With bitter cold and snow in the forecast Friday through Sunday there could be postponements and cancellations.

JC Post will maintain an updated list right here.

To submit a postponement or cancellation send it to dewey.terrill@eaglemedia.com or&nbsp; to this link.&nbsp;

<a href="http://jcpostclosings@eaglemedia.com">jcpostclosings@eaglemedia.com</a>

--Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 will be closed on Monday, January 26, 2026. All athletic and after school activities are canceled.

--JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Geary County Schools USD 475 will be closed on Monday, Jan. 26 due to the winter weather in the area. All athletic and after-school activities have been canceled. We look forward to seeing our students and staff back in our schools on Tuesday, Jan. 27.&nbsp;&nbsp;

--Due to continuing weather conditions, Fort Riley&nbsp;will&nbsp;delay normal operations, with a 9:30 a.m. work call for Soldiers and civilians Monday.&nbsp;Individuals should verify reporting times with supervisors.

Irwin Army Community Hospital and all medical and dental clinics will be open with all services available. Patients can reschedule appointments by calling 785-239-3627.

Child Development Centers will open at 8 a.m. The 24-hour gyms will be open, and all other fitness centers will open at 9:30 a.m. All gates will be open Monday during normal operating hours.

--Due to the winter weather in the area, St. Francis Xavier School will be closed Monday, January 26th.

--All USD 473 Chapman schools will be closed on Monday. There will not be any evening activities.

--No school for USD 435 Abilene on Monday.

--USD 481 Rural Vista closed Monday. All activities are cancelled.

--USD 329 Wabaunsee County closed on Monday

--Fort Riley announced that all religious&nbsp;services and activities are cancelled for Sunday, Jan. 25

Four-Corners ACP closed until 5 AM on Monday, Jan. 26

-- The Dorothy Bramlage Public Library will remain closed on Sunday, Jan. 25. *Their digital library is always open. Any questions, contact Library Director Donna Porter at donnap@jclib.org.&nbsp;

-- Fort Riley - In person-Religious Support services are cancelled for Sunday, Jan. 25.

--LWGC Healthy Together Community Meal is cancelled for Monday Jan. 26.

--All shooting ranges at Sportsman’s Acres near Milford Lake will be closed this weekend, 24 and 25 January due to forecast extreme cold weather.

Postponements and cancellations

Just six weeks after finishing high school, Brian Walker wasn’t aiming for a high-powered job. He worked full-time at a gas station, living week to week, until a surprise phone call changed his path.

That call brought him to a flour mill and into an industry most people only think about when they buy bread. On a recent episode of the&nbsp;Wheat’s On Your Mind&nbsp;podcast, Walker talked with host Aaron Harries and Kansas Wheat CEO Justin Gilpin about the key moments in his 45-year milling career and what the wheat industry is really like.

Walker’s first job at Seaboard Allied Milling in Kansas City, Missouri, had an official title, assistant quality control manager, but the labor was hard and hands-on. He managed sample cans, moved samples through the lab and learned how wheat quality could affect everything from flour performance to baking consistency.

The schedule was even tougher than the work itself. Walker said he had to be there whenever the mill was running, even on weekends. In his first weeks, the mill shipped flour overseas in 140-pound jute bags and Walker worked six straight weeks without a day off, earning $4 an hour.

The job was demanding, but it gave Walker a close look at the wheat supply chain. Early on, he learned about crop surveys, wheat types and baking tests, building the skills that later took him to a 20-week course at the American Institute of Baking in Manhattan.

As Walker moved through jobs at Seaboard, Cargill, Ardent Mills, and Miller Milling, he watched the industry change through consolidation. He saw the early 1980s as a turning point, when more companies were bought out and competition became more strategic.

The changes went beyond new owners. Walker explained that consolidation also changed how people talked about crop quality. Millers used to meet and share information, but that became less common.

“All the millers would come openly talk about the crop, talk about the quality, where the issues were, where the opportunities were,” Walker said. “By the time 85, 86 rolled around… it became clear that… the work that you did on the crop, you kept to yourself and you used that as a competitive edge for your company.”

As the baking industry modernized, Walker said the pace and pressure increased. Big commercial bakeries ran longer and faster, needing more consistent wheat. At the same time, bakers started using new ingredients, moving away from potassium bromate to such as enzymes, which changed how they kept dough strong and loaves high quality.

