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>

Buhler MB Church - No Sunday services Buhler Mennonite South Church - No Sunday services Calvary Baptist Church, McPherson - No Sunday services Canton Community Church - No Sunday Services Cheney Community Church - No Sunday Services Countryside Covenant Church, McPherson - 11 a.m. service only Eastwood Church of Christ - Online services only Emanuel Lutheran Church - No Sunday services Faith United Methodist Church, Hutchinson - Closed, online services only First Baptist Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services First Church of God - No Sunday services First Church of Nazarene, Newton - No Sunday Services First Congregational Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services First Mennonite Church, Halstead - No Sunday services First Mennonite Church, Newton - No Sunday services First Presbyterian Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services First Presbyterian Church, Newton - No Sunday services First Presbyterian Church, McPherson - No Sunday services First Southern Baptist Church - No Sunday services First United Methodist Church, Hutchinson - Online services only First United Methodist Church, Newton - No Sunday services First United Methodist Church, Sterling - No Sunday services Full Gospel Church - No Sunday services Galva Christian Church - No Sunday services Galva Community Church - No Sunday services Grace Lutheran Church, Lyons - No Sunday services Hope Church - No Sunday services Journey at McPherson - No Sunday services Journey at South Hutch - No Sunday services Kingman Christian Church - No Sunday services Koerner Heights Church, Newton - Online services only Living Grace Church, Inman - No Sunday services McPherson Church of the Nazarene - No Sunday services Mitchell Chapel United Methodist Church - No Sunday services Morningstar Baptist Church, McPherson - No Sunday services Mount Hope Bible Fellowship - No Sunday services New Covenant Presbyterian Church - No Sunday services New Gottland Covenant Church, McPherson - No Sunday services New Life Assembly of God, Newton - No Sunday services New Life Christian Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services New Life Foursquare Church, McPherson - No Sunday services Newton Bible Church - 10:30 a.m. service only Newton Christian Church - No Sunday services - Online service at 10 a.m. Newton Grace Community Church - 10:45 a.m. service only Newton Shalom Mennonite Church - No Sunday services Nickerson United Methodist Church - No Sunday services Park Place Christian Church - No Sunday services or activities Partridge Community Church - No Sunday services Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church, Burrton - No Sunday services Pratt Church of Christ - No Sunday services Pratt Friends Church - No Sunday services Pratt Presbyterian Church - No Sunday services Salt City Cowboy Church, South Hutchinson - No Sunday services Soul Winner's Mission Church - Online only South Hutchinson United Methodist Church - No Sunday services St. Matthew's Episcopal Church - Online services only Stafford United Methodist Church - No Sunday services Sylvia Church of Christ - No Sunday services Tabor Mennonite Church, Newton - No Sunday services Temple Baptist Church - Services canceled Trinity United Methodist Church, Hutchinson - No Sunday services Trinity Heights United Methodist Church, Newton - No Sunday services Union Valley Bible Church - No Sunday service

American Legion Post #68 - Post closed American Legion Riders Chili Feed - Canceled Christian Soup Ministry, Hutchinson - Closed Dillon Nature Center trails/grounds and Visitor Center - Closed TEFAP commodities distribution - Postponed to Feb. 1

USD 419 Canton Galva - No classes or activities

Moundridge Senior Center - Closed Monday Women for Kansas - Hutchinson Area Chapter meeting - Canceled&nbsp;

Closings and cancellations

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries">Click&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners</a>.

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

Recent obituaries and service times

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Local fire officials are urging residents to take a few minutes to review home fire safety practices, noting that most residential fires are preventable with basic precautions.

According to fire safety data highlighted during Community Risk Reduction Week, cooking remains the leading cause of home fires. Firefighters stress the importance of staying in the kitchen when frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food and keeping flammable items away from stovetops. In the event of a grease fire, residents are reminded to slide a lid over the pan and turn off the heat — never use water, which can cause flames to spread rapidly.

Heating equipment is another major risk, particularly during the winter months. Nationwide, tens of thousands of heating-related fires occur each year, resulting in hundreds of deaths and more than a billion dollars in property damage. Safety officials recommend keeping heaters and fireplaces at least three feet away from anything that can burn and turning off space heaters before leaving home or going to sleep.

