By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Local Republican legislators said property tax relief will be a focus as the Kansas Legislature begins its session on Monday.

Rep. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, 110th district, Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, Rep. Jim Minnix, R-Scott City, Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, and Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, spoke with Hays Post to give a sneak peek at key issues slated for the Kansas legislative session.

Wasinger said her top priorities include controlling spending, balancing the state budget and addressing taxes. She spoke with the Ellis County Commission and the Hays City Commission in December about potential property tax solutions.

"What we have to do is figure out a more equitable way to impose property taxes that aren't so high," she said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0dc3bf76-bd9f-4190-a0c7-231ca8172d18">SEE RELATED STORY: Rep. Wasinger seeks Ellis County commissioners' input on property tax relief</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/31a9d9f8-0883-480f-aada-22ac084f09b9">SEE RELATED FOR CITY: Hays City Commission talks housing, business developments, marijuana sales</a>

"Valuations and property taxes are so high," Billinger said. "Our seniors especially, spent their whole life paying mortgages off, and now they're paying more on property tax than they did for a mortgage. ... It's made it very tough on our seniors."

Wasinger said all state agencies are on the table for budget cuts, with no exceptions. She noted excess staffing and unused office space in Topeka.

"We have to learn to live within our budget, and we have to learn how to cut back in a very judicious way," she said. "I think the government itself is very bloated. ... I think we have a lot of excess space, and we're not filling it, so we shouldn't be paying for it."

Rahjes said property tax relief remains the top issue, pointing to constituent frustration and ongoing disagreements between the House and Senate on how to address it.

"We need to have a conversation with the counties, the Legislature and all parties concerned, rather than just yelling at each other," Rahjes said.

Minnix said he wants to explore new revenue sources to reduce the state’s reliance on property taxes.

"I'm working on something to tax some of the additional energy here in Kansas that seems to be a very fast-growing industry to bring a little tax revenue into the state and distribute that back to the local government, cities and counties," he said.

Billinger said Kansas spent more than it collected last year, prompting the state to tap into its reserves.

"Last year, we cut about a little over $200 million, but we still spent more than we brought in. The revenues were less than what we spent," Billinger said. "We spent from our reserves, and we'll have to find ways to reduce the budget some more again this year."

Waymaster said the state has limited flexibility on property taxes but pointed to education as a possible area for adjustments.

"We did reduce the 20 mills that go to education. We could possibly look at that," he said. "There are various other proposals that some are coming up with regarding addressing property taxes for taxpayers."

Billinger said all agencies will be considered for budget cuts, while acknowledging the importance of supporting social services and education.

On education funding, Wasinger said she questions whether increased spending is effective, citing low reading and math proficiency rates despite higher funding levels.

"We have given the Department of Education millions and millions of dollars, and they said, 'You haven't paid us enough. That's why there's no student success.' But if you look at the test results of children right now, over 40% do not read or do math at grade level, and that's with a few billion more dollars," she said.

Wasinger said the department also oversees the distribution of special education funding and that a broader review is needed before any potential court involvement.

Billinger said there is little room to cut funding for K-12 education and social services. He said special education remains underfunded, and lawmakers plan to continue increasing its share of the budget.

Waymaster said education is a recurring focus each year, with K-12 funding making up about 52% of the state budget.

"It's not like we don't fund special education, we do," he said. "A lot of school districts are saying that the state is coming up short because we should be financing it at a certain level. But the federal government is also supposed to be doing that, too, which it's not."

Waymaster said higher education institutions, such as universities, are expected to submit sizable funding requests and will be part of budget discussions.

As chairman of the House Water Committee, Minnix said he plans to work on several bills, such as proposals for long-term water funding.

"There are a lot of things that we need to improve. We need to encourage conservation and better utilization of our water resources out there," he said.

Rahjes said the session will include discussions on the agricultural economy, disease prevention and right-to-farm protections.

"We want to make sure the tools that farmers have when it comes to using some chemicals are correct. In fact, we're learning about some of those right now and working on some language that allows farmers to use some of those tools that work," Rahjes said.

