The Board of Directors of the Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program has acknowledged the completion of coursework and graduation of twenty-six participants of the&nbsp;2025-26&nbsp;program year. Ceremonies were completed at the Columbian Theatre in Wamego.

Executive Director, Jack Lindquist explained, “As we completed each segment and thanked each speaker and host, this class reflected the maxim as the Eagle Class — They accepted the charge they must be fearless in the face of adversity, knowing that the Eagle soars above the ordinary. With courage to fly against the wind, this class rose and will continue to rise to extraordinary heights.”

Board Chair Jeremy O’Donnell summarized the class experience saying, “This region needs vision to meet the needs and convert challenges into opportunities. When we shaped the Class of 2025-26, we sought those willing to learn leadership skills to rise above the chatter to find a pathway as change unfolds. We found this class is inherently caring and are now well trained, focused servant leaders.”

Organization treasurer Tiffany Cutter shared the roster of financial and in-kind supporters including:

Class members recognized are listed by name, hometown, county and occupation:

Abby Amick&nbsp; Alma WB&nbsp; Wabaunsee County Clerk

Alex Bonebrake Manhattan RL Owner, Konza Painting

Julie Bortnick Wamego PT Senior Manager, Varney &amp; Associates, CPA's, LLC

Jenna Brown White City MR Senior Director of Development, Carl Ice College of Engineering, K-State

Lauren Chard Manhattan RL&nbsp; Sports Sales Manager, Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce

Raquel Cinco Wakefield CL Executive Director, Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau

Jayme Coffey Junction City GE Accounts Payable/Financial Analyst, Geary County Board of Commissioners

Tyler Conard Manhattan RL Member Services Coordinator, Flint Hills Association of REALTORS

Eric Fleuter Enterprise DK Army Substance Abuse Program Manager, Fort Riley DHR

Heather Gladbach Wamego PT Assistant County Administrator/ Finance Officer, PT County

Cheryl Greathouse Manhattan RL EEO Complaints Manager, Fort Riley

Chris Herbel Alma WB Undersheriff, Wabaunsee County Sheriff's Office

Melanie Highsmith Manhattan RL Curator of Education &amp; Design, Riley County Historical Museum

Bailey Hinkle Wamego PT Business Operation Manager, WTC Fiber

Michelle Horstmeier Manhattan RL Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Riley County

Gabby Jensen Wamego PT&nbsp; Communications &amp; Outreach Specialist, City of Wamego

Maci Murillo Manhattan RL Library Director, Wamego Public Library

Mark Otte Manhattan RL Director of Public Affairs, Fort Riley

Josh Perkins Junction City GE Facilities Director, CORVIAS Property Management

April Philippi Junction City GE Leadership &amp; Workforce Development Specialist, DHR, Fort Riley

Carl Seelye Junction City GE Management Analyst, DOD Fort Riley

Timothy Sifuentes Junction City GE Safety and Occupational Health Specialist, IMCOM Fort Riley

Mikayla Springer&nbsp; Alma WB Branch Manager, Community First National Bank, Manhattan

Bernadette Trieb Alma WB Extension Agent, K-State Extension Wabaunsee County

Brian Zachary Junction City WB Lieutenant, Geary County Sheriff's Office

Marissa Ziegler Milford GE Patrol Sergeant, Junction City Police Department

Board Chair Jeremy O’Donnell introduced the closing address speaker, Cassie Hartwich, for an inspiring challenge. In response, class members Mikayla Springer and Raquel Cinco shared lessons learned and appreciation remarks.&nbsp; The class project, Rock Creek Batting Cages, was announced by class member and project chair, Julie Bortnick, closing out the evening.

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   Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program class completes course

The Geary County Republican Party is hosting a Republican Party Meet &amp; Greet on Monday, February 9th, at 6:00 P.M. at The BLU Restaurant and Bar, located at 601 N. Washington, in Junction City.

The evening will feature Dr. Jeff Colyer, the 47th Governor of Kansas, surgeon, leader, and humanitarian, who is currently running for Kansas Governor. Come hear his vision, ask questions, and connect with fellow Republicans. Some of your local elected officials will also be in attendance.

The Geary County Republican Committee says, "It will be a great opportunity to network and engage with others in the community—we hope to see you there!"

Geary County Republican Party hosting Meet-and-Greet with Governor Candidate on Monday night

The Junction City boys and girls varsity basketball teams hit the road on Friday night for their first of five straight road games. The Blue Jays and Lady Jays played at Topeka Hayden High School. The two teams split the doubleheader, with Hayden winning the girls game and Junction City winning the boys game.

