The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Riley is preparing for a deployment next fall to Europe. Ahead of that in March will be a deployment to the National Training Center.

That information was conveyed by the Brigade's commander, Col. Landgrave ( Tom ) Smith, to an audience at a Military Affairs Council Breakfast on Thursday in Junction City. "It is hard work for everybody to build readiness in an armored brigade." 

The audience also learned that the 1st Brigade is in Europe now and will return to Fort Riley in a few months.

--On other topics there was a question from the public asking about soldier families that were impacted by the recent fire at the Bluffs Apartments in Junction City. The response was that the Fort Riley community came together, and every soldier that needed a room got help.

--The Armed Forces Community Foundation helps military families but they do span out to other areas. Some areas supported range from Operation Santa Claus to Apple Day to the Combined Scholarship Fund. The Foundation was a Gold Sponsor for the MAC Breakfast.&nbsp;

--There will be an AUSA fundraiser at Freddy's, 802 E.Chestnut,&nbsp; from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Sunday March 8th.

--The Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner will be Thursday, March 12. Purchase tickets at jcacc.org/annual dinner

Second Brigade prepares for future deployment

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – February 27, 2026 – Severe Weather Preparedness Week is March 2-6. The Evergy service area experiences a wide variety of severe weather during the spring and summer seasons including tornadoes, damaging winds, large hail and flash flooding.

Evergy’s ongoing work to upgrade and modernize the power grid helps reduce outages, which is especially important during severe weather events. Recent Evergy investments include:

Evergy prioritizes investments where they most effectively improve reliability and reduce long-term costs. In 2025, Evergy performed well during storms, with customers being out of power for shorter durations.

"We've been on a great trend for the last several years, and that trend includes having fewer outages that our customers actually experience, whether it's on a stormy day or a blue-sky day. And then we continue to get better and better at our response to outages when they occur," said Ryan Mulvany, Evergy vice president, power delivery.&nbsp;

Even with greater resiliency, extreme weather can result in power outages. Evergy encourages customers to be prepared and to prioritize safety during severe weather. Here are a few ways to be ready for spring storm season:

Find more preparation and safety tips on our&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.gqh-2BaxUzlo7XKIuSly0rCyMtA2QiHRr17rvibSwc-2BJuiOnpYz-2BmV-2FOXEX-2FNY-2BEPgbfTEU7pOJdAqI0RGuRhMtu7NkN56R-2Bxr3OsUxkhNKIFTkbvCvmfvoG-2BoagQ3Dard0q1S_6n4-2BiDMUzpddSZX1Wt-2FWUJw49AQHSmsMB-2FCEltLGfW-2FgxXViF68B5RuuPoTByQpAbUylFj0p0kZpAbY3WvQgwDzUXB7D3Y-2BBPYx-2FG6ERHgNP24ff5rVEHYtaMUEcAv0-2FggsZosUiHOaDhz8KEnapJyVHEIANrEWvTjKjgB8ShGCzd-2BPVt1svp3vgg6v1Wo9WBwU8pXnj9t7IM6WEUvNmhervGOw2Gw5yFBA4Cks-2BZZIYLqeutFzHB594NRAmQg-2FJ1T7KoF40Toldp7SjYTLvyZcaxvlp-2FYY66WdRP5fY31OfKXrHf6ky99xC3HlXwZjGiLTE-2FVjUutUdh-2BPLQf0bHDV1yaehl-2BqNV8ASFi4sWn0-3D">Preparing for Outages</a>&nbsp;page.

Evergy prepares for severe weather with year-round grid investments  

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged criminal damage to property in Manhattan.

Just after 11:30a.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of criminal damage to property in the 700 block of Griffith Drive, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.&nbsp; A 63-year-old man reported a known 46-year-old female suspect damaged the inside of an apartment. The total estimated loss associated with this case is $2,000. 

Virginia Beneux, 46, of Manhattan, was arrested at 2:14 p.m. in the 700 block of Griffith. She is being held on a $100,000 bond on requested charges of criminal damage to property.&nbsp;

Anyone with information about a crime can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Manhattan woman held on $100,000 bond for damage to an apartment

RILEY COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating an alleged armed carjacking in Manhattan and have made arrests.

Just after 1:30p.m. Thursday, officers filed a report of robbery near Beck Street and Casement Road, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

A 28-year-old man reported a known 67-year-old male suspect stole his 2013 Dodge Ram truck at gunpoint. The truck was later recovered. Michael Ivy, 67, of Wamego, was arrested at 7:41 p.m. in the 1000 block of S. Seth Child Road for aggravated robbery.&nbsp; Ivy is being held on a $125,000 bond&nbsp;

&nbsp;Two other arrests were made as a result of the initial report, including Otto Tisdale, 40, of St. George, who was arrested at 5:29 p.m. in the 300 block of Allen Road. He is being held in the Riley County Jail on requested charges of violating the offender registration act, possession of opiate/opium/narcotic or certain stimulant, and for the use/possession of with intent to use drug paraphernalia in the human body.&nbsp;

Bailey Collier, 23, of Louisville (Kan.), was arrested at 1:46 p.m. in the 300 block of Allen Road for parole violation. Collier is being held without bond, according to the RCPD.&nbsp;&nbsp;

67-year-old accused of armed carjacking in Riley County

The following is a summary of arrests, citations by the Riley County Police Department. Those arrested are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Riley County Arrest Report February 27

Geary County Historical Society Researcher

Jack Roosevelt Robinson&nbsp;(January 31, 1919 – October 24, 1972) was an American professional baseball &nbsp;player who was the first African American &nbsp;to play in&nbsp;Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era. Robinson broke the color line&nbsp;when he started at first base&nbsp;for the Brooklyn Dodgers&nbsp;on April 15, 1947.

