Hutchinson city officials outlined a series of efficiency measures and cost-saving steps they say are strengthening the city’s financial position while&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;essential services and advancing key projects.&nbsp;

City Manager Enrico Villegas and Mayor Scott Magers discussed the initiatives during a recent public appearance, emphasizing that budget adjustments have gone beyond delaying projects to include structural and operational changes across departments.&nbsp;

Among the measures highlighted was the relocation of the city’s information technology department. By&nbsp;consolidating&nbsp;IT staff from an external facility into City Hall, the city reduced facility-related expenses, generating an estimated $20,000 in annual savings.&nbsp;

Villegas said city officials also reevaluated the scope of a proposed neighborhood park project. Originally estimated at $750,000, the project was scaled back to approximately $100,000 while preserving its core functionality. Villegas said the adjustment significantly reduced upfront costs without eliminating the&nbsp;amenity.&nbsp;

Villegas noted that the City Council has engaged in ongoing discussions about major capital projects, including the future of Memorial Hall, describing those debates as a healthy part of fiscal oversight. He said council members routinely examine whether projects are appropriately timed and cost-effective.&nbsp;

In staffing, eight or nine city positions that became vacant due to retirements or attrition were left unfilled after review.&nbsp;Officials said efficiencies in workflow allowed departments to absorb the duties without replacing the roles.&nbsp;

The city also removed traffic signals at two intersections, producing an estimated $2,900 in annual savings from reduced electricity,&nbsp;maintenance&nbsp;and equipment costs.&nbsp;

Water system improvements yielded notable operational gains. In 2025, the city reported saving&nbsp;117 million gallons&nbsp;of water compared with 2024 by proactively addressing maintenance and hydraulic system issues. Officials said the number of water main breaks dropped to about 40 last year, down from an average closer to 90 in previous years. Crews now respond to main breaks within an hour of notification, compared with delays of weeks in prior years attributed to staffing and organizational challenges.&nbsp;

Through coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency, the city achieved approximately $200,000 in annual savings related to work at a local Superfund site while continuing to meet environmental standards.&nbsp;

City leaders also cited reductions in required stormwater floodplain mapping. Proposed Federal Emergency Management Agency maps were scaled back by&nbsp;roughly 55%, lowering associated costs and long-term obligations while&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;regulatory compliance. Officials said the city could have opted to leave flood insurance matters entirely to property owners but chose to pursue a coordinated approach.&nbsp;

Additional&nbsp;savings were realized by bringing engineering services in-house and reducing reliance on outside consultants, with potential annual savings of up to $300,000 if full staffing levels are&nbsp;maintained.&nbsp;

Public safety improvements were also noted. With the police department fully staffed, overall crime decreased by&nbsp;nearly 13%, according to city data.&nbsp;

Beyond operational efficiencies, the city implemented several community-focused initiatives. During a recent SNAP funding crisis, Hutchinson suspended late fees on utility bills and created a utility billing&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;program for residents struggling to pay water and sewer charges.&nbsp;

The city also launched a façade improvement grant program to&nbsp;assist&nbsp;commercial property owners, reduced commercial building&nbsp;permit&nbsp;fees by 50% to encourage reinvestment, and waived water and sewer tap fees for residential construction to support housing affordability.&nbsp;

Officials pointed to adjustments in funding for improvements at the municipal golf course as another example of fiscal stewardship. Funds originally&nbsp;allocated&nbsp;years ago for a project at Orchard Park were redirected to the golf course, reducing the amount of general obligation bonds&nbsp;required. A private donation further offset costs.&nbsp;

Villegas said the golf course master plan has been included in the city’s capital improvement plan since 2008 and was approved years ago, pushing back on recent criticism that the project&nbsp;represents&nbsp;wasteful spending.&nbsp;

City leaders said the collective measures reflect a broader effort to manage taxpayer dollars responsibly while&nbsp;maintaining&nbsp;services and advancing long-term priorities.&nbsp;

Villegas, Meggers discuss efficiency and cost-saving steps

A Reno County nonprofit that began in a janitor’s closet in the 1970s is moving into a new shared facility designed to better serve residents in need.

