The March Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month is Nicky Schafer, a kindergarten teacher at Union Valley Elementary School.

Schafer originally planned to become a physical therapist, but a car accident in high school changed those plans. She doesn’t consider it a setback but rather a teaching tool.

She believes her disability shows students that appearances don’t define a person—it’s what’s inside that matters. She hopes to teach them that challenges can be overcome to achieve success.

Schafer was nominated by Meghan Price, who said three of her children have been in Schafer’s classroom.

“She is an amazing, loving, creative and wonderful teacher,” Price wrote. “Our children, and many others, have been incredibly fortunate to learn and grow under her care and guidance. Whether it’s the marriage of Q and U, Zero the Hero, or gingerbread man and leprechaun escapades, she manages to make learning fun. The way these children emerge from her classroom ready to take on the world and learn all that they can amazes me. Thank you for all you do!”

Schafer has been a kindergarten teacher for 13 years, spending five years at Fort Riley and the last eight at Union Valley.

She says the biggest reward is watching her students enter the classroom at the beginning of the year and leave as readers, mathematicians and scientists. Her advice to future educators is to have passion, as the rewards outweigh the challenges and the impact of teaching touches every student, every day.

Congratulations to Nicky Schafer, the Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month.

Nicky Schafer is Teacher of the Month

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!

<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

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 hi, story. 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. ——————————————

Kyrsten	Elizabeth Beltran 3/28/2025 7:47 AM&nbsp;&nbsp;Failure to Appear

Nicholas	Miguel&nbsp;Espinoza&nbsp;3/28/2025 10:20 AM&nbsp;Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Nathaniel	Paul Swift&nbsp;3/28/2025 11:09 AM&nbsp; Probation Violation&nbsp;

Jeffrey	Craig Johnstone 3/28/2025 11:35 AM&nbsp;&nbsp;Insurance; Fail to maintain liability insurance,&nbsp;Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor ; unknown conviction

Noah	Joseph White&nbsp;3/28/2025 2:42 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Burglary; Dwelling, to commit felony, theft or sexually motivated crime,&nbsp;Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 to $24,999,&nbsp;Burglary; Vehicle to commit felony, theft or sexually motivated crime,&nbsp;Burglary; Vehicle to commit felony, theft, domestic violence, sex,&nbsp;Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Devon	James William Nelson&nbsp;3/28/2025 3:09 PM&nbsp; Failure to Appear&nbsp;

James Elmer Fox Jr&nbsp;3/28/2025 4:17 PM&nbsp; Failure to Appear&nbsp;

David	Larry Mendoza&nbsp;3/28/2025 11:03 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Pedestrian; Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs upon Roadway

Daily booking 

WABAUNSEE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11p.m. Friday in Wabaunsee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Kenworth semi driven by Cory L.&nbsp;Halling, 45, St. John, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of&nbsp;Snokomo Road.&nbsp; A large rock struck the windshield of the truck.

EMS transported&nbsp;Halling to Stormont Vail in Topeka for treatment of a serious injury. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp; The patrol released no additional details.

Kan. man injured after large rock strikes windshield of semi

The RCAT station will be closed on Monday afternoon March 31.&nbsp;&nbsp;

They are closing to that the staff can attend the funeral service for an active team member / bus driver that recently and suddenly passed away.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The RCAT transfer station and all transit modes will be closed in the afternoon between 1 p.m to 5 p.m.

The Reno County Department of Aging office will be closed from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, but the phones will be answered during that time.&nbsp;&nbsp;

RCAT services to be closed on Monday afternoon 

K-State Research and Extension news service

MANHATTAN, Kan. — If you’re planning to plant a tree in your yard this spring, there are some steps you can take to make sure your new landscape has its best chance of success.

Kansas State University horticulture expert Cynthia Domenghini shares the following 10 rules for planting trees:

To avoid serious problems, choose trees that are adapted to your location. Consider whether the tree produces nuisance fruit or if there are disease-resistant varieties available. For example, there are a number of crabapple varieties that are resistant to apple scab and rust diseases. Also consider the mature size of a tree to be sure you have enough room. Your local extension office and garden center can make tree recommendations for your region.

