HUTCHINSON — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education heard updates Monday that included a Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson presentation spotlighting National Mentoring Month, a student-led push for naloxone access, and several district operations and safety items.

Aaliyah Gray, marketing and development coordinator for Boys &amp; Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, thanked USD 308 for its partnership and highlighted programs serving local youth, including initiatives such as Passport to Manhood and Smart Girls. Gray introduced Gabriel Marcum as the organization’s 2026 Youth of the Year, noting the club serves roughly 2,000 youth countywide.

Marcum told the board the club has been a second home for him for more than six years and credited staff mentors and family support for helping him find his voice and passion for community service. Marcum said he advocated for Narcan (naloxone) availability at both the Shadduck Park and Avenue A club sites, calling it a “life-saving” tool that can reverse opioid overdoses. He also referenced a Kansas legislative proposal aimed at requiring fentanyl education in public schools and expanding naloxone access statewide.

Separately, district leaders discussed school safety and security, including building mapping work tied to city and law enforcement coordination and a potential grant-funded camera software program designed to detect firearms and rapidly alert school and police contacts.

In board action items, USD 308 approved a Skyward student information system migration, with work anticipated to begin around October 2026 and conclude in summer 2027. The proposal approved by the board totals $42,837.&nbsp;

The board also approved purchases related to facilities operations, including robotic mowers for athletic field maintenance and a playground package for the district’s 'Lil Hawks childcare center. 

Administrators said that completion of the childcare center is expected in late February or early March with a possible opening later in March, pending licensing and final preparations.

The next meeting of the Board of Education is set for Monday, Feb. 9.

BOE hears update on Lil Hawks, approves Skyward mitigation

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. ——————————————

Stephanie	Chandel	Robinson		1/26/2026 10:34&nbsp;AM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Timothy	Tairen	Perry		1/26/2026 12:28&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Andre	Ryan	Byrd		1/26/2026 3:18&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Christopher	Allen	Jenkins		1/26/2026 3:22&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Thomas	Richard	Cummings	III	1/26/2026 4:17&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Aggravated endangering a child; Reckless situation to child &lt;18

Angel	Antonio	Estrada	III	1/26/2026 4:30&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Aggravated endangering a child; Reckless situation to child &lt;18

Marissa	Marie	Peavy		1/26/2026 5:04&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,					Aggravated endangering a child; Reckless situation to child &lt;18

Joshua	Matthew	Stubby		1/26/2026 9:45&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant, Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body, Poss&nbsp;of marijuana; 1 prior conviction

Daily Bookings

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson community exceeded expectations on the opening day of the Battle of the Badges community blood drive, collecting more donations than organizers anticipated and adding momentum to an ongoing effort to address a severe regional blood shortage.

According to Tianna Frazell, the new local contact for the American Red Cross, donors contributed 121 total units of blood on day one, surpassing the daily goal of 116 units by five.

The friendly competition between local first responders is already heating up. After the first day of donations, Hutchinson Fire Department supporters lead the Battle of the Badges scoreboard with 60 ballots, while Hutchinson Police Department supporters recorded 48 ballots.

In total, donors contributed 83 units of whole blood and completed 19 Power Red procedures, yielding an additional 38 units. Organizers say every unit collected will help patients in area hospitals who rely on regular blood transfusions for emergencies, surgeries, and ongoing treatments.

“The energy today was amazing,” Frazell said. “Every single donation is making a real impact on patients in need, and we are incredibly grateful for the community’s continued support.”

Appointments remain available for the remaining days of the drive:

While turnout has been strong, Red Cross officials emphasize that the blood supply remains critically low and encourage residents who are eligible to schedule an appointment and keep the momentum going.

The Battle of the Badges blood drive continues through Wednesday, combining friendly rivalry with a shared goal of saving lives across the Hutchinson community.

