The local Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration Committee has announced the Junction City-Geary County 41st annual Commemoration &amp; Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will be Monday, January 19,at 10:00 AM at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

The theme, “From the Mind and Mouth of Martin!”, honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting the Motivation, the Ministry, and the Movement. With a youth-centered focus, the event will feature performances and presentations by local youth and serve as a day of learning, reflection, and historical enrichment.&nbsp;

Local entrepreneur and evangelist Brewel Currie is slated to deliver the keynote address. He founded No More Chains New Life Ministry, a nonprofit devoted to spreading love, hope, and encouragement to incarcerated youth in jails, correctional facilities, and detention centers. Evangelist Currie is also the visionary behind Street Prophets, a ministry that shares its message through outreach and apparel.

The program will include special performances by the Bethel Youth Praise Dance Ensemble of NCOTLG JC; the acclaimed jazz ensemble Michael T. Brown &amp; Friends; and powerful MLK excerpts performed by JCHS students who participate in Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG-K), along with other guests. The event will also feature the presentation of the Coretta Scott King Courage (Humanitarian) Award and additional honors. The JAG-K students will be accepting donations of hats and gloves for school-aged children as well as providing hand-warmers and hot cocoa.

The student-led Community March will conclude the program, which is open to the public free of charge.

Plans are set for the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration

The latest U.S. Department of Agriculture World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report points to generally larger supplies and higher ending stocks for most major commodities in the 2025/26 marketing year, with prices under pressure in grains and oilseeds but firmer trends in cotton and some livestock sectors.

U.S. wheat supplies are projected slightly higher as beginning stocks were revised upward. Domestic feed and residual use is reduced, while exports remain unchanged. Ending stocks are forecast at 926 million bushels, up 8 percent from the previous year, pushing the season-average farm price down 10 cents to $4.90 per bushel.

Globally, wheat supplies, consumption, trade, and ending stocks all increase, driven by sharply higher production in Argentina and Russia, which more than offsets declines elsewhere.

The U.S. corn crop is forecast at a record 17.0 billion bushels on higher yields and expanded harvested acreage. Feed and residual use rises, but supplies grow faster than demand, boosting ending stocks to 2.2 billion bushels. Despite larger stocks, the season-average corn price is raised to $4.10 per bushel.

Worldwide, coarse grain production and stocks increase, led by a record corn crop in China.

U.S. rice supplies decline due to lower production and imports, while domestic and residual use rises to a record level. Exports are reduced on weaker sales, cutting ending stocks by 9 percent from last year. The all-rice season-average farm price increases 20 cents to $11.80 per hundredweight.

Globally, rice supplies and ending stocks rise, primarily on higher production and larger stocks in China and Japan.

U.S. soybean production increases modestly, but exports are lowered amid strong competition from Brazil. Ending stocks rise to 350 million bushels, contributing to a 30-cent drop in the projected season-average price to $10.20 per bushel.

Globally, soybean production and stocks increase, with Brazil’s crop boosted by favorable growing conditions.

U.S. sugar production is projected slightly higher, more than offsetting reduced imports. Ending stocks rise, increasing the stocks-to-use ratio. In Mexico, sugar production is higher than last year but below last month’s forecast due to harvest delays tied to weather impacts.

Red meat and poultry production forecasts are raised for 2025 and 2026, led by higher beef and pork output. Cattle prices for 2026 are raised on tighter fed cattle supplies, while hog prices remain steady. The all-milk price averages $21.15 per hundredweight in 2025 but is projected to decline to $18.25 in 2026.

U.S. cotton production is reduced due to lower yields, particularly in the Delta, tightening ending stocks and lifting the season-average farm price to 61 cents per pound. Globally, cotton production and ending stocks decline, reducing the global stocks-to-use ratio.

Overall, the January WASDE report highlights ample global supplies for most grains and oilseeds, keeping prices in check, while tighter conditions in cotton and selected livestock markets provide targeted price support.

USDA report shows larger grain supplies, mixed price outlook

Both Manhattan High boys and girls teams traveled to Junction City for the rivalry game. It is the first of two meetings this season. Manhattan swept Junction City on Tuesday night. The girls game was a blowout, while the boys game was a nail-biter.

Girls recap – Manhattan 66, Junction City 31.

In the girls game, Manhattan won the opening tip and scored first, and never looked back. The Lady Indians cruised to victory, winning 66-31 over the Junction City Lady Jays. JCHS kept it close for most of the first quarter, trailing 20-7 after one.

