RENO COUNTY —The cause a house fire in rural Reno County is under investigation.

On Saturday evening, the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to report of a fire in the 400 block of East 7th, according to a media release.

 First arriving crews found black smoke coming from the eaves of a 2 and one half story ballon frame home. First arriving crew entered the structure for search as dispatch advised that the occupant was still inside trying to retrieve pets. Additional crews arrived and began aggressive interior attack on the fire.  Fire was found on the first floor, second floor, and attic.  There was a partial floor collapse of a second-floor bedroom.  No injuries were reported.&nbsp; Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771125821165.jpeg" alt="Photo by Marc Jacobs-Hutch Post" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Marc Jacobs-Hutch Post</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY —The cause a house fire in rural Reno County is under investigation.On Saturday evening, the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to report of a fire in the 400 block of East 7th, according to a media release. First arriving crews found black smoke coming from the eaves of a 2 and one half story ballon frame home. First arriving crew entered the structure for search as dispatch advised that the occupant was still inside trying to retrieve pets. Additional crews arrived and began aggressive interior attack on the fire. Fire was found on the first floor, second floor, and attic. There was a partial floor collapse of a second-floor bedroom. No injuries were reported.&nbsp; Authorities did not release a damage estimate.

Resident rescued pets as crews battled Kansas house fire

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Two people were arrested Saturday afternoon following a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle in McPherson County.

Just after 4p.m., officers with the McPherson Police Department were notified by the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office that a stolen vehicle was traveling southbound on Interstate 135 from Smoky Valley Road. The sheriff’s office detected the vehicle using its newly deployed Flock license plate reader camera network.

Police officers spotted the vehicle entering the McPherson near the Interstate 135 and Kansas Avenue interchange. After confirming with dispatch that the vehicle had been reported stolen, officers attempted a traffic stop in the 100 block of South Champlin Road.

The driver fled the stop, traveling south on Centennial before leaving the city limits. A McPherson County sheriff’s deputy later deployed stop sticks, puncturing the vehicle’s tires and slowing it down.

After about 15 minutes, the suspect lost control and the vehicle became stuck near the intersection of 19th Street and Eisenhower Road.

Two individuals including 39-year-old Bobby Heckman were taken into custody, according to online jail records. Law enforcement also cleared two outstanding arrest warrants. No injuries were reported, and the only damage occurred to the stolen vehicle. Heckman is being held on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stole vehicle; theft of property or services; drug distribution and numerous traffic violations, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771161585997.png" alt="Heckman photo McPherson County" />
 <figcaption>Heckman photo McPherson County</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY —Two people were arrested Saturday afternoon following a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle in McPherson County.Just after 4p.m., officers with the McPherson Police Department were notified by the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office that a stolen vehicle was traveling southbound on Interstate 135 from Smoky Valley Road. The sheriff’s office detected the vehicle using its newly deployed Flock license plate reader camera network.Police officers spotted the vehicle entering the McPherson near the Interstate 135 and Kansas Avenue interchange. After confirming with dispatch that the vehicle had been reported stolen, officers attempted a traffic stop in the 100 block of South Champlin Road.The driver fled the stop, traveling south on Centennial before leaving the city limits. A McPherson County sheriff’s deputy later deployed stop sticks, puncturing the vehicle’s tires and slowing it down.After about 15 minutes, the suspect lost control and the vehicle became stuck near the intersection of 19th Street and Eisenhower Road.Two individuals including 39-year-old Bobby Heckman were taken into custody, according to online jail records. Law enforcement also cleared two outstanding arrest warrants. No injuries were reported, and the only damage occurred to the stolen vehicle. Heckman is being held on requested charges of Flee or attempt to elude; operate a stole vehicle; theft of property or services; drug distribution and numerous traffic violations, according to online jail records.

Kan. officers arrest driver after stolen vehicle gets stuck

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">Anna Kaminski</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly plans to attend a business meeting at the White House this week, which comes after President Donald Trump flip-flopped on invitations and Democrats promised to boycott.

Kelly’s office said she will attend a bipartisan working meeting on Feb. 20, but she will not partake in the White House’s black-tie dinner that is expected to follow. She has not attended the White House dinner since 2019 and does not plan to this year, said spokesperson Grace Hoge.

“She recognizes the utility of meeting with the president, Cabinet secretaries and other federal officials, alongside her colleagues, to discuss ways states and the federal government can partner on behalf of all Americans,” Hoge said. “She decided to attend the meeting once the White House invitation included all governors, regardless of party.”

The plans leading up to next week’s events in Washington, D.C., have fluctuated. Trump at first refused to invite Democrats to the White House. Then he backtracked after Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the National Governors Association, of which he is the chair, would no longer facilitate the meeting.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/09/repub/trump-shuts-out-democratic-governors-from-traditional-white-house-gatherings/">White House confirmed Trump’s decision</a>&nbsp;to exclude some Democratic governors from the dinner.

“Many Democrats were invited to dinner at the White House, and others were not. These are White House events and the President reserves the right to invite whomever he wants,” a White House official told States Newsroom, Kansas Reflector’s parent organization.

Members of the Democratic Governors Association, including Kelly, said Tuesday they wouldn’t attend the White House dinner, and accused Trump of creating chaos and division.

“If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year,” the Democratic governors’ statement said.

Trump wrote in a Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116054089500353661" target="_blank">post to Truth Social</a>&nbsp;that he only declined to invite two Democratic governors to the dinner — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the vice chair of the national association and the country’s only Black governor.

Kelly, who is in her last term, is a former chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Kansas is not a member of the National Governors Association, so she also does not plan to attend the three-day national conference, her office said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590011287498.png" alt="Kansas Governor Laura Kelly met with Trump during his first term-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Governor Laura Kelly met with Trump during his first term-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">Anna Kaminski</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly plans to attend a business meeting at the White House this week, which comes after President Donald Trump flip-flopped on invitations and Democrats promised to boycott.Kelly’s office said she will attend a bipartisan working meeting on Feb. 20, but she will not partake in the White House’s black-tie dinner that is expected to follow. She has not attended the White House dinner since 2019 and does not plan to this year, said spokesperson Grace Hoge.“She recognizes the utility of meeting with the president, Cabinet secretaries and other federal officials, alongside her colleagues, to discuss ways states and the federal government can partner on behalf of all Americans,” Hoge said. “She decided to attend the meeting once the White House invitation included all governors, regardless of party.”The plans leading up to next week’s events in Washington, D.C., have fluctuated. Trump at first refused to invite Democrats to the White House. Then he backtracked after Republican Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the National Governors Association, of which he is the chair, would no longer facilitate the meeting.The&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/09/repub/trump-shuts-out-democratic-governors-from-traditional-white-house-gatherings/">White House confirmed Trump’s decision</a>&nbsp;to exclude some Democratic governors from the dinner.“Many Democrats were invited to dinner at the White House, and others were not. These are White House events and the President reserves the right to invite whomever he wants,” a White House official told States Newsroom, Kansas Reflector’s parent organization.Members of the Democratic Governors Association, including Kelly, said Tuesday they wouldn’t attend the White House dinner, and accused Trump of creating chaos and division.“If the reports are true that not all governors are invited to these events, which have historically been productive and bipartisan opportunities for collaboration, we will not be attending the White House dinner this year,” the Democratic governors’ statement said.Trump wrote in a Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116054089500353661" target="_blank">post to Truth Social</a>&nbsp;that he only declined to invite two Democratic governors to the dinner — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, the vice chair of the national association and the country’s only Black governor.Kelly, who is in her last term, is a former chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Kansas is not a member of the National Governors Association, so she also does not plan to attend the three-day national conference, her office said.

Kansas governor plans to attend White House meeting

EDWARDS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Edwards County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Honda Civic driven by Aaron JG&nbsp;Pineda, 29, Garden City,&nbsp;was stuck on the railroad tracks on 310th Avenue just north of U.S. 50.&nbsp; An eastbound Amtrak train struck the car.

Pineda was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;McKillip Funeral Home.&nbsp; The conductor, engineer and an additional 113 occupants on board the train were not injured.

EDWARDS COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just before 3:30p.m. Saturday in Edwards County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Honda Civic driven by Aaron JG&nbsp;Pineda, 29, Garden City,&nbsp;was stuck on the railroad tracks on 310th Avenue just north of U.S. 50.&nbsp; An eastbound Amtrak train struck the car.Pineda was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;McKillip Funeral Home.&nbsp; The conductor, engineer and an additional 113 occupants on board the train were not injured.

Kan. man dead after Amtrak train strikes car stuck on the tracks 

&nbsp;DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria, Feb. 3 – 12, to sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network, according to a statement from the U.S&gt; Central Command.

U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage targets with precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft.

