Fort Riley Community has announced that IACH lab services will return to normal operations beginning Monday, Feb. 9, following the completion of pharmacy fire shutter construction. 

To ensure a safe and efficient pharmacy experience, mandatory call-in refills will remain in effect even after completion of the fire shutter project. Patients are required to request prescription refills through AudioCare or the MHS GENESIS Patient Portal to support timely processing and reduce in-person wait times.

• Walk-in blood draws for all Active Duty service members and other eligible beneficiaries

•  Appointments and walk-ins (space available) for all eligible beneficiaries

• Walk-in blood draws for Active Duty Service Members only

Patients are encouraged to plan accordingly and arrive early to ensure service within ticketing hours.

Irwin Army Community Hospital lab services

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

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.

&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

   Flint Hills Regional Leadership Program class completes course

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

STILLWATER — Oklahoma State men's basketball team overcame a stellar performance by freshman sensation AJ Dybantsa to beat 16th-ranked BYU 99-92 on Wednesday night. Now the Oklahoma State University is facing a reprimand from the Big 12 Conference.&nbsp;

On Sunday, the conference announce on their social media account, "in accordance with the Big 12 Conference Principles and Standards of Sportsmanship, the Conference has issued Oklahoma State University a $50,000 fine following its investigation into inappropriate chants which referenced the Mormon religion that occurred during Wednesday’s men’s basketball game."

"The Big 12 Conference will not tolerate any behavior that targets or demeans others."

Big 12 Conference fines school for chants which referenced Mormons 

RENO COUNTY —Authorities investigating a fatal accident that occurred just after 10a.m. Saturday in Reno County have identified the victims.

According to the Reno County Sheriff's Office, preliminary information indicates that a silver Jeep Liberty driven by 59-year-old Adam Arevalo of Hutchinson was northbound on Kansas 14 Highway one half mile north of US 50.&nbsp; The Jeep and a southbound Chevy Malibu driven by 27-year-old Cecil Chandler IV of Hutchinson, were involved in a collision. Both drivers were pronounced deceased by emergency medical personnel.

A passenger from the Malibu identified as 19-year-old Shyann Cullison of Hutchinson was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. She was later transferred to a Wichita hospital, where she remains in serious condition.

The cause of the crash remains under active investigation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sheriff IDs victims in double-fatal Kansas crash

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/ken-sweet">KEN SWEET</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/cora-lewis">CORA LEWIS</a>

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Rent can eat up an entire paycheck at the start of the month, so a growing number of renters are turning to a financial product that promises relief by letting them split the bill — for a price.

So-called “rent now, pay later” services have emerged over the past few years as&nbsp;<a href="https://f5411012e10fa78d0257c137e60c1be3/" target="_blank">housing costs climb</a>&nbsp;and paychecks grow less predictable, particularly for lower-income and gig-economy workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, rents have jumped nearly 28% in past five years.

Companies such as Flex, Livble and, more recently, Affirm, say breaking rent into multiple payments can help renters manage cash flow. But consumer advocates warn the products typically function like&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buy-now-pay-later-missed-payments-regulation-f7fd30f2a0e900460919fad76a1e0dbf">short-term loans</a>, layering fees onto already strained budgets and, in some cases, carrying triple-digit effective interest rates — raising questions about whether they ease financial pressure or deepen it.

Kellen Johnson, 44, started using Flex to split up his rent payments about two years ago. Instead of paying the whole $1,850 of his rent on the first of the month, Johnson would pay $1,350 on that date, and $500 on the 15th. For the service, Flex collected a $14.99 monthly subscription fee, as well as 1% of the total rent, which for Johnson was $18.50, bringing his monthly charges for the app to more than $33.

Johnson said he was willing to pay the extra costs in part because he worked as an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/work-side-jobs-security-salaries-layoffs-df229576002b9b99cf4149b3978e937c">independently contracted delivery person</a>&nbsp;for Amazon at the time, and his paychecks could vary.

“It was an expense that I was incurring, but I went ahead as it was more convenient,” said Johnson, who now works as a driver for senior citizens in Sacramento, California.

Roughly 109 million Americans, or about 42.5 million households, are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/realpage-doj-lawsuit-settlement-rent-data-4d8985a50c28b6322b8f82a2fbb5c79e">renters in the United States</a>. The Census Bureau estimated in 2024 that a large share of those households pay 30% or more of their monthly income on rent. The bureau considers such households to be “cost burdened,” meaning rent consumes so much of their income that they have less ability to plan for future expenses or build wealth.

