This year’s Freedom Fest JC celebration in Heritage Park, downtown, Junction City, Kansas is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1 through Sunday, July 5.

It all starts at 5:15 P.M. with Patriotic Sing, where community kids sing 5 Patriotic songs.

Then Freedom Sings will honor veterans through song.

At 6:30, we start our 2026 journey by pulling anchor and setting sail with The Old No. 5s, led by Adam Watson, who grew up here in Junction City. Then, be prepared to get “Ship Rocked” singing the best of Yacht Rock music for the rest of the night.

Day 2-Thursday 7/2 -Throwback Thursday

Come party to classic rock anthems starting at 6:00 with Private Eyes (Hall and Oates Tribute) followed by Doubte Vision (Tribute to Foreigner). Arena Rock Giants will bring down the house, playing from 9:00-10:30.

Our Magical Night of Entertainment begins with The Electrifying Magic of Jay Matiolli on the big stage from 6:00-6:30, followed by Almost Kiss at 7:00.

At 9:00, Draw the Line, the only “Officially endorsed Aerosmith Tribute Show” takes the stage. You don’t want to miss this band. Aerosmith’s lead singer, Steven Tyler, singled out Draw the Line as the Best of the Aerosmith tribute bands. They’re the only tribute band that has been featured on Aerosmith’s website.

Day 4- Saturday 7/4 - 4th&nbsp;of July!

A bright and early start for the Freedom Run at 7:30, followed by our Freedom Parade down 6th street, from Eisenhower to Adams at 10:00.

We have our Veterans Ceremony, carnival, and car show beginning at 12:00, followed by The Tiger Encounter, The Electrifying Magic of Jay Matiolli, and a foam zone.

Saturday night, you’re in for some great, high energy Southern, Bluesy Rock entertainment — starting with the Sunset Sinners at 5:00.
At 6:30, we’re excited to have Anthony Gomes rockin’ our stage. He’s shared a stage with musical greats like B. B. King, Buddy Guy, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Sammy Hagar, and Heart. If you haven’t heard of him, check him out. He guarantees you won't forget him!
At 8:30, come on down to the front of the stage to dance to the tunes of Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars with JAM, Jackson and Mars, A Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars Tribute Band. We’re going to “Rock With You” and create some “24K Magic”!

We end the night with our Fireworks Extravaganza at 10:00, with some extra BANGS and BOOMS added to the finale to celebrate America’s 250" birthday.

Sunday is still coming together. We’ll let you know as soon as we do!

*To check out the full detailed event schedule and all other Freedom Fest news, <a href="https://freedomfestjc.com/schedule/">visit their website here.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;Their Facebook Page is Freedom Fest JC.

Freedom Fest 2026 Schedule is Officially Announced

Manhattan High School was the site of the rivalry between Junction City and Manhattan on Friday night. Both games featured a very close first half, then a near 20-point victory in each game, as the teams split the doubleheader in the final matchups of this season.

Girls recap - Manhattan 66, Junction City 46

This is the closest this game has been in a long time. Even a 20-point win by the Manhattan Lady Indians does not describe how good of a game this was for the first couple of quarters.

In the first quarter, Manhattan jumped out to a lead, as senior Kat Ball scored the first six points for Manhattan. The Lady Indians led by five after one, at 14-9. Junction City stayed in the game thanks to back-to-back threes by sophomore Isabel Pruitt.

In second-quarter action, Manhattan expanded its lead to 12, leading 24-12 with four minutes to go in the half. Then, back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore Taliyah Campbell cut the deficit to six, with MHS leading 24-18. That was the closest it would be the rest of the half. The Lady Indians ended the first half on a 13-0 run and led 37-18.

In the second half, Manhattan stretched its lead to 25 a couple of times, but the Lady Jays cut it to 17 twice. Manhattan led 53-30 after three quarters and won the game 66-46.

Each team had two players score in double digits. For Manhattan, Kat Ball scored 21 points, and Jorryn Hall added 10. For Junction City, Laniyah Warmack scored 14 points, and Isabel Pruitt added 12.

Manhattan improves to 16-5 on the year, while Junction City falls to 2-18.

Boys recap - Junction City 73, Manhattan 54

Manhattan senior Will Carpenter scored the first basket of the game, and then Junction City's Brody Boeckman answered with his own basket, and the game was off and running in a packed Manhattan High School gym. That early lead was the only lead Manhattan held all night. This game was all about Junction City's Brody Boeckman and Lovell Autry. Boeckman scored 11 points in the first quarter, and JCHS led 19-12 after one.

