Four Junction City High School Blue Jay football players signed their National Letters of Intent (NLI) on Wednesday afternoon at Junction City High School. Each athlete has now committed and signed to play college football this coming fall.

Jackson Hollie – Kansas State University, Manhattan


Jamarcus Tyson – William Jewell University, Liberty, Missouri


J’Sean Green – Kansas Wesleyan University, Salina


Kingston Timms – Butler Community College, El Dorado

Junction City High School head football coach Randall Zimmerman spoke about the four student-athletes before they signed. “These are great kids that have been raised the right way,” Coach Zimmerman said. “They are tremendous leaders in our community.”

Several students from Junction City High School were in attendance, including many football players from this year’s JCHS team. Zimmerman addressed the younger athletes in attendance, encouraging them to follow the examples set by the four signees. “These are great examples for you younger guys to follow,” Zimmerman said. “Watch them in the classroom, watch them in the hallways, watch them in the weight room, and watch how they go about their everyday lives. Then mimic it. If you do that, you’ll be in great shape.” *In the 2025 football season, Junction City went 7-3 and won the Centennial League.&nbsp;

Many family members and friends were in attendance at the Signing Day ceremony. Each player thanked their family, coaches, and the Junction City community for supporting them from the beginning.

Following each player signing their National Letter of Intent, family members were called to the stage to take photos with their student-athletes. Below are more photos from the Signing Day ceremony.

Four Junction City High School Football Players sign National Letter of Intent to play College Football

Topeka, Kan. -&nbsp;The Kansas Recreation and Parks Association recognized Joe Minick of Abilene with the Distinguished Volunteer Award during its annual awards luncheon in Topeka.At 90 years young, Minick is widely regarded as one of Kansas’ most impactful volunteers, quietly shaping some of the state’s most beloved recreation and tourism assets through decades of hands-on service, mechanical skill, and community leadership.

A diesel and automotive mechanic by trade, Minick has been instrumental in launching and sustaining the Abilene &amp; Smoky Valley Railroad, now one of Kansas’ top heritage attractions. From engineering and maintenance to the massive restoration of the Santa Fe 3415 steam locomotive, Minick played a central role in transforming a dormant relic into a working engine that continues to delight riders from across the country.

His impact extends well beyond the rails. Minick helped bring the Hoffman Grist Mill in Enterprise to life as a working 1880s-style flour mill, restored the C.W. Parker Carousel steam engine, relocated and preserved the historic Volkman log cabin at the Dickinson County Heritage Center, and assisted with the recovery and restoration of the Steamboat Arabia steam engine, now displayed at the Arabia Steamboat Museum in Kansas City.When communities across Kansas sought outdoor recreation opportunities during the pandemic, Minick once again stepped forward. As trail development costs soared, he helped create the Iron Horse Trail, a five-mile rail-trail completed for just $200,000. Today, it stands as the only rails-with-trails project in the Midwest and a model for community-driven recreation development.

Minick’s service also includes decades of volunteer leadership. He is a longtime board member of the Abilene &amp; Smoky Valley Railroad, a former Volunteer of the Year with the Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce, a recipient of Kansas Tourism’s Kansas’ Finest recognition, the Community Foundation of Dickinson County’s Quiet Hero award, and a past board member of the Dickinson County Heritage Center. Behind the scenes, he has also worked with youth completing court-mandated community service hours, offering guidance, purpose, and encouragement along the way.

“Joe Minick is proof that one person can make a lasting difference,” said representatives of the Kansas Recreation and Parks Association. “His work has strengthened communities, preserved Kansas history, and created places where people come together to learn, explore, and enjoy the outdoors.”

The Distinguished Volunteer Award honors individuals whose dedication has advanced recreation, parks, and quality of life across Kansas. For Minick, the recognition reflects a lifetime of service grounded in action, humility, and an enduring belief in community. about&nbsp;

 Kansas Recreation and Parks Association Honors Joe Minick with Distinguished Volunteer Award

&nbsp;--Portrait of a Graduate was highlighted at the USD 475 Board of Education meeting. Dr. Reginald Eggleston, Superintendent of Schools, shared his 2026 Portrait of a Graduate presentation with board members. The Portrait of a Graduate is a shared community vision that defines the knowledge and skills a USD 475 student needs to thrive in college, career and life. 

--The Board approved a new position for a part-time early childhood speech para for the remainder of the 2025-26 school year. 

