The Reno County Commission will meet Wednesday, Jan. 14, with a regular session scheduled for 9 a.m. in the Veterans Room at the Reno County Courthouse, 206 W. First Ave.

A joint meeting with the City of Hutchinson is scheduled to follow at approximately 10 a.m. The joint session will be held in the Reno County Annex Conference Room, 125 W. First Ave.

During the regular commission meeting, commissioners will consider several consent agenda items, including routine county payments and vouchers, board and advisory committee appointments and reappointments, a resolution directing the filing of a real estate tax foreclosure action, a memorandum of understanding with Growth Inc., and revisions to the Reno County refuse agreement.

Business items on the agenda include consideration of a Caterpillar-certified powertrain rebuild for a county dozer at a cost of $626,724.93, an update to the county travel policy, and the annual reorganization of the Board of County Commissioners. As part of that reorganization, commissioners will appoint a chair and vice-chair for 2026.

The full agenda is available at <a>www.renocountyks.gov/agendas</a>. The meeting will also be livestreamed on the county’s YouTube channel at <a href="http://youtube.com/@RenoCounty/streams">youtube.com/@RenoCounty/streams</a>.

County commission to select new chairman, meet with city 

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RENO COUNTY —Due to a significant rise in student and staff illness, Fairfield USD 310 will be closed on Thursday, January 15th and Friday, January 16th and all after school activities have been cancelled for Wednesday, according to an online message from Richard Spencer, Superintendent of Schools

The basketball games scheduled for this Thursday and Friday at Skyline have been postponed to a later date as well and there will be no practices held on either of these days.

"The decision was made out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and well-being of our students, staff, and families."

"Our night custodian will be fogging the buildings to help disinfect any germs still hanging around and we will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as needed.  Thank you for your understanding and continued support."

Reno County school district cancels classes due to illness

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Clinic and United Way of Reno County (UWRC) are proud to announce the expansion of their ongoing partnership through Reno Connections, bringing vital community resources directly to more patients and families in Reno County.

Since July 2025, Hutchinson Clinic has hosted a Reno Connections location at its 2101 N. Waldron campus, giving patients and community members convenient access to support services beyond traditional medical care. On Monday, January 12th, the partners officially opened a second Reno Connections location inside the Hutchinson Clinic facility at 1100 N. Main, further expanding access to these critical services.

“We are so thrilled to be able to work with the United Way of Reno County to provide our patients additional resources that we can see may be needed but that we don’t offer at Hutchinson Clinic,” said Matt Leary, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchinson Clinic. “This partnership allows us to better support the whole person by connecting them with services that can positively impact their health, stability, and quality of life.”

Reno Connections is a free, community-wide program operated by United Way of Reno County. Through this service, individuals and families get connected with trusted local nonprofit organizations, receive personalized action plans, and work one-on-one with a Community Navigator in a supportive, judgment-free environment as they strive toward long-term stability.

“Having a Reno Connections office at the Main Street Hutchinson Clinic location is an important step in how United Way of Reno County shows up for our community,” said Lacey Mills, CEO of United Way of Reno County. “This location allows us to meet individuals and families—particularly those who are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed)—where they already are, and better walk alongside them as they work toward their stability goals.”

The United Way Reno Connections team is available to assist patients and community members at Hutchinson Clinic Mondays at the Main Street location (1100 N. Main) and Wednesdays at the Waldron location (2101 N. Waldron), both from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with a Reno Connections Community Navigator, contact United Way of Reno County at 620-669-9329.

Hutchinson Clinic and United Way of Reno County expand Reno Connections partnership

Horizons Mental Health Center (HMHC) has opened a new location in order to increase access to mental health services in downtown Hutchinson. The office, located in the Historic Wiley Building at 10 East 1st Avenue, will be the homebase for Horizons’ Community Support Services team.

While Horizons has locations in five Kansas counties, including a second office in Hutchinson, the particular need for accessible mental healthcare in this latest area was highlighted by the results of an annual Community Health Survey.

"We took a closer look at the population we serve and discovered a gap in the downtown area where there was a clear need for services, but not many individuals showing up in our system,” said Horizons CEO Vikki Mader. “It was a priority for us to boost our presence in that area."

The new HMHC office will serve the downtown area by providing proactive community support. Among the services the team provides are case management, employment aid, substance use treatment, peer support, and Assertive Community Treatment, or ACT, which serves individuals at high risk for incarceration or hospitalization.

The mission of these outreach programs is to bring awareness to the aid that many adults with persistent mental illnesses may not know is available to them. The Community Services Support team offers a comprehensive range of services to help underserved populations in downtown Hutchinson thrive, from matching clients with job opportunities to helping them manage their medications and physical wellbeing.

