Hutchinson Public Schools is accepting nominations for its 2025–26 Classified Employee of the Year, Certified Employee of the Year and the Davis Foundation Educator of the Year awards.

District officials said Salthawk staff play a critical role in the success of the school system, carrying out daily operations, educating students and providing a supportive learning environment. The awards are intended to recognize employees whose skills, dedication and commitment support the district’s mission of educating and empowering every student for life.

Certified staff eligible for nomination include teachers, social workers, special education teachers, nurses and other licensed professionals. Classified staff include secretaries, para-educators, custodians, nurses and other support personnel.

Anyone may submit nominations for the Classified Employee of the Year and Certified Employee of the Year awards, including staff members, students, parents and community partners. The Certified Employee of the Year honor is separate from the Davis Teacher of the Year and the Kansas State Department of Education’s Kansas Teacher of the Year awards.

In addition, the district is seeking nominations for the James A. and Juliet L. Davis Foundation Educator of the Year award. This honor is open to outstanding classroom teachers currently serving in Hutchinson Public Schools. Administrators and non-teaching personnel are not eligible. Past recipients may not be nominated for five years following their selection.

The Davis Foundation selection process includes a review of nominations by a committee designated by the foundation’s trustees. Finalists will be interviewed, and winners will be announced at the district’s opening convocation in August 2026. Each selected teacher will receive a $4,000 cash award.

The Davis Foundation awards are organized by teaching level — elementary, middle school and high school — to ensure recognition across all grade levels.

All nominations are due by Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. The names of nominators will remain confidential.

Nominations can be submitted online at <a href="http://www.usd308.com/eoy">www.usd308.com/eoy</a>

USD 308 accepting nominations for 2025–26 annual awards

The first Legislative Forum of the 2026 Kansas legislative session is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 14, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E. 11th Ave.

Reno County legislators invited to participate include Sen. Michael Murphy, Rep. Joe Seiwert, Rep. Paul Waggoner, Rep. Kyler Sweely and Rep. Kevin Schwertfeger.

Written questions will be accepted the morning of the forum. Questions may also be submitted in advance through the advocacy page of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce website.

The forum is presented by AT&amp;T, with supporting sponsorship from Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, and is organized by the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee.

There is no cost to attend. Chamber members and the general public are encouraged to participate.

Legislative forum to be held Saturday

The United Way of Reno County will host a Spring Residential Community&nbsp;Work Day&nbsp;on April 25, launching a new volunteer-driven initiative aimed at helping residents with outdoor and exterior home projects.&nbsp;

The one-day effort is designed to support neighbors who may be unable to complete routine maintenance on their own, with a focus on improving safety,&nbsp;accessibility&nbsp;and overall quality of life. Volunteers will&nbsp;assist&nbsp;with non-structural projects such as yard clean-up, debris removal, small tree or limb removal, exterior painting, flower bed&nbsp;care&nbsp;and fence repairs.&nbsp;

United Way of Reno County is accepting nominations for residents who could&nbsp;benefit&nbsp;from&nbsp;assistance. Priority will be given to households that are elderly, disabled, lower income, ALICE households — an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained,&nbsp;Employed&nbsp;— or those experiencing hardship. Organizers ask nominators to provide detailed information to help match projects with volunteer teams.&nbsp;

Volunteers of all skill levels are encouraged to&nbsp;participate. Participants will work in teams at selected homes and complete outdoor projects intended to make neighborhoods safer,&nbsp;cleaner&nbsp;and more connected. Individuals,&nbsp;friends&nbsp;and groups are all welcome to sign up.&nbsp;

Organizers say the initiative addresses a common challenge for many residents who face physical limitations, financial constraints or unexpected setbacks that can make basic outdoor maintenance overwhelming.&nbsp;

United Way to host spring Community Work Day

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Stage&nbsp;9&nbsp;Theatre will present&nbsp;A Crazy Little Cafe Called Love&nbsp;this weekend, offering audiences a lighthearted comedy centered on a single day inside a neighborhood café.&nbsp;

The production is directed by Jo Stropes, who said the play blends laugh-out-loud humor with warm, heartfelt moments as it explores love in many forms — from romance and friendship to family and human connection.&nbsp;