The BOE agreed to send a proposed Memorandum of Agreement to the City of Milford for consideration. The Agreement would be a cooperative arrangement between the district and the City of Milford where the city would provide certain municipal services to support the operations of Milford Elementary. 

&nbsp;The Board of Education has previously requested that the district look into other options to manage USD 475’s school food service program. On Monday night, the USD 475 Board of Education approved to move forward with a request for proposal to manage the district’s school food service program. 

The Board of Education discussed a therapy dog policy on Monday night. The purpose of the policy is to establish a board-authorized requirements for the use of therapy dogs in district schools and programs, ensuring student safety, staff accountability and compliance with applicable state and federal law. This topic will be brought back to the boa

USD 475 Board of Education Report

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club will have a fundraiser on Monday, February 9 at JC's BBQ &amp; Grill from 11:00 AM until close.&nbsp; 10% of all purchases and donations received will be used to support the club's work in the community.&nbsp; 

The Optimists donate to 15 different youth organizations; The Magdalene Project; offer three scholarships to high school students and support a Junior Optimist Club at each Junction City High School and St. Xavier's Catholic Schools.&nbsp; To date the club has also donated $1,000 to "Project Lift The Burden" to help with unpaid balances for student's breakfasts and lunches in USD 475.&nbsp;

Optimist Club will host a fundraiser

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Ericka Powell, Failure to appear, arrested 02/03

Solrelys Calcano-Carrasquillo, Failure to appear, arrested 02/03

Michael Hyster, Cruelty to animals (Failure to provide food/water/shelter); Interference with LEO, Falsely report a crime - intending action on information, arrested 02/03

Lamont Ray, DUI-Liquor/Drugs (2nd offense), arrested 02/04

Geary County Booking Photos Feb. 4, 2026

&nbsp;K‑15, bridge number 062 over Chapman Creek, located 4.38 miles north of the K‑18/K‑15 east junction will be the site of a bridge replacement project.

Bridges Inc. of Newton, Kansas, got the bid of $3,995,297.28 approved by KDOT.

KDOT approves bid for Chapman Creek replacement

Fort Riley services return to normal operations on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Employees had been temporarily furloughed due to a lapse in federal appropriations.

Fort Riley civilian employees return to work

Main Street | Downtown JC Happenings | Feb 02 - Feb 08, 2026

● <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/love-local-reviews/">Love Local Reviews Campaign!</a> This Valentine season, we’re flooding our downtown
businesses with love through positive online reviews, and we’re doing giveaways as the
reviews roll in! Head to our website for a concise list of links to downtown
businesses, leave a review, screenshot it, and submit it to enter.

○ The more reviews we receive, the more giveaways we unlock!


A few kind words go a long way. Let’s show our downtown just how loved it is!

● <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/event/cups-of-culture/">Cups of Culture: Great American Sip Trip | Buy Your Tickets Here!</a> Cheers to 250
years! In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Cups of Culture: Great American
Sip Trip 2026 turns Downtown JC into a coast-to-coast tasting experience, with small
businesses serving drinks and hors d’oeuvres inspired by the flavors and traditions that
shape our nation. Stroll downtown, shop local, and sip your way across the country as we
celebrate America’s past, present, and future- perfect for date night, friends, or a group
outing. This event is for guests 21 and older.

● <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/event/taste-of-jc/">Taste of JC: Food Tour | Tickets on Sale Now!</a> Come hungry and explore! Join
Junction City Main Street for Taste of JC, a community food stroll showcasing the
flavors that make our town unique. Grab a passport and sample tasting portions from
local favorites and new vendors as you snack your way through downtown, discover new
go-to spots, and shop local along the way. All you need to bring is an appetite for good
food and good company.

<a href="https://godfreystactical.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNHs4pleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3azdKYjl2RWk5ZmtmZXd1AR7vhwSejcARqGfdIgGQkNIKI-9W1f8wAp9LA6zYmUh9BA_zvjKanVPtC7NwRw_aem_f0i9mu0uejSZDFi2oo4DVA">Did you know?</a>: Every Wednesday is Ladies Night at Godfrey’s Indoor Ranges and Tactical
Supply! And Fridays are Free Rental Friday!