Electrical issues also remain a top cause of house fires. Residents are encouraged to replace damaged cords, avoid overloading outlets and power strips, and never plug space heaters into extension cords.

Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms are considered one of the most effective fire safety measures. Nearly 60 percent of fire-related deaths occur in homes without functioning alarms. Fire officials advise testing alarms monthly, changing batteries regularly, and installing alarms in bedrooms and hallways.

As part of a “Home Fire Risk Reset,” residents are encouraged to spend just 10 minutes reviewing safety steps, including testing smoke alarms, maintaining a three-foot safety zone around heat sources, ensuring someone stays in the kitchen when cooking, plugging space heaters directly into wall outlets, and practicing a home escape plan with at least two exits from every room.

Fire officials say these simple actions can significantly reduce the risk of fire and help protect lives, property, and families.

Fire safety reminder highlights common home fire causes

ARLINGTON, Kan. — Firefighters battled extreme cold and challenging conditions Saturday afternoon while responding to a structure fire in Arlington.

At approximately 12:55 p.m. units from Reno County Fire District 1 were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 200 block of South Vine Street.

Upon arrival, crews found smoke coming from the attic and active fire located in a bathroom. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior attack; however, multiple ceiling layers inside the home made it difficult to access the fire in the attic space. During suppression efforts, crews were forced to evacuate the structure due to a roof collapse.

The home sustained extensive damage as a result of the fire.

Reno County EMS was on scene providing rehabilitation services to firefighters. No injuries were reported.

Firefighting efforts were further complicated by bitterly cold conditions. Temperatures at the time of the fire were around 5 degrees, with a negative wind chill causing equipment to freeze.

The American Red Cross responded to assist the occupants displaced by the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Firefighters battle fire, elements in Saturday fire

HARVEY COUNTY —Emergency crews responded to a child stuck in a hole at Sand Creek Station on Saturday, according to a social media report from Newton Fire and EMS.

On arrival, just the fingertips of a 15-year-old boy were visible at ground level. The child was rescued from the hole and transported to the local hospital in stable condition for evaluation. 

He had been sledding with a friend, who notified a neighbor to call 911. Thanks to his quick thinking, this event had a positive outcome.

Newton emergency crews reported they did not measure the hole, but it was about 12 inches. The 15-year-old was released from the hospital, is home and was doing well.

New Fire and EMS reminded, "it is important to always have someone with you while sledding to call for help in the event of an emergency."

Kan. boy rescued from hole after sledding accident

Dear Dave, I’ve been listening to your radio show, and as a result I’ve decided I’m tired of living paycheck-to-paycheck and being broke all the time. I know Baby Step 1 is saving a beginner emergency find of $1,000. But do you recommend getting current on past due bills before starting the Baby Steps?

Dear Edward, I love it! When people decide to change their lives, and they talk about it the way you have, I know they’re serious about making something good happen. You’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, and you’re going to get control of your money and your life. Let’s get started!

First things first. Make sure you’re up to date with all the necessities. I’m talking about food, clothing, shelter, transportation and utilities. Next, either get current—or make payment arrangements—for any consumer debt you have, including credit cards. This doesn’t include your home, but we’ll get to that part in a minute. 

You’re spot-on with Baby Step 1. After that comes the debt snowball and Baby Step 2. Start paying off all debts, except your home, from smallest to largest. Once you’ve paid off this debt, you’ll be able to save more and increase your beginner emergency fund to a fully-funded emergency fund of three to six months of expenses pretty quickly. This is Baby Step 3.

At this point, you can really start planning for the future. In Baby Step 4, you’ll start investing 15 percent of your income for retirement. If you have kids, setting aside something to help them with college comes next in Baby Step 5. Baby Step 6 is a milestone. This is when you start throwing tons of cash at your mortgage, and pay off your home early. I told you we’d get back to this, didn’t I? 

But Edward, the real deal is Baby Step 7. Why? Because this is when all your hard work, discipline and wise financial decisions have put you in a place where you can build wealth like crazy. Not only that, you can give and help others by being outrageously generous. At this point, you’re securing your future and helping others in a big way.

