Advance voting for the City of Hutchinson’s sales tax special election begins today.

Voters may cast advance ballots Monday through Friday of this week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the conference room at the Reno County Annex. An additional advance voting opportunity will be available next Monday, March 2, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Mail ballots have already been sent to voters who requested them. However, due to changes in state law, advance mail ballots must now be received by the Reno County Election Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. The previous three-day grace period for mail ballot returns is no longer in effect.

Voters who wish to return their completed mail ballots in person may use the secure ballot drop-off box located in front of the Reno County Annex.

The special election is Tuesday, March 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Advance voting begins today for Hutchinson sales tax special election

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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

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center (HRMC)is&nbsp;proud to announce the launch of a series of initiatives aimed at honoring veterans&nbsp;and those who have served our country. These efforts, which are deeply rooted in&nbsp;our mission to make health and healing available to all, are an expression of&nbsp;our&nbsp;gratitude&nbsp;and respect for the sacrifices made by our military personnel.&nbsp;

At HRMC, we believe that recognizing the contributions of our veterans is not just&nbsp;a duty, but a privilege. This month, we held our first-ever Veteran Honor Walk,&nbsp;a touching&nbsp;event where staff members, volunteers, and community members&nbsp;lined&nbsp;the&nbsp;halls to show their respect for a veteran’s life and service as they were escorted&nbsp;through the halls of the hospital. During the walk, taps were played over the&nbsp;hospital's overhead speakers, marking a solemn moment of silence. This simple but&nbsp;powerful act allowed us to collectively pause, reflect, and pay tribute to the selfless&nbsp;individuals who have given so much&nbsp;for&nbsp;our nation.&nbsp;

To further honor veterans, HRMC provides recognition items to veteran patients&nbsp;during their hospital stay. These small tokens of appreciation include a flag&nbsp;wristband, a Veterans Discount Card, and a door magnet displayed outside the&nbsp;patient’s&nbsp;room. These items are a simple yet meaningful way to show our respect&nbsp;and to acknowledge their service while they are receiving care.&nbsp;

These new initiatives were inspired by a deep commitment to ensuring that our&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;feel recognized, valued, and supported. HRMC believes that honoring&nbsp;veterans&nbsp;goes&nbsp;beyond just offering care when needed; it involves creating an&nbsp;environment where veterans are&nbsp;celebrated for&nbsp;their sacrifice and heroism.&nbsp;

In addition to our internal efforts, HRMC is honored to partner with KS4Vets, a local&nbsp;organization dedicated to serving and supporting veterans. Through this&nbsp;collaboration, members of KS4Vets are notified each time a&nbsp;veteran passes, allowing&nbsp;them to&nbsp;join us in our Veteran Honor Walk and further personalize our tribute. This&nbsp;partnership underscores the importance of community in honoring those who have&nbsp;served, reinforcing the idea that every veteran deserves respect, dignity, and&nbsp;recognition.&nbsp;

Cindy Naab, Chairperson of the HRHS Veteran Committee, added, “The Veteran&nbsp;Honor Walk and our continued initiatives reflect the heartfelt respect and&nbsp;admiration we hold for those who have served. These efforts are vital, not only for&nbsp;showing&nbsp;appreciation but&nbsp;for supporting veterans in their health journey.&nbsp;It’s&nbsp;a true&nbsp;honor for us to serve those who have served our country.”&nbsp;

Veterans hold a special place in the hearts of the HRMC family. Our team members,&nbsp;many of whom have close personal connections to military service, are proud to be&nbsp;part of an organization that offers this type of tribute. The Veteran Honor Walk is&nbsp;just one way we can show our gratitude and appreciation, but it is just the&nbsp;beginning. We are committed to exploring further opportunities to support and&nbsp;honor our veterans in meaningful ways.&nbsp;

As we continue to expand our initiatives, we invite the entire community to join us in&nbsp;celebrating the lives and legacies of veterans. We are grateful for their service and&nbsp;honored to be part of their journey in health and healing.&nbsp;

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center honors veterans and their service through new initiatives 

<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

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. ——————————————

Vitaliy	Philip	Stubbs		2/22/2026 3:39&nbsp;AM	Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body, Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction,					Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction),Shane	Clifton	Stone		2/22/2026 12:38&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Melvin	James	Silas		2/22/2026 7:38&nbsp;PM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Melvin	James	Silas		2/22/2026 7:38&nbsp;PM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Eric	Omar	Perez		2/23/2026 4:22&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear,					Direct Contempt

Daily Bookings

Hutch Rec is partnering with Kansas CPR to offer a spring break babysitting training course designed to help young people gain lifesaving skills and confidence.