“The play shows a day in the life of a friendly neighborhood café,”&nbsp;Stropes&nbsp;said. “It’s&nbsp;filled with quirky, lovable regular customers.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;really meant to be a good-time comedy that people can just enjoy.”&nbsp;

Stropes&nbsp;said the show was chosen in part because it fits the intimate nature of&nbsp;Stage Nine Theatre, which seats fewer than 100 patrons and favors productions with smaller casts and limited scene changes.&nbsp;

“We needed a light comedy, and this one checked all the boxes,” she said. “It has the right number of characters, it’s charming, and it really works in a small venue.”&nbsp;

The cast features eight actors portraying an eclectic group of café regulars, including a waitress who anchors the story, a horror movie writer hoping to break through, a bride anxiously waiting for her missing fiancé, a man considering life as a monk, and an older patron whose visit sparks an unexpected spiritual experience.&nbsp;

Rehearsals began in December following auditions, with&nbsp;Stropes&nbsp;estimating the cast logged more than 30 rehearsals before&nbsp;opening&nbsp;weekend. She said the production came together fully by late January as the ensemble found its rhythm.&nbsp;

Stage&nbsp;9’s small setting,&nbsp;Stropes&nbsp;said, creates a close connection between performers and the audience.&nbsp;

“It’s a very intimate auditorium,” she said. “You can really feel the energy between the actors and the audience.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;a completely&nbsp;different experience&nbsp;than a large theater.”&nbsp;

Performances are scheduled for&nbsp;Feb. 13 through Feb. 16.&nbsp;Thursday through Saturday&nbsp;performances&nbsp;are at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday’s&nbsp;matinee at 2 p.m. Tickets are available online and at the door.&nbsp;

Stage 9 to present 'Crazy Little Cafe Called Love'

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has launched a new Travel &amp; Health webpage to help health care and public health partners prepare for increased domestic and international travel tied to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Kansas City is expected to see a surge in visitors during the tournament, raising the risk of exposure to infectious diseases, including illnesses rarely seen in Kansas. State health officials are urging clinicians to routinely consider recent travel when evaluating patients.

“With the World Cup approaching, early recognition starts with asking about travel,” KDHE Deputy Secretary for Public Health Ashley Goss said. “This new webpage gives providers a central resource to quickly access guidance and stay prepared for travel-related disease risks.”

The Travel &amp; Health webpage includes current travel health notices, disease-specific reporting and testing information, infection prevention and control resources for health care facilities, and provider training webinars focused on domestic and international infectious diseases.

KDHE said additional tools will be added in the coming weeks, including expanded training webinars, a clinical support dashboard allowing clinicians to search outbreaks and endemic diseases by country, and a Kansas-specific dashboard tracking emergency department visits and wastewater surveillance data.

State officials said the new resources are designed to support early detection, timely reporting and coordinated response as Kansas prepares for increased travel and mass gatherings associated with the World Cup.

KDHE launches new webpage ahead of World Cup

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. ——————————————

Dawn	Marie	Siebert		2/10/2026 10:39&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Travis	Cole	Helt		2/10/2026 11:12&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Montre	Tyrell	Toney		2/10/2026 2:22&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Grant	Levi	Smith		2/10/2026 2:54&nbsp;PM	Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision

Joshua	Harold	Watkins		2/10/2026 6:10&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Possession of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Carla	Delores	Green		2/10/2026 6:12&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant, Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Todd	Joseph	Schremmer		2/10/2026 6:12&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Possession of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Alphinia	Aliza	Toney		2/10/2026 8:54&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Fabrice	Deshawn	Nelson		2/10/2026 10:59&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Daily Bookings

 About 40 residents attended the first of two public meetings Tuesday at Memorial Hall to learn more about a proposed city sales tax increase that will appear on the March 3 ballot.

Enrico Villegas said the city is asking only for what it needs, noting the proposal would fund core services and infrastructure. Voters are being asked to approve a 0.75% sales tax increase that would take effect Oct. 1, 2026.

Finance Director Angela Richard said the city’s sales tax “pull factor” of 1.45 means Hutchinson serves a customer base about 45% larger than its population, helping shift some costs to nonresidents and easing pressure on property taxes.