First Call for Help is relocating to partner with the Food Bank of Reno County, creating what leaders describe as a one-stop community hub at the food bank’s site near Fourth and Severance in Hutchinson.

“We are so excited,” said Marilyn Graham, executive director of First Call for Help. “I think this would be the answer to Susie Christopher’s dream.”

Graham credited founder Susie Christopher, who started the organization at Memorial Hall with basic hygiene supplies for struggling families. Decades later, the nonprofit operates a wide range of programs assisting Reno County residents.

The move places First Call for Help alongside the Food Bank of Reno County, allowing clients to address multiple needs in one location.

“The food bank will address food needs, and we will pick up with medication, hygiene and other basic supports,” Graham said. “It will benefit the people who need it most.”

Graham said requests for help have increased significantly in recent years, particularly for prescription medications and hygiene products. The organization now refers to its personal hygiene packages as “dignity kits.”

“People are asking, ‘Do you have soap? Do you have shampoo? Do you have deodorant?’” she said. “The request for help has doubled in the last couple of years, which is frightening.”

First Call for Help is entirely donor-funded and assists with a variety of needs, including eviction prevention, utility shutoffs, out-of-town medical travel, back-to-school supplies and holiday programs such as Teen Christmas. The organization also provides bicycles when possible and connects clients to other local resources if it cannot directly meet a need.

“If we can’t help you, we’re going to listen to your story and find out who can,” Graham said. “Everybody has a story.”

Graham has led the nonprofit for 10 years, initially serving as interim director. Before that, she spent 40 years at Lincoln Elementary School and another decade with the Hutchinson Community Foundation.

“I truly love to help people,” she said. “There are so many problems in our world. Start at home.”

She acknowledged that some residents may not see the level of need in Reno County but said many families live paycheck to paycheck and are one emergency away from financial crisis.

“They’re within 50 cents of that cusp of being considered in poverty,” Graham said. “They’re trying so hard.”

She recalled a woman the organization helped years ago who later returned to donate 49 cents — all she could spare — after finding stable employment.

“I never deposited that,” Graham said. “It’s on my desk. Every morning, the first thing I see is that 49 cents.”

Donations may be mailed to First Call for Help at P.O. Box 2203, Hutchinson. Financial gifts can be designated for specific programs. Immediate needs include hygiene items such as deodorant, shampoo and laundry detergent.

Graham encouraged residents to support local nonprofits and remain attentive to neighbors who may be struggling.

“Keep your eyes open to the need,” she said. “Find your passion and help where you can.”

First Call for Help making move to new location

Hutchinson Community College will host its 14th annual Pink Out basketball games Saturday, raising money for the Cancer Council of Reno County while honoring those impacted by cancer.

The Blue Dragons will face Pratt Community College, with the women’s game tipping off at 2 p.m. and the men’s game to follow. Proceeds from Pink Out T-shirt sales and donations will directly benefit the Cancer Council of Reno County.

HutchCC Athletic Director Josh Gooch said the event has become one of the department’s most meaningful traditions.

“It’s a big game for the Blue Dragons because it’s the next one on the schedule,” Gooch said. “But certainly this game is for far larger, greater things. We look forward to raising good funds and putting it to a good cause.”

Pink Out shirts are available for a suggested $10 donation at the HutchCC Sports Arena athletic office from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday and during the games Saturday. Shirts are also available at Midwest Superstore. Organizers said many supporters collect a shirt each year, helping grow the fundraiser’s impact.

Funds raised go directly back into the community, according to Ashley Thompson, the Executive Director of the Cancer Council of Reno County.

“We take those funds and turn them around and directly impact our community members,” said Thompson. “Think of the things insurance does not cover — out-of-pocket expenses that are unexpected but still necessary as you’re going through treatment. We try to cover that gap.”

The event carries special significance this year for HutchCC, as longtime sports information director Steve Carpenter has been undergoing cancer treatment. Gooch said the college community has seen firsthand the importance of the council’s work.

“When it’s somebody that you work with, somebody who’s been so heavily involved in helping this event run, it hits a little closer to home,” Gooch said. “We really appreciate the Cancer Council of Reno County for what they’ve done for Steve during this time.”