Rent now, pay later services generally operate the same way: The company pays the landlord the full rent when due, and the renter repays the company in two or more installments over the course of the month. Because rent can be such a large expense, the companies argue that spreading payments out can give renters more cash on hand.

Many of these services&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buy-now-pay-later-debt-holidays-0bb6006ddf14077ee5ae83fd43486923">come with fees</a>. The fees can be structured differently but should be generally thought of as cost of credit, consumer advocates warn. In Johnson’s case, he was paying $33.49 for a two-week loan of $500, for an effective annual percentage rate of 172%, when expressed using standard consumer-lending calculations.

“Renters should be skeptical of any financing providers that have partnered with a landlord and be skeptical of anything that sells itself as no fees or no interest,” said Mike Pierce, executive director of Protect Borrowers. Pierce previously worked at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Launched in 2019, Flex is one of the largest companies focused on splitting rent payments. The company says its 1.5 million customers now send about $2 billion a month in rent through its system, and several of the country’s largest landlords accept Flex as a payment option.

Flex says most of its customers are lower-income renters with weaker credit profiles. The company reports a median credit score of 604 among its users and says about one in three customers works more than one job to make ends meet. A Flex spokesman says the average customer uses the service three to four times a year. Johnson used it every month.

Livble does not charge a subscription, but charges renters a fee ranging from $30 to $40, according to the company’s help page. Depending on how long the renter defers part of the payment, Livble’s fees can translate into effective annual percentage rates of roughly 104% to 139%.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buy-now-pay-later-loans-installments-02852578a991fb0d31879acd0b687e0d">buy now, pay later</a>&nbsp;company Affirm said this month that it is piloting a program allowing some customers to split rent into two payments. The program is being tested in partnership with Esusu, a company that reports rent payments to credit bureaus to help consumers build credit. An Affirm spokesman said the company is not charging renters interest or fees to use the product, but may charge landlords fees. However, to access the Affirm service, renters must subscribe to Esusu Plus or Premium, which cost $35 and $50 a month, respectively.

As another financing option, landlords are increasingly accepting credit cards for rent payments. Bilt, a credit card startup, built its brand around targeting renters when it launched, and some tenants also use credit cards to accumulate rewards or points.

But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/credit-card-default-51f76dea3666e9b2d95156b47c8092cd">paying rent by credit card</a>&nbsp;can also be costly. Landlords typically pass the processing fees on to tenants. Depending on the card issuer and payment network, these fees can range from about 2.5% to 3.5% of the rent. For a renter paying $1,500 a month, that translates to roughly $37.50 to $52.50 in fees — a monthly cost comparable to what services like Livble and Flex charge.

Economists and renters’ advocates argue that none of these financing options address the fundamental issue of affordability in the rental market. If credit cards, or flexible rent payment options become more widely used, they worry rents could rise further as landlords start factoring in a potential renters’ weekly cash flow as opposed to the rental market in the area the building is located in.

Merchants already pass along credit card processing costs to customers in the form of higher prices, and advocates worry that the rental market could adopt similar patterns. For example, Livble is owned by RealPage, which last year settled allegations that its algorithm allowed landlords to collude and push rents higher.

Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed from Washington.

Renters use 'rent now, pay later' services to manage monthly payments, but fees raise concerns

NEW YORK (AP) — The Trump administration on Thursday launched TrumpRx, a website it says will help patients buy prescription drugs directly at a discounted rate at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/poll-government-priorities-health-care-costs-trump-9426742bd09273ec9b67c7321dae8a02">health care</a>&nbsp;and the cost of living are growing concerns for Americans.

<a href="https://trumprx.gov/">Click here to visit the TrumpRx website</a>

“You’re going to save a fortune,” President Donald Trump said at the site’s unveiling. “And this is also so good for overall health care.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://trumprx.gov/">government-hosted website</a>&nbsp;is not a platform for buying medications. Instead, it's set up as a facilitator, pointing Americans to drugmakers’ direct-to-consumer websites, where they can make purchases. It also provides coupons to use at pharmacies. The site launches with over 40 medications, including weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy.

The site is part of a larger effort by the Trump administration to show it's tacking the challenges of high costs. Affordability has emerged as a political vulnerability for Trump and his Republican allies going into November's midterm elections, as Americans remain concerned about the cost of housing, groceries, utilities and other staples of middle-class identity.

Trump stressed that the lower prices were made possible by his pressuring of pharmaceutical companies on prices, saying he demanded that they charge the same costs in the U.S. as in other nations. He said prescription drug costs will increase in foreign countries as a result.