Minnix said agriculture is experiencing mixed conditions between cattle and crop production, and property tax relief would also benefit both.

Health care staff, rural attorney shortage

Rahjes said rural health care will be discussed. He acknowledged critical access hospitals in southwest Kansas continue to face challenges, including staffing shortages.

"The other thing we hope to complete this year is to start the process of working with our law schools to get more rural attorneys. We are desperately short," he said.

Billinger said mental health is a growing concern and expects the new 104-bed South Central Regional Mental Health Hospital in Wichita to help reduce the state’s reliance on temporary health care staff.

"At Larned and Osawatomie, we're using a lot of traveling staff, nurses and doctors. We spent over $60 million on traveling personnel," he said.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/2c666ccf-6356-4a39-8f41-6d19c237f901">SEE RELATED STORY: Two Kansas hospitals spent $61.4 million on temporary staff. It was just $6 million in 2019</a>

Waymaster said recent federal health care changes are expected to affect the state’s budget, but added that Kansas received funding in December to support rural health care.

"Kansas is going to be receiving about $221 million to address rural health care across the state. That's kind of in its infancy," Waymaster said. "The timeline, according to the Department of Health and Environment, is we have to spend or allocate it by Oct. 31, 2026."

Direct election of Kansas Supreme Court justices

Voters will decide in August whether to rewrite the state Constitution to make Kansas Supreme Court justices elected and end the current merit-based selection system for filling vacancies.

Wasinger and Rahjes said they support the amendment.

"We need to have the Supreme Court justices be elected," Wasinger said. "The Supreme Court is chosen by a panel that is not in touch with Kansans or what's going on. They are making the decisions for us, and we need to be accountable for our decisions."

A nine-member nominating commission reviews applications to fill a vacancy and selects three finalists for the governor to choose from.&nbsp;

"The Supreme Court should be representative of the people," Rahjes said. "Over the last few years, if you go back and look at who has appointed these Supreme Court Justices, it's primarily been one party. There's this game being played that if you're in the right position, you hold out until you absolutely have to retire, and maybe somebody that's&nbsp;from my party is the governor."

Waymaster said he likes the idea of elections but prefers to have a federal model.

"We'll see what the Kansas voters say in the primary ballot," he said.

Minnix said he is still undecided, while Billinger said he has not yet thoroughly reviewed the issue.

Local legislators to prioritize property taxes during 2026 session

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks to&nbsp;Allen P Roth about the 80th anniversary of the local conservation district.

Forward Ever: Allen P Roth on 80th anniversary of local conservation district 

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays received an additional .47 inches of rain on Thursday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.

Hays had received .38 inches of rain as of 8 a.m. Thursday for a total of .85 inches.

Hays averages .5 inches of precipitation in January.

The center reported no snowfall as of 8 a.m., although snow is in the forecast for today.

The high for Hays today is forecast for 37 degrees with a 50% chance of snow today, a 20% chance of snow before midnight, and an overnight low of 22 degrees.

Southwest Kansas is forecast to receive the most snowfall, with accumulations of up to 6 inches.

The forecast for Hays calls for sunny skies with highs in the upper 40s on Saturday and Sunday, and in the upper 50s on Monday and Tuesday.

Hays receives more needed rainfall Thursday; snow still in forecast for today

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/category/obituaries">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/corrections-about-us">Click HERE for the Hays Post obituary policy.&nbsp;</a>

How to submit an obituary to the Hays Post

Please email obituaries to haysobits@eaglemedia.com.

Please allow up to 24 hours from the submission of the obituary for it to be posted on the Hays Post.&nbsp;

If you have questions, please contact Scarlett Deutscher at 785-301-2211.&nbsp;

If you have an issue outside of business hours or your obit has not been published within 24 hours, please email <a href="mailto:hayspost@eaglemedia.com" target="_blank">hayspost@eaglemedia.com</a> or call Cristina Janney, Hays Post editor, at 785-301-2077.&nbsp;

Recent obituaries, how to submit an obituary

TOPEKA&nbsp;–&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly announced that over $10.4 million in federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant funding will be awarded to 64 community-based organizations and local and state agencies.&nbsp;

