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;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768950568679.png" alt="Hevia-photo FInney County" />
 <figcaption>Hevia-photo FInney County</figcaption>
 </figure>FINNEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a southwest Kansas man on multiple allegations aJust 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.

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.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> is on the ground — a few hours late due to the plane change — in Zurich, Switzerland 🇺🇸🇨🇭 He&#39;ll take Marine One for the flight to Davos. <a href="https://t.co/2xqpvxlGCk">pic.twitter.com/2xqpvxlGCk</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2013948850587816378?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After takeoff, the AF1 crew identified a minor electrical issue. Out of an abundance of caution, AF1 is returning to Joint Base Andrews. The President and team will board a different aircraft and continue on to Switzerland. <a href="https://t.co/pJ3Jc9NNbS">https://t.co/pJ3Jc9NNbS</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2013820148776399351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>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.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> is wheels down in Switzerland and walks to board Marine One 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/XL0LDAhCSS">pic.twitter.com/XL0LDAhCSS</a>&mdash; Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/2013949312481579384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>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.<h2>Rubio says he slept at a table on Air Force One</h2>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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768877644221.png" alt="Photo from KCPD video" />
 <figcaption>Photo from KCPD video</figcaption>
 </figure>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.

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.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Through <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OpSouthernSpear?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OpSouthernSpear</a>, the <a href="https://twitter.com/DeptofWar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DeptofWar</a> is unwavering in its mission to crush illicit activity in the Western Hemisphere in partnership with <a href="https://twitter.com/USCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USCG</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DHSgov?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DHSgov</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TheJusticeDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheJusticeDept</a>. This morning, U.S. military forces, in support of the Department of Homeland Security, apprehended… <a href="https://t.co/UPADtiw681">pic.twitter.com/UPADtiw681</a>&mdash; U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Southcom/status/2013718812424630376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>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.

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.

On the evening of April 10, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;

"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.

Three days after the crime, police arrested Wycoff and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he remains jailed on a bond of just over $100,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744832383037.png" alt="Wycoff photo Sedgwick County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Wycoff photo Sedgwick County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>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.On the evening of April 10, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.Three days after the crime, police arrested Wycoff and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he remains jailed on a bond of just over $100,000.

Sentencing delayed for suspect in arson fire near historic Kan. theatre 

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>, are expecting a son in late July, they announced in a social media post Tuesday.

The couple said they were excited to share the news of their fourth child, who will join their other three young kids: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.

Vance, 41, and his wife, 40, said in the post that both mother and baby were doing well.

“During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children,” the post read.

The news of the Republican vice president’s growing family comes as he has spent years passionately advocating for Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies-birth-rates-555c0f78ef8dd4c13c88b9e8d5f0024a">have more children</a>.

Vance repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates as he launched his political career in 2021 with a bid for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. As vice president, he has continued on that mission, saying in a 2025 March for Life speech, “I want more babies in the United States of America.”

The vice president has been accompanied on overseas travels by Usha Vance and their children, the kids usually in pajamas as they board Air Force Two for overnight trips.

Throughout history, it’s been exceptionally rare for the occupants of the highest leadership roles in the U.S. to have children while in office. One well-documented exception was President Grover Cleveland, whose wife, Frances Cleveland, gave birth to their second child in 1893 during his second term in office.

The White House reposted Tuesday’s announcement, saying President Donald Trump’s administration is “the most pro-family administration in history.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, announced in December that she is expecting a baby girl in May.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768960159653.png" alt="<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>&nbsp;photo from the Vice President's social media page" />
 <figcaption><a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>&nbsp;photo from the Vice President's social media page</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance">Vice President JD Vance</a>&nbsp;and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usha-vance-attorney-jd-vance-wife-vp-63406da4f6739546391ed7797fc1fef2">second lady Usha Vance</a>, are expecting a son in late July, they announced in a social media post Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We’re very happy to share some exciting news. Our family is growing! <a href="https://t.co/0RohEBYXM7">pic.twitter.com/0RohEBYXM7</a>&mdash; Second Lady Usha Vance (@SLOTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLOTUS/status/2013712959608946721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The couple said they were excited to share the news of their fourth child, who will join their other three young kids: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.Vance, 41, and his wife, 40, said in the post that both mother and baby were doing well.“During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children,” the post read.The news of the Republican vice president’s growing family comes as he has spent years passionately advocating for Americans to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jd-vance-childless-cat-ladies-birth-rates-555c0f78ef8dd4c13c88b9e8d5f0024a">have more children</a>.Vance repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates as he launched his political career in 2021 with a bid for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. As vice president, he has continued on that mission, saying in a 2025 March for Life speech, “I want more babies in the United States of America.”The vice president has been accompanied on overseas travels by Usha Vance and their children, the kids usually in pajamas as they board Air Force Two for overnight trips.Throughout history, it’s been exceptionally rare for the occupants of the highest leadership roles in the U.S. to have children while in office. One well-documented exception was President Grover Cleveland, whose wife, Frances Cleveland, gave birth to their second child in 1893 during his second term in office.The White House reposted Tuesday’s announcement, saying President Donald Trump’s administration is “the most pro-family administration in history.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, 28, announced in December that she is expecting a baby girl in May.

Vice President JD Vance and his wife make a special announcement

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge ordered that actor Timothy Busfield be released from jail pending trial on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-83c82a8c5dbfabd4880f3c8af02fb523">child sex abuse charges</a>, at a detention hearing Tuesday.

The order from state district court Judge David Murphy is linked to accusations that Busfield inappropriately touched a minor while working as a director on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady.”

Busfield will be supervised upon release by a pretrial services office in Albuquerque, and can leave the state to return home, the judge said.

Busfield, an Emmy Award-winning actor who is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-3a467ec0e0a8be87d1142724fbbb8e1d">ordered to be held without bond</a>&nbsp;last week at his first court appearance. Busfield called the allegations lies in a video shared before he turned himself in.

The judge acknowledged evidence that Busfield is accused of crimes that are inherently dangerous and involve children, but said prosecutors didn't prove that there are no conditions of release that would protect the public's safety.

“There’s no evidence of a pattern of criminal conduct, there are no similar allegations involving children in his past," Murphy said. "Rather this defendant self-surrendered and submitted himself to this court’s jurisdiction, demonstrating compliance with the court order for his arrest.”

At the hearing, Busfield was handcuffed and dressed in an orange jail uniform in a New Mexico state district court, while wife and actor Melissa Gilbert watched from the court gallery.

Gilbert was tearful while exiting the courtroom after the judge ordered Busfield’s release.

Gilbert, who played&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-celebrity-9ba7c27a8ae04a3993864eea8508f2f3">Laura Ingalls in the 1970s to ’80s</a>&nbsp;TV series “Little House on the Prairie,” was on the list of potential witness submitted ahead of the hearing.

Albuquerque police issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-82d413e86b62a151564e75b0ba535551">warrant</a>&nbsp;for Busfield's arrest earlier this month on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady.”

According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the police department says the child reported Busfield touched him on private areas over his clothing on one occasion when he was 7 years old and another time when he was 8. The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble.

