Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then &amp; Now Collection."

STEVE HARMON Hutch Post Contributor

Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the southwest corner of 26th Avenue and North Main.

The very first Dairy Queen was opened in Joliet, Illinois, by Sherb Noble in 1940.

Two-of-the-three Dairy Queen franchises in Hutch have been around for a long time.

DQ No. 2 at 2515 N. Main was built in 1952 and managed by Jack Haynes. The first photo shows that building in 1966 when it was being managed by Marie Nitzsche.

In 1969, Wilbur Graber took over the franchise and the Graber family had it a long time. The second photo shows the signage change in 1975 when the franchise was undergoing one of its many remodelings.

In 1991, Scott Graber took over for his father.

The revamped "DQ Grill &amp; Chill" format was started in 2001.

The current DQ Grill &amp; Chill was purchased and remodeled in 2012. The third photo shows that remodel.

The fourth photo shows the DQ Grill &amp; Chill today, still at 2515 N. Main, still owned by Rad Shaban under the North Main Treats Inc. corporation. He also owns the East Third Street DQ Treat.

To purchase a photo print, contact:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sharmon5@cox.net">sharmon5@cox.net</a>.

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

<a href="https://www.hutchchamber.com/">Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce</a> <a href="https://underkansas.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_KHt9Zeq_QIVwRPUAR3CTwTSEAAYASAAEgJDJPD_BwE">STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anchorinnhutch">Anchor Inn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Anchorawayhutch/">Anchor Away</a>

📷 Throwback Thursday: Dairy Queen - Vol. 156

This handsome boy is at the perfect "adoption" age. 

He loves everyone and should be a wonderful family pet. Enrolling your puppy in a basic obedience course will be great for the whole family. 

Can't you just picture your kids growing up with this adorable pup?

To adopt Ichi-ban contact the Kingman County Humane Society. You can reach them by phone at 316-542-1812 or visit them on the <a href="https://www.kingmancountyhumanesociety.org/">web.</a>&nbsp;

The Kingman County Humane Society is located at&nbsp;811 East C Ave. in Kingman.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🐶 Adopt a Furry Friend: Ichi-ban

PARKVILLE, Mo. — Park University is hosting “Reduce / Reuse / Redesign,” an exhibit of furniture created by interior design students that demonstrates creativity, craftsmanship and thoughtful reuse of materials. The exhibit is on display through Friday, Feb. 13, in the Campanella Gallery located inside Norrington Center on the University’s flagship Parkville Campus. Admission to the Gallery is free and open to the public.

According to Andrea Lee, Ph.D., director of the Campanella Gallery and associate professor of art, the students had three options in creating their furniture using objects and materials that were primarily found or reused, with minimal purchase from a hardware store.

The Campanella Gallery is open during Norrington Center’s regular business hours:

Note: Norrington Center will be closed Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 10-11, and Monday, Jan. 19 (Martin Luther King holiday)

Hutch High grad, others exhibit furniture projects at Park University

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A defining landmark on Hutchinson’s skyline is shining once again.

The bell tower at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church has been relit for the first time in more than a century, restoring a feature that was part of the church’s original 1911 design. At the same time, the parish has completed automation of its historic bells, allowing them to ring in new and meaningful ways for worship, weddings, and funerals.

Father Jerome, pastor of St. Teresa’s and Holy Cross Catholic Church, said the project was inspired by the church’s history and its original architect, Emmanuel Masqueray, who envisioned the cross atop the tower illuminated as a beacon of faith.

“When the church was first built, the cross was lit from within using incandescent bulbs,” Father Jerome said. “The idea was that the light of Christ would be visible from miles around. Over time, that lighting was lost, and the tower went dark. We wanted to restore that original vision.”

Masqueray, a French-born architect, also designed the cathedral in Wichita, as well as several nationally significant churches in Minnesota. St. Teresa’s itself is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is widely recognized for its brick exterior, detailed sanctuary, and stained-glass windows.