These pressures affected farmers, too. Walker said that better wheat varieties, disease control, and new breeding tools helped the industry keep milling quality steady, especially as food safety issues like fusarium head blight and vomitoxin became bigger concerns.

Now living in Minnesota, Walker is still active in the wheat industry. He works with the National Wheat Foundation, stays involved with the Wheat Quality Council, and consults for U.S. Wheat Associates, which keeps him connected to both American farmers and flour customers around the world.

At the end of the episode, Walker shared the most important lesson since his early days in the mill: show up, work hard, and stay involved.

“You got to be willing to work. And you need to work hard,” Walker said. “Be involved… it’s a people business.”

Wheat quality and flour milling: Lessons from Brian Walker

Republic-Washington-Marshall-Nemaha-Brown-Cloud-Clay-Riley-
Pottawatomie-Jackson-Jefferson-Ottawa-Dickinson-Geary-Morris-
Wabaunsee-Shawnee-Douglas-Lyon-Osage-Franklin-Coffey-Anderson-
Including the cities of McFarland, McLouth, Eskridge, Council
Grove, Carbondale, Seneca, Clifton, Belleville, Linn, Garnett,
Washington, Paxico, Sabetha, Blue Rapids, Alma, Nortonville,
Grantville, Concordia, Emporia, Frankfort, St. Marys, Abilene,
Clay Center, Perry, Maple Hill, Oskaloosa, Horton, Burlingame,
Ottawa, Wamego, Bennington, Harveyville, Hiawatha, Holton,
Minneapolis, Hanover, Herington, Burlington, Manhattan, Lebo,
Topeka, Meriden, Lyndon, Greenleaf, Marysville, Junction City,
Osage City, Lawrence, Alta Vista, Overbrook, and Valley Falls
235 AM CST Sun Jan 25 2026

..

COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON CST MONDAY...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 22 below.

* WHERE...Portions of central, east central, north central, and
  northeast Kansas.

* 

 IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 20 below zero
  could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes.&nbsp;

Cold Weather Advisory

Snow will remain light and powdery. Winds remain just 5-10 mph from the northeast to north. ●

 Snow is likely areawide early this evening but diminishes from northwest to southeast later tonight into Sunday morning. ○ 

Most likely amounts ■ North-central and northeast Kansas: &lt;1”-2” ■ East-central Kansas: 1-4” with the heavy totals southeast of Interstate 35.&nbsp;

Snow update from the National Weather Service

State of Emergency Declared – What This Means for Junction City 

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GovLauraKelly?__cft__[0]=AZaNSXSwAZnen8C0cg5rkWdQaq18542kv8SyzoyT1-2VoprSXtnuPFzLWBMAkqidtbHLIJZyojcG64XNYN7CwgWO7bJnJ_hmPQLIzH1h5bYVvks2bSVdsj2YhIGnEpQB6fPqWF3xJuXVil01o1_UsZHayE0oum5NyqggnH8o2uyxV-qoFjfTfqOwxx-M6w8Uh6lyMYx8MeaqzJfQhszvJLPqLMQTnofkwZ7I8Q8VXrioWQ&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Governor Laura Kelly</a>as declared a State of Emergencyon Friday due to the winter storm this weekend.&nbsp;

What does this mean for the city and our citizens?

 What this means for the City• Allows for city and county collaboration to request state resources if extra support is needed• Helps speed up coordination with KDOT, emergency services, and utility partners• Gives flexibility to respond quickly to changing conditions• Ensures emergency responders can focus on public safety first

 What this means for YOU• No immediate changes to daily life — but travel may be strongly discouraged during the storm• Roads conditions will vary as the storm progresses - please be patient as we work to keep our city as safe as possible. • Emergency response may take longer during peak storm conditions• Staying off the roads helps keep first responders and plow crews safe

 How you can help?• Avoid non-essential travel• Move vehicles off streets when possible to allow plows full access - the city has granted special permission for vehicles that do not fit in driveways to be temporarily parked on lawns during the snow event only. • Check on neighbors who may need assistance• Stay tuned to official City updates for real-time informationThank you for working with us and helping keep Junction City safe during this storm 

City addresses State of Emergency

Editor's note: The Kansas Department of Labor did not publish separate reports for the October and November due to the government shutdown.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information (LMI) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8% in December, according to a media release from KDOL.&nbsp; This is unchanged from 3.8% in November and unchanged from 3.8% in December 2024. The labor force participation rate for Kansas increased to 67.5% in December.