On Monday, Busfield’s attorneys submitted two brief audio recordings of initial police interviews in which the children say Busfield did not touch them in private areas. The attorneys in a court filing argue that the complaint characterizes the interviews as a failure to disclose abuse, but an “unequivocal denial is materially different from a mere absence of disclosure.”

According to the criminal complaint, one of the boys disclosed during a therapy session that he was inappropriately touched by the show's director. Those records were obtained by police during the investigation.

Arguing Tuesday for Busfield's continued detention, Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch called evidence of abuse against Busfield strong and specific.

“The boys' allegation are supported by medical findings and by their therapist," Brandenburg-Koch said. "Their accounts were specific and not exaggerated.”

She also described a documented pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority and grooming behavior by Busfield over the past three decades. Prosecutors also say witnesses have expressed fear regarding retaliation and professional harm.

“GPS is not going to tell this court if he is around children or talking to witnesses,” Brandenburg-Koch said.

Busfield’s attorneys have argued that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive. The filings detailed what the attorneys said was a history of fraud by both the boys' father and mother. They cited an investigation by Warner Bros. into the allegations that found the allegations unfounded.

Busfield also submitted letters vouching for his character, and his attorneys say he passed an independent polygraph test.

Legal experts say New Mexico is among a few states that allow polygraph evidence in criminal cases, but a judge has final say over whether one can be used. There are strict requirements for admission.

Morgan reported from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768347111074.png" alt="Busfield photo Albuquerque Metro Detention Facility" />
 <figcaption>Busfield photo Albuquerque Metro Detention Facility</figcaption>
 </figure>ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A judge ordered that actor Timothy Busfield be released from jail pending trial on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-83c82a8c5dbfabd4880f3c8af02fb523">child sex abuse charges</a>, at a detention hearing Tuesday.The order from state district court Judge David Murphy is linked to accusations that Busfield inappropriately touched a minor while working as a director on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady.”Busfield will be supervised upon release by a pretrial services office in Albuquerque, and can leave the state to return home, the judge said.Busfield, an Emmy Award-winning actor who is known for appearances in “The West Wing,” “Field of Dreams” and “Thirtysomething,” was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-3a467ec0e0a8be87d1142724fbbb8e1d">ordered to be held without bond</a>&nbsp;last week at his first court appearance. Busfield called the allegations lies in a video shared before he turned himself in.The judge acknowledged evidence that Busfield is accused of crimes that are inherently dangerous and involve children, but said prosecutors didn't prove that there are no conditions of release that would protect the public's safety.“There’s no evidence of a pattern of criminal conduct, there are no similar allegations involving children in his past," Murphy said. "Rather this defendant self-surrendered and submitted himself to this court’s jurisdiction, demonstrating compliance with the court order for his arrest.”At the hearing, Busfield was handcuffed and dressed in an orange jail uniform in a New Mexico state district court, while wife and actor Melissa Gilbert watched from the court gallery.Gilbert was tearful while exiting the courtroom after the judge ordered Busfield’s release.Gilbert, who played&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-celebrity-9ba7c27a8ae04a3993864eea8508f2f3">Laura Ingalls in the 1970s to ’80s</a>&nbsp;TV series “Little House on the Prairie,” was on the list of potential witness submitted ahead of the hearing.Albuquerque police issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/timothy-busfield-child-sex-abuse-charge-82d413e86b62a151564e75b0ba535551">warrant</a>&nbsp;for Busfield's arrest earlier this month on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse. A criminal complaint alleges the acts occurred on the set of the series “The Cleaning Lady.”According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the police department says the child reported Busfield touched him on private areas over his clothing on one occasion when he was 7 years old and another time when he was 8. The boy’s twin brother told authorities he was also touched by Busfield, but did not specify where. He said he didn’t say anything because he didn’t want to get in trouble.On Monday, Busfield’s attorneys submitted two brief audio recordings of initial police interviews in which the children say Busfield did not touch them in private areas. The attorneys in a court filing argue that the complaint characterizes the interviews as a failure to disclose abuse, but an “unequivocal denial is materially different from a mere absence of disclosure.”According to the criminal complaint, one of the boys disclosed during a therapy session that he was inappropriately touched by the show's director. Those records were obtained by police during the investigation.Arguing Tuesday for Busfield's continued detention, Assistant District Attorney Savannah Brandenburg-Koch called evidence of abuse against Busfield strong and specific.“The boys' allegation are supported by medical findings and by their therapist," Brandenburg-Koch said. "Their accounts were specific and not exaggerated.”She also described a documented pattern of sexual misconduct, abuse of authority and grooming behavior by Busfield over the past three decades. Prosecutors also say witnesses have expressed fear regarding retaliation and professional harm.“GPS is not going to tell this court if he is around children or talking to witnesses,” Brandenburg-Koch said.Busfield’s attorneys have argued that the allegations emerged only after the boys lost their role in the TV show, creating a financial and retaliatory motive. The filings detailed what the attorneys said was a history of fraud by both the boys' father and mother. They cited an investigation by Warner Bros. into the allegations that found the allegations unfounded.Busfield also submitted letters vouching for his character, and his attorneys say he passed an independent polygraph test.Legal experts say New Mexico is among a few states that allow polygraph evidence in criminal cases, but a judge has final say over whether one can be used. There are strict requirements for admission.___Morgan reported from Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Judge issues ruling in 'West Wing' actor child sex abuse case

ROME (AP) — Three U.S. Catholic cardinals urged the Trump administration on Monday to use a moral compass in pursuing its foreign policy, saying U.S. military action in Venezuela, threats of acquiring Greenland and cuts in foreign aid risk bringing vast suffering instead of promoting peace.

In a joint statement, Cardinals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-catholic-durbin-chicago-archdiocese-immigration-af966da9a8483f116d65f494799eba5f">Blase Cupich of Chicago</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-cardinal-robert-mcelroy-immigration-donald-trump-58c728cef89a25d606406014693af85e">Robert McElroy of Washington</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-american-cardinals-rome-catholic-church-b77226eba39651c6382f3d3a7d5e3318">Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J.</a>, warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington’s foreign policy was mired in “polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.”

“Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy,” McElroy told The Associated Press. “I still believe the United States has a tremendous impact upon the world.”

The statement was unusual and marked the second time in as many months that members of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-bishops-migration-6c2acd2c54d27819804e06a70a95e595">asserted their voice</a>&nbsp;against a Trump administration many believe isn’t upholding the basic tenets of human dignity. In November, the entire U.S. conference of Catholic bishops condemned the administration’s mass deportation of migrants and “vilification” of them in the public discourse.

The three cardinals, who are prominent figures in the more progressive wing of the U.S. church, took as a starting point a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-foreign-policy-un-russia-abortion-ee708df6669536c4d2a9858bbafb7d98">major foreign policy address</a>&nbsp;that Pope Leo XIV delivered Jan. 9 to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See.