Staff at the office will respond to reports of crises in the community and connect individuals with the resources they need on a compassionate case-by-case situation, promoting safety and stability for those who need it. The office’s central location in a high-activity area allows staff to respond quickly and efficiently. Community members can access the mobile crisis line at (620) 663-7595.

The Horizons team is excited to bring these vital services to the heart of Hutchinson, expanding the reach of mental healthcare in the area and helping individuals with serious mental illnesses build strong foundations for health and happiness.

Horizons Mental Health Center opens downtown office

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — StartUp Hutch continues to expand its entrepreneurship initiatives in Reno County, with new programming aimed at economic mobility, youth innovation, and community engagement, according to Executive Director Graham Klemme.

Klemme recently was part of the team that hosted representatives of the Heartland Regional in Hutchinson, calling the visit a success.

“It was awesome to have them in town and experience Hutchinson firsthand,” Klemme said. “Now they can advocate on our behalf because they’ve seen what our community has to offer.”

One of StartUp Hutch’s major initiatives launching later this month is the “Who Owns the Ice House?” program, a pre-entrepreneurship course focused on developing entrepreneurial thinking and mindset. The program is specifically designed for individuals living below the ALICE threshold — households that are Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.

The eight-week cohort begins January 29 and runs through March, meeting Thursday evenings. The program will serve up to 10 participants, with meals provided. Klemme said the goal is to use entrepreneurship as a pathway to upward economic mobility.

“This isn’t just about starting a business,” he said. “It’s about learning how to think and act like an entrepreneur — skills that can improve career paths, problem-solving, and overall stability.”

The program is funded through the Pathways Program at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, in partnership with the Reno County Health Department.

Deadline to register for the program is Monday, Jan. 26.

StartUp Hutch is also gearing up for its annual Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, with registration deadlines approaching in early February. The countywide competition culminates in a public trade show and pitch event on March 10 at the Stringer Fine Arts Center.

Klemme said he and his team have been visiting local high schools across Reno County to encourage participation, including stops in Nickerson, Hutchinson, Haven, and upcoming visits to Buhler.

“This is for any student who wants to explore an idea or test something they’re already doing,” Klemme said. “It could be mowing lawns, raking yards, or a creative project. It looks great on college applications and gives students real-world experience.”

StartUp Hutch also recently launched a podcast, “The Hot Seat,” featuring conversations with local entrepreneurs. Recent episodes include interviews with Marc Buckley of The Toy Depot, with an upcoming episode featuring Joey Ward of Hutch Connect.

In addition, StartUp Hutch will host its monthly Entrepreneur Connections networking event on Tuesday, January 27, at 5:30 p.m. at Sandhills Brewing. The featured speaker will be Brad Pryor, a local franchise owner and real estate developer known for operating multiple Papa John’s locations.

Klemme said the event offers an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn from experienced business leaders and connect with others in the local startup ecosystem.

More information about StartUp Hutch programs and events is available at startuphutch.com.

StartUp Hutch Expands entrepreneurship efforts with Ice House program

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas Corporation Commission has scheduled a public hearing on Evergy’s request to site a new high-voltage electric transmission line in Reno County.

Evergy is seeking approval to construct a 15-mile, 345-kilovolt transmission line that would connect the future McNew natural gas plant near South McNew Road and Highway 50 to the existing Reno County Substation.

The public hearing is set for Wednesday, Jan. 21, at the Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E. 11th Ave. The hearing will begin at 6 p.m. and will provide Kansas residents an opportunity to learn more about the proposed route, ask questions and offer public comment to the commission.

Prior to the hearing, commission staff and Evergy representatives will host an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. The open house will include maps of the proposed route and allow attendees to ask questions and discuss the project.

Those unable to attend in person may participate in the hearing via Zoom. Advance registration is required by noon the day before the hearing. The commission is also accepting written public comments through 5 p.m. CST on Jan. 26, 2026.

Residents can register to participate by Zoom or submit written comments online at <a href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fkcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov%2Fs%2Fpublic-comments%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0101019bbcf71e6a-2fda36a1-68d1-4d2a-b9fd-1e3b59995359-000000/Va6WGGD-r9bAaCqeoKLUQKDc8ThJuBudeFGCX5RuEmI=440">kcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov/s/public-comments</a>. The hearing will also be broadcast live on the commission’s YouTube channel and will be available for later viewing.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

KCC schedules public hearing on Evergy transmission line in Reno County

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association announced a $100,000 gift from longtime supporters Terry and Dee Bisbee that will create a new endowed scholarship and provide additional support for key college programs.

