Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then &amp; Now Collection."

STEVE HARMON Hutch Post Contributor

Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the northwest corner of West 5th and North Main.

The Zion Evangelical English Lutheran Church in Hutchinson was formed in 1888. They first built a church alongside Cow Creek on the southeast corner of 1st and Jefferson in 1890 for $3,253.

Because of flooding issues, they moved it to 501 N. Main in 1895, at the cost of $2,600. The first photo shows that church in 1907.

The second photo shows that same church in 1917 in the background of a World War I parade with our troops going off to war.

In 1921, the church built a new brick building in another location and the wooden church was razed.

In 1922, the Stamey Construction Company built the Hotel Stamey on this open lot. The third photo shows the footings being poured for the hotel, looking in a southeast direction.

The fourth photo shows the hotel construction nearing its completion in 1923.

The fifth photo shows it on opening day, Aug. 22, 1923, with its massive signage on the roof working.

The Hotel Stamey was a viable hotel until 1958, when it was sold and rebranded as the Landmark Hotel.

By 1960, it had been converted to apartments.

Terry Messing purchased it in 1977 and it went downhill from there. The building was abandoned in 2014 and sat as a dangerous eyesore until 2024 when Michael and Laura Meyer Dick purchased the building to renovate it.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/ed003121-1d1e-43c1-a0cb-0b68ef97d24f">Plans are to rehab the building into 36 modern apartments and open in the summer of 2026.</a> The sixth photo shows the building at 501 N. Main today being renovated by MBC Const. The property is owned by Meyer Landmark L.L.C.

To purchase a photo print, contact:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sharmon5@cox.net">sharmon5@cox.net</a>.

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

<a href="https://www.hutchchamber.com/">Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce</a> <a href="https://underkansas.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_KHt9Zeq_QIVwRPUAR3CTwTSEAAYASAAEgJDJPD_BwE">STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anchorinnhutch">Anchor Inn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Anchorawayhutch/">Anchor Away</a>

📷 Throwback Thursday: 501 N. Main - Vol. 163

Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank said annual change-of-value notices will be mailed Friday, with delivery expected midweek.

“The mail date is tomorrow, so they’ll go into the mail tomorrow,” Plank said during an interview Thursday morning on the BW Morning Show. “Folks probably won’t see them until Tuesday or Wednesday next week.”

The notices are required by state law and inform property owners of their property’s appraised value for the upcoming tax year.

Plank said one of the most common questions involves the two values listed on the notice: appraised value and assessed value.

“There should be the appraised value, and also what’s called the assessed value,” Plank said. “For residential property, your assessed value is just 11.5% of your appraised value. If you take your appraised value and multiply it by 11.5%, it should equal that assessed value on the notice.”

The assessed value is set by statute and used to calculate property taxes.

However, Plank emphasized that the notice does not show what a property owner’s tax bill will be.

“It’s not just the county commission,” he said. “It’s whatever entities have taxing authority over you — the school district, the city, fire district. They set their budgets over the summer, and that eventually determines your mill levy and your resulting property tax.”

Kansas is an annual market-value state, meaning all property — except agricultural land valued by a state formula — is reappraised each year at fair market value as of Jan. 1.

“The way state law is written, it’s what could it sell for as of January 1,” Plank said. “Could I sell my property at or above this amount this year? If the answer is no, then take advantage of the appeal process.”

The Reno County Appraiser’s Office reviews three years of sales data when determining residential values.

“We look at the last three years of sales, and we’re limited by the available sales,” Plank said. “If it hasn’t sold in that timeframe, it’s not a comparable.”

Typically, five comparable properties are used to help determine a value. Ideally, those homes are in the same general area and similar in size, age and features, though that is not always possible.

“If there’s a comp on there that you really don’t like, we have the ability to change that out and test other comps,” Plank said. “We don’t have a problem researching that and trying to find something that might be better.”

Even if a homeowner has made no changes to their property, values can still increase due to broader market trends.

“The market around you is constantly changing,” Plank said. “Since 2008 or 2009, statewide, all we’ve seen in real estate is an upward trend.”