Keep the tree well watered and in a shady location until planting.

When moving the tree, lift it by the root ball or pot and not by the trunk.

Before planting, remove all wires, labels, cords or anything else tied to the plant.

If left on, they may eventually girdle the branch to which they are attached.

Make the hole deep enough so the root flare (point where the trunk and roots meet) is visible when planted. Plant the tree on solid ground, not fill dirt. In other words, don't dig the hole too deep and then add soil back to the hole before placing the tree.

The width of the planting hole is very important. It should be three times the width of the root ball. Loosening the soil outside the hole so it is five times the diameter of the root ball will allow the tree to spread its roots faster.

Remove all containers from the root ball.

Cut away plastic and peat pots; roll burlap and wire baskets back into the hole, cutting as much of the excess away as possible. If you can remove the wire basket without disturbing the root ball, do it. If roots have been circling around in the container, cut them and fluff them out so they do not continue growing in a circle inside the hole becoming girdling roots later.

Backfill the hole with the same soil that was removed.

Amendments such as peat moss likely do more harm than good. Make sure the soil that goes back is loosened - no clods or clumps. Add water as you fill to ensure good root to soil contact and prevent air pockets. There is no need to fertilize at planting.

Foliage is necessary for manufacturing energy to support a healthy tree. Heavy pruning reduces the number of leaves and consequently the amount of energy generated. Corrective pruning can be done at planting to remove dead, damaged or diseased branches or branches that are rubbing against each other.

Then, water once a week for the first season if there is insufficient rainfall.

Mulch should be 2-4 inches deep and cover an area 2 to 3 times the diameter of the root ball. Avoid mulching right up to the trunk of the tree. Leave a 3 to 6-inch gap between the mulch and the trunk to prevent damaging the tree. Mulching reduces competition from other plants, conserves moisture and moderates soil temperature.

Larger trees or those in windy locations may need to be staked the first year. Movement is necessary for the trunk and roots to develop properly. Staking should be designed to limit movement of the root ball rather than immobilize the trunk.

Domenghini and her colleagues in K-State’s Department of Horticulture and Natural Resources produce a&nbsp;<a href="https://hnr.k-state.edu/extension/horticulture-resource-center/horticulture-newsletter/">weekly Horticulture Newsletter</a>&nbsp;with tips for maintaining home landscapes and gardens.

Interested persons can subscribe to the newsletter, as well as send their garden and yard-related questions to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hortsupport@ksu.edu">hortsupport@ksu.edu</a>, or contact your&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations/">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>.

Ten rules for planting trees this spring

Grill Master reporting for duty!  This 7-year-old, 50 lb heeler may be a little seasoned, but he’s always ready for a good play session, a back scratch, or some sunshine. 

Friendly, gentle, and still up for some fun – he’s the best companion for any BBQ!

Submit an application for Grill Master: <a href="https://caringhandshs.org/adopt-original/adoption-profile/">https://caringhandshs.org/adopt-original/adoption-profile/</a>

Caring Hands Humane Society is located in Newton. &nbsp;

Their address is 1400 Southeast 3rd Street. &nbsp;They are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. but are closed for lunch from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. You can reach their adoption staff at 316-283-0839.&nbsp;

Adopt a Furry Friend: Grill Master 

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview:  Throwback Thursday... Steve Conard and Steve Harmon 

Let's follow-up on that cattle on feed report that was out after the markets closed on Friday. 

 Overall, the consensus is that the on-feed report was bullish for the market.  Part of the reason was that the American beef cattle herd was down two percent from last year in the report. 