The two-hour, hands-on class is open to youth ages 10 to 18 and will focus on preparing participants to become responsible and well-prepared babysitters.

Students will receive instruction in CPR for infants, children and adults, automated external defibrillator, or AED, usage and basic first aid skills. Organizers say the training is intended to give youth practical knowledge they can use in emergency situations while caring for others.

Each participant will receive a certificate upon completion of the course.&nbsp;

Three sessions are available, and participants may choose one to attend. Sessions are scheduled for March 17, March 18 and March 19 from 10 a.m. to noon each day. The registration deadline for all sessions is March 13.

The training will be held at Hutch Rec Downtown. The cost is $60 per session, and scholarships are available.

Organizers say the program offers an opportunity for youth to take the next step toward becoming trusted babysitters while learning skills that can benefit them throughout their lives.

For more information, you can contact Hutch Rec at 620-663-6179.&nbsp;

Hutch Rec offering spring break babysitting training for youth

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

Three-day Outlook

State wildlife officials are giving Kansans a chance to enjoy the outdoors at no cost this year, announcing free fishing and free state park entrance days for 2026.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks said in a news release that residents and visitors can take advantage of designated Free Fishing Days and Free Entrance Days at all 28 Kansas state parks.

According to KDWP spokeswoman Laura Clawson, Free Fishing Days will be held Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. On those dates, anglers will not need a Kansas fishing license to fish in public waters.

All other regulations will remain in effect, however. Participants must still follow established length limits, creel limits and other fishing rules.

In addition, all Kansas state parks will offer free entrance on Wednesday, April 22. While vehicle entrance fees will be waived that day, camping fees and other associated charges will still apply.

“These free days are a great opportunity for Kansans and visitors alike to get outside and enjoy Kansas’ natural resources,” KDWP Secretary Chris Kennedy said in a statement. “Whether you’re fishing, hiking, picnicking, or simply spending time outdoors, we hope these days encourage people to connect with nature and with each other.”

Kennedy has also designated several additional Free Entrance Days from April through October. Many of those dates coincide with special events and programs aimed at encouraging more people to explore Kansas state parks.

State officials say the annual initiative is designed to introduce new visitors to Kansas’ outdoor recreation opportunities while giving longtime park users another reason to plan a trip.

KDWP announces free fishing, park entry days

A bill currently before the Kansas House would ban required diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) courses at the state’s public colleges and universities. Supporters argue that institutions should offer “more diverse academic opportunities that are not against a student’s political, religious, moral or ethical beliefs.” On its face, this claim appears to champion intellectual openness. In practice, however, it misunderstands the purpose of higher education and deprives students of the rigorous learning environment that universities are designed to provide.

Higher education is not meant to function as an echo chamber for students’ pre‑existing worldviews. Its central mission has always been to expand knowledge, foster critical thinking, and encourage engagement with complexity. College is one of the few structured environments where young adults can test their assumptions, encounter unfamiliar perspectives, and engage in reflection supported by research rather than insulated by comfort. Shielding students from ideas that challenge their beliefs undermines this mission entirely.

This understanding of higher education’s mission traces directly to our country’s founding. Several Founders explicitly argued that a democratic society requires citizens capable of reasoning through complex ideas. Thomas Jefferson, for example, maintained that education must cultivate critical thinkers who can meaningfully participate in civic life. He warned that democratic freedom depends on an informed, analytically capable public.

This civic purpose is not only a long‑standing academic principle—it aligns with public sentiment in Kansas. According to the 2025 Kansas Speaks survey, 55.8% of Kansans believe the primary goal of higher education is to create an educated citizenry, while only 34.1% say workforce development should be the dominant aim. These findings affirm that Kansans value universities as institutions that cultivate analytical citizens capable of democratic engagement, not as ideological safe havens designed to avoid friction with personal beliefs.