The speech, delivered almost entirely in English, amounted to Leo’s most substantial critique of U.S. foreign policy. History’s first U.S.-born pope denounced how nations were using force to assert their dominion worldwide, “completely undermining” peace and the post-World War II international legal order.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Leo</a>&nbsp;didn’t name individual countries, but his speech came against the backdrop of the then-recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela to remove&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;from power, U.S. threats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/greenland">to take Greenland</a>&nbsp;as well as Russia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">ongoing war in Ukraine</a>.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was consulted on the statement, and its president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-catholic-bishops-new-leader-trump-immigration-d34d176942aa0a0faf7e9842e0973c87">Archbishop Paul Coakley</a>, “supports the emphasis placed by the cardinals on Pope Leo’s teaching in these times,” said spokesperson Chieko Noguchi.

The White House didn’t immediately respond to the AP’s request for comment on Monday.

The three cardinals cited Venezuela, Greenland and Ukraine in their statement — saying they “raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace” — as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-agency-for-international-development">cuts to foreign aid</a>&nbsp;that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration initiated last year.

“Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,” they warned.

“We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy,” they wrote. “We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance.”

Tobin described the moral compass the cardinals wish the U.S. would use globally.

“It can’t be that my prosperity is predicated on inhuman treatment of others,” he told the AP. “The real argument isn’t just my right or individual rights, but what is the common good.”

Cardinals expand on their statement in interviews with AP

In interviews, Cupich and McElroy said the signatories were inspired to issue a statement after hearing from several fellow cardinals during a Jan. 7-8 meeting at the Vatican. These other cardinals expressed alarm about the U.S. action in Venezuela, its cuts in foreign aid and its threats to acquire Greenland, Cupich said.

A day later, Leo’s nearly 45-minute-long speech to the diplomatic corps gave the Americans the language they needed, allowing them to “piggyback on” the pope’s words, Cupich said.

Cupich acknowledged that Maduro’s prosecution could be seen positively, but not the way it was done via a U.S. military incursion into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-law-un-2e400f5753570b70487fd3d3fa50261e">sovereign country.</a>

“When we go ahead and do it in such a way that is portrayed as saying, ‘Because we can do it, we’re going to do it, that might makes right’ — that’s a troublesome development,” he said. “There’s the rule of law that should be followed.”

Trump has insisted that capturing Maduro was legal. On Greenland, Trump has argued repeatedly that the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/greenland-us-options-takeover-trump-denmark-86790903847fc8ffc27334ccb64985a9">needs control</a>&nbsp;of the resource-rich island, a semiautonomous region of NATO ally Denmark. for its national security.

The Trump administration last year significantly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-christian-nonprofits-funding-freeze-bbb000ea0e232765db1280c093301a8a">gutted the U.S. Agency for International Development,</a>&nbsp;saying its projects advance a liberal agenda and were a waste of money.

Tobin, who ministered in more than 70 countries as a Redemptorist priest and the order’s superior general, lamented the retreat in USAID assistance, saying U.S. philanthropy makes a big difference in everything from hunger to health.

The three cardinals said their key aim wasn’t to criticize the administration, but rather to encourage the U.S. to regain is moral standing in the world by pursuing a foreign policy that is ethically guided and seeks the common good.

“We’re not endorsing a political party or a political movement,” Tobin said. The faithful in the pews and all people of good will have a role to play, he said.

“They can make an argument of basic human decency,” he said.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir" target="_blank">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768924069637.png" alt="Catholic Archdiocese of Washington" />
 <figcaption>Catholic Archdiocese of Washington</figcaption>
 </figure>ROME (AP) — Three U.S. Catholic cardinals urged the Trump administration on Monday to use a moral compass in pursuing its foreign policy, saying U.S. military action in Venezuela, threats of acquiring Greenland and cuts in foreign aid risk bringing vast suffering instead of promoting peace.In a joint statement, Cardinals&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-catholic-durbin-chicago-archdiocese-immigration-af966da9a8483f116d65f494799eba5f">Blase Cupich of Chicago</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/catholic-cardinal-robert-mcelroy-immigration-donald-trump-58c728cef89a25d606406014693af85e">Robert McElroy of Washington</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-american-cardinals-rome-catholic-church-b77226eba39651c6382f3d3a7d5e3318">Joseph Tobin of Newark, N.J.</a>, warned that without a moral vision, the current debate over Washington’s foreign policy was mired in “polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.”“Most of the United States and the world are adrift morally in terms of foreign policy,” McElroy told The Associated Press. “I still believe the United States has a tremendous impact upon the world.”The statement was unusual and marked the second time in as many months that members of the U.S. Catholic hierarchy have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-bishops-migration-6c2acd2c54d27819804e06a70a95e595">asserted their voice</a>&nbsp;against a Trump administration many believe isn’t upholding the basic tenets of human dignity. In November, the entire U.S. conference of Catholic bishops condemned the administration’s mass deportation of migrants and “vilification” of them in the public discourse.The three cardinals, who are prominent figures in the more progressive wing of the U.S. church, took as a starting point a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pope-foreign-policy-un-russia-abortion-ee708df6669536c4d2a9858bbafb7d98">major foreign policy address</a>&nbsp;that Pope Leo XIV delivered Jan. 9 to ambassadors accredited to the Holy See.The speech, delivered almost entirely in English, amounted to Leo’s most substantial critique of U.S. foreign policy. History’s first U.S.-born pope denounced how nations were using force to assert their dominion worldwide, “completely undermining” peace and the post-World War II international legal order.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Leo</a>&nbsp;didn’t name individual countries, but his speech came against the backdrop of the then-recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela to remove&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;from power, U.S. threats&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/greenland">to take Greenland</a>&nbsp;as well as Russia’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">ongoing war in Ukraine</a>.The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops was consulted on the statement, and its president,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-catholic-bishops-new-leader-trump-immigration-d34d176942aa0a0faf7e9842e0973c87">Archbishop Paul Coakley</a>, “supports the emphasis placed by the cardinals on Pope Leo’s teaching in these times,” said spokesperson Chieko Noguchi.The White House didn’t immediately respond to the AP’s request for comment on Monday.<h2>Cardinals question the use of force</h2>The three cardinals cited Venezuela, Greenland and Ukraine in their statement — saying they “raised basic questions about the use of military force and the meaning of peace” — as well as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-agency-for-international-development">cuts to foreign aid</a>&nbsp;that U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration initiated last year.“Our country’s moral role in confronting evil around the world, sustaining the right to life and human dignity, and supporting religious liberty are all under examination,” they warned.“We renounce war as an instrument for narrow national interests and proclaim that military action must be seen only as a last resort in extreme situations, not a normal instrument of national policy,” they wrote. “We seek a foreign policy that respects and advances the right to human life, religious liberty, and the enhancement of human dignity throughout the world, especially through economic assistance.”Tobin described the moral compass the cardinals wish the U.S. would use globally.“It can’t be that my prosperity is predicated on inhuman treatment of others,” he told the AP. “The real argument isn’t just my right or individual rights, but what is the common good.”<h2>Cardinals expand on their statement in interviews with AP</h2>In interviews, Cupich and McElroy said the signatories were inspired to issue a statement after hearing from several fellow cardinals during a Jan. 7-8 meeting at the Vatican. These other cardinals expressed alarm about the U.S. action in Venezuela, its cuts in foreign aid and its threats to acquire Greenland, Cupich said.A day later, Leo’s nearly 45-minute-long speech to the diplomatic corps gave the Americans the language they needed, allowing them to “piggyback on” the pope’s words, Cupich said.Cupich acknowledged that Maduro’s prosecution could be seen positively, but not the way it was done via a U.S. military incursion into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-law-un-2e400f5753570b70487fd3d3fa50261e">sovereign country.</a>“When we go ahead and do it in such a way that is portrayed as saying, ‘Because we can do it, we’re going to do it, that might makes right’ — that’s a troublesome development,” he said. “There’s the rule of law that should be followed.”Trump has insisted that capturing Maduro was legal. On Greenland, Trump has argued repeatedly that the U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/greenland-us-options-takeover-trump-denmark-86790903847fc8ffc27334ccb64985a9">needs control</a>&nbsp;of the resource-rich island, a semiautonomous region of NATO ally Denmark. for its national security.The Trump administration last year significantly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/usaid-christian-nonprofits-funding-freeze-bbb000ea0e232765db1280c093301a8a">gutted the U.S. Agency for International Development,</a>&nbsp;saying its projects advance a liberal agenda and were a waste of money.Tobin, who ministered in more than 70 countries as a Redemptorist priest and the order’s superior general, lamented the retreat in USAID assistance, saying U.S. philanthropy makes a big difference in everything from hunger to health.The three cardinals said their key aim wasn’t to criticize the administration, but rather to encourage the U.S. to regain is moral standing in the world by pursuing a foreign policy that is ethically guided and seeks the common good.“We’re not endorsing a political party or a political movement,” Tobin said. The faithful in the pews and all people of good will have a role to play, he said.“They can make an argument of basic human decency,” he said.___Dell’Orto reported from Minneapolis.___Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir" target="_blank">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