Then, Manhattan junior post player Jelena Depusoir took over for the Lady Indians. She finished the game with 25 points, all of them coming either at the free throw line or within two feet of the basket, just running up and down the floor. Manhattan led 41-16 at halftime and ultimately cruised to the 66-31 victory inside the Blue Jay Event Center.

For Junction City, Laniyah Warmack and Isabel Pruitt both had seven points to lead the Lady Jays.

With the win, MHS improves to 7-2 and will now take on Topeka Hayden on Friday night. For JC, they fall to 1-7 and will host Topeka High on Friday night.

Boys recap – Manhattan 49, Junction City 48

The first quarter featured mainly two players. For Manhattan, it was Sawyer Newton, who had eight of the 11 first-quarter points. For Junction City, it was point guard Lovell Autry, who had another stellar game. At the end of the first quarter, Manhattan led 11-7. Second-quarter action continued the great defensive play, with neither team getting settled into their half-court offenses and neither team’s big guys having success inside. Manhattan led 19-17 at the break.

In the third quarter, JC was finally able to break through and explode on a scoring spree. The Blue Jays turned defense into offense, and two big three-point makes by junior Khaliel Walker gave Junction City a 36-30 lead at the end of the third quarter.

In the fourth, Manhattan wasted no time responding. They quickly tied the game at 38, thanks to big man Easton Duff, who came alive in the fourth quarter. Duff and guard Vince Doering both hit clutch shot after clutch shot for MHS to give them a 47-46 lead with less than a minute to go. Junction City’s Lovell Autry kept the Blue Jays in the game.

The final 30 seconds were very interesting, to say the least. A five-second call on Autry, and then a made free throw put MHS on top 48-46 with 10.8 seconds to go. JC had the ball, but Asher Newton stole it away for Manhattan. Newton was fouled by JC's Khaliel Walker and then Newton assessed a technical foul. Newton shot two free throws for the common foul and made one of two. Lovell Autry shot both free throws for JC and hit both. The Indians led 49-48 with 2.9 seconds to go. Due to the technical foul, JC got the ball in the front court on the sideline. Autry tried throwing a lob, but it was too long and ricocheted off the backboard, and Manhattan won 49-48 in JC.

Manhattan had three players in double digits. Duff finished with 13, while Doering and Sawyer Newton both finished with 12. For Junction City, Lovell Autry finished with a game-high 25 points.

Manhattan improved to 8-1, while Junction City falls to 4-4.

🏀 Manhattan sweeps Junction City on the hardwood Tuesday night

USD 475 Board of Education news this week:

--Dr. Beth Hudson, Thomas Wesoloski and Mark Hatcher took their oaths of office for a new four year term.

--The Board approved a Title I teacher development specialist position for this school year.

--Approved a request for an asssistant principal at Morris Hill Elementary School this school year&nbsp;

--There have been requests to live stream BOE meetings. The District recently halted that practice. But Board member Mark Hatcher asked if they could at least look at live streaming the school boared meetings.

--As the Army prepares for upcoming deployments from Fort Riley housing occupancy on Post was reported strong at 97.6% right now.

USD 475 Board of Education news notes

USD 475 announcced that it was a SPECIAL day in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/USD475?__cft__[0]=AZbCrRKelGX6vBfFEsjDVYf6Gg47_Sr-qhBqqaqdN4xEABFWnKd-9aijcZoBtrmobzG7xO2Cag5rbeFCQKwES1x-f94n26NLF6FnjohPXLiDqUHq-NjHkFtJZ6_a-7nBlHC1hncj35Bwexfd7Jv0uM5oACIWfRR1xBF-M-QFo3mksA&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Geary County Schools USD 475</a> on Tuesday as Dr. Reginald Eggleston, USD 475 Superintendent of Schools, was honored at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansasdoe?__cft__[0]=AZbCrRKelGX6vBfFEsjDVYf6Gg47_Sr-qhBqqaqdN4xEABFWnKd-9aijcZoBtrmobzG7xO2Cag5rbeFCQKwES1x-f94n26NLF6FnjohPXLiDqUHq-NjHkFtJZ6_a-7nBlHC1hncj35Bwexfd7Jv0uM5oACIWfRR1xBF-M-QFo3mksA&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">K</a>SDE&nbsp;Board of Education Meeting for being named the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasSupts?__cft__[0]=AZbCrRKelGX6vBfFEsjDVYf6Gg47_Sr-qhBqqaqdN4xEABFWnKd-9aijcZoBtrmobzG7xO2Cag5rbeFCQKwES1x-f94n26NLF6FnjohPXLiDqUHq-NjHkFtJZ6_a-7nBlHC1hncj35Bwexfd7Jv0uM5oACIWfRR1xBF-M-QFo3mksA&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Kansas School Superintendents' Association</a>’s Superintendent of the Year.

