In a joint meeting on Wednesday, members&nbsp;of&nbsp;the Reno County Commission and Hutchinson City Council reviewed survey results on&nbsp;community&nbsp;willingness to pay&nbsp;additional&nbsp;sales tax.&nbsp;At the&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;members from the city and county expressed frustration and support over&nbsp;the situation&nbsp;regarding&nbsp;potential sales tax increases.&nbsp;

Reno County Commission Chair Ron Hirst said earlier discussions among the county, the City of Hutchinson, the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, and the Hutchinson Community Foundation led to a consensus to explore&nbsp;a countywide&nbsp;sales tax. Based on that, the commission partnered with Wichita State University’s Public Policy and Management Center in June 2025 to survey registered voters.&nbsp;

In&nbsp;December, the Hutchinson City Council&nbsp;placed&nbsp;a three-quarter cent sales tax for voters to approve&nbsp;in a March 3 election.&nbsp;The reasoning behind placing the issue on the ballot is that the city faces a list of projects, and with budget projections, and they face the&nbsp;possibility&nbsp;of layoffs without&nbsp;new revenue.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hirst in the meeting expressed disappointment that the city acted to place the issue on the ballot before the county had&nbsp;received&nbsp;the study that they had hired Wichita State to perform. The county&nbsp;faces a&nbsp;Jan. 25 deadline to present a request to the legislature to place a sales tax issue on August primary ballot.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Council Member Greg Fast said Hutchinson would&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;from a countywide tax but more so&nbsp;from&nbsp;its own. Villegas characterized the proposals as complementary, saying, “We can all coexist here.”&nbsp;

Survey results presented by Wichita State showed 70% of respondents willing to support a 0.5% county sales tax, 51% willing to support 0.75%, and 40% willing to support 1%. The strongest support for use of funds was for property tax relief, followed by economic development incentives and county road improvements. Lower support was shown for sewer and water extensions in smaller cities, jail expansion, and housing incentives.&nbsp;

Reno County, Hutchinson leaders air support and tensions over sales tax plans

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks to Leslie Grant with Wichita State University's Community Education program to discuss their free lifelong learning program.

For more details go to the web site Wichita.edu/lifelonglearning&nbsp; &nbsp;Or call the office 316-978-3731

🎙 Forward Ever: Leslie Grant with WSU's Community Education Program

TOPEKA, Kan. – Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland encourages jobseekers and employers searching for available talent to take part in this year’s first Virtual Statewide Job Fair, hosted by&nbsp;KANSASWORKS, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, January 22.

“The new year is all about new doors opening and new opportunities on the horizon,”&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “And what better way to kickstart your new year than exploring the wide array of fulfilling career opportunities available in Kansas.”

The Virtual Job Fair format allows anyone searching for a new job to fill out applications, chat live and interview virtually with participating employers.

This month’s Virtual Statewide Job Fair portal features helpful information such as a jobseeker training video, a list of participating employers and channels for attendees to register and log in. Jobseekers are encouraged to dress professionally, as they might be asked to engage in an interview.

Candidates can participate through any digital device. Any individual with a disability may request accommodation by contacting their nearest workforce center at (877) 509-6757 prior to the event.

Registration is required to participate in virtual job fairs, regardless of previous participation. To register, click&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fapp.premiervirtual.com%2Fevents%2F4fa13887-56f5-4f70-8a8e-15ad40a883d7%2Fkansasworks-virtual-statewide-job-fair-january-22,-2026/1/0101019b9e563bde-3582bec5-c4b5-4a92-b26a-425ebfb89d80-000000/AcS4yBb1tab0tbPVNUe0q3N2geF3QYIdyaodDh0okxU=439">here</a>.

State to hold first virtual job fair of the year

The Kansas Supreme Court has unanimously affirmed the convictions of a man found guilty of killing two people in Reno County, rejecting arguments that errors during the trial warranted a new proceeding.

A jury previously convicted Kyle Hardwick of two counts of first-degree premeditated murder. On direct appeal, Hardwick argued that the Reno County District Court erred by failing to instruct jurors on imperfect self-defense and by allowing evidence related to his post-arrest silence, which he said violated his Fifth Amendment rights.

In a unanimous opinion authored by Melissa Standridge, the court upheld the convictions, concluding that any error related to jury instructions was harmless in light of the overwhelming evidence presented at trial.

The court determined that even if an imperfect self-defense instruction should have been given, the absence of that instruction did not affect the outcome of the case because the evidence supporting the jury’s verdict was substantial.