<a href="https://junctioncityartscouncil.org/new-art-class-schedule-jan-feb-2026/">Junction City Arts Council: Reserve your spot today!</a>

<a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/flag-fundraiser/">Flags of Geary County:</a> “Proudly United, Community Ignited”

*Want to receive these weekly Main Street Mondays through email? Sign up to be on our
mailing list here: <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/latest-news/">https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/latest-news/</a>

<a href="https://prod3.agileticketing.net/websales/pages/info.aspx?evtinfo=987505~59c6ff9a-ee4b-4f24-81ca-9df9ebf6275d&amp;epguid=77258fea-27dd-4e9c-b969-eb8f4d21beb2&amp;mdy=2/6/2026&amp;showing=987506&amp;">Junction City Little Theater’s: Private Lives </a>- The Junction City Little Theater is back at the
historic C.L Hoover Opera House with another wonderful production for our community! In
Noël Coward’s sophisticated comedy classic, exes Elyot and Amanda, now honeymooning with
new spouses, meet by chance in a French hotel and rekindle their former passion and their old
feuds. A witty, stylish adult romantic comedy full of sharp humor and timeless charm. Buy your
tickets now!

<a href="https://www.gemstudiosjc.com/#xpUBXQ">GEM Studios Art Classes and Workshops:</a> Buy tickets now to reserve your spot!

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555597640369&amp;sk=events">Blu Restaurant and Bar Weekly Events:</a> Margarita Monday, Taco ‘Bout a Tuesday, Wing
Wednesday, Thirsty Thursday, Cheers to the Weekend on Fridays.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086549072848&amp;sk=events">Highwind events:</a> Steak Night, Tuesday @ 4-9PM | Music Bingo, Wednesday @ 6:30PM |
Stock Up on Beer for the Game - 10% Off Beer To Go | Brunch, Sunday @ 9:30AM-2PM | Super Bowl Watch Party, Sunday

The karaoke bug is going around and The Spot Karaoke is the place to be! Pick from 4 private
karaoke suites, all with different themes, and enjoy a private jam session with you + 11 other
people per room. Check them out and reserve a karaoke suite here: <a href="https://thespot785.com/">https://thespot785.com/</a>

Got a sweet tooth? Get your fix of delicious treats, coffee, dirty sodas and more at Celestial
Sweets. Located at 725 N Washington St.,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/CelestialSweetsJC"> Celestial Sweets</a> has something for everyone! Open
Wednesday-Saturday, 11AM-8PM!

Follow <a href="https://junctioncitymainstreet.org/">Junction City Main Street</a> for event updates and more.

Support local. Stay connected. Love where you live.

Junction City Main Street | Downtown JC Happenings 

--The Junction City Commission has approved a contract for the City Manager, Kim Zimmerman, that includes a 6% salary increase equal to other non-union employees retroactive to the first payroll of the fiscal&nbsp; year, and an increase to $800 for a vehicle stipend.&nbsp;

--An annual city-wide cleanup is scheduled on April 18.

--Commissioners awarded a bid totaling $791,807 to Bayer Constuction for the 12th Street parking lot.

--The governing body awarded a bid for 2.2 miles of 2-inch mill and ovrrlay work on Grant Avenue totaling $1,292,808 to Shilling Construction Company. It must be finished by July.

City addresses issues during Tuesday night meeting

The latest data show enrollment fell about 12% in Missouri and 3.5% in Kansas for 2026. But experts say that doesn’t tell the full story

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">Meg Cunningham</a>

As small-business owners, Sonya Andrews and her husband are used to uncertainty.

Sonya runs a business offering graphic and web design services, while her husband is a commercial photographer. They also own a studio in Kansas City’s West Bottoms and have one employee who works remotely from Florida.

Every month is different for them when it comes to business. But this year, they’re feeling more pressure, thanks to the expiration of the enhanced premium tax credits available for Americans enrolled in the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Andrews and her husband also have a daughter with autism and need higher levels of coverage. Previously, they carried Aetna insurance through the marketplace, but Aetna is no longer an option for them. For 2026, as their daughter gets older and with enhanced subsidies expiring, they made the tough decision to downgrade their&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/11/10/aca-premiums-set-to-soar-out-of-reach-for-many-kansas-citians/" target="_blank">ACA coverage</a>&nbsp;rather than pay a much higher premium.

But arriving at that decision wasn’t easy. Sonya spent weeks researching and comparing plans with marketplace navigators and her husband. They’re planning to closely monitor their income to make sure they don’t make too much and lose their subsidies entirely, adding more pressure to the realities of owning a small business.

