Last week St. Xavier School held their homecoming festivities.&nbsp;Ram fans participated in dress up days, held a pep rally, crowned a king and queen, hosted a basketball scrimmage, and ended the week with a dance. Gotta love that school spirit!

&nbsp;Other homecoming activity photos can be found on our facebook page at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://saintxrams.org/">saintxrams.org</a>.&nbsp;Royal Court from left to right: Josh W., Kaydence W., Charles Q, Taylor S., Dana D., Josh E., Cassiel P.

King &amp; Queen: Charles Q., Taylor S.

St. Xavier celebrates Homecoming Week

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran delivered good news to members of the community on Friday announcing that $4,038,000 in federal funding has been authorizef for improvements at Freeman Field, the Junction City airport.

Moram had a message for taxpayer constituents. "The money is not added on. It helps us take money that's already going to be spent someplace and direct it in some place that we believe has merit." The money is included in a transportation bill that has been approved by the House and Senate, and signed into law by the President. The funds will be used for rehabilation of the runway and for adding asphalt.

Juncion City Public Works Director Ray Ibarra said that the airport's runway needs to be done. Nearly two years were spent pursuing the money. He outlined the plan for the project. "It's going to be a full depth reclamation on the runway. It's going to be a rehab where they're going to pulverize that base that's currently out there to be able to give us a good standard base and we're going to white top it with concrete." Ibarra added that the work should take care of the runway for several years. 

Ibarra also noted that with a small amount of extra money that the city might get from that, they might be able to do some needed taxiway improvements.&nbsp;

City Commissioner Pat Landes said the local hospital makes extensive use of the airport. With a rural hospital area everything can't be taken taken care of here so they've got to get people to the care that they need. He added that there are also businesses at the airport that work on and build airplanes plus a lot of enthusiats that use the facility.

Mayor Terry Butler pointed out that a Freedom Fest fundraiser, Balloons Bands and Barbecue will be held at the airport on the second Saturday in May.

Federal funds are targeted for Freeman Field

Both the Junction City High School boys and girls teams continued their road trip, this time at Washburn Rural High School. It was homecoming night for the Junior Blues in Topeka.

Girls recap - Washburn Rural 56, Junction City 14

It was the same story as the past three games for the Junction City Lady Jays. The first four minutes were high intensity and back and forth. Junction City sophomore guard Isabel Pruitt scored the first five points for Junction City, and sophomore Taliyah Campbell knocked down a free-throw line jumper to cut the deficit to one, down 8-7 with 4:00 to play in the first quarter. From this point forward, it was all Washburn Rural. The Junior Blues finished the quarter on a 7-0 run, and led 15-7 after one.&nbsp;

In second quarter action, Washburn Rural expanded their lead, and Junction City only scored two points in the quarter. JCHS trailed 31-9 at the half, and lost the game 56-14.&nbsp;

With the loss, the Lady Jays fall to 2-15 and are swept by Washburn Rural this season. The Junior Blues improved to 12-6 on the year.&nbsp;

*Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was senior Ava Uhlman. For bring our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Ava receives a $20 free meal coupon voucher from Blu Restaurant in Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.&nbsp;

Boys recap - Washburn Rural 56, Junction City 40

It was the start the Blue Jays were looking for! Junction City jumped out to an early 11-0 lead over Washburn Rural, thanks to back-to-back baskets by senior Jackson Hollie to begin the game which put all the momentum on the side of the Blue Jays. After the first quarter, JCHS led 13-3.&nbsp;

The second quarter was the polar opposite of the first quarter. Washburn Rural began the quarter with back-to-back baskets and continued that momentum until halftime. The Junior Blues got an offensive rebound and put-back to go in right before half, and led Junction City 17-16. Washburn Rural outscored JCHS 14-3 in the quarter.&nbsp;

To begin the third quarter, Washburn Rural kept the momentum and blasted out of the halftime break on a 14-5 run in the first four minutes of the quarter. The Junior Blues led 31-21, and then traded baskets with JC the rest of the quarter, and Washburn led 39-27. (Combined between the second and third quarter, Washburn Rural outscored Junction City 36-14).&nbsp;

Fourth quarter action featured a strong comeback by Junction City. Senior Lovell Autry converted a three-point play, and Khaliel Walker nailed a three-pointer to cut the lead to six. Then senior Jett Thompson converted on a three-point play, and Junction City trailed 43-40 with just under 4:00 minutes to go. Then, Washburn Rural sophomore Brooks Ballard came to life. Ballard was left open and hit three-straight three's and the Junior Blues pulled away to win, 56-40 and sweep Junction City on the season.&nbsp;

With the loss, JCHS falls to 9-9, and Washburn Rural goes to 10-8.&nbsp;

**Our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game was senior Jett Thompson. For bring our Blu Restaurant Player of the Game, Jett receives a $20 free meal coupon voucher from Blu Restaurant in Junction City, located at 602 N. Washington St.