The unemployment rate in Riley County is up slightly from 2.8 percent in November to 2.9 percent in December.&nbsp; The rate in Geary County is also up from 4 percent to 4.2 percent. The rate is also up slightly in Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee County.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 4,500 from November. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 5,000 over the month, while government increased by 500. The largest job gains in the private sector were in&nbsp;financial activities&nbsp;(+600 jobs). The largest decrease was in trade, transportation, and utilities&nbsp;(-2,100 jobs).

Since December 2024 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have decreased by 1,400. This change is due to an increase of 400 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,800 government jobs.

Technical Note:This release includes nonfarm jobs and labor force estimates for December 2025, which are produced using data from two monthly surveys. Data for nonfarm job estimates is collected through a survey of employers while the main input for labor force estimates is a survey of households. Data collected for this report references the week including December 12.

Jobless rate up just slightly across the region

Recap – Olathe South 57, Junction City 51

In the championship game of the 53rd annual Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament, the Olathe South Falcons beat the Junction City Blue Jays 57–51.

Olathe South won the opening tip and scored the first basket of the game, but Junction City immediately followed with back-to-back baskets and led 4–2 early. The Falcons then went on a run for the rest of the first quarter and finished the period with a layup at the buzzer to lead 20–9 at the end of the first quarter.

In second-quarter action, both teams’ defenses settled in, and Olathe South led 29–19 at halftime.

The third quarter is when the Falcons took off. Olathe South started the quarter on a 9–2 run and jumped out to a 17-point lead at 38–21. The Blue Jays’ shots were not falling, and Olathe South was outrebounding Junction City on both ends of the floor. The Falcons held that 17-point lead and went up 42–25 at the end of three.

In the fourth quarter, Olathe South grew the lead to 20 points at 47–27 with six minutes to go. Junction City head coach Easton Burgardt called a timeout to try to rally the Blue Jays, who then trailed 51–32. The timeout worked. The Blue Jays went on a huge run thanks to full-court pressure and defense leading to offense. Junction City got several steals down the stretch and cut the lead to five, trailing 53–48 with 1:04 to go in the game. The Blue Jays played the foul game down the stretch, and the Falcons missed both free throws. Junction City had a chance to cut the deficit to one possession, but the Blue Jays could not convert, and Olathe South then made its next four free throws. The Falcons won 57–51 and captured their third mid-season tournament championship in Spring Hill. Junction City placed second in the Spring Hill Invitational Tournament for the second time.

Junction City’s Lovell Autry finished with 18 points, while Khaliel Walker added 12 points, the only two Blue Jays in double digits.

The Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was senior Jackson Hollie, who scored six points. Hollie played well on both ends of the floor and grabbed several rebounds for the Blue Jays. (For being the Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Jackson Hollie receives a $20 free meal coupon to Blu Restaurant, located at 602 N. Washington in Junction City.)

Junction City falls to 7–6 on the year and will host Topeka-Highland Park on Tuesday at the Blue Jay Event Center.

In the Spring Hill Invitational Tournament, Junction City had two players earn All-Tournament honors.

Senior Lovell Autry and junior Brody Boeckman were both selected to the All-Tournament Team. Autry scored in double digits in all three games, and Boeckman scored in double digits in two of the three games.

Blue Jays finish 2nd in Spring Hill Tournament, Two Players earn Honors

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Jerry Moran has secured a $5 million-dollar federal investment for the Kansas State University Research Reactor (KSURR) project.

His staff noted that this federal investment will support the project’s work to restore and enhance the facility through upgrading infrastructure, completing licensing updates and expanding research capabilities to support advanced nuclear research, workforce development and national energy priorities.

Congress has passed the legislation, and it has been sent to the President to be signed into law.

Sen. Moran Announces Federal Investment for Kansas State University Nuclear Engineering Program

&nbsp; Hospitals in Topeka and Junction City (Flint Hills Campus) remain open and operating during inclement weather. They have 24/7 Emergency Departments available to care for emergent needs.&nbsp;

TheTopeka Express Cares plan to remain open during regular hours on Saturday (Jan. 24) and Sunday (Jan. 25) from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

• Flint Hills Walk-In Services in Junction City plan to remain open during regular hours Saturday (Jan. 24) and Sunday (Jan. 25) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  • Patients with Monday (Jan. 26) appointments are encouraged to consider switching to a telehealth visit, if possible. Contact your provider or visit MyChart. 