“I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make this decision,” Andrews said. “You’re making choices like, ‘Well, we’re in our mid-40s. Our daughter is young and has already had most of the expensive things done. Can we roll the dice for a few years?’”

But, unlike Andrews, tens of thousands of Missourians have opted out of the Affordable Care Act marketplace altogether after the enhanced subsidies expired.

Enhanced subsidies came into Obamacare in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, in an effort to ease the cost of the Affordable Care Act for Americans. The enhanced subsidies were extended again through the end of 2025, but were allowed to expire ahead of open enrollment in 2026.

Without the enhanced subsidies, which offered tax credits to Americans enrolled in Obamacare, people were told they could expect an average 114% increase in their premium costs for 2026.

For someone with a household income of $55,000 (about 351% of the federal poverty line), premium costs shot up nearly $1,500 annually heading into 2026, KFF estimates.

Experts like the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated that hundreds of thousands of Americans would move away from Obamacare in 2026 as a result.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/quick-take/aca-signups-are-down-but-still-an-incomplete-picture/" target="_blank">Nationwide</a>, enrollment so far has dropped by about 1.2 million people.

In Missouri, nearly 51,000 people dropped off the Affordable Care Act rolls from January 2025 through the end of the 2026 open enrollment period, the latest data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services show. Nearly 366,000 people enrolled this year, compared to 417,000 enrollees in January 2025.

Kansas had a smaller drop. Nearly 193,000 people enrolled, compared to about 200,000 who were enrolled in January of last year, the data show.

More people are enrolled in both states than in 2024, data shows.

Still, in Missouri, 50,000 people potentially without insurance is a large number when the state’s uninsured population is already around 457,000, said Timothy McBride, a health care economist and professor at Washington University in St. Louis.

“That’s over a 10% increase in that number,” McBride said.

Plus, McBride said, the numbers don’t reflect those who may have downgraded their plans to lower premiums, like the Andrews family did, or those who may disenroll or let their plans lapse by not paying their now-higher premiums.

Data&nbsp;<a href="https://chir.georgetown.edu/clues-in-state-data-suggest-declines-in-early-marketplace-enrollment-data-may-be-just-the-tip-of-the-iceberg/" target="_blank">compiled</a>&nbsp;by Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms found that several state-based marketplaces were reporting that Americans were canceling their plans at higher rates than in the past. In Idaho and Pennsylvania, disenrollments have so far quadrupled compared to last year, with more people citing affordability concerns.

In December, Pennsylvania’s state-based marketplace reported that only 77% of enrollees had paid their initial premium for the year, compared to 88% the year before.

Without data from the federal government on what plans people chose, it’s too early to say what the impact of more bronze than silver plans will be, McBride said.

But people are generally choosing to trade lower premiums for higher deductibles, based on what Kevin Wehner, a marketplace navigator at Missouri Connections for Health, saw throughout the open enrollment period.

“The silver plan premiums were just out of reach for a lot of people,” Wehner said. “They ended up switching to bronze or gold plans.”

Others opted for the higher monthly premiums — up to&nbsp; $1,000 in some cases — or chose to become part of a health-sharing community, where a group of people all pay into a shared pot to split the cost of care.

It’s a consideration Craig Heimericks and his husband have had for years, amid rising health care costs. The pair co-own rental properties around Rolla, Missouri, and the variable costs of the business constantly keep them on their toes, especially when it comes to health insurance.

“My husband and I had a plan on the exchange last year. It was great coverage, but was getting more and more expensive every year, to the point where we had been discussing ways to drop coverage and self insure,” Heimericks said in an email.

“But as a business owner, the risk is just too high that one big medical event would bankrupt everything we’ve worked for the last 20 years. Honestly, sometimes it feels like we’re being held hostage by the health care industry as a whole, and there doesn’t seem to be a way out,” he said.

Heimericks ended up downgrading his plan for 2026, with deductibles just under $5,000 per person and their maximum out-of-pocket costs capped at $20,300. Still, Heimericks and his husband are planning on over $1,655 a month in premiums, and they don’t yet have a grasp on what the cost of their prescriptions will be under their new plan.

In 2025, they paid about $1,630 a month, but had lower deductibles and caps on out-of-pocket costs.