Saturday’s games will also include tributes to those affected by cancer, including a video honoring former Blue Dragon Tiana Mangakahia, who later became a standout player at Syracuse University before her death from cancer.

Gooch said Pink Out games have become common across the country as teams wear pink accents, jerseys and whistles to raise awareness. At HutchCC, the tradition has grown into a major community partnership involving the college, the Cancer Council of Reno County and Midwest Superstore.

“We couldn’t fulfill our mission without them,” Thompson said. “They allow us to do the work that we do.”

Organizers encourage fans to wear pink — or this year’s predominantly blue shirts with pink accents — and arrive early to support the cause.

“There won’t be a dry eye in the house,” Gooch said. “We want to rally together — to breathe fire on wiping out cancer and supporting those navigating their trial.”

14th Annual 'Pink Out' game to benefit Cancer Council of Reno County

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. ——————————————

Jessica	Ann	Bainum		2/23/2026 9:26&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear,					DWS; 1st conviction

Mary	Elizabeth	Fisher		2/23/2026 9:43&nbsp;AM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Dillon	Dewayne	Lowe		2/23/2026 11:15&nbsp;AM	Viol protection order; Pre-trial order,					Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Jason	Dirrell	Johnson		2/23/2026 11:30&nbsp;AM	Probation Violation

Tyler	Aaron	Humphries		2/23/2026 11:45&nbsp;AM	Domestic Battery; Aggravated; Impede Breathing by Pressure to Throat, Neck or Chest

					Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction),					Viol protection order; Pre-trial order,					Criminal Threat; with Intent to Terrorize or cause Evacuation,					Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner, Probation Violation

Garson	Allen	Stanley Boyles		2/23/2026 1:28&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear,					DWS; 3rd or subs conv

Autumn	Rain	Tipton		2/23/2026 3:58&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Michael	Patrick	Conway		2/23/2026 10:17&nbsp;PM	DUI; Misdemeanor

Justin	Ronzale	Hodge		2/24/2026 12:06&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Jose		Calvo	Jr	2/24/2026 2:24&nbsp;AM	Kidnapping; AGGRAVATED, Kidnapping; To Inflict Bodily Injury or to Terrorize the Victim or Another, Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction), Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant, Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000, Furnishing Alcohol to a minor, Endangering a Child, Theft; Possession of Stolen Firearm; less than $25,000, Viol protection order; Pre-trial order

Daily Bookings

The Hutchinson Public Schools Board of Education approved the 2026-27 school calendar at Monday night's Board of Education meeting.&nbsp;

The committee, made up of Hutchinson NEA members, board-appointed representatives and three parents, met twice this year to develop the calendar. More than 1,200 parents, staff and community members responded to a district survey that helped guide decisions.

Among the key decisions, Fair Day on Monday, Sept. 14, will be a no-school day. Staff will return from winter break on Jan. 4 for a half day of professional development and half day of teacher work time, with students returning Jan. 5. Committee members said the schedule allows the district to finish the school year as early as possible in May while meeting the required 186 contract days.

The committee also discussed the possibility of taking the entire week off at Thanksgiving but opted not to make that change after limited survey support. The idea may be included in next year’s survey for further feedback.

Board members unanimously approved the calendar on a 6-0 vote.

Board of Education approves 2026-27 calendar

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/weather">Click here for the KSStorm.info 7-day forecast.&nbsp;</a>

Three-day Outlook

MARION COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Monday in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2026 GMC Sierra driven by Christopher G. Walker, 36,&nbsp;Bentonia, Mississippi, was northbound on U.S. 56 just north of 340th Street. The pickup crossed over the center line. The pickup and a 2025 International semi driven by Jonathan W&nbsp;Hartico, 49, Wichita, collided.

EMS transported Walker to Wesley Medical Center.&nbsp;Hartico was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized after U.S. 56 pickup, semi crash 

Kansas’ U.S. senators and a member of the state’s congressional delegation are asking the federal government to step in with assistance for farmers and ranchers impacted by recent wildfires.