The Nurse Information Line is available at Stormont Vail's Health Connections at (785) 354-5225 to assist with health questions and information.&nbsp;

Stormont Vail Health Operations During Inclement Weather

The Junction City Blue Jays are playing in the 53rd annual Spring Hill Invitational Basketball Tournament Championship game today.&nbsp;

Junction City (7-5) vs Olathe South (7-6). Both teams went 2-0 in pool play. *The championship game will be played at 3:00 p.m.&nbsp;

You can hear the championship game on 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio. You can also <a href="https://streamdb9web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KJCKAM">hear the game by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>

Junction City is looking for their first Spring Hill Invitational Tournament championship. Olathe South has won two championships, including in 2024, when they beat the Blue Jays 64-55 in the championship game at Spring Hill High School.&nbsp;

🏀 LISTEN LIVE: Junction City vs Olathe South in Mid-Season Tournament Championship Game

NASA’s giant new moon rocket, Artemis II, moved to the launch pad Jan. 17, in preparation for astronauts’ first fly-around the moon in more than half a century. The out-and-back trip could blast off as early as February.

The trip will send astronauts farther than any crew has traveled.  Last spring we visited with the pilot of the mission, Victor Glover.

He was selected as an astronaut in 2013 and most recently served as pilot of the Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft which flew to the International Space Station.  Here is our interview with NASA astronaut Victor Glover.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;&nbsp;Welcome again to "Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times" with a special guest from Houston, astronaut Victor.&nbsp;Thanks for being on our program today.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Thanks, Gary, great to be here. Thanks for&nbsp;having me.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;&nbsp;You know, one of the things I know that we talk about on this program is leadership. You have walked in space four times. I believe you've been on the space station. You've lived up there for a while. What puts you in position?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;You know, from a leadership, from a career standpoint, to be in the astronaut program, I love talking about leadership.&nbsp;I love the subject and, well, I think a part of it would be following having a bunch of great leaders to work with and look up to. 

Initially, when you're put into a leadership position, you can freestyle it, or you can mimic what you've seen. So I would say some great leaders do imitate. 

I worked for some amazing people. My squadron commanders, I worked for John McCain for almost a year. Charlie Bolden, who ran NASA, but he was a Marine Corps general when I worked for him the first time, and so I think that's a big part of it, having some really amazing leaders to look up to in the beginning.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Were there some key moments in your career that kind of turned you towards being an astronaut?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Key moments? Wow. I was in college, tutoring for a program, and loved working with kids, teaching engineering, and felt like I really had found my calling. I was considering the military and teaching at the time.

So my boss in that program, thinking she was going to help, really set the hook for being an educator, had me meet the executive director of this program.

I went up to the University of California office, and I walk in his office, and there's a constellation of our solar system and a rocket. And he sees me, leans back in his chair, he takes his glasses off and sets it on a book.

I shake his hand, and sit down, and he taps on that book. And he says, you see that right there? That's how I live my dreams of space exploration and flying. And he says, You have a chance to go fly in the Navy. Go do it, and if anything else, it'll make you a better educator. 

That conversation, which was that quick, really turned my thinking. I've always loved education and the impact we can have on young people, but that really helped me get comfortable with the idea of going and starting this Navy journey, which, you know, lots of other decisions on the way, but that was the big one, whether or not to leave college and go be an educator or to go serve in the military.

Gary Shorman: In our story, you talk to students about that. I'm sure you make those choices, make those things that can change your life. You've done that.

You had a chance to be at the space station, walk in space. Let's talk a little bit about that. What did it feel like to step outside the spaceship and just go shooting? I see space right there that has to be a breathtaking experience.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;That is it? It is breathtaking because you don't know what it's going to feel like when you first get out there. The advice I received that really just kept repeating in my head was, "Keep your world small."

 One of my classmates said to me, and so I just focused on right what was in front of my face, my hands and the handrail, where I'm going next. And so it took me about three hours before I felt like, OK.