“The big difference was people who would normally qualify for the cost-sharing reduction would enroll in the silver plan in previous years,” Wehner said. “Hardly anyone did that this year.”

So far, California’s state-based marketplace is seeing more people enroll in bronze plans, at 37% in 2026 compared to 23% in 2025. Other states like Maine, New Jersey and Rhode Island are reporting a higher share of customers switching to bronze plans for 2026, the Georgetown data shows.

What the data doesn’t show, McBride said, was the higher deductible cost that those in Missouri and Kansas will take on.

People may have a costly health event and not expect to have to pay higher out-of-pocket costs before meeting their deductible, McBride said, which ultimately can pass the cost onto other health care customers.

“One of the things we saw early on, because the premiums were so low for bronze plans … younger people, especially healthy people, would pick that plan and have a $7,000 or $8,000 deductible,” McBride said. “They’d get bad luck … and then they’d show up to the hospital and get a bill for $8,000 and they’d be like, ‘Wait a minute, I thought I had Obamacare.’”

Ultimately, many aren’t prepared to take on that higher cost and end up unable to pay their bills, McBride said, and that is then passed onto the consumer.

“The hospital or health system can try to get the money from them but usually can only get a fraction of it,” McBride said. “Then the hospital just has to bury that cost, or shift it to the rest of us. It has a short or long-term effect on someone’s health status, and it also ends up rippling to all the rest of us.”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2026/02/02/affordable-care-act-enrollment-missouri-kansas-2026-enhanced-subsidies/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a&nbsp;<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License</a>.

As ACA subsidies expire, thousands drop coverage or downgrade plans

Trey Campbell,&nbsp; Failure to appear, arrested 01/30

Romeo Suah, Criminal damage to property; Domestic battery, arrested 01/30

Terressa Burgess, Probation violation, arrested 01/30

Indya Vereen, Failure to appear, arrested 01/30

Anthony Henderson, Probation violation, arrested 01/30

Aaron Grant, Cancelled/suspended/revoked driver's license, arrested 01/30

Charles Reeves, Failure to appear; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked, arrested 01/30

Martial Bonnet-Maes, Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 01/31

Manuel Garcia-Peralta, Domestic battery, arrested 02/01

Travis Golden, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 02/01

Terry Moye, Failure to appear, arrested 02/02

Ricky Martinez,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 02/02

Danielle Shelton,&nbsp;Failure to appear, arrested 02/02

Geary County Booking Photos Jan. 31-Feb. 3, 2026

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a shooting in Wichita have a suspect in custody.

Just before 1 a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a reported shooting in the 900 block of S. Rutan, according to a media release.

Officers arrived and found a 40-year-old man who received multiple gunshot wounds. EMS transported him to a local hospital with serious injuries.

The suspect, identified from Sedgwick County booking records as 55-year-old Gary M. Scott, ran from the area after the shooting but was apprehended by Officers. Scott was later booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of of aggravated burglary and aggravated battery.&nbsp; He is being held on bonds totaling over $575,000, according to online jail records.

Kansas shooting suspect jailed after he ran from crime scene

JACKSON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after an encounter with a sheriff's deputy on a northeast Kansas highway.

Just after 4 p.m. Jan. 31, that Jackson County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a person was slumped over the wheel in a Ford Edge in the intersection of 118th&nbsp;and U.S. Highway, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

 The reporting party attempted to wake the person up by using his horn in his vehicle. Deputies arrived on the scene to find the driver and passenger both asleep in the vehicle.&nbsp; One of the deputies reported what allegedly appeared to be a methamphetamine pipe in the hand of the driver.&nbsp; The driver and passenger were arrested.

The driver, Lloyd Allan Wabaunsee, 36, of Mayetta and the passenger, Raven Marie Barber, 44, of Mayetta were transported to the Jackson County Jail. Wabaunsee was booked into the Jail on requested charges of possession of methampehtamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, unlawful possession of controlled substances, unlawful possession of a hallucinogenic drug, unlawful distribution of controlled substances, driving under the influence, possession of weapon by a felon, criminal possession of a weapon and no drug tax stamp.

Barber was booked into the Jail on requested charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a hallucinogenic drug, distribution of controlled substances, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, criminal use of a weapon and no drug tax stamp.