Go make it happen, dude. Take control of your finances, your life and be a blessing to others!

You can hear Dave Ramsey, Monday through Friday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on KWBW, unless it is preempted by sports coverage.&nbsp;

Dave Says: Sick and tired of being sick and tired

 The City of Hutchinson is accepting applications for its Senior Citizen Low-Income Program for Water and Sewer, a utility assistance program designed to help eligible senior residents offset residential water and sewer costs.

City Council has set aside funding to provide credits on 2026 water bills. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until all available funds are allocated.

To qualify, applicants must have water or sewer service in their name, be 65 years of age or older by January 1, 2026, and use the service for residential purposes only. Household income must fall within Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) guidelines, defined as 150 percent of the federal poverty level. Participants are required to apply each year to remain eligible.

Residents who already have a current LIHEAP acceptance letter will find the application process simplified.

Approved applicants will receive a monthly credit toward the base water and sewer fees. For customers receiving both services, the credit totals $25.84 per month.

Applications can be completed securely online, and paper applications are also available through Utility Billing at City Hall. Applicants will receive a confirmation email once their submission has been processed.

City officials say the program reflects Hutchinson’s ongoing commitment to supporting senior residents and helping ensure essential water and sewer services remain affordable.

City offers senior citizen low income program for water and sewer

Due to the expected weather conditions on Saturday January 24th, all Greater Wichita YMCA branches will have revised facility hours 9 am- 4 pm.&nbsp;

All programs, group exercise, Kid Zone and sports games will be cancelled.&nbsp;

Sports Directors will follow up with coaches regarding rescheduling.

If you can’t make it to a branch tomorrow, The Y offers workouts and activities for the whole family on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://track.pstmrk.it/3s/ymca360.org%2Fhome/caxW/K_zCAQ/AQ/7ed4e51b-d6e1-4fe7-9bb6-2fed43796242/2/qQwZwfFCux">YMCA 360</a>.&nbsp;

YMCA reduces hours, activities for Saturday

The Hutchinson YMCA is kicking off the new year with a limited-time membership promotion while continuing progress on its highly anticipated new facility under construction on North Lorraine Street.

During a recent appearance on the Morning Show, YMCA CEO David Foster announced that anyone who joins the YMCA through Friday, Jan. 30 can take advantage of a zero joining fee, saving $75. The promotion applies to all adult, individual, and family memberships. Youth memberships already carry no joining fee.

Foster said the January promotion aligns with increased interest in fitness at the start of the year, but noted that YMCA membership growth remains strong year-round. The organization actually reached its highest membership levels last summer, peaking at approximately 5,100 members in July and finishing 2025 with just under 5,000 members—up dramatically from pandemic-era lows.

“We’re seeing people join for a variety of reasons,” Foster said. “New Year’s resolutions play a role, but so does the weather and the sense of community people find at the Y.”

Approximately 60 to 65 percent of YMCA members are families, with a significant portion of older adults participating through insurance-supported programs such as SilverSneakers and Silver&amp;Fit. Foster encouraged residents to check their Medicare benefits, as many qualifying members can receive a YMCA membership at no cost.

As construction continues on the new North Lorraine facility, Foster said crews have successfully winterized the building and are now making visible progress indoors, including work on the aquatics areas. Once complete, the new YMCA is expected to more than double membership capacity.

Among the most anticipated features is a 1/7-mile indoor walking track on the second level, designed to provide year-round access for walkers seeking a climate-controlled alternative to outdoor paths, the sports arena, or the mall. The track will offer interior views of YMCA activity spaces as well as exterior views through large windows.

The new facility is also drawing attention from outside the community. Foster said local economic development leaders regularly highlight the YMCA during recruitment tours, calling it a point of pride and an asset for attracting businesses and workforce talent to Hutchinson.

In addition to facility updates, the YMCA is preparing for upcoming programming. Spring sports registration for youth dodgeball and soccer opens Monday, Jan. 26, with discounted rates available for members. Foster noted soccer participation continues to grow, fueled in part by rising national interest ahead of the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States.

Looking back on 2025, Foster called the year one of the most significant in the YMCA’s history, highlighted by the groundbreaking of the new facility. The opening is expected later this year and will coincide closely with the YMCA’s 150th anniversary in Hutchinson, dating back to 1876.