The justices also rejected Hardwick’s claim regarding his post-arrest silence. The court ruled that the admission of this evidence did not violate constitutional protections because Hardwick “opened the door” through his own testimony by suggesting a willingness to cooperate with law enforcement that was inconsistent with his actual silence after arrest.

Additionally, the court found that prosecutors used the evidence narrowly and appropriately for impeachment purposes, rather than to suggest guilt, which the court said is constitutionally permissible.

As a result of the ruling, Hardwick’s convictions and sentences remain in place.

Hardwick was sentenced in April of 2023 to two consecutive life sentences for the murders of Marion Edward “Ed” Bates, 56, and Phillip “Phil” D. Anstine, 58, both of Hutchinson. Concurrent with his life convictions, Hardwick was sentenced to eight months for his third alternative count of theft and seven months for solicitation of perjury.  

Kansas Supreme Court affirms Hardwick's 2023 conviction

The national average for a gallon of regular gas went up a couple of cents since last week to $2.84. Drivers are still paying less than they were last year when the national average was $3.08. 

Pump prices are typically low in January thanks to a dip in gas demand and cheaper winter blend gasoline. Crude oil prices remain low as markets keep an eye on tensions in Iran, which is a member of OPEC and one of the world’s top oil producers. Any disruption to Iran’s oil infrastructure could have a ripple effect on gas prices here at home.&nbsp;

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eia.gov/" target="_blank">new data from the Energy Information Administration</a>&nbsp;(EIA), gasoline&nbsp;demand&nbsp;increased&nbsp;last week&nbsp;from 8.17&nbsp;million&nbsp;b/d&nbsp;to&nbsp;8.30&nbsp;million.&nbsp;Total domestic gasoline&nbsp;supply&nbsp;increased&nbsp;from&nbsp;242&nbsp;million&nbsp;barrels&nbsp;to&nbsp;251&nbsp;million.&nbsp;Gasoline production increased last week, averaging 9.0 million barrels per day.&nbsp;

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI&nbsp;rose 87 cents&nbsp;to&nbsp;settle at&nbsp;$62.02&nbsp;a barrel.&nbsp;The EIA&nbsp;reports&nbsp;crude oil inventories&nbsp;increased by 3.4 million barrels from the previous week. At 422.4 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 3% below the five-year average for this time of year.&nbsp;

Gas prices nudge higher, but remain lower than last year

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. ——————————————

Westley	Hardin	Brown		1/15/2026 8:39&nbsp;AM	Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction)

Ambresia	Chloe	Leaks		1/15/2026 4:11&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conv,					DL Violation; Drive While Habitual Violator

1/15/2026 10:16&nbsp;PM	Aston		Jimmy	Eugene	Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Daily Bookings

The Salvation Army’s Christmas fundraising is getting closer to the end with less than 3 weeks to go. This is their most important fundraising season which ends on January 31.

This year, The Salvation Army is encouraging the community to “Give With Joy”! “Giving With Joy is a foreign concept for many because they’ve either not been taught the act of giving to others, or they’ve not experienced “it” to see the Joy that giving can bring, said Major James”. Therefore, The Salvation Army asks, Have you experienced “IT”?

Many in our community may or may not know what it means to struggle with utilities, to pay their rent on time, and many other ways The Salvation Army meets the needs in our community. Most have not received a shutoff notice in the mail and not known what they will do or how to break the news to their family. This is a real problem that many in Reno County face each year. Tabitha Nearing, the case worker at The Salvation Army shared, “Most who come to us have held out hope only to receive a shut-off notice or an eviction notice with no idea what they’re going to do. Whether it’s the help they received from us, or the combined effort of connecting resources with The Village, most leave with tears of gratitude because there was help available to them. They no longer have the hopelessness or burden of not knowing what will happen.” This is how you can Give With Joy to The Salvation Army knowing that you can bring Hope to those in our community.

The Salvation Army’s overall seasonal goal is $300,000 with just over 2 weeks to go. “We have about $68,000 left in order to reach our overall goal of $300,000”, said Major James. With 3 weeks left in January you can still help The Salvation Army give hope to roughly 12% of the community regardless of the size of your donation. There’s nothing like giving help to someone who isn’t in the position to do so for themselves, and it’s joyful knowing that your gift helped to make it possible.

Your Joyful Gifts can be dropped off at The Salvation Army’s office located at 700 N Walnut, or send your donations in their return envelopes from their mailers. You can also donate online at www.GiveWithJoyHutch.com. Please call Major James at 620-663-3353 with any questions on how you might be able to give financially.