The Junction City Blue Jays go back on the road on Tuesday night, playing at Topeka High School.&nbsp;

Washburn Rural sweeps the Blue Jays for the season

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Three years ago, Nicola Capriotti walked into the H.D. Karns Alternative School not just as a staff member, but as someone who understands what it feels like to sit in some of those student seats.See, Capriotti, who is a computer-based mentor at H.D. Karns, didn’t have a normal childhood as he was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and then moved to Wellington, Kan., when he was seven years old to live with his grandmother.

He attended Wellington High School, but his path wasn’t traditional as he dropped out and earned his GED in 2019, the same year he was supposed to graduate from WHS. Shortly after, he joined the military.“I grew up in a good neighborhood but was financially very poor. My family was on EBT, and I had to get a job very early in life to help support my family. Before that took all my time, I played football, wrestled and was a part of several social study academic games. I even started a cancer awareness club for every month that represents a cancer type,” said Capriotti.

Today, Capriotti can be found using his childhood as an example for his students, pushing them to better their situation, and its one that he does not take lightly.“Being able to work in this building is super meaningful to me. It means committing selfless service to the future of students every single day. It means going above and beyond for the betterment of the students and overall community. It’s long hours, sometimes thankless, but never does a day go by that you do not have a chance to make a positive impact. You get to be the adult in the education system you wish you had growing up. Every day you have a chance to impact a student’s life or future. I think that is a gift and should be treated as such,” said Capriotti, who is currently finishing an associate’s degree in business administration and is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human resources management.

Capriotti has also been able to have that impact away from the Karns building as he started a high school rugby club, the Junction City Jaguars, for area youth that travels all over the area and battles teams in Manhattan, Abilene and Chapman. The club currently has eight students from USD 475 and will open its season on March 14 if it can find enough student athletes to field a team. If you are interested in joining the team, please reach out to Capriotti at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolacapriotti@usd475.org">nicolacapriotti@usd475.org</a>.“I started the team as I was very passionate about coaching and didn’t have a way to get into coaching other sports, so I made my own path. Coaching the rugby team has been one of the best things I have ever done for myself or the community. To help shape these young men into leaders and honorable men is a privilege I will always cherish,” said Capriotti.

In the classroom, Capriotti has been a shining star as he has made a difference in countless number of students lives in his short tenure at Karns. At the start of every semester, he shares his story with his students. Not because it’s perfect but because it’s real and he believes vulnerability is a strength.“I think them seeing an authoritative figure open up shows them there is strength in vulnerability. I am often told by many students that I am easy to talk to about things and have helped multiple students through their tough situations. I think they are comfortable with me because I reached that helping hand out first by telling them things I have been through. I have always believed in leading from the front and I can’t expect them to do anything I would not do myself,” said Capriotti.

Capriotti Making a Difference at H.D. Karns

Through the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant, that Geary County Public Works was awarded, Geary County is aiming to end traffic deaths and serious injuries on the roads with a Transportation Safety Action Plan. 

Using recent crash data and input from stakeholders and the community, this plan will identify the roads and intersections in greatest need of safety improvements. This is where the public's help is needed.

Click here -&nbsp;<a href="https://olssonengage.mysocialpinpoint.com/geary-county-safety-action-plan">https://olssonengage.mysocialpinpoint.com/geary-countysafety-action-plan </a>or search ‘gearycountytsap.com’ to view the engagement map. Here, you can provide input on transportation safety concerns throughout Geary County. This information will help to build Geary County’s Transportation Safety Action Plan.

  The Geary County website (gearycounty.gov) has more information to view as needed. Under the Government Header, navigate to the Public Works Department’s page, then find a tab labeled ‘Safe Streets &amp; Roads for All (SS4A) Grant.’&nbsp;&nbsp;

Geary County Public Works needs your help! 