The lighting project and bell automation were made possible through a diocesan fundraising campaign launched by Bishop Carl Kemme. Under the campaign’s structure, parishes receive 20 percent of locally raised funds back for approved projects.

“We met our campaign goal, and when those funds came back, I thought, ‘Let’s light the tower,’” Father Jerome said. “At the same time, we wanted to improve how the bells function.”

The church’s three bells — small, medium, and large — had previously been rung manually by pulling ropes. While traditional, the system limited how the bells could be used. Automation now allows for solemn tolling during funerals, with spaced rings symbolizing the years of a person’s life, as well as full peals for weddings and celebrations.

“That kind of reverence just isn’t possible when you’re swinging a bell by hand,” Father Jerome said. “Now, with the push of a button, we can ring them in a way that’s both beautiful and appropriate.”

The lighting design took several months of planning, with parish committees consulting local and regional experts to determine the most dignified and durable approach. Rather than installing ground-level poles, lights were mounted discreetly on the structure itself to illuminate the tower evenly and safely.

Beyond St. Teresa’s, the diocesan campaign is also funding improvements at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Interior renovations are planned to begin in late May and will include new pews, updated flooring, and refreshed finishes throughout the sanctuary.

Holy Cross traces its parish roots to 1957, with the current church building completed in 1983. Father Jerome noted that much of the interior remains original.

“Nothing major has really been done inside since it was built,” he said. “This renovation is overdue, and when it’s finished, it’s going to be beautiful.”

Looking ahead, both parishes are preparing for a busy calendar that includes Catholic Schools Week, confirmations later this month, and an expected 20 to 30 new members entering the church at Easter.

“There’s always something going on,” Father Jerome said. “Whether it’s the bells ringing, the tower shining, or people coming into the faith, our goal is the same — to be a visible and audible sign of Christ in the community.”

St. Teresa's bell tower relit, a parish restores historic vision

RAFAEL GARCIA K-State News and Communications Services

In an age where fast-moving, low-flying unmanned drones can spray crops miles away from a base station, Lukas Koch emphasizes that farmers still get their boots dirty.

Drones are simply the next frontier in agricultural technology, Koch said. Decades of advancements in farming technology, techniques,&nbsp;and tools&nbsp;enable&nbsp;one farmer to&nbsp;accomplish&nbsp;work that, less than&nbsp;a century ago, required dozens of people to do.

But&nbsp;it's still a farmer's calloused hands that sort through soil, steer a tractor's wheel or&nbsp;guide&nbsp;a drone's controls,&nbsp;highlighting the&nbsp;need to find the best ways to&nbsp;bring&nbsp;innovations into&nbsp;the&nbsp;hands&nbsp;of farmers.

That's why Kansas State University's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/engagement/innovation-and-partnerships/interdisciplinary-institutes/digital-ag-advanced-analytics/">Institute for Digital Agriculture and Advanced Analytics</a>, or ID3A, is partnering with&nbsp;<a href="https://kellyhills.us/about/">Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems</a>&nbsp;to develop the next generation of precision agriculture alongside those who will implement it.

Kelly Hills, K-State ID3A collaboration builds research, engagement and commercialization

As CEO of Kelly Hills, established in 2024 by Heinen Brothers Agra Services and based in northeast Kansas, Koch has worked to grow the company into a national leader,&nbsp;<a href="https://kellyhills.us/about/">building connections</a>&nbsp;between the companies and organizations developing cutting-edge precision agriculture technologies and the farmers who can put them to valuable use.

"A fantastic place for that to happen is at the university level," said Koch, who is also a 2018 and 2019 K-State alumnus. "A&nbsp;public-private partnership between a company like Kelly Hills and a university like K-State allows for this sandbox where all of this can come together, leveraging the reach of K-State Extension and its research."

Matching the strengths of each organization, the collaboration focuses on three key pillars:

Besides&nbsp;its extensive network of industry connections, Kelly Hills is also a valuable partner for K-State&nbsp;because of&nbsp;<a href="https://kellyhills.us/test-range/">its nearly 50,000-square-mile test range</a>&nbsp;and experience with the Pyka Pelican 2 —&nbsp;the world's largest autonomous agricultural aircraft and the largest uncrewed aerial system authorized by the FAA for commercial use.