The gift establishes the Bisbee Presidential and Leadership Scholarship, an endowed award designed to benefit high-achieving students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential and a commitment to service. The scholarship will provide long-term support for students while also enhancing leadership development and engagement opportunities on campus and in the community.

In addition to scholarship funding, the gift will also support HutchCC Fine Arts and Athletics, expanding access for students and strengthening the overall student experience.

Terry Bisbee, a member of the Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees and a 1968 HutchCC graduate, said the gift reflects both gratitude and a desire to invest in future students.

“HutchCC opened doors for me, and it’s an honor to help open those same doors for future students,” Bisbee said. “Dee and I believe deeply in the mission of Hutchinson Community College and the power education has to change lives. This scholarship is about investing in students who are willing to lead, serve and make a positive impact, both while they’re at HutchCC and long after they graduate.”

HutchCC Endowment Association Director Cindy Keast said the Bisbees’ support will have a lasting effect on students and the institution.

“Terry and Dee Bisbee exemplify what it means to believe in students and in the mission of Hutchinson Community College,” Keast said. “Their generosity will have a lasting impact by empowering students, strengthening our programs and helping ensure access and excellence for years to come.”

The endowment reflects the Bisbees’ long-standing connection to HutchCC and their shared commitment to student success. College officials said the scholarship and program support will help expand opportunities for students now and for generations to follow.

More information about the Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association is available at hutchcc.edu/endowment.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Bisbees endow $100,000 leadership scholarship at HutchCC

JACKIE MUNDT Pratt County farmer and rancher

People traveling to Anaheim, Calif., are usually in search of a magical adventure at Disneyland. This past weekend it was one of the most magical places on earth for farm leaders as the site of the  American Farm Bureau Convention. 

It has been a few years since I last attended the event. As I walked through the convention halls, I was reminded why this event continues to matter — especially for the next generation of agriculture. The hallways were filled with energy, purpose and a strong sense of belonging for those committed to agriculture’s future.

Five of our local collegiate Farm Bureau members traveled with me to the conference. These students weren’t just observing — they were learning about policy and technology, asking thoughtful questions, serving as volunteers for convention activities and networking with professionals twice their age.

It is always my hope that this first exposure to the scale of Farm Bureau and the breadth of opportunities within the agriculture industry ignites a passion to become leaders for the future. There’s something almost magical about watching young people realize they’re part of something bigger than themselves, connected by shared values and a common goal of advancing agriculture.

Another cornerstone of the American Farm Bureau Convention is the celebrating the leadership, skill and impact of the Young Farmers and Ranchers program (YF&amp;R) across the country through three competitive events: Discussion Meet, Excellence in Agriculture and the Achievement Award. These events are more than contests; they’re platforms that elevate new voices and showcase the work they do to make their farms or careers, the industry and their communities better. 

Watching competitors share their ideas, business models, challenges and personal journeys is inspiring. Each participant brings a unique perspective shaped by geography, family history and personal experience, yet all share a common dedication to agriculture. The confidence and professionalism displayed throughout these competitions speak volumes about the strength of the next generation.

These young farmers and ranchers are balancing tradition with progress — honoring the past while embracing new technologies and ideas. Their willingness to step forward, compete and represent agriculture publicly is something worth celebrating. It’s a reminder that leadership in agriculture doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built through opportunity, encouragement and platforms like Farm Bureau.

On a more personal level, one of the highlights of attending the convention was reconnecting with friends from across the country. In agriculture, relationships matter. I have to plan extra travel time throughout the day because I can’t walk from one event to another without running into two to three people I know. From catching up with friends now working in different corners of the industry to meeting face-to-face with former mentors or peers from every era of my career, it is heartwarming and fulfilling to be with so many incredible friends.

Those relationships are what sustain this industry through challenges and change. Seeing familiar faces from across the country reinforced how interconnected agriculture truly is. Even though we may raise different commodities or work in different sectors, the foundation is the same — service, stewardship, and a commitment to rural America.

This meeting is magical not because it is right next to Disneyland but because it’s a gathering place where agricultural leaders connect, ideas are exchanged, and the future of our industry is actively shaped.

Seeing students step into leadership, reconnecting with friends and colleagues, and celebrating young farmers and ranchers reaffirmed why events like this matter. Agriculture’s story is being written every day, and after attending this convention, I’m confident the next chapters are in strong hands.

"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: The most magical meeting in agriculture

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas man arrested by police in Hutchinson for killing a man in Wichita will return to court Wednesday.