 By being named the 2026 Kansas Superintendent of the Year, Eggleston is only the third USD 475 Superintendent all-time to be named Kansas Superintendent of the Year, joining Mary Devin who claimed the award in 1999 and Max Heim who received the honor in 1990.

Superintendent is honored at the state BOE meeting

County officials say that Geary County Offices will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr., Day on Monday, January 19, reopening for regular business on Tuesday, January 20, 2026.

County offices will be closed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

K-State Extension, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, is offering a free Hypertension Awareness and Prevention Program this spring. Sessions will be led by American Heart Association Certified Healthy Heart Ambassadors. 

Join them February 4 at 10:30 a.m. at the Geary County 4 H/Senior Center for an overview of the program and sign ups for twice monthly health coaching sessions (February–May). 

Monthly nutrition presentations will follow, all at 10:30 a.m. at the Geary County 4 H/Senior Center: • February 25 • March 4 • April 1 • May. A one time single hypertension information session will be offered February 25, at 1 p.m. at the Dorothy Bramlage Public Library. All programs are offered at no cost.

Hypertension awarenesss & prevention opportunities

Junction City - Geary County United Way Director Nichole Mader has outlined the oganization's plans for 2026.

United Way in 2026

Rivalry game tonight in Junction City! Manhattan High boys and girls visit Blue Jay Event Center for their second Centennial League game of the year.&nbsp;Girls tip-off at 6:00 p.m., and the boys to follow at 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;

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

Girls game - Manhattan (6-2) at Junction City (1-7). Watch the game <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/z6B3t3kXY8E?si=xMbY3cAfWCHtRI0h">by clicking here.</a> Livestream provided by BlueJayMedia.&nbsp;

Boys game - Manhattan (7-1) at Junction City (4-3). Watch the game <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/MeJs-fG4Rx8?si=xJZ-t0MgxxmauJxQ">by clicking here.</a>&nbsp;Livestream provided by BlueJayMedia.

🏀 WATCH/LISTEN LIVE: Junction City hosting Manhattan High tonight

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged fraud in Manhattan.

Just before 10:30a.m. Monday, officers filed a report of fraud in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

 A 77-year-old man reported he purchased a dog on Facebook from two suspects unknown to him and never received the dog. The total estimated loss associated with this case is $1,200.

RCPD: Man lost $1,200 in online dog purchase scam

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. (Jan. 12, 2026) – Stormont Vail Health welcomed the first baby in Geary County of 2026 on Jan. 2, 2026 at 9:44 a.m. Baby boy Maverick Epp weighs 6 lbs. and 13 oz. and measures 20 inches long. He was born to Ashley and Anthony Epp.

Stormont Vail’s Birthplace offers compassionate, high-quality care for expectant mothers. The nurses and staff have specialized training in labor and delivery to ensure mothers have a healthy and safe delivery. Stormont Vail has the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the region located in Topeka. The NICU is equipped to provide the highest level of care for infants who need extra attention. 

First baby born in 2026 at Stormont Vail - Flint Hills Campus

SEDGWICK COUNTY— A Kansas man accused of killing a man in July will return to court Wednesday.

Andrew Presley, 31,&nbsp; will appear in Judge Roger Woods courtroom for a preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District attorney's office.&nbsp; He was charged with second degree murder in the death of 32-year-old Kelly Black.

He is also charged with criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.&nbsp;

On July 15, police in Hutchinson arrested Presley after a brief standoff, according to a media release from the Wichita Police Department.

Just before 6p.m. July 13, police&nbsp;responded to a shooting in the 7000 block of E. Lincoln in Wichita.. First responders found&nbsp; Black lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but was later pronounced dead.

Presley remains jailed on bond totaling over&nbsp;$1,000,000.00, according to online jail records.

Preliminary Hearing: Kan. murder suspect arrested after standoff

The wins: Chiefs deal, stable budget, tax cuts, education funding and ‘civility’

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

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly says Kansans wouldn’t have elected her if she were the type of politician who screamed the loudest and relied on bullying others to get her way.