But one of the company's biggest assets is its ability to connect with on-the-ground farmers, said&nbsp;<a href="https://entomology.k-state.edu/about/people/faculty/McCornack-Brian.html">Brian McCornack</a>, an ID3A director at K-State.

"They're creating a lot of excitement around what they're doing," McCornack said. "They have the ears of the producers in their area, and they're growing excitement beyond that. When you have that kind of excitement and investment from farmers, it makes it easier for us to partner with farmers, listen to their needs and figure out solutions together with them."

Creating an uncrewed aerial systems pipeline

In addition to K-State's expertise in agriculture and unmanned aerial systems, K-State will play a big role in helping Kelly Hills work with the large data sets collected from farmers' lands, said Ajay Sharda, professor of biological and agricultural engineering and an ID3A director.

"We have a diverse range of skillsets, including remote sensing, data analytics, working with large and small machines, and economic responses," said Sharda, who also taught Koch during his time at K-State. "There's a whole team of people, and they're all directly or indirectly involved with ID3A. It's an amazing opportunity for us to put a pin on the map."

Through each of the three pillars, Kelly Hills and K-State will collaborate on innovative ways to scale up the technology and reduce costs.

Kelly Hills Unmanned Systems partners with companies like Hylio, a Texas-based American drone manufacturer.

Farmers juggle a variety of equipment, input and operational costs, and typically aren't looking to spend more, Sharda said.

"But they are looking to spend smarter, and this is a perfect spot for us to help make a business case for this technology," Sharda said.

Long-term, the collaboration will result in resources, tools and education that familiarize, train and encourage farmers and other interested industry partners in the use of uncrewed aerial systems at scale.

"When you look at how much agriculture exists within Kansas, it's crucial to have a pipeline of folks who can provide additional support in industry areas like fertility, pest protection or crop monitoring — all those services that help support an industry that is half of Kansas' GDP," McCornack said.

For Koch, there's a sense of personal satisfaction in working with professors he learned from and appreciated, while also serving a state he loves.

Having grown up on a technology-forward farm, he's seen the transformative power of next-generation agricultural technology in Kansas, and he wants Kelly Hills and K-State to unlock that innovation for the world.

"We're early in it, but with a relationship like this, we can build on K-State's mission to serve people across Kansas and the world as a land-grant university," Koch said. "It's a unique state and position for K-State to be in to do research that benefits farmers across the wide variety of regions in Kansas, and I see a future where we can work together and bring that value back for everyone."

Sky-high innovation, boots-on-ground farmer insight

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. ——————————————

Chelsey	Renee	Novotny		1/7/2026 12:27&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Carla	Jane	Stuber		1/7/2026 1:33&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear,					Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conv,					Insurance; Knowingly drive uninsured vehicle,					Registration Violation; No/Expired License Plate

Jesse	Lee	Croslin Montague		1/7/2026 4:13&nbsp;PM	Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500,					Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Jaden	Alan	Cutsinger		1/7/2026 4:17&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Ryan	Scott	Secrest		1/7/2026 6:22&nbsp;PM	DWS; 1st conviction,					Alcohol; Illegal Transportation of Alcoholic Beverage

Lacy	Dell	Nelson		1/7/2026 6:55&nbsp;PM	Poss of THC,					Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction

Timothy	Dale	Eudy	II	1/7/2026 10:27&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Daily Bookings

On the morning of January 6, 2026, deputies received information of a burglary in progress in rural Rice County. Deputies responded to the area and located a pickup truck on the property. When law enforcement presence was detected, the vehicle fled the scene, leading to a pursuit through rural roads and fields.

With assistance from the Lyons Police Department and Rice County Dispatch, the vehicle was located and stopped following a coordinated response. Two individuals were taken into custody without further incident during a felony traffic stop.

During the investigation, officers observed drugs and other evidence of crimes inside the vehicle. A search resulted in the seizure of suspected methamphetamine and a rifle found inside the vehicle.

