The Reno County Board of Commissioners will hold a special meeting Tuesday afternoon to discuss a possible countywide sales tax.

The meeting is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, in the Veterans Room of the Reno County Courthouse at 206 West First Avenue.

Commissioners are expected to talk about whether to pursue a new countywide sales tax and the timeline required to place the question on the ballot later this year.

To meet that deadline, Reno County would need to submit a notice to the Kansas Legislature by Monday, Jan. 26.

County commission to hold special meeting

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As Hutchinson officials prepare to consider a proposed STAR bond district and look ahead to a March sales tax vote, city leaders say both measures are designed to fund long-delayed infrastructure and facility improvements while shifting more of the financial burden to visitors and future growth rather than homeowners alone.

City Manager Enrico Villegas, Mayor Scott Meggers and Vice Mayor Greg Fast outlined the plans during an appearance on the BW Morning Show ahead of Tuesday night’s Hutchinson City Council meeting, where the STAR bond item is on the agenda.

Villegas said a STAR bond district allows future sales tax growth within a defined area to help pay for eligible projects. Under the program, a baseline level of sales tax revenue is established. Any increase generated after development occurs can be used to retire bonds issued by the state, typically covering up to 50 percent of project costs.

“If the district produces higher sales after the project is built, that increase in sales tax is what pays off the STAR bond,” Villegas said. “The remainder must come from private investment.”

Villegas said the proposed Hutchinson STAR bond district would support improvements tied to the Cosmosphere, the Landmark Hotel in downtown Hutchinson and Memorial Hall. Planned Memorial Hall work includes installing an HVAC system, making Americans with Disabilities Act improvements and addressing other building needs.

The district would extend through downtown and south along 17th Avenue near the hotel and Cosmosphere area.

City officials also addressed a proposed citywide sales tax vote scheduled for March 3. Villegas said revenue from the tax would be directed toward streets, stormwater infrastructure, parks and city facilities.

“Historically, streets have been the area that gets cut when budgets are tight,” Villegas said. “We know we underfund them, and this would help address that along with stormwater and facilities.”

Fast said the sales tax would broaden the base of who helps pay for city services, including visitors who attend events, attractions and the Kansas State Fair.

“Our town is full of tourists who use our roads and services,” Fast said. “This allows more people to contribute to the services the city provides.”

Fast said if the sales tax is approved, the city plans to eliminate the stormwater utility fee, which currently costs residents about $80 per year. He also said the city hopes to reduce property taxes, though he cautioned that cannot be guaranteed.

Meggers said the city has already taken steps to give back to residents and encourage growth, including reducing some building permit fees and eliminating residential water tap fees.

Villegas added that the city recently launched a utility billing assistance program for residents in need and a facade improvement program for commercial properties south of 17th Avenue. The city has also introduced a more comprehensive pre-planning process that allows developers to meet with multiple departments before starting projects.

The STAR bond effort dates back about two years, according to city officials, and gained momentum with the development of the Hilton Garden Inn, which helped make the financing feasible.

City leaders encouraged residents to attend Tuesday night’s council meeting or watch online via the city’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@hutchinsonksgov/streams">YouTube</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hutchinsonks/">Facebook</a> pages to learn more and provide input on the proposals. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Hutchinson City Hall.

City leaders say STAR bonds, sales tax would support reinvestment

A new orchestral organization is forming in Hutchinson, aiming to revive and expand opportunities for local musicians while strengthening the community’s connection to live orchestral music.

Crystal Blackwelder, Dan Spears, and Bob Rate—former members of the Hutchinson Symphony—are among the musicians leading the creation of the Salt City Orchestra, a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The group emerged after the Hutchinson Symphony disbanded a few years ago, leaving a gap in orchestral music opportunities in the area.

“We were disappointed to see the symphony go away,” Spears said. “A number of us are musicians who love orchestral music, and we felt Hutchinson deserved to have an orchestra again.”