 Placements were a whopping eighteen percent under last year, and marketings were nine percent below last year.  This is what is causing historically high prices on the futures board, well north of $200 dollars on the nearby contract, as well as unusually high cash prices at the sale barns.&nbsp;

Listen to John's Ag Minute in the player below:&nbsp;&nbsp;

AG Minute:  Cattle and beef prices

The Reno County Appraiser's Office is hosting town hall in Nickerson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It will be at the Nickerson Community Building on April 3 at 6:30 p.m.&nbsp; Residents of Arlington, The Highlands and Nickerson have been invited but Reno County residents are invited to attend.&nbsp;&nbsp;

County Appraiser Michael Plank will talk about the overall appraisal process and conduct a question-and-answer session.&nbsp;

Questions to an individual property can be answered in the Appraiser's Office.&nbsp; The Appraiser's Office is located in the Reno County Annex at 125 West First in Hutchinson during business hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Reminder that the Appraiser's office is Monday, March 31. In order to request an meeting you can call in or drop off your form in person before 5 p.m. Any mail postmarked by March 31 will be accepted as well.&nbsp;

Reno County Appraiser to host town hall in Nickerson 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. hit a go-ahead RBI double in the seventh inning after Maikel Garcia tied it with a homer four batters earlier to help lead the Kansas City Royals over the Cleveland Guardians 4-3 on Saturday.

Garcia led off the seventh with a 405-foot homer off Paul Sewald (0-1). Cavan Biggio followed with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Dairon Blanco, who stole second. With two outs, Witt lined a double to left to score Blanco with the go-ahead run.

Guardians six-time All-Star José Ramírez left in the sixth inning with a sprained right wrist after he was hurt in the third inning while attempting to steal second base. Gabriel Arias replaced Ramírez at third base.

Bo Naylor gave the Indians a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the second, and Carlos Santana scored Steven Kwan on a sacrifice fly in the third.

Kwan’s solo homer in the fifth put Cleveland up 3-1.

Royals starter Seth Lugo threw five innings and allowed three earned runs and four hits and struck out four with three walks. Daniel Lynch IV (1-0) followed Lugo and threw two perfect innings for the win. Carlos Estévez walked one and struck out one in the ninth to earn his first save for Kansas City.

Guardians starter Gavin Williams allowed two runs and four hits in five innints with one walk and two strikeouts.

Salvador Perez had RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings.

The Royals’ comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning was powered by Garcia’s homer and Witt’s double.

The top four hitters for Kansas City — Jonathan India, Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino and Perez — went 5 for 14 with five RBIs.

The Guardians send RHP Tanner Bibee to the mound against RHP Michael Wacha for Kansas City in Sunday’s series finale.

⚾ Royals grab first win of 2025 season

<a href="https://www.njcaa.org/links/nrd6iq">BOX SCORE</a>

CASPER, Wyo. — The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball season came to a close in the second round of the national tournament on Friday, falling to Three Rivers (Mo.), 50-48.

Hailey Jackson had a chance to tie the game up in the final seconds, but a shot attempt from the right baseline fell just short as the horn sounded.&nbsp;

Jackson finished with a team-high 20 points and 12 rebounds for her 14th double-double of the season and 17th of her career. She'll forever be one of the greatest players to ever where a Blue Dragon uniform. She finishes third on the all-time scoring list with 1,100 career points in 71 games played.&nbsp;

The Blue Dragons finish the 2024-25 season with a 29-5 record. The four sophomores that spent two seasons in a HutchCC uniform finished with a 66-5 record, a national title, two national tournament appearances and a 50-game winning streak.

Hutchinson fell behind early 5-0 before scoring the next 12 points of the game to lead 14-9 after the first period. The Blue Dragons were outscored by three in the second quarter, but still led at halftime 26-24.

Three Rivers (29-3) and Hutchinson each scored 12 points in the third quarter for a two-point lead for the Blue Dragons after the third period. The Raiders outscored the Blue Dragons by four in the final frame to earn the win and advance to the quarterfinals to face No. 3 Northwest Florida State on Saturday afternoon.

