Berco, Inc. (Berco), the bank holding company for The Bennington State Bank (BSB), a locally owned and operated community bank, announced on Tuesday they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Berco and BSB will acquire Eskridge, Kansas based Flint Hills Bank. 

This strategic acquisition will expand Bennington State Bank’s presence in key markets, reinforcing their commitment to serving Kansas communities of all sizes. The Definitive Agreement has been approved by the boards of directors.&nbsp;

The merger is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and is expected to close in Q2 of 2026.&nbsp;

The process of acquiring Flint Hills Bank started in September 2025.

Flint Hills Bank operates under its primary charter name while serving customers through four separately branded community bank locations, each with a strong local presence and identity:

These locations serve relationship-focused markets that closely align with Bennington State Bank’s community banking philosophy. The acquisition represents an opportunity to expand into a new market area while preserving local values, decision-making, and personalized service that customers of both banks value.

“Our shared commitment to relationship banking and personalized service makes this merger a strong cultural fit. This acquisition represents an exciting opportunity to expand in a market that shares our community bank mindset,” said BSB Chairman, President and CEO Darren Gragg. “We are excited to welcome the team members and customers of Flint Hills Bank and to continue building on the strong foundation of trust and relationships they have established in their markets.”

“By joining forces with Bennington State Bank, we can continue delivering the high level of personal service our customers value, while gaining access to additional resources that support long term growth and stability,” said Flint Hills Bank Chairman &amp; CEO, Pat Wiederholt. “We are thrilled about this partnership and look forward to continuing to serve our employees, customers, and the community with the same dedication and care that both institutions are known for."

There will be no changes to any services for Salina customers after this merger officially occurs.

Bennington State Bank to acquire Flint Hills Bank, reinforcing commitment to serving more Kansas communities

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Tuesday at around 8:00 pm, a blue 2007 Chrysler Town and Country was reportedly stolen from a north Salina residence.

The vehicle bears KS tag:&nbsp;935RYE

SPD are currently reviewing neighborhood surveillance and FLOCK in search of the vehicle.

There are suspect(s) at this time, along with no indication of the keys being inside the vehicle at the time it was stolen.

If you have any information about this vehicle, contact the non-emergency SPD number at: (785) 826-7210

Law enforcement searching for vehicle stolen from north Salina home

Fort Riley men were caught barcode swapping at a Salina Target before arrest.

According to the Salina Police Department (SPD) on Monday, security from Target on South 9th had two male suspects in custody for allegedly barcode swapping trading cards.

Reportedly, the suspects committed the thefts on January 11 and the 17th as well.

Salina Police Department were dispatched to the store and arrested the suspects identified as <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/d636227e-1ce4-4f61-84d8-10ae005746d8">Austin Martin (23) and Colby Flowers (24), both from Fort Riley, KS.</a>

Both were booked into the Saline County Jail for the requested charge of Felony Theft.

Martin and Flowers allegedly stole two&nbsp;boxes of sports cards, valued $100 and two packs of pokemon cards, valued $10.

Fort Riley men caught barcode swapping at Salina Target before arrest

Following is recent booking activity for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.salinecountyks.gov/Sheriff-Office/Online-search/Booking-Activities">Saline County Jail</a>, as provided by law enforcement. Photos, if provided, are courtesy of Saline County Jail. All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

NAME:&nbsp;Arellano,Natalia Caridad

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Failure to appear; Use/poss drug paraphernalian/human body; Poss of hallucinogenic drug; Failure to appear; Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Failure to appear (2)

NAME:&nbsp;Garcia,Wilfredo Waldmar

NAME:&nbsp;Jenkins Bolieu,Raesha Ann

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Failure to appear

NAME:&nbsp;Juhl,Elizabeth Paige Marie

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Outside warrant/NCIC hit

REQUESTED CHARGE:&nbsp;Viol protection order; Pre-trial order

REQUESTED CHARGE: Failure to appear

REQUESTED CHARGES:&nbsp;Probation Violation; Failure to appear

Saline County Jail Bookings, January 21

Policies aim to get ahead of Legislature’s debate about weakening tenure rights

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Kansas Board of Regents ordered state public universities to implement faculty workload and tenure review policies that will bring underperforming professors to remediation, with termination a potential consequence for failure to address deficiencies.