Fire department has early lead in 'Battle of the Badges'

DENNIS DUTTON Executive Director for the Arts, Sterling College

Editor's Note: Due to the winter weather on Jan. 24, the program will be held this Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

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”

A full house is expected this weekend as Salt Hawk Community Support hosts its signature fundraising event, “Men Can Cook”, returning Saturday night at the Hutchinson Art Center. 

Now in its fifth year, the popular tasting competition brings together a wide cross-section of local men — not professional chefs — who prepare their favorite dishes for an evening of food, friendly rivalry, and community support. Attendees sample each entry, cast ballots for their favorites, and help crown the night’s champions. 

“This is one of those events that just keeps growing,” said Claire Foy, one of the event organizers. “It’s competitive, it’s fun, and it’s completely different from anything else in the community.” 

The concept was introduced by Sally Russell who is a past president of Salthawk Community Support. Foy said “An organization in Wichita does it, but on a much larger scale.” 

After a pandemic pause, the fundraiser returned stronger than ever, drawing roughly 150 people when cooks and guests are combined. Despite serving only tasting portions, organizers say guests are often full before dessert. 

Chris Corey, a board member and one of the event’s participating “hype men,” said the variety of food is part of the appeal. “There’s everything from barbecue to Thai food, chicken and waffles, Mexican dishes — really a wide range,” said Corey. 

This year’s lineup includes about 18 cooks representing a broad mix of professions and backgrounds, including educators, retirees, business owners, a physician, a commercial pilot, clergy family members — and even Hutchinson Mayor Scott Meggers. While there are no professional chefs competing, organizers note that creativity and presentation are just as important as flavor, with awards for both food and décor. 

The winning cooks receive a custom metal Salt Hawk medal crafted by students in the Hutchinson High School Technical Education Department. 

In addition to food, guests can enjoy beverages from Salt City Brewing, a longtime supporter of the event. 

Proceeds from "The Men Cook" directly support Salt Hawk Community Support, which provides services and programming for students at Hutchinson Middle School 8 and Hutchinson High School. 

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Kylie Campbell, site administrator for Salthawk Community Support at HMS 8. “The support we get from this event helps fund programs for our students and raises awareness about the services we offer. It’s also my favorite event — seeing the community come together is incredible.” 

The event runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan 31. at the Hutchinson Art Center. Tickets are $45 per person and are available in advance at the Art Center, Apron Strings, Trinity United Methodist Church, through board members, or at the door the night of the event. 

Organizers are already looking ahead to next year and encouraging additional participants to get involved. 

“The cooks cover the cost of their own food, which makes this a huge benefit for our organization,” Foy said. “We’re incredibly grateful, and we’re always looking to add more men to the lineup.” 

For those interested in attending or cooking in future years, organizers say The Men Cook is more than a food contest — it’s one of Hutchinson’s premier community events.

'The Men Cook' returns on Saturday

Here's a list of events happening around the area.&nbsp; If your club or organization has an event, you can e-mail the information to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">HutchPost@eaglemedia.com.</a>

HutchCC Men's and Women's Basketball vs Butler CC - 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Sports Arena&nbsp;&nbsp;

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive - Noon to 6:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; First Presbyterian Church, 201 East Sherman, Hutchinson

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive - 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; First Presbyterian Church, 201 East Sherman, Hutchinson

Hutch High Boys Basketball at Derby - 7:15 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Derby High School

Battle of the Badges Blood Drive - 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; First Presbyterian Church, 201 East Sherman, Hutchinson

HutchCC Men's and Women's Basketball vs Indy - 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Sports Arena&nbsp;

Hutch High Girls' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - TBD &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; vs. Olathe South, McPherson Roundhouse

Fox Classic/Retro Film Series: "Tommy Boy" - 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave.

Hutch High Girls' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - TBD &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; vs. TBD, McPherson Roundhouse

Fox Classic/Retro Film Series: "Tommy Boy" - 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave.