Officials said departments have already reduced spending where possible and warned that if the measure fails, the city would need to consider a range of service reductions, prioritizing police and fire response. The city placed the question on a March ballot to align with its budget certification timeline.

City holds first sales tax meeting

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

Three-day Outlook

A popular 90s country revival show is headed back to Hutchinson this weekend, with strong ticket demand already signaling a packed dance floor at the 1861 Club on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

The Kansas State Fair Foundation is hosting “90s Revival: All Hat, No Cadillac” on Saturday, Feb. 14, at the 1861 Club. Doors open at 7 p.m., with the concert beginning at 8 p.m. Table seating for the event sold out within hours late last year, leaving standing-room-only tickets still available.

James Fisher, with the Kansas State Fair Foundation, said the Austin-based band drew overwhelming positive feedback after performing at the foundation’s Boots &amp; Bling fundraiser last August.

“If we had one person ask us to bring them back, we had 100,” Fisher said. “Once they start playing, people hit the dance floor and they don’t leave.”

The concert features the band All Hat No Cadillac, known for high-energy performances and crowd interaction. Fisher said nearly all table purchases came from attendees who had previously seen the group perform.

The show also marks the launch of the Liquid Aloha Concert Series at the 1861 Club, sponsored by Kona Brewing.

Maddie Burns, venue and operations manager at the 1861 Club, said guests should be prepared to dance rather than sit.

“If you love 90s country, you’re not going to need a seat,” Burns said. “You’ll be on the dance floor all night.”

The venue will offer cocktail tables, a coat check, and indoor amenities to make winter travel easier for attendees. Organizers are also encouraging guests to support local restaurants before the show as part of a Valentine’s Day evening out.

Beyond the concert, the Kansas State Fair Foundation is also preparing for several upcoming events at the 1861 Club. On Sunday, Feb. 22, the venue will host Everything Weddings &amp; Events from 1 to 4 p.m. The showcase will feature local vendors offering services for weddings, corporate gatherings, fundraisers, and other special events. Admission is $10.

Later in March, the Liquid Aloha series continues with “HaHa Hutch” on March 27, featuring Hutchinson native and comedian Brett Riley. Tickets for that event are now on sale.

Standing-room tickets for the 90s Revival concert and information on upcoming events can be found at <a href="http://1861club.com">1861club.com</a>.

90s country revival coming to 1861 Club Saturday

Hutchinson Polar Plunge Returns Saturday to Benefit Special Olympics Kansas 

The Hutchinson Polar Plunge is set to return this Saturday at Midwest Superstore, raising funds to support Special Olympics athletes across Kansas after weather forced a postponement earlier this winter. 

The annual event, organized by Sgt. Andrew Soule of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, is scheduled to begin with on-site registration at 9 a.m., followed by plunges starting at 10 a.m. or shortly thereafter. The plunge was originally planned for late January but was rescheduled due to extreme cold conditions. 

Soule said the local Polar Plunge began in either 2018 or 2019 after law enforcement officials saw the success of similar events across the state through the Law Enforcement Torch Run movement. 

“We looked at what other communities were doing and decided to give it a try here,” Soule said. “It’s been very successful for us since we started.” 

This year’s plunge returns to Midwest Superstore, a longtime host and sponsor. Additional local supporters include Pools Plus and People’s Bank and Trust.

Funds raised through the event benefit Special Olympics Kansas. While donations are collected locally, Soule explained that all funds raised through Torch Run–affiliated events go to the state level and are then distributed back to local athletes through Special Olympics Kansas programs. 

Registration remains open up until plunge time Saturday morning. Participants can sign up in advance online at soks.org by selecting the Polar Plunge tab and choosing the Hutchinson location, or they can register in person the day of the event. A $75 donation is requested to participate, though organizers work with individuals who want to take part. 

Those who prefer not to plunge can still support the cause by making a donation online or in person at the event. Spectators are also encouraged to attend, with food, drinks, and opportunities to meet local Special Olympics athletes available throughout the morning. 

Soule said the event is about more than just fundraising. 

“These athletes are wonderful people,” he said. “This is our chance to support them and help them continue to compete in the events they take so much pride in throughout the year.” 