The process of launching the Salt City Orchestra has been underway for roughly eight to nine months, involving board formation, nonprofit organization, and outreach to musicians and former patrons. The group currently has about 25 to 30 musicians on its roster, along with eight board members, and access to a mailing list of approximately 1,500 former supporters of the previous symphony.

All three founders have deep roots in local music education and performance. Spears teaches band and choir at Little River schools, while Blackwelder is a former band teacher who now gives private flute lessons. Rate previously played trumpet with the former symphony. Organizers say that commitment to education and community access will be central to the new orchestra’s mission.

“A large portion of our board members are former music educators,” Blackwelder said. “We want this to be a family-friendly orchestra and encourage young people to see what’s possible after high school.”

The Salt City Orchestra is already partnering with other local arts organizations. String players from the orchestra will perform with the choir at Hutchinson Community College for a concert in March. In addition, the group will host a public meet-and-greet on Jan. 27 as part of Classical Revolution ICT at Sandhills Brewing, featuring performances by a brass quintet and a string quartet made up of orchestra members.

Looking ahead to summer, the orchestra plans to continue a popular tradition with a free outdoor concert at Dillon Nature Center on June 19. A weather contingency date has been set for July 10. Audience members will be encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the performance.

Organizers say the orchestra is actively seeking additional musicians, particularly string players, and are prioritizing local talent. “There is a lot of ability right here in Hutchinson,” Spears said. “We want this orchestra to reflect the community and give local musicians the opportunities they deserve.”

Long-term goals include building a sustainable organization, broadening community engagement, and exploring innovative programming. Ideas under discussion include performing contemporary orchestral scores, movie-with-live-orchestra events at the Fox Theatre, and potential collaborations with regional productions such as The Nutcracker.

While the orchestra’s website is still under development, interested musicians and supporters can follow the Salt City Orchestra on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SaltCityOrchestra">Facebook</a> or contact the group by email at <a>saltcityorchestra@gmail.com</a>.

“Our main goal is sustainability,” organizers said. “Hutchinson is large enough, talented enough, and supportive enough to have its own orchestra—and we’re excited to build it together.”

Local musicians launch Salt City Orchestra

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. ——————————————&nbsp;&nbsp;

Daniel	Phillip	Moody		1/19/2026 2:06&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Lisa	Michelle	Williamson		1/19/2026 2:24&nbsp;PM	Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 to $24,999,					Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Christopher	Terry	1/20/2026 2:40&nbsp;AM	Wilson		Violation of Offender Registration Act; AGGRAVATED; Non Person,					Violation of Offender Registration Act; 1st Conv; Person,					Failure to Appear,					Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction),					Criminal Deprivation of Property; Other than Motor Vehicle or Firearm,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant

Daily Bookings

Kansas Master Naturalists continue to play a vital role in conservation, education, and environmental stewardship across the state, while a new South Central Kansas training class is set to begin in early 2026.

A Kansas Master Naturalist (KMN) is a trained volunteer who provides expertise and hands-on service for natural resource projects that benefit local communities. Volunteers complete specialized training in Kansas natural resource concepts and, in return, commit their time and skills to a wide range of conservation and educational efforts.

Since the program’s launch in 2011, Kansas Master Naturalists have contributed more than 1,800 volunteer hours and reached over 25,500 people through community service and outreach. The program is designed to multiply the impact of natural resource work by equipping volunteers with the knowledge needed to support local, state, and national initiatives.

Master Naturalist projects span a broad range of activities, including youth and adult education programs, bee removal, riverbank restoration, park restoration at the national, state, and city levels, native plant establishment, and the installation and maintenance of nature trails.

Training for Kansas Master Naturalists is offered in the spring of even-numbered years. The upcoming 2026 South Central Kansas Master Naturalist training class will be held Tuesday afternoons from February 17 through April 21, 2026. The course also includes an all-day field trip scheduled for Saturday, April 11.

Organizers say the program not only strengthens conservation efforts but also builds a network of informed volunteers dedicated to protecting and enhancing Kansas’ natural resources for future generations.