Courses addressing race, gender, culture, and inequality play a crucial role in this intellectual development. They draw on decades of peer‑reviewed research in political science, sociology, psychology, history, and education. Despite false reports to the contrary, DEI courses do not require students to adopt a particular political ideology; rather, they teach students how systems, data, and lived experiences intersect to produce real‑world outcomes. Students are free to

disagree with the interpretations presented, but disagreement is most meaningful when it emerges from informed engagement rather than avoidance.

Kansans also signal broad support for the underlying value of diversity in public life. The 2025 Kansas Speaks data show that 59.8% agree that Kansas government becomes stronger when elected officials are more diverse, compared with only 8.2% who disagree. This belief—that diversity enhances institutional strength—undermines the notion that engaging with difference is inherently divisive or ideological. If diversity strengthens government, it follows that young adults benefit from learning how to navigate, understand, and appreciate diverse perspectives before they enter civic and professional life.

The legislators’ concern—that students should not be confronted with material that challenges their beliefs—reflects a fundamental misconception about what universities are for. Higher education does not exist to affirm; it exists to question. It does not exist to soothe; it exists to stimulate growth. Students will carry their political, religious, and ethical commitments with them throughout their education, but the university’s role is to equip them with the analytical tools to understand those commitments in a broader context.

The Founders made clear that democratic governance requires citizens who are able to confront rather than avoid difficult questions. Jefferson and Adams both argued that education must develop citizens prepared for the moral and political complexities of republican life—not individuals shielded from discomfort. Their belief was that democratic institutions survive only when the populace can wrestle with complexity and evaluate competing claims.

Kansas should be investing in opportunities that broaden students’ horizons, not narrowing them. Intellectual diversity is not achieved by restricting academic content; it is achieved by engaging with it fully, especially when it invites discomfort.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is an associate professor and chair of the Political Science Department at Wichita State University.

Insight Kansas: Higher education should challenge students, not shield them

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks slumped Monday after President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariff-truth-social-872c8f04112a8991d8aa6ae5005767b6">ramped up his newest tariffs</a>, while investors continued to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-fed-jobs-profit-45f8d8df807d4b7ed9127afc4b5809c9">punish companies</a>&nbsp;that could be losers in the artificial-intelligence revolution.

The S&amp;P 500 fell 1% after Trump said on Saturday that he would place&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariff-truth-social-872c8f04112a8991d8aa6ae5005767b6">temporary 15% tariffs</a>&nbsp;on other countries. That’s up from the 10% rate he announced Friday following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9">a Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;that struck down his sweeping “reciprocal” taxes on imports from around the world.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 821 points, or 1.7%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.1%.

Trump’s quick move toward more aggressive tariffs shows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-tariff-trump-supreme-court-596a1adfee90975c018ca292f7e918f8">how much uncertainty still hangs</a>&nbsp;over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-china-trump-trade-supreme-court-fb8d38ae3664e845199d13113d03b471">global economy</a>, even after the Supreme Court said the president lacked the legal authority to institute his sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs.

Beyond a 15% tariff that could last for up to 150 days, unless Congress extends it further, Trump is moving forward on other avenues to place more permanent tariffs on countries and industries. That has trading partners uneasy. South Korea’s trade minister, Kim Jung-kwan, said Monday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trump-china-eu-court-bessent-36c6951422ccd24f475429d4683e7e15">uncertainty may worsen</a>&nbsp;if the Trump administration continues imposing new tariffs under alternative laws.

To be sure, Monday’s moves for markets weren’t close to as bad as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-tariffs-52dbb020a4c41122e31669c2da236d67">the panic that swept the world in April,</a>&nbsp;when Trump initially announced his “Liberation Day” tariffs. U.S. stocks were modestly higher for a brief moment during the morning.

The U.S. dollar’s value edged lower against other currencies. Bitcoin briefly fell below $64,000 but remained above its low point reached earlier this month. Gold continued to rise thanks to its reputation as something safer to own during uncertain times.

Investors may be sensing it will take a long time, as well as more court battles, before more clarity comes about how global trade will look.

“Stocks got a boost Friday from the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, but it quickly became clear that the decision was simply going to open a new chapter in the trade saga, not end it,” according to Chris Larkin, managing director, trading and investing, at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley.

On Wall Street, big losses hit companies under suspicion of getting undercut by AI-powered rivals. Investors have been sharply and suddenly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-fed-jobs-profit-45f8d8df807d4b7ed9127afc4b5809c9">punishing stocks of such companies</a>&nbsp;recently.

