StartUp Hutch released its first-ever annual report this week, detailing the organization’s 2025 activity, financial overview and expanding role in supporting entrepreneurs across Reno County.

Executive Director Graham Klemme said the report was designed to provide transparency and a clear snapshot of StartUp Hutch’s impact since he took the role in May 2025.

“It’s been a goal of mine to offer some transparency around what we do to the broader community,” Klemme said. “The report summarizes our activity, our data, some financial information and success stories.”

According to the report, StartUp Hutch served 203 entrepreneurs in 2025 through a mix of events and one-on-one assistance. The organization conducted more than 250 coaching sessions, focusing on repeated, hands-on support for individuals starting or growing businesses.

“The bulk of what we do is coaching,” Klemme said. “Someone comes in and says, ‘I’m starting a business and I don’t know what I’m doing,’ and we walk alongside them step by step.”

StartUp Hutch, founded in 1987, also helped entrepreneurs access nearly $500,000 in capital during the year. Klemme noted the total came during a transitional period for the organization, which operated without an executive director for part of the spring.

“That was actually a slow year,” he said. “Capital access is one of our core goals, and we want to see that number go up.”

The organization’s reach extends beyond Hutchinson, with workshops and outreach efforts in communities such as Buhler, Pretty Prairie and Haven. An upcoming “StartUp Haven” workshop is scheduled for March 3 and is part of a broader effort to host community-specific discussions on small business development throughout Reno County.

“Small businesses really make the world go round,” Klemme said, noting that many established local employers still fall under the federal definition of a small business, which includes firms with fewer than 500 employees.

StartUp Hutch also launched a podcast, “The Hot Seat,” to highlight local entrepreneurs and business resources. Recent episodes have featured local StartUp leaders and innovators, with the podcast available on major streaming platforms.

Funding for StartUp Hutch comes primarily from the City of Hutchinson, Reno County and grant support, including assistance from the Hutchinson Community Foundation. Klemme said that mix of public and private support is critical to sustaining the organization’s mission.

Looking ahead, Klemme said StartUp Hutch is developing new programming tied to housing and construction-related entrepreneurship and plans to continue expanding its community presence.

The 2025 annual report is available at startuphutch.com under the “Annual Report” section.

StartUp Hutch releases first annual report

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. ——————————————

Pablo	Idrogo	Martinez		2/13/2026 10:07&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Ricky	Duane	Hopewell		2/13/2026 1:12&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Richard	Michael	Chamberlain		2/13/2026 2:48&nbsp;PM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Christopher	Lee	Craig		2/13/2026 3:07&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Pre-trial order,					Harassment by Telephone; Texting to harass or threaten

Orion	Anthony Matthew	Morales		2/13/2026 6:15&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Realiti	Dawn	Courson		2/13/2026 7:05&nbsp;PM	Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Kerri	Lynn	Simmons		2/13/2026 7:10&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Matthew	Guy	Currie		2/13/2026 8:11&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Lucas	Randall	Shoen		2/13/2026 8:25&nbsp;PM	Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct

Hunter	Christian	Cherry		2/13/2026 8:37&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear,					Possession of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misdemeanor case, Execution of Misdemeanor Warrant

Daily Bookings

The Reno County Department of Aging will host a community discussion on fall prevention later this month, offering practical strategies and resources aimed at helping older adults remain safe and independent.

The event is part of the department’s Community Collaboration Series and is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, at the Reno County Department of Aging, 120 W. Ave. B in Hutchinson.

Jeremy McDowell, an account executive with Angels Care Home Health, will serve as the guest speaker. McDowell will discuss common fall risks, prevention strategies and steps individuals and caregivers can take to reduce the likelihood of falls at home and in daily activities.

The session will be presented by Cara Conaway, information and outreach program coordinator for the Reno County Department of Aging. Organizers say the program is designed for older adults, caregivers and family members who want to better understand how to prevent falls and maintain independence.

Community members are encouraged to attend and bring a friend. Reservations are requested.

Department of Aging to hold fall prevention event

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

Three-day Outlook

A Reno County man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to insurance fraud and related charges, according to Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt.