Talk20 Hutch: The Final Edition - 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Public Library, 901 North Main

Hutch High Girls' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - TBD &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;vs. TBD, McPherson Roundhouse

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/34fcaa53-f853-4274-aea1-4cda4aabf002">Flapjacks at the Fire Station</a>&nbsp;- 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Cheney Fire Station - 525 North Main Street, Cheney

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonartcenter.net/classes">Saturday Morning Artists</a>&nbsp;- 9 to 11:30 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Art Center - 405 North Washington

HutchCC Men's and Women's Basketball at Seward County &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 2 and 4 p.m., The Greenhouse, Liberal

Hutch High Boys' Basketball at McPherson Invitational - 3 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; vs. Blue Valley, McPherson Roundhouse (Rescheduled from Jan. 24)

Fox Classic/Retro Film Series: "Snow White" - 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave.

"Senior Spotlight" - 7:30 p.m. (Rescheduled from Jan. 24.) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Culbertson Auditorium, Sterling College

"Men Can Cook" - 7 to 8:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Art Center

Fox Classic/Retro Film Series: "Snow White" - 2 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson's Historic Fox Theatre, 18 E. 1st Ave.

Here's what's happening: Jan. 26 - Feb 1

Michael	Paul	Mattox		1/25/2026 6:35&nbsp;PM	Harassment by Telephone; Texting to harass or threaten, Criminal Threat; with Intent to Terrorize or cause Evacuation,					Failure to Appear

Cody	Donald	Willhaus		1/26/2026 12:09&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Here are the current cancellations and submitted to Hutch Post.&nbsp; To submit a cancellation, please send an email to <a href="mailto:hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com</a>.&nbsp;

<a href="https://eaglepost.netlify.app/dashboard/hutch/posts/5008cda3-3e87-4169-a064-a84877914989">LINK:&nbsp;Winter Weather: How to submit closures, delays, and cancellations</a>

Central Christian School - Closed Elyria Christian School - 2-hour delay Hutchinson Catholic Schools - Closed St. Joseph Elementary, McPherson - Closed USD 267 Renwick - Closed USD 268 Cheney - Closed USD 308 Hutchinson - Closed, MS Basketball canceled USD 309 Nickerson/S. Hutchinson - Closed USD 310 Fairfield - 2-hour delay USD 311 Pretty Prairie - Closed USD 312 Haven - Closed USD 313 Buhler - Closed USD 331 Kingman-Norwich - Closed USD 332 Cunningham - 2-hour delay USD 349 Stafford - Closed USD 350 St. John-Hudson - Closed USD 369 Burrton - Closed, all activities canceled USD 373 Newton - Closed USD 382 Pratt - Closed USD 418 McPherson - Closed USD 419 Canton Galva - No classes or activities USD 423 Moundridge - Closed USD 438 Skyline - 2-hour delay USD 439 Sedgwick -Closed USD 448 Inman - Closed USD 460 Hesston - Closed

Church of the Holy Cross - Office closed Delos V. Smith Senior Center - Closed&nbsp; Hesston Area Senior Center - Closed, No meals served or delivered Hutchinson Art Center - Closed Hutchinson Everfull - Closed Monday Kingman Friendship Meals - No Meals Monday&nbsp; Moundridge Senior Center - Closed Pratt Friendship Meals - Closed today South Central Kansa Area on Aging and Friendship Meals - Closed Monday (McPherson, Reno, Rice, and Kingman counties) Sterling/Nickerson Meals on Wheels - Closed&nbsp; Women for Kansas - Hutchinson Area Chapter meeting - Canceled&nbsp;

Closings, delays and cancellations

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department responded Sunday to a reported structure fire in the 100 block of West 7th Street, where crews found a small fire burning in the attic of a two-story, balloon-frame home.

According to the department, firefighters were able to make entry into the attic space and quickly extinguish the fire. Officials said there were no complications during the response and damage to the home was minimal.