Salvation Army fundraising in final weeks

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

Three-day Outlook

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Visit Hutch has added Emma Zoglmann as its new group services coordinator, effective Jan. 12.

In her role, Zoglmann will coordinate and support group events, meetings and tours in Hutchinson, working with local partners to ensure visitors have a positive and welcoming experience.

“We are so happy to have Emma join our team,” said LeAnn Cox, vice president of operations and tourism for Visit Hutch. “Her enthusiasm and commitment to creating memorable experiences will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow Hutchinson as a premier destination for group travel.”

Zoglmann brings experience in event planning and hospitality, with a background supporting conferences, trade shows and large-scale events. Her professional experience includes work at Boot Hill Casino and Resort and the Stride Bank Center, with a focus on logistics, coordination and guest experience.

She holds a bachelor of science degree in tourism and hospitality management with a certificate in marketing from Fort Hays State University.

Visit Hutch officials said Zoglmann’s passion for community engagement and visitor satisfaction aligns with the organization’s mission to promote Hutchinson as a vibrant and welcoming destination.

More information about Visit Hutch is available at <a href="http://visithutch.com">visithutch.com</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Visit Hutch welcomes Emma Zoglmann as new Group Services Coordinator

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Central Christian School has announced the upcoming retirement of elementary principal Judy Parsons, who will conclude her service at the end of the 2025-26 academic year.

Parsons has spent more than a decade in leadership at Central Christian School, where administrators say she leaves behind a legacy defined by academic excellence, innovation and Christ-centered service.

Parsons joined Central Christian School in 2015 after retiring from the Wichita public school system. Her return to education followed an alumni and reunion weekend visit with her husband, Richard, a Central Christian alumnus, that school leaders say became a calling to serve in Christian education.

During her tenure, Parsons played a key role in shaping the school’s elementary program. Her work included enhancing professional development, strengthening campus safety protocols, overseeing after-school care programming, guiding Measures of Academic Progress testing and supporting numerous initiatives across campus.

“Judy has been a builder of people, programs and purpose,” Superintendent John Walker said. “She has served as a faithful shepherd, a wise mentor and a devoted leader who always sought to honor Christ in her work. Her impact will be felt for years to come.”

In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Parsons was deeply involved in the spiritual life of the school, regularly leading chapel services and sharing the Christian faith with students, staff and families.

“She has shaped not only systems, but hearts,” Walker said. “Her love for students and her unwavering commitment to the mission of Central Christian School has left an indelible mark on our community.”

As the school prepares for the transition, Central Christian School has begun accepting applications for its next elementary principal. School leaders said they are seeking a candidate who feels called to Christian education, is passionate about discipling students and thrives in a collaborative, Christ-centered environment.

Those interested in the position can find more information and submit applications at cougarsccs.com/page/employment-opportunities, where an in-depth elementary principal search profile is also available.

“While Judy will be deeply missed, we trust that God is already preparing the next leader for this role,” Walker said. “We are not simply filling a position. We are seeking another servant leader who will continue this important work.”

Central Christian School invited the community to join in celebrating Parsons’ legacy of leadership, faithfulness and devotion to students and families.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Central Christian School elementary principal Judy Parsons to retire after 2025-26 school year

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Cosmosphere will host an Artemis II Launch Watch Party as NASA prepares for the first crewed mission of its Artemis program, sending astronauts around the moon for the first time in more than 50 years.

The free public event will be held on the official Artemis II launch date, which NASA currently anticipates within a window from Feb. 6 to Feb. 11. Because launch schedules depend on mission readiness, weather and technical reviews, the exact date and time remain subject to change. Cosmosphere officials said event timing will be adjusted as needed once NASA confirms a targeted launch attempt.

The watch party will feature live coverage of the launch, immersive programming, expert presentations and space-themed activities. A live NASA broadcast of the Artemis II launch attempt will be shown in the Justice Planetarium, with additional hands-on and family-friendly activities available throughout the evening. Concessions and dining options will also be open during the event.

A limited VIP experience will be available for $35, offering reserved seating in the Cosmosphere’s Mission Control room, an enhanced viewing environment and complimentary Artemis-themed promotional items.

The event will also include a presentation by John Mulnix, a NASA Solar System Ambassador, titled “Countdown to Artemis II.”

Artemis II will be NASA’s first crewed mission of the Artemis program. Four astronauts will travel aboard the Orion spacecraft on a multi-day journey around the moon and back to Earth. The mission is designed to test critical systems with a human crew and help lay the groundwork for future lunar missions, including a return to the moon’s surface.

