After more than four decades in the fire service, Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer will retire at the end of March, concluding a 41-year career dedicated to public safety and community service.

Beer has served as chief of the Hutchinson Fire Department for the past nine years, overseeing a period of significant growth, modernization and recognition for the department.

During his tenure, the department achieved two major distinctions that place it among the top fire departments in the nation. The Hutchinson Fire Department earned ISO Class 1 status, the highest rating issued by the Insurance Services Office, which evaluates fire protection capabilities across communities. The department also became an Internationally Accredited Fire Department, a rare designation recognizing agencies that meet rigorous standards for professional excellence, planning and service delivery.

Under Beer’s leadership, the department also modernized its apparatus fleet and advanced several key infrastructure projects. That included spearheading development of the city’s new Fire Station 1, a project designed to better serve Hutchinson residents and improve operational efficiency.

Beer also played a major role in expanding the department’s training facility. The site now hosts training for fire departments and emergency responders from across the region, strengthening preparedness and cooperation among agencies.

Beyond Hutchinson, Beer helped strengthen collaboration among fire leaders statewide. He helped establish the Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs Roundtable meetings, creating a forum for chiefs across Kansas to share information, best practices and strategies to improve emergency services.

City officials and community members have expressed appreciation for Beer’s leadership and long career of service.

Beer’s retirement at the end of the month will mark the close of a 41-year career devoted to protecting the Hutchinson community and advancing the fire service across Kansas.

Beer to retire on March 27

A Buhler High School graduate has released a new novel set in central Kansas that blends small-town Kansas life with a suspenseful murder mystery.

Author Rock Neelly, now based in Cincinnati, recently published Late Night Radio, a thriller set in 1978 that takes place in Burrton and Hutchinson.&nbsp;

The novel begins when a sheriff’s deputy visits a Burrton farm after a woman fails to pick up her children from school. When authorities investigate, they discover she has vanished—launching what Neelly describes as a tense “cat-and-mouse” mystery involving a farmer who may be hiding a dark secret.

Neelly said he wanted to create a story grounded in Kansas culture.

“My working title was something like Mile Marker 133,” Neelly said. “I wanted it to feel very Kansas. Since I write mysteries, I thought—what could be more Kansas than a farmer? That’s where the premise began.”

A Reno County native, Neelly graduated from Buhler High School before attending Hutchinson Community College. He later earned an English degree from Fort Hays State University and completed graduate school at the University of Denver.

Neelly spent much of his career in sales before turning to writing. About 11 years ago, he was mentored by Wichita author Robert Beattie, who wrote The Hunt for BTK. Since then, Neelly has written eight books.

His earlier work includes the popular “Purple Heart Detective Agency” series, which follows two wounded veterans who operate a private detective agency. The series gained traction with readers and eventually led to multiple publishing contracts.

Late Night Radio marks a return to Neelly’s Kansas roots.

The author said extensive research went into recreating the late-1970s setting. He studied music charts from Casey Kasem’s “American Top 40,” along with television programming and films from the era, to ensure the story accurately reflects the time period.

“Because the story takes place in the fall of 1978, I wanted everything—from the songs on the radio to the movies in theaters—to match that time,” Neelly said.

The novel also references historical events from the period, including the BTK serial killer investigation in Wichita and other well-known Kansas crime stories.

Neelly said setting a mystery in a small rural town creates a different tone than stories set in larger cities.

“In a small town, everybody knows everybody,” he said. “That makes it more shocking when something terrible happens. It’s not anonymous city life—it’s your neighbor.”

Several scenes in the book take place in real Kansas locations, including Burrton, Hutchinson and nearby communities.

Neelly describes himself as a regional author who writes stories tied closely to places he knows. While he now lives in Cincinnati and sets some of his books there, he continues to draw inspiration from Kansas.

Late Night Radio has already generated enough interest that a sequel is in development. The next installment will follow a character introduced in the book—a fictional KBI agent who becomes the central figure in the series.

Neelly is visiting Reno County this week for several book-signing events:

For readers unable to attend a signing, copies of Late Night Radio are also available locally at Permanent Records, 122 W. Fourth Ave. in Hutchinson, as well as through online retailers.