Hutchinson shot 40% from the floor, while Three Rivers only shot 29%, but the Raiders got up 25 more shot attempts, thanks to 17 offensive rebounds.&nbsp;

The Blue Dragons gave up 17 second chance points, while also turning the ball over 18 times, compared to eight by the Raiders.

The seven Blue Dragon sophomores that played their final game in a Hutchinson uniform are Kahlen Norris, Jackson, Landon Forbes, Madi Denison, Jada Pleasant, Brynne Katcher and Zhane Singer.

🏀 Hutchinson ends season with second round loss to Three Rivers

🥎 Jayhawks no-hit by No. 13 Red Raiders

⚾ Voegele shines in KU win over OSU

⚾ Shockers run-rule Blazers Friday

🥎 Shockers drop Bulls in series opener

CASPER, Wyoming - The Hutchinson Community College women's basketball team bids for its eighth all-time appearance in the quarterfinals of the NJCAA Division I Women's Basketball Tournament on Friday in Casper, Wyoming.

The No. 11-seeded Blue Dragons (29-4) take on sixth-seed Three Rivers (28-3) in the tournament's final second-round matchup at 5:45 p.m. CDT on Friday at the Ford Wyoming Center.

The game will be broadcast live on KHMY-FM (My93.1) beginning at 5:30 p.m. with Sean Boston (play-by-play) calling the action. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+, which is a pay-per-view/subscription service.

Friday's matchup will be the first ever between Hutchinson and Three Rivers. Last season when the Blue Dragons won the 2024 national championship, Three Rivers advanced to the quarterfinals.

Behind&nbsp;<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/wbkb/2024-25/bios/jackson_hailey_q6t6">Hailey Jackson</a>'s 13th double-double of the season of 17 points and 12 rebounds, the Blue Dragons advanced to the second round of the national tournament with a 61-58 win over South Georgia Tech on Wednesday. The Blue Dragons are now 7-2 in national tournament opening-round games.

Three Rivers was ranked No. 2 in the final NJCAA Tournament regular-season national rankings, but was upset by State Fair 73-70 in the Region 16 championship game on March 14. That loss snapped a 20-game winning streak by the Raiders.

While Hutchinson and Three Rivers have never played in women's basketball, the two schools have met in another significant game in NJCAA history. The Blue Dragon men defeated the Raider men 78-74 in the 1994 men's NJCAA Tournament championship game.

The Blue Dragons are currently in their 13th NJCAA Tournament appearance. The Dragons are 4-2 in second-round games in tournament history.

🏀 HutchCC faces Three Rivers in NJCAA Tournament second round 

Josh Dix, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound senior-to-be men’s basketball shooting guard from the University of Iowa, was slated to arrive in Lawrence on Thursday night for a two-day recruiting visit to Kansas, two sources close to Nix confirmed to The Kansas City Star.

Known as an accurate 3-point shooter, Dix, a native of Council Bluffs, Iowa, averaged 14.4 points a game this past season on 50.7% shooting.

As a junior he was 65-of-154 from 3 for 42.2%. A starter in 32 games for the Hawkeyes (17-16), Dix hit 36 of 47 free throws for 76.6%. Both Rivals.com and 247sports.com reported that KU coaches visited with Dix on Wednesday in Iowa in advance of his KU campus visit.

Dix, who announced he’d be entering the transfer portal on March 19, scored a career-high 31 points on 10-of-14 shooting (career-high 7 3s in 10 attempts) with seven assists in a 97-87 overtime win over Nebraska on Jan. 7 in Iowa City, Iowa. He played 45 minutes in that game. He had 27 points vs. Purdue on Feb. 4 in Iowa City and 26 points on Feb. 12 at Rutgers.

“Dix put on some incredible displays,” wrote Hawkcentral.com. “He drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat Northwestern in December. He scored in double-figures in 27 of his 32 appearances as a junior. He scored at least 21 points in six games.”