US Catholic cardinals urge Trump admin. to embrace a moral compass in foreign policy

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — The Satanic Grotto delivered a complaint to the Kansas Department of Administration Capitol events coordinator for allowing Abortion is Murder — a Christian group known for protesting with graphic signs — to protest inside the Statehouse, and plans to counterprotest.

Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart said the grotto plans to be at the Statehouse on Jan. 27, the day of&nbsp;<a href="https://aimks.org/rally/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPToVxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5S0_6vMmkI4xggb68XylLYF_18w0kfreT9atALAa4P5Qd-W1bf7kEuv-SYBQ_aem_-XBHAIdm3ymtiOJXP2-8Og" target="_blank">the AIM protest</a>, with or without permit approval. Stewart said the approval of AIM’s permit is unfair because the state, which restricted a planned grotto protest over the summer, is applying different standards about obscenity and violence to the two groups.

The grotto identifies its complaint as a “formal notice of liability” for discrimination.

Stewart invited people to join the grotto in counterprotesting AIM, offering free kazoos as an incentive. Stewart said he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/853248430955373/?post_id=854983640781852&amp;view=permalink" target="_blank">submitted&nbsp;</a>a permit for the protest Jan.15, and it has yet to be approved or denied. Stewart said the Department of Administration uses silence as a “disruption tactic.”

Samir Arif, the chief of staff and director of public affairs for the Department of Administration, said the agency wouldn’t comment on ongoing legal issues.

As of Jan. 20, about 50 people were “interested” in or going to the grotto’s counterprotest, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/1BrGRjt3AC/?mibextid=wwXIfr" target="_blank">Facebook event listing</a>.

Stewart said the Grotto’s permit application is for the south steps outside of the Statehouse. AIM’s permit is for the second floor rotunda inside.

“Our actions at the Capitol will be in direct response to the government’s decisions,” Stewart said. “If the government fulfills their duties, then the grotto will be committed to having a peaceful celebration of bodily autonomy and educating anyone who shows up about their personal constitutional rights outside, right along AIM.

“If we are institutionally oppressed, or if they show a viewpoint discrimination favoring AIM, then we will absolutely escalate our actions to an interior counterprotest. The grotto doesn’t want the conflict. The grotto wants equal treatment in the same space.”

Stewart said grotto artists have made a “poignant gore piece” to bring to the counterprotest. The 9-foot-tall sculpture has been named “zombie Jesus” by members.

He said the rules for permits are unfairly applied. Before the grotto’s own protest in March — a “<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/28/loud-boisterous-rival-protests-of-religious-freedom-among-catholics-and-satanists-turn-violent/">black mass</a>” that drew thousands of Christian counterprotesters and ended with a handful of arrests — legislators&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/18/kansas-legislators-archbishop-take-action-against-satanists-and-their-planned-black-mass/">denounced</a>&nbsp;their plans with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hr6016/" target="_blank">House Resolution 6016</a>, which called the plan “blasphemous.” Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/12/kansas-satanists-plan-to-defy-governor-with-therapeutic-blasphemy-in-black-mass-at-statehouse/">banned</a>&nbsp;the satanists from entering the Statehouse, but they ignored her ban.

The black mass turned violent as Christian counterprotesters clashed with Satanic Grotto members. Stewart and a counterprotester were arrested.