Girls recap - Topeka Hayden 61, Junction City 23

The Wildcats of Topeka Hayden won the opening tip and jumped out to an early five-point lead, but Junction City was battling early. The Lady Jays had back-to-back baskets to cut the lead down to one, trailing 9-8. JCHS forced back-to-back turnovers but could not convert to take the lead. Hayden quickly responded and then ended the first quarter on a 10-0 run. The Wildcats led 19-8 at the end of the first quarter and then just poured it on for the rest of the game. Topeka Hayden won the game 61-23 and improved to 13-4 on the year.

*One of the bright spots for Junction City was sophomore Laniyah Warmack. She scored in double digits, leading the team with 10 points and several steals. Laniyah Warmack was named our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game. (For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Laniyah receives a $20 free meal coupon voucher to Blu Restaurant in Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.)

Boys recap - Junction City 76, Topeka Hayden 56

Basketball is always referred to as a game of runs. That would accurately depict the first two minutes of the boys game on Friday night. Junction City junior Khaliel Walker scored the first five points of the game. Quickly, the Wildcats responded with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 5-5. Then again, Junction City responded with another 5-0 run to jump back in front, 10-5. The Blue Jays dominated the rest of first quarter, capped off with a right-wing three-pointer by Lovell Autry as time expired. The Blue Jays led 27-11 at the end of the first quarter.

In second-quarter action, Hayden came alive. Their senior big man (and KU football commit) Connor Hanika settled in, as well as their guards, who knocked down some three-pointers late in the first half to cut the deficit to single digits. Junction City quickly responded and led by 11, 34-23 at the half.

Third-quarter action is when the Blue Jays really took control. Senior guard Lovell Autry took over and scored several shots near the basket. Guard Jaycen Lanier and Jett Thompson both added three-pointers, and junior Brody Boeckman dominated the glass with several putbacks within four feet of the rim. JCHS led 60-39 after three quarters.

In the fourth, Junction City was able to put several young players in and mostly empty their bench. The Blue Jays won the game 76-56 and improved to 9-7 on the season. Four players scored in double digits. Autry had 20, Boeckman 15, and Walker and Thompson both added 11 points.

*Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was junior Khaliel Walker. He connected on three three-pointers and took two charges, along with playing great defense throughout the whole game. (For being our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Khaliel receives a $20 free meal coupon voucher to Blu Restaurant in Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.)

Both Junction City boys and girls teams will play at Emporia High on Tuesday.

Lady Jays fall to Topeka Hayden, Blue Jays win by 20

The Junction City Blue Jays and Lady Jays hit the road for their next five games. The first road game is tonight at Topeka Hayden High School.&nbsp;

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

Girls will tip-off at 6:30 p.m., and the boys will follow. In girls action, Junction City is 2-13, Topeka Hayden is 12-4.&nbsp;

Boys action, Junction City is 8-7, and Hayden is 8-8.&nbsp;

LISTEN LIVE: Blue Jays begin road trip Playing at Topeka Hayden

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Learning can travel far beyond the classroom walls even all the way across the United States.For Lucille Allin, a Special Education Early Childhood teacher at Morris Hill Elementary, creativity and curiosity are at the heart of everything she does. During winter break, she came across a post about preschool classrooms exchanging valentine’s cards with schools in other states and immediately knew it was not only something special, but something she wanted to be involved in.

“I thought this would be a great idea for my class to not just create valentine's cards to share, but also a chance to learn about each state,” said Allin.Rather than simply creating valentine cards, Allin turned the project into a meaningful learning experience for her early childhood students. Each handmade valentine includes information about the city, school and the state it came from. When her class sent out their cards, they proudly also shared facts about Fort Riley, giving students a chance to showcase their own community while learning about others.“That’s the coolest part in that each valentine we have sent includes facts about Fort Riley,” said Allin.

As each valentine’s card arrives, the excitement builds and you can feel the excitement in the air as each card is read aloud as a class, sparking conversations and curiosity.“When we receive the valentine, we read it as a class, put a heart on the state,&nbsp;and then staple it to the bulletin&nbsp;board for everyone to see,” said Allin.That visual display helps students track which states they’ve heard from and which ones they’re still hope to reach. In the end, the Allin and her student’s goal is ambitious and inspiring as they plan to send and receive 50 total valentines. As of the end of January, the class had already received 14 cards and sent out 30, steadily building connections across the nation.

That same spirit of connection is alive and well at Sheridan Elementary where Yadira Cruz Ortiz and D'Avona Stanisic’s Pre-K classroom is participating in Hearts Across Our Country for the second year in a row. This winter, the Stallions have created and sent handmade Valentines to preschool classrooms across the United States.Like Allin’s class, each arrival becomes a lesson in geography, kindness, and community. The class also read their cards aloud, shows where they came from, and invite students to place a sticker on the corresponding state on their classroom map. Their goal is to receive a Valentine from every state, helping students learn that even at a young age, small acts of kindness can create meaningful connections.Through creativity, collaboration, and a whole lot of heart, these classrooms are proving that learning truly knows no boundaries.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sending Hearts Across America

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged theft.