In the second quarter, Junction City continued its fast start, scoring at will. Boeckman added six more points, and senior Lovell Autry began heating up. The Blue Jays led 29-17 with two minutes to go in the half. Manhattan head coach Benji George called a timeout, and it worked. The Indians ended the quarter on a 10-0 run and trailed by only two, at 29-27.

Third-quarter action featured the teams trading baskets early in the period. Then Autry got going for Junction City, and the Blue Jays extended their lead back to nine, at 40-31. Manhattan responded with a small run and then capped the period off with quite the highlight. Senior Will Carpenter sent a three-quarter-court heave flying and nailed it (the shot was from the opposite free-throw line). Manhattan had the momentum, now down just four, with Junction City leading 48-44.

Despite the incredible shot by Carpenter, it was Junction City that blasted out of the timeout and took control. Junction City started the quarter on a 13-6 run. It was back-to-back three-point plays by junior Khaliel Walker and Autry to give JC the lead at 61-50. On Autry's basket, he officially passed the 1,000-point mark for his four-year career at Junction City High School. From that point forward, Junction City cruised to victory, and the Blue Jays won 73-54.

Two Blue Jay players outscored Manhattan as a team. Brody Boeckman scored a career-high 31 points, and Lovell Autry added 25 points. The two combined for 56 points.

The leading scorers for Manhattan were Will Carpenter with 15 and Sawyer Newton with 11 points.

Junction City improves to 11-9 on the year, while Manhattan falls to 13-7.

Manhattan High travels to Emporia High on Tuesday, while Junction City returns home to host Topeka Hayden.

Rivals Split - Manhattan Girls, Junction City Boys Win Big on Friday

LISTEN LIVE: Junction City basketball at Manhattan High School.

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

Girls action: Tip-off set for 6:00 P.M. Manhattan (15-5), Junction City (2-16).

Boys action: Tip-off scheduled for 7:45 P.M. following Manhattan High School's senior night. Manhattan (13-6), Junction City (10-9).

🏀LISTEN LIVE: Junction City Blue Jays at Manhattan High Indians

On February 19, 2026, at approximately 1358 hours, the Junction City Fire Department responded to reports of a structure fire at The Bluffs apartment complex, located at 1810 Caroline Avenue, Building O.

Upon arrival, crews observed heavy smoke and visible flames coming from second- and third-floor balconies on the front (east) side of the building. Fire had extended into the roof structure on the east side of the complex.

Due to the size and complexity of the incident, mutual aid was requested from Fort Riley Fire for a ladder truck, and Geary County Fire Dept. responded with an additional engine for support. Firefighters initiated an aggressive interior fire attack while additional crews conducted a primary search of the structure and assisted residents with evacuation. Because of the large apartment complex, Junction City Police Department personnel also assisted with precautionary evacuations on the non-fire side of the building.

The fire was brought under control at approximately 2:56 P.M.

Building O consists of 34 apartment units. A total of 17 units were affected by the fire, with 7 units determined to be a total loss. Twenty-four occupants were displaced as a result of the incident. EMS personnel evaluated individuals on scene, and no serious injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire is currently undetermined. The investigation is being conducted by the Junction City Fire Department with assistance from the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Initial damage estimates are approximately $700,000 in fire and smoke damage. The estimated total value of Building O is approximately $3.4 million.

The American Red Cross and Fort Riley military personnel assisted displaced residents with temporar

Firefighters responded to a blaze at 1810 Caroline Ave. Building "O" in Junction City Thursday afternoon. There were not any injuries. Residents of 17 apartments were displaced.

The cause of the blaze is still undetermined. Fire Chief Jason Lankas reported that about one-quarter of the building was destroyed. A damage estimate has not yet been determined.

Investigators from the State Fire Marshall's Office and Junction City Fire Department were brought in to work on the case.

junction City and Geary County firefighters responded along with a ladder truck from Fort Riley.

The military and Red Cross responded to the scene to help those who were displaced. Most of those people were members of the military and everyone has been taken care of.&nbsp; The fire call came in at 2:04 p.m.

This is the fourth building fire at the Bluffs since the complex opened many years ago.

Damage estimate from a Bluffs Apartment building fire totals approximately $700,000

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY WILL BE IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM FRIDAY EVENING TO 6 AM CST SATURDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations up to two inches.

* WHERE...Cloud, Ottawa, Clay, Dickinson, Riley and Geary Counties.

