Geary County was represented at the recent County Day at the Kansas Capitol.

Geary County representatives at the Kansas Capitol

SALINE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Friday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Kenworth Straight Truck driven by Phillip W..&nbsp;Weir, 54, White City, was westbound on Kansas 4 just east of Amos Road. The truck traveled off the roadway and the driver overcorrected. The truck&nbsp; crossed the center line, rolled onto its side through the south ditch and came to rest on its wheels.

EMS transported Weir to Salina Regional Health Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after truck rollover accident

&nbsp;...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHEASTERN DICKINSON...
SOUTHEASTERN GEARY...MORRIS AND WEST CENTRAL WABAUNSEE COUNTIES
THROUGH 900 PM CST...



At 811 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking strong thunderstorms along
a line extending from 8 miles northwest of White City to near Tampa.
Movement was northeast at 45 mph.



HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and half inch hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor damage to vegetation is
         possible.

Locations impacted include...
Herington, White City, Alta Vista, Dwight, Woodbine, Wilsey,
Parkerville, Latimer, and Burdick.&nbsp;&nbsp;

..A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN DICKINSON...
SOUTHWESTERN GEARY AND NORTHWESTERN MORRIS COUNTIES THROUGH 815 PM
CST..

.

At 740 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near
Carlton, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and penny size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.



IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Minor hail damage to outdoor
         objects and vegetation is possible.

Locations impacted include...
Herington, White City, Hope, Woodbine, Carlton, and Latimer.&nbsp;

...A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN RILEY...

NORTHWESTERN POTTAWATOMIE AND SOUTHWESTERN MARSHALL COUNTIES THROUGH

At 645 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Leonardville, moving northeast at 45 mph.

HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow         around unsecured objects. Hail damage to outdoor objects         and vegetation is possible.

&nbsp;..A STRONG THUNDERSTORM WILL IMPACT NORTHWESTERN RILEY AND EASTERN
CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH 645 PM CST...

At 615 PM CST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm 8
miles west of Wakefield, moving northeast at 45 mph.



HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and nickel size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated.

IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down small tree limbs and blow
         around unsecured objects. Hail damage to outdoor objects
         and vegetation is possible.



Locations impacted include...
Clay Center, Leonardville, and Green.&nbsp;

Special Weather Statement

&nbsp; USD 475 has announced that there will be no school for all <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ECCUSD475?__cft__[0]=AZZkq4uY0XI3Xk0yS3YGpgvJ8zwYkQl3I_0Y1IfmfjwRPJ_U3IjV-UrCGdpeehMAoaAgy87ay4xJOfdEUVJnyXQkxA3tLmplZzAH4YRWUhkeP-FNt11jc-pLfuEAd6NVxSn9bvNONeNnJ4ToiEOuy1Qhz0u71gNoGPvSssNh48wKgS1VOudYfnOSo-TLFJyE6Pc&amp;__tn__=-]K-R">Early Childhood</a> and elementary students on Monday, March 9 as it is an elementary plan day in the district.

All secondary schools will be in session.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Elementary plan day is scheduled on Monday

Fort Riley leaders, Soldiers, and community members came together Thursday to launch this year’s Army Emergency Relief (AER) campaign, continuing a long tradition of Soldiers helping Soldiers.

For more than 80 years, AER has provided critical financial assistance to Soldiers and Families when they need it most—helping with unexpected emergencies, travel, housing needs, and more. The program stands as a powerful reminder that the Army community takes care of its own.



Fort Riley Kicks Off the Army Emergency Relief Campaign

Beginning at 11:30 AM, Friday Crews will be tapping a waterline located near 14th &amp; Jackson. Residents near 14th St between Madison to Jackson, may experience low to no water pressure until maintenance is complete. Maintenance is estimated to take 1 hour.&nbsp;&nbsp;

  Junction City Water Maintenance Alert:

The USD 475 Board of Education adopted a new board policy on INGG Facility Dogs in schools on Monday. The purpose of this policy is to establish board-authorized requirements for the use of facility dogs in district schools and programs, ensuring student safety, staff accountability, and compliance with applicable state and federal law.

The USD 475 Board of Education approved the recommendation from the staff to use approximately $224,851 on site and playground improvements at Lincoln Elementary.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Junction City High School English teacher, Patrick Hancock, was honored for being named the inaugural K-State College of Education Literacy Legacy Award recipient. The Literacy Legacy Award honors exceptional literacy educators who make a meaningful impact on student literacy learning. 