“The&nbsp;services&nbsp;these 64&nbsp;organizations&nbsp;provide&nbsp;are&nbsp;essential&nbsp;to&nbsp;Kansans impacted by crime,” Kelly said.&nbsp;“This&nbsp;crucial&nbsp;funding&nbsp;is vital to these organizations’&nbsp;ability to continue providing the&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;crime victims and survivors&nbsp;need&nbsp;as they&nbsp;rebuild&nbsp;their lives, navigate the criminal justice system, and regain a sense of&nbsp;normality.”&nbsp;

The organizations and agencies provide mental health services, legal assistance, victim advocacy, crisis intervention, and other services to crime victims and survivors. The VOCA grant funding comes from the Federal Crime Victims Fund, which&nbsp;is financed by fines and penalties from convictions in federal cases.&nbsp;

The grant funds are made available through the&nbsp;Office for Victims of Crime,&nbsp;a key&nbsp;component&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Office of Justice Programs at the U.S.&nbsp;Department&nbsp;of Justice.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A total of $10,484,525&nbsp;was awarded.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The 2026 VOCA grant awardees include:&nbsp;

Barton County Attorney’s Office--$52,064 Barton County Family Crisis Center--$194,908 Ellis County&nbsp;Options: Domestic &amp; Sexual Violence Services--$182,122 Scott County&nbsp;Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center--$265,566 &nbsp;

Options receives Federal Victims of Crime Act funding

CONCORDIA — Cloud County Community College has announced the names of students on the Fall 2025 Honor Roll. 

To be named to this honor roll, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours of college coursework and earned a semester grade point average of 3.66-3.899. 

Polaris Swagerty, Ellis Jaci Vonlintel, Victoria

Ellis County students named to Cloud County Community College fall 2025 honors

The annual Hays Holy Family Elementary School Chili Supper &amp; Bazaar will be held Sunday, January 25, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the school, 1800 Milner.&nbsp;

The event includes a book fair, bingo, game room, cake walk, Feed the Pig, raffle and silent auction.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Chili Supper &amp; Bazaar is one of the largest fundraisers held to support Holy Family Elementary School every year. Each dollar raised directly affects our educational efforts for the 380+ students in our school as well as helps us maintain a safe environment for our students, staff, and visitors.

Silent auction items are still being sought for donation. For more information call Kelsey Konz at 785-410-8668.

Holy Family Elementary annual Chili Supper, Bazaar Jan. 25

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Thank you for your patience and cooperation with drop-off and pick-up. We know the past few days have been frustrating, and we truly appreciate your flexibility as we continue working to make the process smoother. Today was already better, and we expect things to keep improving.

Morning Drop-Off (Drop-Off Only): To help traffic move more quickly, please use both lanes, even though they are not marked. ( We will get lanes marked when weather improves.)Inside lane (next to the school): You may drop off your student anywhere along the lane. Students can walk on the sidewalk to the gym commons entrance.Outside lane: Please pull up to the crosswalk area with the stop signs before letting your student out.Using both lanes consistently will help speed up the entire drop-off process.

Afternoon Pick-Up: To keep traffic flowing and ensure student safety:Please do not park and wait in the inside lane. If your student isn’t ready, pull into the parking lot or loop back around.The outside lane must remain a through lane. Students should not enter vehicles from the outside lane for safety reasons.

Crossing 13th Street: If your student walks home and needs to cross 13th, please remind them to use one of the two designated crosswalks and press the crossing button. This keeps traffic moving safely and protects students from dangerous crossings.Thank you again for your understanding, patience, and support as we work through these improvements. We truly appreciate you.Go Indians!

Hays Middle School offers direction on new student pick up, drop off

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, Becky Kiser, news reporter, talks with Lee Ann June, The Bricks executive director, about the 2025 holiday season in downtown Hays and some of the plans for 2026.

🎙 Post Podcast: The Bricks wraps up holiday season in downtown Hays

The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Friday for Hays and Ellis County.