Andrew Presley, 31,&nbsp; will appear in Judge Roger Woods courtroom for a preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.&nbsp; He was charged with second degree murder in the death of 32-year-old Kelly Black. He is also charged with criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.&nbsp;

On July 15, police in Hutchinson arrested Presley after a brief standoff, according to a media release from the Wichita Police Department.

Just before 6p.m. July 13, police&nbsp;responded to a shooting in the 7000 block of E. Lincoln in Wichita.. First responders found&nbsp; Black lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.

Presley remains jailed on bond totaling over&nbsp;$1,000,000.00, according to online jail records.

Preliminary Hearing: Kan. murder suspect arrested in Hutchinson

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report points to generally larger supplies and higher ending stocks for most major commodities in the 2025/26 marketing year, with prices under pressure in grains and oilseeds but firmer trends in cotton and some livestock sectors.

U.S. wheat supplies are projected slightly higher as beginning stocks were revised upward. Domestic feed and residual use is reduced, while exports remain unchanged. Ending stocks are forecast at 926 million bushels, up 8 percent from the previous year, pushing the season-average farm price down 10 cents to $4.90 per bushel.

Globally, wheat supplies, consumption, trade, and ending stocks all increase, driven by sharply higher production in Argentina and Russia, which more than offsets declines elsewhere.

The U.S. corn crop is forecast at a record 17.0 billion bushels on higher yields and expanded harvested acreage. Feed and residual use rises, but supplies grow faster than demand, boosting ending stocks to 2.2 billion bushels. Despite larger stocks, the season-average corn price is raised to $4.10 per bushel.

Worldwide, coarse grain production and stocks increase, led by a record corn crop in China.

U.S. rice supplies decline due to lower production and imports, while domestic and residual use rises to a record level. Exports are reduced on weaker sales, cutting ending stocks by 9 percent from last year. The all-rice season-average farm price increases 20 cents to $11.80 per hundredweight.

Globally, rice supplies and ending stocks rise, primarily on higher production and larger stocks in China and Japan.

U.S. soybean production increases modestly, but exports are lowered amid strong competition from Brazil. Ending stocks rise to 350 million bushels, contributing to a 30-cent drop in the projected season-average price to $10.20 per bushel.

Globally, soybean production and stocks increase, with Brazil’s crop boosted by favorable growing conditions.

U.S. sugar production is projected slightly higher, more than offsetting reduced imports. Ending stocks rise, increasing the stocks-to-use ratio. In Mexico, sugar production is higher than last year but below last month’s forecast due to harvest delays tied to weather impacts.

Red meat and poultry production forecasts are raised for 2025 and 2026, led by higher beef and pork output. Cattle prices for 2026 are raised on tighter fed cattle supplies, while hog prices remain steady. The all-milk price averages $21.15 per hundredweight in 2025 but is projected to decline to $18.25 in 2026.

U.S. cotton production is reduced due to lower yields, particularly in the Delta, tightening ending stocks and lifting the season-average farm price to 61 cents per pound. Globally, cotton production and ending stocks decline, reducing the global stocks-to-use ratio.

Overall, the January WASDE report highlights ample global supplies for most grains and oilseeds, keeping prices in check, while tighter conditions in cotton and selected livestock markets provide targeted price support.

USDA report shows larger grain supplies, mixed price outlook

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas sex offender on new allegations

Just after 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, a 59-year-old woman reported a suspect, unknown to the victim, was in her residence, according to the Riley County Police Department activity re port.

Just after 5:30p.m., police arrested Anthony Ellis, 29, of Lansing,&nbsp;near 12th Street and Poyntz Avenue.&nbsp; He is being held on a $50,000 bond on requested charges of aggravated burglary and criminal damage to property.&nbsp; &nbsp;Ellis has been registered as a sex offender since 2016 for a conviction of aggravated indecent liberties with a 14-year-old in Manhattan, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Police: Kansas sex offender accused of burglary 

SALINE COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at an apartment complex in Salina.

A significant fire occured at the <a href="https://www.theridgesalina.com/">Ridge of Salina</a>&nbsp;apartments on Wednesday afternoon, as the investigation is ongoing within first responders to determine the cause of fire.

The fire occurred in the attic of one of the apartment building at Ridge of Salina apartments, 2363 Chapel Ridge Place, at around 3:00 p.m., according to&nbsp;Salina Fire Department Chief, Shane Pearson.

The interior of the building had significant amounts of smoke and water damage. Supervisor of the apartments, Edwin Rodriguez said nobody was injured and everyone is safe.&nbsp;

"We followed protocol and the maintenance guys did their job," he said. "Thank God nobody was hurt."