“This case highlights the importance of coordination and cooperation between agencies to protect public safety,” said Sheriff Nick Sowers. “Through teamwork, communication, and a shared commitment to our communities, we were able to bring this situation to a safe resolution.”

This case will be referred to the Rice County Attorney’s Office for review and potential prosecution. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty. No further information will be released at this time.

The Rice County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Lyons Police Department and Rice County Dispatch for their assistance and coordination during this incident.

Rice Co. investigation leads to arrests

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

Three-day Outlook

Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman said the event, titled All Hands on Deck, was a collaborative effort involving representatives from every school district in the county.

The day featured a keynote from national education speaker Kim Bearden of the Ron Clark Academy, who addressed how educators—and leaders at every level—can better navigate emotional or difficult conversations.

Couchman said Bearden emphasized four key principles: giving people full attention, listening for underlying motivation, expressing appreciation, and validating emotions so everyone leaves the conversation with dignity intact.

She said the message applies far beyond the classroom, whether dealing with parents, colleagues, students, or even family members.

In addition to professional development, Couchman reflected on a fast-moving grass fire near Plum Creek just before winter break that led to a precautionary evacuation of the school.

While the building itself was never directly threatened, rapidly changing conditions and road closures raised concerns that parents may not be able to reach their children.

District leaders quickly placed bus drivers on standby, and when additional roads began closing, the decision was made to evacuate. Within an hour, nearly 475 students and staff were safely transported to a nearby church and reunited with families.

Couchman praised school staff, bus drivers, emergency responders, and local churches for their coordination and calm response, noting that the incident provided valuable lessons in emergency preparedness.

As students return from winter break, Couchman said routines are being reestablished, athletics are resuming, and the district remains focused on safety—especially with winter weather ahead.

She said while weather-related decisions can be difficult, the district will always err on the side of caution to keep students safe.

Couchman talks professional development, student safety

The Cosmosphere is pleased to announce the appointment of new members to its Foundation Board and Governing Board for 2026, welcoming leaders whose experience and dedication will help advance the organization’s mission of Inspiring the Future through Space Exploration.

Joining the Cosmosphere Foundation Board are:

Joining the Cosmosphere Governing Board are:

“The Cosmosphere is grateful for the time, expertise, and passion these individuals bring to our organization,” said Cosmosphere CEO Jim Remar. “Their leadership will play an important role as we continue to preserve space history, deliver world-class educational experiences, and inspire future generations to come.”

The Cosmosphere extends its sincere appreciation to all board members for their service and commitment and looks forward to working together in the year ahead.

For more information about The Cosmosphere and its leadership, visit <a href="http://cosmo.org">cosmo.org</a>.

Cosmosphere announces new board members for 2026

KIM BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher

It seems as if we just wrapped up our fall harvest and now we have started a whole new year.

While we have officially entered the winter season on the farm where things slow down for us just a bit, there’s still plenty to do. 

There are a few fields in our area that still need to be harvested, but the majority of the farms in our area have the grain out of the fields and cattle have been moved in to graze the remaining stalks for a few months this winter.

While I grew up helping feed cattle over the winter months, breaking ice and occasionally bringing a calf inside to warm up or feed it with a tube, my winters are now void of that.

A handful of years ago we transitioned to 100 percent fall calving. We no longer bundle up in multiple layers of clothing to conduct routine checks in the darkness of winter for newly born calves.

While I miss having my children experience that season, I’m thankful our cattle have a place to graze during the winter and get bred before they return to our location in late spring. 

We may not be monitoring the arrival of newborn calves during the winter months any longer, but we are preparing for the arrival of our next group of lambs.

The ewes are definitely showing signs that our winter lambing season is quickly approaching. And while we might not have calves warming up in the mud room any longer, there’s always a chance a little lamb or two will be brought inside allowing my kids the opportunity to dry them off, warm them up or even bottle-feed a baby or two.