Neelly said returning to Kansas to promote the book has been especially meaningful because the story is rooted in the communities where he grew up.

“It was fun to revisit those places,” he said. “The music, the towns and the memories all came back while writing it.”

Buhler, HutchCC grad releases Burrton set mystery

PrairieStar Dental invites the community to trade “Smiles for Smiles” with its upcoming live-clean-comedy fundraiser April 30th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Hutchinson Fox Theater, featuring nationally known comedian Rik Roberts.

Known for his energetic delivery and relatable humor, Rik Roberts is a Nashville, TN based comedian and speaker who focuses on providing 100% clean comedy. As a married man, and father of two young kids, Rik has found there are enough real-life situations that we can all laugh at without going “below the belt”. He has been featured on DryBar Comedy, PureFlix Comedy All-Stars and SiriusXM radio. He also shares the Guinness Book World Record for Longest Stand-Up Comedy Show – which lasted over 7 days.

“Smiles for Smiles” fundraiser is designed not only to entertain but to support PrairieStar Dental’s “Bridging the Gap in Access to Rural Dental Care” project. PrairieStar plans to construct a new, state-of-the-art dental clinic that will better serve patients and the community. Set to break ground this summer, PrairieStar will build the new dental clinic just to the west of the current clinic. Ticket sales from the fundraiser will go towards the construction of the new dental clinic and will help unlock a $600,000 Mabee Foundations Challenge Grant.

Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 6:30 p.m. To purchase tickets prior to the event, <a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/events/prairiestar-health-center-presents-smiles-for-smiles">click here</a>.

“We are excited to bring the community together for a night of laughter while supporting a meaningful goal,” said PrairieStar Marketing Director, Kyran Losew. “This new building will allow us to expand services and continue providing high-quality dental care to the families we serve. Bring the family out for a night that will leave everyone with a smile.”

Event Details Event: Smiles for Smiles – Live Clean Comedy Fundraiser Featuring: Rik Roberts Date: April 30 Doors Open: 5:30 p.m. Show Begins: 6:30 p.m. Location: Hutchinson Fox Theater

For more information about the event or ticket availability, please visit <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfox.com/events/prairiestar-health-center-presents-smiles-for-smiles">http://www.hutchinsonfox.com/events/prairiestar-health-center-presents-smiles-for-smiles</a>

For sponsorship opportunities or to learn more about the Bridging the Gap in Access to Rural Dental Care, visit pshcks.org/bridgingthegap or email bridgingthegap@prairiestarhealth.org .

PrairieStar announces "Smiles for Smiles" comedy fundraiser

Dillons and the Food Bank of Reno County are partnering for a community food drive next week to help stock shelves at the organization’s newly opened location.&nbsp;

The event is scheduled for Friday, March 13, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dillons Marketplace on East 30th Avenue in Hutchinson. Community members are invited to stop by and donate food items that will directly support local families facing food insecurity.&nbsp;

The drive will help supply the Food Bank with much-needed staples, including canned fruit, cereal, canned chicken and tuna, pancake mix, and syrup.&nbsp;

To help launch the effort, Dillons will begin the food drive with a $20,000 donation to the Food Bank of Reno County.&nbsp;

The food drive comes as the Food Bank celebrates the opening of its new facility and works to expand services for residents across Reno County.&nbsp;

Dillons, Food Bank of Reno County to hold food drive

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas basketball fans will have an opportunity to hear behind-the-scenes stories about one of college basketball’s most storied programs when author Chelan David visits Hutchinson this week.

David, a lifelong University of Kansas basketball fan and Lawrence native, recently appeared on the BW Morning Show to discuss his newest book, "Stories from the Fog", which highlights decades of KU basketball history centered around Allen Fieldhouse.

The book, released last fall, is David’s second publication. His first book, Beautiful States of Mind, chronicled his travels across all 50 states with his two daughters.

David said his love for KU basketball began during childhood.

“My first KU basketball game was when I was a fourth grader in 1982,” David said. “I just fell in love with the fieldhouse, the atmosphere, the pep band and everything that went along with it.”