Just after 4p.m. Thursday police arrested 38-year-old&nbsp;Kelli Wilson of Salina in the 400 block of E. Poyntz Avenue in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Wilson was arrested on a Pottawatomie County District Court warrant for one count of theft by threat; $1,500 or less from three businesses in 72 hours. 

This arrest stems from an original report filed in November 2025. Wilson is being held in the Pottawatomie County Jail.

Kan. woman accused of theft from 3 businesses in 72-hours

As a youth Michelle McDaniel was involved in 4-H. As she got more involved in 4-H, Michelle said she wanted to become Extension Agent as an adult. “I enjoyed working with both young children and adults” and that seemed like a natural fit for her as a career. However, her studies at Kansas State University prepared her to be a licensed teacher in Family and Consumer Science (FACS) as well.

As things happen to many people, life took a turn and her dream of becoming an Extension Agent came true. Following graduation from Kansas State University, Michelle completed an Internship as an Extension Agent in Wabaunsee County.

Following the internship, in 1991 Michelle McDaniel changed directions in her life and was hired at Junction City Middle School as the Family and Consumer Science teacher. This was the time when computers played an important role in the work teachers did in the classroom to record grades, keep attendance and other tasks we now take for granted and are basic uses of the computer. During this time she was a part of a group of teachers that helped other teachers with their technology questions and presented technology-based professional development for teachers in her building.

Mrs. McDaniel, who is a twice National Board-Certified Teacher, was so interested in more things which could be done by using the computer that she enrolled in numerous Integrated Technology Institutes offered by USD 475. In about 2012 Michelle was asked to teach a Multimedia, a computer class at JCMS, which was in addition to two other technology classes taught by other staff. She agreed and developed her own curriculum that focused primarily on various areas of Graphic Design and Coding.

Ten years later, Michelle applied to be a Technology Education Coach in USD 475 and was hired. She said “this provides me with opportunities to work with students (youth) and teachers (adults)” which was my goal as a youth.

Michelle is assigned to Junction City Middle School, Fort Riley Middle School and Morris Hill Elementary School. “I am invited into the classrooms to give guidance, teach, co-teach, work independently with students or a teacher to solve problems or assist with integration of any computer based extended learning projects. The projects include a variety of programs and websites that encourage creativity with demonstrating student learning such as digital creative presentation, video creation, creation of virtual spaces, coding and robotics, and proper use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and many other tasks.”

The JC Breakfast Optimist Club is having a fundraiser on Monday, February 9 from 11:00 AM until close at JC’s BBQ &amp; Grill. Ten percent of the cost of all purchases and donations will go to the Club for their work with 15 youth organizations; 3 scholarships; support of a Junior Optimist Club at Junction City High School and St. Xavier’s Catholic Schools; donations to the Magdalene Project and Project Lift The Burden, which is a Club project to help families who have unpaid breakfast and lunch bills in USD 475.

An Instructional Technology Specialist Visited With The Optimists

Crystal Malchose was also honored by the Kansas County Human Resource Association and the Kansas Association of Counties.&nbsp;

Geary County HR Professional Crystal Malchose is honored

WASHINGTON&nbsp;– U.S. Senator&nbsp;Jerry&nbsp;Moran&nbsp;(R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation – directed more than $26 million in federal investments to repairs and safety improvements at regional airports in Kansas.

This funding was included in the five-bill appropriations package approved by Congress and signed into law by the President yesterday.“Our regional airports are critical to connecting rural communities and supporting regional economies across our state,”&nbsp;said Sen.&nbsp;Moran.&nbsp;“These resources will allow for much-needed infrastructure improvements to bolster aviation safety and support Kansans’ aviation needs for years to come.”Federal investments secured for Kansas airports:

Sen. Moran Directs Federal Resources to Kansas Airports in Appropriations Package

Kansas City, Mo. - February 5, 2026 – Evergy is warning customers to be vigilant after a new text scam.

Scammers are sending fake text messages to Evergy customers claiming the customer has overpaid their bill and is due for a refund. The scammer then asks customers to go to a fake website that appears to be from Evergy and enter personal financial information.