Junction City High School boys and girls basketball playing at Washburn Rural tonight.&nbsp;

Girls will tip-off at 6:00 p.m. and the boys will follow around 7:45 p.m.&nbsp;

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

LISTEN LIVE: 🏀 Junction City Blue Jays at Washburn Rural High School

At our monthly training, we were able to THANK Clark Carroll for serving Geary County for the past 24 years as a Volunteer Firefighter.

He was presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Kansas State Fire Marshal's Office.  It was presented to him by Geary County Commission Chair Kathy Tremont. 

 Asst. Fire Chief Curt Janke then presented Clark his fire helmet, a plaque thanking him for his service, along with a gift card to a restaurant and some flowers for his wife.

Geary County Rural Fire honors Clark Carroll for 24 years as Volunteer Firefighter

IHOP in Junction City cut the ribbon today to officially announce they are now open 24 hours a day, seven days a week (24/7) at their location at 321 East Ash Street.

Mohanad Khmous, the owner, was in attendance to cut the ribbon at the ribbon-cutting ceremony held Thursday at the restaurant. The ribbon-cutting was hosted by the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce.

"I am very proud of our team for making this happen," Khmous said. "I really appreciate their efforts to do this. We are now excited to serve the Junction City community 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

IHOP in Junction City originally opened their doors in 2009. For more information about IHOP, or to check out their menu,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/p/IHOP-Junction-City-KS-100063651124937/"> check out their Facebook page here.&nbsp;</a>

IHOP cuts the Ribbon to Announce being open 24/7 in Junction City

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.

Sirvoria Swinson, Failure to appear, arrested 02/11

Darzita Rojas, Failure to appear, arrested 02/11

Geary County Booking Photos Feb. 12, 2026

**Photos by Junction City Fire Department

The damage estimate from a house fire Thursday at 602 Stone Ridge in Junction City has been placed in the $300,000 to $500, 000 dollar range. Fire Chief Jason Lankas noted Friday that the house is now not believed to be a total loss. It's value was listed at $1.2 million dollars.&nbsp;

The resident was identified as Sue Ann Magana.

Lankas also confirmed new information on Friday morning that the blaze began in a burn barrel on a neighbor's property and then spread through tall grass to the house that was damaged.

The fire cause has been determined to be unintentional accidental.

Assisting in battling the fire were multiple agencies including Junction City, Geary County, Fort Riley, Grandview Plaza and with a drone the Junction City Police Department.

Fire Chief Jason Lankas confirmed early Thursday evening that the fire was out. The blaze began near an outdoor shed and then spread through tall grass to the house. There were not any injuries.

The Red Cross and a State Fire Marshall's Office were called in to assist. The female resident of the house received private help.

Junction City Fire Department, Geary County Rural Fire, Fort Riley Fire, and Grandview Plaza Fire Department on Thursday worked a large house fire located just southeast of K-18 and U.S. 77 in Junction City.

As of 2:15 p.m., the fire was under control, according to Geary County Rural Fire Chief Garry Berges. Approximately 50 personnel were on scene assisting with fire suppression and overhaul operations. Firefighters expected to remain on scene for the next several hours to monitor the structure and ensure the fire is fully extinguished.

**K-18 off U.S. 77 into Junction City is currently shut down due to the fire, and to allow responding agencies to bring in water. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

Several local Fire Departments worked a house fire in Junction City on Thursday

In observance of Presidents’ Day, the Geary County Public Works Department, Geary County Landfill / Tree Debris Site and Geary County Recycling Center/HHW will be closed on Monday, February 16, 2026. 

T hey will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The Geary County Transfer Station will operate normal hours on Monday, February 16, 2026.&nbsp;

Geary County Public Works Holiday Schedule

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Amazon’s smart doorbell maker Ring has terminated a partnership with police surveillance tech company Flock Safety.

The announcement follows a backlash that erupted after a 30-second Ring ad that aired during the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-ads-ai-telehealth-glp1-9ccfc8c730981fd91f44a5bec24e2242">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;featuring a lost dog that is found through a network of cameras, sparking fears of a dystopian surveillance society.

But that feature, called Search Party, was not related to Flock. And Ring’s announcement doesn’t cite the ad as a reason for the “joint decision” for the cancellation.

Ring and Flock said last year they were planning on working together to give Ring camera owners the option to share their video footage in response to law enforcement requests made through a Ring feature known as Community Requests.