“We're tired of subsidizing the world,” Trump said at the event on the White House campus that lasted roughly 20 minutes.

The president first teased TrumpRx in September while announcing the first of his more than 15&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/prescription-drug-costs-medicaid-pfizer-trump-8a8412352bbba708b3c0ee7dbe4ccefb">deals with pharmaceutical companies</a>&nbsp;to lower drug prices to match the lowest price offered in other developed nations. He said in December the website would provide “massive discounts to all consumers" — though it's unclear whether the prices available on drugmakers' websites will routinely be any lower than what many consumers could get through their insurance coverage.

The website's Thursday release came after it faced multiple delays, for reasons the administration hasn't publicly shared. Last fall, Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, told Trump the site would share prices for consumers before the end of the year. An expected launch in late January was also pushed back.

The president has spent the past several months seeking to spotlight his efforts to lower drug prices for Americans. He’s done that through deals with major pharmaceutical companies, including some of the biggest drugmakers like Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Merck, which have agreed to lower prices of their Medicaid drugs to so-called “most favored nations” pricing. As part of the deals, many of the companies' new drugs are also to be launched at discounted rates for consumer markets through TrumpRx.

Many of the details of Trump's deals with manufacturers remain unclear, and drug prices for patients in the U.S. can depend on many factors, including the competition a treatment faces and insurance coverage. Most people have coverage through work, the individual insurance market or government programs like Medicaid and Medicare, which shield them from much of the cost.

Trump’s administration also has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicare-drug-prices-negotiation-trump-ozempic-wegovy-53602fe0b5b7800030c475c3a5f34c3c">negotiated lower prices</a>&nbsp;for several prescription drugs for Medicare enrollees, through a direct negotiation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/medicare-drug-pricing-program-trump-negotiations-d4753de72caf3acd3d7a5f4e7c2fe7c6">program</a>&nbsp;created by a 2022 law.

Government's new TrumpRx website for prescription drugs at a discount

SEDGWICK COUNTY&nbsp;— A suspect accused in the deadly shooting of a Dodge City man was back in court on Friday.

&nbsp;Ricardo Talavera, 41,  pleaded no contest&nbsp; involuntary manslaughter and interference with a law enforcement office in the death of 49-year-old Ruben Parga-Quintanar during a hearing in Judge Kathleen Watson's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 9a.m. August 1, officers and Wichita Fire Department crews responded to a report of a man down near the entrance to an alley in the 2400 block of North Jeanette in Wichita, according to a media release. When fire personnel arrived, they found Parga-Quintanar with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:53 a.m.

Early findings in the investigation suggested Parga-Quintanar was shot elsewhere and collapsed after fleeing on a bicycle. As the case progressed, detectives determined he was shot in the alley and then collapsed nearby.

Investigators identified Talavera as a suspect and served a search warrant at his home.&nbsp; On August 6, police arrested him and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp; He remains jailed on a&nbsp;$1,000,000.00 bond and will be sentenced in March, according to the district attorney's office.

Suspect enters plea in death of SW Kansas man

Bill voids decades of regulatory decisions amid concern about investigatory process

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

TOPEKA — Lacey Grogan, Joshua Conner and Melissa Vaughn recounted traumatic nursing regulatory experiences in Kansas House testimony supporting an extraordinary bill written to force administrative changes at the Kansas State Board of Nursing.

The bill, if signed into law, would void state Board of Nursing disciplinary actions executed between Jan. 1, 2005, and July 1, 2026, including cases of licensure renewal and unprofessional conduct. Documents in the deleted cases would be sealed from the Kansas Open Records Act. Steps would be taken to remove from national databases information on nurses sanctioned by the Board of Nursing during the period.

A revised definition of unprofessional conduct for nurses — intended to rein in the Board of Nursing — would be retroactively applied to 2025. The definition would focus on alleged misconduct performed intentionally or carelessly but no longer include issues related to failure to timely renewal of a license.

In addition, the Board of Nursing would be required to adhere to a higher standard of proof in nurse disciplinary cases. It would shift from a preponderance of evidence to the more rigorous clear and convincing evidence.

Appointees of the Kansas governor to the Board of Nursing would undergo Senate confirmation. No member of the Legislature or the attorney general or a governor could serve on the board.

<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/documents/fisc_note_hb2528_00_0000.pdf" target="_blank">House Bill 2528 would make a series of other changes</a>&nbsp;at the Board of Nursing applicable to the 74,000 nursing professionals licensed in Kansas.

