President Joe Biden, who looked to avoid being seen on camera shaking hands with the prince during a 2022 visit to the kingdom.

Biden had decided to pay a visit to Saudi Arabia as he looked to alleviate soaring prices at the pump for motorists at home and around the globe.

At the time, Prince Mohammed's reputation had been badly damaged by a U.S. intelligence determination that found he had ordered the 2018 killing of journalist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jamal-khashoggi">Jamal Khashoggi</a>.

But that dark moment appeared to be distant memory for the prince as he rubbed elbows with high-profile business executives — including Blackstone Group CEO Stephen Schwarzman, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink and Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk — in front of the cameras and with Trump by his side.

Later,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/saudi-arabia-us-russia-talks-analysis-mohammed-bin-salman-9a42a3f1e09599f423a693262caa179c">the crown prince</a>&nbsp;will fete Trump with a formal dinner. Trump is also slated to take part Tuesday in a U.S.-Saudi investment conference.

Trump's trip to Saudi Arabia comes as oil trades around $64 a barrel

Trump’s trip to Saudi Arabia comes as the president can already point to one thing for American voters — oil prices are down.

It’s not Trump’s doing, though he’s repeatedly criticized Saudi Arabia and the OPEC+ oil cartel over higher oil prices in the past. Those prices translate directly back into gasoline prices in the United States, which can become a major pain point for the U.S. public. The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the U.S. is $3.13, according to AAA, down from $3.61 a year ago.

Right now, benchmark Brent crude trades around $64 a barrel. That’s higher than when the around $50 a barrel it traded on his first trip to the kingdom as president in 2017. However, it’s nowhere near the spikes seen after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Then, the average gallon of gas in the U.S. was $5.01 at its height.

🎥Trump's dramatic airport greeting by Saudi crown prince a rare honor

WASHINGTON (AP) –A federal judge on Monday refused to block the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/internal-revenue-service">Internal Revenue Service</a>&nbsp;from sharing immigrants’ tax data with Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S.

In a win for the Trump administration, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich denied a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit filed by nonprofit groups. They argued that undocumented immigrants who pay taxes are entitled to the same privacy protections as U.S. citizens and immigrants who are legally in the country.

Friedrich, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, had previously refused to grant a temporary order in the case.

The decision comes less than a month after former acting IRS commissioner Melanie Krause resigned over the deal allowing ICE to submit names and addresses of immigrants inside the U.S. illegally to the IRS for cross-verification against tax records.

The IRS has been in upheaval over Trump administration decisions to share taxpayer data. A previous acting commissioner announced his retirement earlier amid a furor over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-starmer-reshape-government-musk-ai-f0d5a76f8540299a5338ccd2fe54c956">Elon Musk’s</a>&nbsp;Department of Government Efficiency gaining access to IRS taxpayer data.

The Treasury Department says the agreement with ICE will help carry out President Donald Trump’s agenda to secure U.S. borders and is part of his larger nationwide immigration crackdown, which has resulted in deportations, workplace raids and the use of an 18th century&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alien-enemies-trump-immigration-deportations-21a62ede23b8c493b60d00a9c125722f">wartime law</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-el-salvador-immigration-dd4f61999f85c4dd8bcaba7d4fc7c9af">deport Venezuelan migrants</a>.

The acting ICE director has said working with Treasury and other departments is “strictly for the major criminal cases.”

Advocates, however, say the IRS-DHS information-sharing agreement violates privacy laws and diminishes the privacy of all Americans.

Judge won’t block plan to use IRS data to track down undocumented migrants

LYON COUNTY—One person died in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Monday in Lyon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Mazda CX3 driven by Josue Javier Chapa, 26, Rio Grande, Texas, was northbound at in the left lane of Interstate 35 in Lyon County due to a right lane closure.

The SUV rear-ended a 2004 Honda CL1800 driven by Richard Schroeder, 60, St. Joseph, Missouri.&nbsp; The impact caused Schroeder to fall off the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Charter Funeral Home. Chapa was not injured.&nbsp; Schroeder was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Man killed after SUV rear-ends motorcycle on Kansas Turnpike

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – Six people have been charged by criminal complaint in connection with an alleged multi-national drug smuggling operation that used a commercial charter bus to transport liquid methamphetamine from Mexico to Emporia, Kansas, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, these defendants are charged with one count of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine:&nbsp; Troy Wagaman, 42;&nbsp; Elizabeth Benitez, 33 and Jesus Cruz Rodriguez all three of Emporia.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Omar Villa Carranza, 45, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia and Tiburcio Ayala Rangel, 42, a Mexican national unlawfully residing in Emporia and&nbsp;Moises Cervantes Sanchez, 67, of McAllen, Texas.