After the black mass, Adam Proffitt, the secretary of administration,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-officials-dash-satanists-plans-for-witching-hour-protest-at-statehouse/">denied</a>&nbsp;the grotto’s application for another protest over the summer. Proffitt said the grotto could have a permit if someone other than Stewart filed for it, and as long as the protest didn’t go past sundown. The group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1252570246006347/" target="_blank">obliged</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768946477298.png" alt=" Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart punches counterprotester Marcus Schroeder after Schroeder attempted to take Stewart’s prayer materials during a March 28, 2025, black mass inside the Kansas Capitol. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart punches counterprotester Marcus Schroeder after Schroeder attempted to take Stewart’s prayer materials during a March 28, 2025, black mass inside the Kansas Capitol. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — The Satanic Grotto delivered a complaint to the Kansas Department of Administration Capitol events coordinator for allowing Abortion is Murder — a Christian group known for protesting with graphic signs — to protest inside the Statehouse, and plans to counterprotest.Satanic Grotto president Michael Stewart said the grotto plans to be at the Statehouse on Jan. 27, the day of&nbsp;<a href="https://aimks.org/rally/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPToVxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR5S0_6vMmkI4xggb68XylLYF_18w0kfreT9atALAa4P5Qd-W1bf7kEuv-SYBQ_aem_-XBHAIdm3ymtiOJXP2-8Og" target="_blank">the AIM protest</a>, with or without permit approval. Stewart said the approval of AIM’s permit is unfair because the state, which restricted a planned grotto protest over the summer, is applying different standards about obscenity and violence to the two groups.The grotto identifies its complaint as a “formal notice of liability” for discrimination.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768946412182.png" alt="Nicholas Heald, of Wichita, holds a sign demonstrating his anti-abortion views on April 10, 2025, at the third floor center railing between the House and Senate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Nicholas Heald, of Wichita, holds a sign demonstrating his anti-abortion views on April 10, 2025, at the third floor center railing between the House and Senate. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>Stewart invited people to join the grotto in counterprotesting AIM, offering free kazoos as an incentive. Stewart said he&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/853248430955373/?post_id=854983640781852&amp;view=permalink" target="_blank">submitted&nbsp;</a>a permit for the protest Jan.15, and it has yet to be approved or denied. Stewart said the Department of Administration uses silence as a “disruption tactic.”Samir Arif, the chief of staff and director of public affairs for the Department of Administration, said the agency wouldn’t comment on ongoing legal issues.As of Jan. 20, about 50 people were “interested” in or going to the grotto’s counterprotest, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/1BrGRjt3AC/?mibextid=wwXIfr" target="_blank">Facebook event listing</a>.Stewart said the Grotto’s permit application is for the south steps outside of the Statehouse. AIM’s permit is for the second floor rotunda inside.“Our actions at the Capitol will be in direct response to the government’s decisions,” Stewart said. “If the government fulfills their duties, then the grotto will be committed to having a peaceful celebration of bodily autonomy and educating anyone who shows up about their personal constitutional rights outside, right along AIM.“If we are institutionally oppressed, or if they show a viewpoint discrimination favoring AIM, then we will absolutely escalate our actions to an interior counterprotest. The grotto doesn’t want the conflict. The grotto wants equal treatment in the same space.”Stewart said grotto artists have made a “poignant gore piece” to bring to the counterprotest. The 9-foot-tall sculpture has been named “zombie Jesus” by members.He said the rules for permits are unfairly applied. Before the grotto’s own protest in March — a “<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/28/loud-boisterous-rival-protests-of-religious-freedom-among-catholics-and-satanists-turn-violent/">black mass</a>” that drew thousands of Christian counterprotesters and ended with a handful of arrests — legislators&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/18/kansas-legislators-archbishop-take-action-against-satanists-and-their-planned-black-mass/">denounced</a>&nbsp;their plans with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/hr6016/" target="_blank">House Resolution 6016</a>, which called the plan “blasphemous.” Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/12/kansas-satanists-plan-to-defy-governor-with-therapeutic-blasphemy-in-black-mass-at-statehouse/">banned</a>&nbsp;the satanists from entering the Statehouse, but they ignored her ban.The black mass turned violent as Christian counterprotesters clashed with Satanic Grotto members. Stewart and a counterprotester were arrested.After the black mass, Adam Proffitt, the secretary of administration,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-officials-dash-satanists-plans-for-witching-hour-protest-at-statehouse/">denied</a>&nbsp;the grotto’s application for another protest over the summer. Proffitt said the grotto could have a permit if someone other than Stewart filed for it, and as long as the protest didn’t go past sundown. The group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/reel/1252570246006347/" target="_blank">obliged</a>.

Kansas Satanic Grotto files complaint about abortion rally permit approval, plans counterprotest

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal prosecutors served six grand jury subpoenas Tuesday to Minnesota officials as part of an investigation into whether they obstructed or impeded federal law enforcement during a sweeping immigration operation in Minneapolis-St. Paul area, a person familiar with the matter said.

The subpoenas, which seek records, were sent to the offices of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties, the person said.

The person was not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The subpoenas are related to an investigation into whether Minnesota officials obstructed federal immigration enforcement through public statements they made,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-crackdown-25e46910fcc62fbf5ab341905af9891c">two people familiar with the matter said on Friday</a>. They said then it was focused on the potential violation of a conspiracy statute.

Walz and Frey, both Democrats, have called the probe a bullying tactic meant to quell political opposition. Frey's office was ordered to produce a long list of records to a grand jury on Feb. 3, including “cooperation or lack of cooperation with federal law enforcement" and “any records tending to show a refusal to come to the aid of immigration officials.”

“We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with,” Frey said.

The subpoenas came as the Trump administration urged a judge to reject&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-renee-good-immigration-sweeps-6ae64be5a0d6a718b658a938fb56e567">efforts by Minnesota and its largest cities</a>&nbsp;to stop the immigration enforcement surge that has roiled Minneapolis and St. Paul for weeks.

The Justice Department called the lawsuit, filed soon after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-victim-renee-good-d95e86716eec328a288866108acf78eb">the fatal shooting of Renee Good</a>&nbsp;by an immigration officer, “legally frivolous.” Lawyers argued that the Department of Homeland Security is acting within its legal powers to enforce immigration laws.

Operation Metro Surge has made the state safer with the arrests of more than 3,000 people who were in the country illegally, the government said Monday in a court filing.

“Put simply, Minnesota wants a veto over federal law enforcement,” Justice Department attorneys wrote.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights with its unprecedented sweeps. He described the armed officers as poorly trained and said the “invasion” must cease.

The lawsuit filed Jan. 12 seeks an order to halt or limit the enforcement action. More filings are expected, and it's not known when U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez will make a decision.

Ilan Wurman, who teaches constitutional law at University of Minnesota Law School, doubts the state's arguments will be successful.

“There's no question that federal law is supreme over state law, that immigration enforcement is within the power of the federal government, and the president, within statutory bounds, can allocate more federal enforcement resources to states who’ve been less cooperative in that enforcement space than other states have been,” Wurman told The Associated Press.

Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, expressed frustration that advocates have no way of knowing whether the government’s arrest numbers and descriptions of the people in custody are accurate.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-us-citizen-detained-hmong-d009590a491c0c8243ef21ef24db7182">U.S. citizens</a>&nbsp;have been dragged from their homes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-protest-arrests-detention-ice-8993bfd5d54b870521ec5b44fc42cd71">and vehicles</a>&nbsp;during the Minnesota surge.

“These are real people we’re talking about, that we potentially have no idea what is happening to them,” Decker said.

Police say ICE is targeting off-duty officers

In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-operation-lawsuit-8805b301ff4a7bfb0058e085ffa8c034">separate lawsuit</a>, Menendez said Friday that federal officers can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities.

Good, 37, was killed on Jan. 7 as she was moving her vehicle, which had been blocking a Minneapolis street where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were operating. Trump administration officials say the officer, Jonathan Ross, shot her in self-defense, although videos of the encounter show the Honda Pilot slowly turning away from him.

Since then, the public has repeatedly confronted officers, blowing whistles and yelling insults at ICE and U.S. Border Patrol. They, in turn, have used tear gas and chemical irritants against protesters. Bystanders have recorded video of officers using a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minneapolis-raid-liberian-trump-eceefc72b9889d33d2bc961f1f02ecc4">battering ram to get into a house</a>&nbsp;as well as smashing vehicle windows and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-protests-immigration-agents-crowd-control-policing-ice-dhs-bd9335c2b0b793a3bff5c51287a80819">dragging people out of cars</a>.

Police in the region, meanwhile, said off-duty law enforcement officers have been racially profiled by federal officers and stopped without cause. Brooklyn Park police Chief Mark Bruley said he has received complaints from residents who are U.S. citizens, including his own officers.

“Every one of these individuals is a person of color who has had this happening,” Bruley said during a news conference.

President Donald Trump last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-crackdown-minnesota-shootings-renee-good-a0c368079c106b599245996fded8c1b9">threatened to invoke an 1807 law</a>&nbsp;and send troops to Minnesota, though he has backed off, at least in his public remarks.