&nbsp;Junction City High School agriculture and FFA Chapter teacher Ashley Vahsholtz was recognized for being named the 2026 Kansas Association of Agricultural Educators Young Teacher of the Year. Laura Thompson of Ware Elementary was also recognized on Monday night for being named the 2026 Kansas Association of Special Education Administrators Special Education Professional of the Year.

The Junction City High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America team, which consists of Mateo Fuentes, Kai Walsh, Brittney Dibben, Aubrey Goddard and Keileigh Johnston, was honored for being named the 2026 Kansas State Varsity LifeSmarts Champion at the Kansas State Finals on the campus of Wichita State University.&nbsp;

BOE highlights

On Friday at 2;33 a.m. the Geary County Sheriff's Office said that Deputies responded to a single vehicle accident on I-70 near mile marker 303. Kamyra Faust of Junction City, KS was traveling onto I-70 west from the K-18 Bypass when Kamyra lost control of the 2013 Chrysler 200 and slid into a guardrail before rolling off the road. She was transporting five passengers,all of whom sustained minor injuries and were transported to Stormont Vail Flint Hills.

 The vehicle was removed from scene by Renegade Wrecker Service.

Deputies work an accident

There will be a marketing campaign proposal on the Geary County Commission meeting agenda Monday. Commissioner Trish Giordano said that she wants to pitch an idea brought to their attention by Alan Bontrager and Rick Dykstra. "There's so many good things happening in the whole entire county that I think that we need to do a full-on marketing campaign to brag about our community, to show people that we are an excellent community to not only live but visit and work.'

Giorano wants the city, county, school district and businesses to see what a good community it is.

Once approval is gained she wants to get a baseline budget so a budget can be prepared, a committee formed, community members involved and perhaps a logo idea formed to get things going.

JC 1st has pledged $10,000 abd Giordano noted that she plans to ask the county commission to pledge $20,000 right now. She thought the City would consider contributing and local businesses would be surveyed for possible funding help.

The topic is on the county commission agenda at 12:30 p.m. Monday.

Marketing campaign proposal will go to the Geary County Commission

JUNCTION CITY, Kan. - Junction City High School had a strong showing this week at the SkillsUSA State Leadership and&nbsp;Skills Championships&nbsp;in Hutchinson. The Blue Jays had 21 students compete in 10 different events at the championships.

Individually, junior Brittney Dibben claimed gold honors&nbsp;in Prepared Speech to lead JCHS. By winning the competition, Dibben qualified for nationals, which will take place in Atlanta, Ga., in June. In all, JCHS had a total of 10 students claim either silver or bronze, respectively.&nbsp;

Prepared Speech:&nbsp;Brittney Dibben

&nbsp;Prepared Speech: Kennedy Moreland

Promotional Bulletin Board: Alison Dobbs, Kara Houck, Gabrielle Delory&nbsp;

Bronze&nbsp;Pin Design: Simone Williams

Job&nbsp;Skills&nbsp;Demonstration A: Zane Rock

JCHS Excels at SkillsUSA Championships ​​​

Outdoor enthusiast Rick Dykstra told the Junction City Commission this week that our potential is being ignored."Now Junction City has a North Star to guide us. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just gave you one, a massive one."

The Corps recently announced that approximately 1.37 million visitors came to Milford Lake this past year. "We are a great outdoor destination with outstanding history, said Dykstra. "New soldiers do not see our world class back yard." He pointed out that Milford Lake is the number one quality of life factor, and why they stay.

Dykstra also supports military hardware and monuments at the entrance ways to Junction City. "So no one can drive in the city without knowing we're the home of the Big Red One."

He noted that the numbers provided by the Corps are the "gold standard for fedeal funding and infrastructure.&nbsp; They prove that Junction City sits on the doorstep of a massive active market."

Let's be bold. Let's transform&nbsp; our entrance way to reflect our pride." Let's become a base camp for our great outdoors and finally look like the hometown of Fort Riley."

Rick Dykstra sounds a wake up call

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli and American authorities spent weeks tracking the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sharing information that allowed the strikes to be carried out in a surprise daylight attack, according to an Israeli military official and a person familiar with the operation.

(Video below of Iran President Ali Khamenei at the UN Sept. 22, 1987-CSPAN)

The eventual barrage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-explosion-tehran-c2f11247d8a66e36929266f2c557a54c">U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran</a>&nbsp;came so quickly that they were nearly simultaneous — with three strikes in three locations hitting within a single minute — killing Khamenei and some 40 senior figures, including the head of the Revolutionary Guard and the country’s defense minister, the Israeli military official said.