U.S. forces previously conducted five strikes against an ISIS communication site, critical logistics node, and weapons storage facilities, Jan. 27 – Feb. 2.

Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched in response to a Dec. 13 attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra. The ISIS ambush resulted in the death of two U.S. service members and an American interpreter.

More than 50 ISIS terrorists have been killed or captured and over 100 ISIS infrastructure targets have been struck with hundreds of precision munitions during two months of targeted operations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771123773381.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;DAMASCUS —U.S. forces conducted 10 strikes against more than 30 ISIS targets in Syria, Feb. 3 – 12, to sustain relentless military pressure on remnants from the terrorist network, according to a statement from the U.S&gt; Central Command.U.S. forces struck ISIS infrastructure and weapons storage targets with precision munitions delivered by fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and unmanned aircraft.U.S. forces previously conducted five strikes against an ISIS communication site, critical logistics node, and weapons storage facilities, Jan. 27 – Feb. 2.Operation Hawkeye Strike was launched in response to a Dec. 13 attack on U.S. and Syrian forces in Palmyra. The ISIS ambush resulted in the death of two U.S. service members and an American interpreter.More than 50 ISIS terrorists have been killed or captured and over 100 ISIS infrastructure targets have been struck with hundreds of precision munitions during two months of targeted operations.

U.S. forces continue strikes on ISIS targets in Syria

KANSAS CITY —A Missouri inmate has been charged &nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred at an apartment complex in 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2807/HillDemetrius-Warrant-Packet-1">Demetrius S. Hill</a>&nbsp;, 27, faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

According to court records, Kansas City police responded to a shooting at an apartment complex parking lot on August 9, 2019, and located the victim in the driver’s seat of a gray Dodge Durango suffering from apparent trauma. He was declared deceased at the scene.

Surveillance video captured a suspect wearing a red shirt over his head arriving at the parking lot in a gray Ford Escape. The victim then arrived in a Dodge Durango with the defendant in the front passenger seat. The suspect with the red shirt approached the victim’s vehicle and engaged in a brief conversation. As he walked away, he turned back and fired shots at the vehicle. The defendant then exited the Durango and fled with the suspect in the red shirt in the Ford Escape.

Detectives identified both suspects based on witness reports and anonymous tips to the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline.

Investigators believe the defendant fired at the victim while inside the Durango. The defendant’s DNA matched a cigarillo collected from inside the victim’s vehicle.

The suspect with the red shirt was killed in a homicide in 2023.

Hill is currently in custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for convictions that include unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, tampering with a witness and tampering with a vehicle, according to online records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771090031216.png" alt="Hill photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Hill photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Missouri inmate has been charged &nbsp;in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred at an apartment complex in 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri.<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2807/HillDemetrius-Warrant-Packet-1">Demetrius S. Hill</a>&nbsp;, 27, faces one count of 2nd Degree Murder, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.According to court records, Kansas City police responded to a shooting at an apartment complex parking lot on August 9, 2019, and located the victim in the driver’s seat of a gray Dodge Durango suffering from apparent trauma. He was declared deceased at the scene.Surveillance video captured a suspect wearing a red shirt over his head arriving at the parking lot in a gray Ford Escape. The victim then arrived in a Dodge Durango with the defendant in the front passenger seat. The suspect with the red shirt approached the victim’s vehicle and engaged in a brief conversation. As he walked away, he turned back and fired shots at the vehicle. The defendant then exited the Durango and fled with the suspect in the red shirt in the Ford Escape.Detectives identified both suspects based on witness reports and anonymous tips to the Crime Stoppers TIPS hotline.Investigators believe the defendant fired at the victim while inside the Durango. The defendant’s DNA matched a cigarillo collected from inside the victim’s vehicle.The suspect with the red shirt was killed in a homicide in 2023.Hill is currently in custody of the Missouri Department of Corrections for convictions that include unlawful use of a weapon, resisting arrest, tampering with a witness and tampering with a vehicle, according to online records.

Inmate's DNA found on cigarillo at scene of Kansas City killing

HOUSTON – A 51-year-old resident of Sedgwick County, Kansas, has been ordered to federal prison for making false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations to law enforcement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Heather Worden pleaded guilty Nov. 14, 2025.U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now sentenced Worden to three months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. The court also ordered Worden to pay $210,000 in restitution.&nbsp;

At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Worden falsely accused her former spouse of illegally accessing her bank account from the International Space Station while the couple was going through a divorce. Even after an internal investigation exonerated the former spouse, Worden continued promoting the false claim to news outlets and hired a media consultant to amplify the claim. The evidence further showed Worden publicly released her former spouse’s personal information.

In July 2019, Worden alleged her estranged spouse had guessed her password and illegally accessed her bank account while deployed to the International Space Station. &nbsp;However, the investigation revealed Worden opened her bank account in April 2018, and both parties accessed it until January 2019, when Worden changed the account credentials. Investigators also determined Worden had granted her spouse access to her bank records, including login credentials, as early as 2015.&nbsp;Worden was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.The National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/11/1763380295480.png" alt="Anne McClain is the astronaut who was wrongly accused of trying to access her estranged spouse's bank account while on the International Space Station. Photo courtesy NASA" />
 <figcaption>Anne McClain is the astronaut who was wrongly accused of trying to access her estranged spouse's bank account while on the International Space Station. Photo courtesy NASA</figcaption>
 </figure>HOUSTON – A 51-year-old resident of Sedgwick County, Kansas, has been ordered to federal prison for making false, fictitious and fraudulent statements and representations to law enforcement, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.Heather Worden pleaded guilty Nov. 14, 2025.U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett has now sentenced Worden to three months in federal prison to be immediately followed by two years of supervised release. The court also ordered Worden to pay $210,000 in restitution.&nbsp;At the hearing, the court heard evidence that Worden falsely accused her former spouse of illegally accessing her bank account from the International Space Station while the couple was going through a divorce. Even after an internal investigation exonerated the former spouse, Worden continued promoting the false claim to news outlets and hired a media consultant to amplify the claim. The evidence further showed Worden publicly released her former spouse’s personal information.In July 2019, Worden alleged her estranged spouse had guessed her password and illegally accessed her bank account while deployed to the International Space Station. &nbsp;However, the investigation revealed Worden opened her bank account in April 2018, and both parties accessed it until January 2019, when Worden changed the account credentials. Investigators also determined Worden had granted her spouse access to her bank records, including login credentials, as early as 2015.&nbsp;Worden was permitted to remain on bond and voluntarily surrender to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility to be determined in the near future.The National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Office of Inspector General conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Richard D. Hanes and Brandon Fyffe prosecuted the case.

Prison for Kan. woman over false crime in space claim against NASA astronaut

ALLEN COUNTY —The Allen County Attorney has filed a charge of Battery against a former Allen County Sheriff’s Office civilian employee Stephanie Vest, according to a media release from the Allen County Sheriff.

On December 17, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) for assistance regarding allegations of misconduct toward an inmate made against a Sheriff’s Office employee. 

 The KBI conducted an investigation and presented its findings to Allen County Attorney Brandon Cameron, who then filed the charge in Allen County District Court.

The alleged incident(s) occurred in 2024 and 2025 at the Allen County Jail, where Vest was a civilian employee.  She was placed on administrative leave while the investigation was conducted and was later terminated.

ALLEN COUNTY —The Allen County Attorney has filed a charge of Battery against a former Allen County Sheriff’s Office civilian employee Stephanie Vest, according to a media release from the Allen County Sheriff.On December 17, the Allen County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) for assistance regarding allegations of misconduct toward an inmate made against a Sheriff’s Office employee. The KBI conducted an investigation and presented its findings to Allen County Attorney Brandon Cameron, who then filed the charge in Allen County District Court.The alleged incident(s) occurred in 2024 and 2025 at the Allen County Jail, where Vest was a civilian employee. She was placed on administrative leave while the investigation was conducted and was later terminated.

Kan. sheriff's office employee charged with misconduct toward inmate

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kaitlyn-huamani">KAITLYN HUAMANI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/barbara-ortutay">BARBARA ORTUTAY</a>

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-mark-zuckerberg-richard-blumenthal-facebook-c242e1cd4ded5f09a6830eb232f2d8a3">Adam Mosseri</a>, the head of Meta’s Instagram, testified Wednesday during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms.

The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case, where plaintiffs seek to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trial-kids-addiction-meta-tiktok-youtube-d3a6bf617f2d11521675412ffb275031">TikTok and Snap have settled.</a>

At the core of the Los Angeles case is a 20-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM,” whose lawsuit could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies would play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury.