Pearson also confirmed there were no reported injuries.

A resident who lives across from the building that was on fire stated they were simply relaxing inside their room, when they looked out of their window and suddenly saw the fire.&nbsp;

That same resident made the call at around 3:00 pm to let first responders know about the fire.&nbsp;

Cause of Salina apartment fire under investigation 

President Trump signed the&nbsp;Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act on Wednesday in the Oval Office. &nbsp;The legislation restores healthy milk options in schools by reversing the Obama-era law that took whole milk out of school cafeterias.

Senator Roger Marshall wrote,&nbsp;“Our country is getting back to the basics when it comes to healthier living – eating real food – and the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act fits right in. This legislation is a win for our kids, ensuring they get the nutrients they need, and for the hardworking farmers who make it possible,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“As a physician, there’s no drink I recommend more for growing kids than whole milk. I’m proud to have worked with Senator Peter Welch of Vermont on this bipartisan effort, and I was thrilled to see President Trump sign it into law today.”

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf">Dietary Guidelines for Americans</a>&nbsp;(DGA) reports that nearly 90% of Americans do not meet their daily dairy intake recommendations. Specifically, Americans are lacking enough Calcium and Vitamin D, and whole milk is an excellent source of both vitamins. Leading nutritionists&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522012898?via%3Dihub">have found</a>&nbsp;that whole dairy fats have no negative effect on a diet, and may even reduce the risk of heart disease.

The legislation was first&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;by Senator Marshall in June of 2023. It was reintroduced in April of 2025 with numerous bipartisan sponsors and co-sponsors and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marshall.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/senator-marshalls-legislation-to-restore-whole-milk-in-schools-passes-senate-agriculture-committee/">passed</a>&nbsp;the Senate Agriculture Committee in June of 2025.

🎥 Trump signs Kan. U.S. Senator's bill that returns whole milk to schools

WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said Wednesday it will suspend the processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries, including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, whose nationals the Trump administration has deemed likely to require public assistance while living in the United States.

The State Department, led by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-marco-rubio-secretary-of-state-nominee-39c378e19d0327a7f091f302daf8ca3e">Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>, said it had instructed consular officers to halt immigrant visa applications from the countries affected in accordance with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-public-charge-trump-benefits-visas-0929b2c8f635479173929300cb683a27">a broader order</a>&nbsp;issued in November that tightened rules around potential immigrants who might become “public charges” in the U.S.

The step builds on earlier&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-travel-ban-countries-immigration-visas-border-9dde0aecb3ffe418266700d9eefef937">immigration and travel bans</a>&nbsp;by the administration on nearly 40 countries and is part of President Donald Trump’s ongoing efforts to tighten U.S. entry standards for foreigners.

“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” the department said in a statement. “Immigrant visa processing from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassess immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

The suspension, which will begin Jan. 21, will not apply to applicants seeking non-immigrant visas, or temporary tourist or business visas, who make up the vast majority of visa seekers. Demand for non-immigrant visas is expected to rise dramatically in the coming months and years due to the upcoming 2026 World Cup and 2028 Olympics both of which the U.S. will host or co-host.

Cable calls for screening of non-immigrant visa applicants

A separate notice sent to all U.S. embassies and consulates said that non-immigrant visa applicants should be screened for the possibility that they might seek public benefits in the United States.

“With the uncovering of massive public benefits fraud across the United States, the Trump administration is laser-focused on eliminating and preventing fraud in public benefits programs,” said the cable that referred specifically to most non-immigrant visa applications and was sent on Monday.

The cable, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, urged consular officers to ensure that foreigners wanting to travel to the U.S. “have been fully vetted and screened” for whether they may rely on public services before they are issued a visa.

The cable noted several times that it is up to the applicant to prove that they would not apply for public benefits while in the U.S. and said consular officers who suspect the applicant might apply should require them to fill out a form proving their financial bona fides.

President Donald Trump's administration has already severely restricted immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing for citizens of dozens of countries, many of them in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Consular officials must consider a range of personal details

The November guidance on which Wednesday's decision is based directed U.S. Embassy and consulate officials to comprehensively and thoroughly vet visa applicants to demonstrate that they will not need to rely on public benefits from the government any time after their admission in the U.S.

While federal law already required those seeking permanent residency or legal status to prove they wouldn’t be a public charge, Trump in his first term widened the range of benefit programs that could disqualify applicants, and the guidelines in the cable appear to go further in scope.

Immigrants seeking entry into the U.S. already undergo a medical exam by a physician who’s been approved by a U.S. Embassy. They are screened for communicable diseases, like tuberculosis, and asked to disclose any history of drug or alcohol use, mental health conditions or violence. They’re also required to have a number of vaccinations.

