Kansas farmers are facing one of the most difficult economic periods in years, even after producing record crops during the 2025 growing season, according to U.S. Senator Jerry Moran.

Moran said timely precipitation last summer led to exceptional yields across much of the state, particularly for grain sorghum and corn. Producers in western Kansas reported especially large milo crops following years of persistent drought. While the rainfall created an ideal growing season, the resulting surplus has created new challenges.

“The output costs are less than the input costs,” Moran said, explaining that while crops were plentiful, the cost of producing them has skyrocketed. Fertilizer, fuel, seed, and other inputs remain high, while commodity prices have dropped due to excess supply. As a result, farmers are often selling crops at a loss.

Moran said that in his years representing Kansas producers, current conditions rank among the most difficult he has seen. He noted that the strong harvest followed three to five years of significant drought across much of the state, leaving farmers financially weakened and ill-positioned to withstand another tough year.

“Farmers are not in a position financially to take on more difficulty,” Moran said, adding that weakened balance sheets make it harder for producers to secure financing from lenders.

The senator also pointed to the loss of international markets as a major contributor to the crisis. Kansas produces far more agricultural commodities than it can consume domestically, making exports critical to farm profitability. Moran highlighted the absence of China as a buyer, particularly for grain sorghum and soybeans.

Kansas is the nation’s leading producer of grain sorghum, and China was once a major purchaser. However, Moran said China has shifted its buying to Brazil, and without regaining that market, it is difficult to see how global demand can absorb Kansas’ surplus production.

Moran said federal officials are working to address the issue through trade negotiations. He chairs a committee that funds the U.S. trade ambassador and said hearings have focused on reaching agreements that would reopen markets for American agricultural products.

In addition to trade efforts, Moran said renewable fuels could provide an additional outlet for Kansas crops. He also pointed to global hunger programs as another opportunity, saying surplus grain should be used to help feed people worldwide rather than sitting unused in Kansas.

“We don’t want grain piled on the ground in Kansas while people are starving around the globe,” Moran said.

Ultimately, Moran said resolving trade disputes and securing agreements that allow U.S. agriculture to compete globally is essential to restoring farm profitability.

“The goal has to be to sell,” he said. “We need trade agreements that allow us to sell what we produce here in Kansas and across the country.”

Kansas farmers facing financial strain despite record harvests

Dear Dave, Our daughter is 30, and she used to live a completely irresponsible lifestyle. This irresponsible behavior extended into the way she handled her finances, too. While she was in college, she took on $20,000 in student loan debt against our advice. About a year ago, she was in a bad car accident. She has recovered, but the experience really changed her. Her outlook on life, her finances and spiritual matters, in particular, are so much more mature. We were thinking about paying off the remainder of her student loans, just as a way to help and celebrate her big turnaround. What do you think?

Dear Richard, Sometimes the best gift you can give a person is to let them wallow around for a while in the mess they made. Being forced to work your way out of bad decisions and irresponsible behaviors is a great remedy in lots of cases.

But in this situation, coupled with the fact that she’s now being more responsible with money, behaving like an adult and making better life choices, I’d want her to be as free as possible as she enters this new phase of her life. So, if I were in your shoes, and I had the means to pay off her student loan debt without putting myself at risk financially, that’s exactly what I’d do.  

Right now, I hope you two will take every opportunity you have to be a blessing to your daughter. She’s a lot like the Prodigal Son at this point. She has experienced some bad things, come around in her thinking and she realizes now what’s right and what really matters.

I hope both of you will give her the biggest hugs she has ever had, and tell her you love her and that you’re proud of her. Then, throw a big party and write a check to knock out the rest of that student loan debt! 

You can hear Dave Ramsey, Monday through Friday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on KWBW, unless it is preempted by sports coverage.&nbsp;

Dave Says: Be a blessing to her

GLENN BRUNKOW Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher

This week marks the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026. There is no denying that 2025 has been a year we will never forget. Some of us would like to forget 2025 and others have had a good year. Yes, I am talking about the difference between those of us who raise crops and those of us who have cattle. It has been a year of extremes.

However, whether you liked it or hated it, 2025 is in the rearview mirror and 2026 is dead ahead. What will 2026 bring us? Who knows? It is an election year These elections have a lot riding on the line, and your involvement is critical for agriculture.

If you are a member of Voters Organized to Elect Farm Bureau Friends (VOTE FBF), thank you and now is the time to start researching the candidates in your area so you can have an informed opinion about which candidate could help agriculture the most. If you have not yet contributed to VOTE FBF, I would encourage you to do so right now and you can make your voice heard when the County Evaluation Committee or CEC meets and chooses candidates to support.

Every member’s opinion is important when the VOTE FBF board makes its selections both for the primary and for the general election. We know that increasingly farmers and ranchers are becoming a smaller and smaller portion of the population, so it is important that we band together to have a louder voice.

Agriculture is the largest industry in Kansas, and it is critical that we elect officials who understand agriculture and the importance of what we do. We need officials who are at least receptive to hear the message Kansas Farm Bureau brings to the Capitol, both in Topeka and Washington D.C.

That all starts with you being involved with the individuals we send to represent us. We must get to know them before they are elected, and it is just as important that they know who the members of Kansas Farm Bureau are too.