K-State Research and Extension to hold Master Naturalist Training Class

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

Three-day Outlook

DENNIS DUTTON Executive Director for the Arts, Sterling College

Sterling College Theatre will celebrate three of its most familiar and celebrated performers with Senior Spotlight: An Evening of Musical Theatre, Saturday, January 24, at 7:30 p.m. in Culbertson Auditorium on the Sterling College campus. The concert is free and open to the public and will run approximately two hours, including one intermission.

The evening features graduating seniors Mary Little of Hutchinson, Noah Svaty of Sterling, and Morgan Pellegrino of Las Vegas, Nevada, whose performances have helped define recent Sterling College musical theatre seasons. Together, the three have appeared in many of the program’s major productions and are well known to local audiences. The trio will be joined by 18 of their friends in the production which will include songs and scenes from several familiar and new musicals.

Svaty has performed in all eight musicals produced at Sterling College during his tenure, including leading roles as Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Gomez Addams in The Addams Family, and Phil Davis in White Christmas. Little has portrayed several principal roles, including Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods, and Pennywise in Urinetown. Pellegrino joined the musical theatre program during her junior year and quickly made her mark with leading performances as the Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, and Kim MacAfee in Bye Bye Birdie.

Accompanied by Marisa Callan, Sterling College Director of Musical Theatre, the seniors will present a program that highlights their artistic range and growth. The production also features a supporting cast of 19 performers, including Sterling College students and community members.

Senior Spotlight offers audiences a final opportunity to experience three standout performers whose work has been central to the success of Sterling College Theatre.

Sterling College Theatre to celebrate three leading performers in “Senior Spotlight”

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A section of Hendricks Street will be closed to through traffic beginning Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, due to utility repair work.

The closure affects Hendricks Street between 56th Avenue and 69th Avenue. City officials say the road will remain closed until further notice while crews complete the necessary repairs.

A signed detour will be in place to direct drivers around the work zone. Motorists are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra travel time, and use alternate routes when traveling in the area.

No timeline has been announced for when the street will reopen. 

Hendricks closed between 56 and 69 Avenues

The Sterling High School Thespian Troupe has been recognized with a Silver Honor Troupe Award at the Kansas Thespian Conference, held earlier this month at Century II Performing Arts &amp; Convention Center in Wichita.

More than 1,500 high school theatre students from across the state attended the annual conference, which featured three days of stage performances, technical and acting workshops, and auditions.

This marks the first year Sterling has fielded an official Thespian troupe. The program is led by theatre teacher Greg McGlynn, who guided students through the troupe’s inaugural season.

The Silver Honor Troupe Award is based on multiple criteria, including the quality and scope of student productions, participation in service projects, and comprehensive documentation of a troupe’s activities throughout the year.&nbsp;

The recognition highlights both the students’ commitment to theatre arts and the rapid growth of Sterling’s drama program in its first year of participation at the state level.

Sterling High School Thespian Troupe receives Silver Honor

Mittens is perfect for someone seeking a loving yet independent cat who appreciates quality time and personal space. She'll be a steadfast companion in a tranquil home. Are you ready to meet this elegant lady?

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Selective Affection: Enjoys love on her own terms—delights in cuddles but will signal when she's had enough.

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Ideal Environment:&nbsp; Suited for a quiet, peaceful home without young children.

Thrives in a well-mannered setting where her boundaries are respected.

To adopt Mittens, contact The Hutchinson Animal Shelter at&nbsp;<a href="tel:620-694-1924">620-694-1924</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Hutchinson Animal shelter is located at 1501 South Severance Street.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

😺Adopt a Furry Friend: Mittens

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting attracts corporate executives, academics, philanthropists and media to the Swiss Alps town of Davos. The Geneva-based think tank first hosted the event in 1971 with the goal to improve European management. 

Beginning Tuesday, 850 CEOs and chairs of the world’s top companies are expected to be among 3,000 participants from 130 countries in the Alpine resort. The dialogue, debate and deal-making is scheduled to last through Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump’s third visit to Davos as president comes as U.S. allies worry about his ambition to take over Greenland, among other international crises.