Cosmosphere officials emphasized that, due to the dynamic nature of spaceflight, the launch date could shift. The watch party is planned to align with NASA’s official launch attempt, and guests are encouraged to follow NASA and Cosmosphere communication channels for the latest updates.

Registration for the event will open soon. Tickets and additional information will be available at cosmo.org/upcoming-events.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Cosmosphere to host historic Artemis II Launch Watch Party

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-schoenbaum">HANNAH SCHOENBAUM</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/matthew-brown">MATTHEW BROWN</a>

PROVO, Utah (AP) — The Utah man charged with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-things-to-know-dcde3f792f4d6636d44fb9f4fa53569c">killing conservative activist Charlie Kirk</a>&nbsp;returned to court Friday as his attorneys seek to disqualify prosecutors because an adult child of a deputy county attorney involved in the case attended the rally where Kirk was shot.

Defense attorneys say the relationship represents a conflict of interest after prosecutors said they intend to seek the death penalty against Tyler Robinson for aggravated murder.

Robinson, 22, has pleaded not guilty in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-conservative-activist-shot-546165a8151104e0938a5e085be1e8bd">Sept. 10 shooting</a>&nbsp;of Kirk on the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-police-charlie-kirk-d7d464c949ec9d4abad0eb3910d6a96b">Utah Valley University</a>&nbsp;campus in Orem, just a few miles north of the Provo courthouse.

The 18-year-old child who attended the event -- and whose name was redacted from court filings -- later texted with their father in the Utah County Attorney’s Office to describe the chaotic events around the shooting, the filings from prosecutors and defense lawyers state.

Robinson’s attorneys say that personal relationship is a conflict of interest that “raises serious concerns about past and future prosecutorial decision-making in this case,” according to court documents. They also argue that the “rush” to seek the death penalty against Robinson is evidence of “strong emotional reactions” by the prosecution and merits the disqualification of the entire team.

Defense attorney Richard Novak urged Judge Tony Graf on Friday to bring in the state attorney general’s office in place of Utah County prosecutors to address the conflict of interest. Novak said it was problematic for county prosecutors to litigate on behalf of the state while defending their aptness to remain on the case.

Utah County Attorney Richard Gray replied that Novak’s last-minute request was aimed at delaying the case against Robinson.

“This is ambush and another stalling tactic to delay these proceedings,” Gray said.

The director of a state council that trains prosecutors said he was not aware of any other major case where attorneys had been disqualified for bias.

“I would bet against the defense winning this motion,” Utah Prosecution Council Director Robert Church said. “They’ve got to a show a substantial amount of prejudice and bias.”

Several thousand people attended the outdoor rally where Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-turning-point-trump-cf2a68e4303c5628299ffe383d09c1e9">helped mobilize young people</a>&nbsp;to vote for President Donald Trump, was shot as he took questions from the audience. The adult child of the deputy county attorney did not see the shooting, according to an affidavit submitted by prosecutors.

“While the second person in line was speaking with Charlie, I was looking around the crowd when I heard a loud sound, like a pop. Someone yelled, ‘he’s been shot,’ ” the child stated in the affidavit.

The child later texted a family group chat to say “CHARLIE GOT SHOT.” In the aftermath of the shooting, the child did not miss classes or other activities, and reported no lasting trauma “aside from being scared at the time,” the affidavit said.

Prosecutors have asked Judge Graf to deny the disqualification request.

“Under these circumstances, there is virtually no risk, let alone a significant risk, that it would arouse such emotions in any father-prosecutor as to render him unable to fairly prosecute the case,” county attorney Gray said in a filing.

Gray also said the child was “neither a material witness nor a victim in the case” and that “nearly everything” the person knows about the actual homicide is mere hearsay.

If the Utah county prosecutors were disqualified, the case would likely be picked up by prosecutors in a county with enough resources to handle a big case. That could be Salt Lake City, or possibly even the state attorney general’s office, said prosecution council director Church. The judge would have the final say, he said.

Prosecutors have said text messages and DNA evidence connect Robinson to the killing. Robinson reportedly texted his romantic partner that he targeted Kirk because he “had enough of his hatred.”

At the school where the shooting took place, university president Astrid Tuminez announced Wednesday that she will be stepping down from her role after the semester ends in May.

The state university has been working to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utah-valley-university-police-charlie-kirk-d7d464c949ec9d4abad0eb3910d6a96b">expand its police force</a>&nbsp;and add security managers after it was criticized for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-security-utah-valley-university-85cefc5ef2a64d3c33ebea6a444e0c52">lack of key safety measures</a>&nbsp;on the day of the shooting.