VOTE FBF has a tremendous history of backing winners in the election. That is because the recommendations come from our county Farm Bureaus, not the top down. Each county has the opportunity to submit their recommendations, and they carry a great deal of weight when VOTE FBF makes endorsements.

Now, over the coming months, take the time to meet the candidates and understand where they stand, especially on issues affecting farming and ranching. Make sure your CEC knows how you feel and then watch for the VOTE FBF endorsed candidates both before the primary election and again before the general election.

I am proud to be part of an organization that puts so much emphasis on decisions at the grassroots level. That is why candidates prize the endorsement of VOTE FBF so much, it truly is from the electors themselves. Again, I urge you to contribute, do your homework and take part in the CEC process and help determine who we send to Topeka and D.C. As we turn the calendar and start an election year, our work isas important now as it has ever been.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Insight:  Starting an election

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. ——————————————

Noah	Joseph	White	1/3/2026 12:53&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Ashley	Marie	Blum	1/3/2026 8:34&nbsp;PM	Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Eddie	Joe	Baker	1/3/2026 8:34&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,				Possession of marijuana,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Kennedy	Cole	ONeal	1/3/2026 9:09&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Garland	Edward	Stevens		1/4/2026 2:08&nbsp;AM	Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction)

Daily Bookings

Newton residents will once again have opportunities to connect directly with city leaders as City Desk returns for 2026, bringing informal, face-to-face conversations to locations across the community during the first half of the year.

City Desk is designed to give residents a relaxed setting to visit one-on-one with City Commissioners and city staff, ask questions, share feedback, or simply stop by to say hello. The series emphasizes accessibility, transparency, and meaningful engagement by meeting residents where they already are—out in the community.

The 2026 City Desk schedule begins Friday, January 16, with the first stop at the Newton Public Library, located at 223 E. 7th Street, from 10 to 11 a.m.

Additional City Desk events planned for the first half of the year include:

City officials encourage residents to attend any session that fits their schedule, noting that questions are always welcome and no formal agenda is required. The goal is simple: build relationships, hear directly from the community, and strengthen connections between residents and City Hall.

For more information about City Desk or upcoming events, residents can contact the City of Newton at 316-284-6054, email <a href="MAILTO:skelly@newtonkansas.com">skelly@newtonkansas.com</a>, or visit <a href="http://www.newtonkansas.com">www.newtonkansas.com</a>

City Desk returns to Newton in 2026 with community meet-ups

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

Three-day Outlook

It’s a New Years question etched in dichotomous reflection as we find ourselves thinking back and looking ahead at the same time. A conundrum summed up by When Harry Met Sally’s Harry Burns (aka Billy Crystal) “Does that mean we should forget old acquaintances? Or does it mean that if we happened to forget them, we should remember them, which is not possible because we already forgot ‘em?”

As we reflect on Kansas political affairs circa 2025, these four notable “acquaintances” caught my eye as maybe something we should have forgotten.

· Property Tax Cuts (cough) – The Kansas Legislature leadership had made property tax cuts the first, second, and third priority of the 2025 session. By the end of the session, they had saved a $200,000 homeowner $35 in property taxes and passed the largest income tax cut since Brownback. Furthermore, any future budget savings are dedicated to lowering income taxes until it hits 4%. Gov. Laura Kelly proclaimed this switcheroo the “kiss of death for the Kansas budget”. Meanwhile, a November legislative post audit found substantial underfunding of counties for mandated state services like elections, law enforcement, and motor vehicle registration which Counties primarily funded with…you guessed it…property taxes.

· Gerrymander Fever – Was there a more undemocratic contagion threatening the sovereignty of states than the presidentially induced re-districting for partisan control of the U.S. House? Kansas statehouse legislative leaders – Ty Masterson and Dan Hawkins – caught the fever boldly proclaiming their desire to gerrymander Kansas’ only Democratic congressional representative (Sharice Davids) out of existence in a special session. The fever was broken by a handful of inoculated GOP House members only to be petulantly banished by Hawkins to the political equivalent of Siberia. But Masterson, a GOP candidate for governor, has vowed to rally a veto-proof supermajority in 2026. Gov. Kelly says its unpopular with Kansans.

· Town Hall Flex – The federal government wasn’t the only thing shut down in 2025. In March, videos surfaced of U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall ending his own town hall early in Oakley after calling the crowd “one of the rudest audiences I’ve ever had” and being pressed on health care for veterans in light of massive DOGE cuts. Sen. Marshall didn’t answer. He walked out. Town halls are not political rallies. It’s one of the few

chances our elected officials in Washington get to face the people they serve. Listening is their job. Contrast this with Kelly’s People’s Budget listening tour which drew mockery from Speaker Hawkins. Marshall is up for re-election in 2026. Hawkins is running for Insurance Commissioner.

· Farm Blues – It’s been a rough 2025 for the Kansas farmer. First, DOGE put USAID and Food for Peace through the woodchipper, decimating wheat farmer exports without warning. Thanks to Sen. Moran, Food for Peace was re-appropriated $1.2 billion in 2026. Secondly, farmers became entangled in President Trump’s tariff/trade wars. China finally resumed soybean and sorghum commitments late this fall which is important to Kansas as the leading sorghum-producing state ($1.1 billion in exports). A $12 billion federal bridge payment for farmers softened these self-inflicted “market disruptions” but stands as a conspicuous indictment of federal ag policies and the first of more bailouts.