The official insisted on anonymity to more fully detail the attack, but said that a variety of factors created a golden opportunity to take out much of Iran’s leadership, like weeks of training and monitoring the movements of senior figures as well as intelligence in real-time before the attack began that key targets were gathered together.

Striking by day also gave an additional element of surprise, said the official, who said that so many major, rapid-fire strikes were critical to keep key officials from fleeing after the first strike. The official said Israel closely cooperated with its U.S. counterparts and had used a similar tactic at the beginning of last June’s war — which resulted in the killing of several senior Iranian figures.

The official also noted Khamenei having posted defiant tweets taunting President Donald Trump in the days before the attack.

The details about the strikes came as the conflict entered its second day, with Trump saying in a video message Sunday that he expected it would continue until “all of our objectives are achieved.” He did not spell out what those objectives were.

The Republican president also said the U.S. military and its partners hit hundreds of targets in Iran, including paramilitary Revolutionary Guard facilities, Iranian air defense systems and nine warships, “all in a matter of literally minutes.”

Before the attacks, the CIA had for months tracked the movements of senior Iranian leaders, including the country’s supreme leader.

The intelligence was shared with Israeli officials, and the timing of the strikes was adjusted in part because of that information about the Iranian leaders’ location, according to the person, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The intelligence-sharing between U.S. and Israel reflects the preparation that went into the strikes, which continued for a second day Sunday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-dead-5b13b69b708c4ed38e8f95f5fb41a597">Khamenei’s killing</a>&nbsp;threw the future of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">the Islamic Republic</a>&nbsp;into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-khamenei-succession-c1d1505581d36ffc84d3ededcb10a7d5">uncertainty</a>&nbsp;and raised the risk of escalating regional conflict.

Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CBS’ “Face the Nation” that tracking the movements of the supreme leader and the heads of other adversarial nations “is obviously one of the highest priorities of our intelligence community.”

The U.S. regularly shares intelligence with allies including Israel. Those partnerships, and the accuracy of the intelligence they yield, is often critical not only to the success of a military operation but also to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-war-wmds-us-intelligence-f9e21ac59d3a0470d9bfcc83544d706e">public’s support for it</a>.

Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the committee, told The Associated Press that, historically, “our working relationship with the Mossad and Israel is really strong.” Mossad is the Israeli spy agency.

Warner said he has serious concerns about the justification for the strikes, Trump’s long-term plans for the conflict and the risks that U.S. service members will face. The military announced that three American troops had been killed in the Iran operation.

“No tears will be shed over their leadership being eliminated, but always the question is: OK, what next?” Warner said.

How CIA tracked Iranian leaders for months ahead of attacks 

Public ownership of stadium shields bonds for project from federal income tax

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>

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/"></a>TOPEKA — The Kansas House introduced legislation Friday authorizing creation of a state sports authority to allow construction of a publicly owned stadium spectacular enough to persuade the Kansas City Chiefs to move from Missouri to Kansas.

Public ownership of the $3 billion stadium was viewed as a necessity because private ownership would make the $1.8 billion in state bonds issued for the project subject to federal income taxes.

Attorney Korb Maxwell told state lawmakers in January that failure to form a sports authority to allow stadium ownership by the state would likely kill the project.

Terms of the sports authority legislation involving the state of Kansas and owners of the Chiefs were outlined in an 11-page bill scheduled to be discussed Tuesday during a joint session of the House and Senate commerce committees.

The bill introduced by Rep. Sean Tarwater, a suburban Kansas City Republican, would need to be fast-tracked during the final two or three weeks of the 2026 session of the Legislature.

Under House Bill 2793, the nine voting members of the sports authority would have to be appointed by Aug. 31. Members of the board would be Kansas residents and chosen by the governor and leaders of the House and Senate. The group would include a representative of the Chiefs and the secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce.

The bill would allow the sports authority to take possession of facilities other than the domed stadium constructed for the Chiefs. The authority would be authorized to sell real or personal property and be exempt from state property tax. In addition, the authority would be exempt from city, county and state sales taxes.

Purchases by the sports authority for contractual services, construction, repairs, supplies, equipment or furniture “shall not be subject to the competitive bidding requirements” of state law, the bill said.