Organizers have set a fundraising goal of $8,000 for this year’s Polar Plunge. As of Tuesday morning, approximately $2,445 had been raised.  

If you would like to donate, but don’t want to plunge, you can make a donation to their effort using this link.  

The Hutchinson Polar Plunge will take place Saturday morning at Midwest Superstore, with registration opening at 9 a.m. and plunging beginning around 10 a.m. Community members are invited to attend, cheer on participants, and support Special Olympics athletes. 

Rescheduled Polar Plunge set for Saturday

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

Hutch High basketball vs Valley Center – 6 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Salthawk&nbsp;Activity Center&nbsp;&nbsp;

HutchCC Men’s and Women’s Basketball vs Dodge City 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Sports Arena&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/">“The Princess Bride” Fox Classic/Retro Film Series</a> — 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Fox Theatre – 18 East First&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/45b532b0-b050-4bc8-a05e-ccdf10f283d0">“Newsies” - Family Community Theater</a> — 7:30&nbsp;p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 301 North Main Street&nbsp;

“Crazy Little Cafe Called Love” - Stage&nbsp;9 — 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 9 South Main&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hutch High basketball vs Derby — 6 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Salthawk&nbsp;Activity Center&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/">“The Princess Bride” Fox Classic/Retro Film Series </a>— 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Fox Theatre – 18 East First&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/45b532b0-b050-4bc8-a05e-ccdf10f283d0">“Newsies” - Family Community Theater </a>— 7:30 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 301 North Main Street&nbsp;

Polar Plunge for Special Olympics&nbsp;— 9 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Midwest Superstore - 1100 East 30th Avenue

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

Valentine’s Day Movie Night at the Cosmosphere – 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 1100 North Plum&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/">“Casablanca” Fox&nbsp;Classic/Retro Film Series</a> – 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Fox Theatre – 18 East First&nbsp;

“Crazy Little Cafe Called Love” - Stage&nbsp;9 — 7:30&nbsp;p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 9 South Main&nbsp;

90’s Revival "All Hats No Cadillac" - 1861 Club — 8 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Kansas State Fairgrounds&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Crazy Little Cafe Called Love” - Stage&nbsp;9&nbsp;— 2 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 9 South Main&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/">“Casablanca” Fox Classic/Retro Film Series</a> — 2 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Fox Theatre – 18 East First&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/45b532b0-b050-4bc8-a05e-ccdf10f283d0">“Newsies” - Family Community Theater</a> — 3 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 301 North Main Street&nbsp;

 Happenings Around Hutch • Feb. 10 - 15

WICHITA, KAN. – A $510,755.40 default judgment was entered against a Wichita area roofing&nbsp; company and its owner for unconscionable and deceptive acts under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, according to a media release from the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

The Office of the District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Division investigated the matter after&nbsp; receiving multiple complaints against Tyler Sims and his company, Flint Hills Roofing Co. LLC.

In a Sedgwick County case, the division alleged Sims and his company committed 28&nbsp; violations of the act, including failing to pull permits, skipping inspections and failing to finish&nbsp; contracted projects. Several roofs had to be partially or fully replaced to meet building codes.

In one case, Sims and Flint Hills replaced a metal roof using water-damaged, moldy plywood and heavy asphalt shingles. The weight of the materials rendered the structure unsafe to enter. 

When an insurance company requested two additional estimates, Sims provided one from a&nbsp; defunct company he formerly owned and forged a second using another company’s logo without permission.

The court ordered Sims and Flint Hills Roofing Co. LLC to pay $36,558.40 in restitution to consumers and $470,000 in civil penalties, along with court costs and investigative fees. Both Sims and the company are banned from doing business in Kansas until the judgment is paid in full, they are properly licensed and they obtain the necessary permits.

Kansas roofer fined, banned from doing business in the state

NEW YORK (AP) — James Van Der Beek, a heartthrob who starred in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/television">coming-of-age dramas</a>&nbsp;at the dawn of the new millennium, shooting to fame playing the titular character in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/michelle-williams-comments-on-james-van-der-beeks-cancer-diagnosis-e444132cc5154efa973fba7251e04139">“Dawson’s Creek”</a>&nbsp;and in later years mocking his own hunky persona, has died. He was 48.