Mosseri, who’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-90e00b307301468e9349a6642d68dc21">headed Instagram since 2018</a>&nbsp;said it’s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and what he called problematic use. The plaintiff’s lawyer, however, presented quotes directly from Mosseri in a podcast interview a few years ago where he used the term addiction in relation to social media use, but he clarified that he was probably using the term “too casually,” as people tend to do.

Mosseri said he was not claiming to be a medical expert when questioned about his qualifications to comment on the legitimacy of social media addiction, but said someone “very close” to him has experienced serious clinical addiction, which is why he said he was “being careful with my words.”

He said he and his colleagues use the term “problematic use” to refer to “someone spending more time on Instagram than they feel good about, and that definitely happens.”

It’s “not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for people’s well-being,” Mosseri said.

Mosseri and the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, engaged in a lengthy back-and-forth about cosmetic filters on Instagram that changed people’s appearance in a way that seemed to promote plastic surgery.

“We are trying to be as safe as possible but also censor as little as possible,” Mosseri said.

In the courtroom, bereaved parents of children who have had social media struggles seemed visibly upset during a discussion around body dysmorphia and cosmetic filters. Meta shut down all&nbsp;<a href="https://spark.meta.com/blog/meta-spark-announcement" target="_blank">third-party augmented reality filters</a>&nbsp;in January 2025. The judge made an announcement to members of the public on Wednesday after the displays of emotion, reminding them not to make any indication of agreement or disagreement with testimony, saying that it would be “improper to indicate some position.”

During cross examination, Mosseri and Meta lawyer Phyllis Jones tried to reframe the idea that Lanier was suggesting in his questioning that the company is looking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-meta-instagram-revenue-teens-harvard-cc9bf875d6f7259ba2aee8805ccdaf3d">profit off of teens</a>&nbsp;specifically.

Mosseri said Instagram makes “less money from teens than from any other demographic on the app,” noting that teens don’t tend to click on ads and many don’t have disposable income that they spend on products from ads they receive. During his opportunity to question Mosseri for a second time, Lanier was quick to point to research that shows people who join social media platforms at a young age are more likely to stay on the platforms longer, which he said makes teen users prime for meaningful long-term profit.

“Often people try to frame things as you either prioritize safety or you prioritize revenue,” Mosseri said. “It’s really hard to imagine any instance where prioritizing safety isn’t good for revenue.”

Meta CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;is expected to take the stand next week.

In recent years, Instagram has added a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-teens-kids-pg13-safety-f3001b877a0b576be3e5723a5acd0ff1">slew of features</a>&nbsp;and tools it says have made the platform safer for young people. But this does not always work. A&nbsp;<a href="https://fairplayforkids.org/instagram-teen-accounts-fail-to-protect-children-safety-tools-testing-reveals/" target="_blank">report last year</a>, for instance, found that teen accounts researchers created were recommended age-inappropriate sexual content, including “graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to describe demeaning sexual acts, and brief displays of nudity.”

In addition, Instagram also recommended a “range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content” on teen accounts that the report says “would be reasonably likely to result in adverse impacts for young people, including teenagers experiencing poor mental health, or self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviors.” Meta called the report “misleading, dangerously speculative” and said it misrepresents its efforts on teen safety.

Meta is also facing a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-new-mexico-child-exploitation-trial-19195fc680dba782fb971d68082e11a4">trial in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;that began this week.

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/kaitlyn-huamani">KAITLYN HUAMANI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/barbara-ortutay">BARBARA ORTUTAY</a>LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-mark-zuckerberg-richard-blumenthal-facebook-c242e1cd4ded5f09a6830eb232f2d8a3">Adam Mosseri</a>, the head of Meta’s Instagram, testified Wednesday during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms.The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case, where plaintiffs seek to hold social media companies responsible for harms to children who use their platforms. Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube are the two remaining defendants in the case, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/social-media-trial-kids-addiction-meta-tiktok-youtube-d3a6bf617f2d11521675412ffb275031">TikTok and Snap have settled.</a>At the core of the Los Angeles case is a 20-year-old identified only by the initials “KGM,” whose lawsuit could determine how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies would play out. She and two other plaintiffs have been selected for bellwether trials — essentially test cases for both sides to see how their arguments play out before a jury.Mosseri, who’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-90e00b307301468e9349a6642d68dc21">headed Instagram since 2018</a>&nbsp;said it’s important to differentiate between clinical addiction and what he called problematic use. The plaintiff’s lawyer, however, presented quotes directly from Mosseri in a podcast interview a few years ago where he used the term addiction in relation to social media use, but he clarified that he was probably using the term “too casually,” as people tend to do.Mosseri said he was not claiming to be a medical expert when questioned about his qualifications to comment on the legitimacy of social media addiction, but said someone “very close” to him has experienced serious clinical addiction, which is why he said he was “being careful with my words.”He said he and his colleagues use the term “problematic use” to refer to “someone spending more time on Instagram than they feel good about, and that definitely happens.”It’s “not good for the company, over the long run, to make decisions that profit for us but are poor for people’s well-being,” Mosseri said.Mosseri and the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mark Lanier, engaged in a lengthy back-and-forth about cosmetic filters on Instagram that changed people’s appearance in a way that seemed to promote plastic surgery.“We are trying to be as safe as possible but also censor as little as possible,” Mosseri said.In the courtroom, bereaved parents of children who have had social media struggles seemed visibly upset during a discussion around body dysmorphia and cosmetic filters. Meta shut down all&nbsp;<a href="https://spark.meta.com/blog/meta-spark-announcement" target="_blank">third-party augmented reality filters</a>&nbsp;in January 2025. The judge made an announcement to members of the public on Wednesday after the displays of emotion, reminding them not to make any indication of agreement or disagreement with testimony, saying that it would be “improper to indicate some position.”During cross examination, Mosseri and Meta lawyer Phyllis Jones tried to reframe the idea that Lanier was suggesting in his questioning that the company is looking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-meta-instagram-revenue-teens-harvard-cc9bf875d6f7259ba2aee8805ccdaf3d">profit off of teens</a>&nbsp;specifically.Mosseri said Instagram makes “less money from teens than from any other demographic on the app,” noting that teens don’t tend to click on ads and many don’t have disposable income that they spend on products from ads they receive. During his opportunity to question Mosseri for a second time, Lanier was quick to point to research that shows people who join social media platforms at a young age are more likely to stay on the platforms longer, which he said makes teen users prime for meaningful long-term profit.“Often people try to frame things as you either prioritize safety or you prioritize revenue,” Mosseri said. “It’s really hard to imagine any instance where prioritizing safety isn’t good for revenue.”Meta CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mark-zuckerberg">Mark Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;is expected to take the stand next week.In recent years, Instagram has added a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/instagram-teens-kids-pg13-safety-f3001b877a0b576be3e5723a5acd0ff1">slew of features</a>&nbsp;and tools it says have made the platform safer for young people. But this does not always work. A&nbsp;<a href="https://fairplayforkids.org/instagram-teen-accounts-fail-to-protect-children-safety-tools-testing-reveals/" target="_blank">report last year</a>, for instance, found that teen accounts researchers created were recommended age-inappropriate sexual content, including “graphic sexual descriptions, the use of cartoons to describe demeaning sexual acts, and brief displays of nudity.”In addition, Instagram also recommended a “range of self-harm, self-injury, and body image content” on teen accounts that the report says “would be reasonably likely to result in adverse impacts for young people, including teenagers experiencing poor mental health, or self-harm and suicidal ideation and behaviors.” Meta called the report “misleading, dangerously speculative” and said it misrepresents its efforts on teen safety.Meta is also facing a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/meta-new-mexico-child-exploitation-trial-19195fc680dba782fb971d68082e11a4">trial in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;that began this week.

Instagram chief does not believe people can get clinically addicted to social media

PAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 2a.m. Saturday in Pawnee County&nbsp;

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chrysler 300 driven by Jon Myles Woelk&nbsp; Blakely, 36, Rozell, was westbound on K156 Highway three miles west of the U.S. 183 Junction. The car traveled off the roadway to the left and the driver corrected.&nbsp; The vehicle returned to the road and rolled into the ditch.

&nbsp;Blakely was pronoumced dead at the scene and was transported to Beckwith Mortuary. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

PAWNEE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 2a.m. Saturday in Pawnee County&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Chrysler 300 driven by Jon Myles Woelk&nbsp; Blakely, 36, Rozell, was westbound on K156 Highway three miles west of the U.S. 183 Junction. The car traveled off the roadway to the left and the driver corrected.&nbsp; The vehicle returned to the road and rolled into the ditch.&nbsp;Blakely was pronoumced dead at the scene and was transported to Beckwith Mortuary. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after car rolls into a ditch

An Arizona sheriff's department got more than 4,000 calls within 24 hours after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-b765fed6b9669441383b75860263ac99">release of videos</a>&nbsp;of a masked person on Nancy Guthrie's porch. Many tips will be worthless. Others could have merit. Experts say one thing's certain: They can't be ignored.