CrowdStrike fell 9.8% to widen its loss for the young year so far to 25.3%. A new tool from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/anthropic-claude-380b-valuation-openai-rivalry-ipo-65c08aa4fab90cde952f37d32625394a">Anthropic</a>&nbsp;that scans codebases for security vulnerabilities and suggests targeted software patches for human review has been hitting stocks across the cybersecurity industry.

AppLovin sank 9.1% and took its loss for the year to date to 43.5%. It’s among the software companies hurt by worries that AI competition will steal customers and fundamentally reset their industries.

Companies that have lent money to software companies whose revenues may be under threat also continued falling, and Blue Owl Capital fell 3.4% to bring its loss for the year so far to 30.1%.

More big moves may still be ahead for Wall Street this week, particularly with a profit report from Nvidia coming on Wednesday.

Worries are rising that companies like Alphabet and Amazon may be spending so much on Nvidia’s chips that they’ll never be able to recoup their investments through higher productivity and future profits.

Elsewhere on Wall Street, stocks of airlines fell after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/winter-storm-flight-cancellations-us-travel-54feed6ca0fb8e05c3b59326bd7ff24c">heavy snow and high winds canceled thousands of flights</a>&nbsp;across the busy Northeast.

United Airlines lost 5.2%, American Airlines fell 4.9% and Delta Air Lines sank 3.7%.

Novo Nordisk’s stock that trades in the United States tumbled 16.4% after the Danish drugmaker said a trial for its CagriSema drug showed people lost a smaller percentage of their weight after 84 weeks than with a similar one made by rival Eli Lilly. Eli Lilly rose 4.9%.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 fell 71.76 points to 6,837.75. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 821.91 to 48,804.06, and the Nasdaq composite sank 258.80 to 22,627.27.

In stock markets abroad, indexes mostly fell in Europe. They had risen on Friday after the Supreme Court’s ruling.

In Asia, where markets got their first chance to react to the court’s ruling, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng jumped 2.5%, while South Korea’s Kospi rose a more modest 0.6%. Markets in Japan and mainland China were closed for holidays.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.03% from 4.08% late Friday.

A top official at the Federal Reserve said Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/waller-inflation-interest-rates-728aa0b00b5d3291169cb807472332d6">that it’s a “coin flip”</a>&nbsp;on whether the Fed will cut its main interest rate at its next meeting in March or stand pat again.

The comments from Fed. Gov. Christopher Waller were a notable shift from January, when he was one of the two Fed governors to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-powell-inflation-c13913c9e007981f075fb3b22d4a4cec">dissent against</a>&nbsp;the central bank’s decision to hold its key rate steady after three rate cuts at the end of last year.

Lower rates would give the economy a boost, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-subpoena-bf4fc6c690fa248fbc531bc9bc7f1758">Trump has been</a>&nbsp;lobbying angrily for them. But they also could risk worsening inflation.

US stocks drop after Trump ramps up new tariffs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has ordered nonessential diplomats and their family members at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut to leave Lebanon, a State Department official said Monday, as tensions over Iran rise with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-russia-drill-nuclear-talks-aircraft-carrier-0456903e0d7a24cfcdc33d53732dee2f">the threat of a potentially imminent military strike</a>.

he official said a continuous assessment of the regional security environment determined it was “prudent” to draw down the U.S. Embassy’s footprint so that only essential personnel remain at their posts.

The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the move had not yet been formally announced, said that it is a temporary measure and that the embassy will remain operational.

Lebanon has been the site of numerous Iran-related retaliatory attacks against U.S. facilities, interests and personnel for decades given Tehran's support for and influence with the Hezbollah militant group, which is held responsible for the deadly bombings of the Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 and an embassy annex in 1984.

As such, changes in the staffing status of the embassy in Beirut have often been seen as a bellwether for potential U.S. or Israeli military action in the region, particularly against Iran. A similar ordered departure was imposed for Beirut and other embassies in the region, including in Iraq, shortly before President Donald Trump ordered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-war-nuclear-talks-geneva-news-06-21-2025-a7b0cdaba28b5817467ccf712d214579">military strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities</a>&nbsp;last June.

It was unclear if other American embassies in the Middle East would implement similar orders.