Larry Wilson, 54, was sentenced to 21 months in prison after pleading guilty Dec. 11, 2025, in Reno County District Court to one felony count of insurance fraud, two felony counts of making false information and two felony counts of forgery. He will also serve 12 months of probation following his release.

Prosecutors said Wilson fraudulently filed an insurance claim seeking lost wages for workdays he claimed to have missed due to injuries from a prior automobile accident. Authorities said Wilson forged his supervisor’s signature on falsified documents to support the claim.

“Insurance fraud costs all Kansans in the form of increased premiums every year,” Schmidt said in a statement. “The Department will continue pursuing penalties against anyone committing insurance fraud in Kansas.”

The case was investigated by the Kansas Department of Insurance and prosecuted by the Kansas Attorney General’s Office.

Hutch man sentenced for insurance fraud

By TISA MASON FHSU president

In the quiet hours before the Kansas sun touches the horizon, Gabrielle Davis is already immersed in her studies. It’s 5 a.m., and while most of the neighborhood is still asleep, Gabrielle is navigating the complex anatomy and pharmacology content she must master in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. 

Across the state line in Arapahoe, Nebraska, Janine Van Niekerk, serving as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in a rural nursing home,&nbsp;is balancing a similarly delicate act.

Janine and Gabrielle are pioneers. As members of the inaugural BSN hybrid (combined on-campus and online) program cohort at Fort Hays State University, they represent a shift in nursing education—one built for people with a deep connection to their hometowns and families, coupled with a purposeful commitment to ensure their rural communities have access to highly trained, compassionate nursing care.

For both women, nursing is a profound calling rooted in an ethic of care. 

Gabrielle, an LPN at the HaysMed walk-in clinic, represents the deep roots of Kansas healthcare. A third-generation nurse, she was inspired by her grandmother, mother, and an uncle, a physician. “I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a nurse,” Gabrielle says. “Especially watching my mom. She is the nurse that I aspire to be.”

Gabrielle’s resilience was forged during the COVID-19 pandemic. While still in high school, she completed her courses via Zoom and then worked until 10 p.m. at a nursing home in Atwood to help cover staffing shortages. She continues to work there one weekend a month because of the deep bond she shares with the residents. “I don’t want to give up my residents,” she says. “A lot of them I call grandparents. They consider me their grandchild.”

This same dedication drives Janine Van Niekerk. Originally from South Africa, the 45-year-old mother of six now lives in a rural area of Nebraska. 

For her, the FHSU hybrid program provided a way forward that seemed almost tailored to her life. She began her general education courses while still living abroad and was moved by the university's support during her transition back to the States. “Everyone was so helpful in helping me register, so patient in going through my credits,” Janine recalls. “I knew FHSU was the right choice.”

The stories of Janine and Gabrielle are individual threads in a much larger tapestry. Fort Hays State University serves as a primary engine for the Kansas nursing workforce with a simple priority: getting nurses to rural Kansas. The university doesn’t just graduate students; it delivers them where the need is most acute.

Currently, approximately 70% of FHSU BSN graduates and more than 90% of family nurse practitioners go straight to work in rural communities. With 80% of total nursing graduates staying in Kansas, FHSU is a proven, high-yield investment in our state’s future. 

Beyond the classroom, FHSU serves as a regional hub for healthcare excellence, providing guaranteed&nbsp;admission to Kansas community college students and serving as a vital training ground for HaysMed, EagleMed, and 25 critical access hospitals.

The hybrid BSN program is the latest tool in this mission, combining the convenience of online learning with the rigor of on-campus clinical clusters. For Janine, whose husband travels for work, this flexibility is a necessity. “For me, time is vital,” she says. “The hybrid gives me more flexibility with my schedule and everything I’m responsible for.”

Janine’s passion is fueled by a desire to rectify disparities she sees in rural healthcare. “I’m very disappointed in the healthcare system, the more I learn, especially in rural areas,” she explains, noting the high costs of basic lab tests and clinic fees. “Ultimately, what I’ve decided now to do is look into being a legal nurse consultant, so that I can help rectify the wrongs that are so very evident in healthcare.”