Reno County change-of-value notices headed to your mailbox

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. ——————————————

Mycah	Sean	Boham		2/25/2026 3:56&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Abuse order,					Probation Violation

Westley	Hardin	Brown		2/25/2026 2:17&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Condition of release,					Poss of THC,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Vanessa	Joann	Wentling		2/25/2026 5:08&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Kennedy	Cole	ONeal		2/25/2026 5:13&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Condition of release

Brooke	Marie	Palmatier		2/25/2026 6:25&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Condition of release

Tammy	Nicole	Tidd		2/25/2026 8:01&nbsp;PM	Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction,					DUI;1st; incapable of safely driving; child present,					Agg endangering a child; unknown circumstance

Cory	Dale	Garrison		2/25/2026 9:51&nbsp;PM	Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct

Daily Bookings

Reno County commissioners heard details about an upcoming public forum on data center development, tabled two health department grant items for further review and rejected a job incentive request tied to a local manufacturer’s planned expansion.

Data center forum scheduled March 11

An informational session on trends in data center development is set for 11 a.m. March 11 at the Stringer Fine Arts Center on the campus of Hutchinson Community College.

The forum will immediately follow the next commission meeting and is intended to address growing public discussion around potential data center projects in Kansas. Organizers said the event will feature industry and state officials to provide information on power use, water consumption, economic impacts and regulatory safeguards.

Scheduled speakers include Jason Clint, senior director of external affairs for Evergy, who will address power supply and consumer rate protections, and Paul Hughes, director for headquarters and mega projects development with the Kansas Department of Commerce, who will discuss statewide recruitment efforts.

Local industry representatives involved in data center supply chains — including firms that manufacture racking systems and water cooling components — are also expected to participate. Developers exploring projects ranging from 15 megawatts to more than 100 megawatts have been invited as well.

Organizers said the session is designed to provide factual information and allow for public questions before potential regulatory decisions are considered.

During public comment, Darren Gehring, a former Hutchinson firefighter, urged commissioners to consider expanding a proposed three-year moratorium on data centers to include battery energy storage systems. Gehring cited fire safety concerns related to a proposed site along North Buhler Road and asked the commission to “pump the brakes” until more information is available.

Commission Chair Ron Hurst encouraged residents to attend the March 11 session, regardless of their position on the issue.

Health grant items moved to study session

Commissioners voted 4-1 to table items 7C and 7D on the agenda — two Reno County Health Department grant matters — and schedule a special study session at 4 p.m. March 2.

The study session will allow commissioners to review financial and statistical data, including operating costs and services provided under the grants. A decision on the grants must be made by the March 11 meeting to meet a March 13 submission deadline.

Superior Boiler incentive request denied

Commissioners also considered a request for job performance incentives from Superior Boiler following its November 2025 acquisition by Watts Water Technologies.

Lauren Storm of Greater Hutch said the company plans to add up to 100 jobs — 20 administrative and 80 production positions — all paying at least $21 per hour. The request sought reimbursement of $1,500 per job retained for four consecutive quarters, potentially totaling up to $150,000 over a three-year period under the county’s economic development policy.

The motion to approve a letter of intent authorizing negotiations failed on a 3-2 vote, with Commissioners Ron Vincent, Ron Parks and Randy Boegner voting no, and Hurst and Richard Winger voting yes.

County Administrator Randy Partington said the policy has previously been used by companies including Superior Boiler, Kansas Protein Foods and Wifco Steel Products. Commissioners indicated they may revisit the job incentive policy in a future study session

108th Avenue bridge to be permanently closed

In other business, commissioners voted unanimously to permanently close and remove the 108th Avenue Bridge over Peace Creek, located between Sterling Road and Peace Road on the Reno-Rice county line.

The four-span timber bridge, approximately 74 feet long, was recently rated below a three-ton limit following inspection and deemed unsafe to remain open.

Reno County Public Works Director Don Britton said replacing the bridge would cost an estimated $548,968, with 26% — about $143,610 — billed to Rice County under state cost-sharing formulas. The bridge averages about 20 vehicles per day and does not landlock any properties, Britton said.

Commissioners determined replacement was not financially justified given the low traffic volume and competing infrastructure priorities. Reno County will remove the structure and bill Rice County for its share of removal costs.