Portal prospect Josh Dix visits KU 

<a href="https://www.njcaa.org/championships/sports/mbkb/div1/index">TOURNAMENT CENTRAL</a>&nbsp;| <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">RADIO STREAM</a> | <a href="https://www.espn.com/espnplus/schedule/_/type/upcoming/channel/ESPN_PLUS/startDate/20250328">TV STREAM ($)</a>

5:30 p.m. - No. 4 South Plains (Texas) vs. No. 17 Connors State (Okla.)

8 p.m. - No. 6 Panola (Texas) vs. No. 7 Trinity Valley (Texas)

🏀 NJCAA Tournament: Semifinal Friday schedule & results

🎧 Listen: 🏀 Blue Dragon women play tonight, Men's semifinals ⚾ Royals drop opener to Guardians 

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Saturday made his clearest commitment to not fire anyone over an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">embarrassing accidental leak</a>&nbsp;of his administration’s plans for an airstrike against the Houthis in Yemen.

“I don’t fire people because of fake news and because of witch hunts,” Trump said in an interview with NBC News' Kristen Welker.

<a href="https://mimoo.github.io/houthi_signal/">Click here to read the</a>&nbsp;controversial text chat&nbsp;

He also said that he had confidence in Mike Waltz, his national security adviser, and Pete Hegseth, his Pentagon chief.

Waltz inadvertently added Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor of The Atlantic magazine, to a group text using the Signal encrypted messaging service where top officials were discussing plans to attack the Houthis.

During the chat, Hegseth included details on how the strike would unfold before it took place.

Afterwards, The Atlantic published an article on the internal exchange, shocking the national security establishment.

Trump is eager to avoid repeating some of the turnover that characterized his first term. Mike Flynn, his first national security adviser, was pushed out after only a few weeks during the early phase of the Russia investigation. He’s also shown resistance to bowing to outside pressure, especially if it comes from the news media.

Asked if there were conversations about firing Waltz, Trump insisted, “I’ve never heard that. And nobody else makes that decision but me, and I’ve never heard it.”

Trump says he won't 'fire people' over Signal group chat leak

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 3p.m. Saturday in Topeka.

The accident involving two motor vehicles occurred near SW 21st and SW College Avenue, according to Topeka Police  LT Kerry Connel. 

One person was transported to a local area hospital and pronounced deceased.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation. Police did not release the name of the victim.

One dead after 2-vehicle Kansas crash

SEDGWICK COUNTY, Kan.&nbsp;– The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s assistance in solving the 1988 murder of 19-year-old Michael J. Fowler. Fowler was found deceased in the early morning hours of Sept. 14, 1988, in the 9000 block of North Oliver Street in Wichita.

Fowler was discovered lying along the side of the road with multiple gunshot wounds. As part of the investigation, detectives determined that the last known person to see Fowler alive was Eddie Jason Coolinge, also known as Eddie Hale or Jason Hale.

Detectives also identified a mutual acquaintance, 19-year-old Daryl Weaver, who was associated with both Fowler and Hale. The three men were known to frequent parks in the Riverside area and the adult video store, Circle Cinema. They were also known to engage in social and intimate encounters within the local homosexual community. Their gatherings often took place in discreet locations with like-minded individuals seeking connection.

Both Hale and Weaver have since passed away—Hale in 2000 and Weaver in 2014. Despite extensive investigative efforts, Fowler’s murder remains unsolved.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is now asking for the public’s help. Anyone who knew Michael J. Fowler,&nbsp;<a>Eddie Jason Coolinge (aka Eddie Hale/Jason Hale</a>), or Daryl Weaver and may have information related to this case is urged to contact Detective Cody Rexroat or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (316) 267-2111.

Sheriff asks for help solving Kansas cold case killing

BY&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alexa-st-john">ALEXA ST. JOHN</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;PAUL WISEMAN

DETROIT (AP) — President Donald Trump’s 25% tax on imported cars, light trucks and auto parts is likely to drive up prices at a time when many Americans already struggle to afford a new set of wheels. The tariffs will also force car companies to rethink what cars they make and where they make them.