The deal would enable the Chiefs to engage in a lease agreement giving the franchise exclusive use of the stadium at agreed upon times and the right to retain some or all revenue from ticket sales, suite licenses, personalized seat licenses, concessions, advertising, naming rights, broadcast deals and other income tied to the stadium.

The sports authority would be responsible for submitting annual reports to the Legislative Coordinating Council and the commerce committees of the House and Senate.

The Legislature is taking up the House bill at a time when some lawmakers have expressed opposition to the incentive package for construction of a stadium and practice facility for the Chiefs.

Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat seeking the party’s nomination for governor, said the stadium plan was a “raw deal for Kansans.”

“At a time when our leaders should be laser focused on lowering costs for Kansans, instead they are delivering a massive giveaway to billionaires and asking us to foot the bill,” Holscher said. “The stadium deal makes big promises of nebulous economic growth, but risks blowing open our state budget.”

The bill doesn’t outline boundaries of the STAR bond district in Johnson and Wyandotte counties that would generate sales tax revenue to pay for construction projects serving the Chiefs.

Kansas House introduces bill creating sports authority needed to complete Chiefs stadium deal

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement a investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have released the name of the victim as 58-year-old Derrick Copeland,&nbsp;according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just after 4:30pm Thursday were dispatched to a reported shooting at an apartment building in the 1200 block of Askew in Kansas City, according to Becchina.

Officers were led into an apartment inside the building. There they located a Copeland unresponsive. Officers called for EMS into the scene who declared Copeland deceased.&nbsp;

 Preliminary investigation indicates that a caller responded to the apartment and observed Copeland injured and unresponsive inside. The caller then called 911 for police and ambulance. There are not any suspects in custody at this time.&nbsp;

Police ID 58-year-old homicide victim found in KC apartment

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned in a Truth Social post that more Iranian officials will be targets, saying, “Today Iran will be hit very hard!,” while noting&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-us-march-7-2026-d347fd6a03185f51d670bf4e7cbf5373">an apology by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian</a>&nbsp;earlier in the day to neighboring nations over Tehran’s attacks.

Gulf countries say they have intercepted more ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.

Saudi Arabia said it stopped four drones attacking the country’s massive Shaybah oil field, the second attack within hours. Flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were interrupted after passengers were ushered down into train tunnels as several blasts were heard and the alert sounded.

Meanwhile, Israeli warplanes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-iran-russia-intelligence-35afae34198408d670941f971d383378">hammered Beirut and Tehran</a>. Death toll continued to rise Saturday with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-soldiers-who-died-iran-war-46f54df716fe1c5290363da0a15f99f3">Six U.S. troops</a>&nbsp;were reported killed.

&nbsp;President Trump’s administration approved a new $151 million arms sale to Israel after Trump said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-03-06-2026#0000019c-c378-d99c-af9e-e7799c500000">would not negotiate with Iran</a>&nbsp;without its “unconditional surrender.”

Read President Trump's new warning to officials in Iran

JOHNSON COUNTY —Lightning caused significant damage to a Kansas home Friday.

Just before 12:30 pm, firefighters at a “lightning strike investigation” discovered fire in the basement at a home near 143rd St. and Pflumm Road, according to a social media report from the Olathe Fire Department. 

Lightning appears to have struck the roof. Damage inside the home is significant. There were no injuries. Four people are temporarily displaced. Olathe Police Department, Overland Park Fire Department and Johnson County MED-ACT helped at the scene.

Lightning strike caused significant damage to Kansas home 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran on what to do with the information as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/iran-war-israel-trump-lebanon-03-06-2026">U.S. and Israel continue their bombardment</a>&nbsp;and Iran fires retaliatory salvos at American assets and allies in the Persian Gulf.

Still, it's the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Iran a week ago. Russia is in the rare club of countries that maintains friendly relations with Tehran, which has faced years of isolation over its nuclear program and its support of proxy groups that have wreaked havoc in the Middle East, including Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis.

The White House downplayed reports that Russia was sharing intelligence with Iran about U.S. targets in the region. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday told reporters that “it clearly is not making any difference with respect to the military operations in Iran because we are completely decimating them.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in a CBS' “60 Minutes” interview on Friday said the U.S. is “tracking everything” and factoring it into battle plans, when asked about the reports Russia was aiding Iran.

“The American people can rest assured their commander in chief is well aware of who’s talking to who,” he said. “And anything that shouldn’t be happening, whether it’s in public or back-channeled, is being confronted and confronted strongly.”