Tensions have escalated between the U.S. and Iran as Trump has built up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-middle-east-iran-protests-b7a56659d708f2f11f66a18135f44c40">the largest military presence in the Middle East in decades</a>&nbsp;and repeatedly threatened action if Tehran does not negotiate a deal to constrain its nuclear program.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-aircraft-carrier-military-8db3fab10476949acda8b973be416204">A second aircraft carrier</a>&nbsp;is heading to the region to join a surge of other American warships and aircraft, offering the Republican president several options for a potential strike even as talks may continue.

Oman’s foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, said the U.S. and Iran plan to hold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-protests-khamenei-universities-tehran-trump-military-dd81a3d1e464975c56f02b729e742014">their next round of nuclear talks</a>&nbsp;Thursday in Geneva.

Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, told CBS on Sunday that he expected to meet U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff then and said a “good chance” remained for a diplomatic solution on the nuclear issue.

Araghchi has said a proposed deal would be ready to share within days, and he told CBS that Iran was still working on it.

Asked Friday whether the U.S. could take limited military action as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-nuclear-talks-iaea-dbed41b78ce2ddabc8a04349e72abeba">the countries negotiate</a>, Trump said, “I guess I can say I am considering that.” He also told reporters later that Iran “better negotiate a fair deal.”

Indirect talks between the longtime adversaries in recent weeks have made little visible progress. Beyond the nuclear program, Iran has refused to discuss wider U.S. and Israeli&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-trump-netanyahu-nuclear-talks-fa5be8069deb4b1b01cdf30d3e3525e7">demands that it scale back its missile program</a>&nbsp;and sever ties to armed groups.

Tensions with Iran soar: U.S. orders some diplomats to leave Lebanon

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">The Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;said Monday that it will hear from oil and gas companies trying to block lawsuits seeking to hold the industry liable for billions of dollars in damage linked to climate change.

The conservative-majority court agreed to take up a case from Boulder, Colorado, among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-climate-change-oil-gas-companies-7548dbfe5cb38a9174330602cbef42c2">a series of lawsuits</a>&nbsp;alleging the companies deceived the public about how fossil fuels contribute to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>.

Governments around the country have sought damages totaling billions of dollars, arguing it's necessary to help pay for rebuilding after wildfires, rising sea levels and severe storms worsened by climate change. The lawsuits come amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/youth-climate-change-lawsuit-montana-7c4b6261f610d504995743f7320533e8">a wave of legal actions</a>&nbsp;in states including California, Hawaii and New Jersey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5534fe18ac5352ba43c74c9a64d6a20a">and worldwide</a>&nbsp;seeking to leverage action through the courts.

Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil appealed to the Supreme Court after Colorado’s highest court let the Boulder case proceed. The companies argue emissions are a national issue that should be heard in federal court, where similar suits have been tossed out.

“The use of state law to address global climate change represents a serious threat to one of our Nation’s most critical sectors,” attorneys wrote.

President Donald Trump's administration weighed in to support the companies and urge the justices to reverse the Colorado Supreme Court decision, saying it would mean “every locality in the country could sue essentially anyone in the world for contributing to global climate change.”

Trump, a Republican, has criticized the lawsuits in an executive order, and the Justice Department has sought to head some off in court.

Attorneys for Boulder had agued that the litigation is still in early stages and should stay in state court. “There is no constitutional bar to states addressing in-state harms caused by out-of-state conduct, be it the negligent design of an automobile or sale of asbestos,” they wrote.

Supreme Court to hear oil companies' plea to end climate change lawsuits

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest.

Just after 9a.m.&nbsp; February 20, police arrested 27-year-old Tyrea Stewart of Junction City in the 100 block of Courthouse Plaza in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report. 

Stewart is being without bond for two Riley County District Court warrants for probation violation. The arrest stems from original charges of endangering a child, driving under the influence, improper child passenger safety restraint and transportation of liquor in an open container.&nbsp;

Police: Kan. man accused of DUI with child in the car

SHAWNEE COUNTY —A man wanted in connection with the November shooting death of a 16-year-old Kansas boy is in custody. Just before 9p.m. Sunday, police booked 20-year-old&nbsp; Nassir Tiriq Gill into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, according to online jail records.&nbsp; Police have not released details on the circumstances of his arrest.

On Friday, police asked the public for help to locate him in connection with the November killing of 16-year-old Kingston Scott.