Trump has been itching to tax foreign autos for years. In his first term, he declared auto imports a threat to national security, which gave him the authority to impose tariffs on them. On Wednesday, he went ahead and imposed the levies. They take effect midnight April 3.

It’s the latest in a number of auto industry maneuvers by Trump during his first weeks back in the White House. Auto companies are also navigating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-mpg-fuel-economy-standards-automakers-0ef9147a0c3874a50a194e439f604261">the reversal of fuel economy standards</a>, dialed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epa-zeldin-deregulation-plans-list-actions-5fb7fc1d24f54f193d585643c8fba79f">down greenhouse gas emission standards</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-trump-electric-vehicles-pollution-standards-ae3a35faa376630e494765175aee2c28">host of electric vehicle policy rollbacks</a>.

Some of the details of Trump’s auto tariffs have yet to be worked out.

For example, it’s unclear whether the new auto tariffs would stack on top of 25% import taxes set to be levied next week on all goods from Canada and Mexico. That would mean cars from Canada and Mexico could potentially face new tariffs of 50%.

And for now, the Trump administration is exempting from the tariffs cars, light trucks and auto parts that qualify for duty-free treatment under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a regional trade pact the president negotiated five years ago. Trump intends to narrow that exemption to content made in the United States, not Canada or Mexico. But that will require setting up processes to determine what qualifies as U.S.-made — something that could take weeks or months.

The White House also said the import tax would apply to “key’’ auto parts, including engines, transmissions, powertrain parts and electrical components. And it could expand the tariffs to other auto parts “if necessary.’’

Why are tariffs so challenging for the auto industry?

As automakers expanded globally, they created complicated and efficient supply chains that spanned countries. In North America, for instance, Mexico supplies low-wage labor and makes smaller, less expensive cars and trucks while Canada and the United States provide more skilled labor and technological know-how.

Trump’s tariffs are intended to bring auto manufacturing back to the United States. But it won’t be easy.

Rerouting the sourcing of thousands of parts that are imported to the U.S. and uprooting assembly operations would take years.

“It adds to the uncertainty facing all automakers as the industry’s supply chain is inherently global and has optimized around moving components across national borders where free trade agreements have existed in the past,” said John Paul MacDuffie, professor of management at the University of Pennsylvania.

Sam Fiorani, analyst at AutoForecast Solutions, notes that while European makers of luxury vehicles and their buyers can afford some price adjustments, “it’s the companies like Toyota, Mazda, and Subaru who import large percentages of their fleets that will take a beating.”

“Throwing tariffs on the parts of vehicles built in Mexico and Canada that aren’t sourced from the United States will hurt the profits of General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford over the next few quarters, costing them billions,” he added.

Trump’s tariffs — which he insists are permanent — will force companies to make hard choices.

“It’s going to have the effect of forcing companies to increase U.S. content’’ if they want to dodge the import taxes, said Richard Mojica, a trade attorney with Miller &amp; Chevalier.

And even though Vanessa Miller, chair of the automotive team at the law firm Foley &amp; Lardner, acknowledges that some companies will be able to pivot operations to the U.S., others are too tied to factories in Mexico or elsewhere to make the move anytime soon.

Automakers might have to stop making some vehicles because they won’t be profitable with the tariffs in place. The tariffs hit “everyone in a manner that makes them rethink everything,’’ said Ivan Drury of the automotive website Edmunds. “This is around at least three or four years. We’re not looking at something you can just ride out.’’

What does this mean for car buyers and new car prices?

Beata Caranci and Andrew Foran of TD Economics estimate that the tariffs could raise the average price of cars and light trucks in the United States — which totaled more than $47,000 last month — by up to $5,000 if automakers pass along the entire cost to consumers. That price hike could go higher – to as much as $10,000 – if the Trump administration applies the tax full to cars made in Mexico and Canada.