Other affected areas include:&nbsp;Trego, Scott, Lane, Ness, Rush, Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Hodgeman,&nbsp;Pawnee, Stafford, Stanton, Grant, Haskell, Gray, Ford, Edwards, Kiowa, Pratt, Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade, Clark, Comanche and Barber counties.

Light snow will develop near the Colorado border after midnight, according to the National Weather Service.

This light snow will continue west of U.S. Highway 83 through daybreak and then begin to spread east across the remainder of southwest Kansas on Friday. 

The overnight snowfall is expected to end by 6 a.m. Friday and is currently expected to be light and average less than one inch.

Snowfall is expected to continue to accumulate on Friday, with totals between 0.5 to 1.5 inches likely, but there is a 60-80% chance that over 2 inches will be possible before the snow ends west of a Liberal to Sublette line.

Saturday and Sunday are forecast to be sunny with highs in the mid-40s.

The highs in Hays Monday through Wednesday are forecast in the 50s.

Snow expected Friday; hazardous weather outlook issued

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

'The Feast' fundraiser for Codell Community Church Feb. 7

Logan, KS — The Hansen Museum Continuing Education Program is delighted to welcome certified Bob Ross instructor Hope Blakely of Arvada, Colorado, for two Magic of Painting classes on January 24 &amp; 25. On Saturday, January 24th, participants will paint Old Castle, and on Sunday, January 25th, Mystic Waterfall. Both classes will take place in the Hansen Museum Community Room, located at 110 W. Main Street in Logan, Kansas, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day, with a one-hour lunch break.

These classes offer a fun, beginner-friendly introduction to painting. Students will be guided step-by-step through the process of completing a finished painting each day. No prior experience is necessary, and all supplies are provided. Participants need only bring a roll of paper towels. Open to individuals aged 13 and older, these sessions provide a relaxed, supportive atmosphere that fosters creativity and camaraderie.

Registration is available online at www.hansenmuseum.org under the “Classes &amp; Camps” section. Discounts are offered to Patron and Sustaining Members of the Hansen Museum. These classes are part of the Hansen Museum Continuing Education Program and are made possible through generous support from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information, call 785-689-4846.

The Hansen Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00, Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 5:00, and Sundays and holidays from 1:00 to 5:00. The Museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. The facility is handicap-accessible, and thanks to the support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, admission is always free.

Upcoming beginner-friendly painting class at Hansen Museum

BUNKER HILL – Smoky Hills PBS is excited to announce that the 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest is now officially open for entries. The annual contest encourages creativity and imagination by inviting children in 1st through 5th grade to submit their very own original stories.

This year introduces a new contest requirement: every story must include a zoo theme. Whether it’s a daring adventure, a silly animal tale, or a heartwarming zoo friendship, young writers are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild.

“At Smoky Hills PBS, we love celebrating the creativity and imagination of young writers across our region," said Betsy Schwien, general manager of Smoky Hills PBS. "The PBS KIDS Writers Contest is a wonderful opportunity for students in 1st through 5th grade to explore storytelling, share their unique voices, and maybe even see their work featured on television. We can’t wait to read all the amazing zoo-themed stories this year!"

Students may submit stories individually, and teachers are also welcome to submit multiple entries on behalf of their classrooms. Printable entry forms are available at <a href="https://www.smokyhillspbs.org/kids/pbs-kids-writers-contest/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>, and completed forms and stories can be emailed to writerscontest@shptv.org.

All entries must be received by February 23, 2026.

Winners will receive prizes and be recognized in May 2026, during the annual Smoky Hills PBS Awards Show, where selected stories will be featured on TV.

The PBS KIDS Writers Contest continues to be a fun and educational opportunity for children to strengthen their writing skills, express themselves creatively, and share their ideas with the community.

Thank you to <a href="https://www.messer-us.com/">Messer: Gases for Life</a> and the Beach Family Foundation for making this year’s 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest possible.

Smoky Hills PBS announces 2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest

Girl Scout sign up Monday in La Crosse

The Arc is collecting size 16+ dresses and 2XL suits to help make Night to Shine unforgettable for its amazing guests.

Drop off donations between Jan. 5-9 at The Arc, 600 Main St., Hays.

Be sure to mark donations for Night to Shine.