Gabrielle similarly integrates her clinical training into the margins of a busy life, studying between serving patients and after shifts. She finds a spiritual anchor in her daily routine. “Before I go to work, I pray about my day,” she says. “I pray for good patient outcomes. I pray that all my patients are safe and healthy. That helps me, or else I get very burned out.”

As the first BSN cohort to navigate this hybrid path, Janine and Gabrielle are doing more than just earning a degree; they are helping FHSU refine the program for future generations. 

Gabrielle is already looking toward the finish line in May 2027 with plans to eventually teach. “It opens up a whole new universe of opportunities,” she says. “We are helping them (the FHSU Hybrid BSN Program) figure out their trials and errors for the future of the program.”

For Tanya Smith, BSN Coordinator and Professor of Nursing, the pride in her first Hybrid BSN cohort is apparent.

“The students are very dedicated to the program and have shown resilience despite growth challenges along the way,” she said. “Each student has had becoming a BSN-prepared RN as a personal goal.”

FHSU’s Hybrid pathway has been the route to achieving this goal.

“The students have expressed many thanks to the Department of Nursing for creating this learning path for the BSN degree,” Tanya shared. “As we continue to grow the Hybrid BSN cohort, we are excited to partner with community hospitals across the state to ensure students are receiving clinical experiences close to home.”

The journey of these program pioneers reflects the heart of the FHSU mission. Through grit and a commitment to innovation, they are preparing to meet their communities' healthcare needs with expertise and empathy. Their progress is a testament to the power of a program designed&nbsp;with people, place, and purpose at its core.

Women for Kansas provides non-partisan dialogue

Drivers may notice gas prices ticking up slightly ahead of the holiday weekend. The national average for a gallon of regular is up a couple of cents from last week to $2.94.

 Current prices remain below what they were this time last year when the national average was $3.16.&nbsp;

 According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand increased last week from 8.15 million b/d to 8.30 million. Total domestic gasoline supply increased from 257.9 million barrels to 259.1 million. Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.1 million barrels per day.

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI rose 67 cents to settle at $64.63 a barrel. The EIA reports crude oil increased by 8.5 million barrels from the previous week. At 428.8 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Gas prices tick up headed into holiday weekend

Mark	Andrew	Norton	II	2/12/2026 1:12&nbsp;PM	Harassment by Telephone; Calling to harass or threaten,					Stalking; Conduct causing fear to a person or person's family

Wade	Hampton	Kennon		2/12/2026 2:15&nbsp;PM	In Transit From-To Other Agency

Celia	DeAnne	Ferguson		2/12/2026 3:44&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Audra	Lynn	Sisler		2/12/2026 4:14&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Destiny	Rose	Harper		2/12/2026 7:44&nbsp;PM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000,					Disorderly Conduct; Brawling or fighting

Alexus	Ann&nbsp;Canady&nbsp;2/12/2026 9:00 PM&nbsp;Failure to Appear



Hutchinson voters will decide March 3 whether to double the city’s local sales tax, a move that city officials say would significantly increase revenue but would also raise the amount residents pay on everyday purchases.&nbsp;

The proposal would add a new 0.75% city sales tax to Hutchinson’s existing 0.75% tax, bringing the total local rate to 1.5%. The current sales tax is divided between 0.50% for&nbsp;general use&nbsp;and 0.25% distributed among&nbsp;Strataca, the Cosmosphere, street&nbsp;improvements, and property tax relief.&nbsp;

Data provided by the City of Hutchinson shows $687,420 in sales tax revenue in January 2026. Total collections for 2025 were $9,051,442.&nbsp;

Under the current rate, a resident who spends $1,000 per month on taxable purchases within the city pays about $7.50 in local sales tax, or $90 annually. The tax applies to all purchases, including groceries, because Kansas law does not allow cities to exempt food from local sales taxes.&nbsp;

If voters approve the increase, that same spending level would result in $15 per month in local sales tax, or $180 per year.&nbsp;

Using the city’s figures, officials estimate that if the higher rate had been in place in January, Hutchinson would have collected $1,374,840 in sales tax revenue for the month. Applied to all of 2025, the higher rate would have generated an estimated $18,102,884.&nbsp;

Supporters of the measure argue the&nbsp;additional&nbsp;revenue would strengthen city finances and support long-term infrastructure and service needs. Opponents have raised concerns about the cumulative tax burden on residents, particularly those on fixed incomes.&nbsp;

While Hutchinson residents often cite concerns about being among the most heavily taxed, several smaller cities already have higher local sales tax rates.&nbsp;

Seven cities have local sales tax rates of 3.0%.&nbsp; Those cities are Caney, Cherryvale, Coffeyville, Conway Springs, Independence, LaCrosse and Neodesha.&nbsp;

Here is the breakdown of the sales tax rates for the&nbsp;top 15 cities by population in Kansas.