* WHEN...From 6 PM this evening to 6 AM CST Saturday.

* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery and quickly changing road conditions.

Winter Weather Advisory issued for Friday night

On Thursday at approximately 7:39 p.m., officers with the Grandview Plaza Police Department initiated a vehicle pursuit near Cracker Barrel in Junction City. Officers from the Junction City Police Department and the Geary County Sheriff’s Office assisted by deploying tire deflation devices in an attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle. 

At approximately 7:54 p.m., the driver abandoned the vehicle near Rucker Road and Fort Avenue and fled on foot into a tree line south of Rucker Road. When officers attempted to deploy a Taser, the individual produced a handgun and shot himself. Officers immediately began providing medical aid and requested Junction City Fire/EMS. 

The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives and Crime Scene personnel from the Junction City/Geary County Major Case Unit responded and are conducting a joint investigation into this incident. No officers or bystanders were injured. No officers discharged their firearms during this incident. 

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Junction City Police Department at (785) 762-5912 or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at (785) 762-8477.&nbsp;

Grandview Plaza, JCPD and Geary County involved in Vehicle Pursuit

RILEY COUNTY—A Kansas felon is back in jail on new allegations.

Just before 5p.m. Thursday, police arrested 34-year-old Jeremy Richmond of Topeka on a Riley County District Court warrant for failure to appear, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

 This arrest stems from original charges of flee and elude, contributing to child misconduct, aggravated endangerment of child and interference with a law enforcement officer. Richmond remains jailed on a $20,000 bond.

Richardson has a previous conviction for "Intro Contraband; non firearm, ammo, explosive, controlled substance by non employee," according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Kan. felon back in Riley County jail on new allegations

Recent Booking Activity for the Geary County Detention Center. All persons included in this post are innocent of crimes until proven guilty in a court of law.

Bonds have been posted. Photos are unavailable.

Zachary Harding, Failure to appear; Operate a motor vehicle without a valid license, arrested 02/18

Elizabeth Long, Outside warrant (Two counts), arrested 02/18

Anyvette Caldero Rios, Unlawful damage to property, arrested 02/18

KeShawn Porter, Cancelled/suspended/revoked driver's license, arrested 02/18

Rashawn Washington, Failure to appear, arrested 02/18

Geary County Booking Photos Feb. 19, 2026

Junction City, Geary County and USD 475 officials will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the C.L. Hoover Opera House.

Agenda items provided by the County include a comprehensive plan update, public works updates and marketing campaign. From the City they are spring cleanup 2026, homeless task force and incinerator. The Item submitted for the agenda by USD 475 involves portrait of a graduate.

Agenda is set for joint City, County, USD 475 meeting

USD 475 Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Reginald Eggleston, has announced that the ribbon cutting for the new Early Childhood Center will be at 11 a.m. on May 8.

Following the ribbon cutting attendees will be able to take a tour of the new facility.

Ribbon cutting set for new Early Childhood Center

USD 383 has announced that Shadwin Spilski has been named Manhattan High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal.

Spilski currently serves as the district Athletic Director and Director of Innovation for Lapeer Community Schools in Lapeer, Michigan. He has served in that position since 2014. Prior to that, he was the Athletic/Activities Director for four years at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, Wyoming. He started his teaching career as a social studies teacher at Whiting High School in Laramie, Wyoming in 2004. He has a Bachelor of Arts &amp; Sciences in Secondary Education from the University of Wyoming and a Masters in Education Administration from Chadron State University (NE).

“I am incredibly humbled and honored to be leading the traditions and excellency of Manhattan High School as the next Athletic Director and Assistant Principal,” states Spilski. “I am looking forward to working with our coaches, staff, boosters, community, and most importantly our student-athletes. Manhattan High School is a special place and I cannot wait to get started!”

“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Spilski to the Manhattan High School family,” states Michael Dorst, Manhattan High School Principal. “In speaking with coaches and administrators from his current school and district, it is clear that he has made a tremendous impact and he will be greatly missed and not easily replaced. We are fortunate to have him joining our team, and I look forward to working with Mr. Spilski as we continue the proud tradition of excellence that defines our great school.”

The USD 383 Board of Education acted on the appointment during the February 18 meeting. He will begin his role in July, 2026. He replaces Mike Marsh. Mr. Marsh is retiring in June, 2026.