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace. There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come,” a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/vanderjames/p/DUoR_x4EkTm/">statement from the actor's family</a>&nbsp;that was posted on Instagram said. “For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother and friend.”

Van Der Beek revealed in 2024 that he was being treated for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cancer-breast-colon-early-onset-obesity-b0cab8f95dea65f15fa099132f16f8d6">colorectal cancer.</a>

Van Der Beek made a surprise video appearance in September at a “Dawson's Creek” reunion charity event in New York City after previously dropping out due to illness.

He appeared projected onstage at the Richard Rodgers Theatre during a live reading of the show’s pilot episode to benefit F Cancer and Van Der Beek. Lin-Manuel Miranda subbed for him on stage. "Thank you to every single person here,” Van Der Beek said.

A one-time theater kid, Van Der Beek would star in the movie “Varsity Blues” and on TV in “CSI: Cyber” as FBI Special Agent Elijah Mundo, but was forever connected to “Dawson’s Creek,” which ran from 1998 to 2003 on The WB.

The series followed a high school group of friends as they learned about falling in love, creating real friendships and finding their footing in life. Van Der Beek, than 20, played 15-year-old Dawson Leery, who aspired to be a director of Steven Spielberg quality.

“Dawson’s Creek,” with the moody theme song Paula Cole’s “I Don’t Want To Wait,” helped define The WB as a haven for teens and young adults who related to its hyper-articulate dialogue and frank talk about sexuality. And it made household names of Van Der Beek, Joshua Jackson, Katie Holmes and Michelle Williams.

The show caused a stir when one of the teens embarked on a racy affair with a teacher 20 years his senior and when Holmes' character climbs through Dawson's bedroom window and they curl up together. Racier shows like “Euphoria” and “Sex Education” owe a debt to “Dawson's Creek.”

Van Der Beek sometimes struggled to get out from under the shadow of the show but eventually leaned into lampooning himself, like on Funny Or Die videos and on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFWX0hWCbng">Kesha's “Blow” music video,</a>&nbsp;which included his laser gun battle with the pop star in a nightclub and dead unicorns.

“It’s tough to compete with something that was the cultural phenomenon that ‘Dawson’s Creek’ was,” he told Vulture in 2013. “It ran for so long. That’s a lot of hours playing one character in front of people. So it’s natural that they associate you with that.”

More than a decade after the show went off the air, a scene at the end of the show’s third season became a GIF. Dawson was watching as his soul mate embarks on a love affair with his best friend and burst into tears.

“It wasn’t scripted that I was supposed to cry; it was just one of those things where it’s a magical moment and it just happens in the scene,” he told Vanity Fair. He seemed exasperated when he told the Los Angeles Times: “All of a sudden, six years of work was boiled down to one seven-second clip on loop.” (Van Der Beek himself recreated the GIF in 2011 for Funny or Die and gave it a second life.)

While still on “Dawson’s Creek,” Van Der Beek hosted “Saturday Night Live” — the musical guest was Everlast — and landed a plumb role in “Varsity Blues,” playing a second-string high school quarterback who leaps into the breach when the star suffers an injury.

Van Der Beek’s character, Mox, turns out to not be a football fanatic, preferring to read Kurt Vonnegut and yearning for the college education which will allow him to escape the jock mentality of his Texas town. “I don’t want your life,” he screams at one point. Critic Roger Ebert called him “convincing and likable.”

Some of his projects after “Dawson’s Creek” include co-creating and playing Wesley “Diplo” Pentz, a dull but likable music producer in the mockumentary satire on Viceland, “What Would Diplo Do?” In 2019, he made it to the semifinals of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” and played a balding, out-of-shape ex-boyfriend on “How I Met Your Mother.”

“The more you make fun of yourself and don’t try to go for any kind of respect, the more people seem to respect you,” he told Vanity Fair in 2011. “I’ve always been a clown trapped in a leading man’s body.”

Between 2003 and 2013, he made appearances in shows like “Criminal Minds,” “One Tree Hill,” and “How I Met Your Mother.” He played himself with a crackpot intensity in the Krysten Ritter-led ABC drama “Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23,” and the short-lived “CSI” spinoff “CSI: Cyber” and CBS’ “Friends With Better Lives.”