The March 3 vote will&nbsp;determine&nbsp;whether Hutchinson joins a growing number of Kansas&nbsp;cities&nbsp;relying more heavily on local sales taxes to fund municipal operations and community priorities to keep property tax mill rates to a minimum.&nbsp;

City tax rate not excessive as compared to similar size cities

The Hutchinson Art Center is seeking original vintage artwork from local, regional and national artists for an upcoming fundraising auction scheduled for June 6, 2026.

The art center is accepting a wide range of media, with a preference for paintings, drawings, original prints and three-dimensional works such as sculpture, ceramics and glass. Limited-edition reproduction prints will also be considered if they are signed by the artist and produced in restricted quantities.

Organizers are encouraging artists, collectors and community members to consign or donate qualifying pieces for the auction. Artwork may be delivered during regular business hours now through Saturday, April 18, 2026.

A portion of the proceeds from the auction will support daily operations at the art center, helping sustain exhibitions, programs and community arts initiatives.

Those interested in participating or seeking additional information may contact the Hutchinson Art Center by email at <a>hac@hutchinsonartcenter.net</a>, by phone at 620-663-1081, or by visiting the front desk in person.

Hutchinson Art Center seeks items for June auction

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</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 — Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a controversial bill that forces transgender people to use bathrooms that match their biological sex at birth, saying the poorly drafted legislation would have far-reaching consequences.

The Democratic governor now hands House Substitute for&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb244/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 244</a>&nbsp;back to a Legislature that has enough Republican votes to override her veto and put the bill into law.

The bill requires government entities to police bathrooms and other private spaces in their buildings, and levies fines against the governing body for failing to comply. It also sets up escalating penalties for individuals who use a bathroom that doesn’t match their sex at birth.

In a statement Friday, Kelly cited multiple situations that would be affected by HB 244.

“If your grandfather is in a nursing home in a shared room, as a granddaughter, you would not be able to visit him,” Kelly said. “If your sister is living in a dorm at K-State, as a brother, you would not be able to visit her in her room.”

Kelly said she vetoed the bill because of those “numerous and significant consequences.”

“I believe the Legislature should stay out of the business of telling Kansans how to go to the bathroom and instead stay focused on how to make life more affordable for Kansans,” she said.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said he didn’t understand why the governor would veto a “common sense” bill.

“That’s not extreme — it’s basic clarity, truth, and dignity,” he said in a statement. “Kansans expect their laws to reflect reality and protect privacy. Instead of standing with the overwhelming majority of Kansans on this issue, the Governor chose to appease her most radical supporters at the cost of women and girls in our state.”

Senate President Ty Masterson said he was surprised to see Kelly “turn her back on women.”

“Sadly, our governor has decided she will side with they/them over simple, scientific truth,” Masterson said in a statement. “Kansans need not worry — the Kansas Senate will restore sanity, and override her veto.”

The House and Senate, through a series of procedural devices, passed SB 244 without allowing public input on the bathroom portion of the bill.

The legislation originated in the House Judiciary Committee as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2426/" target="_blank">House Bill 2426</a>, which originally dealt with gender markers on driver’s licenses and birth certificates. Despite little advance notice of the hearing on the bill, more than 200 people opposed HB 2426 through written testimony.

A week later, the committee debated the bill with no advance notice. Rep. Bob Lewis, R-Garden City, proposed an amendment to ban transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice and prohibiting anyone from taking a child older than 10 into a bathroom for the opposite sex.

In a “gut and go” move, the committee then placed HB 2426 into SB 244, which was completely unrelated. The move allowed the Senate, following passage by the House, to hold an immediate vote without a committee hearing first.