This is a scam and the text and website are not from Evergy.&nbsp;If customers receive a text like this, they should:

Fake texts are just&nbsp;<a>one way</a>&nbsp;scammers are becoming more deceptive. Scammers frequently try to get personal and financial information like credit card, debit card, Social Security, Evergy account number, checking or savings account numbers using methods like texts, calls, websites and even in person. Here are some signs of common scams and ways consumers can protect themselves:

Evergy urges customers to watch out for text scams

USD 475 has released a list of upcoming commuity events this year.

They include the 2026 State of Education Celeration Thursday April 23 at&nbsp; 5:30 p.m. the Junction City High School Auditorium, Early Childood Center ribbon cutting Friday May 8 at 11 a.m., Junction City High School commencement Sunday May 17 at 3 p.m. and the Back to School carnival Thursday, Aug. 6 from 6-8 p.m.

USD 475 Community events

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple drug allegations.

Just after 10:30p.m. Feb. 8,&nbsp;&nbsp;a Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a 2015 Dodge Journey for multiple alleged traffic violations on U.S. Highway 75 near 118th&nbsp;Road, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

&nbsp; The driver of the vehicle identified himself as Irving Dawayne Edwards, 26, of Topeka and the passenger was identified as Juantario Isia Roberts, 22, of Topeka.&nbsp;

During the course of the traffic stop, a Jackson County Sheriff’s K-9 (PSD) alerted to the presence of illegal drugs within the vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted and resulted in the discovery of illegal drugs and narcotics.

Edwards was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested&nbsp; charges of Distribute Certain Stimulant; &lt;3.5 grams, Distribute Marijuana; 25&nbsp;-&lt; 450 grams, Distribute or possess with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia for illegal use, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of Marijuana; 1 prior conviction, Possession of Drug paraphernalia, Taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substance, Driving while suspended, Driving without vehicle insurance and License plates; Unlawful display; material affecting visibility or reflectivity.

Juantario was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of Distribute Certain Stimulant; &lt;3.5 grams, Distribute Marijuana; 25&nbsp;-&lt; 450 grams, Distribute or possess with intent to distribute drug paraphernalia for illegal use, Possession of opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Possession of Marijuana; 1 prior conviction, Possession of Drug paraphernalia and taxation; Drugs; No drug tax stamp for marijuana or controlled substance

Sheriff: 2 suspects accused of selling drugs in Kansas

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — “West Wing” and “Field of Dreams” actor Timothy Busfield has been indicted by a grand jury on four counts of criminal sexual contact with a child under age 13, a New Mexico prosecutor announced Friday.

The allegations are tied to Busfield's work as a director on the set of the TV series “The Cleaning Lady” from 2022 to 2024.

Busfield has denied the allegations, initially filed in court by police, and a defense attorney on Friday said he would “fight these charges at every stage.”

Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman announced the indictment in a social media post.

Busfield had turned himself in to authorities in January on related charges by police and was released from jail by a judge who found no pattern of criminal conduct or similar allegations involving children in Busfield's past. The grand jury indictment allows the case against Busfield to proceed toward possible trial without a preliminary courtroom hearing on evidence.

Larry Stein, an attorney for Busfield, did not comment directly on the sexual contact charge in the indictment but said the grand jury declined to endorse grooming charges sought by prosecutors. Prosecutors declined to comment on what accusations it brought before the grand jury.

Stein said in a statement that a detention hearing already “exposed fatal weaknesses in the state’s evidence — gaps that no amount of charging decisions can cure.”

“Mr. Busfield will fight these charges at every stage and looks forward to testing the State’s case in open court,” the statement said.

An investigator with the Albuquerque Police Department said a boy reported that Busfield touched his private areas over his clothing when he was 7 years old and again when he was 8, according to the initial criminal complaint from police. The boy’s twin told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but he didn’t say anything right away because he didn’t want to get in trouble, the complaint said.

The indictment — filed Friday in state District Court — reiterates allegations that Busfield “touched or applied force to the intimate parts” of one of the boys on several occasions.

At a detention hearing last month, Busfield’s attorneys pointed out that the children initially said during interviews with police that Busfield didn’t touch them inappropriately. Busfield’s attorneys then accused the boys’ parents of coaching their children toward incriminating statements after the boys lost lucrative roles on the show.

But Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch has called evidence of abuse against Busfield strong and specific, with support from medical findings and the boys' therapist. She also said witnesses expressed fear about potential retaliation and professional harm.

Prosecutors have outlined what they said was grooming behavior and abuse of power by Busfield over three decades.

Each count in the indictment against Busfied carries a possible penalty of six years in prison that can be enhanced if it involves a sexual offense, according to prosecutors.

In freeing Busfield on Jan. 20, state District Court Judge David Murphy said that while the crimes Busfield is accused of inherently are dangerous and involve children, prosecutors didn’t prove the public wouldn’t be safe if he’s released.