Prosecutors are expected to lay out their case against Robinson at a preliminary hearing scheduled to begin May 18.

Shocking request of judge from accused Charlie Kirk killer  

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Justice Department is investigating whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have impeded federal immigration enforcement through public statements they have made, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The investigation focused on potential violation of a conspiracy statute, the people said.

The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a pending investigation by name.

CBS News first reported the investigation.

In response to reports of the investigation, Walz said in a statement: “Two days ago it was Elissa Slotkin. Last week it was Jerome Powell. Before that, Mark Kelly. Weaponizing the justice system and threatening political opponents is a dangerous, authoritarian tactic.”

Senators Kelly and Slotkin, U.S. senators Arizona and Michigan, are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/slotkin-trump-investigation-democrats-video-illegal-orders-a4714c0008e4b48b2baf260470096812">under investigation</a>&nbsp;from the Trump administration after appearing with other Democratic lawmakers in a video urging members of the military to resist “illegal orders,” while the administration has launched a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-subpoena-bf4fc6c690fa248fbc531bc9bc7f1758">criminal investigation</a>&nbsp;of Powell, the federal reserve chair.

Walz’s office said it has not received any notice of an investigation.

Frey described the investigation as an attempt to intimidate him for “standing up for Minneapolis, our local law enforcement, and our residents against the chaos and danger this Administration has brought to our streets.”

“I will not be intimidated,” he added. "My focus will remain where it’s always been: keeping our city safe.

The investigation comes during a weekslong immigration crackdown in Minneapolis and St. Paul that the Department of Homeland Security has called its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-ice-noem-minnesota-somali-db661df6de1131a034da2bda4bb3d817">largest enforcement operation</a>, resulting in more than 2,500 arrests.

The operation has become more confrontational since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">fatal shooting of Renee Good on Jan. 7</a>. State and local officials have repeatedly told protesters to remain peaceful.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Minneapolis did not immediately comment.

In a post on the social media platform X following reports of the investigation,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pam-bondi">Attorney General Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;said: “A reminder to all those in Minnesota: No one is above the law.” She did not specifically mention the investigation.

State authorities, meanwhile, had a message for any weekend protests against the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-protests-immigration-agents-crowd-control-policing-ice-dhs-bd9335c2b0b793a3bff5c51287a80819">unprecedented immigration sweep</a>&nbsp;in the Twin Cities: avoid confrontation.

“While peaceful expression is protected, any actions that harm people, destroy property or jeopardize public safety will not be tolerated,” said Commissioner Bob Jacobson of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

His comments came after President Donald Trump backed off a bit from his threat a day earlier to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-insurrection-act-history-fdr-minneapolis-901631b98c96a425dc0c9b10a041bdac">invoke an 1807 law</a>, the Insurrection Act, to send troops to suppress demonstrations.

“I don’t think there’s any reason right now to use it, but if I needed it, I’d use it,” Trump told reporters outside the White House.

A Liberian man who has been shuttled in and out of custody since immigration agents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-protests-shootings-minneapolis-portland-3f9db36657dda5bfebf9c240b6011ee5">broke down his door</a>&nbsp;with a battering ram was released again Friday, hours after a routine check-in with authorities led to his second arrest.

The dramatic initial arrest of Garrison Gibson last weekend was captured on video. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-arrest-judge-orders-release-garrison-gibson-0d584d5efa50661ee920fda57a401a2f">ruled the arrest unlawful</a>&nbsp;Thursday and freed him, but Gibson was detained again Friday when he appeared at an immigration office.

A few hours later, Gibson was free again, attorney Marc Prokosch said.

“In the words of my client, he said that somebody at ICE said they bleeped up and so they re-released him this afternoon and so he’s out of custody,” Prokosch said, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Gibson, 37, who fled the civil war in his West African home country as a child, had been ordered removed from the U.S., apparently because of a 2008 drug conviction that was later dismissed. He has remained in the country legally under what’s known as an order of supervision, Prokosch said, and complied with the requirement that he meet regularly with immigration authorities.

In his Thursday order, the judge agreed that officials violated regulations by not giving Gibson enough notice that his supervision status had been revoked. Prokosch said he was told by ICE that they are “now going through their proper channels" to revoke the order.

Meanwhile, tribal leaders and Native American rights organizations are advising anyone with a tribal ID to carry it with them when out in public in case they are approached by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers.

Native Americans across the U.S. have reported being stopped or detained by ICE, and tribal leaders are asking members to report these contacts.