Richer reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press reporter Sarah Raza in Minneapolis contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768610962226.png" alt="Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz from his social media page" />
 <figcaption>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz from his social media page</figcaption>
 </figure>MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Federal prosecutors served six grand jury subpoenas Tuesday to Minnesota officials as part of an investigation into whether they obstructed or impeded federal law enforcement during a sweeping immigration operation in Minneapolis-St. Paul area, a person familiar with the matter said.The subpoenas, which seek records, were sent to the offices of Gov. Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her and officials in Ramsey and Hennepin counties, the person said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/rGLZVW34kc">pic.twitter.com/rGLZVW34kc</a>&mdash; Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz/status/2013670376220348484?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The person was not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.The subpoenas are related to an investigation into whether Minnesota officials obstructed federal immigration enforcement through public statements they made,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-crackdown-25e46910fcc62fbf5ab341905af9891c">two people familiar with the matter said on Friday</a>. They said then it was focused on the potential violation of a conspiracy statute.<h2>Mayor: Subpoenas are to stoke fear</h2>Walz and Frey, both Democrats, have called the probe a bullying tactic meant to quell political opposition. Frey's office was ordered to produce a long list of records to a grand jury on Feb. 3, including “cooperation or lack of cooperation with federal law enforcement" and “any records tending to show a refusal to come to the aid of immigration officials.”“We shouldn’t have to live in a country where people fear that federal law enforcement will be used to play politics or crack down on local voices they disagree with,” Frey said.The subpoenas came as the Trump administration urged a judge to reject&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-renee-good-immigration-sweeps-6ae64be5a0d6a718b658a938fb56e567">efforts by Minnesota and its largest cities</a>&nbsp;to stop the immigration enforcement surge that has roiled Minneapolis and St. Paul for weeks.The Justice Department called the lawsuit, filed soon after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ice-shooting-minneapolis-victim-renee-good-d95e86716eec328a288866108acf78eb">the fatal shooting of Renee Good</a>&nbsp;by an immigration officer, “legally frivolous.” Lawyers argued that the Department of Homeland Security is acting within its legal powers to enforce immigration laws.Operation Metro Surge has made the state safer with the arrests of more than 3,000 people who were in the country illegally, the government said Monday in a court filing.“Put simply, Minnesota wants a veto over federal law enforcement,” Justice Department attorneys wrote.Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights with its unprecedented sweeps. He described the armed officers as poorly trained and said the “invasion” must cease.The lawsuit filed Jan. 12 seeks an order to halt or limit the enforcement action. More filings are expected, and it's not known when U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez will make a decision.<h2>Hard to track arrests</h2>Ilan Wurman, who teaches constitutional law at University of Minnesota Law School, doubts the state's arguments will be successful.“There's no question that federal law is supreme over state law, that immigration enforcement is within the power of the federal government, and the president, within statutory bounds, can allocate more federal enforcement resources to states who’ve been less cooperative in that enforcement space than other states have been,” Wurman told The Associated Press.Julia Decker, policy director at the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, expressed frustration that advocates have no way of knowing whether the government’s arrest numbers and descriptions of the people in custody are accurate.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minnesota-immigration-us-citizen-detained-hmong-d009590a491c0c8243ef21ef24db7182">U.S. citizens</a>&nbsp;have been dragged from their homes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-protest-arrests-detention-ice-8993bfd5d54b870521ec5b44fc42cd71">and vehicles</a>&nbsp;during the Minnesota surge.“These are real people we’re talking about, that we potentially have no idea what is happening to them,” Decker said.<h2>Police say ICE is targeting off-duty officers</h2>In a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-immigration-operation-lawsuit-8805b301ff4a7bfb0058e085ffa8c034">separate lawsuit</a>, Menendez said Friday that federal officers can’t detain or tear gas peaceful protesters who aren’t obstructing authorities.Good, 37, was killed on Jan. 7 as she was moving her vehicle, which had been blocking a Minneapolis street where Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were operating. Trump administration officials say the officer, Jonathan Ross, shot her in self-defense, although videos of the encounter show the Honda Pilot slowly turning away from him.Since then, the public has repeatedly confronted officers, blowing whistles and yelling insults at ICE and U.S. Border Patrol. They, in turn, have used tear gas and chemical irritants against protesters. Bystanders have recorded video of officers using a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-minneapolis-raid-liberian-trump-eceefc72b9889d33d2bc961f1f02ecc4">battering ram to get into a house</a>&nbsp;as well as smashing vehicle windows and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/minneapolis-protests-immigration-agents-crowd-control-policing-ice-dhs-bd9335c2b0b793a3bff5c51287a80819">dragging people out of cars</a>.Police in the region, meanwhile, said off-duty law enforcement officers have been racially profiled by federal officers and stopped without cause. Brooklyn Park police Chief Mark Bruley said he has received complaints from residents who are U.S. citizens, including his own officers.“Every one of these individuals is a person of color who has had this happening,” Bruley said during a news conference.President Donald Trump last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-crackdown-minnesota-shootings-renee-good-a0c368079c106b599245996fded8c1b9">threatened to invoke an 1807 law</a>&nbsp;and send troops to Minnesota, though he has backed off, at least in his public remarks.___Richer reported from Washington, D.C. Associated Press reporter Sarah Raza in Minneapolis contributed.

Minnesota Gov. responds to receiving grand jury subpoena from FBI

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Projected increases in electricity load growth are as high as 99% by 2035, a data point that pushed regional energy regulators to create a plan to stabilize and expand grid capacity and transmission, a legislative committee learned Thursday.

Part of that process includes building a controversial transmission line that will travel through four Kansas counties.

Justin Grady, director of utilities for the Kansas Corporation Commission, told the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee that a proposed 133-mile, 345 kilovolt transmission line to be built by Evergy will travel through western Sedgwick, Sumner, Cowley and Chautauqua counties.

The project is part of Southwest Power Pool’s annual plan to support projected growth in electricity usage across its 14-state coverage area, Grady said. SPP is one of seven nonprofit organizations approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to oversee transmission infrastructure, ensure utility system reliability and manage the wholesale electricity market.

Grady said the original&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spp.org/documents/75483/2025%20itp%20report%20v1.0.pdf" target="_blank">SPP transmission plan</a>&nbsp;included $18.1 billion of transmission projects to handle expected grid expansion, but KCC and others in the state’s energy industry met with SPP and agreed on fewer projects in the immediate future.

“The projects that ultimately got notices to construct were the consensus, essentially, of the stakeholders, that these are the projects we cannot afford to delay,” Grady said. “These are reliability projects.”

Transmission projects are challenging to implement because people don’t like them, he said.&nbsp;

“It’s not easy to site a transmission line,” Grady said. “By and large, landowners do not like it, and I understand completely. It carves a scar basically across the state of Kansas.”

Landowners on the planned transmission route showed up at two public hearings on Jan. 8 and 9 to voice concerns and objections to the transmission line.