Spilski Named Manhattan High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-tariffs-trump-0485fcda30a7310501123e4931dba3f9">Supreme Court on Friday struck down</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economy-liberation-day-d3458da225c1fdfade97ed494b23e868">biggest and boldest tariffs</a>. But the justices left a $133 billion question unanswered: What's going to happen to the money the government has already collected in import taxes now declared unlawful?

Companies have been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/costco-tariffs-supreme-court-trump-illegal-86203801e7a0f690d333c087b9db844f">lining up for refunds</a>. But the way forward could prove chaotic.

When the smoke clears, trade lawyers say, importers are likely to get money back — eventually. “It’s going to be a bumpy ride for awhile," said trade lawyer Joyce Adetutu, a partner at the Vinson &amp; Elkins law firm.

The refund process is likely to be hashed out by a mix of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, the specialized Court of International Trade in New York and other lower courts, according to a note to clients by lawyers at the legal firm Clark Hill.

"The amount of money is substantial," Adetutu said. "The courts are going to have a hard time. Importers are going to have a hard time.’’

Still, she added, “it’s going to be really difficult not to have some sort of refund option’’ given how decisively the Supreme Court repudiated Trump’s tariffs.

In its 6-3 opinion on Friday, the court ruled Trump’s attempt to use an emergency powers law to enact the levies was not valid. Two of the three justices appointed by Trump joined the majority in striking down the first major piece of his second-term agenda to come before them.

At issue are double-digit tariffs Trump imposed on almost every country in the world last year by invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). The Supreme Court ruled that the law did not give the president authority to tax imports, a power that belongs to Congress.

The U.S. customs agency has already collected&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-ieepa-tariffs-supreme-court-12487645072a1e1a387db60081509f3c">$133 billion in IEEPA tariffs</a>&nbsp;as of mid-December. But&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-refunds-81432b8fecf6c3183f3aba84a0c07edb">consumers hoping for a refund</a>&nbsp;are unlikely to be compensated for the higher prices they paid when companies passed along the cost of the tariffs; that's more likely to go to the companies themselves.

In a dissenting opinion, Justice Brett Kavanaugh dinged his colleagues for dodging the refund issue: “The Court says nothing today about whether, and if so how, the Government should go about returning the billions of dollars that it has collected from importers.’’

Borrowing a word that Justice Amy Coney Barrett — who sided with the majority — used during the court’s November hearing on the case, Kavanaugh warned that “the refund process is likely to be a ‘mess.’"

“I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years,” Trump told reporters at a press conference Friday, in which he decried the court's decision and said he was “absolutely ashamed” of some justices who ruled against his tariffs. "We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.''

The end of the IEEPA tariffs could help the economy by easing inflationary pressures. The tariff refunds — like other tax refunds — could stimulate spending and growth. But the impacts are likely to be modest.

Most countries still face steep tariffs from the U.S. on specific sectors, and Trump intends to replace the IEEPA levies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-supreme-court-ieepa-a3e43fe91fa8335eac383921bed55f7e">using other options</a>. The refunds that do get issued will take time to roll out — 12 to 18 months, estimates TD Securities.

The U.S. customs agency does have a process for refunding duties when importers can show there’s been some kind of error. The agency might try to build on the existing system to refund Trump’s IEEPA tariffs, said trade lawyer Dave Townsend, a partner with the law firm Dorsey &amp; Whitney.

And there has been a precedent for courts making arrangements to give companies their money back in trade cases. In the 1990s, the courts struck down as unconstitutional a harbor maintenance fee on exports and set up a system for exporters to apply for refunds.

But the courts and U.S. customs have never had to deal with anything like this — thousands of importers and tens of billions of dollars at once.

“Just because the process is difficult to administer doesn’t mean the government has the right to hold on to fees that were collected unlawfully,″ said trade lawyer Alexis Early, partner at the law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Ryan Majerus, a partner at King &amp; Spalding and a former U.S. trade official, said it's hard to know how the government will deal with the massive demand for refunds. It might try to streamline the process, perhaps setting up a special website where importers can claim their refunds.

But Adetutu warns that “the government is well-positioned to make this as difficult as possible for importers. I can see a world where they push as much responsibility as possible onto the importer’’ — maybe forcing them to go to court to seek the refunds.

Many companies, including Costco, Revlon and canned seafood and chicken producer Bumble Bee Foods, filed lawsuits claiming refunds even before the Supreme Court ruled, essentially seeking to be at the head of line if the tariffs were struck down.

There are likely to be more legal battles ahead. Manufacturers might, for example, sue for a share of any refunds given to suppliers that jacked up the price of raw materials to cover the tariffs.