Residents can learn more about memberships, programs, and construction updates by visiting the Hutchinson YMCA or following the organization’s updates on social media.

Hutchinson YMCA offers zero joining fee as new facility takes shape 

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. ——————————————

William	Bryan	England		1/23/2026 11:46&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Manuel		Salazar Maldonado		1/23/2026 3:19&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Michael	Jesus	Campa		1/23/2026 4:14&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conv,					DUI; 2nd conv; blood or breath .08 or higher

Dirk	Jacob	Kukula		1/23/2026 4:35&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation,					Probation Violation

Michael	Eugene	Root		1/23/2026 6:09&nbsp;PM	Criminal Use of a Financial Card; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999 in 7 days

Lindsey	May	Voepel		1/23/2026 6:10&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Edward	Matthew	Trammell	Jr	1/23/2026 8:30&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conv

Daily Bookings

With winter weather on the way, the first day of the Hutchinson Battle of the Badges Blood Drive has been canceled out of an abundance of caution for our staff, donors and volunteers. There will be no blood collected tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 24, at New Covenant Presbyterian.

At this time, we anticipate continuing the drive as scheduled on Monday, Jan. 26, and Tuesday, Jan. 27, at First Presbyterian Church, 201 E Sherman. Donors can schedule an appointment by visiting redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS. The sponsor code for the blood drive is “HUTCHINSON.”

The blood community appreciates the patience of blood donors and blood drive hosts during this time. If a donation appointment is not immediately available or a blood drive is moved for various scheduling reasons, please schedule for the next appointment.

Day one of Battle of the Badges cancelled

KANSAS&nbsp; CITY– A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court last week for her role in a wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud scheme that targeted the Missouri Lottery Commission and an area gas station, according to the United State's Attorney.

Amy Young, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool to 23 months imprisonment with the Bureau of Prisons based upon her prior guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

Young conspired with others to employ a scheme to purchase Missouri lottery tickets using stolen and fraudulent credit cards and credit card numbers at a Joplin, Mo., gas station.&nbsp; Young and her co-conspirators made $62,082.50 in fraudulent transactions at the gas station in July and August of 2022. These transactions included the purchase of Missouri Lottery tickets. The perpetrators would send other individuals to collect any cash prizes associated with the tickets. The group fraudulently claimed $54,248 in cash prizes from the Missouri Lottery Commission. The fraudulent cash prizes and credit card transactions totaled $116,330.50.

Prison: Woman purchased lottery tickets with stolen credit cards

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a>

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate ticked higher last week, but remains near its lowest level in more than three years.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.09% from 6.06% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.96%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week. That average rate inched up to 5.44%, up from 5.38% last week. A year ago, it was at 6.16%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">interest rate policy decisions</a>&nbsp;to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year yield was at 4.27% at midday Thursday, up from 4.17% a week ago.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022,</a>&nbsp;when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. The combination of higher mortgage rates, years of skyrocketing home prices and a chronic shortage of homes nationally following more than a decade of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes remained stuck last year at 30-year lows.

Uncertainty over the economy and job market are also keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.

Still, a pullback in mortgage rates that began late last summer helped give sales of existing U.S. homes a boost toward the end of last year. In December, sales jumped 5.1% from the previous month.

As mortgage rates have eased, more homeowners have sought to refinance their existing home loan to a lower rate.

Applications for mortgage refinancing loans jumped 20% last week from the previous week and accounted for nearly 62% of all home loan applications, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for loans to buy a home rose 5%.

Economists generally expect mortgage rates to ease further this year, though most recent forecasts show the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remaining above 6%, about twice what it was six years ago.

Still, rates would have to drop considerably for homeowners, who bought or refinanced when mortgage rates hit rock bottom earlier this decade, to take on a new loan at a far higher rate.

Nearly 69% of U.S. homes with an outstanding mortgage have a fixed-rate of 5% or lower, and slightly more than half have a rate at or below 4%, according to Realtor.com.