Arc collecting dresses, suits for Night to Shine

Starting today, there will be a road repair project taking place in the 2400 block of 170th Ave.

This area will be reduced to one-lane traffic.  It is expected to be finished Jan. 21.

If you have any questions, please call Ellis County Road and Bridge at 785-628-9455.

Road repair in 2400 block of 170th in Ellis County

Make your nomination below to help us recognize an Ellis County Child Care Provider.

Nominate a Child Care Champion

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas woman will learn her fate for a deadly DUI crash that killed a teen.

Trisha Greer, 43, will appear in Judge Quinton Pittman's courtroom for sentencing on Friday afternoon, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In October, Greer pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence before Judge Pittman. She originally pleading not guilty in June and was to face a jury trial.

Just after 11p.m. May 14, 2024, Greer was driving without headlights at 55th Street South and Hoover, according to Sheriff's Lt Nathan Gibbs. The vehicle struck and killed 18-year-old Bethany Aillen Callista Leggio who was standing with a group of people at the location.

Greer was booked into jail just after 1a.m. the following morning, according to online jail records. She met the requirements of bond and is no longer in custody.&nbsp;Sentencing is scheduled for January 29, according to the district attorney's office.

Sentencing day for Kan. woman in DUI crash that killed teen 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 3p.m. Thursday, police were dispatched to a shooting in the 6600 block of Monroe Avenue, according to KCPD Officer Alayna Gonzalez. While officers were responding to the scene, several additional calls for a sound of shots were reported.

Upon arrival, officers observed a group of people summoning responding officers to the rear of an apartment complex building. An unidentified male victim, believed to be&nbsp;an&nbsp;adult, was located lying in a parking lot, unresponsive and suffering from believed gunshot trauma. EMS responded shortly behind officers and declared the victim deceased on scene.

Preliminary information indicates there was an interaction that took place between the victim and several unknown males. That interaction escalated into gunfire and resulted in the victim being struck. The unidentified suspects left the scene in an unknown direction occupying an unidentified vehicle. Police do not have any subjects of interest identified and no one is in police custody at this time.

Homicide: Man found dead in parking lot of KC apartment complex

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. forces boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea on Friday, the U.S. military said, as the Trump administration continues to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">target sanctioned tankers</a>&nbsp;traveling to and from Venezuela.

The pre-dawn action was carried out by Marines and Navy sailors launched from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, part of the extensive force the U.S. has built up in the Caribbean in recent months, according to U.S. Southern Command, which declared “there is no safe haven for criminals” as it announced the seizure of the tanker called the Olina. The Coast Guard then took control of the vessel, officials said.

Southern Command and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem both posted unclassified footage on social media of a U.S. helicopter landing on the vessel and U.S. personnel conducting a search of the deck and tossing what appeared to be an explosive device in front of a door leading to inside the ship.

In her social media post, Noem said the ship was “another ‘ghost fleet’ tanker ship suspected of carrying embargoed oil” and it had departed Venezuela “attempting to evade U.S. forces."

The Olina is the fifth tanker that has been seized by U.S. forces as part of a broader effort by President Donald Trump’s administration to control&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-oil-reserves-trump-exxon-8a6462e76315c7d1a6e6a5a879f98c16">the distribution of Venezuela’s oil products</a>&nbsp;globally following the U.S. ouster of President Nicolás Maduro in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-maduro-what-to-know-a57528ff315a7f70ed51a1721f5e0bc2">a surprise nighttime raid</a>.

U.S. government records show that the Olina was sanctioned for moving Russian oil under its prior name, Minerva M, and flagged in Panama.

While records show the Olina is now flying the flag of Timor-Leste, it is listed in the international shipping registry as having a false flag, meaning the registration it is claiming is not valid. In July, the owner and manager of the ship on its registration was changed to a company in Hong Kong.

According to ship tracking databases, the Olina last transmitted its location in November in the Caribbean, north of the Venezuelan coast. Since then, however, the ship has been running dark with its location beacon turned off.

While Noem and the military framed the seizure as part of an effort to enforce the law, other officials in the Trump administration have made clear they see it as a way to generate cash to fund U.S. goals in Venezuela.