Although Kansas finished that season with a losing record, the experience sparked a lifelong passion. David now lives in Overland Park and holds season tickets to Jayhawks games.

Stories from the Fog focuses largely on the last 40 years of Kansas basketball. The book blends David’s perspective as a fan with interviews and stories from people closely connected to the program.

The project, which David described as a two-year labor of love, expanded significantly as more individuals agreed to share their memories.

“I started writing it from my perspective, but once I began reaching out, I was surprised how many people were willing to talk,” David said. “I was able to interview all four living KU coaches, along with players, boosters, super fans and even family members connected to the early history of the program.”

The book also touches on the origins of KU basketball, including the program’s beginnings under James Naismith, who invented the sport and served as Kansas’ first coach, as well as legendary coach Phog Allen, whose name now graces Allen Fieldhouse.

David revisits several memorable games and rivalries throughout the book. Among them is the intense rivalry between Kansas and Missouri, which he said remains one of the most emotional matchups in college basketball history.

One story highlights the final Big 12 meeting between the two teams in Allen Fieldhouse in 2012, when Kansas rallied from a 19-point deficit to force overtime and win a dramatic game shortly before Missouri departed for the Southeastern Conference.

David also reflects on other iconic moments, including a 1993 victory over Indiana when KU freshman Rex Walters hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to defeat a team coached by Bobby Knight.

Another standout contest came in 2016 when Kansas defeated Oklahoma in triple overtime in a No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup. Oklahoma star Buddy Hield scored 46 points in the game, earning a standing ovation from KU fans as he left the court.

David said that appreciation for great basketball—regardless of which team delivers it—is part of the tradition at Allen Fieldhouse.

David will speak about the book during an author talk at the Hutchinson Public Library, where he will discuss the stories behind the project and share insights about KU basketball history.

Copies of Stories from the Fog are available through David’s <a href="https://cdavidbooks.com/">website</a>, Amazon and select bookstores, including Watermark Books in Wichita.

Library's 'Author Talk' to feature Chelan David

The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce has canceled its Legislative Forum that had been scheduled for Saturday, March 14.

In a statement released Thursday, the Chamber said the event was canceled due to scheduling conflicts among state legislators, which limited the number of participants available for the discussion.

“We value the opportunity to facilitate meaningful dialogue between our community and elected officials,” the Chamber said in its announcement. “However, we were unable to secure the level of participation needed for a productive discussion.”

The Legislative Forum series is designed to give community members an opportunity to hear updates from lawmakers and ask questions about issues affecting Reno County and the state.

The next Legislative Forum is scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at The Wesley, 3709 Asbury Place.

Chamber cancels legislative forum

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. ——————————————

Malik		Helire	Jr	3/11/2026 9:21&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Interference with Law Enforcement; Conceal /alter/destroy evidence Felony case,					Traffic Contraband in Correctional Institution; Unauthorized Possession; Firearm, Ammo, Explosive, Controlled Subst.

Justin	Louis	Hull		3/12/2026 10:56&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Dustin	Morris	Bright		3/12/2026 4:30&nbsp;PM	In Transit From-To Other Agency

Nancy		Martinez		3/12/2026 4:49&nbsp;PM	DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Hailey	Dawn	Koehn		3/12/2026 8:27&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Daily Bookings

 United Way of Reno County is inviting community members to nominate family, friends, coworkers or neighbors who could use help with outdoor home projects for the&nbsp; planned Residential Community Work Day, taking place on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 8 a.m. to&nbsp; 12 p.m.

This service opportunity brings community volunteers together to assist households with minor outdoor maintenance projects for homeowners across Reno County. Volunteers will lend a hand with&nbsp; tasks such as yard clean-up, small tree or limb removal, exterior painting, flower bed care, minor fence&nbsp;repair, and other non-structural outdoor work.

Community members are encouraged to nominate someone they know who may need assistance. 

Self-nominations are also accepted. Preference will be given to households that include:

“By coming together to lend a hand, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of people in our community,” said Lacey Mills, UWRC CEO. “It’s a powerful way to show what it truly means to be UNITED FOR ALL.”