John Timmerman said he has a contract for a wind energy project on his Sumner County land where the transmission line will cross. He told Evergy and KCC at the hearing that he stands to lose as much as $250,000 if he loses the wind contract.

“This line for the height and the position that it’s in will negate that windmill project,” he said at the public hearing.

Grady told the Energy committee the transmission project is necessary to support additional generation that will be added in upcoming years. Electricity needs in the region have been emphasized by storms in the past few years, including storm Uri in winter 2021 and storm Elliott, a 2022 winter storm, when the grid was stressed, he said.

“Last year during pretty mild weather, there were actual controlled load shed events in the southwest portion of the systems,” Grady said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Load shed refers to a purposeful, controlled shutoff of electricity in order to avoid a larger collapse of electric reliability, Grady said in an email after the meeting.

“When that one day of load shed comes in an 80-year period of time, which was winter storm Uri, then all we talk about for three years is, why did the lights go off?” he said. “Reliability is obviously job No. 1 for electric utilities and regulators, mixed in with affordability.”

Grady said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_energy_utilities_and_telecommunications_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_energy_utilities_and_telecommunications_1_20260115_01_testimony.html" target="_blank">load growth projections</a>&nbsp;are almost “unbelievable,” showing growth in two years that previously would have been projected for 10 years. The SPP’s plan projected how many load shed events would occur if no changes occurred, he said, and the estimate is 114 days a year in 2034.

“The standard is one day in 10 years — that’s the legal standard FERC requires them to uphold,” Grady said.

In the most conservative SPP models, the $8 billion transmission project will pay for itself by 2034.

“At its worst, when this $8 billion of transmission is built at the highest price it will ever be, in 2034 that will cost an average residential customer $2.99 a month,” Grady said, adding that models that include economic benefits show a $5.31 benefit to Kansas customers.

Looking outside of transmission to need for new electricity generation resources, Grady said SPP’s projects show adequate capacity for 2025, with a 20.7% reserve margin. However, if new generating resources aren’t added by summer 2027, the reserve margin will fall to 11.8%, and by 2030, that margin would be -1.6%.

Grady said one of the questions that came up at public hearings about the proposed transmission line was whether the addition supports Kansas electricity needs or is only about shipping electricity outside the state.

“That line was engineered and designed to correct for the severe reliability issues that occurred during winter storm Elliott,” Grady said.

Elliott occurred just after Uri and resulted in millions of people losing electricity on Christmas Eve, he said.

“We avoided load shed in SPP, mainly because there was 20,000 megawatts of wind online,” Grady said. “We are connected electrically to the entire eastern United States. Sometimes major reliability events that are happening in North Carolina can even ultimately affect what happens in southeast Kansas. The reality is that’s the reason this transmission line was designed and built. My position is that certainly that line will benefit Kansans.”

KCC is holding a third public hearing on the proposed transmission line at 6 p.m. Wednesday, at the Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center. The meeting can be attended by Zoom or in-person, but residents wanting to make&nbsp;<a href="https://kcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov/s/public-comments?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">public comments on Zoom should register</a>&nbsp;by noon Tuesday.

This story was updated to correct the date of the public hearing to Wednesday, Jan. 21.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768929569487.png" alt=" Justin Grady, director of utilities for the Kansas Corporation Commission, testified Thursday about expected electricity usage in the next decade. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications committee hearing)" />
 <figcaption> Justin Grady, director of utilities for the Kansas Corporation Commission, testified Thursday about expected electricity usage in the next decade. (Kansas Reflector screen capture from the Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications committee hearing)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Projected increases in electricity load growth are as high as 99% by 2035, a data point that pushed regional energy regulators to create a plan to stabilize and expand grid capacity and transmission, a legislative committee learned Thursday.Part of that process includes building a controversial transmission line that will travel through four Kansas counties.Justin Grady, director of utilities for the Kansas Corporation Commission, told the House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee that a proposed 133-mile, 345 kilovolt transmission line to be built by Evergy will travel through western Sedgwick, Sumner, Cowley and Chautauqua counties.The project is part of Southwest Power Pool’s annual plan to support projected growth in electricity usage across its 14-state coverage area, Grady said. SPP is one of seven nonprofit organizations approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to oversee transmission infrastructure, ensure utility system reliability and manage the wholesale electricity market.Grady said the original&nbsp;<a href="https://www.spp.org/documents/75483/2025%20itp%20report%20v1.0.pdf" target="_blank">SPP transmission plan</a>&nbsp;included $18.1 billion of transmission projects to handle expected grid expansion, but KCC and others in the state’s energy industry met with SPP and agreed on fewer projects in the immediate future.“The projects that ultimately got notices to construct were the consensus, essentially, of the stakeholders, that these are the projects we cannot afford to delay,” Grady said. “These are reliability projects.”Transmission projects are challenging to implement because people don’t like them, he said.&nbsp;“It’s not easy to site a transmission line,” Grady said. “By and large, landowners do not like it, and I understand completely. It carves a scar basically across the state of Kansas.”Landowners on the planned transmission route showed up at two public hearings on Jan. 8 and 9 to voice concerns and objections to the transmission line.John Timmerman said he has a contract for a wind energy project on his Sumner County land where the transmission line will cross. He told Evergy and KCC at the hearing that he stands to lose as much as $250,000 if he loses the wind contract.“This line for the height and the position that it’s in will negate that windmill project,” he said at the public hearing.Grady told the Energy committee the transmission project is necessary to support additional generation that will be added in upcoming years. Electricity needs in the region have been emphasized by storms in the past few years, including storm Uri in winter 2021 and storm Elliott, a 2022 winter storm, when the grid was stressed, he said.“Last year during pretty mild weather, there were actual controlled load shed events in the southwest portion of the systems,” Grady said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Load shed refers to a purposeful, controlled shutoff of electricity in order to avoid a larger collapse of electric reliability, Grady said in an email after the meeting.“When that one day of load shed comes in an 80-year period of time, which was winter storm Uri, then all we talk about for three years is, why did the lights go off?” he said. “Reliability is obviously job No. 1 for electric utilities and regulators, mixed in with affordability.”Grady said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/committees/ctte_h_energy_utilities_and_telecommunications_1/misc_documents/download_testimony/ctte_h_energy_utilities_and_telecommunications_1_20260115_01_testimony.html" target="_blank">load growth projections</a>&nbsp;are almost “unbelievable,” showing growth in two years that previously would have been projected for 10 years. The SPP’s plan projected how many load shed events would occur if no changes occurred, he said, and the estimate is 114 days a year in 2034.“The standard is one day in 10 years — that’s the legal standard FERC requires them to uphold,” Grady said.In the most conservative SPP models, the $8 billion transmission project will pay for itself by 2034.“At its worst, when this $8 billion of transmission is built at the highest price it will ever be, in 2034 that will cost an average residential customer $2.99 a month,” Grady said, adding that models that include economic benefits show a $5.31 benefit to Kansas customers.Looking outside of transmission to need for new electricity generation resources, Grady said SPP’s projects show adequate capacity for 2025, with a 20.7% reserve margin. However, if new generating resources aren’t added by summer 2027, the reserve margin will fall to 11.8%, and by 2030, that margin would be -1.6%.Grady said one of the questions that came up at public hearings about the proposed transmission line was whether the addition supports Kansas electricity needs or is only about shipping electricity outside the state.“That line was engineered and designed to correct for the severe reliability issues that occurred during winter storm Elliott,” Grady said.Elliott occurred just after Uri and resulted in millions of people losing electricity on Christmas Eve, he said.“We avoided load shed in SPP, mainly because there was 20,000 megawatts of wind online,” Grady said. “We are connected electrically to the entire eastern United States. Sometimes major reliability events that are happening in North Carolina can even ultimately affect what happens in southeast Kansas. The reality is that’s the reason this transmission line was designed and built. My position is that certainly that line will benefit Kansans.”KCC is holding a third public hearing on the proposed transmission line at 6 p.m. Wednesday, at the Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center. The meeting can be attended by Zoom or in-person, but residents wanting to make&nbsp;<a href="https://kcc-connect.kcc.ks.gov/s/public-comments?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">public comments on Zoom should register</a>&nbsp;by noon Tuesday.This story was updated to correct the date of the public hearing to Wednesday, Jan. 21.&nbsp;