“We may see years of ongoing litigation in multiple jurisdictions,’’ Early said.

Consumers, though, are unlikely to enjoy a refund windfall. The higher prices they’ve had to pay would likely be hard to attribute to a specific tariff. Should they pursue refunds anyway? Early wouldn’t advise wasting money on legal fees, but said: “In America, we have the ability to file a lawsuit for anything we want.’’

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, a Democrat and Trump antagonist, is demanding a refund on behalf of his state's 5.11 million households. In a letter addressed to Trump and released by Pritzker's gubernatorial campaign, the governor said the tariffs had cost each Illinois household $1,700 — or $8.7 billion. Pritzker said failure to pay will elicit "further action.''

Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine submitted a payment request to the federal government for $2.1 billion to recoup the costs of the tariffs, his office announced Friday.

“As Nevada’s chief investment officer, I have a responsibility to try to recoup every single dollar that the Trump Administration takes from Nevada families," Conine said in a statement.

What about refunds after Supreme Court tariffs decision 

KANSAS CITY—Kansas City , Missouri police know some heroes have four legs.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, police responded to a call for a toddler found wandering barefoot on the street, according to a social media report from KCMO Police.. While trying to figure out the toddler’s identity and family, a dog kept nudging at the officers.

To officers, the dog was trying to tell them something. When the dog walked away, the officers followed their instincts and the dog.

The dog led officers to a house. That house was the toddler’s home.

The toddler was reunited with family, though there is an investigation as to what happened.

🎥Dog helps Kansas City police find wandering toddler's home 

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/sam-mednick">SAM MEDNICK</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/samy-magdy">SAMY MAGDY</a>

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Arab and Muslim nations on Saturday sharply condemned comments by the U.S. ambassador to Israel,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-huckabee">Mike Huckabee</a>, who said Israel has a right to much of the Middle East.

Huckabee made the comments in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that today would include essentially the entire Middle East, and asked Huckabee if Israel had a right to that land.

Huckabee responded: “It would be fine if they took it all.” Huckabee added, however, that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the land it legitimately holds.

His comments sparked immediate backlash from neighboring Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, which in separate statements called them extremist, provocative and not in line with the U.S. position.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry described Huckabee’s comments as “extremist rhetoric” and “unacceptable,” and called for the State Department to clarify its position on them.

Egypt’s foreign ministry called his comments a “blatant violation” of international law, adding that “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands.”

“Statements of this nature — extremist and lacking any sound basis — serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions,” the League of Arab States said.

There was no immediate comment from Israel or the United States.

Since its establishment in 1948, Israel has not had fully recognized borders. Its frontiers with Arab neighbors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-borders-history-syria-gaza-war-golan-5fdf8fdbe2ec2cee7b9cf7f78fbb1c8c">have shifted</a>&nbsp;as a result of wars, annexations, ceasefires and peace agreements.

During the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/b4f60251019e4716956fdbdaac78593c">six-day 1967 Mideast war</a>, Israel captured the West Bank and east Jerusalem from Jordan, Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula from Egypt and the Golan Heights from Syria. Israel withdrew from the Sinai Peninsula as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-egypt-peace-treaty-hamas-war-rafah-46df917a975ed4c4f88d5de01a8508e0">peace deal with Egypt</a>&nbsp;following the 1973 Mideast war. It also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-gaza-settlements-disengagement-20th-anniversary-5db86a29bbbe2f41e5bb7059098fd450">unilaterally withdrew from Gaza</a>&nbsp;in 2005.

Israel has attempted to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/west-bank-israel-settlement-palestinians-cabinet-328429d96099bc33275035b85244797a">deepen control</a>&nbsp;of the occupied West Bank in recent months. It has greatly expanded construction in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-west-bank-palestinians-annexation-settlements-b17255e2fbb44a79a4871fafea4dabe8">Jewish settlements</a>, legalized outposts and made significant bureaucratic changes to its policies in the territory. U.S. President Donald Trump has said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-gaza-annex-west-bank-284f2db5b5e549cfecb6b24b26d98460">will not allow Israel</a>&nbsp;to annex the West Bank and has offered strong assurances that he’d block any move to do so.

Palestinians have for decades called for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with east Jerusalem its capital, a claim backed by much of the international community.

Huckabee has long opposed the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian people. In an interview last year, he said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-ambassador-congress-mike-huckabee-trump-gaza-a448937b9550f0f89c6d96d330286f6f">does not believe</a>&nbsp;in referring to the Arab descendants of people who had lived in British-controlled Palestine as “Palestinians.”