Nominations can be made by filling out the form found here: <a href="https://www.uwrenocounty.org/community-work-day">https://www.uwrenocounty.org/community-work-day</a>, or by calling the UWRC office at: 620-669-9329.

UWRC seeks projects for upcoming work day

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

Three-day Outlook

By TISA MASON FHSU president

In the spring of 2020, the world went quiet. For Ryan Funai, then a high school freshman, the silence of the pandemic was loud with the frustrations of a disrupted education. Like millions of other students, Ryan found himself staring at a screen, relegated to an online modality that felt more like a barrier than a bridge to learning.

Many students waited for the world to return to "normal." Ryan Funai, however, decided to build a new one.

His journey from a 16-year-old GED student to a 2025 FHSU Homecoming King nominee and future PhD candidate is a story of unconventional paths. But more importantly, it is a story that illustrates the soul of Fort Hays State University: the belief that with a bit of grit and a community that cares, there is no limit to how far a student can go.

Resilience is often defined as the ability to bounce back, but for Ryan, it was about pivoting. Recognizing that the traditional high school structure was no longer serving his growth during the pandemic, Ryan approached his mother, Angela, with a bold proposal: he wanted to leave high school, pursue his GED as a homeschool student, and accelerate his path to adulthood.

It was a risk, but it was grounded in a clear-eyed understanding of his own needs. With a comprehensive study guide and a state-mandated prep course, Ryan didn't just pass; he aced all four GED modules on his first attempt. By the time his peers were starting their sophomore year, Ryan had already completed his secondary education.

However, ambition requires as much patience as it does speed. Knowing he wasn't quite ready for the social landscape of a university at 16, Ryan spent what would have been his junior year working full-time. He saved his earnings, gained experience, and by the age of 17, he arrived at Fort Hays State University not just as a freshman, but as a young man with a plan.

Ryan’s connection to FHSU began even before his first official class. The summer before his freshman year, he took a job at the Tebo Library. It was here that the "small school" advantage of FHSU first changed his life.

While shelving books and assisting patrons, Ryan began meeting faculty members who treated him not as a temporary summer hire, but as a future colleague. Among them was Dr. Todd Moore, the Department of Geosciences chairman, whose encouragement left a lasting impression. Ryan’s 'calling' wasn't just found in books, but in the mentorship of those who saw his potential before he even declared a major.

"Meeting so many people early on encouraged me to get involved," Ryan recalls. "It made college less intimidating."

This early immersion enabled Ryan to shape his college experience. He didn't just join the campus; he became deeply rooted in the university. Now a senior majoring in Geology with a minor in Biology and a Leadership certificate, Ryan has maintained a trajectory of excellence, placing him on track to graduate with academic honors. He is already enrolled in an accelerated master’s program at FHSU, eyeing a PhD and a future career as a university professor.

When asked about his academic success, Ryan quickly pivots to the people he serves. This “ethic of care” is a hallmark of the FHSU community, and Ryan brings it to life through his dedicated leadership in the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE) fraternity.

Serving as the president, Ryan has led his brothers in supporting the WeKan Center, a program of Hays USD 489. The center serves students with intellectual or developmental disabilities who have finished high school but still require support before age 21. For Ryan, this isn't just a "philanthropy project"—it’s a manifestation of the SAE creed: being a "true gentleman."

"I think of my fraternity’s creed...putting other people before yourself and being honest and being the best person you can be," Ryan says. "That aligns with a lot of the principles of Fort Hays. Putting other people before yourself is a big aspect of what I strive to do."

This semester, his commitment to the Hays community continues through his LDRS 310 (Field Work in Leadership) course, where he and his team are organizing a 5K Run for First Call for Help, a local organization providing vital social services.

Ryan’s academic pursuits in geology are not merely clinical; they are humanitarian. His research focuses on water, specifically within the complex cave systems of southern Kansas.

"I want to be able to help people as much as I can, and water is an essential part of everyday life," he explains. "The desire to help people spreads into all the other areas of my studies and my involvement on campus."