Just before 1a.m. November 22, 2025,&nbsp; police responded to several reports of gunshots around SE 37th Street and SE Adams Street in Topeka. While officers were investigating that area, they received information on a subject arriving at a local hospital by private vehicle with apparent gunshot wounds. The victim later identified as Kingston Scott of Topeka was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

As a result of the investigation police have already arrested two 16-year-old boys from Topeka on&nbsp;&nbsp;charges including murder, Criminal discharge of firearm; Occupied vehicle with great bodily harm and Aggravated Assault; Use of a deadly weapon.

&nbsp;Gill is being held on requested charges of&nbsp; Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated, Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony. Murder in the 1st degree; Intentional and premeditated, Criminal discharge of firearm; Occupied vehicle w great bodily harm, Criminal discharge of firearm; Recklessly at occupied dwelling and Criminal damage to property; Without consent value &lt; $1000, according to online jail records.

Suspect in murder of 16-year-old Kan. boy is in custody

SOCORRO, Texas (AP) — In a Texas town at the edge of the Rio Grande and a tall metal border wall, rumors swirled that federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/immigration">immigration</a>&nbsp;officials wanted to purchase three hulking warehouses to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigrant-detention-warehouses-ice-trump-51ad28e6b1e1c3fa60a38029d932aeeb">transform into a detention center.</a>

As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigrant-detention-warehouses-ice-trump-a4a71226409cd9fedc9aa5de5ec90654">local officials scrambled</a>&nbsp;to find out what was happening, a deed was filed showing the Department of Homeland Security had already inked a $122.8 million deal for the 826,000-square-foot (76,738-square-meter) warehouses in Socorro, a bedroom community of 40,000 people outside El Paso.

“Nobody from the federal government bothered to pick up the phone or even send us any type of correspondence letting us know what’s about to take place,” said Rudy Cruz Jr., the mayor of the predominantly Hispanic town of low-slung ranch homes and trailer parks, where orchards and irrigation ditches share the landscape with strip malls, truck stops, recycling plants and distribution warehouses.

Socorro is among at least 20 communities with large warehouses across the U.S. that have become stealth targets for Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s $45-billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-detention-louisiana-trump-3db72b138d1a6ee8a7bb5388669a1666">expansion of detention centers</a>.

As&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-immigration-ice-minneapolis-deportation-42aff472ccf1ecd7b92ba0c90469c9e7">public support</a>&nbsp;for the agency and President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/election-republicans-minnesota-immigration-homeland-ice-5fe9c40236203703751c6274f8da435f">sags,</a>&nbsp;communities are objecting to mass detentions and raising concerns that the facilities could strain water supplies and other services while reducing local tax revenue. In many cases, mayors, county commissioners, governors and members of Congress learned about ICE’s ambitions only after the agency bought or leased space for detainees, leading to shock and frustration even in areas that have backed Trump.

“I just feel,” said Cruz, whose wife was born in Mexico, “that they do these things in silence so that they don’t get opposition.”

ICE, which is part of DHS, has purchased at least seven warehouses in Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas, signed deeds show. Other deals have been announced but not yet finalized, though buyers scuttled sales in eight locations.

DHS objected to calling the sites warehouses, stressing in a statement that they would be “very well structured detention facilities meeting our regular detention standards.”

The process has been chaotic at times. ICE this past week acknowledged it made a “mistake” when it announced warehouse purchases in Chester, New York, and Roxbury, New Jersey. Roxbury then announced Friday that the sale there had closed.

DHS has confirmed it is looking for more detention space but hasn’t disclosed individual sites ahead of acquisitions. Some cities learned that ICE was scouting warehouses through reporters. Others were tipped off by a spreadsheet circulating online among activists whose source is unclear.

It wasn’t until Feb. 13 that the scope of the warehouse project was confirmed, when the governor’s office in New Hampshire, where there is backlash to a planned 500-bed processing center, released a document from ICE showing the agency plans to spend $38.3 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-detention-facilities-expansion-warehouses-c61c3e23c4246e94a760b4d979cb9c48">to boost detention capacity to 92,000 beds</a>.

Since Trump took office, the number of people detained by ICE has increased to 75,000 from 40,000, spread across more than 225 sites.