Before these little lambs start arriving, the goal is to have the maternity pens prepped and ready. The pens are inside the barn and provide a warmer experience for everyone involved. The warming lamps also need to be tested and set. Hay and grain also need to be moved closer to where we’ll be spending more time at for the next few months.

Who will lamb first? How many will she lamb? Will we have enough room for all the babies? What’s the weather look like? 

There are so many questions that my family is starting to ask. While we don’t know the answers to any of the questions yet, we will surely know some of them soon. 

It’s always an exciting time as we prepare for and await the first arrivals of the winter lambing season.

"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: Little lamb preparations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jan. 26 marks the official start date of the 2026 tax filing season, when the IRS will begin accepting and processing 2025 tax returns. April 15 is the filing deadline to avoid penalties and interest.

Tax season is the annual period when taxpayers prepare and submit their income tax returns for the previous calendar year to the IRS and most U.S. citizens and permanent residents need to file a tax return if they make more than a certain amount of money for the year.

Tax experts, including the IRS’ independent watchdog, have warned that this year’s filing season could be hampered by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/irs-doge-layoffs-tax-season-0659e4b439400bf66023273f6a532fa0">loss of tens of thousands of tax collection workers</a>&nbsp;who left the agency through planned layoffs and buyouts spurred by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-security-irs-bessent-bisignano-e58cfaf2c88299e728d9783c8f5476fa">named to the new role in October</a>, said “the IRS workforce remains vigilant and dedicated to their mission to serve the American taxpaying public. At the same time, IRS information systems have been updated to incorporate the new tax laws and are ready to efficiently and effectively process taxpayer returns during the filing season.”

Bisignano is also commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

The IRS will also be responsible for implementing major provisions of Republicans’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions" target="_blank">tax and spending package</a>&nbsp;signed into law last summer. Several provisions in the law retroactively affect the 2025 tax year, likely leading to more questions from taxpayers and requiring the IRS to update tax forms.

“President Trump is committed to the taxpayers of this country and improving upon the successful tax filing season in 2025,” said acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent in a news release. “I am confident in our ability to deliver results and drive growth for businesses and consumers alike.”

The IRS expects to receive roughly 164 million individual income tax returns this year, which is on par with what it received last year.

The average refund amount was $3,167, according to IRS data. Bessent has said on several occasions that the effects of Republican tax law will result in bigger tax refunds in 2026.

The latest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tax-season-irs-audits-watchdog-report-fb5a1ecec7424362e34e9502270f1e21">National Taxpayer Advocate report</a>&nbsp;to Congress published in June states that the IRS workforce has fallen from 102,113 workers at the end of the Biden administration to 75,702. The IRS website does not include the latest employment numbers on the agency’s workforce.

IRS employees involved in last year’s tax season were not allowed to accept a buyout offer from the Trump administration until after the taxpayer filing deadline of April 15, 2025.

The June&nbsp;<a href="https://www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov/" target="_blank">National Taxpayer Advocate</a>&nbsp;report to Congress warned that the 2026 season could be rocky.

IRS announces when they will begin accepting 2025 tax returns

WASHINGTON (AP) —The Senate has advanced a resolution that would limit&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump’s</a>&nbsp;ability to conduct further&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">attacks against Venezuela</a>, sounding a note of disapproval for the president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-european-union-greenland-denmark-rubio-frederiksen-4d18970667b130d293ccaf4c0d55c300">expanding ambitions</a>&nbsp;in the Western Hemisphere.

Democrats and five Republicans voted to advance the war powers resolution on a 52-47 vote tally and ensure a later vote for final passage. Kansas U.S. Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall voted against the resolution.

It has virtually no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it if it were to pass the House, but it’s still a significant gesture that shows unease among some Republicans after the U.S. military seized Venezuelan President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-capture-trump-attack-military-ceb21da088f0a06b1813e66922def9a3">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;in a surprise nighttime raid.

Two Republicans flip on Venezuela war powers resolution vote

The Senate is voting on a resolution that would limit Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks against Venezuela, and the vote tally is looking to be razor-thin.