In an early morning post on his social media network, Trump said the U.S. and Venezuela “are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure.”

The administration said it expects to sell 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil, with the proceeds to go to both the U.S. and Venezuelan people. But the president expects the arrangement to continue indefinitely as he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-oil-chevron-exxonmobil-conocophillips-0e0619a991e92fd546504f1a613161e7">meets on Friday</a>&nbsp;with executives from 17 oil companies to discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to repair and upgrade its oil production and distribution.

Vice President JD Vance told Fox News this week that the U.S. can “control” Venezuela’s “purse strings” by dictating where its oil can be sold.

The Olina has a listed cargo capacity of up to 890,000 barrels of oil. While it is unclear if the tanker was full or empty, at the current market price of about $60 a barrel, a full cargo of oil from the tanker would be worth about $53 million.

Associated Press writers Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Josh Boak in Washington contributed reporting.

🎥 US intercepts another oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/12/29/kansan-returns-to-the-catholic-church-as-the-states-first-woman-priest/">Kansas Reflecto</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes will run for state insurance commissioner, vowing to decline any campaign contributions from the insurance industry.

Sykes, a Lenexa Democrat, announced her intention Thursday to challenge House Speaker Dan Hawkins, a previously uncontested Republican from Wichita with decades of experience in insurance.

She described a platform focused on lowering costs, consumer protection and holding “big insurance companies accountable.”

“It’s simple: The cost of health insurance in Kansas is simply out of control,” Sykes said in the announcement. “Families and consumers can’t afford to keep up with the rise in premiums — on health care, auto, property or any other kind of insurance for that matter.”

She said she will not “take a single dime from the insurance industry.”

Sykes was elected to the Senate in 2016 as a Republican, switching parties during her first term. She was elected minority leader in 2020 and has held the position since. Before her tenure in the Legislature, Sykes ran her own business as a personal chef and a PTA president. She is a mother to two boys and married.

Hawkins announced his candidacy in May, rooting it in&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/13/kansas-house-speaker-launches-campaign-for-insurance-commissioner-with-pro-trump-rhetoric-1/">conservative values and deregulating the state’s insurance marketplace</a>, which he speculated could lower costs and make insurance easier to navigate.

The insurance commissioner oversees the Kansas Insurance Department, which regulates insurance companies operating in the state. The current commissioner, Vicki Schmidt, is running for the Republican nomination for governor.

Hawkins said in a statement he and Sykes have a good working relationship, and he welcomed a spirited campaign. But, he said, “we arrive at things from a very different perspective politically and quite frankly, fiscally.” He said his focus is on increasing competition, easing marketplace navigation issues and ensuring people are not wrongly denied coverage.

He liked Sykes’ policy focus to “Zohran Mamdani-like woke politics,” referencing the newly elected Democratic mayor of New York City.

Former insurance commissioner and Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and former insurance commissioner Sandy Praeger, a Republican, threw their support behind Sykes.

“As long as I’ve known Dinah, she’s stood up for what’s right and fought for Kansas families,” Sebelius said in the announcement.

Praeger said Sykes is a practical leader, focused on garnering results over partisanship.

“Kansans want leaders who will listen to them and fight against unfair and discriminatory practices by the industry,” she said.

Kansas Senate minority leader challenges GOP House speaker for state insurance commissioner

SEDGWICK COUNTY– A 49-year-old Wichita man was sentenced Thursday for the shooting of a teenager in a Goddard parking lot in May 2024, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Judge Seth Rundle sentenced Ruben Contreras to 43 months in the Kansas Department of Corrections. This sentence represents the maximum term of imprisonment allowed under Kansas law for the conviction.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Rundle ordered Contreras to serve 36 months of post-release supervision and required him to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

In November 2025, a Sedgwick County jury found Contreras guilty of one count of aggravated battery. The jury acquitted him of a separate charge of attempted first-degree murder.

The charges stemmed from an incident on May 11, 2024, at Walmart in Goddard, Kansas.&nbsp; Contreras shot 18-year-old Anakin Zehring following an altercation in the parking lot. Zehring was struck by gunfire and left paralyzed.

