By <a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new family-owned restaurant bringing regional flavors from central Mexico is preparing to open later this month in the Salt City.

El Ranchito Mexican Cuisine is targeting an opening during the week of Feb. 16–20 at 2223 N. Lorraine St., pending final approval of its liquor license. The restaurant will feature cuisine inspired by Guanajuato, Mexico, along with a full bar and house margaritas.

The restaurant is owned by Jose Manriquez and his family, including his wife, Florentina, and their children, Melany and Luis. Manriquez said the opening is the culmination of more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry.

“I’ve never owned a restaurant, but I’ve been working in restaurants for over 20 years,” Manriquez said. “Because of my experiences, I felt inspired to open my own. I wanted to make something for myself and my family.”

The menu is modeled after a family member’s El Ranchito Mexican Cuisine in Mulvane, but Manriquez said the Hutchinson location will expand and adjust offerings to fit the community.

“There will be some similarities, but we really focused on what Hutchinson wants and needs,” he said. “We went around to different restaurants, looked at menus and tried to find things we felt Hutchinson didn’t really have.”

Among those additions are tortas and quesabirrias, which Manriquez said will give the menu a more authentic touch.

“We know a lot of places here don’t offer those,” he said. “We wanted to bring in more flavor and more spice. Every flavor you taste here will be something new.”

Molcajete dishes served in traditional stone bowls are expected to be a centerpiece of the menu. Luis Manriquez said El Ranchito plans to offer four or five different versions.

“One thing I always tell people to get is our molcajetes,” he said. “The molcajete Azteca is a plate no other place in Hutchinson has.”

The molcajete Azteca includes steak, chicken, shrimp and chorizo, served with beans, rice, sour cream, guacamole and tortillas. Lety Manriquez said the dish stands out for both presentation and portion size.

“The steak slices are very thick and very long,” she said. “It comes with a full chicken breast and Mexican chorizo sausage. It’s definitely meant to be shared.”

Seafood, vegetarian and gluten-free options will also be available. Florentina Manriquez highlighted one of the seafood dishes.

“The Rio Grande is tilapia covered with shrimp and served with rice,” she said. “We also wanted to make sure we had veggie options for people who don’t eat meat or who need gluten-free food.”

In addition to lunch and dinner, El Ranchito plans to serve breakfast, an offering the family said is limited among local Mexican restaurants.

“Not many places here have breakfast items,” Jose Manriquez said. “We wanted to make sure we included that.”

The restaurant will feature a full bar, including specialty cocktails. Luis Manriquez said one signature drink blends Tito’s vodka with cucumber, lime and Tajin seasoning.

“It gives you a little bit of that beach flavor,” he said. “It’s dangerous in a good way.”

El Ranchito expects to employ about 10 to 11 people, with three to four in the kitchen and the remainder working front-of-house.

For the Manriquez family, service is as important as the food.

“You can have the best food and the best margaritas, but if your service isn’t there, people won’t come back,” Luis Manriquez said. “That’s what my parents taught us. We’re going to treat you like family.”

Jose Manriquez said that welcoming atmosphere is exactly what he hopes customers feel.

“We’re ready for people to come in and feel like it’s their home,” he said. “Come enjoy a warm meal, eat good, eat healthy, and everyone can go home happy.”

El Ranchito Mexican Cuisine plans to be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

You can learn more about El Ranchito Mexican Cuisine on their Facebook page, by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587236102025">clicking here</a>.&nbsp;

New family-owned El Ranchito Mexican Cuisine coming to Hutchinson

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced loan interest rates for February 2026, which are effective Feb. 1, 2026. USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide important access to capital to help agricultural producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs. 

Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans

FSA offers farm operating, ownership and emergency loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. Interest rates for Operating and Ownership loans for February 2026 are as follows:  

FSA also offers guaranteed loans through commercial lenders at rates set by those lenders.  To access an interactive online, step-by-step guide through the farm loan process, visit the Loan Assistance Tool on farmers.gov.        

Commodity and Storage Facility Loans

Additionally, FSA provides low-interest financing to producers to build or upgrade on-farm storage facilities and purchase handling equipment and loans that provide interim financing to help producers meet cash flow needs without having to sell their commodities when market prices are low.   Funds for these loans are provided through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) and are administered by FSA. &nbsp;

More Information To learn more about FSA programs, producers can contact their local USDA Service Center. 