He’s also appeared in a number of movies, such as Kevin Smith’s 2001 comedy “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and its 2019 sequel, “Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.” He also was in the Bret Easton Ellis adaptation of “The Rules of Attraction” in 2002 opposite Jessica Biel and Kate Bosworth.

In 2025, he was unmasked as Griffin on “The Masked Singer,” after singing a cover of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone and Morgan Wallen.

Van Der Beek, who was raised in Cheshire, Connecticut, started acting at 13 after suffering a concussion playing football that prevented him from playing for a year on doctor’s orders. He landed the role of Danny Zuko in his school production of “Grease.”

He stuck with theater, landing at 16 in 1994 an off-Broadway role in “Finding the Sun” by Pulitzer Prize-winner Edward Albee and one of the sons in a revival of “Shenandoah” at the prestigious Goodspeed Opera House in his home state.

He earned a scholarship to New Jersey’s Drew University but left school early when he got “Dawson’s Creek.” In 2024, he returned to campus to accept an honorary degree for his “selfless service and exemplary commitment to the mission of Drew,” the university said.

Drew University President Hilary Link welcomed Van Der Beek with a popular quote from his “Dawson’s Creek” character: “Edge is fleeting,” she said, “but heart lasts forever. So on this morning, we pay tribute to that heart.”

He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and six children, Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwendolyn and Jeremiah.

'Dawson's Creek' star, who mocked his own hunky persona, has died at 48

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</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 — CoreCivic argued Tuesday for the right to begin holding prisoners in its closed Leavenworth facility, even as the company is working through a local permit process that could make the court case irrelevant.

CoreCivic challenged an injunction in the Kansas Court of Appeals that was made last year by the Leavenworth County District Court. The injunction kept the private prison from taking detainees from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while CoreCivic and the City of Leavenworth fought in court about reopening the company’s prison facility.

Complicating the issue, the two are now working through the city’s planning process as CoreCivic has applied for a special use permit that would allow it to reopen.&nbsp;

“This is a difficult case because it feels like there are all of these slippery parts that are not part of the matter before us,” said Chief Judge Sarah Warner. “There’s a separate lawsuit. There are ongoing administrative proceedings.”&nbsp;

CoreCivic operated a private prison in Leavenworth until 2021 when it lost a contract with the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2025, the company announced it planned to reopen the prison as the Midwest Regional Detention Center and house ICE detainees.&nbsp;

The city required CoreCivic to obtain a special use permit through its planning and zoning process before reopening, which is where the court cases originated last year. The two entities have been fighting it out in court, with CoreCivic insisting it did not need a permit.&nbsp;

After losses in Kansas district court, CoreCivic bowed to the city’s demands and began the process of obtaining the permit. Last week, the city’s planning commission&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/03/corecivic-receives-leavenworth-planning-commission-approval-in-contentious-meeting/" target="_blank">approved the permit</a>&nbsp;and sent it to the city commission for a final determination.&nbsp;

Although one court case between the two ended and one remains open but inactive, the Nashville-based private prison company continued its appeal Tuesday to&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/06/04/leavenworth-wins-restraining-order-barring-corecivic-from-taking-ice-detainees/" target="_blank">argue the injunction prohibiting</a>&nbsp;it from taking prisoners immediately should be reversed.

Sara Fevurly, an attorney for CoreCivic, said the district court didn’t properly grant the injunction, and even if the decision were rendered moot after the permit was approved, the company may be entitled to fees and damages associated with an improper temporary injunction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the short hearing focused on legal technicalities of the case, both sides argued about the definition of “irreparable harm” and whether CoreCivic abandoned use of its property because it did not house prisoners there for about three years.&nbsp;

Joseph Hatley, an attorney for Leavenworth, told the court it was difficult to determine what “irreparable harm” would mean for the city, listing challenges the city had with CoreCivic during its operations before 2021. Those included not alerting local police to crimes at the facility and public works issues created by sewage.&nbsp;

Fevurly argued that past behavior cannot be used to determine harm.&nbsp;

“I don’t know how you calculate damages based on the police inability to investigate crimes,” Hatley said. “There are people who get hurt by that, there are victims in the facility who are hurt by that. Irreparable harm is the inability to calculate damages, and that’s what we have here.”