Trump posts doctored images of Greenland and Canada

President Trump early Tuesday posted some provocatively doctored images on social media. One showed him planting the U.S. flag next to a sign reading “Greenland, U.S. Territory, Est. 2026.”

The other showed Trump in the Oval Office next to a map that showed Greenland and Canada covered with the U.S. Stars and Stripes.

Trump posts text message from Macron on social media

An official close to Emmanuel Macron said a private message shared by Trump “shows that the French President, both in public and in private, takes the same views.”

Trump posted a text message Tuesday from Macron in which the French president suggested a meeting of members of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies in Paris after the Davos gathering. The message also suggests inviting Denmark, Ukraine and Russia.

The message shared by Trump is genuine, the French official said.

On Greenland, France considers respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is “non-negotiable,” said the official, who spoke anonymously in line with the customary practices of the French presidency.

Concerning Macron’s offering to organize a meeting of members of the Group of Seven most advanced economies in Paris on Thursday, the French presidency wants to make “a constructive moment that contributes to dialogue and cooperation,” the official added without further comments about Macron’s suggestion he could invite Russia.

Trump takes on European leaders over Greenland with memes, published text messages

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that occurred Thursday night in east Wichita during a reported home invasion robbery.

At 7:30 p.m., officers assigned to Patrol East heard several gunshots and then received a Gunshot Detection System (GSD) alert in the 5300 block of E. Funston, according to a media release from Wichita Police. Officers arrived before 911 calls came in.

When officers arrived, they found 22-year-old Oscar Gonzalez&nbsp; with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers began life-saving measures until Sedgwick County EMS arrived. EMS transported Gonzalez to a local hospital, where he was listed in serious but stable condition.

“ Our officers heard the gunshots, and our Gunshot Detection System immediately pinpointed the area before the first 911 calls came in. That combination helped us get to the exact location fast, start medical aid right away, and get EMS there quickly. It potentially saved the suspect’s life. And it also allowed us to secure the scene, take the suspect into custody, and move this case forward. Technology like this continues to strengthen our ability to respond quickly and protect our community.”&nbsp;

Three people, later determined to be victims, were detained for interviews. After speaking with investigators, all three were released.

Detectives learned a 21-year-old Wichita woman was inside her home in the 5300 block of E. Funston when three armed suspects kicked in the door and robbed her.

During the incident, her boyfriend, a 23-year-old Wichita man, arrived with a 22-year-old friend.

As the boyfriend approached the home, one suspect exited through the front door, pointed a gun at him, and ordered him to get on the ground. A struggle over the firearm followed. As the 22-year-old friend got out of the vehicle, an exchange of gunfire occurred, and Gonzalez was shot. The other two suspects fled the scene and remain at large.

Gonzalez was placed under police custody at the hospital. He was released on Saturday and just before 3:30p.m. booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated assault.

Kan. home robbery suspect, wounded in gunfight, moved from hospital

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/camikoons/">Cami Koons</a>

The American Farm Bureau Federation, along with soybean and specialty crop farm organizations, has asked congressional leadership for economic support to “fill in the gap of remaining losses for both field and specialty crop farmers.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/files/1.15.26-Ag-Letter-to-Congress-Economic-Assistance_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>&nbsp;follows a December announcement from the Trump administration of a&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/08/repub/trump-to-send-12-billion-in-one-time-payments-to-farmers-to-offset-ag-losses/" target="_blank">$12 billion</a>&nbsp;one-time package to offset farmer losses across the country.