She said during her annual State of the State speech Tuesday night it was a certainty Kansas would have suffered in terms of managing the government, advancing economic activity and elevating the quality of life if voters had chosen a governor who confused toxicity for leadership.

“I’m here because Kansans were looking for someone who would turn the volume down, to do more listening than yelling, to bring people together, to compromise and govern from the middle,” Kelly told the joint session of the House and Senate. “Kansans are the most civil, decent people on earth. And they expect that from us, too. I say to everyone here — do not let the loudest voices, on either extreme, drown out the voices of the vast majority of Kansans who want to see us work together.”

Kelly said placing cooperation ahead of partisanship and having the courage to treat colleagues with respect was key to finding common ground among politicians with different ideologies and backgrounds. She said this form of leadership led to enactment of 587 bipartisan bills in her seven years as governor. It created an environment where cross-party dialogue could produce an economic incentive deal for construction of a stadium in Wyandotte County to host the Kansas City Chiefs.

“To land the Chiefs, we all put politics aside,” the Democratic governor said. “We all put personal differences aside. And we didn’t care who got the credit.”

She said the core of this mostly collegial relationship was borne through years in which Kansas overcame major challenges. She said the state moved away from an era of budgeting woes marked by “gimmicks and funny money,” underfunding of K-12 schools, crumbling bridges and highways, a quality of life that fed a youth brain drain and missed opportunities for job growth.

The perception of Kansas was transformed by attracting more than $30 billion in business investment and the creation of 80,000 good-paying jobs since 2019, Kelly said. The state slashed annual taxes by more than $1 billion, including elimination of the unpopular $500 million state sales tax on groceries. The balance in the state’s rainy-day fund mushroomed to $2 billion. High-speed internet was provided to 117,000 homes and businesses. Kansas paid down debt. The state’s crime rate fell to a 20-year low.

“I know there is more to do,” Kelly told the GOP-dominated House and Senate. “But after seven years, I also know that the state of our state has never been stronger.&nbsp;Ultimately, we were able to get our state back on track because we showed that civility can still exist in our politics, that you can get a whole lot done when you work with others.”

Kelly, a term-limited governor who leaves office in January, said this moment in Kansas politics shouldn’t be taken for granted.

“There are too many forces trying to push us all into our partisan corners and make the other party the enemy,” Kelly said. “Let me state the obvious. We live in extraordinarily challenging times. And I don’t just mean our politics.”

Kelly said societal change in the past decade was head-spinning. People found themselves more attached to telephones and other electronic devices than ever before. The world crashed into the COVID-19 pandemic. People emerged from the other side to more remote work, AI bots and self-driving vehicles that made people yearn for simpler times, Kelly said. An era defined by disruption required more, not less, from political leaders, she said.

Kansans demonstrated at the ballot box they yearned for leaders who could offer strength, resolve, character and a clear vision, Kelly said. She said the United States received the opposite at the national level in Washington, D.C.

“From both parties,” Kelly said. “Where it became acceptable for our nation’s leaders to treat one another in the most uncivilized ways imaginable. Language and behavior we’d never tolerate from our own children. Instead of using this new technology to reach people with messages of unity and hope, these devices have been turned into weapons for elected leaders to ignite chaos and anger and even violence.”

“Instead of representing their communities, elected officials turned into foot soldiers for their political parties — firing off insults and vitriol to score likes or follows or wins for their team — instead of doing what’s right for their constituents,” Kelly added. “It’s as if they checked their free will at the door and just did as they were told. Treating their own colleagues in such angry and dehumanizing ways, just because they’re in the other party. And the most frightening part — it’s now become the new normal.”

She said the better alternative was to model political discourse evident in Kansas, where politicians could engage in civil exchanges and, at times, acknowledge folks in the other political party had good ideas.

She said that same attitude would be useful in the 2026 session of the Legislature, which began Monday.

Kelly said the state should fully fund K-12 public education and increase the state’s investment in special education. To fill a funding gap ignored by Congress, she said Kansas had provided $120 million for students in special education. Kelly’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year would continue to increase state investment in disabled and gifted students in public schools.

She said Kansas also ought to provide sufficient funding to cover the cost of reduced-price meals in schools to ease financial stress on families.