Democratic members of Congress held a local meeting Friday to hear from people who say they've had aggressive encounters with immigration agents. St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, who is Hmong American, said people are walking around with their passports in case they are challenged, and she has received reports of ICE agents going from door to door “asking where the Asian people live.” Thousands of Hmong people, largely from the Southeast Asian nation of Laos, have settled in the United States since the 1970s.

911 caller: Good was shot ‘point blank’

Minneapolis authorities released police and fire dispatch logs and transcripts of 911 calls, all related to the fatal shooting of Good. Firefighters found what appeared to be two gunshot wounds in her right chest, one in her left forearm and a possible gunshot wound on the left side of her head, records show.

“They shot her, like, cause she wouldn’t open her car door,” a caller said. “Point blank range in her car.”

Good, 37, was at the wheel of her Honda Pilot, which was partially blocking a street. Video showed an officer approached the SUV, demanded that she open the door and grabbed the handle.

Good began to pull forward and turned the vehicle's wheel to the right. Another ICE officer, Jonathan Ross, pulled his gun and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-shooting-lethal-force-ice-vehicle-924518502d8dd9ad3cb03a476a278818">fired at close range</a>, jumping back as the SUV moved past him. DHS claims the agent shot Good in self-defense.

FBI Director Kash Patel said at least one person has been arrested for stealing property from an FBI vehicle in Minneapolis. The SUV was among government vehicles whose windows were broken Wednesday evening. Attorney General Pam Bondi said body armor and weapons were stolen.

The destruction occurred when agents were responding to a shooting during an immigration arrest. Trump subsequently said on social media that he would invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials don’t stop the “professional agitators and insurrectionists” there.

Minnesota’s attorney general responded by saying he would sue if the president acts.

Richer and Tucker reported from Washington. Associated Press reporters Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Ed White and Corey Williams in Detroit; Graham Lee Brewer in Oklahoma City; Jesse Bedayn in Denver; Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu; Hallie Golden in Seattle; and Ben Finley in Washington contributed.

Justice Dept. investigating whether Minnesota Gov. impeded immigration enforcement

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;agreed on Friday to hear an appeal from global agrochemical manufacturer Bayer to block thousands of state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller could cause cancer.

The justices will consider whether the Environmental Protection Agency's approval of the Roundup weedkiller without a cancer warning should rule out the state court claims.

The Trump administration has weighed in on Bayer's behalf, reversing the Biden administration's position and putting it at odds with some supporters of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-jr-kennedy-trump-health-hhs-maha-5e1e9e3208c42b6a185facad26e3b457">the Make America Healthy Again agenda</a>&nbsp;who oppose giving the company the legal immunity it seeks.

Some studies associate Roundup’s key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer, although the EPA has said it is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/glyphosate">not likely to be carcinogenic</a>&nbsp;to humans when used as directed.

Bayer disputes the cancer claims but has set aside $16 billion to settle cases. At the same time, it has tried to persuade states to pass laws barring the lawsuits. Georgia and North Dakota have done so.

The high court will take up a case from Missouri, in which a jury awarded $1.25 million to a man who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after spraying Roundup on a community garden in St. Louis.

The Supreme Court in 2022 declined to hear a similar claim from Bayer in a California case that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-lifestyle-environment-and-nature-california-san-francisco-b0ef61238f5e83778fb12e748bc97593">awarded more than $86 million</a>&nbsp;to a married couple.

But Germany-based Bayer, which acquired Roundup maker Monsanto in 2018, contends the Supreme Court should intervene now because lower courts have issued conflicting rulings. In 2024, the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in Bayer’s favor.

Bayer faces about 181,000 Roundup claims, mostly from residential users. It has stopped using glyphosate in Roundup sold in the U.S. residential lawn and garden market. But glyphosate remains in agricultural products. It’s designed to be used with genetically modified seeds, including corn, soybeans and cotton, that resist the weedkiller’s deadly effect. It allows farmers to produce more while conserving the soil by tilling it less.

Bayer has said it might have to consider pulling glyphosate from U.S. agricultural markets if the lawsuits persist.

"It is time for the U.S. legal system to establish that companies should not be punished under state laws for complying with federal warning label requirements,” Bayer CEO Bill Anderson said in a statement.

Environmental groups said Bayer wants to keep juries out of the lawsuits because it keeps losing in state courts.

"It’s a sad day in America when our highest court agrees to consider depriving thousands of Roundup users suffering from cancer of their day in court,” said Lori Ann Burd, environmental health director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

It’s unclear if the case will be argued in the spring or at the start of the next court term, in October.