“These funds could provide a meaningful first step but do not cover the extensive and cumulative losses that farmers have absorbed over the last several years,” the letter said after acknowledging the farmer bridge payment program.&nbsp;

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is allocating the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsa.usda.gov/resources/programs/farmer-bridge-assistance-fba-program" target="_blank">funding</a>&nbsp;with commodity specific payment rates and set aside $1 billion of the $12 billion for specialty crop farmers.&nbsp;

The American Soybean Association, a signee on the recently submitted letter, said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://soygrowers.com/news-releases/asa-usda-farmer-bridge-assistance-payments-fall-short-for-soybean-farmers/" target="_blank">news release</a>&nbsp;the $30.88 per acre allotted for soybeans from the payment package was not enough to cover the “significant financial damage soybean farmers sustained this year due to the high cost of production and losses sustained during the China trade war.”&nbsp;

Grant Kimberley,&nbsp;Iowa Soybean Association’s director of market development, said the additional need from farmers is “complicated” and is a result of more than just one event in the past year.&nbsp;

“I think people don’t really realize this has been going on for a couple years now,” Kimberley said. “… Just about every row crop agriculture sector in the whole country has been losing money, probably, for the last three years.”

Kimberley said the ongoing downturn in the industry is due to several factors, including low commodity prices, high input costs, changes in global trade and uncertainty in domestic markets.&nbsp;

Data from Farm Bureau&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fb.org/market-intel/declining-farm-economy-continues-to-pressure-profitability" target="_blank">show</a>&nbsp;that commodity prices for major row crops like corn, soybeans, cotton and wheat have declined each year since 2022.&nbsp;

Kimberley said as the prices that farmers can get for their crops has declined, expenses have not declined, and have instead increased.&nbsp; Land, rent, equipment and inputs like fertilizer, seed and chemicals continue to squeeze farmers’ bottom lines, he said.

Farm Bureau economists found that farm expenses in 2025 were 12% higher than the previous five-year average cost.&nbsp;

Another piece to the puzzle, Kimberley explained, is the growing soybean and row crop markets in Brazil and other South American countries. He said the expansion of these markets has interrupted U.S. demand, especially with big buyers like China.&nbsp;

China also declined to purchase U.S. soybeans for the beginning part of harvest season due to President Donald Trump’s trade policies. While the country later&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/10/30/farm-groups-encouraged-by-trade-deal-with-china-for-u-s-soybeans/" target="_blank">agreed</a>&nbsp;to a trade deal, Kimberley said it’s less than what the country previously bought from the U.S. and the gap in purchasing this year has also had an effect.&nbsp;

Kimberley also pointed to the lack of finalized guidance from federal agencies on renewable fuel standards and tax credits. Many of these initiatives, like&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/biofuel-producers-stuck-in-neutral-without-finalized-tax-credit-guidance/" target="_blank">45Z tax credits</a>&nbsp;for low-carbon fuel, were initiated during the Biden administration and still do not have finalized guidelines.

Other standards, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/06/13/epa-proposes-historic-renewable-fuel-blending-standards/" target="_blank">blending standards</a>,&nbsp;were proposed over the summer and have yet to be finalized. Kimberley, who is also executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board, said this uncertainty means overall biodiesel production has declined in the state, causing a “ripple in the pond” for soybean demand.

“You can’t really just say it’s this or that, you know, it’s all of these things that have kind of added up a little bit over time,” Kimberley said.

The letter from American Farm Bureau Federation also noted the compounding factors squeezing farmers. According to the letter, farmer bankruptcies are increasing and nationwide farmer losses are approaching $100 billion.&nbsp;

“These trends aren’t just statistics; they represent an economic crisis in rural America,” the letter said.&nbsp;

Specialty crop farmers are also struggling under similar pressures and asked Congress for relief.&nbsp;

The majority of the more than 50 organizations that signed the letter represented specialty crop growers.&nbsp;

In a news release about the letter, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance said that despite the fact that specialty crops account for more than one-third of all U.S. crop sales, the farmer bridge program from USDA allocated just $1 billion to the industry.&nbsp;

“Any agricultural aid package should reflect the economic contribution of specialty crops, which support rural communities and provide key nutrition,” the alliance leadership said in the release.&nbsp;

The letter, addressed to House and Senate leadership, ask for “immediate” congressionally approved support.&nbsp;

Kimberley said additional changes need to occur in the farm economy for farmers to be profitable, but those changes won’t happen overnight.