ICE could use the warehouses to consolidate and to increase capacity. The document describes a project that includes eight large-scale detention centers, capable of housing 7,000 to 10,000 detainees each, and 16 smaller regional processing centers. The document also refers to the acquisition of 10 existing “turnkey” facilities.

The project is funded through&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-sign-tax-cut-bill-july-4-3804df732e461a626fd8c2b43413c3f0">the big tax and spending cuts bill</a>&nbsp;passed by Congress last year that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-ice-deportation-budget-be983b14f60a5cdfc17af7cf0307f1c9">nearly doubled DHS’ budget.</a>&nbsp;To build the detention centers, the Trump administration is using military contracts.

Those contracts allow a lot of secrecy and for DHS to move quickly without following the usual processes and safeguards, said Charles Tiefer, a professor emeritus of law at the University of Baltimore Law School.

Socorro facility could be among the largest

In Socorro, the ICE-owned warehouses are so large that 4 1/2 Walmart Supercenters could fit inside, standing in contrast to the remnants of the austere Spanish colonial and mission architecture that defines the town.

At a recent City Council meeting, public comments stretched for hours. “I think a lot of innocent people are getting caught up in their dragnet,” said Jorge Mendoza, an El Paso County retiree whose grandparents immigrated from Mexico.

Many speakers invoked concerns about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-immigration-detention-death-texas-f04b5cb76f175255e58b947f0e14bc12">three recent deaths</a>&nbsp;at an ICE detention facility at the nearby Fort Bliss Army base.

Even communities that backed Trump in 2024 have been caught off guard by ICE’s plans and have raised concerns.

In rural Pennsylvania’s Berks County, commissioner Christian Leinbach called the district attorney, the sheriff, the jail warden and the county’s head of emergency services when he first heard ICE might buy a warehouse in Upper Bern Township, 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from his home.

A few days later, a local official in charge of land records informed him that ICE had bought the building —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.loopnet.com/viewer/pdf?file=https%3a%2f%2fimages1.loopnet.com%2fd2%2f7i2RZgAWTM0ps1PuIY386PsUTrc8NDygNcAeBSipteA%2fMarketing%2520BrochureFlyer.pdf" target="_blank">promoted</a>&nbsp;by developers as a “state-of-the art logistics center” — for $87.4 million.

“There was absolutely no warning,” Leinbach said during a meeting in which he raised concerns that turning the warehouse into a federal facility means a loss of more than $800,000 in local tax dollars.

ICE has touted the income taxes its workers would pay, though the facilities themselves will be exempt from property taxes.

A Georgia detention center could house twice the population of the city where it’s located

In Social Circle, Georgia, which also strongly supported Trump in 2024, officials were stunned by ICE’s plans for a facility that could hold 7,500 to 10,000 people after first learning about it through a reporter.

The city, which has a population of just 5,000 and worries about the infrastructure needs for such a detention center, only heard from DHS after the $128.6 million sale of a 1 million-square-foot (92,900-square-meter) warehouse was completed. Like Socorro and Berks County, Social Circle questioned whether the water and sewage system could keep up.

ICE has said it did due diligence to ensure the sites don’t overwhelm city utilities. But Social Circle said the agency’s analysis relied on a yet-to-be built sewer treatment plant.

“To be clear, the City has repeatedly communicated that it does not have the capacity or resources to accommodate this demand, and no proposal presented to date has demonstrated otherwise,” the city said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.socialcirclega.gov/Home/Components/News/News/241/16" target="_blank">a statement</a>.

And in the Phoenix suburb of Surprise, officials sent a scathing letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after ICE without warning bought a massive warehouse in a residential area about a mile from a high school. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, raised the prospect of going to court to have the site declared a public nuisance.

Back in Socorro, people waiting to speak against the ICE facility spilled out of the City Council chambers, some standing beside murals paying tribute to the World War II-era Braceros Program that allowed Mexican farmworkers to be guest workers in the U.S. The program stoked Socorro’s economy and population before President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deportations-immigration-gop-147d96fd00aa4c56e2cbe6074eceb874">in the 1950s</a>&nbsp;began mass deportations aimed at people who had crossed the border illegally.

Eduardo Castillo, formerly an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, told city officials it is intimidating but “not impossible” to challenge the federal government.

“If you don’t at least try,” he said, “you will end up with another inhumane detention facility built in your jurisdiction and under your watch.”