Supreme Court will hear appeal by maker of weedkiller to block thousands of lawsuits

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that critically injured one person.

Just after 11p.m. Wednesday, police responded to a shooting call at the intersection of SE 6th St. and Sherman Street in Topeka, according to a media release.

Police then received information on a shooting victim arriving at a local hospital by private vehicle. The shooting victim was air-lifted to a Kansas City hospital with life-threatening injuries. Police have reported no additional details.

Police: Kansas shooting victim air lifted to a hospital

RILEY COUNTY— An elementary school was briefly evacuated on Friday due a fire.

Just before noon Friday, crews responded to a small fire at Marlatt Elementary School,&nbsp;2715 Hobbs Drive in Manhattan, according to a social media report from the Manhattan Fire Department.. Before 1p.m. the fire was extinguished and students&nbsp; allowed back into the building. No injuries were reported.&nbsp; The fire department has not released details on what cause the fire ore additional information.

Kan. elementary school evacuated due to fire

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Legislators got their first look at Gov. Laura Kelly’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2027 on Wednesday, finding a plan that prioritizes funding for schools and special education, expanded mental health services and creating a 10-year water plan.

Budget director and administration secretary Adam Proffitt presented the spending blueprint virtually at the joint meeting of the Senate and House budget committees.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://budget.kansas.gov/budget-report/" target="_blank">governor’s budget</a>&nbsp;was set after Kelly completed a statewide tour to hear from Kansans, Proffitt said.

“Last fall, I spoke directly with Kansans, who were clear about the priorities they wanted reflected in my budget: fully funded public schools, investments in health care, and action to address our water challenges,” Kelly said in a news release. “My budget delivers on Kansans’ wishes while remaining balanced and ensuring that we protect Kansas’ fiscal foundation.”

The governor’s budget used a projected 1.7% revenue growth for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1, as a basis, Proffitt said. The recommended budget total of $10.8 billion comes in 1.6% higher than last fiscal year’s approved budget, he said.

Proffitt said $35 million of the increase comes from one-time expenditures, and if those expenditures are removed, the budget increase would be 1.3%, the amount total tax collections are expected to grow during the upcoming fiscal year.&nbsp;

Diving into budget details, Proffitt said a few spending increases are tied to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which shifted some costs to the states. For instance, the state will pay a higher portion of administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which the governor accounted for by including $21 million in the budget, he said.

Legislators at the hearing questioned whether the budget included paying a penalty for&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/13/committee-questions-delay-on-implementing-kansas-food-assistance-ban-on-soda-candy/">the state’s high SNAP error rate</a>, which could be between $20-40 million, depending on the rate, but Proffitt said the penalty won’t be assessed until fiscal year 2028.&nbsp;

That gives the state time to get the error rate below 6%, which would carry no penalty, he said.

The error rate measures mistakes that have been made in allocating dollars for recipients, and can include data entry mistakes and incorrect calculations. The federal goal is a rate below 6%.&nbsp; Kansas had a 9% rate for 2025.

The federal law also had more stringent work requirements for SNAP recipients, which increased administrative costs at the state level an estimated $4 million, Proffitt said.

Kelly recommended full funding for K-12 general education for two full years, Proffitt said, which provides predictability to school districts.

The school funding formula sunsets at the end of fiscal year 2027, and Proffitt said the governor’s budget extends the current school finance formula into 2028.

The governor recommended spending $2.5 million to eliminate the co-pay for 34,000 students who receive reduced lunches.

“The governor is recommending an incremental $50.6 million of (State General Fund) to fund special education for fiscal year 2027,” Proffitt said, adding that is 70% of excess costs, which is still well below the 92% required in statute.

The state has not funded special education to the 92% level in 15 years, he said.

“Funding for special education is really a shared responsibility between the federal government and the state government,” Proffitt said. “The governor is calling on the feds again to meet their obligation and increase their level of funding here in Kansas for special education. We simply cannot get to 92% without more federal support.”

“Water remains among the top priorities in the state, not just for the administration but obviously for many in the Legislature,” Proffitt said. “It’s one of the most critical resources we have in the state, and we know we have a tall order ahead of us to make sure it’s available for the next several generations.”

The governor’s budget recommends full funding at $8 million for the state water plan fund, and Kelly wants to work with the Legislature to develop a long-term water roadmap, Proffitt said.&nbsp;

Kelly asked for $12.6 million to fully fund a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/04/kansas-advocacy-organizations-offer-strategy-for-curtailing-waitlist-for-disability-services/">new Community Support waiver</a>, which is expected to eliminate some of the stress from the current intellectual and developmental disability waiver, Proffitt said.