Two Republicans who previously voted against similar resolutions — Sens. Todd Young of Indiana and Susan Collins of Maine — are now voting for the resolution. It’s still not clear what the final vote outcome would be.

A majority vote would set up a later vote on passage for the resolution. It still has virtually no chance of becoming law because Trump would have to sign it, but the vote outcome showed how some Republicans are uneasy with the Trump administration’s military action against Venezuela.

Some Republicans insist on congressional approval for war

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close Trump ally, said on Air Force One on Sunday that he’s comfortable with Trump taking over other countries — including Greenland — without congressional approval. “The commander in chief is the commander in chief. They can use military force,” Graham said.

But some others are voicing opposition. Asked whether he’d support putting troops on the ground in Venezuela, Thom Tillis of North Carolina responded: “Not without congressional authorization.”

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, an outspoken proponent of war powers resolutions, acknowledged that Maduro is seen as a “bad guy” and “a socialist and an autocrat.” But, Paul added, “The question is about who has the power to take the country to war?”

Paul said Republicans discussed Trump’s plans for Greenland at their Wednesday luncheon and he heard “zero support” for taking military action to seize it.

Sen. Tim Kaine: ‘It’s time for Congress to assert its control over military action of this kind’

“It’s time to get this out of secrecy and put it in the light,” the Virginia Democrat said after forcing a Thursday Senate vote on a resolution that would limit Trump’s ability to strike Venezuela militarily again.

Kaine said a resolution on Greenland would soon be filed, in addition to Cuba, Mexico, Colombia and Nigeria.

Republican leaders have said they had no advance notification of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-presidential-palace-blowtorches-7969152ae48510003fe9cbde92f3c102">raid early morning Saturday</a>&nbsp;to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, but they’ve backed Trump, and mostly expressed satisfaction this week as top administration officials provided classified briefings on the operation.

“I think the president has demonstrated at least already a very strong commitment to peace through strength, especially in this hemisphere,” said Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. “I think Venezuela got that message loudly and clearly.”

Moran, Marshall vote no on resolution to limit Trump’s ability to attack Venezuela

NEW YORK (AP) — NASA canceled its first spacewalk of the year and may&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-nasa-astronauts-d90068c27fff2ed2438d1776e0632443">bring its crew</a>&nbsp;back early from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-spacex-contract-international-space-station-339c0b8313073fdf4d9fe22056f3d51c">International Space Station</a>&nbsp;due to an onboard medical issue.

The spacewalk was supposed to happen on Thursday, but was postponed because of an unspecified medical concern with an astronaut, who was not identified, the space agency said.

NASA said the crew member is now stable, but it's “actively evaluating all options” including an early end to the mission.

“Safely conducting our missions is our highest priority,” said NASA spokesperson Cheryl Warner in a statement.

The U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four have been at the orbiting lab since August after launching from Florida.

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.

NASA facing medical emergency on International Space Station

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonel-aleccia">JONEL ALECCIA</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://apnews.com/article/usda-hhs-dietary-guidelines-d6a9c6f0554f279497acb5714b3032b9"></a>Associated Press<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usda-hhs-dietary-guidelines-d6a9c6f0554f279497acb5714b3032b9"></a>&nbsp;

Americans should eat more whole foods and protein, fewer highly processed foods and less added sugar, according to the latest edition of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usda-hhs-dietary-guidelines-d6a9c6f0554f279497acb5714b3032b9">federal nutrition advice</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday by the Trump administration.

Health Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/robert-f-kennedy-jr">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins issued the 2025-2030 U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf" target="_blank">Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a>, which offer updated recommendations for a healthy diet and provide the foundation for federal nutrition programs and policies. They come as Kennedy has for months stressed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-kennedy-food-pyramid-dietary-guidelines-eb08465c99512d224112ff6c95d24a32">overhauling the U.S. food supply</a>&nbsp;as part of his Make America Healthy Again agenda.

The guidelines emphasize consumption of fresh vegetables, whole grains and dairy products, long advised as part of a healthy eating plan. Officials released a new graphic depicting an inverted version of the long-abandoned food pyramid, with protein, dairy, healthy fats and fruits and vegetables at the top and whole grains at the bottom.