“Following a comprehensive review, we determined the planned Flock Safety integration would require significantly more time and resources than anticipated,” Ring’s statement said.

“The integration never launched, so no Ring customer videos were ever sent to Flock Safety.”

Flock reiterated that it never received Ring customer videos — and that ending the planned integration was a mutual decision that allows both companies to “best serve their respective customers.” In a statement, Flock added that it “remains dedicated to supporting law enforcement agencies with tools that are fully configurable to local laws and policies.”

Flock is one of the nation’s biggest operators of automated license-plate reading systems. Its cameras are mounted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-abortion-license-plates-cameras-cc5f29df94a29ee2c6c2feb2151c8f5e">in thousands of communities</a>&nbsp;across the U.S., capturing billions of photos of license plates each month. The company has faced public outcry amid the Trump administration’s aggressive&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-border-patrol-surveillance-drivers-ice-trump-9f5d05469ce8c629d6fecf32d32098cd">immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;crackdown. But Flock maintains that it does not partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), or contract out with any subagency of the Department of Homeland Security for direct access to its cameras. The company&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-abortion-license-plates-cameras-cc5f29df94a29ee2c6c2feb2151c8f5e">paused pilot programs</a>&nbsp;with Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations last year.

Still, Flock says it doesn’t own the data captured by its cameras, its customers do. So if a police department, for example, chooses to collaborate with a federal agency like ICE, “Flock has no ability to override that decision,” the company notes on its website.

Beyond the Flock partnership, Amazon has faced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ces-worst-show-ai-0ce7fbc5aff68e8ff6d7b8e6fb7b007d">other surveillance concerns</a>&nbsp;over its Ring doorbell cameras.

In the Super Bowl ad, a lost dog is found with Ring’s Search Party feature, which the company says can “reunite lost dogs with their families and track wildfires threatening your community.” The clip depicts the dog being tracked by cameras throughout a neighborhood using artificial intelligence.

Viewers took to social media to criticize it for being sinister, leaving many wondering if it would be used to track humans and saying they would turn the feature off.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a nonprofit that focus on civil liberties related to digital technology, said this week that Americans should feel unsettled over the potential loss of privacy.

“Amazon Ring already integrates biometric identification, like face recognition, into its products via features like ‘Familiar Faces’ which depends on scanning the faces of those in sight of the camera and matching it against a list of pre-saved, pre-approved faces,” the Foundation wrote Tuesday. “It doesn’t take much to imagine Ring eventually combining these two features: face recognition and neighborhood searches.”

Democratic Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts also urged Amazon to discontinue its “Familiar Faces” technology.

In a published letter addressed to Amazon CEO Andrew Jassy, Markey wrote that the backlash to the Super Bowl commercial “confirmed public opposition to Ring’s constant monitoring and invasive image recognition algorithms.”

Amazon scraps partnership with surveillance company after Super Bowl ad backlash

Another shutdown for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-democrats-demands-ff3aadec8eeab250aea5bf8a8ecdb960">parts of the federal government</a>&nbsp;is underway&nbsp;as a fight over proposed restrictions on President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda drags on.

Funding for the Department of Homeland Security expired on Saturday. Democrats say they will not help approve more money until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-enforcement-democrats-homeland-security-trump-bcde78c38605732106fb77e46373dc9a">the new limits</a>&nbsp;are placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis last month.

The White House has been negotiating with the Democrats, but the two sides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-funding-shutdown-democrats-trump-4e9c4cebd45396e77f8333fd6cc31944">failed to reach a deal</a>&nbsp;by the end of the week. That meant a lapse in funding for the department.

Unlike the record&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-reopen-update-house-returns-5771f2befb15f4ab45e327369f2e98d9">43-day shutdown</a>&nbsp;last fall, the closures will be narrowly confined.

Only agencies under the DHS umbrella, such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Transportation Security Administration, are affected. Depending on how long the shutdown lasts, some federal workers could begin to miss paychecks.

But the work of ICE and CBP will mostly continue unabated, despite Democrats' demands for changes at those agencies. President Donald Trump's tax and spending cut law from 2025 provided ICE with about $75 billion and CBP with about $65 billion — money they can keep tapping for the Republican's deportation operations.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dhs-shutdown-tsa-travel-airports-delays-ff8b225c6ff8d57172fd301a550057b3">Services like airport screening</a>&nbsp;could suffer if the shutdown drags on for weeks.