Additionally, producers can use online tools, such as the Loan Assistance Tool and Debt Consolidation Tool to explore loan options.

USDA announced loan rates for February

BUHLER, Kan. — Quick action by firefighters kept a Monday evening house fire from spreading beyond the kitchen of a home in Buhler.

According to Reno County Fire District #1, crews were dispatched at 7:41 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, to the 400 block of Prairie Park Lane after reports of a structure fire. Stations 50, 91 and 81 responded, along with a tender and engine from the Hutchinson Fire Department.

Firefighters arriving on scene found smoke and flames coming from a kitchen window. Attack crews made entry and quickly knocked down the fire, successfully containing it to the kitchen area.

While the flames were limited, officials reported heat and smoke damage throughout the remainder of the home.

No one was inside the residence at the time. The fire was first reported by nearby neighbors.

No injuries were reported, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Structure fire contained to kitchen in Buhler home; no injuries reported

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A major investment in oral health could soon expand care for thousands of families across south-central Kansas. PrairieStar Health Center has secured a $600,000 challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation, funding that will help launch construction of a new, larger dental clinic — if the community can match it.

To unlock the grant, PrairieStar must raise $676,300 locally. Once met, the foundation dollars will be released and applied toward a planned 14,900-square-foot, 14-operatory dental facility expected to dramatically increase patient capacity.

“This is exciting and a little nerve-wracking,” CEO Bryant Anderson said during a recent interview. “It’s a big lift, but it’s an opportunity to change dental access for this entire region.”

The project has been years in development. PrairieStar leaders say rising demand — especially among children and families in rural counties — exposed limits in their current eight-chair clinic.

Dental Outreach Coordinator Alicia Harrison and her team regularly see the consequences firsthand.

They travel to about 64 school sites across nine counties, screening every child annually as required by state law. They also visit nursing homes and facilities that serve people with disabilities, often acting as navigators to connect patients with care.

“We find kids going to school in pain,” Harrison said. “Some don’t even realize their teeth shouldn’t hurt when they eat. And many families have to drive an hour or more to find a dentist — if they can find one who takes Medicaid at all.”

She says untreated cavities, infections and abscesses are common in areas with few providers. In some cases, children have never had a dental home.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/f55a10ac-cfc8-4b90-a94c-97f06645b0b9">LINK:&nbsp;PrairieStar awarded $600,000 challenge grant from Mabee Foundation</a>

Health officials emphasize oral care isn’t cosmetic — it’s foundational.

Anderson noted that dental infections can contribute to broader health issues, including heart complications and other systemic problems.

“It’s preventative medicine,” he said. “If you don’t have good oral health, it can affect the rest of your body. This clinic is about keeping people healthy, not just fixing teeth.”

PrairieStar estimates the expansion will allow at least 2,000 more patients per year to receive care — a conservative figure administrators say could grow higher.

“We didn’t want to overpromise,” Anderson said. “But the need is there.”

Impact on seniors and people with disabilities

Beyond children, PrairieStar teams also serve seniors in nursing homes and individuals with developmental disabilities — groups that often struggle to communicate discomfort or travel to appointments.

Harrison says even simple screenings can change lives.

“We’ve seen patients whose behavior improves once their pain is gone,” she said. “Sometimes it’s something as simple as identifying decay and getting them treatment. The difference can be huge.”

The new clinic’s accessible treatment room is designed specifically for patients using wheelchairs or specialized equipment, reducing barriers that currently limit care.

The full project carries an estimated price tag of about $9.6 million. The Mabee Foundation’s challenge structure is intended to encourage local investment.

“They want to see the community engaged,” Anderson said. “We’re grateful for the businesses and individuals who’ve already stepped up, and we’re asking others to help us meet this goal.”

If PrairieStar reaches the fundraising target, construction could move forward on the new dental center adjacent to its current facility.

For families across the region, it could mean shorter drives, faster appointments and fewer children and seniors living with preventable pain.

“Dental care is basic care,” Harrison said. “Everyone deserves access to it.”