The mandate applied to thousands of faculty employed at Kansas State University, the University of Kansas, Pittsburg State University, Fort Hays State University, Emporia State University and Wichita State University. Expectations for nontenure, tenure-track and tenured faculty wouldn’t be identical from university to university, but all would be assigned annual course instructional loads and undergo yearly reviews in terms of teaching, research and public service.

Faculty at the state’s three research-oriented universities — KU, K-State and WSU — would be expected to teach six to nine credit hours per semester. Annual reviews of these faculty would be based on teaching at 40% to 55% of the workload. Research obligations would range from 35% to 45% of the total. Public service would be 5% to 20% of the job.

Faculty at the three regional universities — PSU, ESU and FHSU — would be assigned 12 credit hours of instructional course work each semester. The faculty evaluation breakdown: teaching, 60% to 75%; research, 15% to 30%; and public service, 5% to 20%.

Tenured university faculty in the Board of Regents system would undergo performance assessments by a campus committee every five years. Those determined to be less than satisfactory would be placed on self-improvement plans. If a faculty member earned a second unsatisfactory annual review, the policy said, the individual would be subject to dismissal, reassignment or other personnel action.

Rusty Monhollon, vice president of academic affairs for the Board of Regents, said the post-tenure and workload policies would help administrators identify faculty falling short of standards and those exceeding those metrics. The goal was to make evaluation of faculty less subjective and to address consternation about the rigor of decisions about faculty appointments, he said.

He expected few university faculty to fail to abide by new productivity standards because the “work they do is good.”

“These are very important policies that are impactful. We want to make sure we get it right,” said Alysia Johnston, a member of the Board of Regents.

Johnston, a former president of Fort Scott Community College, said the final version of policies approved by the Board of Regents left the analysis of tenure review cases to university administrators because the state board didn’t have the expertise to make scholarly judgments. She said the Board of Regents would consider tenure appeals based on claims that due process rights were violated by university administrators.

The Board of Regents voted unanimously at its January meeting to require the six universities to begin documenting and reporting faculty performance data that would be shared with legislators and others to enhance transparency and accountability in higher education.

University reporting would include statistics on student credit hours produced, percentage of credit hours by full-time faculty, bachelor’s degrees awarded, student retention, faculty scholarship and faculty research funding. Information about the number of people granted and denied tenure and the number of faculty who left each university must be documented.

Board of Regents member Matt Crocker, a Manhattan businessman, said he appreciated that the development of a systemwide faculty review policy involved considerable effort by the Board of Regents. He said there was an expectation among members of the Kansas Legislature that faculty workload policies would be rigorous. In the past two years, members of the Legislature raised the possibility of modifying tenure at the state universities.

“The question I seem to get all the time, especially here in Topeka, is making sure I’m a good steward for the state’s funding for higher education,” he said.

Under the Board of Regents policy, each university would craft faculty workload expectations that were “equitable, fair and balanced, and aligned with the unique needs of each department and the whole institution.” While all faculty would be assigned teaching loads, the policy said, exceptions would be permitted for clinical or research faculty, librarians and other personnel in noninstructional roles.

The new systemwide policy was developed by Board of Regents’ staff, university administrators and faculty as well as state politicians. At least four drafts were circulated for review and comment during the past seven months.

Kansas adopts faculty workload, post-tenure review system for public universities

Salina Central Mustangs Theatre Troupe 639 &amp; the Salina Central music department will present Into the Woods (the musical) on&nbsp;Thursday, January 29th, Friday, January 30, and Saturday January 31 at 7:00pm.

James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim take everyone's favorite storybook characters and bring them together for a timeless, yet relevant, piece... and a rare modern classic. The Tony Award-winning book and score are both enchanting and touching.

The story follows a Baker and his wife, who wish to have a child; Cinderella, who wishes to attend the King's Festival; and Jack, who wishes his cow would give milk. When the Baker and his wife learn that they cannot have a child because of a Witch's curse, the two set off on a journey to break the curse. Everyone's wish is granted, but the consequences of their actions return to haunt them later with disastrous results.

One of Sondheim's most popular works, Into the Woods is a musically sophisticated show with the opportunity to feature actors adept at dark comedy. Designers will especially enjoy highlighting the fantastical elements of this magical word.

Tickets are $10 adults and $5 students and are available for purchase (cash, check or card are accepted) one hour before each performance at the Central High School Auditorium box office (enter through south entrance to the school).