Let’s raise a cup of kindness to these “acquaintances” and in the words of Sally Albright (aka Meg Ryan), “…remember that we forgot them.” Or would like to.

Bill Fiander is a political science lecturer in the College of Arts and Sciences at Washburn University.

Insight Kansas: Remembering a forgetful year in Kansas politics

Justice	Sherard	Nichols		1/2/2026 6:20&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; combination of drugs and alcohol,					Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction),					Possession of marijuana,					Alcohol; Illegal Transportation of Alcoholic Beverage

Mark	Alan	Spencer	Sr	1/2/2026 9:44&nbsp;AM	Viol protection order; Restraining order

Jordan	Lee	Sanchez		1/2/2026 2:08&nbsp;PM	DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Kayla	Rose	Roy		1/2/2026 11:01&nbsp;AM	DWS; 1st conviction

Ternell	William	Marshall	Jr	1/2/2026 6:22&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Michael	Shaunesey	Golden		1/2/2026 6:52&nbsp;PM	DWS; 2nd or subs conviction,					DL Violation; Drive While Habitual Violator,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Mickelle	Yvette	Williams		1/2/2026 6:59&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Rachel	Marie	Perkins		1/2/2026 7:32&nbsp;PM	Theft; By Deception; $1,500 to $24,999

Christian	Lee	Johnson		1/2/2026 8:26&nbsp;PM	DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Katrina	Mare	Hopkins		1/2/2026 8:41&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Justin	Eugene	Phinney		1/2/2026 9:07&nbsp;PM	Pedestrian; Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs upon Roadway

Courtney	LeAnne	Capps		1/2/2026 9:41&nbsp;PM	Disorderly Conduct; Brawling or fighting

Dera	Lani	Mullins		1/2/2026 10:03&nbsp;PM	Disorderly Conduct; Brawling or fighting

Natasha	Lyn	Groves		1/2/2026 10:26&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Kenneth	Elroy	York		1/3/2026 1:49&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear,					Possession of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Frederick	Cal	Bofink		1/3/2026 3:16&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; blood or breath .08 or higher

Darrin Truan to Take Seat on Hutchinson City Council Next Week

A new face will join the Hutchinson City Council next week as Darrin Truan prepares to be sworn in as the city’s at-large council member.

Truan was elected in November and will officially take his seat during the council’s first meeting of the year, scheduled for Tuesday evening. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. at Hutchinson City Hall.

Truan brings 24 years of local law enforcement experience to the council, having retired from the Hutchinson Police Department in July 2024. He moved to Hutchinson in 2000 to join the department and raised his family in the community.

“I’ve lived and worked here for a long time,” Truan said during a recent interview on the BW Morning Show. “Hutchinson has been home, and I’m excited to give back in a new way.”

During his campaign, Truan emphasized what he called the “three P’s” as his top priorities: public safety, potholes, and plumbing. He said those issues represent the core responsibilities of city government.

“We have to take care of the necessities first,” Truan said. “Fire and police services, our streets, and our water and sewer infrastructure are critical to the city’s success.”

Truan said his years in law enforcement gave him firsthand experience with many of the challenges the city faces, particularly in public safety and infrastructure-related issues. He believes that background will help inform policy decisions at City Hall.

One of his stated goals is improving how the city works with residents and businesses, particularly when it comes to permits, zoning, and development.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people that the city can be quick to say no,” Truan said. “I think we can take more time to look at issues and see how we can help people move projects forward while still following the rules.”

Truan acknowledged he still has much to learn about city processes and plans to spend time working with city staff and the planning commission to better understand how decisions are made and where improvements may be possible.

Water and sewer infrastructure — and the rate increases tied to those improvements — have been a major topic at City Hall over the past several months. Truan said communication with the public will be key moving forward.

“I really encourage people to come to council meetings,” he said. “There’s public comment at the beginning of meetings and on agenda items. Attending meetings or watching them online helps people understand what it takes to run the city.”

Truan also said he plans to remain accessible to residents. He noted that council members’ contact information is available on the city’s website and that he is active on social media and will soon have an official city email address available.

As Hutchinson continues to see new housing developments and major projects such as the Evergy plant, Truan said cooperation between the City of Hutchinson, South Hutchinson, and Reno County will be important.

“No matter where development happens, it benefits the entire area,” he said. “We all need to work together.”

Truan said he is grateful for the support he received during the election and is eager to begin his term.

“I’m excited to get started,” he said. “I want people to be involved, stay informed, and reach out if they have questions or concerns.”

The Hutchinson City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and are also streamed live and archived on the city’s YouTube channel.

Truan to take seat on Hutchinson City Council next week

PrairieStar Health Center has once again been nationally recognized by U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) as one of the top-performing health centers in the country.  

In 2025, PrairieStar earned the gold-level Quality Leader award for the tenth year in a row. This honor places PrairieStar among the top 10% of Health Centers nationwide for overall performance in providing quality care.

For the seventh time in eight years, PrairieStar received the National Quality Leader award in Heart Health demonstrating top-tier performance in preventing and treating heart disease. According to HRSA, this places PrairieStar among a select few nationwide for cardiovascular care quality.

Sonya Schwein‑Finecy, the Quality Improvement Coordinator at PrairieStar, said “it’s important to address heart disease,” noting it as the leading cause of death in the U.S., and the need for preventative measures in place for potentially lowering risks of heart disease, stroke and other health issues. “This recognition underscores the center's commitment to improving cardiovascular health and preventive care.”