Reno County Commission rejects job incentive, closes bridge

<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 before 7:30a.m. Wednesday in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Dodge Ram driven by Michael T. Walsh, 75, Lost Springs, was westbound on 340th just east of Sunflower Road approximately 3 miles west of Lost Springs.

The driver fell asleep. The pickup traveled eastbound in the westbound lane. A westbound USD 387 school bus driven by James L. Beeson, 79, Paola, with seven students on board stopped. The pickup struck the school bus head-on.

EMS transported Walsh to St. Luke Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.&nbsp; Beeson was not injured. One student possibly had an injury but was not transported to the hospital, according to the KHP.

Kan. man hospitalized after head-on crash with a school bus

Sign up for the daily Hutch Post morning news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Delivered to your virtual porch every morning — on time and free.

<a href="https://email.em.audience.io/CSB/Public/Form.aspx?fid=1950312&amp;ac=grno">CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE!</a>

Sign up for the Hutch Post Morning News Update!

 A man was killed Tuesday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash at a rural McPherson County intersection, authorities said.

The McPherson County Sheriff's Office said McPherson 911 received a report at 4:35 p.m. of a collision at 12th Avenue and Moccasin Road.

Responding deputies found a utility terrain vehicle on its side in the roadway and a Suzuki SUV in a nearby ditch.

According to the sheriff’s office, the UTV was traveling north on 12th Avenue and the SUV was heading west on Moccasin Road. Investigators determined the UTV struck the SUV in the intersection and overturned. The impact caused the UTV driver to be ejected.

The male driver of the UTV was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released pending notification of family.

The female driver of the SUV was transported to McPherson Center for Health for treatment. Her condition was not immediately available.

McPherson County accident claims life of one

There’s a routine to spring calving season based on numbers. Once tiny hooves start hitting the cold ground, a rhythm takes over until the last mama cow has delivered her baby. Each day is different, but they’re all based on counting.

I can still picture being sandwiched in the middle of the bench seat between my grandparents as we made the rounds through pastures to check on the progress. My grandfather kept one hand on the steering wheel with a pair of binoculars ready in the other.

We would slowly roll through the field, stopping abruptly for my grandfather to take a closer look at a cow. He’d raise the binoculars and quickly read off the number on the ear tag as my grandmother dutifully recorded the information in a spiralbound notebook.

When a calf was spotted, we’d ease close enough that my grandfather could quickly get out, lasso it and tag it all while keeping an eye on the mama cow, especially if she was a first-time mother. They could get a little angsty during the ordeal.

We checked the herd five or six times each day, starting with the morning feeding and ending well past dark if weather or other circumstances demanded. The vast majority of field checks happened without incident. All the cows were readily spotted along with the same number of calves from the previous count.

The adventures started when the numbers didn’t match up. While most mothers were more than happy to show off their calf, occasionally there’d be one who had witnessed the roundup procedure and took it on herself to keep her progeny hidden. Thankfully, cows aren’t masters at hide-and-seek.

While a mama might not show off her calf, she didn’t stray far from it so a hidden calf also meant the mother was away from the herd as well. In the main calving pasture, this usually meant the pair was hunkered down near the edge of a thin stand of trees. Spotting the mom didn’t present much of a challenge, but it was incredibly easy to mistake a fallen limb for a black baldy if its white face was tucked away.

We didn’t have to assist with many births, but it was always a tense time when pulling a calf was necessary, especially if there wasn’t time to move the cow to a temporary pen. Even more rare was finding a lonesome calf rejected by its mother. I only remember a handful of calves that were brought to the barn for bottle feeding, one of which didn’t make it.

Other times calves were lost to coyotes, weather or birth defects, and a few cows succumbed to injuries sustained while giving birth. The losses were never easy to take, but they were also strong reminders of why we counted. Every cow. Every calf. Every time.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

Insight on Agriculture: Counting cows

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

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

Recent obituaries and service times

&nbsp;U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann on Wednesday praised President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, calling it “one of the better speeches” he has heard from the president and pointing to tax cuts and border security as key priorities affecting Kansans.

Appearing on BW radio the morning after the address, Mann, who represents Kansas’ 1st Congressional District, said Trump effectively outlined what he described as major accomplishments during the first year of his second term and charted a vision for the year ahead.