In a letter sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, along with U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, urged immediate action to support those affected by fires that swept across several Kansas counties.

“We write today to request that the U.S. Department of Agriculture take immediate action to support those affected by the devastating wildfires that recently swept through Kansas,” the delegation wrote.

According to the letter, wildfires burned thousands of acres across Clark, Comanche, Finney, Rawlins, Seward and Stevens counties. The fires destroyed fencing and hay supplies and led to significant livestock losses.

The lawmakers said the damage has placed “extraordinary strain” on farmers, ranchers and rural communities that were already facing economic challenges.

Kansas producers often rely on fencing to manage grazing operations and protect herds, and the loss of hay supplies can create immediate feed shortages. Lawmakers noted that livestock losses and forced sales at reduced prices can have long-term financial consequences for producers.

The delegation pointed to changes made following the 2017 wildfires in Kansas, when Moran worked to secure adjustments to USDA disaster programs. Those changes included removing payment limits for livestock losses and allowing compensation for animals sold at reduced prices due to disaster conditions.

The lawmakers are asking USDA to use existing disaster assistance authorities to provide relief and to ensure programs are implemented in a way that meets the needs of impacted producers.

No timeline for potential federal assistance has been announced.

Kansas congressional delegation seeks federal aid for wildfire-stricken producers

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Mayor Scott Meggers and City Manager Enrico Villegas say a proposed city sales tax increase is the result of more than two years of financial planning and public discussion — not a rushed attempt to raise revenue.

During a recent radio appearance on KWBW, the mayor and city manager addressed concerns raised at community “meet and greet” sessions about the proposal, which would replace Hutchinson’s existing stormwater runoff fee and provide dedicated funding for stormwater, street and parks projects.

Meggers said one of the most common misconceptions is that the city is adding a new tax without eliminating anything in return.

Currently, residents who receive a water bill pay a stormwater runoff fee. A typical residential customer pays $5.49 per month, which totals about $60 annually.

If the sales tax proposal is approved, that stormwater fee would be eliminated.

“We are wanting to raise the sales tax, but it is to replace the stormwater runoff fee,” Meggers said.

Because the sales tax would be spread across residents and visitors who shop in Hutchinson, Meggers said it would broaden the base of who contributes to infrastructure costs.

City leaders have identified three primary funding priorities: stormwater improvements, streets, and parks and facilities.

Stormwater remains a significant focus due to ongoing infrastructure needs and FEMA floodplain map requirements. While Hutchinson has made substantial progress in reducing flood risk, Villegas said additional work remains to address a backlog of projects.

Street maintenance is another major concern. Historically, street funding has been reduced in order to balance the city’s budget. Officials say that has delayed preventative maintenance and increased long-term costs.

“Whether it’s preventative maintenance or even brick streets, those are expensive to deal with,” Villegas said.

Parks and facilities funding would focus on quality-of-life improvements and maintaining city-owned amenities.

City officials have shared financial projections indicating the proposed sales tax would align closely with projected expenditures, covering identified needs without generating surplus revenue.

If voters reject the measure, city leaders say budget reductions would be necessary.

Villegas emphasized that a recent council presentation outlining potential cuts was intended to educate residents about the city’s financial position — not to suggest that specific facilities or departments would automatically be eliminated.

“We’ve historically cut our budgets to the point where in certain departments, the only thing left to give is people,” Villegas said.

He said the city would first look at reducing equipment purchases, cutting material expenses, eliminating or scaling back software contracts and postponing projects. Officials would also consider attrition — freezing or eliminating positions as employees retire.

Layoffs, he said, would be a last resort but could not be entirely ruled out.

Villegas said the city’s budget challenges have been building for years.

When he arrived during a prior budget cycle, the proposed budget reflected a negative $5 million fund balance. Through a combination of cuts, project delays and cost-control measures, the city rebuilt its reserves to approximately $5 million.

However, Hutchinson’s target fund balance is about $7 million.

A fund balance functions as the city’s savings account and plays a critical role in maintaining a strong bond rating. Bond investors evaluate reserve levels to determine whether a city is financially stable and capable of repaying debt, said Villegas.