PrairieStar also received the National Quality Leader award in Behavioral Health placing them among the nation’s best for providing outstanding behavioral health services. This honor further recognizes PrairieStar’s integrated model of mental health and primary care, which provides patients access to more complete, whole-person care that supports their overall health.

“This is a powerful validation of the transformative work our teams are doing every day,” said Mona Broomfield, Chief Quality Officer. “Our focus on integrating behavioral health into primary care isn’t just innovative—it’s essential. We are breaking down barriers and redefining how communities access mental health care.”

The HRSA Community Health Quality Recognition awards program showcases where a health center is excelling. Awards are based off the latest Uniform Data System and recognize the nation’s top performing community health centers for providing the highest quality care to improve health outcomes. 

“These awards are a direct reflection of the dedication, skill, and compassion of our staff,” said Bryant Anderson, Chief Executive Officer of PrairieStar. “They show we are not only meeting the highest national standards for quality care but also making a meaningful difference in the lives of the patients we serve. We are grateful to our community for trusting us with their health.”

PrairieStar recognized as a top performing health center for the 10th year in a row

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 10:30.m. on Saturday an officer on patrol stopped a Saturn Ion in the 600 block South 7th Street in Atchison for a traffic violation, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 During the stop the driver, 25-year-old Carly Helton, was found to be in possession of controlled substances.&nbsp; &nbsp;In addition to drug and traffic charges she was also accused of interference with law enforcement for providing false information as to her identity.

She was booked into the Atchison County Jail on requested charges of driving while suspended, misuse of state tag, interference with law enforcement, and possession of cocaine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Police: Drug suspect gave Kan. officers a fake name

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting in Topeka.

Just after 2p.m. Saturday, police responded to the 800 block of SW Tyler for a possible shooting. EMS transported one victim to an area hospital for treatment of potentially life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; 

Police have not reported an arrest of any additional details.

Police: One hospitalized after Kansas shooting

A number of member of Congress from both major parties have announced they are heading for the exits, either because they are seeking higher office, are not running again or are leaving early before the 2026 elections.

Midterms are historically tough on the party of the sitting president. With Republicans holding a razor-thin margin in the House, tracking Republicans who are set to leave, including some of President Donald Trump's top Capitol Hill allies, can provide a window into what work the party has ahead of it in angling to maintain control.

For Democrats, retirement announcements by Republicans are a window of opportunity.

Congressional retirements can be a key barometer before the midterm elections, an indicator of how much churn could be coming to Capitol Hill in the coming cycle.

Here's where things stand in the House ahead of 2026, with the members who have announced they're not planning to return:

Wyoming’s lone U.S. representative, Hageman became the first to announce to launch her Senate campaign after Republican Sen. Cynthia Lummis announced her retirement. Hageman — who within hours had Trump's endorsement — is best known for beating Republican Rep. Liz Cheney by a wide margin in 2022.

Among 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021, Newhouse withstood a challenge from a Trump-backed opponent last year en route to his sixth term. His departure now only leaves one House GOP backer of impeachment who could be returning after the 2026 midterms: Rep. David Valadao of California, who is running for reelection.

He was first elected to the House in 2012. His district is among those redrawn as more friendly to Republicans in a rare mid-decade effort recently upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court for use in the 2026 midterm elections. Veasey said he would pursue a judicial position in Tarrant County; he has since dropped out of that race.

Crockett, one of Congress’ most outspoken Democrats, a frequent target of GOP attacks and a Trump target,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-senate-race-colin-allred-jasmine-crockett-5849d3ca44a733ce016300070788eec3">jumped into the race</a>&nbsp;on the final day of qualifying in Texas, hours after former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-us-senate-cornyn-allred-8d219b9bd7adceec7c82509693561e12">Rep. Colin Allred</a>&nbsp;ended his own campaign for the Democratic nomination in favor of attempting a House comeback bid. Crockett is seeking the Senate seat held by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/john-cornyn">Republican John Cornyn</a>, who is running for reelection in the GOP-dominated state.

Doggett, who has represented an Austin-based district for more than three decades, said that he would be departing the House after the end of his current term, citing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-redistricting-texas-trump-02b07b477b153f23ed5c387f2f9ae0c4">U.S. Supreme Court’s decision</a>&nbsp;upholding the state’s new district map merging two Austin-area districts favorable to Democrats. In 2024, Doggett was the first sitting lawmaker in the party to publicly call for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;to step down as the party’s nominee for president, citing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/debate-trump-biden-presidential-campaign-44e71c900a1c4af2bed93041fdfe923d">Biden’s debate performance</a>&nbsp;against Trump failing to “effectively defend his many accomplishments.”

In his announcement, Nehls shared he would be retiring from Congress after three terms and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/troy-nehls-retiring-congress-texas-2bb5c018388359472c3a774c1a06724e">endorsed his twin brother Trever</a>&nbsp;to succeed him. Nehls was first elected to represent the district southwest of Houston in 2020, and was a staunch ally of Trump’s. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-government-and-politics-capitol-siege-7d6e299976b5579eab77d26eb5b0b60b">was tapped</a>&nbsp;by then-House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy to sit on a select committee probing the Capitol riot, though McCarthy later pulled all his picks when Democrats refused to seat some of his choices.