“None of these things make farmers whole, and (aid packages) are not preferred, but sometimes they’re necessary,” Kimberley said.&nbsp;

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/01/16/farm-bureau-soybean-and-specialty-ag-groups-ask-congress-for-additional-farmer-support/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Farm Bureau, soybean and specialty ag groups ask Congress for more support

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Wichita.

Just after 1a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a 911 call at an apartment complex in the 2300 block of North Woodlawn in Wichita, acccording to an online statement from Wichita police.

Officers "did not hear loud yelling" but&nbsp; heard individuals inside the apartment and knocked on the door. Officers identified themselves as police. A man inside the apartment stated he was going to get his gun. Officers knocked on the door again and a man inside stated again he was going to get his gun and was threatening to shoot the officers.

Officers took a defensive stance and retreated from the apartment doorway. The man stepped out of the apartment and had a firearm in his hand. The man pointed a firearm at the officers. One officer returned fire and struck the man. The officer immediately ran to get his medical kit bag to provide medical aid to the man.&nbsp;

The man was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; No officers were injured. Police took one other individual from the apartment into custody.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff's office will be in charge of the investigation.

Check to Post for additional details as they become available.

Man dead in Kansas officer-involved shooting

By GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO Associated Press

Several faith leaders called urgently for protecting the rights of worshippers while also expressing compassion for migrants after anti-immigration enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-doj-church-protest-st-paul-46dac5c5595ec78e3360ec927eef92d2">protesters disrupted a service</a>&nbsp;at a Southern Baptist church in Minnesota.

About three dozen protesters entered the Cities Church in St. Paul during Sunday service, some walking right up to the pulpit, others&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/doj-vows-to-press-charges-after-activists-disrupt-church-where-minnesota-ice-official-is-a-pastor-0ba96f12bda841f69064e457a4370ca3">loudly chanting “ICE out”</a>&nbsp;and “Renee Good,” referring to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-shooting-crackdown-surge-173e00fa7388054e98c3b5b9417c1e5a">a woman who was fatally shot</a>&nbsp;on Jan. 7 by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

One of the church’s pastors, David Easterwood, leads the local ICE field office, and one of the leaders of the protest and prominent local activist Nekima Levy Armstrong said she’s also an ordained pastor.

The Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention called what happened “an unacceptable trauma,” saying the service was ”forced to end prematurely" as protesters shouted “insults and accusations at youth, children, and families.”

“I believe we must be resolute in two areas: encouraging our churches to provide compassionate pastoral care to these (migrant) families and standing firm for the sanctity of our houses of worship,” Trey Turner, who leads the convention, told The Associated Press on Monday. Cities Church belongs to the convention.

The U.S. Department of Justice said it has opened a civil rights investigation.

The recent&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-protests-shootings-minneapolis-portland-3f9db36657dda5bfebf9c240b6011ee5">surge in operations</a>&nbsp;in Minnesota has pitted more than 2,000 federal immigration officers against community activists and protesters. The Trump administration and Minnesota officials have traded blame for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-crackdown-protests-96888fbbf2b5939aa7abdc0380773e46">heightened tensions</a>.

“No cause — political or otherwise — justifies the desecration of a sacred space or the intimidation and trauma inflicted on families gathered peacefully in the house of God,” Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, said in a statement. “What occurred was not protest; it was lawless harassment.”

Jonathan Parnell, the pastor who led the disrupted service, is a missionary with Ezell’s group and serves dozens of Southern Baptist churches in the area. Cities Church, housed in a Gothic-style, century-old stone building next to a college campus on one of the Twin Cities’ landmark boulevards, has not returned AP requests for comment.

Christians disagree on immigration enforcement

Christians in the United States are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-biden-trump-border-christian-3c0a48d4ce37baa8d9e05786716a7b00">divided on the moral and legal dilemmas</a>&nbsp;raised by immigration, including the presence of an estimated 11 million people who are in the country illegally and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-map-biden-trump-top-destinations-c49da44347307374166ca6169e82a66f">the spike</a>&nbsp;in illegal border crossings and asylum requests during the Biden administration.