Numerous Democrats blasted the lack of transparency in the process&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/28/this-bill-spits-on-basic-human-decency-kansas-legislature-passes-bathroom-ban-without-hearing/">during a six-hour House debate</a>.

In a statement Friday, House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard said SB 244 was a failure of “process and priorities.”

“The bill was rushed through the Legislature without meaningful public input or debate. Beyond its flawed process, the legislation targets a small and vulnerable group of Kansans while creating sweeping and unintended consequences for communities across our state,” he said in a statement.

Like Kelly, Woodard expressed concern for the far-reaching implications of SB 244. It would affect shared hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation and treatment rooms, dorm rooms and sporting events, he said.

“This bill is bad legislation and has bad unintended consequences,” Woodard said.

Local government officials have said the bill could cost local governments&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/12/kansas-local-government-leaders-question-millions-in-costs-lack-of-detail-in-bathroom-bill/">millions of&nbsp; dollars to implement</a>.

Harper Seldin, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the Kansas bill stands out as “particularly pernicious” and different from similar legislation that has passed across the country.

“I think this bill is particularly extreme and harmful. It’s unique in that it contains these escalating criminal penalties against individual people, as well as this private right of action,” he said. “I think also the provision regarding municipal liability is particularly harmful, because it puts the price of this kind of discrimination on local taxpayers in a way that feels deeply unjust.”

SB 244 sets an initial penalty if a local government entity doesn’t comply with the bill at $25,000, with penalties escalating to $125,000 after subsequent violations. City and county officials&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/12/kansas-local-government-leaders-question-millions-in-costs-lack-of-detail-in-bathroom-bill/">have expressed concern</a>&nbsp;about the bill’s lack of clarity.

Seldin said the language in the bill is confusing for parents, who must decide whether they have to leave their 10-year-old son standing alone outside the restroom if they are using the women’s room.

“This bill is particularly poorly worded and constructed in ways that are going to create confusion and anxiety, and certainly real material harm in the event it’s enforced,” he said.

Seldin said Kansas legislators, no matter their feelings about transgender people, should consider whether the bill should be passed in its current form.

“I think that’s exactly the intent of bills like this, including the poor wording, which is to create the kind of fear and uncertainty that causes trans folks to self police and over comply, even in restrooms where they are perfectly permitted to be,” Seldin said.

Although there has been a “wave” of restroom bans across the country, Seldin said it is a solution in search of a problem.

“Trans people are much more likely to be the victims of violence than than they are to be causing it,” he said. “Public restrooms are not a site of a lot of violence or harm. I think that the assumption of these bills is that trans people are unworthy to be in society, or that there’s something dangerous about us, because we don’t conform to ideas of what men and women are. But there’s no evidence to support that.”

Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said SB 244’s focus on attacking transgender people is “appalling.”

“SB 244 is about invading privacy, forcing people into the wrong bathrooms, stripping transgender Kansans of accurate IDs, and inviting government-sanctioned harassment — all pushed through using cynical procedural tricks to silence public opposition,” Robinson said in a statement. “Shameful policies like this are part and parcel of a national right-wing anti-LGBTQ+ campaign, and they don’t make anyone safer.”

Brittany Jones, president of Kansas Family Voice, said the legislation supports the “Kansas Women’s Bill of Rights” by ensuring women and girls have private, sex-specific spaces.

“Most kindergartners know the difference between a boy and a girl and can tell you which restroom each should use, yet the governor of our state cannot seem to recognize the distinction,” she said in a written statement.

About 50 transgender people and their allies gathered&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/06/trans-kansans-and-allies-use-statehouse-restrooms-in-act-of-malicious-compliance/">Feb. 6 at the Statehouse</a>&nbsp;to use the bathroom. Calling the action a “pee-in,” they demonstrated how the bill would require people who look like men to use the women’s room, and vice versa.

“With everything going on in our government right now, why was Kansas’ main priority to target marginalized communities?” asked Matthew Neumann, executive director of the LGBTQ Foundation of Kansas.