Supported by an Undergraduate Scholarly Experience Grant, Ryan will return to the caves of southern Kansas this spring to conduct advanced research. For Ryan, the dark, damp passages of a cave are a laboratory for the greater good, ensuring that the most essential resource for life is understood and protected for the community.

The FHSU community recognized Ryan’s impact by nominating him for Homecoming King in 2025. While the title was an honor, for Ryan, the "unique experience" was the opportunity to meet people from across the university—many of whom he remains in close contact with today.

But perhaps the most personal symbol of Ryan’s ethic of care is something many might have missed. In 2020, as he began his unconventional journey through the GED, Ryan started growing out his hair. It became a four-year project that recently concluded at the Hays Academy of Hair Design. Ryan didn't just get a haircut; he donated his hair to organizations that provide hairpieces for children experiencing hair loss. It was a quiet, years-long commitment to a stranger’s well-being—a physical representation of his "others-first" philosophy.

As Ryan prepares to transition from an undergraduate leader to a graduate researcher, his goal remains clear. He wants to teach at a university like Fort Hays State.

"I would choose a smaller school so I can make connections with students, considering how impactful that has been for my own education," he says.

Ryan Funai’s story is not just about a student who beat the odds of a pandemic. It is about a student who found a university that matched his values. At FHSU, Ryan didn't just find a degree; he found a platform for his resilience, a laboratory for his innovation, and a community that shared his heart for service.

As he heads back into the caves of Kansas this spring, he does so not just as a geologist, but as a Tiger—grounded in the earth, but reaching for the stars.

Food Bank of Reno County holds grand opening at new location

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — All six crew members of a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran are dead, the U.S. military said Friday, after their plane&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-aircraft-down-loss-iraq-6d182239315cf9d2a20c669c5ac8418d">crashed in western Iraq</a>.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/4432850/loss-of-us-kc-135-over-iraq/">U.S. Central Command</a>, which oversees the Middle East, said the crash followed an unspecified incident involving two aircraft in “friendly airspace,” and that the other plane landed safely.

The crash brings the U.S. death toll in Operation Epic Fury to at least 13 service members, seven of whom were killed in combat. About 140 U.S. service members have been injured, including eight severely, the Pentagon said earlier this week.

Here’s what is known so far about the tanker, which is the fourth publicly acknowledged U.S. aircraft to crash during the war against Iran:

The U.S. Central Command said all six crew members on board the crashed KC-135 have been confirmed dead. It said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

A U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the developing situation, said the other plane involved was also a KC-135. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S., wrote on X that the other plane landed safely in Israel.

Yang said it would be rare for a refueling tanker to be downed by enemy fire because such operations are usually conducted in the rear of combat zones.

The crash came after three U.S. F-15E fighter jets were mistakenly downed last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jets-downed-kuwait-friendly-fire-iran-f15-1151e092db4597e93e83c04f3b44bddc">by friendly Kuwaiti fire</a>.

The KC-135 is a long-serving tanker plane

The KC-135 Stratotanker is a U.S. Air Force aircraft used to refuel other planes in midair, allowing them to travel longer distances and maintain operations longer without landing. The plane is also used to transport wounded personnel during medical evacuations or conduct surveillance missions, according to military experts.

Based on the same design as the Boeing 707 passenger plane, the tanker has been in service for more than 60 years, supporting the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps as well as allied aircraft, according to an Air Force description. The aging plane is set to be gradually phased out as more of the next-generation KC-46A Pegasus tankers enter service.

Despite upgrades over the years, the KC-135s’ age has fueled concern about their reliability and durability.

“The last of these planes were produced in the 1960s,” said Yang Uk, a security expert at South Korea’s Asan Institute for Policy Studies. He added that the transition to the KC-46A has progressed more slowly than expected.

According to the Congressional Research Service, the Air Force last year had 376 KC-135s, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve.

A basic KC-135 crew has three people: a pilot, co-pilot and boom operator. Nurses and medical technicians are added in aeromedical evacuation missions.

Refueling typically happens at the back of the plane, where the boom operator is located. A fuel boom is lowered to connect with fighters, bombers or other aircraft. On many of the planes, the boom operator works lying face down while looking out of a window on the underside of the plane.