Average US long-term mortgage rate edges higher

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-fingerhut">HANNAH FINGERHUT</a> Associated Press

Videos quickly emerged showing the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-4d1499fc5962ab880f3816259e04bdbf">fatal shooting of a Minneapolis protester</a>&nbsp;by a Border Patrol agent that has been widely denounced as a case of excessive force carried out by untrained federal officers. The administration says it was a case of an armed man provoking violence.

The Associated Press reviewed multiple bystander videos that show a Border Patrol agent shooting and killing 37-year-old&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;after a roughly 30-second scuffle around 9 a.m. Saturday. The videos appear to contradict statements by the Trump administration, which said the shots were fired “defensively” against Pretti as he “approached” them with a gun.

In the videos, Pretti is seen with only a phone in his hand. None of the footage appears to show him with a weapon. During the scuffle, agents discovered that he was carrying a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun, and they opened fire with several shots. Pretti was licensed to carry a concealed weapon.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who said he watched one of the videos, said he saw “more than six masked agents pummeling one of our constituents, shooting him to death." Frey has said Minneapolis and St. Paul are being “invaded” by the administration's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-crackdown-51a05ca22098e07fa0499e59e49e6b22">largest immigration crackdown</a>, dubbed Operation Metro Surge.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Pretti attacked officers, and Customs and Border Patrol Commander Gregory Bovino said Pretti wanted to do “maximum damage and massacre law enforcement.” In posts on X, President Donald Trump’s deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, called Pretti "a would-be assassin.”

It was the second fatal shooting in Minneapolis by federal immigration authorities this month. The first, on Jan. 7, involved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-shooting-crackdown-surge-173e00fa7388054e98c3b5b9417c1e5a">Renee Good</a>. It also was captured on videos and produced a similar schism among political leaders.

The shooting occurred when officers were pursuing a man in the country illegally wanted for domestic assault, Bovino said. Protesters routinely try to disrupt such operations, and they sounded high-pitched whistles, honked horns and yelled at officers.

Among them was Pretti. At one point, in a video obtained by AP, Pretti is standing in the street and holding up his phone. He is face-to-face with an officer in a tactical vest, who places his hand on Pretti and pushes him toward the sidewalk.

Pretti is talking to the officer, though it is not clear what he is saying.

The video shows protesters wandering in and out of the street as officers persist in trying to keep them at bay. One protester is put in handcuffs. Some officers are carrying pepper spray canisters.

Pretti comes in again when the video shows an officer wearing tactical gear shoving a protester. The protester, who is wearing a skirt over black tights and holding a water bottle, reaches out for Pretti.

The same officer shoves Pretti in his chest, leading Pretti and the other protester to stumble backward.

A different video then shows Pretti moving toward another protester, who falls over after being shoved by the same officer. Pretti moves between the protester and the officer, reaching his arms out toward the officer.

The officer deploys pepper spray, and Pretti raises his hand and turns his face. The officer grabs Pretti's hand to bring it behind his back, deploys the pepper spray canister again and then pushes Pretti away.

Seconds later, at least a half-dozen federal officers surround Pretti, who is wrestled to the ground and hit several times. Several agents try to bring Pretti’s arms behind his back, and he struggles.

Videos show an officer, who is hovering over the scuffle with his right hand on Pretti’s back, backs away from the group with what appears to be a gun in his right hand just before the first shot.

Someone shouts “gun, gun.” It is not clear if that’s a reference to the weapon authorities say Pretti had.

Videos do not clearly show who fired the first shot. In one video, seconds before the first shot, one officer reaches for his belt and appears to draw his gun. That same officer is seen with a gun to Pretti’s back as three more shots ring out. Pretti slumps to the ground. Videos show the officers backing away, some with guns drawn. More shots are fired.

The Department of Homeland Security said Pretti was shot after he “approached” Border Patrol officers with a gun. Officials did not say if Pretti brandished the weapon or kept it hidden.

An agency statement said officers fired “defensive shots” after Pretti “violently resisted” officers tried to disarm him.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz expressed dismay at the characterization.

“I’ve seen the videos, from several angles, and it’s sickening,” he said.

Trump weighed in on social media by lashing out Walz and Frey. Trump shared images of the gun that immigration officials said was recovered from Pretti and said “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers?”