Kansas governor vetoes anti-trans bathroom bill, citing ‘numerous and significant consequences’

A shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that took effect early Saturday impacts the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country. Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that led to historic flight cancellations and long delays last year.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/transportation-security-administration">Transportation Security Administration</a>&nbsp;officers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on Homeland Security's annual funding. TSA officers also worked through the record shutdown that ended Nov. 12, but aviation experts say this one may play out differently.

Trade groups for the U.S. travel industry and major airlines nonetheless warned that the longer DHS appropriations are lapsed, the longer security lines at the nation's commercial airports could get.

Here’s what to know about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-funding-7bf62bc50ca0a6a6013a714bee2ffdb4">the latest shutdown</a>&nbsp;and how to plan ahead.

Funding for Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-e5df415c1fd77b0609dded445edbb9d7">expired at midnight</a>. But the rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will receive paychecks as usual, reducing the risk of widespread flight cancellations.

According to the department’s contingency plan, about 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working. Democrats in the House and Senate say Homeland Security won’t get funded until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations.

During past shutdowns, disruptions to air travel tended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-cancellations-government-shutdown-5034216cb5bb41bd40e27bb7861b2dd3">build over time</a>, not overnight. About a month into last year’s shutdown, for example, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport. That same day, the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-faa-e39c423facec2b0dcc2544af48de0fa1">took the extraordinary step</a>&nbsp;of ordering all commercial airlines to reduce their domestic flight schedules.

John Rose, chief risk officer for global travel management company Altour, said strains could surface at airports more quickly this time because the TSA workforce also will be remembering the last shutdown.

“It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks,” Rose said.

It’s hard to predict whether, when or where security screening snags might pop up. Even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times at smaller airports, for example, if there's just a single security checkpoint.

That’s why travelers should plan to arrive early and allow extra time to get through security.

“I tell people to do this even in good times,” Rose said.

Experts say flight delays also are a possibility even though air traffic controllers are not affected by the DHS shutdown.

Airlines might decide to delay departures in some cases to wait for passengers to clear screening, said Rich Davis, senior security advisor at risk mitigation company International SOS. Shortages of TSA officers also could slow the screening of checked luggage behind the scenes.

Most airports display security line wait times on their websites, but don't wait until the day of a flight to check them, Rose advised.

“You may look online and it says two-and-a-half hours," he said. "Now it’s two-and-a-half hours before your flight and you haven't left for the airport yet.”

Passengers should also pay close attention while packing since prohibited items are likely to prolong the screening process. For carry-on bags, avoid bringing full-size shampoo or other liquids, large gels or aerosols and items like pocketknives in carry-on bags.

TSA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all">has a full list</a>&nbsp;on its website of what is and isn't allowed in carry-on and checked luggage.

At the airport, Rose said, remember to “practice patience and empathy."

“Not only are they not getting paid,” he said of TSA agents, “they’re probably working with reduced staff and dealing with angry travelers.”

The White House has been negotiating with Democratic lawmakers, but the two sides failed to reach a deal by the end of the week before senators and members of Congress were set to leave Washington for a 10-day break.

Lawmakers in both chambers were on notice, however, to return if a deal to end the shutdown is struck.

Democrats have said they won’t help approve more funding for Homeland Security until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-enforcement-democrats-homeland-security-trump-bcde78c38605732106fb77e46373dc9a">new restrictions</a>&nbsp;are placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis last month.

In a joint statement, U.S. Travel, Airlines for America and the American Hotel &amp; Lodging Association warned that the shutdown threatens to disrupt air travel as the busy spring break travel season approaches.

“Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, which increases the risk of unscheduled absences and call outs, and ultimately can lead to higher wait times and missed or delayed flights,” the statement said.

TSA agents are working without pay at US airports due to another shutdown

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Friday in Kansas City, Missouri.

A white Nissan Murano was southbound on Virginia in Kansas City at a high rate of speed, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina. The Nissan failed to stop for the posted stop sign at Rockhurst and Virginia. 

The Nissan continued southbound and struck a gold Jeep wrangler that was unoccupied and parked on Rockhurst. After striking the Jeep, the Nissan continued over the curb and up the grassy hill where it began to roll. The struck the Rockhurst College’s “Corcoran Building” before coming to rest. 