Leavitt declined to say if Trump had spoken to Russian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/vladimir-putin">President Vladimir Putin</a>&nbsp;about the reported intelligence sharing or whether he believed Russia should face repercussions, saying she would let the president speak to that himself.

Asked whether Russia would go beyond political support and offer military assistance to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there has been no such request from Tehran.

“We are in dialogue with the Iranian side, with representatives of the Iranian leadership, and will certainly continue this dialogue,” he said Friday.

Pushed on whether Moscow has provided any military or intelligence assistance to Tehran since the Iran war’s start, he refrained from comment.

Russia has tightened its relationship with Iran as it looked for badly needed missiles and drones to utilize in its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">four-year war against Ukraine.</a>

The Biden administration declassified intelligence findings that showed Iran supplies Moscow with attack drones and has assisted the Kremlin with building a drone-manufacturing factory.

The former U.S. administration also accused Iran of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-iran-ukraine-ballistic-missiles-us-intelligence-1e637abe11396989c641fa5bf3f57b24">transferring short-range ballistic missiles</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ukraine">Russia for its war in Ukraine</a>.

Details about the U.S. intelligence were first reported by The Washington Post.

Asked whether the revelation had shaken Trump’s faith in Putin’s ability to cut any peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war, Leavitt said, “I think the president would say that peace is still an achievable objective with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/volodymyr-zelenskyy">Volodymyr Zelenskyy</a>&nbsp;says the United States and its allies in the Middle East are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-iran-5cafbae5d360a44c4502b69647269037">seeking Ukraine’s expertise</a>&nbsp;in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-gulf-war-drone-49c8ea76358e579447ff839485f394ac">countering Iran’s Shahed drones</a>. Tehran has been supplying Russia with Shaheds for its war on Ukraine and are now utilizing them in retaliatory attacks throughout the Gulf.

Zelenskyy says that he's spoken to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait about possible cooperation.

“Ukraine knows how to defend against Shahed drone attacks because our cities have faced them almost every night," said Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna. “When our partners are in need, we are always ready to help.”

Trump, who has struggled to fulfill a campaign pledge to end the Russia-Ukraine war, has had an up-and-down relationship with Zelenskyy. He's frequently pressured the Ukrainian leader to heed Russian demands, including that Kyiv concede Ukrainian territory still in its control.

🎥Hegseth on report Russia is giving Iran intel on U.S. military targets

RENO COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating five suspects on multiple allegations after a drug bust in Huthinson.

On Thursday, March 5, members of the Hutchinson Police Department Special Operations Unit, Repeat Offender Unit, and Investigations Division served a search warrant related to suspected drug distribution at 2620 East 2nd Avenue in Hutchinson, according to a media release.

 As a result of the investigation, officers seized approximately 302 grams of methamphetamine, 239 grams of marijuana, 56 grams of THC wax, 14 pills, THC cartridges, one firearm, and U.S. currency. One juvenile was placed into police protective custody.

Following completion of the investigation, five were arrested.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Travis R. Boyd, 42,&nbsp; Hutchinson, is in custody on requested charges of Distribution of Opiates x2, Distribution of Hallucinogenic, Aggravated Endangering a Child, Possession of Paraphernalia with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Opiates x2, Arrange Sale/Purchase of Controlled Substance Using a Communication Facility, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Jessica H. Ramey, 27,&nbsp; Salina, was arrested on requested charges of Possession of a Stimulant with 1 Prior Conviction, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Mark D. Benewiat, 57,&nbsp; Hutchinson, was arrested on requested charges of Distribution of Opiates, Arrange Sale/Purchase of Controlled Substance Using a Communication Facility, Possession of Opiates, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving While License Suspended.

Ashlynn N. Hamby Raya, 23, Great Bend, was arrested on requested charges of Distribution of Opiates, Distribution of Hallucinogenic, Sell/Distribute/Possess Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Opiates, Possession of Marijuana with 1 Prior Conviction, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Rhyen J. Naab, 31, Hesston, was arrested on requested charges of Possession of Stimulants with 1 Prior Conviction, Possession of Marijuana with 2 Prior Convictions, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Police: 5 jailed after drug bust at Kansas home

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

LAWRENCE — Kansans won’t know until at least Tuesday if a judge will delay implementation of the state’s new “bathroom law,” but a concession by Attorney General Kris Kobach means key components of the law can be delayed until March 26.