Some KC-135s can also refuel planes from pods on their wings. The tankers also have room to carry cargo or passengers if needed.

Refueling tankers could play an increasingly important role if the Iran war drags on, as U.S. aircraft may need to fly longer missions to pursue Iranian forces retreating deeper into the country, said Yang.

KC-135s have previously been involved in several fatal accidents. The most recent occurred on May 3, 2013, when a KC-135R crashed after takeoff south of Chaldovar, Kyrgyzstan, while supporting the war in Afghanistan.

In that crash, the crew experienced problems with the plane’s rudder, according to a U.S. Air Force investigation. While they struggled to stabilize the plane, the tail section broke away and the plane exploded midair, killing all three crewmembers onboard.

The most serious mid-air collision involving the plane happened in 1966, when a B-52 bomber carrying nuclear bombs struck a tanker near Palomares, Spain.

The accident caused the tanker to crash, killing four onboard. The disaster led to an extensive decontamination effort to clean up nuclear material dispersed when conventional explosives in the hydrogen bombs detonated after hitting the ground.

Schreck reported from Bangkok. AP writers Ben Finley and Konstantin Toropin in Washington contributed.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. military says a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-aircraft-down-loss-iraq-6d182239315cf9d2a20c669c5ac8418d">crashed in western Iraq</a>, killing four of its six crew members.

Despite upgrades over the years, the KC-135s' age has fueled concern about their reliability and durability.

Cause of crash and condition of crew not immediately known

The U.S. Central Command said four of the six crewmembers on board the crashed KC-135 have been confirmed dead and that rescue efforts are continuing. It said the circumstances of the crash are under investigation but that the loss of the aircraft was “not due to hostile or friendly fire.”

🎥New details: 6 aboard US military refueling plane killed in crash

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

TOPEKA — The Republican majority leader of the Kansas House and the chief of staff to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly worked Thursday to resolve objections to a bill designed to make the state’s three largest public universities more financially efficient by removing layers of administrative red tape.

The bipartisan messages from House Majority Leader Chris Croft and Kelly’s chief of staff, Will Lawrence, and their willingness to endorse two key amendments to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2798/" target="_blank">House Bill 2798</a>, were sufficient to convince the chairman of Kansas Board of Regents to offer qualified support for the legislation.

All three urged removal from the bill of a provision limiting the Board of Regents’ role in administering the University of Kansas, Wichita State University and Kansas State University to use of state-appropriated dollars. In addition, they agreed regulatory relief in the bill should be extended to Fort Hays State University, Pittsburg State University and Emporia State University. The House Higher Education Budget Committee took the recommendations under advisement, and the committee’s chairman indicated the panel would start work on amending the bill on Monday.

“With the two changes you heard about today, the Board of Regents would be supportive of HB 2798 and its goal of improving university processes and operational efficiency,” said Blake Benson, chair of the state Board of Regents. “Our goal is to preserve accountability for public assets while thoughtfully addressing operational issues across all state universities.”

On Wednesday, the Board of Regents unanimously voted to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/03/12/kansas-house-studies-bill-granting-unprecedented-administrative-autonomy-to-ku-k-state-and-wsu/">oppose the current version of the bill</a>&nbsp;because of concerns it significantly eroded the nine-member board’s authority over the three largest public universities in Kansas.

The legislation emerged from behind-the-scenes meetings that began last fall among House Speaker Dan Hawkins, Senate President Ty Masterson, Kelly, Croft and Lawrence that eventually were broadened to include other legislators, university administrators and the Board of Regents. Initially, the idea was to expand the conversation to include the three smaller state universities, but there wasn’t time to engage with those institutions.

“The goal was, how do we enable our research universities to operate at the speed of innovation and to drive that speed of innovation,” said Croft, an Overland Park Republican. “That’s the underlying thing in everything we were trying to do. It relieves the R1s (doctoral research universities) of costly, bureaucratic entanglements while applying the appropriate oversight. We recognize this wasn’t an end-all, be-all. This is a good-faith effort.”