Warner said the judges would render a written opinion as soon as they could.&nbsp;

CoreCivic will know by March 10 whether the city will approve its special use permit to reopen the prison, Hatley said after the hearing. That will be the city commission’s second consideration of the permit, with the first consideration occurring Feb. 24. A public hearing is held as part of the process.&nbsp;

David Waters, the Leavenworth city attorney, said after the hearing that the public’s input is “certainly” part of determining whether the permit goes through.&nbsp;

“That is why we hold a public hearing,” he said. “The planning commission holds that public hearing to get the citizen input on that. It’s one of the most important parts of the zoning and planning process is to get that input from the residents as to what is best for the public health and safety and welfare of the community.”

Waters said CoreCivic has the option to appeal to the district court if the city commission refuses to grant the permit.

CoreCivic argues to overturn injunction keeping it from housing ICE detainees in Kansas prison

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas teen who admitted his role in a deadly drive-by shooting will learn his fate Wednesday.

Elias Cerda, 15,&nbsp; will appear in Judge Christopher Magana's courtroom for a sentencing hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November, Cerda, who was charged as an adult, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, second degree murder and attempted aggravated robbery, according to the district attorney's office.

In January 2024, police responded to reports of shots being fired in the area of 5200 E Kensington in Wichita, according to Officer Juan Rebolledo.

Around the same time, officers were dispatched to an area hospital for the report of two walk-in shooting victims later identified as 14-year-old Emoni Shears and 19-year-old Jhiquez Roberts both of Wichita. They were later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Detectives and patrol officers immediately began investigating this case and following up on leads. Police arrested Cerda, who was 14 at the time. He was booked into the Sedgwick County jail on November 27, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

Sentencing day for Kansas boy in drive-by double-murder

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Mexican cartel drone incursion prompted an hourslong closure of airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas that was lifted on Wednesday morning, the Trump administration said.

Just hours earlier, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-aviation-administration">Federal Aviation Administration</a>&nbsp;had announced a 10-day closure grounding all flights to and from the airport.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a post on X that the FAA and the Defense Department “acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion. The threat has been neutralized and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region.” He said normal flights were resuming Wednesday morning, but did not say how many drones were involved or what specifically was done to disable them.

The shutdown “for special security reasons” had been expected to create significant disruptions given the duration and the size of the metropolitan area. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office referred questions to the FAA.

Steven Willoughby, the deputy director of the counter-drone program at the Department of Homeland Security, told lawmakers in July that nearly every day cartels are using drones to try to bring drugs across the U.S.-Mexico border and surveil Border Patrol agents.

More than 27,000 drones were detected within 500 meters (1,600 feet) of the southern border in the last six months of 2024, he testified, most flying late at night. Homeland Security has said agents have seized thousands of pounds of methamphetamine, fentanyl and other drugs in recent years that cartels were trying to fly across the border using drones.

Mexican officials head to Washington following shutdown

El Paso,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-texas-migrants-a378073ed4e565570b4d4aa20f3a9ff8">a border city</a>&nbsp;with a population of nearly 700,000 people and larger when you include the surrounding metro area, is hub of cross-border commerce alongside the neighboring city of Ciudad Juárez in Mexico. The brief closure did not include Mexican airspace.

Ciudad Juárez is home to about 1.5 million people, and some of its residents are accustomed to taking advantage of facilities including airports on both sides of the border. That easy access to the U.S. has also made Juarez, like other border cities, attractive to Mexico’s drug cartels that seek control in order to safeguard their smuggling routes for drugs and migrants headed north and cash and guns moving to the south.

The airport said in an Instagram post after the closure was announced that all flights to and from the airport would be grounded through late on Feb. 20, including commercial, cargo and general aviation flights. Local newscasts showed stranded travelers with luggage lining up at airline ticket counters and car rental desks at the El Paso airport hours after flights were grounded. The airport posted Wednesday morning that its operations had resumed and encouraged travelers to contact their airlines for the most up-to-date flight information.