PrairieStar’s $600K challenge grant aims to transform rural dental care access

Residents with questions about the upcoming March 3 school bond plan will have two opportunities this week to get answers directly from district leaders during informal, come-and-go information sessions in McPherson.

District officials say the events are designed to give families and community members a closer look at how the proposed bond would support local schools.&nbsp;

The first session is scheduled for tonight from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at McPherson Middle School, 700 East Elizabeth.

Community members can stop by at any time during the event to speak with staff, review details of the proposal, and ask questions. No RSVP is required.

A second opportunity will be held Thursday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at McPherson High School, 801 East First.

To make it easier for families to attend, high school volunteers will be on-site to help watch children during the sessions.

District leaders say the goal is to ensure voters feel informed ahead of the March 3 bond vote and understand how the plan would impact local facilities, students, and the broader community.

McPherson community invited to learn more about bond plan tonight, Thursday

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. ——————————————

Drew	David	Sims		2/2/2026 2:32&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Dalton	Lee	Miller		2/2/2026 3:34&nbsp;PM	DUI; Alcohol or drugs; Felony

Obery	Lee	Logan	Sr	2/2/2026 4:18&nbsp;PM	Interference with Law Enforcement; Falsely report a Felony crime intending on action

Dakota	Jordan	Pearman		2/2/2026 5:40&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Leshawn	Wontel	Trass		2/2/2026 6:41&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Daniel	Allen Michael	Goodwin		2/2/2026 7:46&nbsp;PM	Battery; Knowing/recklessly causing bodily harm

Brandon	Jermaine	Wiley		2/2/2026 8:53&nbsp;PM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Tracy	Lynn	Lamunyon		2/2/2026 9:19&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Abuse order

Allen	Ray	Pfaff		2/2/2026 9:47&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Daily Bookings

Quick action by the Hutchinson Fire Department prevented significant damage and injuries after an early-morning structure fire on the city’s east side Tuesday.

Fire crews were called around 12:14 a.m. to the 500 block of East C Avenue for a reported house fire. According to Battalion Chief Chad Allen, first-arriving units initially found nothing visible from the outside and entered the home to investigate.

Once inside, firefighters discovered signs of a possible working fire in the attic.

Crews opened the ceiling in the kitchen area to locate the source of smoke and found smoldering electrical wiring and insulation above the kitchen. The fire was quickly extinguished before it could spread.

Three units remained on scene to complete overhaul operations and continue the investigation.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.&nbsp;

The Hutchinson Fire Department also thanked Reno County Emergency Communications, the Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County EMS, and Evergy for their assistance.

Fire crews contain early morning attic fire

The Hutchinson City Council will meet on Tuesday, at 5:30 p.m. with a full agenda focused on economic development, neighborhood improvements and city infrastructure projects.

A major item on the agenda involves a public hearing and resolution to determine the advisability of issuing taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds on behalf of Sales Data Inc., or SDI.

Council members will consider bonds not to exceed $2 million to help finance the acquisition, construction, expansion, renovation, furnishing and equipping of the company’s commercial facility. If approved, the project could bring an estimated 77 new jobs to Hutchinson and generate more than $44 million in salaries, according to agenda information.

The council will also consider setting a public hearing on the proposed Landmark Community Improvement District. Community Improvement Districts are often used to help fund targeted infrastructure and development improvements within specific areas of the city.

Several neighborhood and property maintenance issues are scheduled for discussion as well. Council members will set a hearing date and time regarding unsafe structures at five locations: 419 East Ave. F, 1526 East 2nd Ave., 224 East 3rd Ave., 213 East 8th Ave., and 526 West Ave. A.

Additional conversations are planned about inoperable vehicles and broader efforts to address blight throughout the community.

On the recreation side, the council will consider an ordinance authorizing $840,000 in general obligation bonds for improvements tied to the city’s Golf Master Plan. Work would focus on holes 15 and 16 and include new irrigation systems, expansion of hole 15 into a par 5 with a new greens complex, bunker revisions, new tee boxes and sod installation to improve turf quality.

City council to debate IRB's for SDI, golf course improvements

The City of Hutchinson is launching&nbsp;Build Hutch, a new small-scale developer program designed to help local residents turn interest in development into action and reinvest directly in Hutchinson neighborhoods.