“We know with grocery costs being what they are right now, that for many of these families, even that reduced cost is untenable,” Kelly said. “Let’s make it clear: No child in Kansas should ever have to worry about having enough to eat. Life is hard enough for our children these days.”

Kelly endorsed a bipartisan Kansas Senate bill that would ban cellphone use by students during the school day. The “bell-to-bell” ban in public and private schools could be implemented in the 2026-2027 school year.

She said Kansas had taken strides to improve services to people challenged by mental illness, but the Legislature should do more to increase treatment beds, hire more treatment professionals and to broaden the crisis response network.

The governor urged the Legislature to dedicate themselves to crafting a comprehensive, long-term strategy for advancing reform in water policy. The state needed a stable funding source for programs aimed at improving the supply and quality of water statewide, she said. The majority of water used in Kansas goes to irrigating crops, which invites political turmoil when changes were proposed.

“I know it is a very sensitive political issue,” Kelly told lawmakers. “But the future of our entire state is dependent upon the actions we take today. It will require looking beyond the next election and looking instead to the next generation.”

Kansas governor revels in triumphs, warns against succumbing to ‘uncivilized’ D.C. politics

KANSAS CITY—Police investigating a second homicide this week in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 41-year-old Chris Wells.

Just after 7:30a.m. Monday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 2500 block of NE 78th Street, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

As officers arrived they located a Wells&nbsp; lying in the street, suffering from gunshot wounds. KCFD Medics responded simultaneously and began performing life saving measures. However, Wells was pronounced deceased on scene.

This is being investigated as a homicide. A subject of interest was taken into custody by patrol officers on scene. The preliminary investigation revealed there was a dispute between two individuals that were known to one another. A physical altercation ensued, which led to shots being fired and Wells being struck. Investigator canvassed the area for witnesses, physical evidence, and any possible surveillance footage.

41-year-old identified as homicide victim in KC neighborhood

WASHINGTON (AP) — Multiple Americans who were detained in Venezuela have been released, the Trump administration said Tuesday.

“We welcome the release of detained Americans in Venezuela,” the State Department said. “This is an important step in the right direction by the interim authorities.”

The State Department did not provide the exact numbers of those released. But a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe non-public details, said four Americans were released as a group Tuesday and one was quietly released Monday.

The releases come after the U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a stunning nighttime raid earlier this month.

The head of Venezuela’s national assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, said last week that a “significant number” of Venezuelan and foreigners imprisoned in the country would be released as a gesture to “seek peace” following the military operation that deposed Maduro.

As of Tuesday evening, the Venezuela human rights group Foro Penal had confirmed 56 prisoners it said were detained for political reasons had been freed. The group criticized the lack of government transparency over the releases. Venezuela’s government negated the organization’s count, and reported a far higher figure of 400 Tuesday afternoon.

But the government did not provide evidence of the releases or a time range in which they were carried out, nor did it identify those freed, making it impossible to determine whether those freed were behind bars for political or other reasons.

Though Washington and Caracas have long had a fraught and limited relationship, prisoner releases have been a rare source of connection, with the two countries in engaging in a series of swaps of detained citizens.

In July,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prisoner-swap-venezuela-united-states-el-salvador-a0c3070355fbdc31f028a16096c5655c">Venezuela released 10 jailed U.S. citizens</a>&nbsp;and permanent residents in exchange for getting home scores of migrants deported by the United States to El Salvador under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

Some Americans detained in Venezuela have been released

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas man on multiple allegations after a high speed chase at speeds of 100mhp.

Just before 11 a.m. Monday, a deputy on Interstate 70 just east of the Brookville exit was attempting to locate a 1997 Toyota Camry&nbsp; reported stolen out of Hays by the Kansas Highway Patrol, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.

The deputy located the vehicle. He and other law enforcement began a pursuit eastbound.&nbsp; The driver exited onto Hedville Road and continued northbound with speeds ranging from&nbsp;75-120 mph.

The driver entered into Ottawa County and came to the intersection of K-18 going eastbound. As the pursuit continued, the driver tried to pass a Nissan Versa but there was oncoming traffic. The driver then re-corrected back onto the eastbound lane, sideswiping a Nissan that was in front of the Toyota.&nbsp; The Nissan driver was not injured.

The suspect continued eastbound on K-18, following K-18 north and then east into Bennington. The suspect drove a short distance into Bennington, before returning to K-18 and heading back east on K-18.