Douglas County District Judge James McCabria heard arguments Friday about&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb244/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 244</a>, the controversial new law that forces people to use bathrooms in government buildings and gender markers on driver’s licenses based on sex assigned at birth.

The three-hour hearing focused on technicalities, including whether the law meets any one of five specific criteria that would lead the judge to approve a temporary restraining order and pause enforcement of the law for up to 14 days.

Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Kansas Department of Administration&nbsp; said the law’s speedy implementation provided no grace period to Kansans needing a new driver’s license and for government leaders statewide to put a system in place for tracking bathroom usage.

The law took effect Feb. 26, a little over a week after the GOP-led Legislature overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto. Kansans who held driver’s licenses with a gender marker that didn’t match their sex at birth were told their licenses were immediately invalidated and government leaders statewide were told they had to immediately enforce the bathroom portion of the bill.

Kobach told McCabria he agreed to give Kansans who needed to update driver’s licenses until March 26 to complete that. He also said he wouldn’t enforce the law’s penalties — which could be as high as $125,000 per day for violations — for cities, counties, municipalities and schools that might violate the bathroom rules, as well.

Harper Seldin, an ACLU attorney representing the two Lawrence transgender men who brought a case against the law under pseudonyms Daniel Doe and Matthew Moe, told the judge the law violates the Kansas Constitution.

SB 244 infringes on the rights of personal autonomy, expectations of privacy, and equal protection under the law, and has other issues, he said.

“The attorney general is incorrect when he says that we’re asking the court to break new ground,” Seldin said. “This is not a novel set of theories that require the government to do anything. The thread through these individual rights claims is that this is about Daniel and Matthew’s right to be left alone by the government.”

Seldin also said the law targets transgender individuals, which can be shown by the results of its implementation even if it’s not stated outright. He said the way SB 244 was implemented violated the Kansas Constitution when the bathroom portion of the bill was “logrolled” into the bill that originally addressed driver’s license and birth certificate gender markers.

Logrolling refers to dropping a bill into an unrelated bill, sidestepping the opportunity for public input. Seldin said cramming two separate subjects into one law violates the Kansas Constitution, which has a “single subject” clause.

Kobach said the two issues are congruent in that they both deal with defining sex within Kansas government.

“It’s this idea that bills should mean what they say and say what they mean,” Seldin said. “There’s a particular perniciousness to a law that hides the law.”

Kobach told the judge that a driver’s license is a government document, used for government purposes, and the state has the right to define the information contained in the document.

McCabria questioned Kobach about briefs included in the plaintiff testimony outlining the negative psychological effects on transgender people being made to use documents that don’t match their gender identity.

“Whatever a person may feel about their need to be perceived by the world in a certain way, what right do I have to compel the government to identify me in that way?” McCabria asked.

Kobach said the driver’s license is a document that records pertinent information, and sex is one of the elements, along with eye color and birthdate, that doesn’t change over time.

Kobach said the bathroom portion of the bill maintains the status quo in Kansas, where he contended residents have always gone to the bathroom that matches their biological sex at birth.

Seldin said trans people in the state have been going to the bathroom without any harms for decades.

Kobach said women who hear a man’s voice or see a man in private spaces could become anxious about their safety.

He acknowledged plaintiff’s assertions about the psychological or emotional harm they may suffer but told McCabria that in a balance of equities, that didn’t outweigh the harms of “99-plus percent of the population.”

When McCabria asked him to substantiate that number, Kobach said he didn’t mean to imply that everyone outside of transgender individuals were harmed by the law.

“Many courts have recognized the fear that ‘biological females’ have when a ‘biological male’ is in the bathroom with them, and that is something that I think any Kansan can identify with, especially a female,” Kobach said after the hearing.

Asked how women would be affected by seeing or hearing a transgender man who now has to use a woman’s bathroom, Kobach said, “All kinds of hypothetical cases are possible.”

McCabria said he had hoped to make a ruling Friday but that he needs more time to study the filings in the case and examine constitutional issues. He said he expects to rule by Tuesday.

“I think most people want to be respectful,” Seldin said after the hearing. “I think most people don’t want to pry into other people’s private lives. I think a law like this suggests the opposite, that Kansans have some prurient interest in other people’s habits and private spaces. And I don’t think that’s right.”

Z Kemp attended the hearing because her partner and many friends are affected. She said the law has caused “a lot of stress and anxiety.”