Tips can solve crimes — big or small — and eerie images of a mysterious male covered head to toe have been the most significant clues shared with the public during Guthrie's nearly 2-week-old disappearance in the Tucson area.

“It's a tremendous amount of work,” said Roberto Villaseñor, a former Tucson police chief.

“In a situation like this, you really cannot do what's been done without tips and public input,” he said. “They have processed the scene. But once that’s done and exhausted, it's hard to move forward without additional information coming in.”

The Pima County sheriff and the FBI announced&nbsp;<a href="https://pimasheriff.org/">phone numbers</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">website</a>&nbsp;to offer tips about the apparent kidnapping of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Savannah Guthrie</a>. Several hundred detectives and agents have been assigned to the case, the sheriff's department said.

The FBI said it has collected more than 13,000 tips since Feb. 1, the day Guthrie was reported missing. The sheriff's department, meanwhile, said it has taken at least 18,000 calls.

"Every tip is reviewed for credibility, relevance, and information that can be acted upon by law enforcement," the FBI said Thursday on X, adding that the effort is a 24-hour operation. It said it won't comment on the tips received.

Meanwhile, many people stopped Friday at KVOA-TV in Tucson, an NBC affiliate, to sign a large outdoor banner with a photo of Nancy Guthrie and the message “Bring her home.”

“They're like family, you know,” said Sandy Bryant, referring to her yearslong enjoyment of the “Today” show and the Guthrie family's local ties. “It's painful. It's scary, very scary.”

Major U.S. crimes for years have been cracked with a tip. In 1995, the brother and sister-in-law of Ted Kaczynski recognized certain tones in an anonymous, widely published anti-technology manifesto. Known by the FBI as the “Unabomber,” Kaczynski was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ted-kaczynski-unabomber-dies-federal-prison-95fdd4f398fbfe20aaadf5d53a91dc26">found living in a shack</a>&nbsp;in Montana and subsequently admitted to committing 16 bombings over 17 years, killing three people.

The 1989 murders of an Ohio woman and two teen daughters in Florida were solved three years later when St. Petersburg police asked the public if they recognized handwriting found in the victims' car. A former neighbor led investigators to Oba Chandler.

Retired Detroit homicide investigator Ira Todd recalled how images from a gas station camera solved the disappearance and death of a 3-month-old baby — and stopped authorities from pursuing the wrong person in 2001. “A niece of this guy saw it on TV and says, ‘That’s my uncle,’” he said.

The murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022 generated nearly 40,000 tips to state and federal authorities. None had a direct role in the capture of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bryan-kohberger">Bryan Kohberger</a>, but the public's involvement nonetheless was “absolutely” important, said Lt. Darren Gilbertson of the Idaho State Police.

“That's one of the things that kept us going for weeks,” he said, while authorities awaited DNA and other evidence.

Gilbertson said much of the early vetting in the Idaho murders was done by the FBI. He said agents and analysts who were screening tips had a good grasp of what information could be spiked and what should be handed up to key investigators. Some tips arrived by regular mail.

“Aliens to bears to crazy conspiratorial ideas — don't even pass that along,” Gilbertson said.

Nancy Guthrie was last seen Jan. 31 and was reported missing the following day. Hours before her family knew she was gone, a porch camera recorded video of a person with a backpack who was wearing a ski mask, long pants, jacket and gloves — images that were released by the FBI along with a public plea for help.

The FBI on Thursday said the person, now a suspect, is a man about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build. The agency also named the brand and model of the backpack.

Neighborhood resident Laura Gargano said she's tried to be helpful. She recommended that authorities look at an underground tank at Guthrie’s home, which was checked last weekend. She also told them that a rental house, not typical for the neighborhood, had recently been vacated.

“I noticed the cars were gone,” she told The Associated Press. “It could have been nothing, it could have been coincidental, but it was a change.”

The sheriff's department has not said whether any tips from the videos have advanced the investigation.

“I'm hopeful,” said Villaseñor, the former Tucson chief. “I have seen cases where simpler and less detailed information has helped bring somebody about. Maybe someone recognizes clothing, maybe the bag. You never know what someone will key on.”

Anyone with information: (800) 225-5324; (520) 351-4900;&nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/8PjMoU17mh">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1770749564250.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By ED WHITE&nbsp;An Arizona sheriff's department got more than 4,000 calls within 24 hours after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/savannah-guthrie-mom-missing-arizona-b765fed6b9669441383b75860263ac99">release of videos</a>&nbsp;of a masked person on Nancy Guthrie's porch. Many tips will be worthless. Others could have merit. Experts say one thing's certain: They can't be ignored.Tips can solve crimes — big or small — and eerie images of a mysterious male covered head to toe have been the most significant clues shared with the public during Guthrie's nearly 2-week-old disappearance in the Tucson area.“It's a tremendous amount of work,” said Roberto Villaseñor, a former Tucson police chief.“In a situation like this, you really cannot do what's been done without tips and public input,” he said. “They have processed the scene. But once that’s done and exhausted, it's hard to move forward without additional information coming in.”<h2>Tens of thousands of tips</h2>The Pima County sheriff and the FBI announced&nbsp;<a href="https://pimasheriff.org/">phone numbers</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://tips.fbi.gov/home">website</a>&nbsp;to offer tips about the apparent kidnapping of Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of NBC “Today” co-anchor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/savannah-guthrie">Savannah Guthrie</a>. Several hundred detectives and agents have been assigned to the case, the sheriff's department said.The FBI said it has collected more than 13,000 tips since Feb. 1, the day Guthrie was reported missing. The sheriff's department, meanwhile, said it has taken at least 18,000 calls."Every tip is reviewed for credibility, relevance, and information that can be acted upon by law enforcement," the FBI said Thursday on X, adding that the effort is a 24-hour operation. It said it won't comment on the tips received.Meanwhile, many people stopped Friday at KVOA-TV in Tucson, an NBC affiliate, to sign a large outdoor banner with a photo of Nancy Guthrie and the message “Bring her home.”“They're like family, you know,” said Sandy Bryant, referring to her yearslong enjoyment of the “Today” show and the Guthrie family's local ties. “It's painful. It's scary, very scary.”<h2>Tips have made a difference many times</h2>Major U.S. crimes for years have been cracked with a tip. In 1995, the brother and sister-in-law of Ted Kaczynski recognized certain tones in an anonymous, widely published anti-technology manifesto. Known by the FBI as the “Unabomber,” Kaczynski was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ted-kaczynski-unabomber-dies-federal-prison-95fdd4f398fbfe20aaadf5d53a91dc26">found living in a shack</a>&nbsp;in Montana and subsequently admitted to committing 16 bombings over 17 years, killing three people.The 1989 murders of an Ohio woman and two teen daughters in Florida were solved three years later when St. Petersburg police asked the public if they recognized handwriting found in the victims' car. A former neighbor led investigators to Oba Chandler.Retired Detroit homicide investigator Ira Todd recalled how images from a gas station camera solved the disappearance and death of a 3-month-old baby — and stopped authorities from pursuing the wrong person in 2001. “A niece of this guy saw it on TV and says, ‘That’s my uncle,’” he said.The murders of four University of Idaho students in 2022 generated nearly 40,000 tips to state and federal authorities. None had a direct role in the capture of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/bryan-kohberger">Bryan Kohberger</a>, but the public's involvement nonetheless was “absolutely” important, said Lt. Darren Gilbertson of the Idaho State Police.“That's one of the things that kept us going for weeks,” he said, while authorities awaited DNA and other evidence.<h2>Sorting the helpful from the odd</h2>Gilbertson said much of the early vetting in the Idaho murders was done by the FBI. He said agents and analysts who were screening tips had a good grasp of what information could be spiked and what should be handed up to key investigators. Some tips arrived by regular mail.“Aliens to bears to crazy conspiratorial ideas — don't even pass that along,” Gilbertson said.Nancy Guthrie was last seen Jan. 31 and was reported missing the following day. Hours before her family knew she was gone, a porch camera recorded video of a person with a backpack who was wearing a ski mask, long pants, jacket and gloves — images that were released by the FBI along with a public plea for help.The FBI on Thursday said the person, now a suspect, is a man about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a medium build. The agency also named the brand and model of the backpack.Neighborhood resident Laura Gargano said she's tried to be helpful. She recommended that authorities look at an underground tank at Guthrie’s home, which was checked last weekend. She also told them that a rental house, not typical for the neighborhood, had recently been vacated.“I noticed the cars were gone,” she told The Associated Press. “It could have been nothing, it could have been coincidental, but it was a change.”The sheriff's department has not said whether any tips from the videos have advanced the investigation.“I'm hopeful,” said Villaseñor, the former Tucson chief. “I have seen cases where simpler and less detailed information has helped bring somebody about. Maybe someone recognizes clothing, maybe the bag. You never know what someone will key on.”___Anyone with information: (800) 225-5324; (520) 351-4900;&nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/8PjMoU17mh">http://tips.fbi.gov</a>

Sorting through tips in cases like the Nancy Guthrie mystery

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a> Associated Press

Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell sharply in January as higher home prices and possibly harsh winter weather kept many prospective homebuyers on the sidelines despite easing mortgage rates.