At the intersection of K-18 and Lincoln Street the driver lost control and struck a tree on the northeast corner of the intersection.&nbsp;

The suspect identified as 37-year-old Shawn Hiatt of Leavenworth was arrested on the scene and transported to Salina Regional Health Center by Ottawa County EMS. Upon his release, Hiatt was booked into the Saline County Jail on requested charges of No Drivers License, Felony Flee and Elude, Possession of Stolen Property Aggravated Battery and a Warrant out of Leavenworth County for Domestic Battery.

Suspect in stolen car captured after 100mph chase, crash

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just&nbsp; 1p.m. Tuesday in Kansas City.

A black Honda Motorcycle was southbound on Paseo at 9th Street in Kansas City, Missouri, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil Dimartino. A Metro Bus was traveling westbound on&nbsp;9th Street. The bus driver failed to stop for the posted stop sign, entered the intersection and struck the motorcycle. 

The operator of the motorcycle, who was not wearing a helmet, was ejected off the motorcycle. EMS transported the motorcyclist to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. He was later pronounced deceased by hospital staff. The bus driver, as well as all the passengers on the bus were uninjured in the collision. 

This is fatality #4 compared to #2 at this time last year in Kansas City, Missouri.

Fatal crash: KC metro bus strikes motorcycle

WYANDOTTE COUNTY - A jury last week found a suspect guilty in Kansas cold case murder.

&nbsp;Gary Dion Davis,54, was convicted&nbsp;of second-degree murder in the November 1996 death of Pearl Davis, also known as Sameemah Mussawir, according to the Wyandott County District Attorney's office.

Police had found the victim’s body in a house on Lafayette Avenue in Kanas City, Kansas, and the case went unsolved for decades.

Davis&nbsp;had also been charged with killing Christina King two years later in December 1998, but the jury found him not guilty of her murder.

Davis worked as a long-haul truck driver. The district attorney's office said it is possible that Davis could be responsible for other crimes across the country because of his job.

Davis is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 26, according to the district attorney's office.

Jury: Man guilty in cold case murder of Kansas woman

BARTON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 2a.m. January 11, police conducted a traffic stop in the 2000 Block of Heizer Street in Great Bend, according to a media release.

 Contact was made with the driver and multiple occupants of the vehicle. During the stop, K9 NEO was deployed for a free air sniff of the vehicle, subsequently indicating to the odor of narcotics. 

The back seat passenger identified as 31-year-old Christopher Hutchins-Hernandez was found to have marijuana on his person. During the subsequent search of the vehicle, Officers located Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Drug Paraphernalia, as well as a stolen firearm. 

Police arrested Hutchins-Hernandez on requested charges of&nbsp; Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia,  Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Stolen Property, and No Drug Tax Stamp.&nbsp;

Police: Alleged Kan. meth dealer had a stolen firearm

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly delivered her final State of the State address to the Kansas Legislature on Tuesday evening. Click below to watch the replay.

🎥Governor Laura Kelly's final State of the State address

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to authorities Tuesday and vowed to fight charges of child sex abuse stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of a TV series he was directing in New Mexico.

His apprehension comes after authorities in Albuquerque&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-83c82a8c5dbfabd4880f3c8af02fb523">issued a warrant for his arrest</a>&nbsp;on Friday on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady,” which was filmed in Albuquerque.

Busfield, who is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-celebrity-9ba7c27a8ae04a3993864eea8508f2f3">married to actor Melissa Gilbert</a>, is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” the latter of which won him an Emmy for outstanding supporting actor in a drama series in 1991.

“Tim voluntarily appeared before New Mexico authorities after traveling across the country to confront these false and deeply troubling allegations,” said Stanton Stein, an attorney for Busfield. “He is innocent and is determined to clear his name.”

Busfield was booked by Albuquerque police on the charges, said Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for the city police department. A first appearance in court was scheduled for Wednesday.

NBC shelved an episode of “Law &amp; Order: Special Victims Unit” that featured Busfield and was set to air Thursday, a network spokesperson confirmed Tuesday to The Associated Press. Busfield was guest-starring as the judge on the long-running show, which focuses on sex crimes.

The criminal complaint filed by an investigator with the police department says the boy reported that he was 7 years old when Busfield touched him three or four times on private areas over his clothing. Busfield allegedly touched him five or six times on another occasion when he was 8, the complaint said.

Busfield denied the allegations when interviewed by authorities last fall as part of an investigation, according to the complaint.