In the latest interview, Carlson pressed Huckabee about his interpretation of Bible verses from the book of Genesis, where he said God promised Abraham and his descendants land from the Nile to the Euphrates.

“That would be the Levant, so that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. It would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq,” Carlson said.

Huckabee replied: “Not sure we’d go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land.”

Israel has encroached on more land since the start of its war with Hamas in Gaza.

Under the current ceasefire, Israel withdrew its troops to a buffer zone but still controls more than half the territory. Israeli forces are supposed to withdraw further, though the ceasefire deal doesn’t give a timeline.

After Syrian President Bashar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-7f65823bbf0a7bd331109e8dff419430">Assad was ousted</a>&nbsp;at the end of 2024, Israel’s military seized control of a demilitarized buffer zone in Syria created as part of a 1974 ceasefire between the countries. Israel said the move was temporary and meant to secure its border.

And Israel still occupies five hilltop posts on Lebanese territory following its brief war with Hezbollah in 2024.

US ambassador causes uproar over statement on Israel 

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/kevinhardy/">Kevin Hardy</a>

Outrage erupted last month when Oklahoma City residents learned of plans to convert a vacant warehouse into an immigration processing facility.

Making&nbsp;<a href="https://oklahomavoice.com/2026/01/27/oklahomans-denounce-potential-ice-processing-center-at-okc-city-council-meeting/" target="_blank">matters worse</a>&nbsp;was the secrecy of the federal government: City leaders received no communication from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement aside from a mandated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.okc.gov/files/assets/city/v/1/city-manager/ltr-from-dhs-to-okc-about-okc-detention-center.pdf" target="_blank">disclosure</a>&nbsp;related to historic preservation.

Planning a major development without city input is antithetical to the in-depth, sometimes arcane permitting, planning and zoning process in Oklahoma City. Mayor David Holt, a former Republican state senator, said those land use decisions are among the most crucial of any municipal government.

“For any entity to be able to open a detention center in our communities, potentially next to neighborhoods or schools, regardless of your views on immigration policy or enforcement, is very challenging, because that’s a very high-impact use, and that’s the kind of thing that we would expect to talk about,” he told Stateline.

Communities across the country are facing similar prospects as ICE undertakes a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/01/21/nx-s1-5674887/ice-budget-funding-congress-trump" target="_blank">massive expansion</a>&nbsp;fueled in large part by the record $45 billion approved for increased immigration detention by Congress last summer.

During President Donald Trump’s second term, ICE is holding a record number of detainees —&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2026/02/05/immigration-detention-passed-70000-in-january/" target="_blank">more than 70,000</a>&nbsp;as of January — across its own facilities as well as in contracted local jails and private prisons. ICE<a href="https://www.governor.nh.gov/sites/g/files/ehbemt971/files/inline-documents/merrimack-detention-reengineering-initiative.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;documents</a>&nbsp;from last week show plans for acquiring and renovating 16 processing sites that hold up to 1,500 people each and eight detention centers that hold up to 10,000 each, for a total capacity of 92,600 beds. The agency also has plans for some 150 new leases and office expansions across the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/ice-expansion-across-us-at-heres-where-its-going-next/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us" target="_blank">Wired reported</a>.

But ICE’s plans to convert industrial buildings — often warehouses — into new detention facilities have recently faced fierce opposition over humanitarian and economic concerns. From Utah to Texas to Georgia, local governments have sought to block these massive facilities. But with limited legal authority, city and state officials have turned to the court of public opinion to deter private developers and the federal government.

Holt, who is the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, a nonpartisan organization representing the more than 1,400 leaders of cities with populations of 30,000 or more, said cities have little legal recourse over the ICE facilities.

“We all have a clear, unified position that really crosses party lines,” he said, “and then we also have a clear understanding of how limited our options are.”

Local leaders often cite the U.S. Constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artVI-C2-1/ALDE_00013395/" target="_blank">supremacy clause</a>, which says federal laws supersede conflicting state laws. That leaves cities with limited influence over projects that could take industrial space off tax rolls, cause new strains on city services and raise serious humanitarian concerns given the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement, including the high-profile killings of two Americans in Minnesota.

Facing bipartisan opposition, the out-of-state owner of the Oklahoma City warehouse ultimately decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://oklahomavoice.com/briefs/proposed-oklahoma-city-ice-facility-is-off-the-table/" target="_blank">end talks</a>&nbsp;of selling or leasing its warehouse to the federal government.