The new directive expanded those with more specific requirements. It said consular officials must consider a range of specific details about people seeking visas, including their age, health, family status, finances, education, skills and any past use of public assistance regardless of the country. It also said they should assess applicants’ English proficiency and can do so by conducting interviews in English.

Experts said at the time it could further limit who gets to enter the country at a time when the Republican administration is already&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/refugees-admissions-cap-immigration-trump-administration-197a8ef1c9c219ce6167da4aba3f5a6e">tightening those rules</a>.

The countries affected by the suspension announced on Wednesday are:

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

See the list: US suspends immigrant visa processing for these countries

Governor Laura Kelly issued a verbal state of disaster emergency proclamation Wednesday due to critical fire weather conditions and Red Flag warnings in Western Kansas beginning Thursday, Jan. 15 and continuing through the weekend. This declaration allows resources to be used to provide state assistance.

“Weather conditions are such that a high risk exists for wildland fires in the coming days,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “I urge everyone across the state to use extreme caution and avoid burning. Follow your local burn bans and regulations. We all need to do our part to protect our neighbors and communities.”

High winds exceeding 40 mph and humidity levels below 20 percent are expected across the state from Friday through Saturday. These conditions are conducive to rapid fire growth. Unseasonably warm temperatures combined with strong winds will further dry vegetation, creating fire behavior that is not typical for this time of year. Areas of particular concern include northwest Kansas, where no significant precipitation has occurred in more than 50 days.

“The Kansas Forest Service is working closely with our partners to ensure resources are available to support local responders,” Bill Waln, Fire Management Officer, Kansas Forest Service said. “In some areas that recently received rainfall, responding vehicles may encounter difficult ground conditions and could become stuck. Wet soils, combined with receptive fuels, may also present challenges for ground resources during suppression efforts.”

The Kansas Division of Emergency Management will staff the State Emergency Operations Center with Emergency Support Function partners starting tomorrow to coordinate state assistance to support counties and local responders if requested

Kan. governor issues state of disaster emergency for wildland fires

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, in his final year in the Legislature, centers his rebuttal speech on budget, policy wins

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins underscored the force of the Republican supermajority and its 2025 policy wins in his response to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s final State of the State address.

Hawkins, a Wichita Republican, also promised solutions to cost of living issues, health care woes and academic outcomes in K-12 schools during the 2026 legislative session, where Republicans maintained an 88-37 advantage in the House and a 31-9 margin in the Senate.

Kelly’s State of the State speech was&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/13/kansas-governor-revels-in-triumphs-warns-against-succumbing-to-uncivilized-d-c-politics/">part victory lap, part warning</a>. Kelly, who will leave office at the end of 2026, celebrated enticing the Kansas City Chiefs, who will move from Missouri to play in a new stadium in five years, and her seven years in office. And she cautioned against accepting uncivil political discourse as the norm.

It’s Hawkins’ final State of the State response, too, which he prerecorded ahead of Kelly’s address Tuesday. He is running for state insurance commissioner. His&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/13/full-transcript-of-house-speaker-dan-hawkins-response-to-governors-state-of-the-state-address/">rebuttal</a>&nbsp;touted tax relief legislation, and he spoke of prioritizing quality K-12 schools, housing and roads.

Three things, he said, have made a difference in the state budget.

One: A focus on efficiency inspired by the Trump administration’s DOGE, or department of government efficiency. Two: Investing in government functions such as schools, roads, public safety and water. And three: Reducing state spending.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/01/10/full-transcript-of-kansas-house-speaker-dan-hawkins-response-to-the-state-of-the-state-speech/">His 2024 speech</a>&nbsp;was laden with critiques of Kelly and the Biden administration, and he vowed at the time to focus on shrinking government, reining in energy costs, improving civil services and cracking down on communist China.

Two years later, he threw fewer jabs. He criticized Kelly for “covering up waste, fraud and abuse” in the state budget and “massive” spending proposals. However, the Republican majority was, by its own authority, responsible in 2025 for proposing, negotiating and passing the state budget.

“The bottom line is we are focusing on the core services of government and doing those things right,” he said. “We’re putting people first, and it’s working. This past year alone, we reduced state spending by over $200 million.”

That figure is in contrast to the 2024-2025 state budget.

Republicans actually reduced spending by $38 million last year compared to the governor’s proposed 2025-2026 budget, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/08/25/kansas-house-speaker-wants-to-slash-200-million-from-state-budget-target-medicaid-for-cuts/#:~:text=Despite%20Republicans%20in%20the%20House,Hawkins%20told%20his%20ALEC%20audience.">numbers confirmed in August by his staff</a>.