After graduating from high school, Robinson attended&nbsp;Pasadena Junior College (PJC), where he continued his athletic career by participating in basketball, football, baseball, and track.&nbsp;On the football team, he played quarterback and safety. He was a shortstop and leadoff hitter &nbsp;for the baseball team,&nbsp;and he broke an American junior college broad-jump record. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

On April 3, 1942, Jackie Robinson reported to the Pasadena National Guard Armory&nbsp; from where he was transported to Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California.&nbsp; After four days of initial processing, Jackie and other inductees boarded a train to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he joined B Company, 8th Training Squadron, Cavalry Replacement Center for thirteen weeks of basic training.&nbsp; Kansas, settled in the mid-nineteenth century by abolitionists and “free states,” was generally tolerant of blacks, but Fort Riley, which enforced segregation policies&nbsp; - despite a black regiment on post – had a population from across the country, including some officers and enlisted men who could not or did not set aside their prejudices and racism when they put on a uniform.

Jackies natural athleticism served him well in basic training and it was there that he became aware of the Cavalry Officers Candidate School at Fort Riley.&nbsp; He applied but was not admitted.&nbsp; Jackie later wrote, “The men in our unit had passed all the tests of OCS, but we were not allowed to start school; we were kept sitting around for at least three months and we could get no answers to our questions about the delay.”

While waiting on the decision about attending OCS, Jackie remained assigned to the Replacement Center. He and others cleaned stalls, groomed horses, and assisted in administering vaccinations. &nbsp;Eventually, Jackie and seventy-seven others were admitted to the OCS program and later graduated at Fort Riley.&nbsp;

Robinson's character, his use of&nbsp;nonviolence, and his talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation that had then marked many other aspects of American life. He influenced the culture of and contributed significantly to the civil rights movement. Robinson's character, his use of&nbsp;nonviolence and his talent challenged the traditional basis of segregation that had then marked many other aspects of American life. &nbsp;

If you are interested in&nbsp;learning more about local Black history, visit the Geary County Historical Society Tuesday-Saturday, 1-4 pm to visit the newest exhibit: The Missing Piece, Black History in Geary County, and pick up your map of the Black History Trail to explore Black history throughout Geary County.&nbsp;

Source:&nbsp;The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson&nbsp;by Michael Lee Lanning

History Is Made Here: Jackie Robinson’s Challenging Days at Fort Riley

KDOT announced that beginning Monday, March 2, the traveling public should be prepared for traffic changes on I-70 in Geary County as work progresses to the next phase for interchange improvements at the K-18/I-70 interchange.

Traffic will be reduced to one lane on eastbound I-70 from exit 301 at Marshall Field to exit 303 at K-18 for about a week to install a safety barrier. Once this work is complete, all lanes will reopen at a reduced speed.

King Construction of Hesston is the prime contractor for this $27.5 million interchange project and has scheduled the project to be completed in Fall 2027.

Traffic changes at I-70/K-18 interchange to begin March 2 in Geary County

RILEY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Riley County.

According to the Riley County Police Department activity report, a 2017 Ford F-250 driven by Christopher Bunnel, 43, of Manhattan and a 2016 Ford Edge driven by Renee Novak, 51, of Manhattan, collided&nbsp;near Northfield Road and Tuttle Creek Blvd.

Riley County EMS transported Jerome Novak, 51, of Manhattan, a passenger in the Ford Edge, to Via Christi for treatment of minor injuries.

Bunnel was issued a citation for failing to yield at a stop sign and Renee Novak was issued a citation for no liability insurance. 

Manhattan man hospitalized after pickup, SUV crash

Riley County Arrest Report February 26

POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has arrested a Manhattan man connected to his role in an officer-involved shooting that occurred Jan. 3, in Manhattan, Kansas, according to a media release from the KBI.

On Wednesday, Feb. 25, at around 4 p.m., KBI agents and officers from the KU Medical Center Department of Public Safety arrested Brian J. Lovgren, 38, on a warrant for two counts of aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer. Lovgren was booked into the Wyandotte County Detention Center after being released from KU Medical Center, where he was being treated for his injuries.&nbsp;

On Jan. 3, at approximately 3:50 p.m., the Pottawatomie County Sheriff's Office requested KBI assistance. KBI agents and the Crime Scene Response Team responded to investigate.