Projected electricity usage expected to strain Kansas grid unless transmission, generation added

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting attracts corporate executives, academics, philanthropists and media to the Swiss Alps town of Davos. The Geneva-based think tank first hosted the event in 1971 with the goal to improve European management. 

Beginning Tuesday, 850 CEOs and chairs of the world’s top companies are expected to be among 3,000 participants from 130 countries in the Alpine resort. The dialogue, debate and deal-making is scheduled to last through Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump’s third visit to Davos as president comes as U.S. allies worry about his ambition to take over Greenland, among other international crises.

Trump posts doctored images of Greenland and Canada

President Trump early Tuesday posted some provocatively doctored images on social media. One showed him planting the U.S. flag next to a sign reading “Greenland, U.S. Territory, Est. 2026.”

The other showed Trump in the Oval Office next to a map that showed Greenland and Canada covered with the U.S. Stars and Stripes.

Trump posts text message from Macron on social media

An official close to Emmanuel Macron said a private message shared by Trump “shows that the French President, both in public and in private, takes the same views.”

Trump posted a text message Tuesday from Macron in which the French president suggested a meeting of members of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies in Paris after the Davos gathering. The message also suggests inviting Denmark, Ukraine and Russia.

The message shared by Trump is genuine, the French official said.

On Greenland, France considers respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is “non-negotiable,” said the official, who spoke anonymously in line with the customary practices of the French presidency.

Concerning Macron’s offering to organize a meeting of members of the Group of Seven most advanced economies in Paris on Thursday, the French presidency wants to make “a constructive moment that contributes to dialogue and cooperation,” the official added without further comments about Macron’s suggestion he could invite Russia.

DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) — The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting attracts corporate executives, academics, philanthropists and media to the Swiss Alps town of Davos. The Geneva-based think tank first hosted the event in 1971 with the goal to improve European management. Beginning Tuesday, 850 CEOs and chairs of the world’s top companies are expected to be among 3,000 participants from 130 countries in the Alpine resort. The dialogue, debate and deal-making is scheduled to last through Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump’s third visit to Davos as president comes as U.S. allies worry about his ambition to take over Greenland, among other international crises.<h2>Trump posts doctored images of Greenland and Canada</h2>President Trump early Tuesday posted some provocatively doctored images on social media. One showed him planting the U.S. flag next to a sign reading “Greenland, U.S. Territory, Est. 2026.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/oNffa46KUn">pic.twitter.com/oNffa46KUn</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2013590787762647405?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The other showed Trump in the Oval Office next to a map that showed Greenland and Canada covered with the U.S. Stars and Stripes.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/qJ9cAoWCfE">pic.twitter.com/qJ9cAoWCfE</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2013590691578888564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><h2>Trump posts text message from Macron on social media</h2>An official close to Emmanuel Macron said a private message shared by Trump “shows that the French President, both in public and in private, takes the same views.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/D53X6sOTfn">pic.twitter.com/D53X6sOTfn</a>&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2013590609886368038?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 20, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump posted a text message Tuesday from Macron in which the French president suggested a meeting of members of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies in Paris after the Davos gathering. The message also suggests inviting Denmark, Ukraine and Russia.The message shared by Trump is genuine, the French official said.On Greenland, France considers respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states is “non-negotiable,” said the official, who spoke anonymously in line with the customary practices of the French presidency.Concerning Macron’s offering to organize a meeting of members of the Group of Seven most advanced economies in Paris on Thursday, the French presidency wants to make “a constructive moment that contributes to dialogue and cooperation,” the official added without further comments about Macron’s suggestion he could invite Russia.___

Trump takes on European leaders over Greenland with memes, published text messages

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that occurred Thursday night in east Wichita during a reported home invasion robbery.

At 7:30 p.m., officers assigned to Patrol East heard several gunshots and then received a Gunshot Detection System (GSD) alert in the 5300 block of E. Funston, according to a media release from Wichita Police. Officers arrived before 911 calls came in.

When officers arrived, they found 22-year-old Oscar Gonzalez&nbsp; with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers began life-saving measures until Sedgwick County EMS arrived. EMS transported Gonzalez to a local hospital, where he was listed in serious but stable condition.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2026/1/1768746922525.png" alt="Gonzalez-photo Sedgwick County" />
 <figcaption>Gonzalez-photo Sedgwick County</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that occurred Thursday night in east Wichita during a reported home invasion robbery.At 7:30 p.m., officers assigned to Patrol East heard several gunshots and then received a Gunshot Detection System (GSD) alert in the 5300 block of E. Funston, according to a media release from Wichita Police. Officers arrived before 911 calls came in.When officers arrived, they found 22-year-old Oscar Gonzalez&nbsp; with multiple gunshot wounds. Officers began life-saving measures until Sedgwick County EMS arrived. EMS transported Gonzalez to a local hospital, where he was listed in serious but stable condition.“ Our officers heard the gunshots, and our Gunshot Detection System immediately pinpointed the area before the first 911 calls came in. That combination helped us get to the exact location fast, start medical aid right away, and get EMS there quickly. It potentially saved the suspect’s life. And it also allowed us to secure the scene, take the suspect into custody, and move this case forward. Technology like this continues to strengthen our ability to respond quickly and protect our community.”&nbsp;Three people, later determined to be victims, were detained for interviews. After speaking with investigators, all three were released.Detectives learned a 21-year-old Wichita woman was inside her home in the 5300 block of E. Funston when three armed suspects kicked in the door and robbed her.During the incident, her boyfriend, a 23-year-old Wichita man, arrived with a 22-year-old friend.As the boyfriend approached the home, one suspect exited through the front door, pointed a gun at him, and ordered him to get on the ground. A struggle over the firearm followed. As the 22-year-old friend got out of the vehicle, an exchange of gunfire occurred, and Gonzalez was shot. The other two suspects fled the scene and remain at large.Gonzalez was placed under police custody at the hospital. He was released on Saturday and just before 3:30p.m. booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated assault.