The driver and sole occupant of the Nissan was transported to a local hospital with Life-threatening injuries. The driver was pronounced deceased by hospital staff. This is fatality #7 compared to #5 at this time last year in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Becchina.

Driver dead after crash into building on college campus in Kansas City

On Friday at the direction of U.S. Southern commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations, according to a social media report.

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

The attack raises the death toll from the U.S. strikes on drug boats to 133 people in at least 38 attacks carried out since early September in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

🎥3 killed in another U.S. strike on a drug boat in the Caribbean

JOHNSON COUNTY —A man who admitted his role in a fentanyl overdose death is going to prison.

Last month, Judge Thomas Sutherland sentenced 34-year-old Gerrell M. McKoy to 184 months in prison for drug distribution causing death and 12 months for theft of between $12,000 and $100,000.

In October McKoy pleaded guilty to the charges in the death of 25-year-old Michael Danilov in March of 2020.

Kan. man going to prison for deadly fentanyl overdose death

SALINE COUNTY —Two Kansas teens are facing multiple allegations after a burglary in Salina.

Just before 2a.m. Friday, an officer on routine patrol in Salina observed the front door glass of Rod’s 5 convenience story, 680 S. Phillips Avenue in Salina, shattered, according to&nbsp;Police Captain James Feldman.

Officers searched the business and determined a burglary had occurred and numerous vapes had been stolen from the building. 

Officers also located blood near the broken glass. Police alerted the hospital and asked them to contact law enforcement if any came to the hospital with lacerations. 

At about 2:00 AM, the hospital reported a 17-year-old boy arrived with a laceration to his arm. Officers spoke with the boy who confirmed he had broken into the business along with a 16-year-old boy. Officers went to the residence of both suspects located in the 600 block of Gypsum where they took the second boy into custody and recovered the stolen vapes. 

Both boys face charges of Burglary, Felony Theft and Damage to property. The estimated theft is valued at over $1,000, and the damage is valued at about $1,000.

Hospital helps police catch Kansas teen injured in burglary

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Thursday pardoned five former professional football players — one posthumously — for various crimes ranging from perjury to drug trafficking.

The pardons were announced by White House pardon czar Alice Marie Johnson. Ex-NFL players Joe Klecko, Nate Newton, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry and the late Billy Cannon were granted the clemency.

“As football reminds us, excellence is built on grit, grace, and the courage to rise again. So is our nation,” Johnson wrote on the social media site X, as she thanked Trump for his “continued commitment to second chances.”

Johnson said Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones “personally” shared the news with Newton, who won three Super Bowls with the team.

The White House did not return a request for comment Thursday night on why Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-yankees-baseball-first-pitch-sporting-event-trips-79ad4edabf534e1a42e637eece2446ed">an avid sports fan,</a>&nbsp;pardoned the players.

Klecko, a former star for the New York Jets, pleaded guilty to perjury after lying to a federal grand jury that was investigating insurance fraud. A defensive lineman, Klecko was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023. He was a two-time Associated Press All-Pro player and a four-time Pro Bowler.

Newton, an offensive lineman, pleaded guilty to a federal drug trafficking charge after authorities discovered $10,000 in his pickup truck as well as 175 pounds of marijuana in an accompanying car driven by another man. Newton was a two-time All-Pro player and six-time Pro Bowler.

Lewis, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns, pleaded guilty in a drug case in which he used a cellphone to try to set up a drug deal not long after he was a top pick in the 2000 NFL draft. Lewis, a running back, was named an All-Pro once and was a one-time Pro Bowler. He was named the 2003 AP Offensive Player of the Year.

Henry, who played for the Denver Broncos, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to traffic cocaine for financing a drug ring that moved the drug between Colorado and Montana. He was a running back for three teams and a one-time Pro Bowler.

And Cannon — who played with the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs — admitted to counterfeiting in the mid-1980s after a series of bad investments and debts left him broke.

Cannon was a two-time All-Pro player and a two-time Pro Bowler. Cannon also won the 1959 Heisman Trophy while starring for Louisiana State University, where he had one of the most memorable plays in college football history: an 89-yard punt return for a touchdown against Ole Miss.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ac10ccf096094237bb319f9e4d6a00d1">He died in 2018</a>.

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