Between March and April 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) noted a charter bus making multiple crossings into the United States from Mexico carrying few or no passengers.

License plate reader information showed the bus travelling to Emporia on all trips before returning to Mexico. During one crossing, Customs and Border officers conducted a secondary inspection and found several aftermarket anomalies, including bolts around the fuel tank that had been tampered with.

Investigators learned the bus’s destination to be a rural property in the Emporia area. When the bus again arrived at the U.S. border on May 4, 2025, a canine alerted to the presence of controlled substances. Customs and Border Control took a sample of a substance found in the gas tank that tested as liquid methamphetamine. The driver was allowed to proceed, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents followed the bus, which eventually arrived at the rural property. 

The Emporia Police Department arrested Wagaman, Villa Carranza, Cruz Rodriguez, Cervantes Sanchez, and Ayala Rangel while the men were either at the property or shortly after leaving. Benitez, who lived with Villa Carranza, was also arrested at a different location.

Suspects used bus to transport liquid meth from Mexico to Kansas

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a weekend arrest.

Just before 5p.m. Sunday, police&nbsp;responded to a disturbance call at a residence in the 1000 block South 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Officers made contact with 34-year-old Michael Bethea who was wanted on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.

Bethea resisted the arrest and there was a struggle with officers. During that arrest an officer was bitten by a dog in the residence. The officer was treated and released from Amberwell Hospital for the treatment of several dog bites. 

Police took Bethea was taken on requested charges of failure to appear in court, for inference with law enforcement and assault and battery on a law enforcement officer.&nbsp;

Suspect's dog attacked Kansas police officer during arrest

By ZEKE MILLER and WILL WEISSERT &nbsp;Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;is ready to accept a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet as a gift from the ruling family of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/qatar">Qatar</a>&nbsp;during his trip to the Middle East this coming week, and U.S. officials say it could be converted into a potential presidential aircraft.

(video of President Trump touring the plane in February)

The Qatari government said a final decision hadn't been made. Still, Trump defended the idea — what would amount to a president accepting an astonishingly valuable gift from a foreign government — as a fiscally smart move for the country.

“So the fact that the Defense Department is getting a GIFT, FREE OF CHARGE, of a 747 aircraft to replace the 40 year old Air Force One, temporarily, in a very public and transparent transaction, so bothers the Crooked Democrats that they insist we pay, TOP DOLLAR, for the plane,” Trump posted on his social media site on Sunday night. “Anybody can do that!”

ABC News&nbsp;<a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-administration-poised-accept-palace-sky-gift-trump/story?id=121680511">reported</a>&nbsp;that Trump will use the aircraft as his presidential plane until shortly before he leaves office in January 2029, when ownership will be transferred to the foundation overseeing his yet-to-be-built presidential library.

The gift was expected to be announced when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/civilian-nuclear-program-saudi-arabia-trump-iran-be8697a1890d0158cef57babb47e7583">Trump visits</a>&nbsp;Qatar, according to ABC's report, as part of a trip that also includes stops in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the first extended foreign travel of his second term.

Before Trump's post trumpeting the idea, Ali Al-Ansari, Qatar’s media attaché, said in a statement that the “possible transfer of an aircraft for temporary use as Air Force One is currently under consideration between Qatar’s Ministry of Defense and the US Department of Defense."

“But the matter remains under review by the respective legal departments, and no decision has been made,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, administration officials,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-business-finances-conflicts-ethics-aa019f8f9bdfa4266e2d41b36ad01b4c">anticipating ethics concerns</a>, have prepared an analysis arguing that accepting the plane would be legal, according to ABC. The Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11086">Emoluments Clause</a>&nbsp;bars anyone holding government office from&nbsp;<a href="https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-i/clauses/759">accepting any present, emolument, office or title</a>&nbsp;from any “King, Prince, or foreign State,” without congressional consent.

One expert on government ethics, Kathleen Clark of the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, accused Trump of being “committed to exploiting the federal government’s power, not on behalf of policy goals, but for amassing personal wealth.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer poked fun at Trump's “America first” political slogan.

“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”

Even some conservatives expressed dismay online, noting that an aircraft being offered by a foreign government could present security risks if used by a U.S. president.

Air Force One is a modified Boeing 747. Two exist, and the president flies on both, which are more than 30 years old. Boeing Inc. has the contract to produce updated versions, but delivery has been delayed while the company has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boeing-earnings-results-profit-revenue-628c704b8642693f0ba5060eeede22d3">lost billions of dollars on the project</a>.

Trump intends to convert the Qatari aircraft into a plane he can fly on as president, with the Air Force planning to add secure communications and other classified elements to it. But it will still have more limited capabilities than the existing planes that were built to serve as Air Force One, as well as two other aircraft currently under construction, according to a former U.S. official.

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