Existing home sales sank 8.4% last month from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. That’s the biggest monthly decline in nearly four years and the slowest annualized sales pace in more than two years.

Sales fell 4.4% compared with January last year. The latest sales figure fell short of the 4.105 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.

“The decrease in sales is disappointing,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “The below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation this January make it harder than usual to assess the underlying driver of the decrease and determine if this month’s numbers are an aberration.”

Home sales slowed sharply across the Northeast, Midwest, South and West. But sales had their biggest annual and monthly drop in the West, which wasn’t as affected by last month’s winter storm as the other regions of the country. Plus, there’s usually a month or two lag between a contract signing and when the sale is finalized, so many of January’s sales reflect contracts signed late last year.

Despite the sharp drop in sales, home prices continued to climb last month. The national median sales price increased 0.9% in January from a year earlier to $396,800. Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 31 months in a row.

The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. The combination of higher mortgage rates, years of skyrocketing home prices and a chronic shortage of homes nationally following more than a decade of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes remained stuck last year at 30-year lows.</a>

Sales have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023. That’s well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm.

Still, mortgage rates have been trending lower for months, which helped give home sales a boost in December and brightened the outlook for the upcoming spring home-buying season — at least for home shoppers who can afford to buy at current rates.

Many of the homes purchased last month likely went under contract in November and December, when mortgage rates eased to their lowest levels of the year.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage briefly dropped last month to 6.06%, the lowest level since September 2022, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. It has since inched higher, remaining this week at just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-8078c72e225e45b9298e0bf3e0d2236f">above 6%</a>, but close to a percentage point lower than a year ago.

Even so, affordability remains a challenge for many aspiring homeowners, especially first-time buyers who don’t have equity from an existing home to put toward a new home purchase. They accounted for 31% of homes sales last month. Historically, they made up 40% of home sales.

“Today we have minimal foreclosures, housing wealth continues to build out, it’s just that renters who want to become homeowners are finding difficulty,” Yun said.

Uncertainty over the job market is also likely keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.

While the economy has been registering solid growth, the labor market has been sluggish for months.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-labor-economy-ai-layoffs-1304701fb238015de750a931c4175579">U.S. job openings fell in December</a>&nbsp;to the lowest level in more than five years. And while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-labor-c760d3f86988833bc9ccb3936d44d61b">hiring by U.S. employers was surprisingly strong in January,</a>&nbsp;government revisions reduced the number of jobs created last year to the weakest total since 2020, when the pandemic began.

The sales slowdown means more homes are staying on the market longer.

There were 1.22 million unsold homes at the end of January, down 0.8% from December and up 3.4% from January last year, NAR said. That’s still well short of the roughly 2 million homes for sale that was typical before the COVID-19 pandemic.

January’s month-end inventory translates to a 3.7-month supply at the current sales pace. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.

More homes traditionally go on the market ahead of the spring home-buying season, which could give prospective buyers a wider selection.

“Buyers will find a more favorable market as we head into spring,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS. “More inventory, lower rates and slower price growth will give buyers more room for negotiation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="Photo AP" />
 <figcaption>Photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a> Associated PressSales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell sharply in January as higher home prices and possibly harsh winter weather kept many prospective homebuyers on the sidelines despite easing mortgage rates.Existing home sales sank 8.4% last month from December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.91 million units, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday. That’s the biggest monthly decline in nearly four years and the slowest annualized sales pace in more than two years.Sales fell 4.4% compared with January last year. The latest sales figure fell short of the 4.105 million pace economists were expecting, according to FactSet.“The decrease in sales is disappointing,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “The below-normal temperatures and above-normal precipitation this January make it harder than usual to assess the underlying driver of the decrease and determine if this month’s numbers are an aberration.”Home sales slowed sharply across the Northeast, Midwest, South and West. But sales had their biggest annual and monthly drop in the West, which wasn’t as affected by last month’s winter storm as the other regions of the country. Plus, there’s usually a month or two lag between a contract signing and when the sale is finalized, so many of January’s sales reflect contracts signed late last year.Despite the sharp drop in sales, home prices continued to climb last month. The national median sales price increased 0.9% in January from a year earlier to $396,800. Home prices have risen on an annual basis for 31 months in a row.The U.S. housing market has been in a sales slump dating back to 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. The combination of higher mortgage rates, years of skyrocketing home prices and a chronic shortage of homes nationally following more than a decade of below-average home construction have left many aspiring homeowners priced out of the market.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-d14d4f80bb90d6031292d1f0c377d708">Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes remained stuck last year at 30-year lows.</a>Sales have been hovering close to a 4-million annual pace now going back to 2023. That’s well short of the 5.2-million annual pace that’s historically been the norm.Still, mortgage rates have been trending lower for months, which helped give home sales a boost in December and brightened the outlook for the upcoming spring home-buying season — at least for home shoppers who can afford to buy at current rates.Many of the homes purchased last month likely went under contract in November and December, when mortgage rates eased to their lowest levels of the year.The average rate on a 30-year mortgage briefly dropped last month to 6.06%, the lowest level since September 2022, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. It has since inched higher, remaining this week at just&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mortgage-rates-housing-interest-financing-home-8078c72e225e45b9298e0bf3e0d2236f">above 6%</a>, but close to a percentage point lower than a year ago.Even so, affordability remains a challenge for many aspiring homeowners, especially first-time buyers who don’t have equity from an existing home to put toward a new home purchase. They accounted for 31% of homes sales last month. Historically, they made up 40% of home sales.“Today we have minimal foreclosures, housing wealth continues to build out, it’s just that renters who want to become homeowners are finding difficulty,” Yun said.Uncertainty over the job market is also likely keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.While the economy has been registering solid growth, the labor market has been sluggish for months.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-labor-economy-ai-layoffs-1304701fb238015de750a931c4175579">U.S. job openings fell in December</a>&nbsp;to the lowest level in more than five years. And while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-economy-unemployment-labor-c760d3f86988833bc9ccb3936d44d61b">hiring by U.S. employers was surprisingly strong in January,</a>&nbsp;government revisions reduced the number of jobs created last year to the weakest total since 2020, when the pandemic began.The sales slowdown means more homes are staying on the market longer.There were 1.22 million unsold homes at the end of January, down 0.8% from December and up 3.4% from January last year, NAR said. That’s still well short of the roughly 2 million homes for sale that was typical before the COVID-19 pandemic.January’s month-end inventory translates to a 3.7-month supply at the current sales pace. Traditionally, a 5- to 6-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyers and sellers.More homes traditionally go on the market ahead of the spring home-buying season, which could give prospective buyers a wider selection.“Buyers will find a more favorable market as we head into spring,” said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS. “More inventory, lower rates and slower price growth will give buyers more room for negotiation.”

Why US homes sales fell sharply in January

Five individuals were federally indicted this week for their roles in an alleged $220 million nationwide fraud scheme involving purported cattle purchase contracts, according to United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

Those indicted by a Fort Worth federal grand jury on February 11, 2026, were:

“Thousands of unwitting investors, ranchers, and others in the cattle industry nationwide were drawn in and victimized by the defendants’ multi-million dollar scheme alleged in this indictment,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.&nbsp; “My office, in concert with our law enforcement partners, will hold these defendants accountable and pursue justice on behalf of the victims.”

“The defendants allegedly used false promises to lure prospective clients into their scheme and then misappropriated client funds to enrich themselves. One individual, Joshua Robert Link, remains a fugitive. We are asking the public to contact the FBI if they have any information regarding Link’s location,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.

As alleged in the indictment, each of the defendants were associated with Agridime LLC, a business headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas that offered cattle sales and meat processing and retail services to the public.&nbsp; Jed Wood served as the Operations Director.&nbsp; Joshua Link served as the Executive Director.&nbsp; Tia Link served as the Marketing Director.&nbsp; Taylor Bang served as a cattle broker, and Royana Thomas served as the financial controller.