The complaint also says the child was reportedly afraid to tell anyone because Busfield was the director and he feared he would get mad at him.

The boy's twin brother told authorities he was touched by Busfield but did not specify where. He said he didn't say anything because he didn't want to get in trouble.

When he was interviewed by authorities as part of the investigation, Busfield suggested that the boys' mother was seeking revenge for her children being replaced on the series — an argument echoed Tuesday by Busfield's attorney. Busfield also previously said he likely would have picked up and tickled the boys, saying the set was a playful environment.

Lawyer says Warner Bros. investigation unable to corroborate complaint

On Tuesday, Stein invoked the results of a private investigation by Warner Bros. to assert that the allegations are false. The investigator hired by Warner Bros. could not immediately be contacted by phone or email.

Authorities say the Warner Bros. investigation was unable to corroborate details of an anonymous complaint to a union workplace hotline after its private investigator “was not able to talk with anyone who would support evidence that Timothy Busfield engaged in this behavior.”

A video obtained by TMZ showed Busfield in front of a window with the Albuquerque skyline in the backdrop. He said he arrived in the city after driving 2,000 miles (3,219 kilometers).

“I’m going to confront these lies. They’re horrible. They’re all lies,” Busfield said.

Marshals Service involved in search for Busfield

The search for Busfield involved the U.S. Marshals Service and extended to New York before Busfield appeared in the video and arrived at a metropolitan detention center, Gallegos said.

“We had the U.S. Marshals' office looking in New York in particular, and other cities,” Gallegos said.

The mother of the twins — who are identified only by their initials in court records — reported to Child Protective Services that the abuse occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said.

Busfield’s wife, Gilbert, indicated through a publicist that she won’t speak publicly at the request of attorneys for Busfield while the legal process unfolds.

“Her focus is on supporting and caring for their very large family,” publicist Ame Van Iden said in a statement. “Melissa stands with and supports her husband and will address the public at an appropriate time.”

The investigation began in November 2024, when the investigator responded to a call from a doctor at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The boys' parents had gone there at the recommendation of a law firm, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, one of the boys has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety. A social worker documented him saying he has had nightmares about Busfield touching him.

“The Cleaning Lady” aired for four seasons on Fox, ending in 2025. The show was produced by Warner Bros., which according to the complaint conducted its own investigation into the abuse allegations but was unable to corroborate them.

Associated Press journalist Mallika Sen in New York contributed to this report. Lee contributed from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

'West Wing' actor turns himself in to face child sex abuse allegations

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas finally showed what it could do with a healthy Darryn Peterson and a regular rotation Tuesday night.

The timing couldn't have been worse for second-ranked Iowa State.

After falling from the AP Top 25 following a second loss in their first three Big 12 games, the Jayhawks roared away from the stunned Cyclones the moment the ball was thrown up. Tre White hit four early 3-pointers and went on to score 19 points, Peterson contributed 16 before more cramping issues, and Kansas coasted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iowa-state-cyclones-kansas-jayhawks-96bf5daca216794e231c8435598e5dc0">an 84-63 victory</a>&nbsp;over previously unbeaten Iowa State.

“This is more what I envisioned,” Jayhawks coach Bill Self said. “We've got an elite player — we got an elite scorer — and even tonight, when (Peterson) went to get his own, he can do some things other guys can't do. But the thing is the other guys are good players. We don't need to defer to him. I don't know that we've found that balance yet. But tonight was the closest thing to it.”

Melvin Council Jr. added 15 points and Flory Bidunga had 10 for the Jayhawks (12-5, 2-2 Big 12), who led by 26 in the first half, had that advantage trimmed to 11 midway through the second, then answered with a 10-0 run to put the game away.

It was the kind of performance that college basketball fans have become accustomed to seeing from the Jayhawks over the years.

Much more familiar than recent losses to unranked UCF and West Virginia.

“They were extremely well-prepared, well-coached, like we knew they would be,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “Extremely urgent (for Kansas) to come out and play with a tremendous spirit, which they did, so credit to them.

“That was an absolute beat-down,” Otzelberger added, “in their favor, unfortunately.”

There are a multitude of reasons for a stumbling start to the season, which had the Jayhawks in danger of their first 1-3 start to league play since the 1987-88 season. But the biggest may have been the cramping problems that had kept Peterson off the court for long stretches and kept the Jayhawks from getting into a rhythm even when he was available.