Sheriff: Kan. drug suspects were passed out in SUV on the highway

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The search for “Today” show host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Savannah Guthrie’s</a>&nbsp;mother still had no suspect or person of interest Wednesday, authorities said, four days after she disappeared with signs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-74d845b070fefe2d94cb92d655308e91">forced entry</a>&nbsp;at her home in southern Arizona.

Investigators believe&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-nancy-042abd04a6d87e14eecb22f0bc2893d1">Nancy Guthrie</a>&nbsp;was taken against her will over the weekend and Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said they don’t have credible information indicating Guthrie’s disappearance was targeted. Guthrie has limited mobility, and officials do not believe she left on her own. Nanos said she is of sound mind.

“Detectives continue to speak with anyone who may have had contact with Mrs. Guthrie,” the sheriff’s department said in a statement on social media Wednesday. “Detectives are working closely with the Guthrie family.”

Multiple media organizations reported receiving purported ransom notes Tuesday that they handed over to investigators. The sheriff’s department has said it’s taking the notes and other tips seriously but declined to comment further.

The Pima County sheriff and the Tucson FBI chief urged the public to offer tips during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-0d6b55fd24f54b2526fd5f8894a52ff2">news conference Tuesday</a>. Nanos has said Guthrie needs daily medication and could die without it. Asked whether officials were looking for her alive, he said, “We hope we are.”

Authorities say Nancy Guthrie was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-0d6b55fd24f54b2526fd5f8894a52ff2">last seen around 9:30 p.m. Saturday</a>&nbsp;at her home in the Tucson area, where she lived alone, and she was reported missing midday Sunday. Someone at her church called a family member to say she was not there, leading family to search her home and then call 911.

DNA samples have been gathered and submitted for analysis as part of the investigation. “We’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” Nanos said.

There were signs of forced entry at Guthrie’s home, evidence of a nighttime kidnapping, and several personal items were still there, including Guthrie’s cellphone, wallet and car, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the case and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of an anonymity. Investigators were reviewing surveillance video from nearby homes and information from area license plate cameras and analyzing local cellphone towers data.

Guthrie’s upscale Catalina Foothills neighborhood is quiet and mostly dark at night, lit mainly by car headlights and homes spaced far apart. Long driveways, front gates and desert plants provide a buffer from the winding streets. Saguaro cacti tower above her home’s roofline, and wispy trees partially block the view of the front door. Decorative streetlamps and prickly pear cacti dot the grassy front yard.

Jim Mason, longtime commander of a search and rescue posse for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, said desert terrain can make looking for missing people difficult. Sometimes it’s hard to peer into areas that are dense with mesquite trees, cholla cactus and other brush, he said. His group is based 175 miles (280 kilometers) north of Tucson, and is not involved in the search for Guthrie.

On the other side of the country, Victory Church in Albany, New York, said it’s offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to finding Nancy Guthrie.

“Me and my wife, we watch Savannah every single morning. We’ve heard of her faith. We’ve heard of her mom’s faith. And she’s got such a sweet spirit,” Pastor Charlie Muller said.

For a third day Wednesday, “Today” opened with Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance, but Savannah Guthrie was not at the anchor’s desk. NBC Sports said Tuesday that Guthrie will not be covering the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics “as she focuses on being with her family during this difficult time.”

The “Today” host grew up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tucson">in Tucson</a>, graduated from the University of Arizona and previously worked as a reporter and anchor at Tucson television station KVOA. Her parents&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-nancy-042abd04a6d87e14eecb22f0bc2893d1">settled in Tucson</a>&nbsp;in the 1970s when she was a young child. The youngest of three siblings, she credits her mom with holding their family together after her father died of a heart attack at 49, when Savannah was just 16.

Billeaud reported from Phoenix and Balsamo from Washington. Associated Press writer Michael Hill in Albany, New York, contributed.

Authorities are looking for the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show host&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Savannah Guthrie</a>&nbsp;after they say she was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-nancy-guthrie-mom-missing-88e8731270d05e6e667730d2ed8633d3">taken from her home in Tucson, Arizona,</a>&nbsp;against her will over the weekend.

It’s imperative that Nancy Guthrie, who was last seen Saturday night, is found soon because she could die without her medication, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.

The sheriff held a news conference Tuesday and urged the public to offer tips, but revealed few new details about the investigation. Officials have finished combing through Nancy Guthrie's home and turned it back over to the family, Nanos said.