The indictment alleges that, from January 2021 through December 2023, the five defendants, acting through Agridime, perpetrated a fraud scheme in which they falsely represented to individual cattle purchasers, cattle ranchers, and feedlots that Agridime would use their funds to purchase specific individual cattle for each victim, raise the cattle, and eventually sell the meat from the same specific individual cattle for a profit.&nbsp; In reality, as the indictment charges, the defendants did not use victim funds as promised and instead used newer cattle purchaser funds to pay Agridime operating expenses, pay funds owed by Agridime to earlier cattle purchasers, pay personal expenses, and purchase real property.&nbsp;

As alleged, the defendants fraudulently collected more than $220 million from over 2,200 individual victims located throughout the United States due to fraudulent misrepresentations the defendants made in public and private advertising statements.

If convicted, the defendants face up to twenty years in federal prison on each wire fraud count for which they were indicted as well as twenty years’ imprisonment for the charged wire fraud conspiracy.&nbsp; Additionally, the defendants face up to ten years’ imprisonment for each money laundering count in which they are charged.

Tia Link and Taylor Bang appeared for arraignment before a United States Magistrate Judge in Fort Worth today.&nbsp; Both were released under pretrial supervision.&nbsp; Jed Wood and Royana Thomas are set to appear for arraignment in Fort Worth before a United States Magistrate Judge on February 25, 2026.

Joshua Robert Link remains a fugitive. The FBI requests that the public contact the FBI with any information regarding Link’s location.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771030201690.png" alt="Link has ties to Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Colorado and Arizona, according to the FBI. " />
 <figcaption>Link has ties to Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Arkansas, Colorado and Arizona, according to the FBI. </figcaption>
 </figure>Five individuals were federally indicted this week for their roles in an alleged $220 million nationwide fraud scheme involving purported cattle purchase contracts, according to United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.Those indicted by a Fort Worth federal grand jury on February 11, 2026, were:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771030177390.png" alt="Link photo FBI" />
 <figcaption>Link photo FBI</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>Joshua Link&nbsp;of Strafford, Missouri, charged with ten counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and two counts of money laundering, including wiring more than $527,000 to purchase real property</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Jed Wood&nbsp;of Fort Worth, Texas, charged with three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering involving wiring more than $63,000 to a lender for “Home Payoff”</li><li>Tia Link&nbsp;of Smithton, Missouri, charged with three counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering, including wiring more than $527,000 to purchase real property</li><li>Taylor Bang&nbsp;of Kildeer, North Dakota, charged with eight counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering</li><li>Royana Thomas&nbsp;of Arlington, Texas, charged with six counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and one count of money laundering</li>
 </ul>“Thousands of unwitting investors, ranchers, and others in the cattle industry nationwide were drawn in and victimized by the defendants’ multi-million dollar scheme alleged in this indictment,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould.&nbsp; “My office, in concert with our law enforcement partners, will hold these defendants accountable and pursue justice on behalf of the victims.”“The defendants allegedly used false promises to lure prospective clients into their scheme and then misappropriated client funds to enrich themselves. One individual, Joshua Robert Link, remains a fugitive. We are asking the public to contact the FBI if they have any information regarding Link’s location,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.As alleged in the indictment, each of the defendants were associated with Agridime LLC, a business headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas that offered cattle sales and meat processing and retail services to the public.&nbsp; Jed Wood served as the Operations Director.&nbsp; Joshua Link served as the Executive Director.&nbsp; Tia Link served as the Marketing Director.&nbsp; Taylor Bang served as a cattle broker, and Royana Thomas served as the financial controller.The indictment alleges that, from January 2021 through December 2023, the five defendants, acting through Agridime, perpetrated a fraud scheme in which they falsely represented to individual cattle purchasers, cattle ranchers, and feedlots that Agridime would use their funds to purchase specific individual cattle for each victim, raise the cattle, and eventually sell the meat from the same specific individual cattle for a profit.&nbsp; In reality, as the indictment charges, the defendants did not use victim funds as promised and instead used newer cattle purchaser funds to pay Agridime operating expenses, pay funds owed by Agridime to earlier cattle purchasers, pay personal expenses, and purchase real property.&nbsp;As alleged, the defendants fraudulently collected more than $220 million from over 2,200 individual victims located throughout the United States due to fraudulent misrepresentations the defendants made in public and private advertising statements.If convicted, the defendants face up to twenty years in federal prison on each wire fraud count for which they were indicted as well as twenty years’ imprisonment for the charged wire fraud conspiracy.&nbsp; Additionally, the defendants face up to ten years’ imprisonment for each money laundering count in which they are charged.Tia Link and Taylor Bang appeared for arraignment before a United States Magistrate Judge in Fort Worth today.&nbsp; Both were released under pretrial supervision.&nbsp; Jed Wood and Royana Thomas are set to appear for arraignment in Fort Worth before a United States Magistrate Judge on February 25, 2026.Joshua Robert Link remains a fugitive. The FBI requests that the public contact the FBI with any information regarding Link’s location.

FBI: Man with ties to Kansas wanted for $220 million fraud scheme

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 — Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a controversial bill that forces transgender people to use bathrooms that match their biological sex at birth, saying the poorly drafted legislation would have far-reaching consequences.

The Democratic governor now hands House Substitute for&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb244/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 244</a>&nbsp;back to a Legislature that has enough Republican votes to override her veto and put the bill into law.

The bill requires government entities to police bathrooms and other private spaces in their buildings, and levies fines against the governing body for failing to comply. It also sets up escalating penalties for individuals who use a bathroom that doesn’t match their sex at birth.

In a statement Friday, Kelly cited multiple situations that would be affected by HB 244.

“If your grandfather is in a nursing home in a shared room, as a granddaughter, you would not be able to visit him,” Kelly said. “If your sister is living in a dorm at K-State, as a brother, you would not be able to visit her in her room.”

Kelly said she vetoed the bill because of those “numerous and significant consequences.”

“I believe the Legislature should stay out of the business of telling Kansans how to go to the bathroom and instead stay focused on how to make life more affordable for Kansans,” she said.

House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said he didn’t understand why the governor would veto a “common sense” bill.

“That’s not extreme — it’s basic clarity, truth, and dignity,” he said in a statement. “Kansans expect their laws to reflect reality and protect privacy. Instead of standing with the overwhelming majority of Kansans on this issue, the Governor chose to appease her most radical supporters at the cost of women and girls in our state.”

Senate President Ty Masterson said he was surprised to see Kelly “turn her back on women.”

“Sadly, our governor has decided she will side with they/them over simple, scientific truth,” Masterson said in a statement. “Kansans need not worry — the Kansas Senate will restore sanity, and override her veto.”

The House and Senate, through a series of procedural devices, passed SB 244 without allowing public input on the bathroom portion of the bill.

The legislation originated in the House Judiciary Committee as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2426/" target="_blank">House Bill 2426</a>, which originally dealt with gender markers on driver’s licenses and birth certificates. Despite little advance notice of the hearing on the bill, more than 200 people opposed HB 2426 through written testimony.

A week later, the committee debated the bill with no advance notice. Rep. Bob Lewis, R-Garden City, proposed an amendment to ban transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice and prohibiting anyone from taking a child older than 10 into a bathroom for the opposite sex.

In a “gut and go” move, the committee then placed HB 2426 into SB 244, which was completely unrelated. The move allowed the Senate, following passage by the House, to hold an immediate vote without a committee hearing first.

Numerous Democrats blasted the lack of transparency in the process&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/28/this-bill-spits-on-basic-human-decency-kansas-legislature-passes-bathroom-ban-without-hearing/">during a six-hour House debate</a>.

In a statement Friday, House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard said SB 244 was a failure of “process and priorities.”

“The bill was rushed through the Legislature without meaningful public input or debate. Beyond its flawed process, the legislation targets a small and vulnerable group of Kansans while creating sweeping and unintended consequences for communities across our state,” he said in a statement.

Like Kelly, Woodard expressed concern for the far-reaching implications of SB 244. It would affect shared hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation and treatment rooms, dorm rooms and sporting events, he said.

“This bill is bad legislation and has bad unintended consequences,” Woodard said.

Local government officials have said the bill could cost local governments&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/12/kansas-local-government-leaders-question-millions-in-costs-lack-of-detail-in-bathroom-bill/">millions of&nbsp; dollars to implement</a>.

Harper Seldin, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the Kansas bill stands out as “particularly pernicious” and different from similar legislation that has passed across the country.

“I think this bill is particularly extreme and harmful. It’s unique in that it contains these escalating criminal penalties against individual people, as well as this private right of action,” he said. “I think also the provision regarding municipal liability is particularly harmful, because it puts the price of this kind of discrimination on local taxpayers in a way that feels deeply unjust.”