The case was prosecuted by the Office of the District Attorney for the 18th Judicial District of Kansas.

Maximum sentence for shooting Kan. teen in Walmart parking lot

Flu cases are surging in Kansas City. For Dec 21–27, cases doubled from the previous week—marking the 4th-highest weekly total in 15 years, according to a statement from the Kansas City, Missouri health Department.

Missouri is now at very high flu activity. The CDC’s Influenza-Like Illness Activity Map for Missouri has increased from low to very high, highlighting the need for preventive actions. “It is crucial that we take preventive measures to keep our loved ones, friends, and community safe. This includes staying at home from work, school, and social gatherings when sick. Our health impacts everything in our daily lives, including the ability to go to work, school, family functions, and so many other aspects of life,” says Dr. Marvia Jones, Director of Health for the Kansas City Health Department.

Number of flu cases in Kansas City doubled in a week

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a deadly shooting in Topeka have made another arrest.

Just before 1a.m. on November 22, police responded to several reports of gunshots around SE 37th St. and SE Adams Street in Topeka, according to media release. While officers were investigating that area, they received information on a subject arriving at a local hospital by private vehicle with apparent gunshot wounds. That individual later identified as 16-year-old Kingston Scott of Topeka.

On Thursday, police booked a second 16-year-old Topeka boy into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of&nbsp;Murder in the 1st degree; In the commission of a felony,&nbsp; Criminal discharge of firearm; Occupied vehicle with great bodily harm and Aggravated Assault; Use of a deadly weapon

On December 5, police booked a 16-year-old boy from Topeka into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Murder in the 1st degree, in the commission of a felony, Criminal discharge of firearm; Occupied vehicle with great bodily harm and&nbsp;Criminal discharge of firearm; Recklessly at occupied dwelling.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Second Kansas boy accused in murder of 16-year-old

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) —A day after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-shooting-crackdown-surge-173e00fa7388054e98c3b5b9417c1e5a">officer shot</a>&nbsp;and killed 37-year-old mother of three&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;as she tried to drive away on a snowy Minneapolis street, tensions remained high, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-enforcement-crackdown-woman-shot-5158ce0838305b491c95db97b970cd03">dozens of protesters</a>&nbsp;venting their outrage outside of a federal facility that’s serving as a hub for the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown on a major city.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has not publicly identified the officer who shot Good. But she spoke of an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-ice-shooting-immigration-842b1d92cb93f2326171f139686e8b0f">incident last June</a>&nbsp;in which the same officer was injured when he was dragged by another driver’s fleeing vehicle. A Homeland Security spokesperson confirmed Noem was referring to an incident in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Court records from that case identify the officer who was dragged and injured as Jonathan Ross.

Court documents say Ross got his arm stuck in a vehicle’s window as a driver fled arrest in Bloomington, Minnesota. The officer was dragged 100 yards (91 meters) and cuts to his arm required 50 stitches.

The Associated Press wasn’t immediately able to locate a phone number or address for Ross, and ICE no longer has a union that might comment on his behalf.

Meanwhile, two people were shot and wounded Thursday afternoon by federal immigration authorities in Portland, Oregon, the FBI’s Portland office said. The conditions of the victims were not immediately known. The shootings escalated tensions in Portland, a city that has long had a contentious relationship with President Donald Trump, including Trump’s recent,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-guard-portland-chicago-los-angeles-cd6e585615422461d7088b8ed04bb974">failed effort to deploy National Guard troops</a>&nbsp;in the city.

The scene of the Portland shooting three hours later

Yellow police tape cordoned off the area of the shooting at a medical complex in southeast Portland. Officers from different agencies, including the FBI and Portland police, were at the scene.

William Reznicek, a 36-year-old Portland resident, came to see the scene after reading about the shooting online.

“I’m sad that this is happening in America,” he said, expressing concern that such violence would continue to occur under Trump’s administration.

DHS says Portland shooting occurred during targeted vehicle stop

The Department of Homeland Security described the vehicle’s passenger as “a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring” who had been involved in a recent shooting in Portland.

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