“That’s just unnecessary because as they’ve stated before, there was — especially with the bathroom situation —- no prior problem,” she said. “It’s only a problem whenever you make it a problem. I don’t think it’s that radical to just let trans people be. Just let them go to the bathroom.”

Avie Fallis said she has been through a lot of physical and legal changes to find herself. She said she is tired of well-meaning people recommending that she leave Kansas, which is her home state where her family and loved ones live.

“I feel like it’s a fire that’s just growing,” she said. “I’m not going to run away from fire. I feel like it should be extinguished.”

Kansas AG offers to delay enforcement of anti-trans law until March 26 while judge weighs challenge

On March 8, 2026, at 2 a.m., the majority of American citizens, or their digital devices, will set their clocks forward one hour, launching this year's daylight saving time. The practice continues despite the findings of the most recent Gallup poll, where 54% of United States citizens say they'd like it to end. Hawaii and most of Arizona are the exceptions to the rule, staying on standard time, which is the preferred time zone for 48% of the country.

In 2022 and again last year, proposals were put forth in Congress to end daylight saving time, but none of them passed. Nineteen states have submitted legislation in the last seven years to make DST permanent if the federal government allows it. But until Congress passes the Sunshine Protection Act, daylight saving time is here to stay.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/657584/half-daylight-saving-time-sunsetted.aspx">Gallup poll</a>&nbsp;found 40% of Americans are okay with the biannual switch of the clocks. In a 2024 study in the&nbsp;<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.5664/jcsm.10898">Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine</a>, scientists favored permanent standard time, as it aligns best with human circadian biology. Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2025/09/daylight-saving-time.html">Stanford researchers</a>&nbsp;say either permanent option is healthier than the back and forth twice a year, every year.

While daylight saving time may seem like it's been costing people sleep forever, the time adjustment is an American idea, first proposed by founding father&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/did-benjamin-franklin-invent-daylight-savings-time-1232015/">Benjamin Franklin</a>&nbsp;back in 1784. The practice got piecemeal acceptance until World War I. England instituted it in 1816, and the U.S. introduced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/transportation/daylight-saving-time-state-legislation">the temporary time change</a>&nbsp;across the nation in 1918, as an effort to conserve fuel by extending daylight working hours.

During World War II, the U.S. brought back daylight saving time. Dubbed War Time, Clocks were moved ahead one hour nationwide from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/february-9/daylight-saving-time-instituted">Feb. 9, 1942</a>, to Sept. 30, 1945, to conserve fuel and energy for defense production. After the war, some states and communities kept the practice, while others dropped it until 1966.

In 1966, Congress passed the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.transportation.gov/regulations/time-act">Uniform Time Act</a>, which established time zones for the country, a regulated railroad schedule and the standardization of DST changes in the spring and fall each year. In 2005, President George W. Bush signed into law the&nbsp;<a href="https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc935207/">Energy Policy Act of 2005</a>, which moved the dates a little wider apart.

Both time changes have negative effects on our bodies. For most people, these last up to five days. Recovery from the upcoming change often feels easier, in part because there's more sun. While most of the Western world also changes its clocks twice a year, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timeanddate.com/time/standard-time.html">60% of countries</a>&nbsp;use standard time all year.

While some tout the benefits of DST, science continues to prove them wrong. Researchers at Stanford estimate that permanent standard time would prevent some 300,000 cases of stroke per year, and keep 2.6 million people from struggling with obesity. They say the opposite, permanent daylight saving time would achieve about two-thirds of the same effect.

<a href="https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/7-things-to-know-about-daylight-saving-time">Doctors say</a>&nbsp;they see more hospital admissions, elevated production of stress-induced inflammations and a heightened risk of mood disturbances. In 2020, the&nbsp;<a href="https://aasm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/sleep-prioritization-survey-2020-elimination-seasonal-time-changes-results.pdf">American Academy of Sleep Medicine</a>&nbsp;found 63% of Americans would prefer to eliminate seasonal time changes. More sun in the evening disrupts circadian rhythms. People go to bed later and subsequently get less sleep since work and school still start at the same time. More than half of the people polled experience tiredness following the switch.

Flipping our clocks back and forth won't be going away for the foreseeable future. So the best approach is to try to mitigate the effects of the time changes. Here are some suggestions to manage the forward spring. A few of them are also helpful in the fall.

Finally, on the weekend of the switch, get a good breakfast, like&nbsp;<a href="https://thehonoursystem.com/cinnamon-roll-muffins/">cinnamon roll muffins</a>. Then try to get outside as early as you can. More natural morning light can help preserve your circadian rhythm.