Videos show deadly Minneapolis shooting and political leaders reach different conclusions

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 — Kansas governor candidate Philip Sarnecki took to social media to chastise fellow Republicans for lack of action by the Kansas Legislature to redraw boundaries of the four U.S. House districts to disadvantage the state’s lone Democratic incumbent in Congress.

Sarnecki, a candidate for the Republican Party’s nomination, accused the GOP supermajority in the House and Senate of deciding to “forfeit” its part in a national congressional redistricting fight between states controlled by Republicans and those dominated by Democrats.

“Kansas Republicans have a supermajority and can pick up a Republican House seat if they redraw the map,” said Sarnecki, founder of RPS Financial Group. “They are choosing not to. While Democrats redraw congressional maps to gain power across the country, Topeka is standing down.”

Senate President Ty Masterson, an Andover Republican also running for governor, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, worked during October to secure support from two-thirds of members in both chambers to allow a special legislative session to redraw congressional boundaries. Enough Republican senators signed a petition to trigger a special session, but not enough GOP House members agreed with a plan to bring lawmakers together in November 2025.

The objective would have been a map that made it difficult for U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, to win reelection to her seat in November 2026. The tentative scheme was to split Johnson County between two or three congressional districts, which would disperse that county’s voters into GOP-majority districts.

Traditionally, Kansas congressional maps were redrawn every decade to reflect population shifts documented by the U.S. Census. The current map was passed in 2022 after the Kansas GOP pledged to keep Johnson County in a single district.

Masterson and Hawkins said they were interested in working on maps during the 2026 regular session of the Legislature. Masterson said it would be a “top priority,” while Hawkins said it was the “right thing to do.”

In two weeks of the current legislative session, there has been no substantive action in House or Senate committees to indicate progress on redistricting.

President Donald Trump and his allies, in a bid to cling to Republican control of the U.S. House, urged states to gerrymander enough Democrats out of Congress to prevail in the upcoming election cycle.

Sarnecki, who loaned his gubernatorial campaign $2 million in 2025, said he was convinced “weak GOP leaders in Kansas just chose to stand down and forfeit the fight for a Republican congressional map.”

“That’s not leadership and that is exactly why I’m running for governor. It’s time for a change,” Sarnecki said.

Gov. Laura Kelly, a Democrat, said she was skeptical a new congressional map would be adopted by the House and Senate in the 2026 session. If a new map was passed, the governor could veto it. The House and Senate could override a veto with two-thirds majority votes in both chambers. If an override was successful, lawsuits challenging the new map would be likely.

 Kansas GOP governor candidate blasts Legislature for not changing congressional map

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s paramilitary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-revolutionary-guard-what-to-know-australia-c6e5aa5744e6f56b04c8f251cff31733">Revolutionary Guard</a>, a force which was key in putting down recent nationwide protests in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-nationwide-scale-us-trump-0eecd9962240600150530261dfab03f2">crackdown that left thousands dead</a>, is “more ready than ever, finger on the trigger,” its commander said Saturday, as U.S. warships headed toward the Middle East.

Nournews, a news outlet close to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, reported on its Telegram channel that the commander, Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, warned the United States and Israel “to avoid any miscalculation.”

“The Islamic Revolutionary Guards and dear Iran stand more ready than ever, finger on the trigger, to execute the orders and directives of the Commander-in-Chief,” Nournews quoted Pakpour as saying.

Tension remains high between Iran and the U.S. in the wake of a bloody crackdown on protests that began on Dec. 28, triggered by the collapse of Iran’s currency, the rial, and swept the country for about two weeks.

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Tehran, setting two red lines for the use of military force: the killing of peaceful demonstrators and the mass execution of people arrested in the protests.

Trump has repeatedly said Iran halted the execution of 800 people detained in the protests. He has not elaborated on the source of the claim — which Iran’s top prosecutor, Mohammad Movahedi, strongly denied Friday in comments carried by the judiciary’s Mizan news agency.

On Thursday, Trump said aboard Air Force One that the U.S. was moving warships toward Iran “just in case” he wants to take action.

“We have a massive fleet heading in that direction and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump said.

A U.S. Navy official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military movements, said Thursday that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other warships traveling with it were in the Indian Ocean.