I kind of got the hang of this. I'm going to start looking around and maybe taking some pictures. Actually, on my first spacewalk, I did not take a single picture. There were no selfies to be taken on. it, but it was busy. 

I'll tell you, that's what it is. You're busy. When you're outside, there's a lot to be done, and it all requires intense focus. 

I&nbsp;wrestled in college, and I think space walking has a lot in common with wrestling, even though it may be physical in a different way. It's very physical. It's very three-dimensional.

Your success requires you to integrate the three dimensions and to think about what's coming next. And that's very true in wrestling and space walks. It's so challenging. It's busy physically and mentally.

But most importantly, you're working with a team. And that team, Mike Hopkins, who had been out on a spacewalk before, and led our first one, the first one I went on, and also the ground team, they all helped to make that possible. 

But that first moment when you look out, and you can see that for real, there are just no words to describe it. We train in a pool where you can see the bottom of the pool. When you look out, and it's 250 miles straight down, you go, "Wow! this is amazing and special. But also, what am I doing?"

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Letting go to actually float would have to be one of those experiences that you can think about, and I can say, "Boy, that'd be hard to do." But letting go when you're out there, and you see that space out there, that's amazing. What did it feel like when you were named to be on the Artemis mission?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Ah, wow. It's interesting, because people ask about the excitement, and excitement is a part of it. But the professionals who do what I do, understand the risks associated with this.

There's a lot of software, a lot of pieces and parts to this, hardware, lots of people. This is made all over the country, in all 50 states of the Union, and then also parts overseas. 

And it all has to work flawlessly the first time for the duration of the mission. 

So we understand the risk. And so I would say the overriding feeling was, first of all shocked, because I didn't expect to be on this mission, so I was a little shocked. But then also, I know focus isn't a feeling, but the seriousness, that's my overriding feeling, was the seriousness of this. 

This means a lot for our country, for our agency, for our Artemis Accords, international partners, and it's risky. My family is going to have to go on this journey with&nbsp;me. We have a lot to get done in the next couple of years. And so, yeah, profundity, if it's a if that's an emotion, it was profundity.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;If you look at 50 years since we've had a mission like this, and you'll be the first one to head to the moon, there's more to it than just circling the moon, though. Tell us a little bit more about the long-term plans for the Artemis mission.

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Artemis is our generation's deep-space exploration program. It's not just the Moon Program. We're going to make sure this Orion capsule is safe for humans to fly, so that we can fly it to eventually dock to a lunar lander.

That will get us to the surface of the moon, or to a gateway space station that's orbiting the moon. Both of those things are going to enable future technologies and future techniques and future teams to go beyond the moon on to Mars.

And continue to understand, maybe, how the Earth looked in its past, or where we may be headed in the future, if we don't take better care of our planet. 

So the Artemis program is a big campaign. The moon is just one destination, and that's our mission. Our mission is to do the free return trajectory around the moon, but really to test out Orion as one big step on this journey that's going to eventually get humans to Mars.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;Orion is your spaceship, and you'll be the pilot of that as you approach the moon and circle the moon. What are you going to be looking for?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;Oh, wow. So there's a potential. The region of the moon, what we would call the Western Hemisphere, looking at it from Earth on the far side. That part has not been completely seen by human eyes, and I just learned that recently.

So the fact that there's a potential for us to see something that's never been seen before, that's amazing. 

But no matter what, even if it's completely dark, to look out the window of the spacecraft and to look at the moon in the foreground, and then see the Earth in the background, in the distance, a quarter of a million miles away, with my crewmates, Reed, Cristina, and Jeremy. I don't know what that's going to feel like, but I'm looking forward to that. That's going to be amazing.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;I hope you send us pictures back, Victor.&nbsp; I know you're short on time because you have a lot of people and you have a lot of training to do. That has to be intense training, because there are so many moving parts, as you say, that intensity, that focus it takes. How many hours a day do you train?

Victor Glover:&nbsp;So we will start training next month, and I imagine it's going to be chock full. I think they're going to schedule our days full. And you know, while some of it will be technical training, some of it will be continuing to engage the public, like we are now.

But also, we will be engaging the team that's developing the hardware or building hardware and software, and thanking them for their hard work and letting them know how much we count on their technical expertise. And so they're going to keep us busy. Gary, you can be best believe we'll have some full days until launch.