Preliminary information indicates that shortly after 3 p.m., two deputies from the Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call from a homeowner who indicated their shed and garage had been damaged by gunfire. While taking the report, deputies heard gunshots in the area. As they approached 8655 Josie Lane, they heard additional gunshots which they believed were coming from the residence. They identified themselves as law enforcement and began giving various commands to the shooter.

A man, later identified as Brian J. Lovgren, 38, of Manhattan, came out of a door of the house armed with a handgun. One of the responding deputies fired multiple times, striking Lovgren. Life-saving measures were provided at the scene. EMS then transported Lovgren to a Kansas City hospital.&nbsp;

The Pottawatomie County Attorney is expected to prosecute the case.&nbsp;

Manhattan man arrested in officer-involved shooting 

Manhattan, KS&nbsp;— The Greater Manhattan Community Foundation (GMCF) has announced the hiring of Shane Shivley as its new Vice President for Development. Shivley will begin his role in mid-March.

Shivley brings more than two decades of leadership experience in philanthropy, higher education advancement, and strategic development. Most recently, he served as Senior Director of University Development in the President’s Office at Emporia State University. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of the Emporia State University Foundation, where he led comprehensive fundraising efforts and guided transformational philanthropic growth.

During his tenure at Emporia State, Shivley played a key role in closing major capital campaigns, securing historic gifts, and significantly increasing endowment and asset growth. His leadership advanced scholarship funding, strengthened institutional infrastructure, and positioned the university for long-term sustainability.

“We are very pleased to welcome Shane to the GMCF team. He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and energy to our development efforts. We were fortunate to have an exceptionally strong pool of applicants, and we are confident Shane is the right leader to help move our work forward. We look forward to continuing to strengthen and expand our development efforts in the months ahead,” said Vern Henricks, President &amp; CEO of the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation.

In his new role, Shivley will focus on cultivating philanthropic partnerships, advancing estate and planned giving strategies, and strengthening relationships with donors and professional advisors throughout the region. His experience in campaign leadership, governance, and principal gift development positions GMCF to continue building long-term charitable resources that benefit the Manhattan community for years to come.

Shivley holds a Master of Education in Sports Administration from Wichita State University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Emporia State University. He has also been actively involved in numerous civic and professional organizations, reflecting his dedication to community leadership.

Greater Manhattan Community Foundation hires a new Vice President for Development

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly announced Friday that her administration has secured an agreement from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that protects Kansans’ personal private data from being shared with foreign governments and complies with state and federal privacy laws related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), according to a media release from Kelly's office.&nbsp;

 The agreement also ensures that after the data is shared, USDA will cancel its disallowance letter, ending USDA’s efforts to disallow Kansas’ SNAP funds. &nbsp;

“The USDA’s decision to adhere to the DCF’s terms ensures that Kansans’ private, personal information, including full social security numbers, will not be shared with foreign governments,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said.&nbsp;“Kansas has complied with federal and state laws throughout this entire process and all we have wanted is for the USDA to do the same. In reaching this agreement, we have successfully preserved Kansans’ privacy against the threat posed by the USDA’s initial request that amounted to federal overreach and violation of data protection laws.”

From the onset of the USDA’s far-reaching data request, Governor Kelly and her administration have remained consistent that until concerns about data protection were addressed, Kansas could not legally turn over the data. Now that these concerns have been addressed, data sharing is possible. &nbsp;

The USDA initially demanded that DCF turn over the private, legally protected, personal information of all Kansans and members of their households who have received, or applied for, SNAP benefits in the last 5 years. The USDA’s request included provisions allowing for Kansans’ personal information—which includes full Social Security numbers and dates of birth—to be shared with foreign governments.

After the USDA rejected DCF’s Corrective Action Proposal in response to the data request in September 2025, DCF swiftly filed an appeal with the USDA. The filing of that appeal immediately prevented the USDA from withholding $10.4 million in administrative funding for SNAP. The State of Kansas has not lost any SNAP administrative funding, and the program continues to operate as usual.

DCF has complied with state and federal law at every stage of this process and has maintained the confidentiality of thousands of Kansans whose personal information would be at risk. Protection of this personally identifiable information is legally required by both the Food Nutrition Act (FNA) and the Kansas Cybersecurity Act (KCA).

Governor: Agreement ends USDA withholding SNAP funds from Kansas

Former President&nbsp;Bill Clinton&nbsp;is testifying Friday before members of Congress who are investigating convicted sex offender&nbsp;Jeffrey Epstein. Below is his opening statement.

Watch below, the first minutes of President Bill Clinton testifying under oath, via videotape, before a Federal Grand Jury about his relationship with former White House Intern Monica Lewinsky - before the Independent Counsel, held at White House, beginning at 1:03 pm., Monday, August 17, 1998.

🎥 Former President Bill Clinton's opening statement to House Oversight Committee

WASHINGTON (AP) —Joe Biden’s appearance in a boarding area awaiting a flight to South Carolina drew a crowd Friday morning at the the airport near downtown Washington.