You can also purchase online <a href="https://our.show/woods639">here</a>.

For more information on the Kansas Thespian Festival, click <a href="https://www.kansasthespians.com/kansas-thespian-festival.html">here</a>.&nbsp;

The Central High School Theatre program Thespian Troupe 639 was selected by the adjudication committee of the Kansas Thespian Festival to present their musical of Catch Me If You Can to the 2026 Kansas Thespian Festival on January 8th at the Mary Jane Teall Theater in Century II in Wichita, KS. This honor comes from having their show adjudicated among other productions from around the state and earning one of five production spots. Troupe 639 will open the festival with their production which was presented at Salina Central in November. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Is presented through special arrangement with

Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com.

The Kansas Thespian Festival was attended by over 1800 students, teachers, and college representatives this year and will is the largest Kansas Thespian festival to date.

In addition to performing their production twice and opening the festival, Ms. Barbara Hilt was inducted into the Kansas Thespians Hall of Fame.

Students also received honors for their individual events known as Thespys at the Festival. 21 students from Central earned a Superior (highest rating) rating on their individual events that were comprised of duet scenes, monologues, and musical solos and duets. This has earned these students a qualification for the International Thespian Festival held yearly in June in Bloomington, Indiana at the University of Indiana, Bloomington.

Main Stage Production 2 full performances of Catch Me If You Can

21 Superior Thespys (a record number for Central of the highest placement in these individual events) below and attached are the names of students and their superior thespys.

Salina Central theatre dept. to present "Into the Woods" the musical

<a href="https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Salina&amp;state=KS&amp;site=ICT&amp;lat=38.8158&amp;lon=-97.6178">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Monitor local weather updates frequently in multiple ways by listening to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/nwr/">NOAA Weather Radio</a>, checking local news and emergency notifications. You can also stay informed by following Saline County and the National Weather Service on social media.

For the latest forecast updates, visit the National Weather Service Wichita office at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/ict/">https://www.weather.gov/ict/</a>. To check forecasts frequently, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.weather.gov/">weather.gov</a>.

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 21 - January 23

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

Salina Post obituary policy (subject to change)

Salina Post understands the importance of honoring the deceased and welcomes all submissions of obituaries with a full summary of their life, survivors, services, website of the funeral home and a photo.

Salina Post accepts all obituaries&nbsp;free of charge (subject to change)&nbsp;and you can email all obituaries:&nbsp;<a href="https://newstips@salinapost.com/">newstips@salinapost.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com">nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com</a>&nbsp;and will be posted on the website within 24 business hours.

If you have an issue outside of business hours, if your obituary has not been published within 24 business hours, or if have any questions, please email:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://newstips@salinapost.com/">newstips@salinapost.com</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com">nicolas.fierro@eaglemedia.com</a>

Recent obituaries and service times, how to submit an obituary

All of our LIVE sports streams are FREE to watch for everybody!!!

High School Sports LIVE STREAMS

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://go.kansascourts.gov/l/kZhfIWrV2moSvHhJaNrh5IMwT51gAnBZh09LcVXYUxQluHBzT8JouvUlWUwzpsBx3L22wcZtnVQBIFVYedbq2aPKJWSQYBG5dR64gMqL6ibrYaYC-P64J56ZSpe2S6VTSBAx9VN8kwuH9UHrkJI6D8Gb6Ss0WoR1qOsd0i4NtYt2KAVGvMlLJEGRaiwU_T49xQmOWHHG-0ij3wCrvNspAUHdrEAexwIsyiYMiWdqoMWF5qQjuZzVyM_oJ4qvwPFy">28th Judicial District Nominating Commission</a>&nbsp;will convene at 9:30 am Wednesday, February 4&nbsp;to interview the selected nominees to fill a <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/a19625fc-4054-4043-956f-ebba7b0a228b">district judge vacancy.</a>

The judicial vacancy will be created when District Judge Paul Hickman retires May 1.

The 28th Judicial District is composed of Ottawa and Saline counties.

Interviews are open to the public and will take place at Saline County Courthouse (300 W Ash St.) in Salina.