Gary Shorman:&nbsp;I can't wait to see how this all develops. Look forward to it, and maybe again later on, once you're back, get a chance to follow up on that. But Victor, thanks for being on our program.

🎥 Forward Ever: Astronaut Victor Glover discusses Artemis II mission to moon

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a chase and arrest with a stolen vehicle.

Just before&nbsp;&nbsp;1:30 a.m. Jan. 22, a sheriff's deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a gray 2025 Ford SUV, that was recently reported stolen through the City of Topeka, near Interstate 70&nbsp; and SE Adams Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 The driver refused to stop and initiated a pursuit. The vehicle pursuit ended in the 1900 block of South Kansas Avenue and the driver fled the scene on foot. A K-9 Unit located the suspect exiting a nearby creek and wooded area. He was taken into custody without further incident.

Joshua S. Bessette, 45, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Jail on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stolen vehicle, Possession of stolen property; value $25,000 to $100,000 and Interference with LEO; knowingly flee by means other than motor vehicle for felony case.

Sheriff's K9 helps track down Kansas stolen car suspect 

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — American rock climber Alex Honnold ascended the Taipei 101 skyscraper on Sunday without any ropes or protective equipment.

Cheers erupted from a street-level crowd as he reached the top of the spire of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower about 90 minutes after he started. Wearing a red short-sleeve shirt, Honnold waved his arms back and forth over his head.

“It was like what a view, it’s incredible, what a beautiful day,” he said afterward. “It was very windy, so I was like, don’t fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But it was, what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei.”

Honnold, known for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/movies-travel-ff106c6b8ad54702bdcaab40988b0ad7">his ropeless ascent</a>&nbsp;up Yosemite National Park’s El Capitan, climbed up one corner of Taipei 101 using small L-shaped outcroppings as footholds. Periodically, he had to maneuver around and clamber up the sides of large ornamental structures that jut out from the tower, pulling himself up with his bare hands.

The building has 101 floors, with the hardest part being the 64 floors of the middle section — the “bamboo boxes” that give the building its signature look. Divided into eight, each segment has eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balconies, where he took short rests as he made his way upward.

Honnold's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alex-honnold-taipei-101-climb-netflix-0709f4d062923a09ff6da3786131fdd0">free solo climb of the iconic building</a>&nbsp;in Taiwan's capital city was broadcast live on Netflix with a 10-second delay. The ascent, originally scheduled for Saturday, was delayed for 24 hours due to rain.

Having a cheering crowd was unusual and a bit unnerving at first for Honnold, whose climbs are usually in remote areas.

“When I was leaving the ground, you're like oh it’s kind of intense, there’s so many people watching,” he said. “But then honestly, they’re all wishing me well. I mean basically it just makes the whole experience feel almost more festive, all these nice people are out supporting me and having a good time.”

The climb drew both excitement and concern over the ethical implications of attempting such a high-risk endeavor on live broadcast.

Honnold isn't the first climber to ascend Taipei 101, but he is the first to do so without a rope. French rock climber Alain Robert scaled the building on Christmas Day in 2004 as part of the grand opening of what was then the world’s tallest building.

Associated Press video journalist Taijing Wu and writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed.

American rock climber reaches top of Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes

It’s been a year since a measles outbreak began in West Texas, and international health authorities say they will meet in April to determine if the U.S. has lost its measles-free designation.

Experts fear the vaccine-preventable virus has regained a foothold and that the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/canada-loses-measles-elimination-status-1ac3a4bdc7546fac5d8e111bf5196e1e">may soon follow Canada</a>&nbsp;in losing the achievement of having eliminated it.

The reevaluation is largely symbolic and hinges on whether a single measles chain has spread uninterrupted within the U.S. for at least 12 months.

Public health scientists around the country are investigating whether the now-ended Texas outbreak is linked to active ones in Utah, Arizona and South Carolina. But doctors and scientists say the U.S. — and North America overall — has a measles problem, regardless of the decision.

“It is really a question of semantics,” said Dr. Jonathan Temte, a Wisconsin family physician who helped certify the U.S. was measles-free in 2000. “The bottom line is the conditions are sufficient to allow this many cases to occur. And that gets back to de-emphasizing a safe and effective vaccine.”

Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 2,144 measles cases across 44 states —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-us-texas-mmr-vaccine-rfk-144ed193e13de675a750e52a505423e9">the most since 1991</a>&nbsp;— and nearly 50 separate outbreaks.

The problem has been years in the making, as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccination-rates-cdc-kindergarten-0d261546a130dc256735d7b1ff8c6a5f">fewer kids</a>&nbsp;get routine vaccines due to parental waivers, health care access issues and rampant disinformation. More recently, Trump administration health officials have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vaccine-safety-mmr-autism-rfk-hepatitis-20d3122d7a9a339cd8447a347bd49928">questioned</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cdc-autism-vaccines-7b1890f626dd5921fafd00fdd1e6425a">sown doubt</a>&nbsp;about the established safety of vaccines at an unprecedented level while also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">defunding local efforts</a>&nbsp;to improve vaccination rates.

“The most important thing that we can do is to make sure the people who aren’t vaccinated get vaccinated,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of Brown University’s Pandemic Center. “We have not issued a clear enough message about that.”

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said Thursday that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has consistently emphasized vaccines as the best way to prevent measles, adding that the CDC is responding to outbreaks and working to increase vaccination rates.

As of Thursday, the department said it doesn't have evidence that a single chain of measles has spread for a year.

There is little room for error in trying to stop measles. The virus is one of the most contagious, infecting 9 out of every 10 unvaccinated people exposed. Community-level protection takes a 95% vaccination rate. The current rate nationally is 92.5%, according to CDC data, but many communities fall far below that.

The patient in Texas’ first known case developed the telltale rash on Jan. 20, 2025, according to state health department data.

From there, the outbreak exploded. Officially, 762 people fell ill, most of them in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">rural Gaines County</a>, and two children died. Many more got sick and were never diagnosed: 182 potential measles cases among children in Gaines County went unconfirmed in March 2025 alone, state health officials said, a possible undercount of 44% in that county.

Such data gaps are common, though, making it especially hard to track outbreaks. Many people living in communities where the virus is spreading face health care barriers and distrust the government.

Contact tracing so many cases is also expensive, said behavioral scientist Noel Brewer, who chairs the U.S. committee that will finalize the data for international health officials. Research shows&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-health-departments-723baa2b92828b04092475f4763585a6">a single measles case</a>&nbsp;can cost public health departments&nbsp;<a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/2025/estimating-the-financial-costs-of-measles-outbreaks">tens of thousands of dollars</a>.

CDC data on measles is still among the best worldwide, Brewer said, but “the U.S. has changed its investment in public health, so we’re less able to do the case tracking that we used to do.”

But that's not always enough to say the outbreaks are connected. Genetically, the measles virus doesn't change as often as, say, flu.

“Within an outbreak, everybody is going to look the same,” said Justin Lessler, a University of North Carolina disease researcher.

The key question may then be how PAHO experts will navigate final data gaps, said Dr. Andrew Pavia, a Utah physician and longtime CDC consultant.

“My best guess is we will lose elimination status,” Pavia said. “The case for this not being continuous transmission is tenuous, and I think they are likely to err on the side of declaring it a loss of elimination status.”

Scientists have confirmed the same measles strain in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, South Carolina, Canada, Mexico and several other North American countries, said Sebastian Oliel, a spokesperson for the Pan American Health Organization, which will make the final decision on U.S. measles elimination at an April 13 meeting.

Oliel said when there is a case of unknown origin in a country with ongoing local spread, “the most conservative approach is to consider the case part of the existing national transmission.”

PAHO will review Mexico's measles-free status alongside the U.S., Oliel said. That country's largest outbreak has roots in Texas. It started when an 8-year-old boy from Chihuahua state got sick after visiting family in Seminole, Texas. Since last February, 6,000 people have gotten sick in Mexico, and 21 have died in Chihuahua state.

But under PAHO's definition of elimination, borders matter. If, for example, the chain of measles that started in the U.S. spread to Mexico and then returned to the U.S. anew, it would be considered a new chain, experts said. Still, many experts call that standard outdated.

What's clear is that measles found ample fertile ground in the U.S. in 2025, infiltrating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-school-attendance-absences-0384199ace95b4088f60864ce9ec8315">schools</a>&nbsp;and day cares, churches, hospital waiting rooms and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-new-mexico-detention-facility-migrants-outbreak-c7f5897ebba85a59548d279c500adaea">a detention center</a>. New Mexico logged 100 cases and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">one adult died</a>. Kansas officials spent seven months trying to control an outbreak that sickened nearly 90 people across 10 counties. Ohio confirmed 40 cases. Montana, North Dakota and Wisconsin each had 36.