If the city’s bond rating declines, future borrowing costs could increase — raising interest rates on bonds used to finance infrastructure projects.

“That impacts our credit score,” Villegas said. “If the city’s credit score goes down, the interest rate on all those bonds goes up. That ultimately makes projects more expensive for taxpayers.”

City officials say the proposal is tied directly to the upcoming budget cycle. Because the budget process is already underway, they need to know whether additional revenue from a sales tax would be available later this year.

Meggers rejected claims that the city is “ramming” the proposal forward, saying discussions about budget constraints and infrastructure funding have been ongoing in council meetings for more than two years.

“This is not a knee-jerk reaction,” he said. “It’s about being transparent about where we are financially and what options we have.”

Voters will ultimately decide whether the sales tax proposal moves forward — a decision city leaders say will shape Hutchinson’s financial outlook and infrastructure planning for years to come.

Hutch leaders defend sales tax increase, city infrastructure needs and budget pressures

HARVEY COUNTY —The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the man who died in a farming accident in Harvey County over the weekend.

Mark Klaassen, 37, of Newton, was shifting soybeans Saturday inside a grain bin on a farm in the 2100 block of South Spencer Road, according to a media release from the sheriff's office. The contents suddenly shifted, trapping and injuring Klaassen.

Emergency responders were dispatched to the incident at 2:30 p.m. Klaassen was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other men were working alongside Klaassen. They did not request medical treatment. The death was ruled accidental.

Sheriff IDs Kansas man who died in grain bin accident

Salina voters were required to turn in their ballots by noon Tuesday in the special election to decide if the City of Salina should repeal its 22-year-old ordinance banning pit bulls.

&nbsp;The unofficial vote for "not" repealing the&nbsp;Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) pitbull ban&nbsp;5,329&nbsp;and "yes" 4,123, according to the Saline County Election office.

The provisional ballots will be counted on&nbsp;Monday, March 2 at 9:00 am&nbsp;and&nbsp;there are about 270.&nbsp;

Part of the provisional ballots include voters who may have forgotten to sign the ballot. Saline County Clerk, Jamie Doss stated she encourages those who are apart of that to come to the Saline County Election office (300 W. Ash) before March 2nd.

Results: Special election in Salina to repeal ban on pit bulls

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/will-weissert">WILL WEISSERT</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — They typically start the day as low-profile&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cabinet-promises-patel-kennedy-bessent-rollins-b86a6dd08ab08f4b54e1a4d18fce11be">Cabinet secretaries</a>. They end it that way, too, God willing.

But when the rest of the government is gathered together for a big event, like President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-state-union-speech-economy-midterms-affordability-d31fc47a200d159a2d24833bd378ec56">State of the Union address</a>&nbsp;Tuesday night, a designated survivor is kept away to ensure someone in the line of leadership succession stays alive.

Picking a fail-safe in case of a cataclysmic event that wipes out everyone else dates back to the Cold War. It’s been dramatized in novels and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8696f0dd99ec4e008e75a26ffc1d8b9b">an ABC series starring Kiefer Sutherland</a>&nbsp;that aired from 2016 to 2019. When Trump addressed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speech-congress-immigration-tariffs-guests-93f6107ede260854f90c65c4bde60de8">a joint session of Congress</a>&nbsp;last March, Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins was chosen as the designated survivor.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">The president’s</a>&nbsp;pick to sit out this time hasn’t yet been announced.

Taking on the role of designated survivor brings extra adrenaline jolts and humbling thoughts about being unwittingly catapulted into the presidency and unthinkable tragedy — though the minute-to-minute details usually don’t feature the high drama of fictional portrayals, those who have done it say.

“It focuses your mind. It also enhances your prayer that it doesn’t happen to you,” James Nicholson, who was President George W. Bush’s veterans affairs secretary and designated survivor during the 2006 State of the Union, said of possibly becoming president after a cataclysmic event.

Historian and journalist Garrett M. Graff said the concept of a designated survivor has long captivated people because it combines the public’s inherent fascination with danger and the romance of an “everyman” being thrust into the presidency.