The House Health and Human Services Committee gathered testimony Thursday from critics and champions of the Board of Nursing. The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/08/07/kansas-legislators-alarmed-nurses-suffer-draconian-penalty-for-license-renewal-errors/">Board of Nursing came under intense scrutiny by the Legislature in&nbsp;</a>mid-2025 as allegations of regulatory abuse became public.

Grogan, a registered nurse for 20 years who lives in St. Francis, told legislators she welcomed change at the Board of Nursing. While working at an understaffed rural Kansas hospital, Grogan said, she complied with professional standards by reporting a patient fall. The hospital’s administration retaliated by filing complaints against her with the Board of Nursing. Two were promptly dismissed, she said, but a third “lacking substantiated evidence was nevertheless pursued” by the Board of Nursing.

“I was denied a meaningful opportunity to speak on my own behalf without legal representation, pressured into signing a consent agreement for conduct I did not commit and ultimately fined and stripped of my nursing license,” Grogan said. “My name was included in a disciplinary mailer distributed to nurses statewide. Once reported to the national database, my licensure was called into question in nearly every other state where I held licensure.”

During emotional testimony, Grogan told legislators the “future of nursing depends on the decisions made in this room” to deal with the state regulatory board.

More than 25 people submitted testimony in support of the 23-page House bill. Seven individuals declared opposition.

Carol Moreland, executive administrator of the Board of Nursing since 2017, said provisions of HB 2528 could violate federal mandates and increased the risk of nurses harming the public. She questioned the Legislature’s heavy-handed approach to modifying authority of the Board of Nursing.

“No other regulatory board in Kansas is under this scrutiny and is being asked to make these unprecedented changes,” she said.

She objected to wiping out disciplinary decisions of the Board of Nursing for a period of two decades. She said that part of the bill would reverse sanctions against a school nurse who engaged in sexually inappropriate conduct with a student, a nurse who solicited prostitution at work and a nurse who stole credit cards from a patient and made purchases after the patient died.

“It’s not clear to us at the Board of Nursing what really happens next. If it’s voided, do they automatically have their license back?” Moreland said.

Another flaw in the bill required the Board of Nursing to send a flurry of notices to nurses approaching their two-year license renewal date, said Carol Moore, a retired advance practice nurse and former associate dean of Baker University’s nursing program. The bill would mandate renewal notices go out 90 days, 60 days, 30 days and seven days prior to the deadline, on the renewal date and seven days after that date.

“How much handholding does an educated professional require?” Moore said. “I do not see anything as written in this bill to enhance the care of patients nor to advance the stature of nursing.”

Topeka registered nurse Kelly Sommers said the Legislature should “put a stop to this embarrassment” of a bill. She said reforms in the bill appeared to be crafted in a way “to satisfy a handful of nurses who refuse to accept personal responsibility.”

Joshua Connor, an opponent of the bill, said he worked for a decade with elderly adults as a licensed practical nurse. He lived in Manhattan before taking a job in Florida. He said he didn’t renew his Kansas nursing license because his job didn’t require the credential.

Connor was subsequently diagnosed with cancer requiring surgery, but his employer didn’t want to accommodate his absence from work. He was fired and won a wrongful termination lawsuit. He considered returning to Kansas to resume his nursing career. After contacting the Board of Nursing to renew his license, the agency put him under investigation for allegedly working in Florida without a nursing license.

“My real nightmare began,” said Connor, who eventually secured a new Kansas nursing license. “I was coerced to sign a consent agreement that labeled me with unprofessional conduct.”

The Board of Nursing placed his name in a database for nurses guilty of unprofessional conduct. His request to have Florida recognize his nursing license was rejected because he was disciplined in Kansas.

“I am working over 60 hours a week now at 7-11 to support my family,” he said. “KSBN’s draconian actions have cost me thousands of dollars in lost wages and attorney fees. The emotional toll is indescribable.”

Melissa Vaughn, a Kansas registered nurse from Kansas City, Missouri, has worked the past five years as a Hy-Vee floral designer. She shared with legislators her “unimaginable experience” with staff at the Board of Nursing. Her career in nursing began in 1996. She graduated from nursing school at University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2012.

She presented House members a detailed outline of her licensing renewal battle with the Board of Nursing that came to a head in 2013.

“I pursued my case honestly with the mindset that if KSBN is doing this to me I have no doubt they are doing it to other nurses,” she said.