Hawkins said schools were the Legislature’s No. 1 budget priority. Republicans historically have not always put forth proposals that fully fund public schools, however. He voiced support for a proposed bipartisan cellphone ban in K-12 schools, hypothesizing it could improve test scores.

Health care, he said, is another priority.

“It’s beyond frustrating to see enormous federal and state government funding pumped into the system, and yet costs keep skyrocketing, and middle class families are forced to keep paying more,” he said.

Hawkins has opposed Medicaid expansion in Kansas, which has shown in some states to lower state and consumer costs.

The solutions Hawkins sees include improving hospital reimbursements, enhancing telemedicine, improving hospital pricing transparency, lowering prescription costs and creating oversight for the Rural Health Transformation Fund, a $50 billion program established in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to offset the bill’s cuts to rural health providers. He said the fund, if used wisely, has the ability to rightsize health care for rural Kansas communities.”

“Payouts to big hospital systems and programs based on buzzwords instead of actual care, as some have suggested, are not going to cut it,” he said.

He said the 2026 Legislature, “as part of our people-first agenda,” will concentrate on cost of living concerns, including housing, insurance and utility costs.

Hawkins promised to modify tort law to lower insurance costs and deregulate single-family home building to lower housing costs. Quality and affordable housing was identified as a major need, especially in rural communities, in the state’s 2021 Housing Needs Assessment. A growing population and the compounded effects of the 2008 recession have created a housing shortage in Kansas. The Legislature last year passed legislation that will whittle down the state’s low-income housing tax credit program, which helped fund the construction and rehabilitation of low-income rental housing, until it is discontinued in 2028.

Hawkins, who has served 13 years in the Legislature, ended his response by committing Republicans to having Kansans’ backs.

“When I look out on our great state, I see the challenges we face,” he said. “But we’ve faced challenges before.”

Bleeding Kansas, grasshopper plagues, ice storms, prairie fires, tornadoes and the dust bowl, to name a few, he said.

“But Kansas remains undefeated,” he said. “We dust ourselves off, and we confront our problems head on, and we carry on.”

Kansas House Speaker touts Republican supermajority’s ‘people-first agenda’

Women in nearby states with abortion bans might not have to travel so far for the procedure.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/khardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/"></a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The outcome of a trial over Missouri’s abortion regulations could ripple far beyond the state, potentially creating new availability for women in the Midwest and South who can’t access abortion close to home.

As a judge&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2026/01/12/missouri-abortion-rights-trial-focuses-on-two-decades-of-state-restrictions/" target="_blank">weighs the constitutionality</a>&nbsp;of a litany of state restrictions on abortion, the stakes are clear for Missouri women: The decision could hamper access for nearly everyone in the state — or greatly broaden it in ways not seen in decades. That would allow women in a dozen nearby states with abortion bans to travel a shorter distance to access the procedure.

“Opening and reestablishing rights in the state of Missouri would help to alleviate some of the pressure that other states have since so many Southern states have banned abortion,” said Julie Burkhart, the co-owner of Hope Clinic in Granite City, Illinois. “It just seems logical that we would see a shift in migration patterns of patients in the country.”

At her clinic, about a 15-minute drive from downtown St. Louis, Missourians account for about half of all patients, Burkhart said. Though Missouri voters in 2024 enshrined a right to abortion in the state constitution, access has remained&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/05/missouri-abortion-legal-access-hinges-courts-rebuilding/" target="_blank">highly limited because of restrictive state laws</a>. Only procedural abortions are available on a limited basis across three Planned Parenthood clinics in the state.

Many of those state laws face legal scrutiny this week as a Missouri judge weighs the constitutionality of regulations targeting abortion providers. Those include a 72-hour waiting period between initial appointments and procedures, mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions and a ban on telemedicine appointments for medication abortions.

Planned Parenthood affiliates in Missouri argue state restrictions are unconstitutional under 2024’s voter-approved constitutional amendment. Over decades, state restrictions have gutted Missouri’s provider networks, limited appointment availability and ultimately forced abortions to a halt in 2022, before a limited number resumed after the 2024 vote.

Experts and advocates are closely monitoring the Missouri case, which is expected to be appealed regardless of the outcome, because of its practical implications on access in the region. While many women now rely on abortion medication, procedural abortion is still crucial for those seeking later-term abortions or who prefer an in-clinic procedure.