Build Hutch represents a new approach to local development. Rather than relying solely on outside developers, the City is intentionally building capacity among residents who already live, work, and invest in the community. The program focuses on small, achievable projects that collectively strengthen neighborhoods and support long-term growth.

The program is led by the City of Hutchinson’s&nbsp;Strategic Growth Department,&nbsp;with funding awarded by the&nbsp;Hutchinson Community Foundation&nbsp;and program delivery provided by&nbsp;Neighborhood Evolution, a national leader in small-scale development training.

The kickoff event will introduce residents to the Build Hutch program, outline how the year-long cohort will work, and highlight how small-scale development supports Hutchinson’s long-term growth strategy.

Over the next year, Build Hutch participants will:

Potential projects may include home rehabs, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), small multi-unit housing, and small commercial or mixed-use reuse projects.

A long-term investment in local people

Build Hutch is a long-term investment in Hutchinson’s residents and neighborhoods. By building local skills, confidence, and connections, the program supports small projects that add up to meaningful, citywide impact.

For more information or to register, visit this <a href="http://www.hutchinsonks.gov/640/Build-Hutch-Small-Scale-Developer-Cohort">link.</a>

City of Hutchinson launches “Build Hutch”

Three-day Outlook

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Anthony Carder was named the First Responder of the Month for January, an honor presented by Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Eagle Media.

The award was presented to Carder alongside his wife and daughter. Carder has served with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office for 17 years, including the past 15 as a jail sergeant.

“It was really surprising when I heard it,” Carder said. “Of course, it’s an honor to be recognized for something you’re doing down in the community. It’s been a great honor.”

The recognition carried extra meaning, as Carder was nominated by his daughter. In her nomination, she highlighted not only his work in law enforcement but his character and willingness to serve others.

“First of all, it’s my dad, so he’s always been a hero to me,” she wrote. “This guy is the most understanding, respectful person you’ll meet. He always wants to do something to help out the community, even if that means he’s dressing up as Santa for Shop with a Sheriff. I have always looked up to my dad, and this is why I think he should win.”

Carder said learning that his daughter had taken the time to nominate him was especially meaningful.

“That was a big surprise,” he said. “I thought it was pretty sweet of the kiddo. She went the extra effort to write something and nominate me, and that meant a lot.”

As a sergeant at the correctional facility, Carder supervises a team of eight deputies, overseeing daily operations with an emphasis on safety and security for both staff and inmates.

“My day-to-day job is supervising a crew of eight deputies and making sure the No. 1 thing is safety and security of the facility and the people inside it,” Carder said. “We’re also making sure we’re a constitutionally compliant facility. Every day is different.”

Carder said the job can be challenging, as officers frequently interact with individuals experiencing some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“A lot of times, you’re dealing with people who are at their lowest point,” he said. “Sometimes it can be pretty hectic, but it’s important work.”

Carder said his path into law enforcement was driven by a respect for service instilled at a young age and encouragement from family members already in the profession.

“I’ve always had respect for the profession,” he said. “My grandfather served in the Navy, and I had a brother-in-law in law enforcement who told me there was an opening and I should check it out. It turned out to be a good fit.”

Outside of his work at the jail, Carder has played a significant role in growing the Reno County Sheriff’s Office’s Shop with a Sheriff program. The effort began as a small fundraiser through a No Shave November event and has grown into a large annual initiative serving dozens of local children.

“We started out sponsoring just five kids,” Carder said. “Each year it kept growing. This last year we had 81 kids, and the event totaled almost $15,000 in gifts.”

Carder often dresses as Santa Claus during gift deliveries, a role he said came naturally.

“I was kind of easy to rope into the Santa gig,” he said with a laugh. “Each year we try to add a little something, whether it’s Mrs. Claus, the Grinch or other characters, just to make it better for the kids.”

Carder emphasized that the program’s success is driven by community support.

“This couldn’t happen without all the sponsors and people helping out,” he said. “We had about 80 sponsors, a lot of them repeat sponsors who have been doing this for years. It’s really about good people coming together to help kids have a better Christmas.”