SB 244 sets an initial penalty if a local government entity doesn’t comply with the bill at $25,000, with penalties escalating to $125,000 after subsequent violations. City and county officials&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/12/kansas-local-government-leaders-question-millions-in-costs-lack-of-detail-in-bathroom-bill/">have expressed concern</a>&nbsp;about the bill’s lack of clarity.

Seldin said the language in the bill is confusing for parents, who must decide whether they have to leave their 10-year-old son standing alone outside the restroom if they are using the women’s room.

“This bill is particularly poorly worded and constructed in ways that are going to create confusion and anxiety, and certainly real material harm in the event it’s enforced,” he said.

Seldin said Kansas legislators, no matter their feelings about transgender people, should consider whether the bill should be passed in its current form.

“I think that’s exactly the intent of bills like this, including the poor wording, which is to create the kind of fear and uncertainty that causes trans folks to self police and over comply, even in restrooms where they are perfectly permitted to be,” Seldin said.

Although there has been a “wave” of restroom bans across the country, Seldin said it is a solution in search of a problem.

“Trans people are much more likely to be the victims of violence than than they are to be causing it,” he said. “Public restrooms are not a site of a lot of violence or harm. I think that the assumption of these bills is that trans people are unworthy to be in society, or that there’s something dangerous about us, because we don’t conform to ideas of what men and women are. But there’s no evidence to support that.”

Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said SB 244’s focus on attacking transgender people is “appalling.”

“SB 244 is about invading privacy, forcing people into the wrong bathrooms, stripping transgender Kansans of accurate IDs, and inviting government-sanctioned harassment — all pushed through using cynical procedural tricks to silence public opposition,” Robinson said in a statement. “Shameful policies like this are part and parcel of a national right-wing anti-LGBTQ+ campaign, and they don’t make anyone safer.”

Brittany Jones, president of Kansas Family Voice, said the legislation supports the “Kansas Women’s Bill of Rights” by ensuring women and girls have private, sex-specific spaces.

“Most kindergartners know the difference between a boy and a girl and can tell you which restroom each should use, yet the governor of our state cannot seem to recognize the distinction,” she said in a written statement.

About 50 transgender people and their allies gathered&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/06/trans-kansans-and-allies-use-statehouse-restrooms-in-act-of-malicious-compliance/">Feb. 6 at the Statehouse</a>&nbsp;to use the bathroom. Calling the action a “pee-in,” they demonstrated how the bill would require people who look like men to use the women’s room, and vice versa.

“With everything going on in our government right now, why was Kansas’ main priority to target marginalized communities?” asked Matthew Neumann, executive director of the LGBTQ Foundation of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768391162516.png" alt="&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a “bathroom bill” on Feb. 13, 2026, calling the bill “poorly drafted.”&nbsp;&nbsp; (Photo by Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a “bathroom bill” on Feb. 13, 2026, calling the bill “poorly drafted.”&nbsp;&nbsp; (Photo by Thad Allton for Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>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 — Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a controversial bill that forces transgender people to use bathrooms that match their biological sex at birth, saying the poorly drafted legislation would have far-reaching consequences.The Democratic governor now hands House Substitute for&nbsp;<a href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb244/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 244</a>&nbsp;back to a Legislature that has enough Republican votes to override her veto and put the bill into law.The bill requires government entities to police bathrooms and other private spaces in their buildings, and levies fines against the governing body for failing to comply. It also sets up escalating penalties for individuals who use a bathroom that doesn’t match their sex at birth.In a statement Friday, Kelly cited multiple situations that would be affected by HB 244.“If your grandfather is in a nursing home in a shared room, as a granddaughter, you would not be able to visit him,” Kelly said. “If your sister is living in a dorm at K-State, as a brother, you would not be able to visit her in her room.”Kelly said she vetoed the bill because of those “numerous and significant consequences.”“I believe the Legislature should stay out of the business of telling Kansans how to go to the bathroom and instead stay focused on how to make life more affordable for Kansans,” she said.House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, said he didn’t understand why the governor would veto a “common sense” bill.“That’s not extreme — it’s basic clarity, truth, and dignity,” he said in a statement. “Kansans expect their laws to reflect reality and protect privacy. Instead of standing with the overwhelming majority of Kansans on this issue, the Governor chose to appease her most radical supporters at the cost of women and girls in our state.”Senate President Ty Masterson said he was surprised to see Kelly “turn her back on women.”“Sadly, our governor has decided she will side with they/them over simple, scientific truth,” Masterson said in a statement. “Kansans need not worry — the Kansas Senate will restore sanity, and override her veto.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771034363241.png" alt="House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, talks with colleagues during the Jan. 28, 2026, debate on anti-trans legislation in the House. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, talks with colleagues during the Jan. 28, 2026, debate on anti-trans legislation in the House. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>No public input</h2>The House and Senate, through a series of procedural devices, passed SB 244 without allowing public input on the bathroom portion of the bill.The legislation originated in the House Judiciary Committee as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hb2426/" target="_blank">House Bill 2426</a>, which originally dealt with gender markers on driver’s licenses and birth certificates. Despite little advance notice of the hearing on the bill, more than 200 people opposed HB 2426 through written testimony.A week later, the committee debated the bill with no advance notice. Rep. Bob Lewis, R-Garden City, proposed an amendment to ban transgender people from using the bathroom of their choice and prohibiting anyone from taking a child older than 10 into a bathroom for the opposite sex.In a “gut and go” move, the committee then placed HB 2426 into SB 244, which was completely unrelated. The move allowed the Senate, following passage by the House, to hold an immediate vote without a committee hearing first.Numerous Democrats blasted the lack of transparency in the process&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/01/28/this-bill-spits-on-basic-human-decency-kansas-legislature-passes-bathroom-ban-without-hearing/">during a six-hour House debate</a>.In a statement Friday, House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard said SB 244 was a failure of “process and priorities.”“The bill was rushed through the Legislature without meaningful public input or debate. Beyond its flawed process, the legislation targets a small and vulnerable group of Kansans while creating sweeping and unintended consequences for communities across our state,” he said in a statement.Like Kelly, Woodard expressed concern for the far-reaching implications of SB 244. It would affect shared hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation and treatment rooms, dorm rooms and sporting events, he said.“This bill is bad legislation and has bad unintended consequences,” Woodard said.Local government officials have said the bill could cost local governments&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/12/kansas-local-government-leaders-question-millions-in-costs-lack-of-detail-in-bathroom-bill/">millions of&nbsp; dollars to implement</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/2/1771034312941.png" alt="House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard talks to reporters during a Jan. 15, 2026, news conference in Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes’ office at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard talks to reporters during a Jan. 15, 2026, news conference in Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes’ office at the Statehouse in Topeka. (Photo by Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Extreme and harmful’</h2>Harper Seldin, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the Kansas bill stands out as “particularly pernicious” and different from similar legislation that has passed across the country.“I think this bill is particularly extreme and harmful. It’s unique in that it contains these escalating criminal penalties against individual people, as well as this private right of action,” he said. “I think also the provision regarding municipal liability is particularly harmful, because it puts the price of this kind of discrimination on local taxpayers in a way that feels deeply unjust.”SB 244 sets an initial penalty if a local government entity doesn’t comply with the bill at $25,000, with penalties escalating to $125,000 after subsequent violations. City and county officials&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/12/kansas-local-government-leaders-question-millions-in-costs-lack-of-detail-in-bathroom-bill/">have expressed concern</a>&nbsp;about the bill’s lack of clarity.Seldin said the language in the bill is confusing for parents, who must decide whether they have to leave their 10-year-old son standing alone outside the restroom if they are using the women’s room.“This bill is particularly poorly worded and constructed in ways that are going to create confusion and anxiety, and certainly real material harm in the event it’s enforced,” he said.Seldin said Kansas legislators, no matter their feelings about transgender people, should consider whether the bill should be passed in its current form.“I think that’s exactly the intent of bills like this, including the poor wording, which is to create the kind of fear and uncertainty that causes trans folks to self police and over comply, even in restrooms where they are perfectly permitted to be,” Seldin said.Although there has been a “wave” of restroom bans across the country, Seldin said it is a solution in search of a problem.“Trans people are much more likely to be the victims of violence than than they are to be causing it,” he said. “Public restrooms are not a site of a lot of violence or harm. I think that the assumption of these bills is that trans people are unworthy to be in society, or that there’s something dangerous about us, because we don’t conform to ideas of what men and women are. But there’s no evidence to support that.”<h2>‘Government-sanctioned harassment’</h2>Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson said SB 244’s focus on attacking transgender people is “appalling.”“SB 244 is about invading privacy, forcing people into the wrong bathrooms, stripping transgender Kansans of accurate IDs, and inviting government-sanctioned harassment — all pushed through using cynical procedural tricks to silence public opposition,” Robinson said in a statement. “Shameful policies like this are part and parcel of a national right-wing anti-LGBTQ+ campaign, and they don’t make anyone safer.”Brittany Jones, president of Kansas Family Voice, said the legislation supports the “Kansas Women’s Bill of Rights” by ensuring women and girls have private, sex-specific spaces.“Most kindergartners know the difference between a boy and a girl and can tell you which restroom each should use, yet the governor of our state cannot seem to recognize the distinction,” she said in a written statement.About 50 transgender people and their allies gathered&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2026/02/06/trans-kansans-and-allies-use-statehouse-restrooms-in-act-of-malicious-compliance/">Feb. 6 at the Statehouse</a>&nbsp;to use the bathroom. Calling the action a “pee-in,” they demonstrated how the bill would require people who look like men to use the women’s room, and vice versa.“With everything going on in our government right now, why was Kansas’ main priority to target marginalized communities?” asked Matthew Neumann, executive director of the LGBTQ Foundation of Kansas.