Opinions differ between and within denominations on whether Christians must prioritize care for strangers and neighbors or the immigration enforcement push in the name of security. White evangelicals tend to support strong enforcement, while Catholic leaders have spoken in favor of migrant rights.

The Southern Baptist Convention is the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S. and has a conservative evangelical theology.

Miles Mullin, the vice-president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, said faith leaders can and often have led protests on social issues, but those should never prevent others from worshipping.

“This is something that just shouldn’t happen in America,” Mullin said. “For Baptists, our worship services are sacred.”

On Facebook, Levy Armstrong wrote about Sunday's protest in religious terms: “It’s time for judgment to begin and it will begin in the House of God!!!”

But Albert Mohler, the president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, called the protesters' tactics unjustifiable.

“For Christians, the precedent of invading a congregation at worship should be unthinkable,” Mohler said in an interview. “I think the political left is crossing a threshold.”

Brian Kaylor, a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship-affiliated minister and leader of the Christian media organization Word&amp;Way, called having an ICE official serve as a pastor “a serious moral failure.”

But Kaylor, who has spoken out against the Trump administration’s treatment of immigrants, said he was “very torn” by the protesters’ action inside a church.

“It would be very alarming if we come to see this become a widespread tactic across the political spectrum,” he said.

Federal protections for houses of worship

Many&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-churches-trump-immigration-crackdown-sanctuary-2746fa5c80aa8e2ce6db878e0d6e1c24">faith leaders were dismayed</a>&nbsp;when the government announced last January that federal immigration agencies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-ice-raids-school-2d899678264f44fe1021847ee385fd15">can make arrests in churches, schools and hospitals</a>, ending the protection of people in sensitive spaces.

No immigration raids during church services have been reported, but some churches have posted notices on their doors saying no federal immigration officers are allowed inside. Others have reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-crackdown-catholic-church-washington-874e6deca9e54a4e14081c63adca7718">a drop in attendance</a>, particularly during enforcement surges.

Following the protest in Cities Church, Harmeet Dhillon, the assistant attorney general for civil rights at the U.S. Department of Justice, said her office is investigating “potential violations of the federal FACE Act,” calling the protest “un-American and outrageous.”

The 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act prohibits interference or intimidation of “any person by force, threat of force, or physical obstruction exercising or seeking to exercise the First Amendment right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship.”

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warned in a social media post that “President Trump will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of Christians in their sacred places of worship.”

Several pastors called for better security in churches.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/conservative-christians-sin-of-toxic-empathy-c9ab96faf99605e010f487df61d92d8f">Rev. Joe Rigney</a>, one of the founding pastors at Cities Church in 2015 who served there until 2023, said safety would have been his first concern had a group disrupted service, especially since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-school-shooting-annunciation-0fb27d2c911fe63a9f04791b444f298f">the fatal shooting</a>&nbsp;at a Minneapolis Catholic school Mass last summer.

In a statement to the AP, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's spokesperson said that while people have a right to speak out, the governor doesn't support interrupting a place of worship.

Legal developments and protests in the Twin Cities

Also Monday, the Department of Justice notified a federal appeals court that it will appeal a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-operation-lawsuit-8805b301ff4a7bfb0058e085ffa8c034">ruling that federal officers</a>&nbsp;in the Minneapolis area cannot detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities. The case was filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists who are among thousands of people observing the activities of federal immigration officers in the area.

Yet more protesters braved temperatures that dipped below zero (minus 8 Celsius) Monday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in St. Paul. Some waved signs from vehicles bearing messages including, “What did you do while your neighbors were being kidnapped?” and “We love our Somali neighbors.”

Dozens of protesters also staged a brief sit-in at a Target store in St. Paul demanding that the retailer bar entry to federal agents. Target, headquartered in Minneapolis, has been criticized by activists after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aliya-rahman-minneapolis-ice-arrest-videos-b277e328a2053fde361c6a74295efb06">a video showed federal agents</a>&nbsp;detaining two employees at a store in Richfield, Minnesota.