But they also take a new stance on “highly processed” foods, and refined carbohydrates, urging consumers to avoid “packaged, prepared, ready-to-eat or other foods that are salty or sweet, such as chips, cookies and candy.” That’s a different term for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ultraprocessed-foods-healthy-diet-0501eb985016149541e6cc727e55dfea">ultraprocessed foods</a>, the tasty, energy-dense products that make up&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/americans-get-more-than-half-their-calories-from-ultra-processed-foods-cdc-report-says/" target="_blank">more than half the calories</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. diet and have been linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

The new guidance backs away from revoking long-standing advice to limit saturated fats, despite signals from Kennedy and Food and Drug Commissioner Marty Makary that the administration would push for more consumption of animal fats to end the “war” on saturated fats.

Instead, the document suggests that Americans should choose whole-food sources of saturated fat — such as meat, whole-fat dairy or avocados — while continuing to limit saturated fat consumption to no more than 10% of daily calories. The guidance says “other options can include butter or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seed-oil-beef-tallow-kennedy-4fdf0f30134277fd6dd20b4ede789295">beef tallow</a>,” despite previous recommendations to avoid those fats.

The dietary guidelines, required by law to be updated every five years, provide a template for a healthy diet. But in a country where more than half of adults have a diet-related chronic disease, few Americans actually follow the guidance, research shows.

The new recommendations drew praise from some prominent nutrition and medical experts.

“There should be broad agreement that eating more whole foods and reducing highly processed carbohydrates is a major advance in how we approach diet and health,” said Dr. David Kessler, a former FDA commissioner who has written books about diet and nutrition and has sent a petition to the FDA to remove key ingredients in ultraprocessed foods.

“The guidelines affirm that food is medicine and offer clear direction patients and physicians can use to improve health,” said Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, president of the American Medical Association.

Other experts were relieved that the guidelines didn’t go against decades of nutrition evidence linking saturated fat to heart disease, but they were critical of the guidelines’ focus on meat and dairy as a primary source of protein instead of plant-based sources.

“Overall, if people eat the way these are recommended, they will be eating more calories, not less,” said Marion Nestle, a nutritionist and food policy expert who advised previous editions of the guidance.

The new document is just 10 pages, upholding Kennedy’s pledge to create a simple, understandable guideline. Previous editions of the dietary guidelines have grown over the years, from a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2019-05/1980%20DGA.pdf" target="_blank">19-page pamphlet</a>&nbsp;in 1980 to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdf" target="_blank">164-page document</a>&nbsp;issued in 2020, which included a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/DGA_2020-2025_ExecutiveSummary_English.pdf" target="_blank">four-page executive summary</a>.

The guidance will have the most profound effect on the federally funded National School Lunch Program, which is required to follow the guidelines to feed nearly 30 million U.S. children on a typical school day.

The Agriculture Department will have to translate the recommendations into specific requirements for school meals, a process that can take years, said Diane Pratt-Heavner, spokesperson for the School Nutrition Association. The latest school nutrition standards were proposed in 2023 but won’t be fully implemented until 2027, she noted.

Science advisers didn’t make ultraprocessed food recommendations

The new guidelines skip the advice of a 20-member panel of nutrition experts, who met for nearly two years to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usda-hhs-dietary-guidelines-d6a9c6f0554f279497acb5714b3032b9">review the latest scientific evidence</a>&nbsp;on diet and health.

That panel didn’t make recommendations about ultraprocessed food. Although a host of studies have shown links between ultraprocessed foods and poor health outcomes, the nutrition experts had concerns with the quality of the research and the certainty that those foods, and not other factors, were causing the problems.

The recommendations on highly processed foods drew cautiously positive reactions. The FDA and the Agriculture Department are already working on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/07/25/2025-14089/ultra-processed-foods-request-for-information" target="_blank">definition of ultraprocessed foods</a>, but it’s expected to take time.

Not all highly processed foods are unhealthy, said Dr. David Ludwig, an endocrinologist and researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital.