Richard Buck, Salina, lead assistant public defender, Kansas Board of Indigents’ Defense Services

Amy Coppola Crawford, Milford, district magistrate judge, Geary County, 8th Judicial District

Alexander Driskell, Salina, associate attorney, Allen &amp; Associates, LLC

Michelle Martin, Solomon, attorney, community relations supervisor, Community and Development Services Department, City of Salina

W. Brad Sutton, Assaria, prosecutor, City of Salina

Debra J.G. Wright, Beloit, district magistrate judge, Mitchell County, 12th Judicial District

The Nominating Commission consists of Justice K.J. Wall as the nonvoting chair; David Stanley, Bennington; Lance Cochran, Robert German, Donald Merriman, Christine Ritter, and Russel Prophet, Salina; and Kathy Luthi, Soloman.&nbsp;

Interview schedule announced for nominees to fill 28th district judge position 

Families with&nbsp;3 and 4-year-old preschoolers enrolling for the 2026–2027 school year at Love ’n Learn Early Childhood Center, as well as families of children&nbsp;enrolling in Kindergarten at St. Mary’s Grade School, are invited to attend an Early Childhood Open House hosted by&nbsp;Salina Catholic Schools&nbsp;on&nbsp;Wednesday, January 21.

The Open House will take place at&nbsp;Love ’n Learn Early Childhood Center&nbsp;from&nbsp;5:45–6:15 p.m.&nbsp;for preschool families, followed by&nbsp;St. Mary’s Grade School&nbsp;from&nbsp;6:30–7:00 p.m.&nbsp;for Kindergarten families. 

Families will have the opportunity to meet teachers, tour classrooms, and learn more about each program.

The Open House offers a firsthand look at how Salina Catholic Schools provides a nurturing, faith-filled foundation for young learners.

For more information, families may contact&nbsp;St. Mary’s Grade School at 785-827-4200&nbsp;or&nbsp;Love ’n Learn Early Childhood Center at 785-827-4822.

Salina Catholic Schools to host early childhood open house Jan. 21

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 19 - January 21

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 16 - January 18

High wind gusts are expected to make its way through Salina and central Kansas on Friday.

According to the US National Weather Service, gusty&nbsp;northwest winds are forecasted during the day on Friday. Wind gusts are expected to range from 40-50 mph.

This is also paired with dry conditions, which there will be a very high grassland fire danger in the afternoon.

Russell is expected to have the highest speed of wind gusts with the range being 45-50 mph.

High temperatures for Salina is 41 degrees.

Stay updated with local weather on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NWSWichita">US National Weather Service Wichita Kansas</a>&nbsp;Facebook page.

High wind gusts and grassland fire danger expected throughout central Kansas, Salina on Friday

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 14 - January 16

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 12 - January 14

A chance of light rain Friday afternoon is expected to gradually transition into light snow towards the evening.

According to the US National Weather Service, a chance of rain is expected after 1:00 pm with a 50% chance to mix with snow after 4:00 pm.

Portions of central and south-central Kansas could see light snow accumulations up to 1 inch, and slick spots on bridges and overpasses are possible tonight.&nbsp;

A little after 7:00 pm, the mix will likely become all snow.

Higher accumulations are expected across southwest Kansas.

Light snow up to 1 inch expected late Friday afternoon and into the evening in central Kansas

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 9 - January 11

After an activity of showers and thunderstorms to occur late Wednesday night through Thursday, a storm system is expected follow that with light to modest snow accumulations across the region Friday afternoon through night.

The greatest potential for at least a half inch of rain is primarily along and east of I-135.

This is according to the US National Weather Service, but there remains some uncertainty as the weather agency will refine forecast details the next few days.

Chance of snow to occur Friday after upcoming showers and thunderstorms 

Three day weather forecast Salina, January 7 - January 9

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 4a.m. January 19, a sheriff's deputy&nbsp;conducted a traffic stop on a white 2005 Cadillac SUV near SW 17th Street and SW Washburn Avenue in Topeka, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.&nbsp; It was determined that the driver did not have a valid driver’s license. He also had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest. During the investigation, illegal narcotics were located.

Quamell C-C Eteeyan, 30, Topeka was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia and traffic violations.

Kan. man without a driver's license was transporting drugs

ATCHISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Tuesday in Atchison.

A 2017 Dodge Ram pickup&nbsp; driven by Matthew Carr, 40, Atchison, was northbound on 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The pickup turned west onto U.S.59, crossed the median and left the roadway on the south side of U.S.59.&nbsp; The vehicle continued southbound down an embankment, across a parking lot and then struck the north side of Hotel Eastin,&nbsp;401 S 10th Street.&nbsp;

The hotel room that was struck was unoccupied. 