The residence was occupied at the time of the call. The occupants alerted emergency dispatch and were able to safely exit the home before firefighters arrived. No injuries were reported.

Fire officials said damage was contained to the attic and ceiling areas. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Hutchinson Fire Department thanked assisting agencies for their support at the scene, including Reno County EMS, Reno County Emergency Communications, Evergy, Kansas Gas, and the Hutchinson Police Department.

Attic fire contained with minimal damage

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

Three-day Outlook

Just six weeks after finishing high school, Brian Walker wasn’t aiming for a high-powered job. He worked full-time at a gas station, living week to week, until a surprise phone call changed his path.

That call brought him to a flour mill and into an industry most people only think about when they buy bread. On a recent episode of the&nbsp;Wheat’s On Your Mind&nbsp;podcast, Walker talked with host Aaron Harries and Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin about the key moments in his 45-year milling career and what the wheat industry is really like.

Walker’s first job at Seaboard Allied Milling in Kansas City, Missouri, had an official title, assistant quality control manager, but the labor was hard and hands-on. He managed sample cans, moved samples through the lab and learned how wheat quality could affect everything from flour performance to baking consistency.

The schedule was even tougher than the work itself. Walker said he had to be there whenever the mill was running, even on weekends. In his first weeks, the mill shipped flour overseas in 140-pound jute bags and Walker worked six straight weeks without a day off, earning $4 an hour.

The job was demanding, but it gave Walker a close look at the wheat supply chain. Early on, he learned about crop surveys, wheat types and baking tests, building the skills that later took him to a 20-week course at the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan.

As Walker moved through jobs at Seaboard, Cargill, Ardent Mills, and Miller Milling, he watched the industry change through consolidation. He saw the early 1980s as a turning point, when more companies were bought out and competition became more strategic.

The changes went beyond new owners. Walker explained that consolidation also changed how people talked about crop quality. Millers used to meet and share information, but that became less common.

“All the millers would come openly talk about the crop, talk about the quality, where the issues were, where the opportunities were,” Walker said. “By the time 85, 86 rolled around… it became clear that… the work that you did on the crop, you kept to yourself and you used that as a competitive edge for your company.”

As the baking industry modernized, Walker said the pace and pressure increased. Big commercial bakeries ran longer and faster, needing more consistent wheat. At the same time, bakers started using new ingredients, moving away from potassium bromate to such as enzymes, which changed how they kept dough strong and loaves high quality.

These pressures affected farmers, too. Walker said that better wheat varieties, disease control, and new breeding tools helped the industry keep milling quality steady, especially as food safety issues like fusarium head blight and vomitoxin became bigger concerns.

Now living in Minnesota, Walker is still active in the wheat industry. He works with the National Wheat Foundation, stays involved with the Wheat Quality Council, and consults for U.S. Wheat Associates, which keeps him connected to both American farmers and flour customers around the world.

At the end of the episode, Walker shared the most important lesson since his early days in the mill: show up, work hard, and stay involved.

“You got to be willing to work. And you need to work hard,” Walker said. “Be involved… it’s a people business.”

Wheat quality and flour milling: Lessons from Brian Walker

KANSAS CITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a commercial building in Kansas City.

Just before 11p.m. Monday, Kansas City Fire Department companies were dispatched to a reported building fire in the 1100 block of West 8th Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan. 

On arrival, crews reported heavy smoke showing from a&nbsp;6-story commercial building and initiated an offensive fire attack.

The fire was found to be in an open elevator shaft and burning on the roof of the structure.&nbsp;

Crews advanced 3 hose lines to extinguish the fire, which was placed under control at 11:55 p.m.The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD. &nbsp;

Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were requested to the scene. No injuries have been reported from this incident.

Crews fight fire in elevator shaft of 6-story building in Kansas City

WASHINGTON —A federal officer on Saturday shot and killed a 37-year-old man in Minneapolis&nbsp;amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.&nbsp; &nbsp;Two Kansas lawmakers have finally broken their silence on what happened.