Lawrence, the chief of staff to the governor and chair of the closed-door planning sessions for the bill, said the ad hoc group didn’t have time to bring ESU, PSU and FHSU into conversations about regulatory change. So, he said, the decision was made not to include those universities in the bill.

“Didn’t want to put them in the bill, have them learn about it from the bill, freak out, not know what this is. So, we kept it to the three research universities,” he said.

Lawrence said the Board of Regents and Kansas Legislature would maintain oversight of the university system. Changes contained in the bill would fall primarily on redundant business policies under jurisdiction of the Kansas Department of Administration. He said there was no effort made to modify the Legislature’s influence on the universities. He said some concerns expressed about the bill were “a little bit overblown.”

Skeptics challenged the wisdom of lowering guardrails on state university contracting, procurement, construction, capital planning, property management and other business functions. There were questions about the bill’s impact on student tuition, faculty tenure, bans on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, private equity firms in athletics, control over hiring university CEOs and taxpayer accountability. There were questions about universities selling cherished campus landmarks in context of putting KU’s Allen Fieldhouse up for sale.

“I’d just like assurance that this isn’t the beginning of the end for the Kansas Board of Regents,” said Rep. Kirk Haskins, D-Topeka.

“I think we have our work cut out for us,” said Rep. Adam Turk, a Shawnee Republican who chairs the House higher education committee. “This is a bill that requires work.”

Advocates for the bill said economic pressures on higher education institutions, including a decline in the college-age population and limitations of public funding for universities, required exploration of new avenues for efficiencies while continuing to meet high academic standards.

Doug Girod, chancellor at the University of Kansas, said the legislation would leave KU as a state-owned entity, a state agency and a state asset.

He said the nation’s higher education system was facing tremendous headwinds in terms of student enrollment, loss of federal research funding, the trend of declining state funding as a percentage of overall costs and wariness about substantial tuition increases. He said the House bill would benefit KU without destroying what Kansas taxpayers had spent more than a century building.

KU cut 140 jobs and $30 million from the budget, and since 2017, the university had found $145 million in efficiencies, Girod said. He said KU’s top goal was to find more resources to invest in faculty and staff salaries.

“It doesn’t matter if we have pretty buildings if there’s nobody in them and we can’t serve students,” Girod said.

Kansas champions of administrative reform at public universities offer concessions to calm skeptics

OSAGE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a standoff at a rural Kansas home.

Just after 7p.m. Wednesday,&nbsp;deputies with the Osage County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a residence in rural Burlingame regarding a report of a possible barricaded subject who was reportedly involved in a verbal domestic disturbance where shots had been fired, according to Sheriff Chris Wells.

Deputies responded to the scene and began working to safely resolve the situation. After approximately four hours of attempting to make contact with the individual inside the residence, Christopher Vales, 41, of Burlingame was safely taken into custody without further incident.

Vales was transported to the Osage County Law Enforcement Center where he was booked on requested charges Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Interference with Law Enforcement.

Suspect arrested after 4-hour standoff at rural Kansas home

PAWNEE COUNTY — A Kansas boy died in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Thursday in Pawnee County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Honda CRF 150 driven by Gabriel Mull, 12, Larned, was southbound on 210th Avenue at Kansas 156.&nbsp; The dirt bike traveled into the path of an eastbound 2001 Ford F250 driven by Robert L. Seder, 55, Great Bend. The passenger side of the pickup struck the dirt bike.&nbsp;

Mull was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;Beckwith Mortuary. Seder was properly restrained and not injured. Mull was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

12-year-old Kansas boy dies in pickup, dirt bike crash

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man was injured and later arrested after an incident at the law enforcement center in Topeka.

Just after 10 a.m. Thursday, Topeka Police Department officers responded to a medical call in the lobby of the Law Enforcement Center at 320 South Kansas Avenue, according to a media release.

 A man, later identified as 31-year-old Casey Eastman of Topeka, set his clothing on fire. The Topeka Fire Department, American Medical Response and Topeka Police Behavioral Health Unit also responded to the scene.