West Wing actor  indicted on 4 counts of sexual contact with a child

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key participant in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/f3424346447545a1835453d82efc6de2">the deadly 2012 attack</a>&nbsp;on the U.S. compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans has been taken into custody and will be prosecuted in their deaths, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Friday

Bondi said in a news conference that Zubayr Al-Bakoush had landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland at 3 a.m. on Friday.

“We have never stopped seeking justice for that crime against our nation,” Bondi said.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said that an eight-count indictment charged Al-Bakoush with crimes including the murders of Ambassador Chris Stevens and State Department employee Sean Smith. It was unclear if Al-Bakoush had an attorney representing him.

The 2012 attack on the U.S. compound immediately emerged as a divisive political issue as Republicans challenged President Barack Obama and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on security at the facility, the military response to the violence and the administration’s changing narrative about who was responsible and why.

<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-congress-united-states-government-34c68bb91bbb41fdb2f8efa210c1d2b5">A final report</a>&nbsp;by a Republican-led congressional panel faulted the Obama administration for security deficiencies at the Libyan outpost and a slow response to the attacs. The report, however, found no wrongdoing by Clinton.

Clinton dismissed the report as an echo of previous probes with no new discoveries, saying it was “time to move on.” Other Democrats denounced the Republicans’ report as “a conspiracy theory on steroids."

On the night of Sept. 11, 2012, U.S. officials have said, at least 20 militants armed with AK-47s and grenade launchers breached the gate of the consulate compound and set buildings on fire.

The fire led to the deaths of Stevens and Smith. Other State Department personnel escaped to a nearby U.S. facility known as the annex.

A large group assembled for an attack on the annex. That attack, including a precision mortar barrage, resulted in the deaths of security officers Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty.

A Libyan militant suspected of being a mastermind of the attacks,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cc953f1412f54cbab9b784ebecad5e9c">Ahmed Abu Khattala</a>, was captured by U.S. special forces in 2014 and was brought to Washington for prosecution. He was convicted and is serving a prison sentence. His attorneys argued that the evidence was inconclusive and that he was singled out because of his ultra-conservative Muslim beliefs.

🎥Militant is in custody for 2012 attack that killed U.S. Ambassador

ARLINGTON COUNTY, Virginia —On Thursday, the Arlington County, Virginia Police Department&nbsp; announced the arrest of a Maryland man following a month’s long criminal investigation, according to a media release from Arlington County police.

Colin Demarco, 26, of Rockville, Maryland is charged with Attempted Murder, Criminal Solicitation to Commit Murder, Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Wearing a Mask in Public to Conceal Identity. He was taken into custody at his residence on January 16 and later extradited to the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is being held without bond in the Arlington County Detention Facility.

At approximately 3:15 p.m. on August 10, 2025, Arlington County Police were dispatched to the 3800 block of 7th Street S. for the report of a suspicious person. 

A witness reported observing a suspect, who was wearing a surgical mask and rubber gloves, carrying a backpack and appeared to be concealing a firearm under his shirt, on the victim’s porch. 

The suspect subsequently approached the witness and inquired about the victim before leaving the scene. The witness then contacted police and responding officers established a perimeter and canvassed the area for the suspect with negative results. The incident was captured on home surveillance video and the suspect was subsequently identified.

During the course of the investigation, the Arlington County Police Department executed search warrants for digital records associated with the suspect. As a result of these search warrants, police recovered digital evidence that the suspect had obtained directions to the victim’s residence, confirmed in court records as the home of&nbsp;t  Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. 

The suspect also had information detailing locations of firearms possessed by a relative and had a guide detailing tips to prevent criminal detection. 

Additionally, the suspect had posted online about the victim and had online discussions appearing to solicit others to murder the victim. Within days of these online solicitations, the August 10 incident occurred where the suspect arrived at the victim’s address wearing a mask and gloves, possibly concealing a firearm and inquired about the victim. As a result of the investigation, detectives obtained the criminal warrants for the suspect’s arrest.

Man accused of trying to kill member of President Trump's Cabinet

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating the burglary observed on security video at the Main Street Bar and Grill in Canton have made an arrest. With the assistance of police in Salina, one of two suspects was identified, according to a media release from the McPherson County Sheriff's office. Deputies were then alerted to an address in Marquette, Kansas.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16JehWjny6/">Click here to watch the crime in progress&nbsp;</a>

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16qHhUwQnB/">&nbsp;Click here to watch another video of the crime&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

Just after 11p.m. Thursday, deputies located and arrested the suspect identified as 46-year-old Patrick Hull, according to online jail records.&nbsp;

He was booked on requested charges of Burglary and Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property.&nbsp;&nbsp;Two gaming machines were damaged with an undisclosed amount of cash and bottles of alcohol taken during the crime.