Trump also mentioned the multiple rounds of talks American officials had with Iran over its nuclear program before Israel launched&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-attack-iran-strike-nuclear-us-news-5adea3ffa51264e0c7c803d8acfde338">a 12-day war against the Islamic Republic</a>&nbsp;in June, which also saw U.S. warplanes bomb Iranian nuclear sites. He threatened Iran with military action that would make earlier U.S. strikes against Iranian uranium enrichment sites “look like peanuts.”

“They should have made a deal before we hit them,” Trump said.

The tension has led at least two European airlines to suspend some flights to the wider region.

Air France cancelled two return flights from Paris to Dubai over the weekend. The airline said it was "closely following developments in the Middle East in real time and continuously monitors the geopolitical situation in the territories served and overflown by its aircraft in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security.” It said it would resume its service to Dubai later Saturday.

Luxair said it had postponed its Saturday flight from Luxembourg to Dubai by 24 hours “in light of ongoing tensions and insecurity affecting the region’s airspace, and in line with measures taken by several other airlines.”

It told the AP it was closely monitoring the situation “and a decision on whether the flight will operate tomorrow will be taken based on the ongoing assessment.”

Arrivals information at Dubai’s international airport also showed the cancellation of Saturday flights from Amsterdam by Dutch carriers KLM and Transavia. The airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Some KLM flights to Tel Aviv in Israel were also canceled on Friday and Saturday, according to online flight trackers.

Although there have been no further demonstrations in Iran for days, the death toll reported by activists has continued to rise as information trickles out despite the most comprehensive internet blackout in Iran’s history, which has now lasted more than two weeks.

The U.S.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-death-toll-ec00ffa50f818d4a66aec5942aec629b">Human Rights Activists News Agency</a>&nbsp;on Saturday put the death toll at 5,137, with the number expected to increase. More than 27,700 people have been arrested, it said.

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.

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

Associated Press writers Jon Gambrell in Dubai, Samuel Petrequin in Paris, Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and Konstantin Toropin and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard commander issues warning to the US

BROWN COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just after 6:30p.m. on Jan. 19, Brown County dispatch received several reckless driving 911 calls on a white Cadillac Escalade on US 75 Highway, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

&nbsp; A Brown County deputy was near the location and was able to observe the vehicle cross the center line at least twice.&nbsp;&nbsp; The deputy then initiated a traffic stop on the SUV and spoke with the driver identified as 32-year-old Cassondra Smith of Falls City, Nebraska.

The deputy immediately detected the odor of burnt marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.&nbsp; At the conclusion of the traffic stop,&nbsp; Smith was arrested on charges of DUI and Child Endangerment.

Sheriff: Driver was smoking pot with child in the SUV

NEW YORK (AP) — Toyota announced Friday it would recall about 162,000 pickup trucks in the United States after it was discovered that the vehicles' multimedia displays could compromise driver safety.

The recall affects the company's model year 2024-2025 Tundra and Tundra Hybrid line of trucks. Affected customers are currently being notified, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-recalls-certain-toyota-tundra-and-tundra-hybrid-vehicles/">statement</a>&nbsp;from Toyota.

The Japanese automaker warns that the screens may “become stuck on a camera view” or go completely dark under certain circumstances, creating situations where drivers aren't able to see their backup camera feed when reversing. Toyota says this malfunction potentially violates federal safety standards.

Toyota recalls trucks over faulty multimedia screens

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating the death of two people at a Kansas City home have identified the victims as&nbsp;as 41-year-old Anna Davis and 41-year-old Darren Davis, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

The case is now being investigated as an apparent double suicide., according to Becchina.

Just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday, police&nbsp;were dispatched to the 1200 block of NE 83rd Terrace, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino. As officers arrived they were directed inside a residence where hey located Darren Davis and Anna Davis both suffering from gunshot wounds.&nbsp; Officers also located a juvenile boy with an unknown injury. 

The child was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Both the Darren and Anna Davis were pronounced deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Detectives are working to determine what led up to the incident.&nbsp; Police have not provided an update on the condition of the boy.