“The idea of, you’re just a random Cabinet official, and then something terrible happens and, all of a sudden, you’re president of the United States,” said Graff, author of “Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government’s Secret Plan to Save Itself — While the Rest of Us Die.”

Until the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, designated survivors had more control over where they went outside Washington. President Bill Clinton’s energy secretary, the late Bill Richardson, was picked in 2000 and simply moved up a planned weekend trip to Oxford, Maryland, a waterfront town about 80 miles (130 kilometers) away, so he’d be there during the State of the Union.

When Dan Glickman, Clinton’s agriculture secretary, was tapped during the 1997 State of the Union, his hometown of Wichita, Kansas, was too far away, so he chose New York, where his daughter lived.

“I thought it was kind of exciting. But I wasn’t hyped up from a dangerous perspective,” Glickman said. “I don’t even think anybody told me to be careful.”

Alberto Gonzales, Bush’s attorney general, was the designated survivor during the 2007 State of the Union. He said White House chief of staff Josh Bolten called a few days before and offered a couple of options for where he could hunker down.

Gonzales chose to be in flight, and he arrived at what was then called Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland to find “members of every major department and agency” there to ride with him. They carried thick binders stuffed with memos and protocol instructions, just in case.

He recalled a series of briefings that may have stretched right into Bush’s speech, which he watched from the air.

“It was during that time that it sort of suddenly hit me, if something happened in the Capitol and everyone’s killed, that I’d be president,” Gonzales said. “It’s sort of sobering. And you wonder, ‘Would I be up to governing a wounded nation?’”

In “Raven Rock,” Graff details how the designated survivor idea was formalized by the Carter and Reagan administrations amid fears that Soviet subs just off the Atlantic coast could fire nuclear missiles and wipe out Washington with barely 10 minutes’ warning.

Beginning in April 1980, the White House Military Office tasked the Federal Emergency Management Agency with ensuring succession. An aide was directed to recommend to the president who should skip events when all possible successors were together outside the White House.

Officials still prepare for a massive attack or disaster. The military helicopter that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-crash-cebb142d24859ba0c4e0e4fd6c33773f">collided with a regional jet</a>&nbsp;outside Reagan National Airport in January 2025 was on a continuity of government mission — training to keep the federal government functioning in case of catastrophe.

The first time that a Cabinet member being kept away from a presidential speech to Congress was publicly divulged was President Ronald Reagan’s Education Secretary Terrel Bell in 1981. But Bell wasn’t identified until afterward. Today, TV images from the House chamber allow political junkies to spot the missing Cabinet member within minutes.

‘If this awful thing happened, you’d be well fed’

Nicholson said Bush’s chief of staff Andy Card had asked him a few weeks before the State of the Union to be the designated survivor. He was a natural fit given that his agency played an important role in continuity of government exercises due to its numerous hospitals and clinics nationwide.

Nicholson flew by helicopter to a destination only divulged once he was in the air and later sat in a command center, where he underwent briefings before watching Bush’s speech.

He was served a “wonderful” dinner, prepared on-site by personnel from the White House mess, though he said he couldn’t recall if it was T-bone steak or prime rib or something similar. “It made you think that, at least if this awful thing happened, you’d be well fed,” he said.

“The enormity of that job. You think about, remote as it is, this is something you might have to do,” Nicholson said of becoming president. Nicholson’s wife was attending the State of the Union, meaning that if something happened, she could be among the victims, which only added to the pressure.

When it was over, Nicholson wasn’t asked to fill in future designated survivors like Gonzales on what to expect.

“We don’t have a club,” he laughed. “We should.”

Glickman recalls boarding an Air Force G-3 from Andrews along with Secret Service agents, a military official and a series of advisers not on his usual staff. A three-car motorcade later carried him from LaGuardia Airport to his daughter’s apartment near Union Square.

She wanted to invite others to watch the speech with them, but Glickman nixed that. “This was not a party,” he said.

It wasn’t all serious, though. Glickman said he was told he didn’t need to dress up, so he didn’t wear a suit. Instructions not to study up spared him from reading briefing books or memorizing security protocols.