In 2013, Vaughn accidently checked a box on her renewal application indicating she hadn’t completed 30 hours of mandatory continuing education. She corrected her application. At one point, the Board of Nursing accepted documentation showing she met the requirement. She later received a letter from the Board of Nursing indicating her application was being audited. Another letter said her case was referred to a disciplinary attorney “for further disposition.”

Vaughn’s alleged offense: She applied for renewal of her license on March 18, 2013, before the 30-hour continuing education credit was affirmed by the Board of Nursing on April 16, 2013. It was a confusing development, she said, because her Kansas nursing license was, at that moment, still valid and wouldn’t lapse until May 31, 2013.

The Board of Nursing offered her a diversion agreement declaring she broke state licensing regulations with a flawed application. She said she rejected the plea deal because the agreement’s “statement of facts” included false information. An assistant attorney general at the Board of Nursing threatened her with license revocation for alleged “unprofessional conduct by fraud or deceit in practicing nursing.”

The Board of Nursing issued a 15-day license suspension but later reversed the order. She paid a $250 fine for failure to exhibit a “cooperative attitude toward the disciplinary proceedings.”

More than a decade later, Vaughn said, she was grateful introduction of the House bill offered her an opportunity to advocate for reform that addressed “a sickening mix of KSBN’s schemes, incompetence, ignorance and greed.”

Kansas House responds to complaints, unveils bill revamping Board of Nursing’s authority

SEDGWICK COUNTY— Law enforcement are investigating a homicide after two men were shot early Saturday in north Wichita.

Just after 3 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the 3900 block of E. 13th Street in Wichita after receiving a gunshot detection alert, according to a media release from Wichita Police.

While officers were responding, police received a report of a walk-in shooting victim at a local hospital. Shortly afterward, two adult men arrived at the hospital with gunshot wounds. A 36-year-old man was pronounced dead at 3:42 a.m. A second victim, a 43-year-old man, suffered serious injuries and is expected to survive.

Preliminary information indicates the victims were at a business in the 3900 block of E. Vesta when a disturbance occurred and shots were fired. Police reported property damage in the area, but no other injuries.

Homicide: Kansas hospital walk-in shooting victim has died

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">MARIA SHERMAN</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — There are stages, and then there is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nfl">Super Bowl</a>&nbsp;halftime show.

On Sunday, fresh off his historic win at&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/grammy-awards">the Grammys</a>&nbsp;for his love letter to Puerto Rico, “Debí Tirar Más Fotos,” Bad Bunny will once again surprise audiences with a performance that is gearing up to be a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/why-bad-bunnys-super-bowl-show-will-be-a-landmark-moment-for-puerto-rico/" target="_blank">landmark moment for Latino culture.</a>

Apple Music’s Zane Lowe mentioned that Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance is 13 minutes long during an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-super-bowl-halftime-show-f441549a00166a39309233f689163105">interview with the superstar</a>&nbsp;on Thursday. Historically, they run 12 to 15 minutes.

In the same conversation, Bad Bunny offered few specifics about what viewers will see Sunday.

“It’s going to be a huge party,” he said, playfully dodging questions about surprise guests and other details. “What people can expect from me … I want to bring to the stage, of course, a lot of my culture. But I really don’t, I don’t want to give any spoilers. It’s going to be fun.”

Beyond that: A minute-and-a-half long trailer for the halftime show posted last month set a jovial tone for his performance. In it,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bad-bunny">Bad Bunny</a>&nbsp;approaches a Flamboyan tree — more on that below — and presses play on his single “Baile Inolvidable” (“Unforgettable Dance”).

The song is modern salsa, performed with students from the Escuela Libre de Música San Juan. It is a featured single from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-debi-tirar-mas-fotos-review-856f8e4f89e48e6ab104a491ae3dbcde">“Debí Tirar Más Fotos,”</a>&nbsp;an album that marries folkloric tradition in local Borinquen genres like bomba, plena, salsa and música jíbara with contemporary styles like reggaeton, trap and pop.

In the clip, Bad Bunny sways as he’s joined by different dancers across genders, races and ages: Those include a traditional salsa dancer in a red dress, a firefighter, a cowboy and a viejito wearing a pava (“viejito” is an affectionate term for an older man and a “pava” is a kind of straw hat). It’s representative of the superstar’s international appeal; he is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spotify-wrapped-2025-bad-bunny-taylor-swift-fb021e2387d6aff7e4d8353a067f1664">the most-streamed artist globally</a>&nbsp;on Spotify.

Will Bad Bunny perform entirely in Spanish?