At TSA, about 95% of employees are deemed essential. They will continue to scan passengers and their bags at the nation’s commercial airports. But they will work without pay until the funding lapse is resolved, raising the possibility that workers will being calling out or taking unscheduled leave. Many TSA workers already faced financial stress last year.

“Some are just now recovering from the financial impact of the 43-day shutdown” said Ha Nguyen McNeill, a senior official performing the duties of TSA administrator. “Many are still reeling from it.”

Why is a Homeland Security shutdown happening?

Essentially, it's because Trump acquiesced to Democrats' request that homeland security funding be stripped from a broader spending package to allow more time for negotiation over demands for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-partial-shutdown-ice-funding-homeland-security-35abc94e6579e701f03d9c18ca5a7c44">changes to immigration enforcement</a>&nbsp;such as a code of conduct for federal agents and a requirement that officers show identification. DHS was temporarily funded only through Friday.

The rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means most federal programs are unaffected by the latest shutdown, including food assistance, and pay for most federal workers and for service members will continue uninterrupted.

Other agencies affected are the Secret Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The vast majority of employees at the Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard will continue their work, though they could also miss a paycheck depending upon the shutdown's length.

At FEMA, the shutdown will disrupt the agency's ability to reimburse states for disaster relief costs. Some workers will be furloughed, limiting the agency's ability to coordinate with state and local partners. Training for first responders at the National Disaster and Emergency Management University in Maryland will be disrupted.

It’s up to each federal agency to designate which of its employees are “essential” or “excepted,” both of which mean the same thing in this case. They keep working during a shutdown, typically without getting paid until government funding is back in place.

Some examples of “essential” employees are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-culture-pentagon-hegseth-dei-tansgender-4c5f94c1235d29240b22677e3d66f0ed">military personnel</a>, security screeners at airports and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deployment-trump-portland-national-guard-lawsuit-8a0323d49b708ebf905527f897352832">law enforcement officers</a>. There can be a wide range, from positions deemed critical for public safety to those authorized by law to continue even without new funding.

Most of the more than 270,000 people employed by DHS are deemed essential, meaning that they stay on the job even during a shutdown. For the fall 2025 shutdown, more than 258,000 DHS employees were in that category, and about 22,000 — or 5% of the agency's total employee base — were furloughed.

Lawmakers have been particularly concerned about the potential impact on the TSA and airports.

Senate Republican leader John Thune of South Dakota warned that “there’s a very good chance we could see more travel problems” similar to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">last year's shutdown</a>. As staffing shortages grow, airports may reduce the number of open security lanes or close checkpoints altogether to relieve pressure on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-government-shutdown-travel-aviation-flight-delays-211022120bf96ab95dc6861ca5a7e32d">an already strained workforce</a>.

During last year’s lapse in funding, unpaid TSA workers increasingly called in sick or stayed home as missed paychecks made it harder for workers to cover basic expenses. The strain was visible on the ground: About a month into the shutdown, TSA closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport.

“The longer the shutdown goes on, the more severe the impact on our TSA workforce,” the agency said at the time.

New details on the U.S. Homeland Security shutdown

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are searching for suspects in a deadly nightclub shooting in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 2a.m. Sunday Jackson County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area of 28th and Southwest Boulevard working off duty for a nightclub/bar business there when they heard the sound of gunfire inside the bar, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchins.

At the same time 911 received calls for a shooting inside the business.&nbsp;On arrival officers were led inside the business where they located 3 adult female shooting victims. 

Officers began rendering aid and called for EMS to come in.&nbsp;EMS declared one shooting victim deceased at the scene. EMS&nbsp; then transported the other two&nbsp; victims to the hospital for treatment. At the hospital one of the two victims was declared deceased, and the other victim has what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries, according to Becchina.

While officers were at the scene they were notified of a 4th shooting victim, an adult male, who arrived at the hospital by private vehicle. That victim is reported to be in critical condition.&nbsp;Homicide detectives were at the scene now and are investigating. They are talking to people who were at the scene when officers arrived and canvassing for additional witnesses.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates the victims were inside the business when there was an interaction with one or more suspects that escalated and led to shots being fired which struck the victims.&nbsp;There is no information at this time regarding suspect description. Police did not release the names of the victims.

2 women dead, 2 others injured in KC nightclub shooting

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/adriana-morga">ADRIANA MORGA</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been a confusing time for people with student loans. Collections restarted, then were put on hold. At the same time, borrowers had to stay on top of changes to key forgiveness plans.