The former president is spending Friday evening with Democrats in South Carolina who have organized a thank you event to commemorate his thunderous victory in the state’s 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

Other passengers were primarily deterred by the dozen Secret Service agents who surrounded Biden as he sat at the gate. But Biden took selfies with American Airlines employees, and dozens of passengers in the area filmed him on their cellphones.

Once on board awaiting takeoff, passengers passed by to shake Biden’s hand. “God bless you, sir,” one woman said.

Former President draws attention at airport en route to South Carolina

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>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Senate passed a resolution Wednesday to cap property valuation increases at 3%, the first step toward achieving a constitutional change that would need to be approved by voters.&nbsp;

An amendment to the constitution must be approved by a majority of voters after passing both legislative chambers by a two-thirds majority.&nbsp;

<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1616/" target="_blank">Senate Concurrent Resolution 1616</a>, which passed the Senate 30-10, stops assessed values of real property from increasing more than 3% per year except in certain situations, such as new construction or if improvements occurred on the property.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If approved by voters, the cap would go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. Values of current homes would be set at 3% above 2022 valuations.&nbsp;

Opponents to the resolution argued that addressing one factor — in this case, the assessed valuation —- may or may not lower a homeowner’s property taxes. They expressed concern the issue may confuse taxpayers, who may vote in favor of the resolution and expect to see their property taxes decrease.&nbsp;

Sen. Pat Pettey, a Democrat who was a former commissioner in Kansas City, Kansas, said the resolution wouldn’t lower property taxes.&nbsp;

“Only mill levies can do that,” she said.

Mill levies are the assessment of $1 of tax per $1,000 of the property valuation. Local governments set mill levies based on their total valuations and the dollars needed to fund their budgets.&nbsp;

Local governments wishing to continue to provide their current level of services will immediately consider raising the mill levies, which determine property tax, Pettey said.&nbsp;

She said numerous opponents testified against the bill in committee, including the city of Mission, the city of Overland Park, the Kansas Realtors Association, the Kansas Livestock Association, the Kansas Building Industry Association and the Kansas Farm Bureau.

“So a vast, diverse group of organizations came out in opposition because they believe, and I do, that this does not reduce or limit property tax increases and could more than likely result in a shift of property tax burden across taxpayers,” Pettey said.&nbsp;

Sen. Cindy Holscher, an Overland Park Democrat who is running for governor, said her concern with the resolution is that property taxes are the primary funding for local governments.

“Essentially, we have to take into consideration that services for local police departments, local roads, those costs aren’t going to decrease or disappear,” Holscher said. “The funds have to come from somewhere else.”

Holscher also raised concerns that capping property valuations would, over time, cause automobile taxes to rise because local governments would need to replace funding.&nbsp;

“Sixty-four percent of adults typically own homes. In Kansas, 74% own vehicles,” she said. “We’re effectively switching and removing the tax burden from property owners to car owners, some of whom don’t own property. We’re squeezing the balloons, so to speak, because again, the money has to come from somewhere to pay for these services.”

Proponents of the resolution said Kansas must provide property tax relief, especially for older Kansans on fixed incomes who see their property taxes jump higher every year.&nbsp;

“Property taxes are not just numbers on a statement,” said Sen. Craig Bowser, R-Holton. “They’re grocery money. They’re car payments. They’re retirement savings, and they’re the difference between potentially staying in your home or being forced to sell.”

He said Kansans have seen their property valuations “rise sharply,” financially straining people on fixed incomes, young families and farmers and ranchers.&nbsp;

“It does not eliminate property taxes. It does not strip local governments of funding,” Bowser said. “What it does is provide stability, predictability and protection against sudden spikes in tax bills. This is about fairness. When market values surge 10, 15, even 20% in a single year, taxpayers are hit with increases they cannot control.”

SCR 1616 will move to the House for consideration. If it passes there, it would be placed on a special election ballot on Aug. 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In local governments, each entity, such as police and fire departments and the county commissioners, create a budget. Officials take the total assessed value of the jurisdiction — the total assessment of all property values — and determine what the mill levy needs to be to raise the dollars to meet the budget.&nbsp;

A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. For example, if a house has assessed value of $150,000, the homeowner would pay $15 in property tax per mill levied by the county. In the city of Shawee, for instance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cityofshawnee.org/departments/finance/tax_structure" target="_blank">the mill levy&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;includes funding needs for several taxing authorities, such as school districts and the local library.&nbsp;

Excluding school districts, which vary based on the resident’s location, the mill levy was 56.998. On the $150,000 assessed value, the homeowner would pay $854.97 annually in property taxes. (Remember, this doesn’t include mill levies for schools, which ranged from 51 mills to 63 mills.)

Capping property valuations only makes a difference if mill levies don’t change.&nbsp;

If the local government doesn’t have other revenue options — such as sales tax or bed tax income —&nbsp; they may decide to increase the mill levy to meet budget demands. States with significant tourism, for instance, often have lower property tax values because they can rely on other revenue streams.&nbsp;

Kansas Senate approves cap on property valuations, despite questions on real tax savings

On February 27, the Department of State authorized the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel and family members of U.S. government personnel from Mission Israel due to safety risks.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In response to security incidents and without advance notice, the U.S. Embassy may further restrict or prohibit U.S. government employees and their family members from traveling to certain areas of Israel, the Old City of Jerusalem, and the West Bank. Persons may wish to consider leaving Israel while commercial flights are available.