The search for the second suspect continues.

One suspect who broke into Kan. bar through the ceiling is in jail

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market roared back on Friday, as technology stocks recovered much of their losses from earlier in the week and bitcoin halted its plunge, at least for now.

The S&amp;P 500 rallied 2% for its best day since May. The Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,206 points, or 2.5%, and topped the 50,000 level for the first time, while the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%.

Chip companies helped drive the widespread rally, and Nvidia jumped 7.8% to trim its loss for the week, which came into the day at just over 10%. Broadcom climbed 7.1% and erased its drop for the week.

They were the two strongest forces lifting the S&amp;P 500, and they benefited from hopes for continued spending by customers diving into artificial-intelligence technology. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, for example, said late Thursday it expects to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/amazon-earnings-fourth-quarter-f4cfda9dd8ee6e2cdfcfcd90265cf0bb">spend about $200 billion on investments</a>&nbsp;this year to take advantage of “seminal opportunities like AI, chips, robotics, and low earth orbit satellites.”

Such immense spending, similar to what&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/google-alphabet-fourth-quarter-results-73922dd5d0c2398e1d4f23ddfccd0277">Alphabet</a>&nbsp;announced a day earlier, is creating concerns of its own, though. The question is whether all those dollars will create big enough profits to make the investments worth it. With doubt remaining about that, Amazon’s stock dropped 5.6%.

Even with Friday’s surge, the S&amp;P 500 still fell to its third losing week in the last four. Besides worries about spending by Big Tech companies, which are Wall Street’s most influential stocks, concerns about AI potentially stealing customers from software companies also hurt the market. Software stocks got hit particularly hard after AI firm Anthropic released free tools to automate things like legal services.

Bitcoin, meanwhile, steadied following a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bitcoin-prices-falling-cryptocurrency-markets-investment-199a22ac65a675eb67bac89177ddf09b">weekslong plunge</a>&nbsp;that had sent it more than halfway below its record price set in October. It climbed back above $70,000 after briefly dropping close to $60,000 late Thursday.

Prices in the metals market also calmed a bit following their own wild swings. Gold rose 1.8% to settle at $4,979.80 per ounce, while silver added 0.2%.

Their prices suddenly ran out of momentum last week following jaw-dropping rallies, which were driven by investors clamoring for something safe to own amid worries about political turmoil, a U.S. stock market that critics called expensive and huge debt loads for governments worldwide. By January, prices for gold and silver were surging so quickly that critics called it unsustainable.

On Wall Street, the recovery for bitcoin helped stocks of companies enmeshed in the crypto economy. Robinhood Markets jumped 14% for the biggest gain in the S&amp;P 500. Crypto trading platform Coinbase Global rose 13%. Strategy, the company that’s made a business of buying and holding bitcoin, soared 26.1%.

Stocks of smaller U.S. companies also helped lead the market, along with companies whose profits depend on U.S. households spending more money. They benefited from potentially encouraging data on how U.S. consumers are feeling.

A preliminary report from the University of Michigan suggested sentiment among U.S. consumers is improving slightly, when economists were expecting to see a drop. The improvement was strongest among households that own stocks, which are benefiting from the S&amp;P 500 setting a record late last month.

To be sure, sentiment “remained at dismal levels for consumers without stock holdings,” according to Surveys of Consumers Director Joanne Hsu.

Airline stocks strengthened with hopes that more confidence among U.S. households will translate into more spending on trips. That included gains of 9.3% for United Airlines, 8% for Delta Air Lines and 7.6% for American Airlines.

The smaller stocks in the Russell 2000 index jumped 3.6%, well above the S&amp;P 500’s gain. Smaller companies’ profits can be more dependent on the strength of the U.S. economy than those for big, multinational rivals.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 jumped 133.90 points to 6,932.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 1,206.95 to 50,115.67, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 490.63 to 23,031.21.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe.

That was even though Stellantis, the auto giant whose stock trades in Italy, lost a quarter of its value after saying it would take a charge of 22 billion euros, or $26 billion, as it dials back its electric vehicle production. The automaker acknowledged “over-estimating the pace of the energy transition” and said it was resetting its business “to align the company with the real-world preferences of its customers.”

Stocks fell across much of Asia, but Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 0.8%. It benefited from a 2% climb for Toyota Motor, which said CEO Koji Sato will step down in April and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/toyota-automaker-japan-tariffs-earnings-kon-sato-c46c1afb10990bbe2695bb5addc7566d">will be replaced</a>&nbsp;by Chief Financial Officer Kenta Kon.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady. The yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.20% from 4.21% late Thursday.