Last year, the long-contested SAVE plan introduced by the Biden administration ended with a settlement agreement. President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” introduced new borrowing limits for graduates and raised challenges to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. While several changes for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/student-loans">student loan borrowers</a>&nbsp;will take effect this summer, other key questions remain unresolved.

More than 5 million Americans were in default on their federal student loans as of September, according to the Education Department. Millions are behind on loan payments and at risk of default this year.

Borrowers “genuinely struggle to afford their loans and then to hear that the administration is making it more expensive and taking away some of the tools and resources that help folks afford their loans is really, it’s panic-inducing,” said Winston Berkman-Breen, legal director at Protect Borrowers.

Last month, the Education Department announced that it would delay involuntary collections for student loan borrowers in default until the department finalizes its new loan repayment plans. The date for this is still unclear.

If you’re a student loan borrower, here are some key things to know:

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-forgiveness-save-plan-debt-borrowers-313afd73cadc3cfc8ab3a6ee684fc3e4">SAVE plan</a>&nbsp;was a repayment plan with some of the most lenient terms ever. Soon after its launch it was challenged in court, leaving millions of student loan borrowers in limbo. Last December, the Education Department announced a settlement agreement to end the SAVE plan. What is next for borrowers who were enrolled in this repayment plan is yet to be determined.

“Seven and a half million borrowers who are currently enrolled in SAVE need to be moved to another plan,” Berkman-Breen said.

As part of the agreement, the Education Department says it will not enroll new borrowers, deny pending applications, and will move all current SAVE borrowers into other repayment plans.

The Education Department is expected to develop a plan for borrowers to transition from the SAVE plan, yet borrowers should be proactive about enrolling in other repayment plans, said Kate Wood, a lending expert at NerdWallet.

If you are looking to enroll in an income-driven repayment plan

Borrowers can apply for the following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/income-repayment-plans-pause-forgiveness-student-loans-b50dc92f50577ac5c6a9d9ed4a2f9dfd">income-driven plans</a>: the Income-Based Repayment Plan, the Pay as You Earn plan, and the Income-Contingent Repayment plan.

“They all have similar criteria, and they function similarly. Your payment is set as a percentage of your income, not how much you owe, so it’s usually a lower payment,” Berkman-Breen said.

The payment amount under income-driven plans is a percentage of your discretionary income, and the percentage varies depending on the plan. Since many people are looking to switch plans, some applications to income-driven repayment plans might take longer to process, said Jill Desjean, director of policy analysis at the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

You can find out which repayment plan might work best for you by logging on to the Education Department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-simulator/" target="_blank">loan simulator</a>.

If you’re working toward your Public Service Loan Forgiveness

There are no changes to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-service-loan-forgiveness-debt-cancellation-62536bdb25f04b5138d2d0a2aeec4e58">Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program</a>&nbsp;yet. Last year, the Trump administration announced plans to change the eligibility requirements for participating nonprofits.

The policy seeks to disqualify nonprofit workers if their work is deemed to have “substantial illegal purpose.” The Trump administration said it’s necessary to block taxpayer money from lawbreakers, while critics say it turns the program into a tool of political retribution.

The proposal says&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/public-service-loan-forgiveness-debt-cancellation-62536bdb25f04b5138d2d0a2aeec4e58">illegal activity</a>&nbsp;includes the trafficking or “chemical castration” of children, illegal immigration, and supporting foreign terrorist organizations. This move could cut off some teachers, doctors, and other public workers from federal loan cancellation.

“This is something that obviously is very stressful, very nerve-wracking for a lot of people, but given that we don’t know exactly how this is going to be enforced, how these terms are going to be defined, it’s not really something that you can try to plan ahead for now,” Wood said.

While this policy is currently being challenged by 20 Democrat-led states, it’s expected to take effect in July. In the meantime, Wood recommends that borrowers enrolled in the PSLF program continue making payments.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/student-loans-debt-wage-garnishment-de1f286a8264cb5b2c0aad939e29c2e2">Involuntary collections</a>&nbsp;on federal student loans will remain on hold. The Trump administration announced earlier this month that it is delaying plans to withhold pay from student loan borrowers who default on their payments.

Federal student loan borrowers can have their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wage-garnishment-student-loans-borrowers-487645f5cd25ff4631b0ea1aa2ae6561">wages garnished</a>&nbsp;and their federal tax refunds withheld if they default on their loans. Borrowers are considered in default when they are at least 270 days behind on payments.