Country Summary:&nbsp;Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. The security environment is complex and can change quickly, and violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning. Increased regional tensions can cause airlines to cancel and/or curtail flights into and out of Israel.

Some areas have increased risk. Read the&nbsp;<a href="https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas-gov.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com.mcas-gov.ms%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps%253A%25252F%25252Ftravel.state.gov%25252Fcontent%25252Ftravel%25252Fen%25252Finternational-travel%25252FInternational-Travel-Country-Information-Pages%25252FIsraeltheWestBankandGaza.html%252F1%252F0101019c9e328878-f8614486-ee74-479c-a2d5-30d64660914e-000000%252FAh2FYzHTLzqz7nPsda0poqOfEdN6BpRzR5XGiLnZW3c%253D446%26data%3D05%257C02%257CAlbelbeisiE%2540state.gov%257Ca5ffb6cc3a7a42802cc708de75dcfdce%257C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%257C0%257C0%257C639077789170603338%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3Dyx1o17QzmpCQFyVTI%252FRkC2M6JBm7WumzEwrlhONt4NA%253D%26reserved%3D0%26McasTsid%3D20893&amp;McasCSRF=af70f2d6e5704a15882d352f35afde4c9eb324eb761bcdec8771c8624f62e229" target="_blank">country information page&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;for additional information on travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.

Visit the CDC page for the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas-gov.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com.mcas-gov.ms%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps%253A%25252F%25252Fwwwnc.cdc.gov%25252Ftravel%25252Fdestinations%25252Ftraveler%25252Fnone%25252Fisrael%25253Fs_cid%253Dncezid-dgmq-travel-single-001%252F1%252F0101019c9e328878-f8614486-ee74-479c-a2d5-30d64660914e-000000%252FZkzxZMKzbhGrklHD4F4l6vPBvgKxOnBxzqtS8v-moDQ%253D446%26data%3D05%257C02%257CAlbelbeisiE%2540state.gov%257Ca5ffb6cc3a7a42802cc708de75dcfdce%257C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%257C0%257C0%257C639077789170615806%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3DVCXcsKAmRUhojPQaQuN8wkY3Bnn4mor3Saxy93WPsBw%253D%26reserved%3D0%26McasTsid%3D20893&amp;McasCSRF=af70f2d6e5704a15882d352f35afde4c9eb324eb761bcdec8771c8624f62e229" target="_blank">Travel Health Information&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;related to your travel.

If you decide to travel to Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza:

Israel – Reconsider Travel (see below for additional information regarding areas near the Lebanese and Syrian borders)

Reconsider travel due to&nbsp;terrorism, and civil unrest.

The security situation in Israel, including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is unpredictable, and U.S. citizens are reminded to remain vigilant and take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire and armed UAV intrusions and missiles, can take place without warning.

U.S. government employees in Israel under Chief of Mission security responsibility are currently restricted from personal travel to the following locations:

Any official travel of U.S. government personnel within these areas requires approval from the Embassy’s security office.

Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on U.S. government employees under Chief of Mission security responsibility, with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats.

Northern Israel (within 4 kilometers/2.5 miles of Lebanese and Syrian borders) – Do Not Travel

The Israeli authorities restrict travel to areas close to the border given the Israeli Defense Forces continued presence and activity. Do not travel to this area for any reason.

Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Israel are currently restricted from personal travel within 4 kilometers/2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders. Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Israel must obtain special authorization to travel close to these borders.

The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends that U.S. citizens not travel within 4 kilometers/2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders.

Reconsider Travel due to&nbsp;terrorism&nbsp;and&nbsp;civil unrest.

Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Israel must obtain special authorization travel to the West Bank. U.S. government employees are currently restricted from all personal travel to the West Bank, except:

Over the past several months, there has been an increase in violence, Israeli military operations, and terrorist attacks. Some incidents have resulted in injury or death of U.S. citizens. During periods of unrest, the Israeli government may restrict access to and within the West Bank, and some areas may be placed under curfew.

Additional travel restrictions may be imposed on U.S. government employees working in Israel with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats.

Visit our website for&nbsp;<a href="https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas-gov.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com.mcas-gov.ms%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps%253A%25252F%25252Ftravel.state.gov%25252Fcontent%25252Fpassports%25252Fen%25252Fgo%25252FTraveltoHighRiskAreas.html%252F1%252F0101019c9e328878-f8614486-ee74-479c-a2d5-30d64660914e-000000%252FCJHwoe5ddft4nmJGklMrV7rtjlDoAxA1Nr6j7tqZdY0%253D446%26data%3D05%257C02%257CAlbelbeisiE%2540state.gov%257Ca5ffb6cc3a7a42802cc708de75dcfdce%257C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%257C0%257C0%257C639077789170729285%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3DGcFf1gW3HyE8LzG%252Bdv%252BDGh1GDvnVnavM0Y0jEzuciz4%253D%26reserved%3D0%26McasTsid%3D20893&amp;McasCSRF=af70f2d6e5704a15882d352f35afde4c9eb324eb761bcdec8771c8624f62e229" target="_blank">Travel to High Risk Areas&nbsp;</a>.