Now, more than 800 people have gotten sick across Utah, Arizona and South Carolina since late summer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-south-carolina-utah-arizona-845643cd1342f1ce2ea01d11b74ee77b">with no end in sight</a>.

“2025 was the year of measles,” Brewer said. “Will 2026 be the year of rising or falling measles cases? Does it get worse or does it get better? No one knows the answer.”

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

US is on the verge of losing its measles elimination status

JERUSALEM (AP) — Several countries have said they will join U.S. President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hamas-israel-ceasefire-netanyahu-trump-6a29026f0308ba3757c975810e2f90c4">Board of Peace</a>, while a few European&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-wars-gaza-board-of-peace-trump-1-21-2026-2f0e063d03babbd3276f31289ba5f2a2">nations have declined their invitations</a>. Many have not yet responded to Trump’s invites.

Chaired by Trump, the board was originally envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. But the Trump administration’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-board-of-peace-gaza-un-b27d17190177041865c6827acd042e56">ambitions have since expanded</a>, with Trump extending&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-trump-board-79586f87db667d61dbbd6a4e59dcb5cb">invitations to dozens of nations</a>&nbsp;and hinting at the board’s future role as conflict mediator.

A White House official has said about 30 countries were expected to join the board, without providing details, while about 50 had been invited.

Here is a tally by The Associated Press on what countries are joining, which are not and which are undecided.

Countries that have accepted invitations to join the board

Countries that will not join the board, at least for now

Countries that have been invited but remain noncommittal:

List of countries on Trump's Board of Peace and those that said no

KANSAS&nbsp; CITY– A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court last week for her role in a wire fraud conspiracy and wire fraud scheme that targeted the Missouri Lottery Commission and an area gas station, according to the United State's Attorney.

Amy Young, 42, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Douglas Harpool to 23 months imprisonment with the Bureau of Prisons based upon her prior guilty plea to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud.

Young conspired with others to employ a scheme to purchase Missouri lottery tickets using stolen and fraudulent credit cards and credit card numbers at a Joplin, Mo., gas station.&nbsp; Young and her co-conspirators made $62,082.50 in fraudulent transactions at the gas station in July and August of 2022. These transactions included the purchase of Missouri Lottery tickets. The perpetrators would send other individuals to collect any cash prizes associated with the tickets. The group fraudulently claimed $54,248 in cash prizes from the Missouri Lottery Commission. The fraudulent cash prizes and credit card transactions totaled $116,330.50.

Prison: Woman purchased lottery tickets with stolen credit cards

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a>

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate ticked higher last week, but remains near its lowest level in more than three years.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.09% from 6.06% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the rate averaged 6.96%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week. That average rate inched up to 5.44%, up from 5.38% last week. A year ago, it was at 6.16%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">interest rate policy decisions</a>&nbsp;to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year yield was at 4.27% at midday Thursday, up from 4.17% a week ago.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022,</a>&nbsp;when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. The combination of higher mortgage rates, years of skyrocketing home prices and a chronic shortage of homes nationally following more than a decade of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes remained stuck last year at 30-year lows.

Uncertainty over the economy and job market are also keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.

Still, a pullback in mortgage rates that began late last summer helped give sales of existing U.S. homes a boost toward the end of last year. In December, sales jumped 5.1% from the previous month.

As mortgage rates have eased, more homeowners have sought to refinance their existing home loan to a lower rate.

Applications for mortgage refinancing loans jumped 20% last week from the previous week and accounted for nearly 62% of all home loan applications, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for loans to buy a home rose 5%.

Economists generally expect mortgage rates to ease further this year, though most recent forecasts show the average rate on a 30-year mortgage remaining above 6%, about twice what it was six years ago.

Still, rates would have to drop considerably for homeowners, who bought or refinanced when mortgage rates hit rock bottom earlier this decade, to take on a new loan at a far higher rate.

Nearly 69% of U.S. homes with an outstanding mortgage have a fixed-rate of 5% or lower, and slightly more than half have a rate at or below 4%, according to Realtor.com.

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