EMS transported Matthew Carr, the only occupant in the vehicle, to Amberwell Hospital for examination. It is believed that the driver suffered some type of medical episode prior to the accident, according to Wilson.

Kan. man hospitalized after pickup crash into hotel room

SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement continue investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting in Wichita and are expected to release a full report late this week.

Just after 1a.m. Tuesday, police responded to a 911 call at an apartment complex in the 2300 block of North Woodlawn in Wichita, acccording to an online statement from Wichita police.

Officers "did not hear loud yelling" but&nbsp; heard individuals inside the apartment and knocked on the door. Officers identified themselves as police. A man inside the apartment stated he was going to get his gun. Officers knocked on the door again and a man inside stated again he was going to get his gun and was threatening to shoot the officers.

Officers took a defensive stance and retreated from the apartment doorway. The man stepped out of the apartment and had a firearm in his hand. The man pointed a firearm at the officers. One officer returned fire and struck the man. The officer immediately ran to get his medical kit bag to provide medical aid to the man.&nbsp;

The man was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp; No officers were injured. Police took one other individual from the apartment into custody.

The Sedgwick County Sheriff's office will be in charge of the investigation and a full report is expected by Friday, according to Wichita police.

Investigation of deadly Kansas officer shooting continues

State auditors urged Legislature to find new way of determining at-risk student aid

TOPEKA — Members of the Kansas House Welfare Reform Committee debated Tuesday implications of a jarring state audit that estimated 54% to 72% of Kansas students who qualified for the free-lunch program through a national application process were likely ineligible during the 2023-2024 academic year.

If that assessment was accurate, the Legislature’s auditors said, the U.S. Department of Agriculture overpaid Kansas school districts $10 million to $14 million during that year for meals that shouldn’t have been subsidized. The report held implications beyond the cost of school meals, because enrollment in Kansas’ free-lunch program determined how much the state paid school districts to deliver services to at-risk students. Auditors said $38 million to $53 million in extra at-risk funding was apparently distributed to school districts due to enrollment problems with the free-lunch program.

Rep. Francis Awerkamp, a St. Marys Republican and chairman of the committee, said the audit would be useful to the committee as it sorted out questions about oversight and fraud in state or federal programs.

“One of the discussions we often have is, you know, should there be more oversight on welfare programs or less oversight? If there is fraud or is there not fraud?” he said.

The state auditors issued one recommendation for the Legislature: Consider an alternate method of calculating how much at-risk student aid should be paid annually to K-12 districts. Auditors concluded that figures of the children taking part in the free-lunch program “may no longer be an accurate measure for determining the number of students at risk of academic failure in a district.”

Rep. Charlotte Esau, R-Olathe, said that as a child her family probably would have qualified for a school lunch program, but her father refused to apply. She said she wasn’t an at-risk student, despite being part of a lower-income family. She told House colleagues it made sense to find a new method of calculating state appropriations for students struggling academically.

“I’m seeing your conclusion makes logical sense to me,” Esau told auditors.

Under existing Kansas law, no mechanism exists to claw back from school districts any overpayment of at-risk dollars. In most cases, individual school districts didn’t have access to information that would confirmed which students qualified for the free-lunch program. The state’s ability to evaluate applicants was constrained by accuracy of information gathered by several state agencies and rules enforced by the USDA limiting annual auditing to 3% of a district’s student applications or a maximum of 3,000 students in a district.

Rep. Alexis Simmons, D-Topeka, warned House colleagues eager to reform the at-risk funding formula for schools by relying on a different metric of poverty and need. She said there was a strong connection between feeding students during the school day and the ability to learn in the classroom.

Simmons said it would be a mistake to assume fraud when state auditors said it was challenging to verify whether students were eligible for free lunches at school.

State auditor Heidi Zimmerman said the report published in July outlined federal overpayments to school districts for the free lunch program. The audit also linked that idea to state overpayments to school districts for at-risk education, she said.

“We cannot claim there was fraud,” Zimmerman said. “We can tell you there are students who are ineligible. Ineligibility is not the same as fraud. Fraud requires a specific intent. You might have just made a mistake. That’s not fraud. So, this report does not claim that we found fraud anywhere.”

“Very much appreciate that clarification,” Simmons said.