Greene’s transformation from Trump loyalist to one of his harshest critics culminated in her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marjorie-taylor-green-congress-resigns-trump-maga-5f42d4893343babc8e87da1491a0de2b">surprise announcement</a>&nbsp;that she would end her congressional career in January 2026. Greene’s resignation followed a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-marjorie-taylor-greene-republicans-maga-feud-f4b0dffe06440dfed16d336d08a05422">public falling-out with Trump</a>&nbsp;in recent months, as the congresswoman criticized him for his stance on files related to Jeffrey Epstein, along with foreign policy and health care. First elected to represent a deeply conservative seat in northwest Georgia in 2020, she spent her first few terms closely tied to the “Make America Great Again” movement.

A former presidential candidate, Swalwell joined a crowded race to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. Swalwell, who also served as a House manager in Trump’s second impeachment trial, has represented a northern district that falls east of San Francisco since 2013. His current district’s boundary lines&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-redistricting-prop-50-gavin-newsom-839193bfc2a817086acca7365315f26f">will change slightly due to mid cycle redistricting</a>&nbsp;approved by voters last month, but remains heavily Democratic.

Velázquez is the second-longest serving member of the New York U.S. House delegation (and only by a technicality; fellow retiring representative Jerry Nadler was also first elected in 1992 but took his seat a few months early due to his predecessor’s death). The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nydia-velazquez-congress-new-york-retirement-reelection-1f06b2a22ac252a7fdbda0af41d438f9">first Puerto Rican woman to serve in Congress</a>, Velázquez has represented a heavily Democratic district that includes northeast Brooklyn and western Queens. She has a reputation for mentoring progressive lawmakers, and most recently was among the early backers of New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist. She cited the need for generational change in her announcement.

Despite already receiving Trump’s endorsement for his reelection campaign, Arrington announced shortly after the 2025 general election that he would be retiring from Congress. Arrington, a fiscal hawk, is the chair of the House Budget Committee and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">played a key role</a>&nbsp;in passing Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a large-scale tax and spending bill. He was first elected to a sprawling conservative Texas district that contains Lubbock and Abilene in 2016.

A fixture in New Jersey politics, Watson Coleman announced her sixth term would be her last. The first Black woman elected to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House, Watson Coleman has served the district around the state capital of Trenton and the tony college town of Princeton sine 2014, after spending almost two decades representing part of the region in the state legislature. Her seat votes reliably Democratic.

Dates of announcement: Nov. 7 and Dec. 19

Reason: Running for governor, then retiring

Stefanik made her challenge to Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul official shortly after the 2025 general election but ultimately announced that she would neither run for governor nor return to the House, bowing out of what was expected to be a bruising Republican gubernatorial primary. Elected to represent a conservative upstate New York district in 2014, Stefanik&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elise-stefanik-liz-cheney-house-republicans-b22be9dc6cdd3be5cbb5adf2587c3a20">rose to be the third-ranking</a>&nbsp;House Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ny-state-wire-donald-trump-election-2020-government-and-politics-1d5f980f186ddcf1680fbc720a9fc70a">shedding her earlier reputation as a moderate</a>&nbsp;as she embraced Trump. Nominated to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in 2025, her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elise-stefanik-united-nations-ambassador-trump-96ef705d7498f080f9f399416b647f99">nomination was withdrawn</a>&nbsp;over concerns about Republicans’ narrow House majority. Since then, she has more openly discussed her&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-republicans-troubles-midterms-trump-7a4a88479807ea15a8050129dbe19c0d">displeasure with the Republican conference</a>, and specifically House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Garcia turned in nominating petitions for the 2026 primary in October but confirmed right when the filing period ended that he would not seek a fifth term in his western Chicago seat. His late announcement left only one other candidate who had submitted the necessary paperwork: his chief of staff. The eyebrow-raising maneuver led&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chuy-garcia-illinois-democrat-038871c38ed3ca7353ec125a407aaead">the House to reprimand Garcia</a>&nbsp;last month. Garcia cited the health of himself and his wife, who has multiple sclerosis, as among the reasons for why he would not seek reelection.

The first female House speaker said her career in Congress would come to an end after nearly 40 years in office. Pelosi represented San Francisco but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pelosi-reelection-announcement-fd95c18815fdabdaabaf26b8c2f0bafc">made her mark on the national stage</a>, ushering through impactful legislation like the Affordable Care Act and keeping an unruly Democratic caucus in line throughout the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/photo-gallery/nancy-pelosi-photo-gallery-89f4946616c6b87e118397ef17608886">Obama, Trump and Biden administrations.</a>&nbsp;She played key roles in both impeaching Trump and encouraging Biden to end his 2024 reelection campaign.

After a half-decade of narrow reelections, Golden announced he would be stepping down from one of the most competitive districts in the country. He cited incivility in Congress and threats against his family in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/05/opinion/opinion-contributor/jared-golden-why-i-wont-seek-reelection-column/">story in the Bangor Daily News</a>&nbsp;announcing his retirement. Golden, first elected in 2018, is one of the most moderate Democrats in Congress and has shown his willingness to break with his party on issues&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-ap-top-news-elections-international-news-politics-0756fda2b5143891c5da1c6897001cee">ranging from impeaching Trump</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://golden.house.gov/media/press-releases/golden-votes-to-reopen-government-continue-bipartisan-negotiations-on-renewing-aca-tax-credits">reopening the government</a>&nbsp;during this fall’s shutdown.