Mexican defense and navy secretaries will meet with Northern Command officials in Washington on Wednesday in a meeting attended by several other countries, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said during a news conference. Sheinbaum said the Mexican officials would “listen” in the meeting.

Sheinbaum said her government was going to look into “the exact causes” of the closure. Asked about the explanation given by U.S. officials, she said she had “no information about the use of drones on the border.” She noted that if U.S. authorities have more information they should contact Mexico’s government.

‘The information ... does not add up’

Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes El Paso, had urged the FAA to lift the restrictions in a statement Wednesday morning, saying neither her office, the city of El Paso nor airport operations received advance notice.

“I believe the FAA owes the community and the country an explanation as to why this happened so suddenly and abruptly and was lifted so suddenly and abruptly.” Escobar said during a news conference Wednesday morning.

“The information coming from the federal government does not add up,” Escobar said.

Escobar later said she believed the shutdown was not based on Mexican cartel drones in U.S. airspace, saying that “is not what we in Congress have been told.”

When asked about Escobar’s remarks, Pentagon officials said they didn’t have a comment.

The airport describes itself as the gateway to west Texas, southern New Mexico and northern Mexico. Southwest, United, American and Delta all operate flights there, among others.

A similar 10-day temporary flight restriction for special security reasons remained in place Wednesday morning around Santa Teresa, New Mexico, which is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of the El Paso airport. FAA officials did not immediately explain why that restriction remained in place.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, a Democrat, said in a statement: “Keeping our communities informed and safe is critical. I’m demanding answers from the FAA and the administration about why the airspace was closed in the first place without notifying appropriate officials, leaving travelers to deal with unnecessary chaos.”

Associated Press reporters Jim Vertuno in Austin, Texas; Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Mike Balsamo and Konstantin Toropin in Washington; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; and María Verza in Mexico City contributed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-aviation-administration">Federal Aviation Administration</a>&nbsp;reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas on Wednesday morning, just hours after it announced a 10-day closure that would have grounded all flights to and from the airport.

The FAA said in a social media post that it has lifted the temporary closure of the airspace over El Paso, saying there was no threat to commercial aviation and that all flights will resume.

A Trump administration official told The Associated Press that the airspace over El Paso was closed after Mexican cartel drones breached the airspace, but that the Defense Department took action to disable the drones.

Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the Defense Department have determined there is no threat to commercial travel, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a national security issue.

The official did not say how many drones were involved or what specifically was done to disable them.

The shutdown announced just hours earlier “for special security reasons” had been expected to create significant disruptions given the duration and the size of the metropolitan area.

El Paso,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-texas-migrants-a378073ed4e565570b4d4aa20f3a9ff8">a border city</a>&nbsp;with a population of nearly 700,000 people and larger when you include the surrounding metro area, is hub of cross-border commerce alongside the neighboring city of Ciudad Juarez in Mexico. The brief closure does not include Mexican airspace.

The airport said in an Instagram post after the closure was announced that all flights to and from the airport would be grounded from late Tuesday through late on Feb. 20, including commercial, cargo and general aviation flights. It suggested travelers contact their airlines to get up-to-date flight information.

Rep. Veronica Escobar, a Democrat whose district includes El Paso, had urged the FAA to lift the restrictions in a statement Wednesday morning. There was no advance notice given to her office, the city of El Paso or airport operations, she said.

“The highly consequential decision by FAA to shut down the El Paso Airport for 10 days is unprecedented and has resulted in significant concern within the community,” Escobar said. “From what my office and I have been able to gather overnight and early this morning there is no immediate threat to the community or surrounding areas.”

A similar temporary flight restriction for special security reasons over the same time period was imposed around Santa Teresa, New Mexico, which is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northwest of the El Paso airport.

Southwest Airlines said in a statement that it has paused all operations to and from El Paso at the direction of the FAA.

“We have notified affected customers and will share additional information as it becomes available,” Southwest Airlines said. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the safety of its customers and employees.”

EL PASO, Texas (AP) —The Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faa-el-paso-texas-air-space-closed-1f774bdfd46f5986ff0e7003df709caa" target="_blank">reopened the airspace around El Paso International Airport</a>&nbsp;in Texas on Wednesday morning, just hours after it announced a 10-day closure that would have grounded all flights to and from the airport.