After the speech, the Secret Service asked if Glickman wanted a ride to the airport. He declined, saying he planned to have dinner with his daughter. It was sleeting when the motorcade left without him, making taxis scarce — and the sudden return to real life especially abrupt.

“I was the most powerful man on the face of the earth, theoretically,” Glickman remembered joking at the time. “And then I can’t even get a cab.”

Kansan knows about being the designated survivor for President's address

SEDGWICK COUNTY —On March 6, 2024, at nearly the exact same moment, eight Wichita Police Department officers each used deadly force against Luis Rivera. Due to the&nbsp; multiple injuries, it cannot be determined which particular gunshot wound could be&nbsp; considered the fatal shot. Further, and for the same reason, it cannot be determined&nbsp; which particular officer(s)’ fired such fatal shot(s), according to a report released Monday by Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett.

However, under these particular&nbsp; circumstances, the inability to determine that information does not impact the assessment of criminal liability. 

Under K.S.A. 21-5222(b), a person may employ deadly force when the person reasonably&nbsp; believes that deadly force is necessary to prevent imminent risk of great bodily harm to himself or another.

Since 2011, under the Kansas "stand your ground" law, one who acts in defense of himself or to protect a third party is immune from prosecution. See K.S.A. 21-5231. Meaning, a&nbsp; person may not be charged or prosecuted unless the state can establish that the person who&nbsp; utilized deadly force was not acting reasonably under the circumstances. In Graham v.&nbsp; Connor, the United States Supreme Court made clear that assessment as to the&nbsp; reasonableness of an officer’s decision to utilize deadly force must be made within the context in which the officer found himself – not from the perspective of “20/20 hindsight.” 

The investigation established that while apparently suffering from mental depression and having consumed amphetamine and methamphetamine, Mr. Rivera entered a thirdparty’s residence, threatened the residents with a handgun, forcibly took the cell phones of others, and forced one resident to remove his clothes so that Mr. Rivera could confirm&nbsp; that the resident was not a police officer wearing a recording device. 

When officers arrived, Rivera walked out of the residence with a handgun to his head&nbsp; and, despite repeated orders to stop and drop the weapon, proceeded to lead officers on a 10-minute foot pursuit to 21st Street and Arkansas, all the while threatening to shoot&nbsp; himself and to shoot the officers. When officers attempted to disarm Mr. Rivera with a less lethal foam projectile, Mr. Rivera pointed his handgun at the officers and fired 3 times.

Eight different law enforcement officers reacted to the situation, determined that when Rivera turned toward the gathered officers and&nbsp; fired his handgun three times, that his actions posed an immediate threat to them and to the other officers stationed in the area, and they each made the near-simultaneous decision to fire their respective weapons. That all eight officers made the same decision to shoot in the same moment, without coordination or communication with one another in the moment, speaks to the reasonableness of their individual assessments and the reasonableness of the determination that a lethal risk was posed by Rivera. 

Under the totality of the circumstances, all eight officers are immune from prosecution under Kansas law. 

Under Kansas law and the facts of the case, conclude that no criminal charges will be filed

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating fatal officer involved shooting that occurred on March 6, in the area of 21st&nbsp;Street North and Arkansas in Wichita.

Just before 8p.m. Wednesday, Sedgwick County 911 received a call reporting someone was in a house pointing a gun at another person in the 2300 block of North Fairview, according to Sedgwick County Sheriff Lt. Nathan Gibbs.

The suspect left the residence prior to the officer’s arrival. Several Wichita Police Officers arrived in the area at approximately 7:54 PM and located a man later identified as 35-year-old Luis A. Rivera, in the street holding a gun to his head, according to Gibbs.

Officers attempted to talk to Rivera and get him to put the gun down. He walked away from the officers, going south on Fairview, still holding a gun to his head and yelling at the officers.

Some officers followed Rivera on foot while others followed in police vehicles. A Crisis Negotiator was on scene and utilized the patrol car’s public address speaker to communicate with Rivera and ordered him to drop the gun.

Rivera walked west on 21st&nbsp;Street, continuing to hold the gun to his head and refusing to comply with the multiple requests to drop the gun. Other officers in the area attempted to divert traffic on 21st&nbsp;street to reduce the danger to the public, officers, and Rivera.