“I thought it was an incredible speech,” Mann said. “He did a great job outlining the successes of the first year of his term and really charted a vision for our country this next year.”

Mann said a line that stood out to him was Trump’s assertion that he inherited “a nation in crisis” but had delivered what the president called a “turnaround for the ages.”

He also highlighted moments in which Trump recognized U.S. men’s hockey gold medal winners and awarded two Congressional Medals of Honor, calling those tributes “well deserved” and reflective of national pride.

Mann said he was surprised by what he viewed as limited bipartisan participation during portions of the speech. He pointed to a moment when Trump asked members of Congress to stand if they believed protecting American citizens is the government’s top priority.

“When you have half the chamber not willing to stand for that, that really surprised me,” Mann said, adding that the partisan divide could become one of the defining memories of the evening.

While acknowledging growing political divisions in Washington, Mann said there remain areas of bipartisan agreement. He cited support for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and backing for the STOCK Act, legislation that would prohibit members of Congress from trading individual stocks. Mann said he is a co-sponsor of the measure.

“The most divisive issues are typically what the national media covers,” Mann said. “But there are bipartisan agreements on a whole host of issues.”

Turning to economic policy, Mann said recent federal tax changes are having a direct impact on Kansas families, farmers and small business owners. He referenced the "Working Families Tax Cuts" legislation passed last summer, which took effect Jan. 1.

According to Mann, without congressional action, Kansans would have faced an average federal income tax increase of about $2,200.

“Instead of increasing taxes, we were able to reduce taxes,” Mann said.

He pointed to provisions that lowered basic tax rates, eliminated taxes on overtime and tips, reduced taxes on Social Security income and lowered estate and capital gains taxes. Mann said those measures are particularly important in rural communities across western Kansas.

Mann represents the “Big First” District, which includes Hutchinson and much of the state.

The president’s address comes amid continued national debate over economic policy, border security and the role of government — issues Mann said remain top concerns for constituents in his district.

Mann praises Trump’s State of the Union, highlights tax cuts

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating more credit card skimmers on gas pumps in Salina.

On Wednesday afternoon, police made contact with employees of Flying J Travel Center, 2250 N. Ohio in Salina in reference to finding two more skimmers on two diesel pumps, according to Salina Police Captain James Feldman.

The employees reported after finding the initial two skimmers Tuesday they had checked the pumps and had not located any others. 

Prior to calling they checked the pumps and located two new skimmers. The business checked their security cameras and observed a white dually pickup pull up to both pumps for a short amount of time before leaving. 

The vehicle was at the pumps between 4:30 AM and 4:45 AM on the morning Wednesday.&nbsp;

More credit card skimmers found in central Kansas

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran– a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry – today applauded the removal of the lesser prairie-chicken from the&nbsp;Endangered Species Act&nbsp;(ESA) list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), following a ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas:

“The removal of the lesser prairie‑chicken from the endangered and threatened species list is a major win for Kansas farmers, ranchers and rural communities. For years, Kansas producers have worked to protect the bird’s habitat through voluntary, locally‑driven conservation efforts, but the listing’s burdensome federal regulations put severe strain on many Kansas industries.&nbsp;I have worked to oppose the listing of the lesser prairie-chicken for more than a decade, and I applaud today’s decision to remove the listing and continue to support local efforts to promote voluntary solutions that will protect the bird’s habitat without placing unnecessary burdens on our agricultural community.”

Kan. U.S. Senator applauds removal of prairie-chicken from ESA list

SEATTLE (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hilary-knight">Hilary Knight</a>&nbsp;doesn’t want to let what she called a “distasteful” joke by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-canada-womens-hockey-olympic-final-141b5904352673676656cbe2a1c253e5">gold-medal winning</a>&nbsp;U.S. women’s Olympic hockey team get in the way of a historic performance by American women across all sports at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics">Milan Cortina Games</a>.

“I just thought the joke was distasteful and unfortunate,” Knight said on Wednesday alongside fellow Olympians Alex Carpenter, Hannah Bilka and Cayla Barnes at the Seattle Space Needle ahead of their return to play for the Seattle Torrent of the Professional Women’s Hockey League. “And, I think just the way women are represented, it’s a great teaching point and really shines light on how women should be championed for their amazing feats.”