Iowa’s congressional delegation is reshuffling in light of surprise announcements from Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst that neither was seeking reelection in 2026. Between Reynolds’ April announcement and Feenstra’s official announcement, the representative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-governor-race-2026-randy-feenstra-election-a8f4d14ff0034a060a2c50ea4c67931b">announced millions of dollars in fundraising</a>. Feenstra has represented the state’s northwest quadrant since 2021, after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-iowa-us-news-ap-top-news-steve-king-35e758667dc25e37a79d6db9996fd305">toppled controversial incumbent Rep. Steve King</a>&nbsp;in the primary. Feenstra’s district is among the most conservative in the state, though Democrats have a few other races they’re eying.

The six-term representative&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seth-moulton-massachusetts-senate-2026-edward-markey-8334d0d2cd329ab9ef58143a368832f5">cited the need for generational change</a>&nbsp;in announcing his challenge to Sen. Ed Markey. Moulton currently represents the northeastern corner of Massachusetts, and has drawn nominal opposition in his heavily Democratic district. Markey beat back a similar challenge from Rep. Joe Kennedy in 2020.

Hunt drew ire from Senate Republican leadership for taking on Cornyn in what party leaders fear will become an expensive, messy primary. Cornyn’s cool relationship with Trump has drawn another candidate beyond the two-term Houston-area congressman, controversial Texas attorney general Ken Paxton. Both are running on their relationship to Trump. Hunt’s runs deep: He was the first Republican to endorse him after the former president’s 2022 comeback campaign announcement, and he gave&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/rnc-day-1-trump-biden-election-updates#00000190-b8d7-d267-ab98-b8f77f140000">a prime-time speech</a>&nbsp;on opening night of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. He also campaigned 17 times for Trump in 2024, more than any other Republican surrogate.

Schweikert&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-governor-schweikert-hobbs-76855d0a00c931f78e49ed13b160d4e7">cited the dysfunction in the Congress</a>&nbsp;as motivation for seeking the governorship. First elected to the House in 2010, Schweikert has in recent years won incredibly narrow reelection campaigns in his suburban Phoenix district. Democrats are again targeting his seat in 2026. A budget hawk, Schweikert has consistently backed Trump’s agenda. Still, according to his campaign consultant, he hopped into a Republican field against the White House’s wishes that already included two Trump-backed candidates, housing developer Karrin Taylor Robson and House Freedom Caucus member U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs. The winner will take on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.

Tiffany announced he would join one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wisconsin-governor-tom-tiffany-trump-ce8cac8802ca1b1118637c28dfb07d6d">most competitive governor’s races</a>&nbsp;in the country after serving three terms in Congress. The office held by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has been hotly contested in the last few cycles. The Trump loyalist received the president’s endorsement in all of his previous campaigns for the House, but Trump has not yet made an endorsement in the Republican primary. Tiffany’s district, which includes a large swath of the state’s rural north, consistently supports Republicans.

McCaul offered an ominous warning about Russian aggression when he announced his retirement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mccaul-ukraine-texas-trump-russia-poland-nato-bbe5fa808569842178879549d6ec2d9c">in an interview earlier this year</a>. A former anti-terrorism prosecutor and past chairman of the House Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs committees, McCaul, is part of an older generation of foreign policy hawks who’ve tried to counter a younger crop of Republicans who are more skeptical about U.S. intervention elsewhere in the world. McCaul was first elected in 2004. His district, which stretches from Houston to Austin, consistently backs Republican candidates.

The Houston-area congressman announced his second term would be his last, marking yet another departure for the Texas GOP congressional delegation. Luttrell cited a desire to spend more time in Texas,&nbsp;<a href="https://luttrell.house.gov/media/press-releases/statement-congressman-morgan-luttrell">describing this summer’s deadly</a>&nbsp;central Texas flooding as a “moment of clarity.” His current district’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-8-20-2025">boundary lines will change slightly</a>&nbsp;due to mid cycle redistricting but remains heavily Republican.

Hinson is vacating a seat in Iowa’s northeastern corner to seek the seat held by Sen. Joni Ernst. Ernst’s surprise retirement came after she drew&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ernst-hegseth-nominee-trump-vetting-assault-pentagon-138c79c9199c8525d43b77417674d81e">heavy criticism for her hesitation</a>&nbsp;on one of Trump’s cabinet picks; in a radio interview that served as her official campaign announcement,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-2026-iowa-senate-ernst-5f1fcb82ed73f83a8342683efed847f0">Hinson said</a>&nbsp;she was running to be “President Trump’s top ally in the United States Senate.” Hinson flipped her district in 2020 and won her relatively split district by larger margins in 2022 and 2024. Democrats had already indicated they put her district on its list of potential pickups.

Tracking the retirement announcements of members of Congress

Abortion bans, restrictions in nearby states continues driving demand in Kansas

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

TOPEKA — The number of abortions performed in Kansas during 2024 surpassed 19,000 for the second consecutive year in wake of judicial and political decisions in other states restricting access to the medical procedure.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported clinics and hospitals in Kansas conducted a record 19,811 abortions in 2024, up from 19,467 in 2023, 12,319 in 2022 and 7,849 in 2021. Of the 2024 total, 4,763 were provided to residents of Kansas. Demand for abortion among Kansans increased 9.3% from 4,356 in 2023 and was above the 3,844 reported in 2022 and 3,937 in 2021.