AMR transported Eastman to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; &nbsp;Eastman was treated and later booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Aggravated Arson; No substantial risk to bodily harm and Criminal Damage to Property; Misdemeanor

Kan. man set his clothes on fire inside police headquarters

&nbsp;JACKSON COUNTY, Kan.– Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just afater 7p.m. March 6, Sheriff’s Deputies, with the assistance of the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office, arrested Charles Weston Alford, 40, of Topeka, on a Jackson County District Court Warrant in the 3400 block of NE Happy Hollow Road, according to Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse.

Alford was arrested in connection with illegal methamphetamine sales, which allegedly took place during a multi-month drug investigation earlier this year in collaboration with the Kansas Bureau of Investigations.

Alford was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of Distribute methamphetamine, no drug tax stamp for controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas man accused of selling meth

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri court has rejected a legal challenge to new U.S. House districts backed by President Donald Trump that are aimed at helping Republicans win an additional seat in the midterm elections.

Opponents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-trump-missouri-936e8daecadb32556fcfbd2eb9f7457b">the new districts</a>&nbsp;claimed they violated a state constitutional provision requiring districts to be compact. But Jackson County Circuit Judge Adam Caine rejected that in a ruling Thursday.

Although the decision marked a victory for Republicans, a separate legal challenge remains pending at the Missouri Supreme Court alleging that mid-decade redistricting is unconstitutional. Opponents also have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-redistricting-referendum-trump-gerrymandering-utah-14312a112b6e32d15e5ef36b83cdc6a7">submitted over 300,000 petition signatures</a>&nbsp;in an attempt to force a statewide vote on the new congressional map.

Missouri is one of several states targeted for congressional redistricting by Trump, who has been angling for an edge in the November elections as Republicans try to hold their narrow House majority. After&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-congress-house-republicans-texas-redistricting-d18e8280a32872d9eefcbb26f66a0331">Trump called on Texas Republicans</a>&nbsp;to redistrict, Democrats countered with new districts in California, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-congress-house-trump-gerrymander-2e5948055064f6e335170977bc4247f0">a redistricting battle</a>&nbsp;soon spread to other states.

Missouri currently is represented in the U.S. House by six Republicans and two Democrats under a map passed in 2022 based on the most recent census. At the time, Republican lawmakers turned back an attempt by some in the party to push a map giving Republicans a shot at winning seven seats. They cited concerns that it could spread Republicans too thin and backfire in losses if Democrats enjoyed a favorable election year.

But Republicans set aside those concerns last year under pressure from the White House to revise the districts for partisan advantage.

A new map passed during a September special legislative session is intended to help Republicans win a Kansas City-area seat currently held by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-gerrymander-missouri-trump-e5b75246cbee8eb674dfdb27381cc8ac">Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver</a>. It reassigns portions of Kansas City to two neighboring districts represented by Republicans and stretches the remainder of his 5th Congressional District eastward into Republican-heavy rural areas.

Court filings on behalf of suing voters asserted that the new map “radically departs” from historical norms by splitting apart and stretching out the 5th District, which previously had been more concentrated in Kansas City.

But attorneys for Republican Attorney General Catherine Hanaway countered that the new map actually is an improvement. Although the 5th District may be less compact, the state asserted that the map overall is more compact and splits fewer local governments among multiple districts. Caine agreed with that in his ruling.

The judge said the implicit argument of those suing is that rural voters don't belong in the same district as urban voters in Kansas City. But the judge cited other instances where rural and urban voters have been combined in congressional districts, including under a map used from from the 2012 through 2020 elections that merged Kansas City's central business district with rural areas to the east.

“The decision of what municipalities to split is a political and policy determination that is properly left in the hands of the General Assembly and Missouri’s political processes,” Caine wrote.

Groups representing the voters who sued criticized the court ruling but did not say whether they will appeal.

“If allowed to stand, it would represent a significant setback for fair representation in Missouri,” the American Civil Liberties Union and the Campaign Legal Center said in a joint statement.

Judge rules Missouri's new congressional map is constitutional

WASHINGTON —Two U.S. sailors are recovering after a fire on board an aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.

On March 12, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) experienced a fire that originated in the ship’s main laundry spaces, according to a statement fro&nbsp;U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet.

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