The First Responder of the Month program recognizes local first responders who demonstrate dedication, leadership and service beyond their daily responsibilities.

Anthony Carder named January First Responder of the Month

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA's long-awaited moonshot with astronauts is off until at least March because of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-moon-artemis-astronauts-space-479f13e074b3df8b9453230cb248c5bf">hydrogen fuel leaks</a>&nbsp;that marred the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nasa-artemis-astronauts-moon-540260c90a45e0de4cb28f3e481777ff">dress rehearsal</a>&nbsp;of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/artemis-nasa-moonshot-921fc1a0a832217fae8b57d2fce2dc66">giant new rocket</a>.

It's the same problem that delayed the Space Launch System rocket's debut three years ago. That first test flight was grounded for months because of leaking hydrogen, which is highly flammable and dangerous.

“Actually, this one caught us off guard,” NASA's John Honeycutt said Tuesday, hours after the test came to an abrupt halt at Kennedy Space Center.

Until the exasperating fuel leaks, the space agency had been targeting as soon as this weekend for humanity's first trip to the moon in more than half a century.

“When you’re dealing with hydrogen, it’s a small molecule. It’s highly energetic and we like it for that reason and we do the best we can," Honeycutt explained.

Officials said the month-long delay will allow the launch team to conduct another fueling test before committing the four astronauts — three U.S. and one Canadian — to a lunar fly-around. It's too soon to know when the countdown dress rehearsal might be repeated.

Any repairs to deformed or damaged seals, or other components, can likely be completed at the pad, managers said. A return to the Vehicle Assembly Building would likely result in an even longer delay.

The leaks cropped up early in Monday's loading operation and again hours later, ultimately halting the countdown clocks at the five-minute mark. Launch controllers had wanted to get all the way down to a half-minute in the countdown, but the escaping hydrogen exceeded safety limits.

NASA repeatedly interrupted the flow of liquid hydrogren, which was minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 253 degrees Celsius), in an attempt to warm up the area between the rocket and fuel lines and, hopefully, reseat any loose seals. But that didn't work and neither did altering the flow of the hydrogen — adjustments that allowed the first SLS rocket to finally soar without a crew in 2022.

With their launch now off until at least March 6, commander Reid Wiseman and his crew were given the all-clear to emerge from quarantine in Houston. They will reenter it two weeks before the next launch attempt.

Wiseman said on the social platform X that he was proud of how the dress rehearsal went, “especially knowing how challenging the scenario was for our launch team doing the dangerous and unforgiving work.”

The extreme cold at the launch site did not contribute to the fuel leaks or any other problem, according to officials. Heaters kept the Orion capsule warm atop the 322-foot (98-meter) rocket, while constant purging protected the rocket and ground systems.

Amit Kshatriya, NASA's associate administrator, stressed that the Space Launch System is “an experimental vehicle," with more lessons to be learned. Years between fueling tests and flights don't help, he added.

“I'm just reminded again almost four days and 40 years from Challenger, nobody sitting in one of these chairs needs to be calling any of these vehicles operational,” Kshatriya said at a news conference.

NASA has only a handful of days any given month to send them around the moon — the first time astronauts will have flown there since 1972. They won't land on the moon or even go into lunar orbit during the nearly 10-day mission, but rather check out life support and other vital capsule systems ahead of a moon landing by other astronauts in a few years.

NASA sent 24 astronauts to the moon during the 1960s and 1970s Apollo. The new Artemis program is aiming for new territory — the moon's south polar region — and looking to keep crews on the lunar surface for much longer periods.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Why NASA has again postponed long-awaited moonshot 

SUMNER COUNTY —Woods Park and Donut Bay,&nbsp;1500 W Harvey Avenue, in the city of Wellington will be temporarily closed as City staff work to address a potential outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, according to a media release from the city.

Staff are coordinating closely with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Research and Survey Office.