Automakers and their suppliers are only now recovering from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-business-prices-b920de128360fe95314907b0f04013ef">years of instability</a>&nbsp;brought on by pandemic-forced production halts, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prices-vehicle-sales-2371370d81e50f7521fe4cbec73e720d">sweeping semiconductor shortage</a>&nbsp;and low inventory on dealership lots. That meant&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prices-inflation-coronavirus-pandemic-united-states-c6f8a2a7cf916cbda0d5f112b1260997">prices were sky-high, incentives were low and few deals were to be had</a>.

During the peak of the pandemic, consumers still bought vehicles at high prices. But the piled-on tariffs could put new vehicles out of reach for many would-be buyers, especially given rising indications of potentially&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-economy-inflation-bd6ece8784efff205e2ab922bcb86958">broader inflation ahead throughout the economy</a>.

“Starting almost immediately, consumers will see their already expensive new vehicles cost hundreds to thousands more and those prices will escalate even more when the supplies of many key vehicles dwindle,” Fiorani said. “Imagine the price rises during the semiconductor shortage and stretch it out across every brand and manufacturer. The trickle-down effect will put smaller suppliers out of business and send many workers onto unemployment.”

By raising new vehicle prices, tariffs will likely send buyers to the used market. But with limited used inventory, an influx of buyers could rock used car prices, too. And they already average $25,000.

Lease penetration, or the number of vehicle transactions that are leases, has averaged around 30% or so over the past 10 years, according to Edmunds data.

But the industry saw low rates of leasing — nearly half the norm — particularly between May 2022 and January 2023. Fewer leased vehicles typically means fewer two- or three-year-old vehicles being put on the used-car market.

So there is likely to be a shortage of used cars just as more buyers start shopping for them.

Governor Matt Blunt, president of the American Automotive Policy Council, which represents U.S. automakers, said that manufacturers supported Trump’s efforts to boost domestic auto manufacturing. But he cautioned that “it is critical that tariffs are implemented in a way that avoids raising prices for consumers and that preserves the competitiveness of the integrated North American automotive sector.

The United Auto Workers labor union applauded the tariffs. “Ending the race to the bottom in the auto industry starts with fixing our broken trade deals, and the Trump administration has made history with today’s actions,” UAW President Shawn Fain said in a statement. “These tariffs are a major step in the right direction for autoworkers and blue-collar communities across the country, and it is now on the automakers, from the Big Three to Volkswagen and beyond, to bring back good union jobs to the U.S.”

But Jennifer Safavian, president and CEO of Autos Drive America, which represents international auto manufacturers, denounced the tariffs: “The tariffs imposed today will make it more expensive to produce and sell cars in the United States, ultimately leading to higher prices, fewer options for consumers, and fewer manufacturing jobs in the U.S.”

Wiseman reported from Washington. Associated Press reporter Josh Boak contributed to this story.

Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X:&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/alexa_stjohn" target="_blank">@alexa_stjohn</a>. Reach her at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ast.john@ap.org" target="_blank">ast.john@ap.org</a>.

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/standards-for-working-with-outside-groups/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/discover/Supporting-AP" target="_blank">AP.org</a>.

Trump’s auto tariffs explained: What car buyers should know this year

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a double-homicide in Kansas City.

Just before 4a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 4300 block of North Corrington regarding a follow up to a missing persons investigation, according to KCPD&nbsp;Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

First respondes were directed to a motel room where they located a man and woman. Both were suffering from gun shot wounds and were pronounced deceased on scene.

This is being investigated as a double-homicide. Detectives are working to determine what led up to the incident, canvassing the area for witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage. Crime scene technicians are processing the scene for physical evidence.&nbsp; Police released no additional details.

Double-homicide: Man and woman found dead in KC motel room

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration’s use of a popular messaging app to discuss sensitive military plans — with a journalist on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">the text chain</a>&nbsp;— is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-signal-yemen-atlantic-group-chat-31f3701b5c7254cda8297558c50cfd98">raising questions</a>&nbsp;about security and the importance of safeguarding the nation’s secrets.