Rep. Wanda Brownlee Paige, D-Kansas City, said the audit didn’t take into account the lower literacy rate among some parents expected to fill out school lunch program applications. She said the Kansas minimum wage of $7.25 per hour — less than half the $15 per hour minimum wage in Missouri — exacerbated financial hardships faced by families desperate for government assistance in providing nutritional meals to their school-age children.

“I can see a whole lot of people struggling,” she said. “The kids are hungry.”

Rep. Brian Bergkamp, R-Wichita, asked Frank Harwood, deputy commissioner of the Kansas Department of Education, to provide the committee with statistics on the quantity of food thrown away in Kansas public school cafeterias. He said the amount was more than most people might realize.

Harwood said USDA reimbursed school districts only for meals served to an eligible student. Under federal law, he said, children automatically qualified for free meals if they were in a household receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid or food distribution programs on an Indian reservation.

In addition, he said, a child was eligible for free meals at public schools if determined to be homeless, a runaway or migrant child, in foster care or enrolled in Head Start.

Kansas House studies free-lunch enrollment audit, implications of at-risk overpayment to schools

FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a southwest Kansas man on multiple allegations a

Just after 8:30p.m. January 18, police responded to a reported robbery that occurred in the southwest part of Garden City, according to a media release.

Officers spoke with a woman who reported an altercation with a man known to her, identified as 37-year-old Enrique Rodriguez Hevia. The investigation revealed an argument between the two turned physical, after which Rodriguez Hevia took several of the woman’s possessions and refused to return them until she drove him to his vehicle. 

The woman attempted to drive to the police department, but Rodriguez Hevia got into the vehicle and interfered with her ability to leave by placing the vehicle into different gears and restraining the steering wheel. 

When the victim called out to nearby neighbors for help, Rodriguez Hevia fled the area with her possessions. Rodriguez Hevia later turned himself in at the Finney County Law Enforcement Center, where he was arrested and booked into jail on requested charges of Aggravated Auto Burglary, Robbery, and Domestic Battery.&nbsp;

SW Kansas robbery, domestic battery suspect turns himself in

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plane, Air Force One, returned to Joint Base Andrews about an hour after departing for Switzerland on Tuesday evening.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the decision to return was made after takeoff when the crew aboard Air Force One identified “a minor electrical issue” and, out of an abundance of caution, decided to turn around.

A reporter on board said the lights in the press cabin of the aircraft went out briefly after takeoff, but no explanation was immediately offered. About half an hour into the flight reporters were told the plane would be turning around.

Trump boarded another aircraft, an Air Force C-32, a modified Boeing 757 normally used by the president for domestic trips to smaller airports, and continued on with his trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos shortly after midnight.&nbsp;Air Force One touched down in Zurich a little after 12:30 p.m. local time, nearly two hours after he was originally scheduled to arrive.

Rubio says he slept at a table on Air Force One

The U.S. secretary of state joked with reporters as he picked up a coffee toward the end of the flight and said he tried to get some rest at a conference table aboard the aircraft.

Marco Rubio joked that the accommodations were still nicer than the plane he travels on for State Department business.

The two planes currently used as Air Force One have been flying for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c">nearly four decades</a>. Boeing has been working on replacements, but the program has faced a series of delays. The planes are heavily modified with survivability capabilities for the president for a range of contingencies, including radiation shielding and antimissile technology. They also include a variety of communications systems to allow the president to remain in contact with the military and issue orders from anywhere in the world.

Last year, the ruling family of Qatar gifted Trump a luxury Boeing 747-8 jumbo jet to be added into the Air Force One fleet, a move that faced great scrutiny. That plane is currently being retrofitted to meet security requirements.

Leavitt joked to reporters on Air Force One Tuesday night that a Qatari jet was sounding “much better” right now.

Last February, an Air Force plane carrying Secretary of State&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rubio-plane-mechanical-issue-munich-conference-031928b920ff8e8d495d1590d508e1e5">Marco Rubio to Germany</a>&nbsp;had to return to Washington because of a mechanical issue. In October, a military plane carrying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had to make an emergency landing in United Kingdom due to a crack in the windshield.

Air Force One turns around after 'electrical issue,' delaying Trump's arrival in Davos

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Over the past week, the Kansas City Police Vice Squad, in coordination with the Kansas City, Missouri's Multidisciplinary Public Safety Task Force, conducted an illegal gaming machine operation at three businesses in Kansas City.
&nbsp;
Two stores are now closed. Altogether, the KCPD&nbsp; Vice Squad issued 23 citations, according to a social media report from the KCPD.