HPAI is a severe and often fatal viral disease that spreads rapidly among bird populations. Residents are urged not to approach, handle, or attempt to assist any birds that appear ill. Birds exhibiting HPAI may show one or more of the following symptoms:

● Neurological impairment, including lack of coordination, disorientation, inability to hold the head up, hunched posture, tremors, seizures, or twisted neck

● Difficulty breathing, such as open‑mouth breathing or wheezing

● Nasal discharge, coughing, or sneezing, sometimes with blood‑tinged fluid

While the risk of avian influenza to the general public is considered very low, humans and pets can be vulnerable, especially those with weakened immune systems. Based on guidance from KDWP, the City advises the followingmprecautions:

● Avoid touching or approaching wildlife. Observe from a safe distance. If contact occurs, avoid touching your face and wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating, drinking, or smoking.

● Do not touch diseased or dead wildlife. Sick birds should not be taken to rehabilitators or zoos, as doing so increases the risk of spreading the disease to vulnerable captive birds. Do not transport sick wildlife in vehicles, into homes, or into public spaces.

● Keep pets away from birds that appear sick. Do not allow them to lick or eat sick or dead waterfowl.

● Do not handle or consume sick game birds.

In an effort to protect the people and pets of our community, Woods Park will remain closed until further notice. No members of the public will be allowed beyond the barricades located at the park entrances. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your cooperation in helping protect local wildlife and public health.

Kansas community closes park due to bird flu outbreak

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House on Tuesday passed a roughly $1.2 trillion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-budget-immigration-trump-homeland-security-39fd7917e39aaf9e4e78e89f3449a587">spending package</a>&nbsp;to end the partial government shutdown, sending the measure to President Donald Trump and setting the stage for a debate in Congress over Homeland Security funding.

The vote was 217-214.&nbsp; GOP members of the Kansas delegation voted with the majority.

The vote wraps up congressional work on 11 of the 12 annual appropriations bills, funding the vast majority of the government for the budget year ending Sept. 30.

 The last bill still to be worked out covers the Department of Homeland Security where Democrats are demanding more restrictions on enforcement operations.

Trump has said he will sign the bill when it reaches his desk.

Speaker Mike Johnson needed near-unanimous support from his Republican conference to proceed to a final vote. He narrowly got it during a procedural vote that was held open for nearly an hour as leaders worked to gain support from a handful of GOP lawmakers who were trying to advance other priorities unrelated to the funding measure.

"We have to work through individual members’ concerns. That’s the game here. It’s a consensus building operation. We do it every day,” Johnson said.

Trump had weighed in Monday in a social media post, calling on Republicans to stay united and telling holdouts “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”

“We will work together in good faith to address the issues that have been raised, but we cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly — One that will not benefit Republicans or Democrats. I hope everyone will vote, YES!,” Trump wrote on his social media site.

The measure once signed will end the partial government shutdown that began Saturday. In addition to funding most of the federal government through Sept. 30, it includes a short-term funding patch for the Department of Homeland Security through Feb. 13 as lawmakers negotiate potential changes for the agency that enforces the nation's immigration laws —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-arrests-workplace-agents-chicago-los-angeles-ba352692f27fa6d2846a9410496e4359">U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement</a>, or ICE.

The House had previously approved the final package of spending bills, but the Senate broke up that package so that more negotiations could take place for the Homeland Security funding bill. Democrats are demanding changes in response to events in Minneapolis, where two American citizens were shot and killed by federal agents.

Johnson said on Fox News Channel's “Fox News Sunday” it was Trump's "play call to do it this way. He had already conceded he wants to turn down the volume, so to speak.” But GOP leaders sounded as if they still had work to do in convincing the rank-and-file to join them as House lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Monday after a week back in their congressional districts.

“We always work till the midnight hour to get the votes,” said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. “You never start the process with everybody on board. You work through it, and you could say that about every major bill we've passed.”

The path to the current partial shutdown differs from the fall impasse, which affected more agencies and lasted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">a record 43 days</a>.

Then, the debate was over extending temporary coronavirus pandemic-era subsidies for those who get health coverage through the Affordable Care Act. Democrats were unsuccessful in getting those subsidies included as part of a package to end the shutdown.

Congress has made important progress since then, passing six of the 12 annual appropriations bills that fund federal agencies and programs. That includes important programs such as nutrition assistance and fully operating national parks and historic sites. They are funded through Sept. 30. The remaining bills passed Tuesday represent roughly three-quarters of federal spending set annually by Congress, including the Defense Department.