Kansas governor vetoes anti-trans bathroom bill, citing ‘numerous and significant consequences’

A shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that took effect early Saturday impacts the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country. Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that led to historic flight cancellations and long delays last year.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/transportation-security-administration">Transportation Security Administration</a>&nbsp;officers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on Homeland Security's annual funding. TSA officers also worked through the record shutdown that ended Nov. 12, but aviation experts say this one may play out differently.

Trade groups for the U.S. travel industry and major airlines nonetheless warned that the longer DHS appropriations are lapsed, the longer security lines at the nation's commercial airports could get.

Here’s what to know about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-funding-7bf62bc50ca0a6a6013a714bee2ffdb4">the latest shutdown</a>&nbsp;and how to plan ahead.

Funding for Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-e5df415c1fd77b0609dded445edbb9d7">expired at midnight</a>. But the rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will receive paychecks as usual, reducing the risk of widespread flight cancellations.

According to the department’s contingency plan, about 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working. Democrats in the House and Senate say Homeland Security won’t get funded until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations.

During past shutdowns, disruptions to air travel tended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-cancellations-government-shutdown-5034216cb5bb41bd40e27bb7861b2dd3">build over time</a>, not overnight. About a month into last year’s shutdown, for example, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport. That same day, the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-faa-e39c423facec2b0dcc2544af48de0fa1">took the extraordinary step</a>&nbsp;of ordering all commercial airlines to reduce their domestic flight schedules.

John Rose, chief risk officer for global travel management company Altour, said strains could surface at airports more quickly this time because the TSA workforce also will be remembering the last shutdown.

“It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks,” Rose said.

It’s hard to predict whether, when or where security screening snags might pop up. Even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times at smaller airports, for example, if there's just a single security checkpoint.

That’s why travelers should plan to arrive early and allow extra time to get through security.

“I tell people to do this even in good times,” Rose said.

Experts say flight delays also are a possibility even though air traffic controllers are not affected by the DHS shutdown.

Airlines might decide to delay departures in some cases to wait for passengers to clear screening, said Rich Davis, senior security advisor at risk mitigation company International SOS. Shortages of TSA officers also could slow the screening of checked luggage behind the scenes.

Most airports display security line wait times on their websites, but don't wait until the day of a flight to check them, Rose advised.

“You may look online and it says two-and-a-half hours," he said. "Now it’s two-and-a-half hours before your flight and you haven't left for the airport yet.”

Passengers should also pay close attention while packing since prohibited items are likely to prolong the screening process. For carry-on bags, avoid bringing full-size shampoo or other liquids, large gels or aerosols and items like pocketknives in carry-on bags.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1769268628445.png" alt="Photo&nbsp;Transportation Security Administration" />
 <figcaption>Photo&nbsp;Transportation Security Administration</figcaption>
 </figure>A shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that took effect early Saturday impacts the agency responsible for screening passengers and bags at airports across the country. Travelers with airline reservations may be nervously recalling a 43-day&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">government shutdown</a>&nbsp;that led to historic flight cancellations and long delays last year.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/transportation-security-administration">Transportation Security Administration</a>&nbsp;officers are expected to work without pay while lawmakers remain without an agreement on Homeland Security's annual funding. TSA officers also worked through the record shutdown that ended Nov. 12, but aviation experts say this one may play out differently.Trade groups for the U.S. travel industry and major airlines nonetheless warned that the longer DHS appropriations are lapsed, the longer security lines at the nation's commercial airports could get.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">DHS Secretary Kristi Noem (<a href="https://twitter.com/Sec_Noem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Sec_Noem</a>): &quot;We&#39;re concerned about the Department of Homeland Security not being funded...That&#39;s telling the rest of the world the Democrat party doesn&#39;t think that protecting America is safe.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/4WR1iDPRgl">pic.twitter.com/4WR1iDPRgl</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/2022079508413603948?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Here’s what to know about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-funding-7bf62bc50ca0a6a6013a714bee2ffdb4">the latest shutdown</a>&nbsp;and how to plan ahead.<h2>What's different about this shutdown?</h2>Funding for Homeland Security&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/homeland-security-shutdown-ice-e5df415c1fd77b0609dded445edbb9d7">expired at midnight</a>. But the rest of the federal government is funded through Sept. 30. That means air traffic controllers employed by the Federal Aviation Administration will receive paychecks as usual, reducing the risk of widespread flight cancellations.According to the department’s contingency plan, about 95% of TSA workers are deemed essential personnel and required to keep working. Democrats in the House and Senate say Homeland Security won’t get funded until new restrictions are placed on federal immigration operations.During past shutdowns, disruptions to air travel tended to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/flight-delays-cancellations-government-shutdown-5034216cb5bb41bd40e27bb7861b2dd3">build over time</a>, not overnight. About a month into last year’s shutdown, for example, TSA temporarily closed two checkpoints at Philadelphia International Airport. That same day, the government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-faa-e39c423facec2b0dcc2544af48de0fa1">took the extraordinary step</a>&nbsp;of ordering all commercial airlines to reduce their domestic flight schedules.John Rose, chief risk officer for global travel management company Altour, said strains could surface at airports more quickly this time because the TSA workforce also will be remembering the last shutdown.“It’s still fresh in their minds and potentially their pocketbooks,” Rose said.<h2>What is the impact on travelers?</h2>It’s hard to predict whether, when or where security screening snags might pop up. Even a handful of unscheduled TSA absences could quickly lead to longer wait times at smaller airports, for example, if there's just a single security checkpoint.That’s why travelers should plan to arrive early and allow extra time to get through security.“I tell people to do this even in good times,” Rose said.Experts say flight delays also are a possibility even though air traffic controllers are not affected by the DHS shutdown.Airlines might decide to delay departures in some cases to wait for passengers to clear screening, said Rich Davis, senior security advisor at risk mitigation company International SOS. Shortages of TSA officers also could slow the screening of checked luggage behind the scenes.<h2>What travelers can do to prepare</h2>Most airports display security line wait times on their websites, but don't wait until the day of a flight to check them, Rose advised.“You may look online and it says two-and-a-half hours," he said. "Now it’s two-and-a-half hours before your flight and you haven't left for the airport yet.”Passengers should also pay close attention while packing since prohibited items are likely to prolong the screening process. For carry-on bags, avoid bringing full-size shampoo or other liquids, large gels or aerosols and items like pocketknives in carry-on bags.TSA&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all">has a full list</a>&nbsp;on its website of what is and isn't allowed in carry-on and checked luggage.At the airport, Rose said, remember to “practice patience and empathy."“Not only are they not getting paid,” he said of TSA agents, “they’re probably working with reduced staff and dealing with angry travelers.”<h2>Will the shutdown drag on?</h2>The White House has been negotiating with Democratic lawmakers, but the two sides failed to reach a deal by the end of the week before senators and members of Congress were set to leave Washington for a 10-day break.Lawmakers in both chambers were on notice, however, to return if a deal to end the shutdown is struck.Democrats have said they won’t help approve more funding for Homeland Security until&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-immigration-enforcement-democrats-homeland-security-trump-bcde78c38605732106fb77e46373dc9a">new restrictions</a>&nbsp;are placed on federal immigration operations after the fatal shooting of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-minnesota-protester-alex-pretti-15ade7de6e19cb0291734e85dac763dc">Alex Pretti</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-minnesota-9aa822670b705c89906f2c699f1d16c5">Renee Good</a>&nbsp;in Minneapolis last month.In a joint statement, U.S. Travel, Airlines for America and the American Hotel &amp; Lodging Association warned that the shutdown threatens to disrupt air travel as the busy spring break travel season approaches.“Travelers and the U.S. economy cannot afford to have essential TSA personnel working without pay, which increases the risk of unscheduled absences and call outs, and ultimately can lead to higher wait times and missed or delayed flights,” the statement said.