Even though technically the time change happens at 2 a.m., don't stay up. Set offline clocks ahead for an hour right before you hit the hay on Saturday, March 7. Online clocks, like on your phone, will adjust automatically at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8.

Since you're losing an hour of sleep, a daytime nap can sound great. And it will help, but you have to be strategic. Make sure it's a short nap, under 20 minutes, and do it in the early afternoon or right after dinner, not close to bedtime.

Another good sleep tip to implement year round: avoid caffeine, soda, alcohol and screens for 1-2 hours before bedtime. Enjoy a healthy snack, like&nbsp;<a href="https://thehonoursystem.com/easy-banana-chocolate-chip-cookies-gluten-free-vegan/">three-ingredient oatmeal cookies</a>, but don't eat too late. Let your body and your eyes enter a restful state even before you lie your head on the pillow.

Once the change is complete, don't neglect your vitamin D fix. Head outdoors for early morning sunlight the week after the time change. The bright light will help set your internal clock to the new time. But leave the sunglasses off. Your eyes need sunlight exposure, too.

If you can try not to overload your schedule for the first couple of days, just in case you're groggy from lack of sleep. It bears repeating: get a full 7-8 hours of sleep Sunday night after the change. Can't fall asleep? Get up and walk around, drink some water, then try again.

Consider supplementing your body's natural melatonin with a plant-derived supplement, no more than 0.3 milligrams. That's just enough to help you fall asleep without interfering with your body's natural hormone levels.

If you can, shift to a morning workout. Exercise in the morning raises your body temperature, which can increase your wakefulness and help reset your internal clock.

And one last year-round sleep tip: create a sleep sanctuary. Your bedroom, or at least your bed, should be a place for sleep and nothing else. Make it a quiet, dark, cool sleep space. Eat dinner at least a few hours before going to bed, and limit how many spicy or carb-heavy foods you eat after 6 p.m. If you need a snack, lean on proteins, like&nbsp;<a href="https://thehonoursystem.com/peanut-butter-protein-balls/">peanut butter protein balls</a>.

Just because you're losing an hour's sleep doesn't mean it has to crush your day. Make the effort to prepare yourself and your environment, and you can navigate the time change just like any other day. And with any luck, you can look forward to the day when you can sleep through the night without worrying about having to change your clocks.

Secret hacks for surviving daylight saving time

A Kansas City man faces charges for allegedly placing explosive devices in a trash can near the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2823/CanizalesArguetaOwen_Charging-Packet-1">Owen I. Canizales Argueta</a>&nbsp;, 23, faces 20 counts of Possession of an Illegal explosive, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.&nbsp; Each count carries a penalty of up to seven years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.&nbsp;

“Jackson County does not tolerate threats. Not to our landmarks, not to our gathering places, and not to our neighborhoods. I am proud of KCPD’s swift investigative work to identify and arrest the defendant, allowing our office to quickly file charges,”&nbsp;Prosecutor Johnson said. “With the World Cup just 100 days away, we’re prepared and committed to holding anyone who seeks to harm this community accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We’re working closely with local law enforcement, elected officials, federal partners, and KC2026, to ensure that when the world arrives to our community, we are prepared and safe.”

According to court records, Kansas City Police Department’s Bomb and Arson Section were called to 2 Memorial Drive on Feb. 24. Custodial staff were clearing out trash cans and discovered a red bag with what they believed to be explosives.&nbsp;

Detectives determined the bag to contain 20 homemade explosive devices.&nbsp;

Based on surveillance video, a vehicle entered the driveway near the Liberty Memorial on Feb. 23 and an individual, later identified as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2823/CanizalesArguetaOwen_Charging-Packet-1">Argueta</a>&nbsp;exited the vehicle and placed a red bag in the trash can.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2823/CanizalesArguetaOwen_Charging-Packet-1">Argueta</a>&nbsp;admitted in an interview with detectives to purchasing the devices and placing them in the trash can.&nbsp;

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond to $100,000 cash only.&nbsp;

Kansas City man admits planting explosives near Liberty Memorial

The Junction City Blue Jays beat the Dodge City Red Demons on Wednesday night at the Blue Jay Event Center at Junction City High School. The Blue Jays now advance to the substate championship game on Saturday.&nbsp;

Game recap Junction City 70, Dodge City 56

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