He was still massaging his calf on the bench Tuesday night, and at one point, Peterson grabbed it after going high for a dunk. But Self said the issue wasn't as serious as earlier in the year: “It was more of, ‘I’m not quite whole right now.'”

“Feeling better. It's coming back slowly to me,” Peterson said. “I was out for a while but every game is getting better. This was a great win, especially coming off the loss to West Virginia. We knew we had to come out and get a win.”

The Jayhawks clearly felt a sense of urgency. They even had a players-only meeting — Self insisted he knew nothing about it — during which they talked about their goals for the season and what it would take to get back on track.

“Just kind of reiterating the key things that we want to identify ourselves as this year,” White said, “and just internal conversations that made us more focused on what we want to do. It definitely made us more connected.”

It was evident from the opening minutes, when Kansas opened with an 11-3 run to get the crowd into the game.

By the 7-minute mark, the lead had grown to 31-14, and Otzelberger had wasted two timeouts trying to get things under control.

Kansas pushed the lead to 26 points before Iowa State mounted its only real comeback, stringing together some stops and getting some buckets to go on each side of halftime. But eventually, the Jayhawks found their stride again, and they quickly pushed the lead back over 20 points before emptying the bench in the final minutes.

What made the performance particularly impressive was the opposition: Iowa State was off to a 16-0 start, including a 23-point road win over then-No. 1 Purdue, and the Cyclones were one of two teams receiving No. 1 votes in the AP Top 25 this week.

“We looked a little spooked and panicked, and the moment got to us,” Otzelberger said. “We know how well prepared they were going to be. We know how competitive they're going to be. We know how much confidence they have, especially in this building. You can tell they've been on the practice court working, and getting ready, and they did a tremendous job.”

🏀 Peterson and KU crush previously unbeaten Iowa State

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Kansas City Royals announced today Kauffman Stadium’s outfield wall is being moved in for the 2026 season.

This change will likely create more home runs (and robbed home runs), more extra-base hits, and more exciting action on the field – while bringing fans closer to seeing it. The decision was made by Baseball Operations for competitive reasons, including to bring The K more in line with other Major League ballparks.

Work on the project has begun, and will be complete ahead of the Royals home opener vs the Twins on Monday, March 30.

“We’ve discussed this possibility for years, and after much work by our Research &amp; Development department, believe this will be a positive change for our baseball team,” Royals Executive Vice President and General Manager J.J. Picollo said. “We wanted more consistency throughout the season, while making sure the specifics put us in the best position to succeed.”

The wall will come in 8 to 10 feet starting near each foul pole – the gaps will go from 387 feet to 379 – and taper back toward centerfield, which will remain 410 feet. The height of the wall will also change, from 10 feet tall in most places to 8 ½ feet. About 150 seats will be added in left field and about 80 new drinkrail seats in right.

The club’s research estimates the changes will take the run value of fly balls at The K from the bottom third of MLB ballparks to the middle, primarily through more extra-base hits.

Over the last three seasons, these specific changes would have benefitted the Royals overall, even accounting for more extra-base hits by opponents.

“Making this a fairer ballpark will help with roster construction, but more importantly will allow our players to keep the same approach regardless of where we play,” Royals Vice President – Research &amp; Development/Assistant GM Dr. Daniel Mack said. “Our approach was carefully considered to account for as many factors as possible. We believe this will ultimately reduce the constraints within Kauffman Stadium.”

⚾ Royals announce new dimensions for Kauffman Stadium

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/JCHSUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZYYgPXlBPbNg8d7peqp6njWR6igL1lPJtZCaaSnjNJczEpEKMEznQBkb6YfAP_HQPbkxz3rGiGFcigHhrgFiuD1t8eWLx6oy628So5bJBVL4gb91v-a0tjJ4UFN8wDZ3JaUfFpHT9lK85Bcwb3VPCkyMZxuCeFZehrs_ycN5NkCCw&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Junction City High School</a>&nbsp;senior defensive end Jackson Hollie has been selected to play on the West team in the Kansas Shine Bowl June 27 in Emporia.

The Shrine Bowl announced the selections on Sunday.

Blue Jay coach Randall Zimmerman will serve as an assistant coach for the West team as well.&nbsp;

A Blue Jay will compete in the Shrine Bowl

The Junction City Blue Jays wrestling team won the championship of the Shawnee Heights Tournament on Saturday. Colton Blockcolsky at 106 pounds and Cody Owens at 165 pounds captured first place in their weight classes.

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