On his social media feed, Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran wrote, "I am deeply troubled by the shootings in Minneapolis involving federal agents. Our Constitution provides citizens protection from the government. We have a right to free speech, to peaceably assemble and to bear arms."

"We also expect government to protect us from lawless behavior. Enforcing immigration laws that remove dangerous criminals from our streets and neighborhoods makes us safer and increases our national security. This can only be accomplished if local, state and federal officials work together to uphold the law."

"Law enforcement must reflect our nation’s values, and citizens should obey the law. This tragic circumstance should be investigated to the fullest extent to ensure transparency and accountability."

Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derek Schmidt also used his social media account to sound off on the tragedy and give his opinion.

"America's immigration laws must be enforced, and many of the current difficulties are rooted in the prior administration's allowing at least 9 million people to enter and remain in our country illegally."

"At the same time, enforcing the law professionally and with clear focus and common sense is vital to public confidence in the rule of law. The events in Minnesota are distressing –both senior state officials' refusal to cooperate with federal authorities to enforce the law and the reported actions of some federal officials."

"In my view, there needs to be a transparent and thorough review and factfinding regarding the officer involved shootings in Minnesota – as there should be in every officer involved shooting anywhere." 

"I support Chairman Garbarino's decision to convene a House Homeland Security Committee oversight hearing to question ICE, CBP, and USCIS leaders."

"I have raised questions about the reported use of administrative, as opposed to judicial, warrants to enter homes and continue to do so. And I encourage swift enactment of the provisions I voted for last week in the Homeland Security appropriations bill to fund ICE and CBP body cameras and expand deescalation training."

On Sunday, Kansas 3rd District Congresswoman Sharice Davids shared her thoughts on the shooting.

Kansas GOP lawmakers sound off on fatal Minneapolis shooting 

PLATTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged road rage shooting in a Kansas City suburb.

&nbsp;The shooting happened at approximately 9 a.m. Monday in Parkville, involving a Parkville Special Road District snowplow and a black SUV, according to a statement from the city.

Shots were fired during the incident in the Thousand Oaks subdivision, with no injuries reported. The SUV driver fled Parkville following the incident and was later located in Kansas City, Missouri. Sgt. Sean Allwood, Parkville detective interviewed the suspect, who admitted to firing the weapon.

&nbsp;Parkville Police Department did release the name of the suspect or the possible requested charges the suspect faces.

Road rage: Driver admits shooting at KC area snow plow driver

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/konstantin-toropin">KONSTANTIN TOROPIN</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and three accompanying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">warships have arrived in the Middle East</a>, bringing a renewed potential that President Donald Trump could opt to order airstrikes on Iran over its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-us-aircraft-carrier-crackdown-yemen-e0a6b3c72775348c553ad185af5bfb20">crackdown on protesters</a>.

The carrier, along with three destroyers, “is currently deployed to the Middle East to promote regional security and stability,” U.S. Central Command said Monday on social media.

The strike group was in the Indian Ocean, Central Command said, and not in the Arabian Sea, which borders Iran. It will bring thousands of additional service members to the region, which has not had a U.S. aircraft carrier since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carriers-trump-venezuela-middle-east-a458b9c4f1a5690e19d7c532dd6b7fd7">the USS Gerald R. Ford</a>&nbsp;was ordered in October to sail to the Caribbean as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">pressure campaign on then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro</a>.

Trump told reporters last week that the ships were sent to the region “just in case.” “We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” he said.

Trump earlier had threatened military action if Iran carried out mass executions of prisoners or killed peaceful demonstrators during a crackdown on protests that began in late December. At least 5,973 people have been killed and more than 41,800 detained, according to activists. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">official Iranian death toll</a>&nbsp;is far lower, at 3,117 dead.