Hollingsworth reported from Kansas City, Missouri. Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, also contributed.

ICE quietly buying warehouses for detention centers and leaving local officials out of the loop

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating and searching for a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred October 23 at Dr. Glen Dey Park, located at 2801 N. Grove in Wichita.&nbsp; Crime Stoppers is offering a $10,000 reward in the case.  Police indicated they have only received very few tips on the investigation since the crime occurred.

At approximately 7:03 p.m. an off-duty WPD detective working secondary employment at&nbsp; the park heard multiple gunshots from another area of the park. The detective immediately ran toward the scene and found 32-year-old Travon Stewart suffering from gunshot wounds.

The detective called for backup and emergency medical services, then began life-saving measures until EMS arrived. Stewart was transported to a local hospital in extremely critical condition and later died from his injuries.

Preliminary findings indicate that around 200 to 300 people were in attendance at the football games. Stewart was at the park selling concessions as a fundraiser for a football team not affiliated with the Wichita Junior Football League.

Homicide investigators responded to the scene and interviewed witnesses who remained in the area. Detectives believe this was a targeted shooting and not connected to the youth football games.

Anyone who attended the games or may have information is urged to contact the Wichita Police Department Investigations Section at 316-268-4407.&nbsp;

After 4 months, no arrest in deadly Kan. youth football game shooting

The security alert continues across Mexico. Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran reminded Kansans his office is available to help.

On social media Moran wrote. "U.S. citizens in many cities in Mexico are being directed by the State Department to shelter in place due to cartel violence. If you’re a Kansan in Mexico in need of assistance, please reach out to my office&nbsp;by calling&nbsp;202-224-6521&nbsp;or emailing casework@moran.senate.gov "

The&nbsp;State Department also offers the Smart Travel Enrollment Program – a free service that allows U.S. citizens to enroll their trip abroad so the department can accurately and quickly contact them in case of emergency.
&nbsp;
Learn more:&nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/oKOmlXDWSO" target="_blank">https://mx.usembassy.gov/security-alert-update-ongoing-security-operations-u-s-mission-mexico-february-22-2026/</a>

According to the alert from the U.S. State Deparatment, Broad areas, including the state of Jalisco (including Puerto Vallarta, Chapala, and Guadalajara), the state of Baja California (including Tijuana, Tecate, and Ensenada), the state of Quintana Roo (including Cancún, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum), the state of Nayarit (including the Nuevo Nayarit/Nuevo Vallarta area near Puerto Vallarta), Sinaloa (including Mazatlán), and areas of the states of Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Estado de México, Michoacán, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.

Event: Due to ongoing security operations and resulting road blockages and criminal activity, U.S. citizens located in various locations across Mexico are advised to shelter in place. U.S. government personnel in Guadalajara (Jalisco), Puerto Vallarta (Jalisco/Nayarit), Ciudad Guzmán (Jalisco), Cancún (Quintana Roo), Playa del Carmen (Quintana Roo), Cozumel (Quintana Roo), Reynosa (Tamaulipas), Tijuana (Baja California), and Michoacán will shelter in place and work remotely on Monday, February 23, and U.S. citizens should do the same.



All U.S. government personnel at the U.S. Consulate General in Monterrey have been instructed to remain within the Monterrey metropolitan area, and U.S. government personnel have been ordered not to travel to Mazatlán until Wednesday, February 25.

Although no airports have been closed, road blockages have impacted airline operations, and the majority of domestic and international flights have been canceled in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta. 

All transportation services in Puerto Vallarta have been suspended. Some businesses have suspended operations.

Mexican authorities announced on the afternoon of February 22 that toll highway operations in Puebla, Guerrero, Tamaulipas, Nayarit, San Luis Potosí, Tijuana, Querétaro, Veracruz, and Mazatlán will be temporarily restricted due to blockages affecting motorists.

Actions to take: 
- Seek shelter and minimize unnecessary travel. 
- Avoid areas near police activity. 
- Check <a href="https://x.com/CAPUFE">@CAPUFE</a> on X for updates on road closures. 
- Monitor local media for updated information. 
- Follow the instructions of local authorities and, in case of emergency, call 911. 
- Keep family and friends informed of your location and well-being through phone calls, text messages, and social media.

Cartel violence: Senator Moran's office assisting Kansans in Mexico

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating a weekend homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

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