If your student loans are in default, you can contact your loan holder to apply for a loan rehabilitation program.

“They essentially come up with a payment plan where you’re making a reduced payment,” Woods. “After five successful payments on that rehabilitation plan, wage garnishment will cease.”

If you’re planning to attend graduate school

Trump’s “&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nursing-professional-degree-trump-student-loans-d1ac078af2c76c709b914c51ad93a9fa">Big Beautiful Bill</a>&nbsp;” has changed the amount graduate students can borrow from federal student loans. Graduate students could previously borrow loans up to the cost of their degree; the new rules cap the amount depending on whether the degree is considered a graduate or a professional program.

Wood said that if you’re starting a new program and taking out a loan after July 1, you will be subject to the new loan limits.

Under the new plan, students in professional programs would be able to borrow up to $50,000 per year and up to $200,000 in total. Other graduate students, such as those pursuing nursing and physical therapy, would be limited to $20,500 a year and up to $100,000 total.

The Education Department is defining the following fields as professional programs: pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatry and theology.

The online application for loan consolidation is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation/" target="_blank">studentaid.gov/loan-consolidation</a>. If you have multiple federal student loans, you can combine them into a single loan with a fixed interest rate and a single monthly payment.

The consolidation process typically takes around 60 days to complete. You can only consolidate your loans once.

The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism.

Confusion continues over student loan repayment plans, collections

RENO COUNTY —The cause a house fire in rural Reno County is under investigation.

On Saturday evening, the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to report of a fire in the 400 block of East 7th, according to a media release.

 First arriving crews found black smoke coming from the eaves of a 2 and one half story ballon frame home. First arriving crew entered the structure for search as dispatch advised that the occupant was still inside trying to retrieve pets. Additional crews arrived and began aggressive interior attack on the fire.  Fire was found on the first floor, second floor, and attic.  There was a partial floor collapse of a second-floor bedroom.  No injuries were reported.&nbsp; Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

Resident rescued pets as crews battled Kansas house fire

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Two people were arrested Saturday afternoon following a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle in McPherson County.

Just after 4p.m., officers with the McPherson Police Department were notified by the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office that a stolen vehicle was traveling southbound on Interstate 135 from Smoky Valley Road. The sheriff’s office detected the vehicle using its newly deployed Flock license plate reader camera network.

Police officers spotted the vehicle entering the McPherson near the Interstate 135 and Kansas Avenue interchange. After confirming with dispatch that the vehicle had been reported stolen, officers attempted a traffic stop in the 100 block of South Champlin Road.

The driver fled the stop, traveling south on Centennial before leaving the city limits. A McPherson County sheriff’s deputy later deployed stop sticks, puncturing the vehicle’s tires and slowing it down.

After about 15 minutes, the suspect lost control and the vehicle became stuck near the intersection of 19th Street and Eisenhower Road.

Two individuals including 39-year-old Bobby Heckman were taken into custody, according to online jail records. Law enforcement also cleared two outstanding arrest warrants. No injuries were reported, and the only damage occurred to the stolen vehicle. Heckman is being held on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stole vehicle; theft of property or services; drug distribution and numerous traffic violations, according to online jail records.

Kan. officers arrest driver after stolen vehicle gets stuck

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">Anna Kaminski</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly plans to attend a business meeting at the White House this week, which comes after President Donald Trump flip-flopped on invitations and Democrats promised to boycott.

Kelly’s office said she will attend a bipartisan working meeting on Feb. 20, but she will not partake in the White House’s black-tie dinner that is expected to follow. She has not attended the White House dinner since 2019 and does not plan to this year, said spokesperson Grace Hoge.

“She recognizes the utility of meeting with the president, Cabinet secretaries and other federal officials, alongside her colleagues, to discuss ways states and the federal government can partner on behalf of all Americans,” Hoge said. “She decided to attend the meeting once the White House invitation included all governors, regardless of party.”

The plans leading up to next week’s events in Washington, D.C., have fluctuated. Trump at first refused to invite Democrats to the White House. Then he backtracked after Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the National Governors Association, of which he is the chair, would no longer facilitate the meeting.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/09/repub/trump-shuts-out-democratic-governors-from-traditional-white-house-gatherings/">White House confirmed Trump’s decision</a>&nbsp;to exclude some Democratic governors from the dinner.