More recently, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-hangings-protests-dae7dca429c9823f4f5690b368ebfe15">appeared to have backed away</a>&nbsp;from possible action, claiming Iran halted the hangings of 800 detained protesters. He has not elaborated on the source of the claim, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-death-toll-acb1968a973f19be217ea28b4a7adb0b">Iran’s top prosecutor called “completely false.”</a>

However, Trump appears to be keeping his options open. On Thursday aboard Air Force One, he said his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-middle-east-allies-strikes-diplomat-24f75a6b2ab3716be47163fcb0817bc7">threatened military action</a>&nbsp;would make last year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites</a>&nbsp;“look like peanuts” if the government proceeded with planned executions of some protesters.

The aircraft carrier hosts multiple squadrons of aircraft, including F-35 Lightning II fighter jets and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. Meanwhile, the destroyers bring with them hundreds of missiles, which could include dozens of Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles.

In addition to the aircraft carrier and its hardware, the U.S. military said the Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet now has a presence in the region.

Analysts who follow flight-tracking data have noticed dozens of U.S. military cargo planes also heading to the region.

The activity is similar to last year when the U.S. moved in air defense hardware, including a Patriot missile system, in anticipation of an Iranian counterattack following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">bombing of three key nuclear sites</a>. Iran launched over a dozen missiles at Al Udeid Air Base days after the strikes.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Two Iranian-backed militias in the Mideast are signaling their willingness to launch new attacks, likely trying to back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran</a>&nbsp;on Monday as it worried about an approaching U.S. aircraft carrier after President Donald Trump threatened military action over its crackdown on nationwide protests.

Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels signaled a willingness to resume attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. That came just after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-navy-warship-missiles-intercepted-2f5fc9c8a3737f762b29d5c53ec08a5b">Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah paramilitary group</a>, long supported by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, issued a direct threat late Sunday toward any attack targeting Iran, warning a “total war” in the region would be a result.

However, both the Houthis and Kataib Hezbollah sat out from Israel's 12-day war on Iran in June that saw the United States bomb Iranian nuclear sites. The hesitancy to get involved shows the disarray still affecting Iran's self-described “Axis of Resistance” after facing attacks from Israel during its war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

A short video by the Houthis included images of a ship on fire, with the caption: “Soon.” It later aired footage Monday from its January 2024 attack in the Gulf of Aden on the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Marlin Luanda, one of the over 100 ships attacked as part of a campaign the Houthis said pressured Israel over its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The Houthis halted their fire after a ceasefire in the conflict, though they've repeatedly warned they could resume fire if needed.

Meanwhile, Ahmad “Abu Hussein” al-Hamidawi of Kataib Hezbollah issued his own threat in a statement.

“We affirm to the enemies that the war on the (Islamic) Republic will not be a picnic; rather, you will taste the bitterest forms of death, and nothing will remain of you in our region,” he said.

The threats came as the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other guided missile destroyers with it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">move toward the region</a>. Trump has said the ships are being moved “just in case” he decides to take action against Iran. Trump already has laid out two red lines for attack — the killing of peaceful protesters and Tehran conducting mass executions of those it has arrested in a massive crackdown over the demonstrations.

The “Axis of Resistance” alliances had allowed Iran to project its power across the Mideast but also was seen as a defensive buffer, intended to keep conflict away from Iranian borders.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-war-future-protests-unrest-nuclear-46b86a14319d5ae44ae090c9d58b0637">But it has collapsed</a>&nbsp;after Israel targeted Hamas, Hezbollah in Lebanon and others during the Gaza war. Meanwhile, rebels in 2024 overthrew Syria's Bashar Assad after a yearslong, bloody war in which Iran backed his rule.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, also warned Iraq late Sunday about Iran's influence.

“A government controlled by Iran cannot successfully put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts or advance the mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Iraq,” a statement on Rubio's behalf read.