History: Dow tops 50,000; US stocks soar to best day since May 

Pete Felten, limestone sculptor from Hays, who has been carving Kansas limestone for nearly 70 years, died this week in Hays. He was 92.

Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran issued a statement on Felten's passing.

“I’m saddened to hear of the passing of Pete Felten, a native of Hays and a talented artist and sculptor whose work captured the beauty and spirit of Kansas. Pete devoted his life to Kansas art and history, and he served our country in the United States Navy before returning to Hays. To many, Pete was a symbol of Kansas, and he was even depicted as a character in the Western novel, ‘The Last Cattle Drive,’ by Robert Day.

“At 24, he first began to sculpt, a skill he would continue for nearly 70 years, creating landmarks, statues and monuments to honor our special way of life in Kansas. Today, his work can be found across our state: in the Kansas State Capitol, home to his statues of famous Kansans, near historic Fort Hays where his iconic “Monarch of the Plains” monument can be seen and in numerous other locations throughout Kansas. In my office in Washington, D.C., I have one of his pieces – a sculpture of a Kansas bison.

“Pete will forever be a part of Hays history, and his legacy will live on in the sculptures he crafted to represent the state he loved. My prayers are with his loved ones and friends in this difficult time as we mourn the passing of a great Kansan.”

On Monday, Governor Laura Kelly and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Kansas Arts Commission (KAC) at the&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Department of Commerce announced Felten as a Legacy winner of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascommerce.gov/program/kansas-creative-arts-and-industries-commission-kcaic/governors-arts-awards/2026-governors-arts-award-recipients/">2026 Kansas Governor’s Arts Awards</a>&nbsp;at its&nbsp;annual&nbsp;ceremony at the Docking State Office&nbsp;Building in Topeka.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The governor's office described more about the amazing work of Pete Felten.

Felten first took hammer and chisel in hand in 1957 after serving in the U.S. Navy (1952-1956), where he visited art museums on the east and west coasts and Hawaii. After briefly attending an art league school in New York, he returned to Hays to pursue his career.&nbsp;

His most prominent work includes the eight-foot-tall, approximately 2,000-pound limestone portraits of Amelia Earhart, William Allen White, Arthur Capper, and Dwight Eisenhower that encircle the Kansas Capitol rotunda, installed in 1981. He won the competitive selection process by creating detailed models of each subject. He chose Silverdale limestone from southeastern Kansas for the Capitol work because he believed it to be “the finest Kansas limestone, uniform and excellent for statues.” Notably, he declined to sign the work, explaining “this is Kansas’ work, not mine.”&nbsp;

Ellis County alone contains more than 28 of his limestone sculptures, including well-known figures like Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody. His first large commissioned piece was a bust of Buffalo Bill Cody at the Hays Public Library (1961). The “Monarch of the Plains” buffalo sculpture at Fort Hays State Historic Site (completed 1967) stands 8 feet high and 10 feet long on an 8-foot base, starting from a 24-ton stone. In 2024, bronze plaques were finally added next to his capitol sculptures to credit him for the work.&nbsp;

Senator Moran on the passing of Kan. artist, sculptor Pete Felten 

BOURBOUN COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Thursday in Bourbon County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Sportsman 570 ATV driven by Gary M. Foster, 70, Fort Scott, entered Kansas 39 northbound from a field entrance at 1037 K39 Highway.&nbsp; The ATV continued north across the eastbound lane and traveled into the westbound lane. A 2024 Hyundia Elantra driven by Cheryl E. Anderson, 46, Winfield, and the ATV collided near the&nbsp;driveway of 1037 K39 Highway. 

Foster was thrown from the ATV as it rolled into the westbound ditch.

EMS transported Foster to Mercy Hospital in Joplin. EMS also transported&nbsp;Anderson and her 14-year-old female passenger to Freeman Hospital in Fort Scott.&nbsp; Foster was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

Kansas man hospitalized after car, ATV crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s social media post featuring former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates in a jungle was deleted after a backlash from both Republicans and Democrats who criticized the video as racist.

The Republican president’s Thursday night post was deleted Friday and blamed on a staffer after widespread backlash, from civil rights leaders to veteran Republican senators, for its treatment of the nation’s first Black president and first lady. The deletion, a rare admission of a misstep by the White House, came hours after press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed “fake outrage” over the post. After calls for its removal for being racist -- including by Republicans -- the White House said a staffer had posted the video erroneously and it had been taken down.

The post was part of a flurry of social media activity on Trump's Truth Social account that amplified his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">courts around the country</a>&nbsp;and a Trump attorney general from his first term finding no evidence of fraud that could have affected the outcome.