He declined to say whether Guthrie’s disappearance was thought to be random or targeted or to describe the evidence found at her home. Investigators still do not have a suspect or person of interest, the sheriff's department said in a statement Wednesday morning.

There were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-arizona-tucson-74d845b070fefe2d94cb92d655308e91">signs of forced entry</a>&nbsp;at Nancy Guthrie’s home, according to a person familiar with the investigation, who was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the case and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of an anonymity. Investigators also found specific evidence in the home showing there was a nighttime kidnapping, the person said.

Nancy Guthrie reported missing after she didn't go to church

Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday night at the affluent Catalina Foothills area home where she lived alone. She was reported missing Sunday. Someone at a church called a family member to say Guthrie wasn’t there, leading family to search her home and then call 911, Nanos said.

Initially, searchers used drones and dogs and were supported by volunteers and Border Patrol, Nanos said. But by Monday morning, he said search crews were pulled back.

“We don’t see this as a search mission so much as it is a crime scene,” the sheriff said.

There were signs of forced entry at the home and several personal items, including Guthrie's cellphone, wallet and car, were all still at the home, the person familiar with the investigation said. Investigators were reviewing surveillance video from nearby homes and information from area license plate cameras and analyzing local cellphone towers data, according to the person.

The motive remains a mystery. Investigators do not believe the abduction was part of a robbery, home invasion or kidnapping-for-ransom plot, the person said early Tuesday.

Later Tuesday, multiple media organizations reported receiving purported ransom notes that they handed over to investigators. The sheriff’s department said it’s taking the notes and other tips seriously but declined to comment further.

Asked Tuesday whether officials were looking for her alive, Nanos said “we hope we are.”

DNA samples have been gathered and submitted for analysis as part of the investigation. “We’ve gotten some back, but nothing to indicate any suspects,” the sheriff said.

Savannah Guthrie asks for prayers to help bring her mom home

This week, Savannah Guthrie has been in Arizona and hasn't appeared at the anchor’s desk. In a social media post late Monday, she asked supporters to “raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment. Bring her home.”

Savannah Guthrie grew up in Tucson, the youngest of three siblings and her father died of a heart attack when she was just 16. She graduated from the University of Arizona and previously worked as a reporter and anchor at KVOA-TV in Tucson. She joined “Today” in 2011 and became co-anchor the following year.

Nancy Guthrie held her family together after husband's death

Before the woman's disappearance, viewers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mother-missing-nancy-042abd04a6d87e14eecb22f0bc2893d1">got to know Nancy Guthrie</a>&nbsp;through her daughter’s show. Savannah Guthrie credited her mom with holding their family together after her father’s death.

“When my dad died, our family just hung onto each other for dear life because it was such a shock. We were just trying to figure out how to become a family of four when we’d always been a family of five,” she said on “Today” in 2017.

During an appearance in a story Savannah Guthrie did about her hometown late last year, she was asked what made the family want to plant roots in Tucson in the 1970s.

“It’s so wonderful. Just the air, the quality of life,” Nancy Guthrie said. “It’s laid back and gentle.”

Sheriff issues new statement on search for mother of 'Today Show' host

TYLER, Texas (AP) — The father of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been arrested in Texas after authorities said he violated his probation from a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/patrick-mahomes-father-guilty-dwi-447e2f0c6a93b308b0bbd3871ed8d1a1">conviction for driving while intoxicated.</a>

<a href="https://portal.smith-county.com/app/JailSearch/#/search">Click here to view</a> arrest details

Patrick “Pat” Mahomes Sr., 55, was arrested Tuesday during a meeting with his probation officer after a warrant was obtained for a probation violation, authorities said. He remained in Smith County jail in Tyler on Wednesday. His attorney did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press.

The elder Mahomes was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty in August 2024 to a DWI charge. On Jan. 1, he had a high alcohol reading on his ankle monitor, according to a probation violation report.

Mahomes Sr.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/cfcca2814d423c6411948c30e38d98cf">had been arrested</a>&nbsp;on the DWI charge in February 2024, a little more than a week before his son led the Chiefs to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/366151ee795360fbc8d3e4d029a394a6">second straight Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;championship with a win over San Francisco.

Smith County jail records show multiple DWI arrests over the years for the elder Mahomes.

Mahomes Sr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for six teams during an 11-year major league career that ended in 2003, according to Baseball Reference.