Knight, a two-time gold medalist whose 15 goals and 33 points in Olympic competition are the most by a U.S. hockey player at the Games, said she’s not focusing on an offhand comment by Trump after the American men topped Canada for gold in overtime on Sunday.

Talking on a speakerphone in the postgame locker room, Trump extended an invitation to the White House to the men’s team, then added, “We’re going to have to bring the women’s team, you do know that.” The president later joked that if he didn’t extend the invitation, he would probably be impeached.

While the vast majority of the men’s team flew to Washington on Tuesday and visited Trump in the White House before being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-of-union-hockey-olympics-trump-89fff7bdec947251ff926e09ac24d4e4">guests at the State of the Union</a>, many of the women’s players were on the way back to their professional or college clubs.

USA Hockey, which said it was “honored” by the invitation, cited logistical issues as the major hurdle that prevented the women’s team from stopping by the White House. The team was originally scheduled to fly commercially into New York on Monday, but was forced to reroute through Atlanta due to a snowstorm in the Northeast.

Several players were going to stick around New York for promotional purposes, even ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange. Those scheduled appearances had to be canceled because of flight changes.

Knight lamented that the video — which included several players laughing after Trump’s comments — took on a life of its own and didn’t convey the true nature of the relationship between the men’s and women’s US hockey programs.

“The men’s and the women’s team did it together,” Knight said. “And, that’s super special. It’s never been done in our program’s history. It’s something we’re extremely proud about. But these women are amazing. And whatever’s going on should never outshine or minimize their work and our success on the world stage.”

Kelly Pannek, a forward on the women’s team, told reporters “the video is what it is” but added it was a “special feeling” spending time with the men’s team after they won the first Olympic gold for the U.S. in 46 years. Pannek believes there is mutual respect and support on both sides.

Goaltender Jeremy Swayman told reporters in Boston after returning to practice with the Bruins that the men “should have reacted differently” to Trump’s remarks.

“To share that gold medal with them is something that we’re forever grateful for,” Swayman said. “And now that we’re home we get to share that together forever and see the incredible support we have from the USA and share this incredible gold medal.”

Jack Hughes, who scored the winning goal in overtime for the U.S., also said the moment did not reflect the views of the men’s team.

“You’re in the moment and the president calls. We’re blaring the music. It is what it is,” Hughes said Wednesday night after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sabres-devils-score-0eb145127b212254164b4d837c11204d">his first game back</a>&nbsp;with the New Jersey Devils. “We have so much respect for the women’s team and they have so much respect for us. We are all just proud Americans.”

The earliest the U.S. women could make a White House visit would be in late spring after the conclusion of the PWHL season.

The U.S. won 12 gold medals in Milan Cortina, with women playing a hand in eight of them. The women’s hockey team outscored opponents 33-2 on its way to the top of the podium.

“This was the best American women’s hockey team, the best American team we’ve ever put together on the world stage when the lights have been the brightest ever,” Knight said. “And so, I think everybody felt that going through the tournament. And, I want to celebrate. I want people to be remembered for that. I want the legacy of this team to be remembered.”

AP freelancer Everett Merrill in Newark, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

Woman's Olympic hockey star: President's call to men's team 'distasteful' 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in a fatal shooting at an American Legion Hall in Wichita is scheduled to return to court Thursday..

Darrell E. Buckner, Jr., 52, will attend a hearing in the courtroom of Judge Tyler Roush in an attempt to have the one-million dollar bond reduced, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

He is charged with First degree murder and aggravated battery in connection with the killing at the American Legion in Wichita.

Just before 7:30p.m. October 11, police responded to a report of a shooting inside the American Legion, 1135 North Hydraulic in Wichita, according t a media release.&nbsp; First responders found 55-year-old Anthony Grayson from Wichita unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 7:55 p.m.

A second victim, a 56-year-old man, arrived at a hospital by private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the torso.&nbsp;

Investigators confirmed that the suspect, identified as Buckner, and Grayson were involved in a fight inside the bar. Buckner then left, retrieved a firearm from his vehicle, and returned. Employees attempted to prevent him from reentering, but he pushed past them and went back inside, where another fight broke out. During the altercation, Buckner fired the gun, striking Grayson and the second victim, who was attempting to intervene.