WASHINGTON (AP) —The House has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-ice-funding-471e55ba4c3247051739ee1b50b2857a">passed a bill to end the partial government shutdown</a>&nbsp;in a final vote Tuesday afternoon, cleared by a bipartisan vote&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-house-johnson-trump-ice-democrats-bb4cfeaab5f3a17e2fde5c23bb27677f">under the insistence</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>.&nbsp; The measure passed by a vote of&nbsp;217-214.&nbsp; GOP members of the Kansas delegation voted with the majority.

The measure funds most of the federal government through Sept. 30, while providing the Department of Homeland Security with short-term funding for two weeks. Lawmakers will return to negotiate potential changes for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as Democrats demand more restrictions on its operations.

Earlier in the afternoon, Speaker Mike Johnson managed to secure the near-unanimous GOP support needed to pass the bill through a procedural vote, despite some members of the party trying to tack unrelated priorities onto the funding package.

Trump called on Republicans to stay united in a social media post Monday, telling holdouts, “There can be NO CHANGES at this time.”

He has said he will sign the bill when it reaches his desk.

Kan. GOP lawmakers help House pass bill to end partial gov't shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. Navy fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone that was approaching&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carrier-iran-protests-us-military-58e6da912f9167df94f913d7dafe5af4">the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln</a>&nbsp;in the Arabian Sea, U.S. Central Command said Tuesday, threatening to ramp up tensions as the Trump administration warns of possible military action to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-trump-protests-negotiations-nuclear-deal-9758adb33c0d01c70a07ad7de0f5221b">get Iran to the negotiating table</a>.

The drone “aggressively approached” the aircraft carrier with “unclear intent” and kept flying toward it "despite de-escalatory measures taken by U.S. forces operating in international waters,” Central Command spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said in a statement.

The shootdown occurred within hours of Iranian forces harassing a U.S.-flagged and U.S.-crewed merchant vessel that was sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, the American military said.

The developments could escalate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-eu-terrorist-groups-protests-c0023d9ff1e7c4e6fa92077d640e244c">the heightened tensions between the longtime adversaries</a>&nbsp;as President Donald Trump has threatened to use military action first over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-protesters-executions-195edfa07111be782db71af07b538fdc">Iran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests</a>&nbsp;and then to try to get the country to make&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-eu-protests-revolutionary-guard-d38bc397f1bb54d7352879401449b50b">a deal over its nuclear program</a>. Trump's Republican administration has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">built up military forces in the region</a>, sending the aircraft carrier, guided-missile destroyers, air defense assets and more to supplement its presence.

The Shahed-139 drone was shot down by an F-35C fighter jet from the Lincoln, which was sailing about 500 miles (800 kilometers) from Iran’s southern coast, Hawkins said. No American troops were harmed, and no U.S. equipment was damaged, the military’s statement noted.

Iranian state media reported that Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard is investigating the “interruption” of the drone. Semi-official Tasnim news agency posted on its Telegram that before the footage cut out, the drone was able to successfully transfer the images it took back to Iran.

US says Iran also harassed a merchant vessel

After the shootdown, Revolutionary Guard forces harassed the merchant vessel Stena Imperative, the U.S. military said. Two boats and an Iranian Mohajer drone approached the ship “at high speeds and threatened to board and seize the tanker,” Hawkins’ statement said.

The destroyer USS McFaul responded and escorted the Stena Imperative “with defensive air support from the U.S. Air Force,” the statement said, adding that the merchant vessel was now sailing safely.

Talks between special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials were still planned, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

“President Trump is always wanting to pursue diplomacy first, but obviously it takes two to tango,” Leavitt said after the incidents. She added, “As always, though, of course, the president has a range of options on the table with respect to Iran.”

Iranian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/irans-reformist-president-pezeshkian-hardens-tone-on-protests-2582f00401b94c0b94fdce9c48a6b17d">President Masoud Pezeshkian</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that he instructed the country's foreign minister to “pursue fair and equitable negotiations” with the U.S., marking one of the first clear signs from Tehran that it wants to try to negotiate with Washington.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on Telegram that he had spoken with his counterparts in Kuwait, Qatar, Turkey and Oman regarding regional developments and the importance of protecting “regional stability and security.”

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