In 2024, 15,048 abortions in Kansas were provided to out-of-state residents. That was a slight decline from the 15,111 nonresident abortions in 2023 and a significant increase from 8,475 in 2022 and 3,912 in 2021 among people living outside Kansas.

Three-fourths of abortions in Kansas the past two years were for patients residing in other states, primarily Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Here was a state-by-state breakdown in terms of Kansas abortions in 2024 for nonresidents: Texas, 6,736; Missouri, 3,760; Oklahoma, 3,141; Arkansas, 851; Louisiana, 206; and Nebraska, 138.

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide for nearly 50 years. Reversing that precedent returned authority to prohibit or regulate the procedure to individual states.

The Kansas Supreme Court had issued a decision in 2019 that found the Kansas Constitution guaranteed individuals bodily autonomy in health care decisions, including a woman’s right to end a pregnancy. The state court’s decision preserved abortion rights in Kansas after the U.S. Supreme Court severed federal constitutional protections.

In Missouri, abortion was legal only in cases of medical emergency from 2022 to 2024. However, Missouri voters in 2024 approved a constitutional amendment restoring broader reproductive freedoms. Other states in the Midwest responded to the U.S. Supreme Court by imposing bans on abortion, including Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. Oklahoma has allowed abortions only to preserve the life of a pregnant person. Nebraska enforces a 12-week abortion ban.

Mackenzie Ayers, a spokeswoman for the anti-abortion organization Kansans for Life, said the state health department should have more promptly released information on 2024 abortions in Kansas. The state’s latest report was posted online at the end of December 2025 as part of a larger annual&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/53419/Kansas-Annual-Summary-of-Vital-Statistics-2024-PDF" target="_blank">summary of vital statistics on Kansas</a>.

“By waiting until the final hours of the year to release Kansas’ 2024 abortion statistics, Gov. Laura Kelly has made it clear she hoped these numbers would go unnoticed,” Ayers said.

Ayers said Kansans for Life believed young females were obtaining abortions in Kansas without parental consent. She said the organization would be “pursuing every legal option to restore some form of informed consent protections for women in 2026 and continue to sound the alarms about parental consent laws being potentially ignored.”

Janet Stanek, secretary of the state Department of Health and Environment, said the latest annual report provided an overview of information on the health status of Kansans.

“Public health statistics are essential to governmental agencies, businesses, industries and citizens for effective health policy decisions and program planning. KDHE is committed to ensuring accessibility,” Stanek’s report said.

KDHE’s report said 85.8% of all abortions performed in the state during 2024 were for unmarried women. KDHE said 77.1% of Kansas resident abortions in 2024 occurred prior to nine weeks of gestational age. Nearly 93% were prior to the 13th week of gestation and 2.8% came after 16 weeks gestation, the state health department said.

KDHE said there 140.3 abortions per 1,000 live births among Kansas residents in 2024. That was 9.6% higher than the ratio of 128 abortions per 1,000 live births in 2023.

The highest abortion ratio among Kansans residents on 2024 was for females 15 to 19 years of age, who had a rate of 341.9 abortions for every 1,000 live births. The lowest ratio — 80.4 abortions per 1,000 births — was for women 30 to 34 years of age, KDHE said. There was variation among Black, white and Hispanic women. The ratios: white non-Hispanics, 85 abortions per 1,000 live births; Black non-Hispanics, 402 abortions per 1,000 births; and Hispanics, 211.6 abortions per 1,000 births.

During 2024, KDHE said, there were 33,956 live births to residents of Kansas for a rate of 11.4 per 1,000 people. The agency said that was the lowest Kansas birth rate since 1912. The rate in 2024 represented a decline of 0.2% from 34,041 births in 2023. Here was the age breakdown of these Kansas mothers: under age 20, 4.5%; 20 to 29 years of age, 51.2%; 30 to 39 year of age, 41.5%; and aged 40 and over, 2.8%;

KDHE reported Kansas residents had 2,656 low-birth-weight infants, representing 7.8% of total births, in 2024. There were 197 infant deaths among Kansas residents, an increase of 8.2% from 182 deaths in 2023.

Out-of-state patients make up three-fourths of 19,000 Kansas abortions performed in 2024

NEW YORK (AP) —The U.S. Department of Justice on Saturday released a new indictment of Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/media/1422326/dl">Click here to read the new indictment</a>

The indictment accuses Maduro of leading a “a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking.” It alleges that the drug trafficking efforts “enriched and entrenched Venezuela’s political and military elite.”

U.S. authorities allege that Maduro partnered with “some of the most violent and prolific drug traffickers and narco-terrorists in the world” to bring tons of cocaine into the U.S., according to the indictment.

Authorities estimate that as much as 250 tons of cocaine were trafficked through Venezuela by 2020, according to the indictment. The drugs were moved on go-fast vessels, fishing boats and container ships or via planes from clandestine airstrips, authorities allege.

Read the new indictment against Venezuelan leader, wife

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lauran-neergaard">LAURAN NEERGAARD</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — Flu is rising rapidly across the U.S., driven by a new variant of the virus — and cases are expected to keep growing with holiday travel.