Buckner was taken into custody at the scene and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier this month, a preliminary hearing for Buckner was delayed.

Suspect in Kan. American Legion killing returns to court

By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer

Instagram said Thursday it will start alerting parents if their kids repeatedly search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm. The alerts will only go to parents who are enrolled in Instagram’s parental supervision program.

Instagram says it already blocks such content from showing up in teen accounts’ search results and directs people to helplines instead.

The announcement comes as Meta is in the midst of two&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trials-meta-zuckerberg-youtube-tiktok-addiction-85c4d813c42845aeb3f913ec8f2f3e86">trials over harms to children</a>. A trial underway in Los Angeles questions whether Meta’s platforms&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-trial-testimony-instagram-c8cbaa32ccbf4933ec3a7beebd6cf34b">deliberately addict and harm</a>&nbsp;minors. Another, in New Mexico, seeks to determine whether Meta failed to protect kids from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-new-mexico-child-exploitation-trial-19195fc680dba782fb971d68082e11a4">sexual exploitation on its platforms</a>. Thousands of families — along with school districts and government entities — have sued Meta and other social media companies claiming they deliberately design their platforms to be addictive and fail to protect kids from content that can lead to depression, eating disorders and suicide.

Meta executives including CEO Mark Zuckerberg have disputed that the platforms cause addiction. During questioning by the plaintiff’s lawyer, in Los Angeles, Zuckerberg said he still agrees with a previous statement he made that the existing body of scientific work has not proved that social media causes mental health harms.

The alerts will be sent via email, text or WhatsApp, depending on the parent's contact information available, as well as a notification through the parent's Instagram account.

“Our goal is to empower parents to step in if their teen’s searches suggest they may need support. We also want to avoid sending these notifications unnecessarily, which, if done too much, could make the notifications less useful overall,” Meta said in a blog post.

Meta said it is also working on similar notifications to parents about their kids' interactions with artificial intelligence.

“These will notify parents if a teen attempts to engage in certain types of conversations related to suicide or self-harm with our AI,” Meta said. “This is important work and we’ll have more to share in the coming months.”

Instagram to send parents teens' search alerts

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man has been charged with murder for the fatal shooting of a teenage girl late last year in Independence, Missouri.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2813/Phillips-COMP">Eric R. Phillips II</a>, 28,&nbsp;faces 1st Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Abandonment of a Corpse, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2812/PhillipsEric---PC-Statement_Redacted">According to court records</a>, Kansas City police received a call on November 28, 2025, reporting that an 18-year-old victim had been shot multiple times in a vehicle at a location in Independence earlier that morning. Detectives began using investigative leads to locate the vehicle.&nbsp;

Due to the circumstances, the victim was entered as a missing person in Independence.&nbsp;

Through multiple witness reports and surveillance footage, detectives identified Phillips as the shooter. Detectives determined he shot the victim multiple times while she was in the back of his vehicle in the early morning hours of Nov. 28.&nbsp; Ring camera footage captured the sound of gunshots coming from the location of his vehicle where it had been reported the shooting had occurred, and Phillips was seen in video footage multiple times carrying a firearm.&nbsp;

On November 29, police found the victim deceased in Kansas City. Phillips' cell phone pinged in the area where the victim’s body was located.

A Jackson County judge set Phillips’s bond at $350,000 cash only.&nbsp;

Prosecutors charged the defendant on December 3, 2025, under seal. The case has been unsealed this week.

Phillips is not yet in custody and law enforcement are working to locate him. If you have any information about his whereabouts, please contact police or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers over the phone: 816-474-8477 or online at kccrimestoppers.com.&nbsp;

Wanted suspect chargeed in fatal shooting of Kansas City girl

House cuts $60M in revenue sharing, makes it easy for dissenters to stop increases

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas House voted Wednesday to alter significant provisions of a bipartisan property tax reform bill granting the public a direct voice in decisions by local government to raise property taxes more than 3% annually.

The House agreed to an amendment lowering by half the signature threshold on protest petitions used to block a city or county from exceeding the cap. The House also passed an amendment deleting a $60 million state fund to compensate local units of government that held annual growth in property taxes under the cap. The revised bill advanced on a vote of 87-22.