An Obama spokeswoman said the former president, a Democrat, had no response.

Nearly all of the 62-second clip, which was among dozens of Truth Social posts from Trump overnight, appears to be from a conservative video alleging deliberate tampering with voting machines in battleground states as the 2020 presidential votes were tallied. At the 60-second mark is a quick scene of two primates, with the Obamas' smiling faces imposed on them.

Those frames were taken from a separate video, previously circulated by an influential conservative meme maker. It shows Trump as “King of the Jungle” and depicts a range of Democratic leaders as animals, including Joe Biden, who is white, as a jungle primate eating a banana.

“This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from the Lion King,” Leavitt said by text, referring to Disney's 1994 feature film, which does not feature the range of jungle primates featured in the original video. “Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public.”

By noon, the post had been taken down with responsibility placed on a Trump subordinate.

Trump did not comment on the video in the post, which comes in the first week of Black History Month and days after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/02/national-black-history-month-2026/">a presidential proclamation</a>&nbsp;that cited “the contributions of black Americans to our national greatness and their enduring commitment to the American principles of liberty, justice, and equality.”

Condemnation across the political spectrum

While it was still up, Trump's post drew condemnation from across the political and ideological spectrum.

The Rev. Bernice King, daughter of the assassinated civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., resurfaced her father's words: “Yes. I'm Black. I'm proud of it. I'm Black and beautiful.” She praised Black Americans as “diverse, innovative, industrious, inventive” and added, “We are beloved of God as postal workers and professors, as a former first lady and president. We are not apes.”

The U.S. Senate's lone Black Republican, Tim Scott of South Carolina, called on Trump to take down the post. “Praying it was fake because it’s the most racist thing I’ve seen out of this White House,” Scott, who chairs Senate Republicans' midterm campaign arm, said on social media.

Another Republican, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, is white but represents the state with the largest percentage of Black residents. Wicker called the post “totally unacceptable” and said the president should apologize.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson said in a statement, “Donald Trump’s video is blatantly racist, disgusting, and utterly despicable.”

Johnson asserted that Trump is trying anything to distract from economic conditions and attention on the Jeffrey Epstein case files.

“You know who isn’t in the Epstein files? Barack Obama,” Johnson said. "You know who actually improved the economy as president? Barack Obama.”

Trump and the official White House social media accounts frequently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-videos-trump-ice-artificial-intelligence-08d91fa44f3146ec1f8ee4d213cdad31">repost memes and artificial intelligence-generated videos</a>. As Leavitt did Friday, Trump aides typically dismiss critiques and cast the images as humorous.

There is a long history in the U.S. of powerful white figures associating Black people with animals, including apes, in demonstrably false and racist ways. The practice dates back to 18th century cultural racism and pseudo-scientific theories in which white people drew connections between Africans and monkeys to justify the enslavement of Black people in Europe and North America, and later to dehumanize freed Black people as an uncivilized threat to white people.

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, wrote in his famous text “Notes on the State of Virginia” that Black women were the preferred sexual partners of orangutans. President Dwight Eisenhower, discussing the desegregation of public schools in the 1950s, once argued that white parents were concerned about their daughters being in classrooms with “big Black bucks.” Obama, as a candidate and president, was featured as a monkey or other primate on T-shirts and other merchandise.

Trump, for his part, has a record of intensely personal criticism of the Obamas and of using incendiary, sometimes racist, rhetoric.

In his 2024 campaign, Trump said immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country,” language&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hitler-poison-blood-history-f8c3ff512edd120252596a4743324352">similar to what Adolf Hitler said</a>&nbsp;to dehumanize Jews in Nazi Germany.

During his first White House term, Trump referred to a swath of developing nations that are majority Black as “shithole countries.” He initially denied using the slur but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-slur-haiti-africa-immigration-28aa0785d6f3c68fd4d9e823b6397429">admitted in December 2025</a>&nbsp;that he did say it.

When Obama was in the White House, Trump advanced the false claims that the 44th president, who was born in Hawaii, was born in Kenya and was constitutionally ineligible to serve. Trump, in interviews that helped endear him to many conservative voters, repeatedly demanded that Obama produce birth records and prove he was a “natural-born citizen” as required to become president.

Obama eventually released his Hawaii records. Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-presidential-election-general-news-events-61f7085d848248cd98410027d33f2101">finally acknowledged</a>&nbsp;during his 2016 campaign, after having won the Republican nomination, that Obama was born in Hawaii. But he immediately said, falsely, that his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton started those birtherism attacks on Obama.

White House explains now deleted Trump 'racist' post about Obamas

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man accused in a fatal shooting at an American Legion Hall in Wichita is due back in court Friday.

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