Associated Press journalists Holly Meyer in Nashville, Tennessee, Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis and Jack Brook in St. Paul, Minnesota, contributed.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Christian leaders urge protecting worshippers' rights after protesters interrupt service

KANSAS CITY—Four puppies were rescued after they were found outside Monday and nearly froze to death, according to the&nbsp; Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.

These four pups were rescued by a kind community member who found them outside, alone, nearly frozen to death. They are now in the care of the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City, receiving the care they need.  Once stabilized, they will go to foster homes and will be available for adoption in a few weeks.

If you feel inclined to support the work of the Humane Society, please donate today.&nbsp;info@hsgkc.org

Humane society: Nearly frozen puppies rescued near Kansas City

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas coach Bill Self did not accompany the Jayhawks to Boulder for their game Tuesday night at Colorado after being taken to a hospital in Lawrence on Monday, the school said.

Kansas' athletic department said in a statement that Self was feeling under the weather and went to the hospital out of an abundance of caution. Self felt better after receiving IV fluids, the school said.

It was not immediately clear if Self would attempt to travel for the game or if an assistant would run the bench for the 19th-ranked Jayhawks.

Self, 63, missed the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments in 2023 because of a heart condition, getting a standard catheterization and having two stents inserted to help treat blocked arteries. He&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-self-kansas-basketball-coach-stents-heart-765a63dee3b9d55d73baba3e6f7ff2b7">had two more stents inserted</a>&nbsp;in July.

Now in his 23rd season, Self led Kansas to national titles in 2008 and 2022 and is the program's career wins leader with a 609-156 record. Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017, the former Oklahoma State player also coached at Oral Roberts, Tulsa and Illinois.

KU coach Bill Self hospitalized, did not travel with team to Boulder

KANSAS CITY —A Missouri man was sentenced in federal court earlier this month for fentanyl distribution and illegally possessing firearms.

Darius Burnett, 27, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark to a total sentence of 13 years in federal prison without parole, according to the United State's Attorney.

Burnett pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime on May 8, 2025.

On Nov. 8, 2023, investigators with the ATF, DEA, and Springfield Police Department executed a search warrant at Burnett’s residence. During the search of Burnett’s apartment and vehicle, officers located four loaded semi-automatic pistols, including two with extended magazines, body armor, ammunition, marijuana, over 1,000 pills containing fentanyl, and $78,935.80 in cash. 

In an interview, the defendant described himself as the “top dude” in Springfield, Missouri, for fentanyl sales, stated that he was purchasing 5,000 pills a month from a source in St. Louis, Missouri, and admitted that the cash located by law enforcement were drug proceeds.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Prison for man who described himself as 'top dude' in fentanyl sales

By CARA ANNA and JOSH BOAK Associated Press

At least eight more countries say the United States has invited them to join&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-board-of-peace-gaza-un-b27d17190177041865c6827acd042e56">President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace,</a>&nbsp;a new body of world leaders meant to oversee next steps in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-ceasefire-yellow-line-062f3a55d737cc83607c0ddacf312df0">Gaza</a>&nbsp;that shows ambitions for a broader mandate in global affairs. Two of the countries, Hungary and Vietnam, said they have accepted.

A $1 billion contribution secures permanent membership on the Trump-led board instead of a three-year appointment, which has no contribution requirement, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity about the charter, which hasn’t been made public. The official said the money raised would go to rebuilding Gaza.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accepted an invitation to join the board, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó told state radio Sunday. Orbán is one of Trump’s most ardent supporters in Europe.

Vietnam’s Communist Party chief, To Lam, also has accepted, a foreign ministry statement said.

India has received an invitation, a senior government official with knowledge of the matter said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the information hadn’t been made public by authorities.

Australia has been invited and will talk it through with the U.S. “to properly understand what this means and what’s involved,” Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Monday.

Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan said Sunday they had received invitations. Canada, Turkey, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already said they were invited. It was not clear how many have been invited in all.

The U.S. is expected to announce its official list of members in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

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