“I think the focus should be on highly processed carbohydrates,” he said, noting that processing of protein or fats can be benign or even helpful.

The guidelines made a few other notable changes, including a call to potentially double protein consumption.

The previous recommended dietary allowance called for 0.8 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight — about 54 grams daily for a 150-pound person. The new recommendation is 1.2 to 1.6 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. An average American man consumes about 100 grams of protein per day, or about twice the previously recommended limit.

Makary said the new advice supersedes protein guidance that was based on the “bare minimum” required for health.

Ludwig also noted that the earlier recommendation was the minimum amount needed to prevent protein deficiency and said higher amounts of protein might be beneficial.

“A moderate increase in protein to help displace the processed carbohydrates makes sense,” he said.

Officials with the American Heart Association, however, called for more research on protein consumption and the best sources for optimal health.

“Pending that research, we encourage consumers to prioritize plant-based proteins, seafood and lean meats and to limit high-fat animal products including red meat, butter, lard and tallow, which are linked to increased cardiovascular risk,” the group said in a statement.

The guidelines advise avoiding or sharply limiting added sugars or non-nutritive sweeteners, saying “no amount” is considered part of a healthy diet.

No one meal should contain more than 10 grams of added sugars, or about 2 teaspoons, the new guidelines say.

Previous federal guidelines recommended limiting added sugars to less than 10% of daily calories for people older than 2, but to aim for less. That’s about 12 teaspoons a day in a 2,000-calorie daily diet. Children younger than 2 should have no added sugars at all, the older guidance said.

In general, most Americans consume about 17 teaspoons of added sugars per day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new guidelines roll back previous recommendations to limit alcohol to one drink or less per day for women and two drinks or less per day for men.

Instead, the guidance advises Americans to “consume less alcohol for better health.” They also say that alcohol should be avoided by pregnant women, people recovering from alcohol use disorder and those who are unable to control the amount they drink.

See the new U.S.  dietary guidelines: More protein, less grains

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man is scheduled for sentencing Thursday for shooting a teen in a Walmart parking lot.

&nbsp;In November a jury found 47-year-old Ruben Contreras of Wichita guilty of aggravated battery, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office. He had originally been charged with attempted first-degree murder.

&nbsp; He is scheduled to appear in Judge Quinton Pittman's courtroom for the sentencing. In July Contreras plead not guilty to the charges.

Just before 5p.m. May 11, 2024 officers were dispatched to a call involving a weapon at Walmart, 18631 W. Kellogg in Goddard, according to a statement from the Sedgwick County Sheriff's office. First responders located an 18-year-old, later identified as Anakin Zehring, in a vehicle&nbsp;suffering from a gunshot wound, in the Walmart parking lot.

Zehring and some friends were firing a&nbsp;toy gel blaster in the parking lot&nbsp;when they hit a girl, according to a court document. Investigators say she called her father, Contreras, who came to the scene and shot Zehring. EMS transported Zehring to the hospital in serious condition.&nbsp; He continues to recover at a hospital in Nebraska, according to an<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-support-my-sons-recovery-journey?lang=en_US&amp;utm_campaign=fp_sharesheet&amp;utm_medium=customer&amp;utm_source=copy_link&amp;mibextid=xfxF2i">&nbsp;online fundraiser.</a>

A suspect identified as&nbsp;<a href="https://ssc.sedgwickcounty.org/InmateSearch/Details.aspx?Id=748186">Contreras,</a>&nbsp;remained on the scene when law enforcement arrived and was taken into custody.

Contreras was transported to Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Investigation to be interviewed. He was later booked into Sedgwick County Detention Facility and later met the condition of a $300-thousand bond and is out of jail, according to online records.

Sentencing day: Kan. man shot teen in Walmart parking lot

WASHINGTON (AP) — The woman&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-shooting-crackdown-surge-173e00fa7388054e98c3b5b9417c1e5a">shot and killed</a>&nbsp;by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday was Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had recently moved to Minnesota.

Local

Region

Sports