Patrick Mahomes' dad is back in jail for alleged probation violation

Washington&nbsp;– On Tuesday, President Trump signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026," into law. The legislation advances several key healthcare priorities long championed by Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, according to a statement from his office.

“The legislation provides $418 million for rural health, strengthens our healthcare workforce, maintains critical funding for Community Health Centers, and extends telehealth and hospital-at-home flexibilities that Kansans rely on,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“It also invests in maternal and child health, mental health services, and life-saving medical research, while cutting over $100 million in unnecessary HHS bureaucracy.”

Senator Marshall also emphasized that Republicans stepped in to prevent Medicaid spending from continuing on an unsustainable trajectory that threatened the program’s future.&nbsp;

Prior proposals would have allowed unchecked growth, threatening long-term access for the most vulnerable. This package introduces responsible reforms that protect beneficiaries while ensuring Medicaid remains viable for future generations.

“Medicaid was on a path to bust – crowding out care for the truly vulnerable and burdening states and taxpayers,”&nbsp;said Senator Marshall.&nbsp;“Republicans fought to protect this vital safety-net program by improving oversight, targeting resources appropriately, and ensuring Medicaid remains available for those who need it most today and for generations to come.”

Labor, Health and Human Services (L/HHS) Appropriations Highlights

The package provides a&nbsp;discretionary total of $116.6 billion&nbsp;for the Department of Health and Human Services while reducing unnecessary federal bureaucracy by&nbsp;over $100 million.

Senator Marshall championed several of the provisions included in the package. These include:

Health Extenders Package: Strengthening Medicaid and Medicare Medicaid Reforms

The package includes targeted reforms to Medicaid while improving access and accountability:

The legislation delivers long-term certainty for providers and expanded access for seniors by:

Public Health Extenders and Programs

The package extends and strengthens critical public health initiatives, including:

The package includes commonsense reforms to lower prescription drug costs and increase transparency for patients and taxpayers, including:

Senator Marshall delivers healthcare wins for Kansas in FY26 appropriations 

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

TOPEKA — An ongoing battle between the attorney general and Kansas governor about releasing Kansans’ personal data to the federal government made its way to a Tuesday committee hearing on a bill intended to force the governor’s hand.

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb428/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 428</a>&nbsp;requires the secretary of the Department for Children and Families to respond to federal data requests from the U.S. Department of Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and release the data within 90 days.&nbsp;

The bill results from the Department for Children and Family’s&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/22/kansas-governors-office-disputes-accuracy-of-kobachs-claims-about-snap-funding/">refusal to share private data&nbsp;</a>of food program applicants and recipients with the USDA, Attorney General Kris Kobach told the Senate Committee on Government Efficiency, or COGE.

“They don’t want the USDA to share the names of (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients with other federal agencies,” Kobach said. “Now, why would they not want that? I’m almost certain they don’t want it to be shared with the Justice Department so that a SNAP recipient who is fraudulently getting this money could be prosecuted.”

Kobach also said the governor didn’t want the data shared because the Department of Homeland Security could use it to identify people in the country illegally who receive food assistance.&nbsp;

People who are legal permanent residents can qualify for SNAP.

Gov. Laura Kelly’s spokeswoman, Olivia Taylor-Puckett, said DCF has concerns about whether USDA’s stated intent on using the data is legal.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The Governor’s administration has been repeatedly raising concerns about the legality of the USDA’s data request as it pertains to the ‘Routine Use 8′ provision, which includes sharing Kansans’ personal private data, including full Social Security numbers, with foreign entities,” she said in an emailed statement. “It is both disappointing and disturbing that the Attorney General still doesn’t know the basic issues with the USDA’s request.”

Taylor-Puckett’s statement referred to a USDA notice published in the Federal Register that detailed how the data would be used. One section allowed the information to be shared with foreign entities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kansas is one of 21 states, all of which are participants in a Massachusetts lawsuit, that question whether the USDA’s intended use of the data is allowed in their data sharing contract. The case is still being decided.&nbsp;

Kobach told the committee the state will lose $20.8 million as part of its SNAP program because DCF did not release the data. DCF appealed the penalty so no money has been withheld from state SNAP administrative funds.&nbsp;

A hearing on the state’s appeal will be held Feb. 17, a governor’s office spokesperson said.&nbsp;

Travis Couture-Lovelady, a lobbyist with FGA Action, testified in favor of the bill, citing concerns with the integrity of the SNAP program.&nbsp;

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