But the two-week bench trial in downtown Kansas City also tests lawmakers’ ability to put in place rules so restrictive that they effectively ban abortion — a practice used by anti-abortion lawmakers in other states looking to limit access to the procedure.

“Judges do not operate in a vacuum,” Burkhart said, “ … and we know for a fact that judges look outside the borders of their state for information and for guidance. I do see this as having national importance.”

That’s especially true in other states also litigating abortion access, including Arizona, Michigan and Ohio, said Rebecca Reingold, an associate director at Georgetown University’s O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law.

While state judges are not bound by the decisions of judges in other states, their deliberations can be informed by court rulings, particularly involving novel legal questions or areas of the law that are evolving.

“There is little doubt that advocates and decision-makers in other states navigating similar legal challenges are closely monitoring the litigation over Missouri’s abortion regulations,” Reingold said.

In the first days of the trial, Planned Parenthood leaders argued that ever-changing state laws and agency regulations have drastically limited access, caused needless red tape and posed privacy risk for their patients.

Dr. Margaret Baum, chief medical officer with St. Louis-based Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, said the Missouri requirements specifically target abortion rather than all other kinds of medical care.

“I provide vasectomies routinely. … And I am not required to have a complication plan, contact a primary care physician, even ask the patient how many miles they live from the health center.”

Baum said state-mandated reporting rules unique to abortion require clinicians to ask the race, education level, marital status and specific location of each patient — none of which is relevant to their care.

Planned Parenthood Great Rivers would like to offer abortion services in Springfield, Baum testified. Access in that region would provide an option for rural Missourians, and also could help serve residents in nearby Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, where abortion is almost universally banned.

But the organization’s facilities there do not meet state abortion regulations for physical attributes, including hallway size, doorway size and the number of recliners in recovery rooms, Baum testified.

Lawyers for the state defended Missouri’s restrictions as commonsense safeguards aimed at protecting vulnerable women. The attorney general’s office argued that complication risks of abortion justify additional state regulation — despite professional medical associations saying it’s generally safe. The AG’s office also maintained that Planned Parenthood faced a conflict of interest because of its financial motivations.

“Abortion is a business,” Deputy Solicitor General Peter Donohue said during a procedural argument on Monday. “Your Honor, the plaintiffs are asking to deregulate their profession in order to make more money.”

The state was expected to call as witnesses anti-abortion doctors and activists later in the trial.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned federal constitutional protections for abortion in June 2022, the number of abortions has increased slightly across the country, according to the health research nonprofit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/abortion-trends-before-and-after-dobbs/" target="_blank">KFF</a>.

The group points to expanded telehealth, which can offer medication abortion more affordably through virtual appointments.

Since the 2022 ruling and subsequent state abortion bans, patients have experienced higher travel costs for abortions and delays in care, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/07/16/travel-time-costs-for-abortions-increased-after-state-bans-researchers-find/">research</a>&nbsp;published in the American Journal of Public Health in July.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco found that travel time to access abortion increased from 2.8 hours to 11.3 hours for residents in states with abortion bans. Travel costs increased from $179 to $372. And more than half of survey respondents said their abortion care required an overnight hotel stay, compared with 5% before an abortion ban.

In 2024, an estimated 7,880 Missourians traveled to Illinois and 3,960 traveled to Kansas to access abortion, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/monthly-abortion-provision-study" target="_blank">Guttmacher Institute</a>, a research and policy organization focused on advancing reproductive rights.

Those Missourians were among the approximate 155,000 people who crossed state lines to access abortion care that year, representing 15% of all abortions provided in states without total bans.

Regardless of its outcome, the Missouri case is expected to be appealed. Even if the plaintiffs are ultimately successful, it may take a long time to restore care networks across the state, said Isaac Maddow-Zimet, a data scientist at the Guttmacher Institute.

“And that’s particularly the case when there are states that have a lot of legal uncertainty or restrictions coming into effect and then coming out of effect,” he said. “It’s not quick to open up a clinic. It’s not quick to even necessarily expand the kinds of services, or the kinds of the number of people that a clinic can see.”

Kimya Forouzan, the organization’s principal state policy adviser, said Missouri’s landscape is evidence that lawmakers can drastically curb abortion access without total bans. And despite an overwhelming vote to amend the constitution, legal battles can follow.

Even if the state’s laws are found unconstitutional, Forouzan said, lawmakers will likely still push anti-abortion measures. She noted that several bills have already been introduced in this year’s just-convened legislative session, and that Republican lawmakers are pushing a ballot&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/04/missouri-appeals-court-rejects-abortion-ban-ballot-language/" target="_blank">measure to repeal</a>&nbsp;2024’s reproductive rights amendment.

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