In addition, Kelly’s budget outlines an additional $10 million to address increased demand on the technology assistance waiver, which helps individuals younger than 21 who need life-sustaining medical equipment and technology.

Kelly’s budget includes $15 million to support increased Children’s Health Insurance Program caseloads. Her budget includes dollars for contract nursing at Larned State Hospital and Osawatomie State Hospital, about $37 million for both.

The state hospital system has been scrutinized closely over the past couple of years, Proffitt said, and the governor recommends a budget allocation of $38.9 million to strengthen the system.

“We recognize that there is both a capacity issue across the state hospital system but also staffing issues,” Proffitt said.

The House proposed a budget bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/hb2434_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2434</a>, this week, breaking tradition with past years when the governor’s budget is taken into consideration before they put together their budget,

Kansas governor’s budget highlights education, mental health care, water and state employee raises

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that that critically injured a woman.

Just after 3a.m. Thursday, police responded to an aggravated assault in the 1800 Block of East 76th Terrace in Kansas City, Missouri, according to a statement from police.

First responders found a woman on the front porch of a home suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. EMS transported the woman was to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; Police reported no additional detais.

KCPD: Woman shot on the porch of her home

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Social media companies have revoked access to about 4.7 million accounts identified as belonging to children in Australia since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-under-16-children-8b992efa5138704bc02ee9fc974f6987">the country banned use of the platforms</a>&nbsp;by those under 16, officials said.

“We stared down everybody who said it couldn’t be done, some of the most powerful and rich companies in the world and their supporters,” communications minister Anika Wells told reporters on Friday. “Now Australian parents can be confident that their kids can have their childhoods back.”

The figures, reported to Australia’s government by 10 social media platforms, were the first to show the scale of the landmark ban since it was enacted in December over fears about the effects of harmful online environments on young people. The law&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-children-1abadf5445418c8c14f5f68cf76b38d0">provoked fraught debates</a>&nbsp;in Australia about technology use, privacy, child safety and mental health and has prompted other countries to consider similar measures.

Officials said the figure was encouraging

Under Australian law, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube and Twitch face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($33.2 million) if they fail to take reasonable steps to remove the accounts of Australian children younger than 16. Messaging services such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger are exempt.

To verify age, platforms can either request copies of identification documents, use a third party to apply age estimation technology to an account holder’s face, or make inferences from data already available such has how long an account has been held.

About 2.5 million Australians are aged between 8 and 15, said the country’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, and past estimates suggested 84% of 8- to 12-year-olds held social media accounts. It was not known how many accounts were held across the 10 platforms but Inman Grant said the figure of 4.7 million “deactivated or restricted” was encouraging.

“We’re preventing predatory social media companies from accessing our children,” Inman Grant said.

The 10 biggest companies covered by the ban were compliant with it and had reported removal figures to Australia's regulator on time, the commissioner said. She added that social media companies were expected to shift their efforts from enforcing the ban to preventing children from creating new accounts or otherwise circumventing the prohibition.

Australian officials didn’t break the figures down by platform. But Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram and Threads, said this week that by the day after the ban came into effect it had removed nearly 550,000 accounts belonging to users understood to be under 16.

In the blog post divulging the figures, Meta criticized the ban and said smaller platforms where the ban doesn't apply might not prioritize safety. The company also noted browsing platforms would still present content to children based on algorithms — a concern that led to the ban's enactment.

The law was widely popular among parents and child safety campaigners. Online privacy advocates and some groups representing teenagers opposed it, with the latter citing the support found in online spaces by vulnerable young people or those&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/australia-social-media-ban-children-f92aae52b59a6ded4d931856051f4e06">geographically isolated</a>&nbsp;in Australia’s sprawling rural areas.

Some said they had managed to fool age assessing technologies or were helped by parents or older siblings to circumvent the ban.

Since Australia began debating the measures in 2024, other countries have considered following suit. Denmark’s government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/after-australia-denmark-plans-social-media-ban-for-children-151a8afeda7146ef8f9e95e175cb937b">is among them</a>, saying in November that it had planned to implement a social media ban for children under 15.

“The fact that in spite of some skepticism out there, it’s working and being replicated now around the world, is something that is a source of Australian pride,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday.

Opposition lawmakers have suggested that young people have circumvented the ban easily or are migrating to other apps that are less scrutinized than the largest platforms. Inman Grant said Friday that data seen by her office showed a spike in downloads of alternative apps when the ban was enacted but not a spike in usage.

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