The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday that it would not allow its airspace, territory, or territorial waters to be used for military action against Iran. The UAE said it would stress dialogue and diplomatic resolutions.

Iran renews threats and limits smaller flights

Iranian Defense Ministry spokesperson Gen. Reza Talaei-Nik renewed warnings Monday to both Israel and the U.S. over any possible attack, saying it would “be met with a response that is more painful and more decisive than in the past.” Iranian state television quoted Talaei-Nik as adding that threats from the two countries required Iran “to maintain full and comprehensive preparedness.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei separately told journalists: “Regional countries fully know that any security breach in the region will not affect Iran only. The lack of security is contagious.”

Iran over the weekend unveiled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-mural-protests-military-4b2ceb8aff9dc448036341e86023b6c8">a new banner in Tehran's Enghelab Square</a>&nbsp;threatening the Lincoln, showing an aircraft carrier strewn with bodies and streaked with blood with the warning: “If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind.” However, Iran is still reeling from the 12-day war launched in June that saw its air defense systems broadly destroyed and top military leaders killed, as well as its nuclear enrichment sites bombed by the U.S.

As a sign of concern over its airspace, Iran issued a notice to pilots Sunday that banned small private aircraft from flying in the country, with carveouts for the oil industry and emergency medical flights.

Many Western airlines have started to avoid Iranian airspace entirely due to the tensions, though Gulf Arab carriers flying to Moscow still rely on the route. Iranian air defense troops in 2020&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-21f4a92a2dfbc38581719664bdf6f38e">shot down a Ukrainian commercial airliner</a>, killing 176 people on board.

The protests in Iran began on Dec. 28, sparked by the fall of the Iranian currency, the rial, and quickly spread across the country. They were met by a violent crackdown by Iran’s theocracy, the scale of which is only starting to become clear as the country has faced more than two-week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-crackdown-internet-business-costs-a0bd2df1d13355dcc28f46e5b5b3c893">internet blackout</a>&nbsp;— the most comprehensive in the nation's history.

The U.S.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-death-toll-ec00ffa50f818d4a66aec5942aec629b">Human Rights Activists News Agency</a>&nbsp;on Monday put the death toll at 5,973, with the number expected to increase. It says more than 41,800 people have been arrested.

The group’s figures have been accurate in previous unrest and rely on a network of activists in Iran to verify deaths. That death toll exceeds that of any other round of protest or unrest there in decades, and recalls the chaos surrounding Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the toll.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-araghchi-trump-threat-crackdown-299375ebfd004dd6098c77a6bb8079a5">Iran’s government</a>&nbsp;has put the death toll at a far lower 3,117, saying 2,427 were civilians and security forces, and labeled the rest “terrorists.” In the past, Iran’s theocracy has undercounted or not reported fatalities from unrest.

US aircraft carrier arrives in the Middle East as tensions with Iran remain high

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement investigating a fatal crash that occurred just after 9p.m. January 22 have released the name of the victim as 36-year-old Jared Wilcox of Topeka, according to a media release from police.

The single vehicle accident occurred in the 500 block of SW 21st Street.&nbsp; First responders located Wilcox who was deceased at the scene.

The investigation is ongoing and no additional information has been provided.

Police release name of victim in fatal Kansas crash

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

After a preliminary hearing in Ellis County District Court on Monday, a WaKeeney man was bound over for trial for attempted first-degree murder for allegedly strangling his partner on July 17, 2025.

Cody Evan Garrett is charged with three felonies: attempted first-degree murder, aggravated domestic battery,&nbsp;criminal threat, and two misdemeanors: domestic battery and criminal damage to property.

The state presented its evidence in November, but the preliminary hearing was continued until Monday, when the defense presented its case.

Garrett drove his truck to an area of Hopewell Road in Ellis County. He&nbsp;allegedly told the victim he was going to kill her, throw her in a ditch, and she would never see her kids again, according to court records.