All of Bad Bunny’s music is recorded in Spanish, so it seems like a safe bet. Were he to include English into his set, it would likely appear in a spoken interjection — or it would be featured in text.

In October, Bad Bunny&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/snl-premiere-bad-bunny-doja-cat-108cbe04aa05205f7c04ff29c6d60d0f">hosted “Saturday Night Live”</a>&nbsp;and said a few sentences in Spanish during his opening monologue. When he concluded, he joked in English, “If you didn’t understand what I just said, you have four months to learn,” a reference to the Super Bowl and his critics.

On Thursday, he joked that fans didn’t actually need to learn Spanish to enjoy his set — but they should be prepared to dance.

There’s no way to know for sure, but here are a few educated guesses.

Puerto Rican flags: In his song&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bad-bunny-superbowl-2026-quiz">“La Mudanza,”</a>&nbsp;Bad Bunny sings, “Aquí mataron gente por sacar la bandera / Por eso es que ahora yo la llevo donde quiera.” In English: “Here they killed people for showing the flag / That’s why I bring it everywhere I want now.” It appears to be a reference to Law 53 of 1948, better known as the Gag Law, a ruling by the Puerto Rican Legislative Assembly which attempted to suppress the independence movement on the island and criminalized displaying the Puerto Rican flag. It was repealed in 1952. It is also one of many reasons Puerto Ricans are known for waving their flag with pride for their island.

It is almost certain the flag of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/puerto-rico">Puerto Rico</a>&nbsp;will appear in some form on the Super Bowl stage. But its colors are worth noting. If it is shown in red, white and blue, that is the current flag of Puerto Rico and has been since 1952. If there are flags that feature light blue, that is reflective of the Puerto Rican independence movement. A black and white version of the flag has become synonymous with Puerto Rican struggle and resiliency. And if there is a flag that more closely resembles&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/dominican-republic">the Dominican Republic’s</a>&nbsp;flag, that is the flag of the Puerto Rican mountain town Lares. It was used in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-hip-hop-and-rap-residente-music-music-videos-07e1a4067be8e48f197661c90b31aefd">the Grito de Lares,</a>&nbsp;the first short revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico in the 19th century.

Puerto Rican expressions: There may be a few Puerto Rican expressions uttered on stage, beyond just those found in Bad Bunny’s music. That could be anything from “Wepa!” which is used in moments of excitement, not unlike exclaiming “Wow!.” It grew in popularity after the release of Alfonso Vélez’s 1974 salsa song “El Jolgorio (Wepa Wepa Wepa).” Or “Acho, PR es otra cosa,” a phrase that became a fan chant during Bad Bunny’s performance of “Voy a llevarte pa’ PR” during his residency. It translates to “Damn, PR is something else.”

Casita: At&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/puerto-rico-bad-bunny-concert-46e33b429e8ea4a08f52b0ae53b42d30">Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico</a>&nbsp;last summer, he performed across two stages. One was built to resemble a casita (“little house”), for the pari de marquesina, a house party. These structures are synonymous with Puerto Rico and the Caribbean at large.

Pavas: A symbol that is likely familiar to Bad Bunny fans everywhere, a pava is a straw hat traditionally worn by jíbaros, or Puerto Rican rural farmers. It has become a symbol of pride for the island. The singer even wore a leather version of the hat on the red carpet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/met-gala-2025-fashion-updates">at the 2025 Met Gala.</a>

Flamboyan tree: The second of the two stages at Bad Bunny’s residency focused on showcasing the island’s natural beauty with its flamboyan and plantain trees. The former are a common feature in Puerto Rican art for its flowers, most commonly seen in brilliant red, orange and yellow hues. The image of the tree evokes Puerto Rico almost as immediately as the sound of its national nocturnal residents, el coquí (a frog with a distinctive sing-song-y call heard only at night.)

El Sapo Concho: Not to be mistaken with el coquí, el sapo concho is the endangered Puerto Rican crested toad that Bad Bunny has used an animated version of in his visuals for “Debí Tirar Más Fotos.”

Traditional Puerto Rican instruments: Because much of Bad Bunny’s music pulls from bomba and plena, it is likely that a few of those traditional instruments will be on stage. Look out for a cuatro (a small, four-stringed guitar), güiro/güira (a percussive instrument made of a hollow gourd), palitos (also a percussive instrument resembling two long, wood sticks), cencerro (cow bell) and maracas. For the bomba songs, specifically, there may be a barriel (a barrel) and for plena, a pandereta (tambourine.)

Will there be special guests during the halftime show?

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