That variant, known as “subclade K,” led to early outbreaks in the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. In the U.S., flu&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-rsv-covid-cdc-a343a9991a9e116252be4bd331dba6d1">typically begins</a>&nbsp;its winter march in December. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported high or very high levels of illness in more than half the states.

The CDC estimated there have been at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from flu so far this season. That includes at least eight child deaths — and is based on data as of Dec. 20, before major holiday gatherings.

Some states are particularly hard-hit. New York’s health department said the week ending Dec. 20 marked the most flu cases the state had recorded in a single week since 2004: 71,000.

It’s far too soon to know if this flu season will be as severe as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flu-vaccine-shot-flumist-04144eb736ad1adced5252dae0c4985b">last winter’s.</a>

But it’s not too late to get a flu shot, which health experts say can still prevent severe illness even if someone gets infected. While this year’s vaccine isn’t a perfect match to the subclade K strain,&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12639273/" target="_blank">a preliminary analysis from the U.K.</a>&nbsp;found it offered at least partial protection, lowering people’s risk of hospitalization.

According to the CDC, only about 42% of adults and children have gotten a flu vaccination so far this year.

The flu virus is a shape-shifter, constantly mutating, and it comes in multiple forms. There are two subtypes of Type A flu, and subclade K is a mutated version of one of them, named H3N2. That H3N2 strain is always harsh, especially for older adults.

Subclade K’s mutations aren’t enough of a change to be considered an entirely new kind of flu.

But they’re different enough to evade some of the protection from this year’s vaccine, said Andrew Pekosz, a virus expert at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The CDC said it’s too soon to know how severe this season will be.

Flu seasons dominated by any version of H3N2 tend to be bad, with more infections overall and more people becoming seriously ill. But Hopkins’ Pekosz cautioned it will take time to tease apart whether this subclade K version simply spreads more easily or also is more dangerous.

That question aside, the CDC notes there are some prescription medicines to treat flu — usually recommended for people at high risk of complications. But they generally need to be started a day or two after symptoms begin.

The CDC and major medical societies all recommend a flu vaccine for just about everyone age 6 months and older. Despite lots of recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/monarez-cdc-vaccines-kennedy-rfk-jr-194fd4336aaa74cb6e7c715d0605b47e">misinformation</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rfk-vaccine-flu-covid-shot-9efed9b468c849a3db1f793dd7effae6">confusion</a>&nbsp;about vaccines, the flu recommendations haven’t changed.

Flu is particularly dangerous for people 65 and older, pregnant women, young children and people of any age who have chronic health problems, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease and weak immune systems.

The vaccines are brewed to protect against three influenza strains. Despite concern over that new H3N2 variant, they appear to be a good match against H1N1 and Type B flu that may also circulate this year, Pekosz said.

There are shots for all ages, as well as the nasal spray FluMist for ages 2 to 49. For the first time this year, some people may be eligible to vaccinate themselves with FluMist at home.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Flu is rising rapidly nationwide driven by a new variant

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>

WASHINGTON — States must now provide “justification” that federal child care funds they receive are spent on “legitimate” providers in order to get those dollars, President Donald Trump’s administration announced.&nbsp;

The Tuesday shift in policy came following<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/2025/12/31/minnesota-child-care-providers-say-trumps-funding-freeze-will-shut-down-their-businesses/" target="_blank">&nbsp;allegations of fraud in Minnesota’s child care programs,&nbsp;</a>which prompted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to freeze all child care payments to the state.&nbsp;

HHS could not offer many specifics on how the review process will play out for other states, but clarified that the money in question is provided through the multibillion-dollar federal Child Care and Development Fund, or CCDF.&nbsp;

“States will be required to provide documentation, such as written justification, receipts, or photographic evidence, demonstrating that funds are supporting legitimate child care providers,” Emily Hilliard, a spokesperson for HHS, said in a statement to States Newsroom on Wednesday.&nbsp;

CCDF provides federal funding to states, territories and tribes to help low-income families obtain child care.&nbsp;

The program, administered within the Office of Child Care under HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, combines funding from the Child Care and Development Block Grant, or CCDBG, and the Child Care Entitlement to States, or CCES.&nbsp;

Funding for CCDF in&nbsp;<a href="https://acf.gov/occ/data/gy-2025-ccdf-allocations-based-appropriations" target="_blank">fiscal year 2025</a>&nbsp;stood at roughly $12.3 billion — comprising $8.75 billion from CCDBG and $3.55 billion from CCES.&nbsp;

Head Start — a separate program that provides early childhood education, nutritious meals, health screenings and other support services to low-income families — does not appear to be affected.&nbsp;

In a Tuesday&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006136004294664464" target="_blank">social media post</a>&nbsp;announcing the move, Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said he had “activated our defend the spend system for all ACF payments” and “starting today, all ACF payments across America will require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence before we send money to a state.”&nbsp;

He clarified in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/HHS_Jim/status/2006152183863972241" target="_blank">separate post</a>&nbsp;shortly after that “funds will be released only when states prove they are being spent legitimately.”&nbsp;

“Federal funding enables millions of parents in every state and Congressional district to access and afford quality child care,” Sarah Rittling, executive director of First Five Years Fund, a federal advocacy group, said in a Wednesday statement.&nbsp;

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