Police ID couple found dead, infant injured at KC home

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) —A federal immigration officer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-4d1499fc5962ab880f3816259e04bdbf">shot and killed a man in Minneapolis</a>&nbsp;on Saturday, drawing hundreds of protesters onto the frigidly cold streets in a city already shaken by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">another fatal shooting&nbsp;</a>weeks earlier.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said a 37-year-old man was killed but declined to identify him. He added that information about what led up to the shooting was limited. The man was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc" target="_blank">identified by his parents as Alex Jeffrey Pretti</a>, an intensive care unit nurse. The officer who shot Pretti is an eight-year Border Patrol veteran, federal officials said.

The Minnesota National Guard has been activated by Gov. Tim Walz and is assisting local police amid growing protests. Guard troops are going to both to the shooting site and to a federal building where officials have squared off with protesters daily.

The shooting happened amid widespread daily protests in the Twin Cities since the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-shooting-crackdown-surge-173e00fa7388054e98c3b5b9417c1e5a">Jan. 7 shooting of 37-year-old Renee Good</a>, who was killed when an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fired into her vehicle. Pretti was killed just over a mile away from where Good was shot.

Bystander video obtained by AP shows details of confrontation

By&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/hannah-fingerhut">HANNAH FINGERHUT</a>

In a bystander video obtained by the AP, protesters can be heard blowing whistles and shouting profanities at agents on Nicollet Avenue.

The video shows an officer shoving a person who is wearing a brown jacket, green skirt and black tights and carrying a water bottle. That person reaches out for a man and the two link up, embracing.

The man, wearing a brown jacket and black hat, seems to be holding his phone up toward the officer.

The same officer shoves the man in his chest and the two, still embracing, fall back.

The video then shifts to a different part of the street and then comes back to the two individuals unlinking from each other. The video shifts focus again and then shows three officers surrounding the man.

Soon at least seven officers surround the man. One is on the man’s back and another who appears to have a cannister in his hand strikes a blow to the man’s chest. Several officers try to bring the man’s arms behind his back as he appears to resist. As they pull his arms, his face is briefly visible on camera. The officer with the cannister strikes the man near his head several times.

A shot rings out, but with officers surrounding the man, it’s not clear from where the shot came. Multiple officers back off of the man after the shot. More shots are heard. Officers back away and the man lies motionless on the street.

Defense Secretary says ICE is greater than Minnesota

By<a href="https://apnews.com/author/michelle-l-price">MICHELLE L. PRICE</a>

Pete Hegseth posted on the social platform X to thank God for the “patriots” who work for ICE and said, “we have your back 100%.”

The Pentagon chief added: “Shame on the leadership of Minnesota — and the lunatics in the street. ICE &gt; MN.”

Hegseth was born and raised in Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) —The man who was shot and killed by a federal officer during an immigration operation has been identified as 37-year-old Alex Pretti. His parents told The Associated Press that Pretti was an intensive care unit nurse.

Trump weighs in on the shooting in Minneapolis

Trump posted to his Truth Social account after a man was killed by federal officers during an immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis. Trump's statement said:

“This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off? It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do! Why does Ilhan Omar have $34 Million Dollars in her account? And where are the Tens of Billions of Dollars that have been stolen from the once Great State of Minnesota? 

We are there because of massive Monetary Fraud, with Billions of Dollars missing, and Illegal Criminals that were allowed to infiltrate the State through the Democrats’ Open Border Policy. We want the money back, and we want it back, NOW. Those Fraudsters who stole the money are going to jail, where they belong! This is no different than a really big Bank Robbery. Much of what you’re witnessing is a COVER UP for this Theft and Fraud.

"The Mayor and the Governor are inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric! Instead, these sanctimonious political fools should be looking for the Billions of Dollars that has been stolen from the people of Minnesota, and the United States of America. LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB! 12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota. If they were still there, you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!””

DHS says officers fired “defensive shots”

Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement that federal officers were conducting an operation as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-renee-good-immigration-sweeps-6ae64be5a0d6a718b658a938fb56e567">Trump administration’s immigration crackdown</a>.

She said officers fired “defensive shots” after a man with a handgun approached them and “violently resisted” when officers tried to disarm him. O’Hara said police believe the man was a “lawful gun owner with a permit to carry.”

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