It’s also highlighting the differences between classified and public information, and demonstrating that even encrypted apps like Signal can lead to embarrassing leaks if the humans doing the texting don’t follow basic security tips.

What’s the difference between ‘classified’ and ‘top secret’?

President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-signal-classified-information-308e7a81d70d6233c06a1f7330ae3004">administration says no classified material was leaked</a>&nbsp;when senior officials used Signal to discuss upcoming attack plans against the Houthi rebels in Yemen — even though a journalist was on the chat.

But even if the information had been declassified by the Pentagon, it contained details that would have been highly valuable to the Houthis or other adversaries, showing how sometimes the decision of what to classify is a judgment call.

The federal government routinely classifies vast amounts of information pertaining to military and intelligence operations. The material ranges from top secret nuclear programs or the identities of undercover agents all the way to mundane records that would be of little interest to anyone, let alone America’s adversaries. In 2011, for example, the CIA finally declassified its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/secret-writing-cias-oldest-classified-documents/" target="_blank">recipe for invisible ink</a>&nbsp;— from 1917.

Advocates for open government have long complained that the push for secrecy goes too far, by protecting information that could shine a light on government activities or matters of public interest, including about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ufos-uaps-congress-whistleblower-spy-aliens-ba8a8cfba353d7b9de29c3d906a69ba7">UFO sightings</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jfk-files-trump-release-381cd547e10e4f41d27a8e020bb6a435">60-year-old presidential assassination</a>.

While the public typically calls any information withheld by the government “classified,” that term only refers to the three broad categories used to “classify” information based on the need for secrecy: confidential, secret and top secret.

While files marked “confidential” contain information that’s not meant to be released, the need for security or access restrictions isn’t as great as for material considered “top secret,” which includes the nation’s nuclear secrets and other material that, if released, could pose a grave danger to national security.

While the Pentagon hasn’t offered classification details about the information in the Signal chats, information about upcoming military strikes is typically tightly guarded to ensure adversaries don’t have advance warning that could jeopardize the mission or put American service members at risk.

The Pentagon closely guards even some publicly available information. Material categorized as “controlled unclassified information,” while not secret, is still considered sensitive enough that military service members are prohibited from discussing it on unsecured devices like personal phones.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were asked about that policy during a Senate hearing this week as they were grilled over the Signal chat. Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona noted that Department of Defense policy “prohibits discussion of even what is called controlled unclassified information on unsecured devices,” and asked if Ratcliffe and Gabbard, who oversees the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies, were aware of that rule.

“I haven’t read that policy,” Gabbard said.

“I’m not familiar with the DOD policy,” Ratcliffe said.

Who decides to classify or declassify something?

The power to classify or declassify lies in the hands of top federal officials, including the president and Cabinet secretaries. For military information like the attack plans discussed over Signal, the power lies with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has faced demands that he resign over the leak.

The president’s ability to declassify information has been invoked when presidents have been accused of mishandling secrets. Trump ally Kash Patel, now the FBI director, has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-8a51290da3e8f59c83edbfc2898f547d">said he witnessed Trump declassify material</a>&nbsp;that was taken after his first term to the president’s Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, but no evidence has emerged to support that claim.

The Pentagon hasn’t said whether Hegseth declassified the attack plans before or after the Signal conversation, but Ratcliffe, Gabbard and the White House have all said the chats contained no classified information.

“I haven’t participated in any Signal group messaging that relates to any classified information at all,” Ratcliffe proclaimed at one point.

That explanation has failed to satisfy Democrats who say that plans for imminent military strikes are regularly classified. National security experts agree. They say it would be highly unusual for the Pentagon to publicize such information and that any lower-level officer caught leaking such material on Signal would face serious repercussions.

There’s secure, and then there’s secure enough for

Local

Region

Sports