Similar public pressure has proved effective in reversing plans in several other cities: In late January, a Canadian firm said it would not proceed with a planned sale of a Virginia warehouse after it faced&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/01/us/politics/ice-warehouse-detention-canada.html" target="_blank">calls for a boycott</a>&nbsp;from Canadian politicians and businesses. In Mississippi, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker announced the federal government would&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenatorWicker/status/2019820750900002820" target="_blank">“look elsewhere”</a>&nbsp;after he spoke with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who oversees ICE. Wicker, a Republican who said he supports immigration enforcement, echoed local&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wicker.senate.gov/2026/2/wicker-proposed-ice-facility-threatens-byhalia-mississippi-economy-and-infrastructure" target="_blank">economic concerns</a>&nbsp;of a project planned in Byhalia.

Some officials have welcomed the new facilities: Missouri Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Alford has&nbsp;<a href="https://alford.house.gov/uploadedfiles/1.16.2026_ice_facility_letter.pdf" target="_blank">lobbied</a>&nbsp;to land a detention and processing center in his district. And last week, a Maryland county approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wbaltv.com/article/washington-county-dhs-ice-resolution-hagerstown-detention-center/70300009" target="_blank">resolution</a>&nbsp;expressing its “full support” for ICE, which is considering purchasing a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washco-md.net/news/washington-county-statement-on-u-s-department-of-homeland-security-notice-concerning-proposed-ice-facility/" target="_blank">warehouse</a>&nbsp;there, despite local protests. But most communities have fought them.

Neither DHS nor ICE responded to Stateline’s questions.

Holt said the discussion resembles other local development concerns where NIMBY — short for Not in My Backyard — is a common description of opponents.

“There are plenty of people who are very law-and-order and supporters of law enforcement who don’t want a jail next to their house,” he said. “That’s why it’s got such broad opposition: NIMBYism is the most powerful force sometimes in American politics and nobody wants a detention center next to their home, their business or their school.”

After learning that ICE planned to take over a vacant warehouse within its city limits, the Kansas City Council in January swiftly approved a five-year ban on nonmunicipal detention facilities.

Kansas City Council member Andrea Bough, who is also a private development attorney, said the move was both political and legal: The city wanted to send a clear signal opposing ICE facilities, but it also wants to exert its local authority over planning and zoning.

She acknowledged the legal hurdle posed by the supremacy clause, but said there was enough ambiguity over the city’s ability to regulate land use that it may take the issue to the courts.

“Some would say local building codes and zoning regulations do not apply to the federal government,” she said. “That’s something I think we would probably in this situation be willing to fight until we had clear guidance on that.”

Following weeks of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/david-hudnall/article314486671.html" target="_blank">pressure</a>, the Kansas City firm that owns the 920,000-square-foot warehouse announced Thursday it was no longer “actively engaged with the U.S. Government or any other prospective purchaser,” the Kansas City Star&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article314676617.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Jackson County, which includes portions of Kansas City and the potential detention facility, is considering a similar ban. And across the state line, the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, is considering a similar&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/wyandotte-county/article314647328.html" target="_blank">two-year moratorium</a>.

But there are clear limitations on cities’ ability to stop federal projects, said Nestor Davidson, a professor who teaches land use and local government law at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design.

“The federal government can assert immunity from certain state and local laws, including zoning, but it’s complicated, and there are nuances,” he said.

Still, Davidson said some case law has shown cities may have stronger legal footing for zoning rules that are broad and not directly targeted at specific federal government projects.

“I expect to see litigation,” he said. “I think you’re going to see these conversations play out as land use fights often do: both in a legal venue and in a political venue.”

Kansas City’s moratorium has sparked interest among local activists who have pressured elected officials in other cities across the country to act. But many local officials are adamant that federal law ties their hands.

In a legal opinion provided to the Orlando City Council in Florida, City Attorney Mayanne Downs rejected “suggestions of actions we can supposedly take,” including moratoriums or using zoning ordinances to block ICE detention centers.

“However well motivated these suggestions are, the law is very clear: ICE, as an agency of our federal government, ICE is immune from any local regulation that interferes in any way with its federal mandate,” Downs wrote to the mayor and city commissioners.

ICE is reportedly&nbsp;<a href="https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/02/06/u-s-reps-maxwell-frost-darren-soto-tell-kristi-noem-not-to-open-ice-facility-in-central-florida/" target="_blank">considering</a>&nbsp;a new $100 million processing center in southeast Orlando.