“Many Democrats were invited to dinner at the White House, and others were not. These are White House events and the President reserves the right to invite whomever he wants,” a White House official told States Newsroom, Kansas Reflector’s parent organization.

Members of the Democratic Governors Association, including Kelly, said Tuesday they wouldn’t attend the White House dinner, and accused Trump of creating chaos and division.

“If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year,” the Democratic governors’ statement said.

Trump wrote in a Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116054089500353661" target="_blank">post to Truth Social</a>&nbsp;that he only declined to invite two Democratic governors to the dinner — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the vice chair of the national association and the country’s only Black governor.

Kelly, who is in her last term, is a former chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Kansas is not a member of the National Governors Association, so she also does not plan to attend the three-day national conference, her office said.

Kansas governor plans to attend White House meeting

EDWARDS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Edwards County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Honda Civic driven by Aaron JG&nbsp;Pineda, 29, Garden City,&nbsp;was stuck on the railroad tracks on 310th Avenue just north of U.S. 50.&nbsp; An eastbound Amtrak train struck the car.

Pineda was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;McKillip Funeral Home.&nbsp; The conductor, engineer and an additional 113 occupants on board the train were not injured.

Kan. man dead after Amtrak train strikes car stuck on the tracks 

&nbsp;DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria, Feb. 3 – 12, to sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network, according to a statement from the U.S&gt; Central Command.

U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage targets with precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft.

U.S. forces previously conducted five strikes against an ISIS communication site, critical logistics node, and weapons storage facilities, Jan. 27 – Feb. 2.

Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched in response to a Dec. 13 attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra. The ISIS ambush resulted in the death of two U.S. service members and an American interpreter.

More than 50 ISIS terrorists have been killed or captured and over 100 ISIS infrastructure targets have been struck with hundreds of precision munitions during two months of targeted operations.

U.S. forces continue strikes on ISIS targets in Syria

KANSAS CITY —A Missouri inmate has been charged &nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred at an apartment complex in 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2807/HillDemetrius-Warrant-Packet-1">Demetrius S. Hill</a>&nbsp;, 27, faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

According to court records, Kansas City police responded to a shooting at an apartment complex parking lot on August 9, 2019, and located the victim in the driver’s seat of a gray Dodge Durango suffering from apparent trauma. He was declared deceased at the scene.

Surveillance video captured a suspect wearing a red shirt over his head arriving at the parking lot in a gray Ford Escape. The victim then arrived in a Dodge Durango with the defendant in the front passenger seat. The suspect with the red shirt approached the victim’s vehicle and engaged in a brief conversation. As he walked away, he turned back and fired shots at the vehicle. The defendant then exited the Durango and fled with the suspect in the red shirt in the Ford Escape.

Detectives identified both suspects based on witness reports and anonymous tips to the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline.

Investigators believe the defendant fired at the victim while inside the Durango. The defendant’s DNA matched a cigarillo collected from inside the victim’s vehicle.

The suspect with the red shirt was killed in a homicide in 2023.

Hill is currently in custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for convictions that include unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, tampering with a witness and tampering with a vehicle, according to online records.

Inmate's DNA found on cigarillo at scene of Kansas City killing

HOUSTON (AP) — Emanuel Sharp had 23 points and six rebounds as No. 3 Houston rallied from an early deficit to beat Kansas State 78-64 on Saturday for the Cougars’ sixth straight win.

Sharp scored 14 points on 4 of 10 shooting in the first half as Houston (23-2, 11-1 Big 12) built a 33-19 halftime lead.

Milos Uzan added 12 points and eight assists, and Kingston Flemings finished with 12 points and seven rebounds for the Cougars, which won their 18th straight at home.

P.J. Haggerty scored 23 points to lead Kansas State (10-15, 1-11). Haggerty surpassed 2,000 points in his collegiate career in the first half, becoming the fifth current Division I player to achieve the milestone.

Nate Johnson had 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Taj Manning added 10 points for Kansas State. The Wildcats shot 35% from the field, 8 of 26 (31%) from 3-point range, and made 16 of 25 (64%) from the free-throw line.

The Wildcats raced to a 15-6 lead about 8 ½ minutes into the game on a 3-pointer by Haggerty, but Houston responded to finish the half on a 27-4 run. Sharp had nine points and Uzan added seven points in the spurt. Kansas State shot 1 for 15 from the floor to end the half.

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