Do not travel for any reason due to&nbsp;terrorism&nbsp;and&nbsp;armed conflict.

The U.S. government is unable to provide routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens in Gaza as U.S. government employees are prohibited from traveling there. The security environment within Gaza and on its borders is extremely dangerous and volatile. The pedestrian crossing between Gaza and Israel (Erez Crossing) was damaged on October 7, 2023, and remains closed. The pedestrian crossing between Egypt and Gaza (Rafah Crossing) has been closed since May 7, 2024, and remains closed to the general public.

If a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) desires our assistance and has not already provided their information to the Department of State, please email U.S. Embassy Jerusalem at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:JerusalemACS@state.gov">JerusalemACS@state.gov</a>.

Visit our website for&nbsp;<a href="https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas-gov.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com.mcas-gov.ms%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps%253A%25252F%25252Ftravel.state.gov%25252Fcontent%25252Fpassports%25252Fen%25252Fgo%25252FTraveltoHighRiskAreas.html%252F2%252F0101019c9e328878-f8614486-ee74-479c-a2d5-30d64660914e-000000%252FKoAb07NTRIkz6QptK3rtrEY0e-fcZBXRW82fROpDKOw%253D446%26data%3D05%257C02%257CAlbelbeisiE%2540state.gov%257Ca5ffb6cc3a7a42802cc708de75dcfdce%257C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%257C0%257C0%257C639077789170743530%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3DMtGfsOYHxbSdxpMkAsLg9JcAkw418SqIsYbeN5XLYeg%253D%26reserved%3D0%26McasTsid%3D20893&amp;McasCSRF=af70f2d6e5704a15882d352f35afde4c9eb324eb761bcdec8771c8624f62e229" target="_blank">Travel to High Risk Areas&nbsp;</a>.

Please be sure to visit our website for&nbsp;<a href="https://mcas-proxyweb.mcas-gov.ms/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com.mcas-gov.ms%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Flinks-2.govdelivery.com%252FCL0%252Fhttps%253A%25252F%25252Ftravel.state.gov%25252Fcontent%25252Ftravel%25252Fen%25252Finternational-travel%25252Fbefore-you-go%25252Fcrisis_and_disaster_abroad_be_ready.html%252F1%252F0101019c9e328878-f8614486-ee74-479c-a2d5-30d64660914e-000000%252FmRStECkANzALK9cVshh6K4v_9vZHcVXDimtLlArNw_c%253D446%26data%3D05%257C02%257CAlbelbeisiE%2540state.gov%257Ca5ffb6cc3a7a42802cc708de75dcfdce%257C66cf50745afe48d1a691a12b2121f44b%257C0%257C0%257C639077789170756531%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3DAajaGEH0mjZt2ZoSlRppHpZo%252BKlGDLUjmDpbYQ%252FbutQ%253D%26reserved%3D0%26McasTsid%3D20893&amp;McasCSRF=af70f2d6e5704a15882d352f35afde4c9eb324eb761bcdec8771c8624f62e229" target="_blank">Crisis and Disaster Abroad&nbsp;</a>: Be Ready&nbsp;for information that may be helpful.

U.S. updates travel advisory to Israel amid Iran strike fears

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A 21-year-old man is in stable condition after being shot Wednesday evening in north Wichita.

Just after 8:30p.m. Wednesday, police learned that a 21-year-old man had arrived at a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his upper body. He is currently listed in stable condition.

Preliminary investigation indicates the incident began as a meeting arranged through social media for the sale of items. When the two parties met, the victim was reportedly robbed by two suspects, who then fled the scene. The victim followed the suspects in his vehicle.

In the 4100 block of North Tyler, the suspects fired at the victim’s vehicle, striking both the vehicle and the victim.

The victim then drove himself to a local hospital for treatment.

The suspect vehicle was later located, and a juvenile male was taken into custody in connection with the case.

Police: Kan. teen shot man during social media arranged sale

CLARK COUNTY —After fighting a large wild fire last week, crews in southwest Kansas were busy with another grass fire Thursday.

Ashland Kansas fire crews reported on their social media page they&nbsp;just got home from a grass fire that started along U.S. 160 three miles west of Ashland. 

They thanked crews from Minneola, Englewood, Fowler and Ford county for their help. There were no injuries reported.

"Please make sure chains and other things that can spark a fire are properly secured on all vehicles. We are all home safe and sound."

Crews fight another wildfire in southwest Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/hillary-clinton">Hillary Clinton</a>&nbsp;told members of Congress on Thursday that she had no knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein’s or Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes, starting off two days of depositions that will also include former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bill-clinton">Bill Clinton</a>.

“I had no idea about their criminal activities. I do not recall ever encountering Mr. Epstein,” Hillary Clinton said in an opening statement she shared on social media. The closed-door deposition concluded Thursday after over six hours of Hillary Clinton giving an answer to every question.