Municipal ordinance 50-16 prohibits the operation and maintenance of certain electronic gaming machines that offer a monetary prize to the user.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police released no additional details.

Police shut down 2 KC businesses in illegal gaming crackdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. military forces boarded and took control of a seventh oil tanker connected with Venezuela on Tuesday as part of the Trump administration's broader efforts&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">to take control</a>&nbsp;of the South American country's oil.

U.S. Southern Command said in a social media post that U.S. forces apprehended the Motor Vessel Sagitta “without incident” and that the tanker was operating in defiance of President Donald Trump’s "established quarantine of sanctioned vessels in the Caribbean.”

The military command did not say whether the U.S. Coast Guard took control of the tanker as has been the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-sanctioned-oil-tanker-seized-a415e247fca429b00b9fbcf6b6cd90a5">in prior seizures</a>. Both the Pentagon and Southern Command said they had nothing to add when asked for more details.

The Sagitta is a Liberian-flagged tanker and its registration says it is owned and managed by a company in Hong Kong. The ship last transmitted its location more than two months ago when exiting the Baltic Sea in northern Europe.

The tanker was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department under an executive order related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The post from U.S. Southern Command indicated the ship had taken oil from Venezuela. It said the capture of the tanker “demonstrates our resolve to ensure that the only oil leaving Venezuela will be oil that is coordinated properly and lawfully.”

The military command posted what appeared to be aerial footage of the Sagitta sailing on the ocean, but unlike in prior videos the clip did not show U.S. forces flying toward it in helicopters or landing on the deck of the ship.

Since the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-maduro-what-to-know-a57528ff315a7f70ed51a1721f5e0bc2">ouster of Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;in a surprise nighttime raid on Jan. 3, the Trump administration has set out to control the production, refining and global distribution of Venezuela’s oil products.

Officials in Trump’s Republican administration have made it clear they see seizing the tankers as a way to generate cash as they seek to rebuild Venezuela’s battered oil industry and restore its economy.

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-oil-chevron-exxonmobil-conocophillips-0e0619a991e92fd546504f1a613161e7">met with executives from oil companies</a>&nbsp;nearly two weeks ago to discuss his goal of investing $100 billion in Venezuela to repair and upgrade its oil production and distribution. He said at the time that the U.S. expected to sell at least&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-trump-democrats-9d16138866bebdc2644eb009c6326066">30 million to 50 million barrels</a>&nbsp;of Venezuelan oil.

Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the U.S. already has taken 50 million barrels of oil out of Venezuela.

“We’ve got millions of barrels of oil left,” he said at the White House. “We’re selling it on the open market. We’re bringing down oil prices incredibly.”

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">The first tanker was seized</a>&nbsp;off the coast of Venezuela on Dec. 10. Most of the other tankers also have been captured in the waters near Venezuela, with the exception of the Bella 1, which was captured in the North Atlantic.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-venezuela-oil-tanker-77f2c1441dda8217b37f9e38c3ae9131">The Bella 1 had been cruising</a>&nbsp;across the Atlantic and nearing the Caribbean when on Dec. 15 it abruptly turned and headed north, toward Europe. The ship was ultimately captured on Jan. 7.

🎥 US forces seize another oil tanker linked to Venezuela 

KINGMAN COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday in Kingman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Chevy Malibu driven by&nbsp; Margaret Sue Thompson, 68, Murdock, was westbound on Southeast 20th Street seven miles west of Cheney. The car crossed into the eastbound lane. The car and an eastbound 2026 International semi&nbsp;took evasive maneuvers resulting in a head-on collision in the westbound lane. After impact, both vehicles came to rest in the north ditch.

Thompson and a passenger identified as Marvin Eugene Thompson, 72, Murdock, were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to&nbsp;Livingstons Funeral Home. The semi driver Michael Stephen&nbsp;Blackway, 42, Wichita, was not injured. The occupants of the Chevy were not wearing seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas couple killed after head-on crash with a semi

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect who admitted setting a fire near the historic Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita expected to learn his fate Tuesday.

Sentencing for 34-year-old Jeremy Wycoff, who in September pleaded guilty to aggravated arson, was delayed for the second time, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; The sentencing hearing is now scheduled for January 30.

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