At approximately 8:04 PM a supervisor requested less lethal munitions as Rivera walked to a parking lot of a vacant building at 21st&nbsp;and Arkansas. An officer deployed a less lethal 40mm foam projectile, striking the suspect in the back in an attempt to have him comply.

While the officer was announcing the deployment of the less lethal round, Rivera stated he was going to make it lethal. Rivera turned toward the officers, leveling his gun toward the officers, and fired multiple rounds. Eight officers returned fire and struck Rivera multiple times.

Officers rendered aid to Rivera until the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County EMS arrived on scene at approximately 8:14 PM. Rivera was pronounced dead on scene at approximately 8:21 PM.

No officers were injured during this incident.

DA: 8 Kan. officers made same decision; no charges in police shooting

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Amazon doing that new fast, drone delivery thing, Kansas City, Kansas reported on their social media page.

"Yes, Kansas City, Kansas we are now on the cutting edge in shopping as one of only eight markets for Amazon's new ultra-fast delivery system - Prime Air! Other cities include Phoenix, Pontiac, MI, Dallas–Fort Worth, Waco, San Antonio, Tampa, and Detroit. Look at us."

"Amazon's Prime Air drone, based at the MKC6 fulfillment center at 6925 Riverview Ave., delivers packages up to 5 pounds to Prime members within a 7.5-mile radius (during daylight hours) for $4.99 - in under 60 minutes!!! The KCKPD, which has a long-standing relationship with Amazon and was included in pre-launch planning, operates its own drones and believes that Amazon's advanced testing and technology will address any public safety concerns which residents may have."

"So, the next time you’re out walking your dog and notice a large drone zipping past to land on your neighbor's lawn, don’t be alarmed. It's merely Amazon delivering 500 popsicle sticks and a tube of E600 glue for that science project their 11-year-old forgot is due tomorrow."<br>

"Shooting down a drone is a federal crime in the U.S., as they are legally considered aircraft, potentially resulting in up to 20 years in prison, heavy fines, and civil liability for damages. It is illegal to destroy, damage, or disable a drone, regardless of whether it is flying over private property."

🎥Amazon making drone deliveries in parts of Kansas

HIGHLANDVILLE, Mo. (AP) — Two Missouri sheriff’s deputies were fatally shot, one during a traffic stop and the other hours later during an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, who was also killed, authorities said.

Christian County Sheriff Brad Cole said the initial shooting happened during a traffic stop south of Highlandville on Monday in southwest Missouri, news outlets reported.

About 100 officers, deputies, and state troopers helped with the search for the suspect, Cole said. He says U.S. Marshals and FBI and ATF agents were also involved.

The suspected shooter’s truck was found abandoned several miles south near Reeds Spring and law enforcement officers searched the area nearby, Cole said. Early Tuesday, after a heat signature was detected in the woods, deputies moved in. Cole said the suspect opened fire, striking three deputies.

One Christian County deputy was killed and two other deputies, from Christian and Webster counties, were wounded with injuries that aren’t considered life-threatening, Cole said. Law enforcement officers on the scene returned fire and the suspect was killed, he said.

Cole identified the deputy killed in the initial shooting as Deputy Gabriel Ramirez.

“Deputy Ramirez was always kind to everybody, Cole said. “He was always a friend, was always there for anybody who needed a shoulder to lean on.”

2 Missouri sheriff's deputies fatally shot, 2 others wounded

Someone knows how to find our mom and bring her home. Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) — you can remain anonymous — or find a way to reach out to me.NOTE: Family reward of up to $1 million will be paid only for recovery of Nancy Guthrie, consistent with FBI criteria for payment of its reward in this case: <a href="https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/nancy-guthrie">Click here for details</a>

There is also a $100,000 reward in the case.

🎥Family offering $1 million reward in Nancy Guthrie mystery

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is set to invalidate about 1,700 driver’s licenses held by transgender residents and roughly as many birth certificates under a new law that goes beyond Republican-imposed restrictions in other states on listing gender identities in government documents.

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