The depositions in the Clintons' hometown of Chappaqua, a typically quiet hamlet north of New York City, come after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-bill-clinton-hillary-clinton-fb3b8d7caafda88ddfa670148ceb2a89">months of tense back-and-forth</a>&nbsp;between the former high-powered Democratic couple and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee as it investigates Epstein, who killed himself in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. It will be the first time that a former president has been forced to testify before Congress.

Yet the demand for a reckoning over Epstein's abuse of underage girls has become a near-unstoppable force on Capitol Hill and beyond.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>, a Republican who has expressed regret that the Clintons are being forced to testify, bowed last year to pressure to release case files on Epstein. The Clintons, too,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-clinton-jeffrey-epstein-contempt-716148204e58a42153c5ab20a97c3011">agreed to testify</a>&nbsp;after their offers of sworn statements were rebuffed by the Oversight panel and its chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., threatened&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-clinton-hillary-clinton-contempt-congress-epstein-6132b63aeb1deb4513e9fa6807ae223c">criminal contempt of Congress charges</a>&nbsp;against them.

“Like every decent person," Hillary Clinton added in her opening statement, “I have been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes.”

She has previously said that her husband flew with Epstein for charitable trips but that she did not recall ever meeting Epstein. She had also interacted with Maxwell, Epstein’s former girlfriend and confidant, at conferences hosted by the Clinton Foundation.

Maxwell,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/what-to-know-about-ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epsteins-former-girlfriend-20b6d4a197364bb6b8d0f8390d2ce5a4">a British socialite</a>, also attended the 2010 wedding of their daughter, Chelsea Clinton.

As she exited the event center where the deposition was held, Hillary Clinton told reporters that Maxwell had come to the wedding as a guest of someone else and that she had told the committee she only knew Maxwell “as an acquaintance.”

Republicans relish chance to question Clintons

Bill Clinton, however, has emerged as a top target for Republicans amid the political struggle over who receives the most scrutiny for their ties to Epstein.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-clinton-justice-department-jeffrey-epstein-4a55e83b62b5a037c431e36cfa87f0dc">Several photos</a>&nbsp;of the former president were included in the first tranche of Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in January, including a number of him with women whose faces were redacted. Clinton has not been accused of wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein.

Comer has also pointed to Hillary Clinton's work as secretary of state to address sex trafficking as another reason to insist on her deposition. Clinton defended her work to address sex trafficking around the world, saying that it remained important to help the millions of survivors of sex trafficking.

The committee's investigation has also sought to understand why the Department of Justice under previous presidential administrations did not seek further charges against Epstein following a 2008 arrangement in which he pleaded guilty to state charges in Florida for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl but avoided federal charges.

Hillary Clinton accused Comer of running a one-sided investigation that has failed to hold Trump and other Republican officials to account. “This institutional failure is designed to protect one political party and one public official,” she said.

Yet&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-government-362e6ccf61014d7fbaeb35e1b5d793a9">conspiracy theories</a>, especially on the right, have swirled for years around the Clintons and their connections to Epstein and Maxwell, who argues she was wrongfully convicted. Republicans have long wanted to press the Clintons for answers.

Hillary Clinton said that one Republican lawmaker asked her a line of questions about “vile, bogus conspiracy theories.”

The deposition was also paused after Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., sent a photo of Hillary Clinton in the private proceeding to a conservative influencer who posted it on social media, violating the committee's rules for depositions.

Democrats said that the incident underscored how important it was for there to be a clear public record of the deposition. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, said that Hillary Clinton, after the incident, repeated her longstanding demand that the deposition be made public, and Democrats called for a video and transcript of the complete proceedings to be released quickly.

Comer said that he would work quickly to release a video and transcript of the deposition.

“The purpose of the whole investigation is to try to understand many things about Epstein,” he told reporters outside the convention center where the depositions were being held. “How did he accumulate so much wealth? How was he able to surround himself with some of the most powerful men in the world?"

Democrats, now being led by a new generation of politicians, have prioritized transparency around Epstein over defending the former leaders of their party. Several Democratic lawmakers joined with Republicans on the Oversight panel to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bill-clinton-hillary-clinton-contempt-congress-epstein-6132b63aeb1deb4513e9fa6807ae223c">advance the contempt of Congress charges</a>&nbsp;against the Clintons last month. Several said they had no relationship with the Clintons and owed no loyalty to them.

Garcia also called on Trump to testify in the investigation. He argued that Bill Clinton’s appearance sets a precedent that should apply to Trump as well.

"Let’s get President Trump in front of our committee to answer the questions that are being asked across this country from survivors,” Garcia said.

Comer previously said that the committee can’t depose Trump because he is a sitting president.

Still, Democrats are also coming off an effort this week to confront Trump about his administration's handling of the Epstein files by taking women who survived Epstein's abuse as their guests to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-state-union-speech-economy-midterms-affordability-d31fc47a200d159a2d24833bd378ec56">Trump's State of the Union address</a>.