The county commission in Orange County, which includes Orlando, discussed the issue last week after receiving similar legal advice. County Commissioner Nicole Wilson said the board is even more constrained because of a recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/180" target="_blank">Florida law&nbsp;</a>limiting certain local governments’ ability to regulate development through 2027.

After being advised against passing a moratorium, the board agreed with Wilson’s follow-up suggestion to draft a resolution expressing its opposition. That will be considered at a future meeting.

“It doesn’t sound like it has the teeth that a moratorium would have, but it essentially gives an awareness that we’ve established a position in opposition to this type of facility in Orange County,” Wilson told Stateline.

An attorney by trade, Wilson said the case law regarding federal projects largely centers on disputes about post offices, which she said is not an appropriate comparison to the massive detention centers currently contemplated.

“A post office has the same water consumption and sewage as probably a lot of other uses,” she said. “If you take a warehouse that was designed for 25,000 widgets and put 15,000 humans in it, you’ve got a very different set of local needs and services that are being used and being taxed and being burdened.”

Communities have often opposed various other federal projects, such as federal courthouses. But the federal government generally takes the time to listen to local concerns and communicate building plans with communities, said Jason Klumb, a former regional administrator with the U.S. General Services Administration, which manages the federal government’s real estate.

“Generally, GSA has had kind of a good neighbor approach, understanding that they have requirements for federal facilities, and some of those facilities may not always be popular,” said Klumb, an Obama appointee.

But the federal government has not been shy about exerting its constitutional authority.

For example, late last month,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/jan/31/federal-government-reconfirms-vine-street/" target="_blank">GSA announced</a>&nbsp;it would build a new $239 million federal courthouse in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee, despite&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2026/jan/31/federal-government-reconfirms-vine-street/" target="_blank">bipartisan lobbying</a>&nbsp;from city and federal officials for a different site.

“The feds get what the feds want, ultimately,” Klumb said.

In a statement, a GSA spokesperson declined to clarify the agency’s current role in acquiring ICE detention facilities. The statement said the agency was “following all lease procurement procedures in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.”

Communities have largely been left out of the administration’s immigration decision-making process.

“Most of the information we have received on this facility has been through news leaks and the government has not reached out to us yet,” said Paul Micali, the town manager of Merrimack, New Hampshire.

Through an open records request, the ACLU of New Hampshire&nbsp;<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2026/02/03/new-documents-confirm-federal-government-plans-to-put-an-ice-facility-in-merrimack/" target="_blank">confirmed</a>&nbsp;that ICE was planning to convert a 43-acre warehouse property in the town of about 28,200.

The federal plans were obtained from the state’s historic preservation office, which came under fire for not informing Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte of ICE’s proposal. That agency’s top official&nbsp;<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2026/02/09/embattled-cultural-resources-commissioner-resigns-amid-merrimack-ice-facility-fallout/" target="_blank">resigned last week</a>&nbsp;after pressure from Ayotte.

Ayotte’s office did not respond to a request for comment. On Thursday, her office released documents detailing how the federal government’s&nbsp;<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2026/02/13/ayotte-releases-dhs-documents-about-planned-ice-detention-center-in-merrimack/" target="_blank">$158 million plan</a>&nbsp;to retrofit the property would create hundreds of long-term jobs for the region.

<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2026/02/12/ice-director-dhs-has-worked-with-gov-ayotte-on-merrimack-immigrant-detention-center/" target="_blank">Testifying before Congress</a>&nbsp;Thursday, an ICE official said the feds will not cancel the project over local concerns.

Micali said the vacant warehouse currently provides about $529,000 in annual property taxes — a substantial sum given the town’s property tax base of about $20 million.

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.merrimacknh.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif3456/f/news/260123_town_council_letter_to_dhs_re_ice_processing_center_-_signed.pdf" target="_blank">letter to Noem</a>, the Town Council said converting the property to a tax-free federal facility would result in higher local taxes for residents. Merrimack is also concerned about potential demands for water, fire and other city services, Micali said, but can’t even begin to assess needs without more details from the feds.

He’s speaking with lawyers about what options, if any, the town may have to assert local zoning power.

“We’re looking at every possibility,” he said.

Stateline reporter Kevin Hardy can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:khardy@stateline.org">khardy@stateline.org</a>.&nbsp;

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2026/02/17/communities-fight-ice-detention-centers-but-have-few-tools-to-stop-them/" target="_blank">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

Communities fight ICE detention centers, but have few tools to stop them

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