The victim told authorities that Garrett threw her up against the truck hard enough to dent the truck, pulled her hair, held her down on the ground and strangled her, according to court records and testimony.

The victim told authorities Garrett strangled her to the point she saw bright lights and heard ringing in her ears.

Garrett allegedly released the victim when another couple approached the area in another vehicle. She ran toward that vehicle, and law enforcement was called.

During testimony on Monday, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Tina Jecha of HaysMed said an examination of the victim found&nbsp;petechial hemorrhage in the victim's mouth, which can be an indicator of strangulation.

Petechial hemorrhage is the rupture of capillaries and can cause red, purple or brown spots to appear on the skin, in the mouth or in the eyes.

The defense noted in its questioning of Jecha that&nbsp;petechial hemorrhaging was not found anywhere else on the victim's body.

However,&nbsp;Jecha said someone can be strangled and not have any signs of&nbsp;petechial hemorrhage.

She also said she found abrasions, bruising and an injury to the victim's upper lip.

Although&nbsp;Jecha said she did not recall seeing any bruising on the victim's neck, she did remember seeing redness.

The victim's ex-husband testified he told a Wakeeney businessman after Garrett's arrest that he wouldn't put it past the victim to fabricate the incident.&nbsp;

Hobbs testified Monday this was his own speculation, and he had made the statement in anger after a sleepless night worrying about his children. Hobbs said he and the victim did not have an amicable divorce, and there remained tension in the relationship.

This statement, after going through two more people, morphed into an allegation that the victim had planned the incident to make Garrett look bad.&nbsp;

County Attorney Aaron Cunningham likened the line of testimony to a child's game of telephone in which the original statements had been contorted.

In his closing statement, defense attorney Mark Harmon argued there was no evidence of premeditation other than the victim's statements to law enforcement that Garrett had threatened to kill her.

He said there was no evidence that the victim had been close to death.&nbsp;

He characterized the events leading up to the alleged crime as a mutual combat inside the truck.

Herrman asked that the charge of attempted first-degree murder be dismissed. However, Judge Curtis Brown declined and bound Garrett over for trial on all charges.

Garrett's arraignment has been set for 10:30 a.m. Feb. 17 via Zoom.

Garrett is free on a $500,000 bond. Herrman asked that Garrett's ankle monitoring be terminated as a condition of his bond. The state objected.&nbsp;

Brown said he would allow Garrett to switch to GPS monitoring.

NW Kansas man will stand trial for violent attack on a woman

KANSAS CITY —Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced charges against a Kansas City man for allegedly selling vehicles to unsuspecting buyers and then stealing them back.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2802/Afterhours-Complaint-Packet--M-Diallo-compressed-1">Mamadou Diallo</a>, 25,&nbsp;faces six counts of 1st Degree Tampering with a Motor Vehicle and eight counts of Forgery.&nbsp; Each count carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. &nbsp;

According to court records, Kansas City police received eight stolen vehicle reports between May and June last year, all following a similar pattern. In each case, the victim purchased a vehicle through Facebook Marketplace from the same seller who used an alias online and was later identified as the defendant.&nbsp;

After completing each sale in person, the defendant provided what appeared to victims to be a legitimate title and bill of sale. But shortly after the transactions, each buyer reported their newly purchased vehicle stolen.&nbsp;

In an interview with detectives, Diallo denied buying and selling vehicles on Facebook Marketplace.&nbsp; The victims’ combined losses totaled more than $24,000.&nbsp;

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $30,000 cash only.&nbsp;

KC man accused of selling cars on Facebook, stealing them back

RILEY COUNTY–&nbsp;Law enforcement in Manhattan are investigating an alleged sex crime in Manhattan.

Just after 3p.m. on Friday, police arrested 24-year-old Griffin Day of Manhattan for an alleged rape that was reported to have occurred on Thursday night, according to a media release from the Riley County Police Department.

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