Rep. Adam Smith, a Weskan Republican and chair of the House Taxation Committee, said the committee’s version of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2745/" target="_blank">House Bill 2745</a>&nbsp;respected the necessity of local units of government to secure operating revenue that tracked with inflation.

He said the objective of the bill was to require cities or counties to more aggressively lower mill levies whenever property valuations surged.

“This is really the heart of the problem,” Smith said. “As assessed valuations rise, the mill levy doesn’t go down enough.”

Smith said it was important the 2026 Legislature take action to curb outlandish increases in property taxes at the local level. Exceptions to the bill’s cap would be made for economic development programs, abatements, annexations, new construction projects or changes in land use. In addition, the bill wouldn’t apply the lid to public school districts.

Rep. Kristey Williams, R-Augusta, convinced House colleagues to adopt the amendment deleting $60 million in state appropriations to reward local units of government for avoiding property tax increases higher than 3%. She expressed appreciation for the House committee’s work to pressure local government to control tax increases and spending, but argued the state “cannot afford” the $60 million appropriation. The bill would have attached a 2% annual inflation adjustment for the fund.

Williams and other House Republicans said the GOP-controlled Legislature was annually spending $500 million or $600 million more each year than was raised in state tax revenue.

“Every $60 million we approve here is $60 million not available for core state obligations, tax relief or reserve stability,” Williams said.

The House bill would have earmarked new state aid to local governments for public services, including roads and bridges, law enforcement, elections, public health and other services mandated by state law.

Rep. Stephanie Sawyer Clayton, D-Overland Park, said the state could afford to use some of its $2 billion rainy-day fund to bring about tax relief through local units of government. She also encouraged city and county officials in Johnson County to appreciate some legislators in Topeka were convinced the original draft of the bill was overly generous to local governments.

“I just want you to get a bit of a reality check here and see that we have colleagues that even think this is too much,” she said.

Rep. Troy Waymaster, a Bunker Hill Republican and chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said he didn’t appreciate the $60 million property tax relief account nor the idea of drawing down the state’s emergency fund.

“That fund was not created to backfill spending regardless if its something for social services or property taxes,” Waymaster said.

The House also accepted an amendment proposed by Rep. Shannon Francis, R-Liberal, to lower the bar for voters to advance petitions to thwart annual property tax increases greater than 3%.

Under the revised bill, 5% of the number of a taxing jurisdiction’s voters who participated in the previous election would have to sign a protest petition to block a property tax increase above the cap. The original version of the bill set that signature requirement at 10% of voters in a previous election.

Francis said the reason for the adjustment was Seward County’s decision to adopt a 41% increase in property taxes for 2026.

“My community is honestly the poster child for why we have to do something,” he said. “The people in my community felt betrayed. They felt like they had no voice.”

Rep. Tom Sawyer, D-Wichita, said the 10% threshold should be restored. He said a 5% petition requirement would make it too easy for a fraction of voters to undermine tax increases to complete projects supported by the public. The 5% threshold would make it especially challenging for smaller communities to finance priority projects with property tax revenue, he said.

Kansas House amends bill aimed at constraining local property tax increases

HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s government said late Wednesday that the 10 passengers on a boat that opened fire on its soldiers were armed Cubans living in the U.S. who were trying to infiltrate the island and unleash terrorism.

The announcement came hours after Cuba said its soldiers killed four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speed boat that had entered Cuban waters and opened fire on the soldiers first, injuring one Cuban officer.

Cuba’s government said the majority of the 10 people on the boat “have a known history of criminal and violent activity.”

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had told reporters earlier that he was made aware of the incident and that the U.S. is now gathering its own information to determine if the victims were American citizens or permanent residents.

“We have various different elements of the U.S. government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now,” Rubio said while at the airport in Basseterre, St. Kitts, where he was attending a regional summit with Caribbean leaders.

The Cuban government identified two of the boat passengers as Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, who are wanted by Cuban authorities “based on their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions carried out in the national territory or in other countries, in connection with acts of terrorism.”

The government said it also had arrested Duniel Hernández Santos, adding that he was “sent from the United States to guarantee the reception of the armed infiltration, who at this time has confessed to his actions.”

The Associated Press was not immediately able to independently verify that information.

Local

Region

Sports