Garcia and others are also challenging the Department of Justice's assertion that it has met the requirements of a law passed by Congress last year that mandates the release of many of the case files on Epstein.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York said his caucus in the coming days would also review unredacted versions of the Epstein case files at a Department of Justice office. Schumer, who demanded that the department release all of the files and preserve all materials, said they will “pull on every thread” until they “reveal this massive cover-up."

🎥What Hillary Clinton told members of Congress about Jeffrey Epstein

FORT HANCOCK, Texas (AP) — The U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone, members of Congress said Thursday, and the Federal Aviation Administration responded by closing more airspace near El Paso, Texas.

It's not clear why the laser was deployed but it's the second time in two weeks that one has been fired in the area.

The earlier laser firing did not hit a target. It was done by the CBP near Fort Bliss, about 50 miles northwest, and prompted the FAA to shut down air traffic at El Paso airport and the surrounding area. This time, the closure was smaller and commercial flights not affected.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen and several other top Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee said they were stunned when notified of the latest incident.

“Our heads are exploding over the news,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. They criticized the Trump administration for “sidestepping” a bipartisan bill to train drone operators and improve communication among the Pentagon, FAA and Department of Homeland Security.

"Now, we’re seeing the result of its incompetence,” they said.

The Defense and Transportation departments referred questions to the FAA, which said in a brief statement that it had expanded the airspace closure around Fort Hancock. Border Protection did not immediately respond to questions.

The El Paso shutdown two weeks ago lasted only a few hours but it raised alarm and led to a number of flight cancellations in the city of nearly 700,000 people not far from the Mexican border.

In that case, an anti-drone laser was deployed by CBP near Fort Bliss without coordinating with the FAA, which then decided to close the El Paso airspace to ensure commercial air safety, according to sources familiar with what happened who weren’t authorized to discuss it.

Afterward, members of Congress said it appeared to be another example of dysfunction within the government with different agencies failing to coordinate with each other.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he was planning to brief members of Congress sometime this week about what happened. He said at an unrelated news conference last Friday that it wasn’t a mistake for the FAA to close the airspace in El Paso and that he doesn’t think it was a communication issue that led to the problems.

The investigation into last year’s midair collision near Washington, D.C., between an airliner and Army helicopter that killed 67 people highlighted how the FAA and Pentagon were not always working well together.

Lawmakers say US military used laser to take down Border Protection drone

CLAY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Clay County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Kia Optima driven by a 21-year-old Kansas City, Missouri woman was northbound on Interstate 35 near the 435 interchange. The car struck a person who entered the road. The pedestrian, later identified as a 40-year-old Bates City man, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

Man dead after struck by a car near Kansas City

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Isaiah Johnson scored 18 points, and Colorado scored the last six points to beat Kansas State 79-70 on Wednesday night.

P.J. Haggerty and Andrej Kostic each scored four points in an 8-0 surge to pull Kansas State to 73-70 with 2:13 to play, but Colorado shot 6 of 8 from the free-throw line to seal it. The Wildcats were down 22 points with about 13 minutes remaining.

Johnson shot 5 of 11 from the floor and had nine rebounds and seven assists for Colorado (16-12, 6-9 Big 12). Ian Inman made five 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for the Buffaloes. Barrington Hargress added 15 points, Sebastian Rancik scored 13 and Bangot Dak had 10.

Haggerty scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to go with four assists to lead K-State (11-17, 2-13). Kostic and Nate Johnson added 10 points apiece. The Wildcats have lost eight of their last nine games.

Colorado took the lead for good about eight minutes in and led 37-18 with 3:45 left before halftime. K-State closed on a 15-5 run to cut the deficit to 42-33 at the break. Hargress scored 10 points and Inman made three 3s for the Buffaloes in the half. Haggerty scored 11 first-half points and grabbed six rebounds to pace K-State.

The Wildcats pulled within five early in the second half, but the Buffaloes answered with a 17-0 run for a 59-37 lead.

Colorado is on the road Saturday against fifth-ranked Houston.

🏀 Colorado scores last 6 points to beat Kansas State in Boulder

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Tre White scored a season-high 23 points and No. 14 Kansas bounced back from a surprising defeat with a 69-56 victory over No. 5 Houston on Monday night.

Freshman star Darryn Peterson added 14 points on 5-of-14 shooting in 30 minutes for the Jayhawks (21-7, 11-4 Big 12), who fell six spots in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ap-top-25-poll-duke-39fdb6bef07b4466f0e6140826fdcad5">this week's AP Top 25</a>&nbsp;following an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cincinnati-kansas-score-23ec2476f761e00a0f453d49b9fc7178">84-68 loss at home</a>&nbsp;Saturday to unranked Cincinnati.

Bryson Tiller had 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for Kansas, which handed the scuffling Cougars (23-5, 11-4) their third consecutive defeat — all against top-15 opponents. Melvin Council Jr. added 11 points, six rebounds and four assists.

Kingston Flemings scored 16 on 6-of-18 shooting for Houston, which hadn't dropped three straight games since January 2017. The Cougars shot 32% from the field, including 5 of 24 (21%) from 3-point territory.

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