We’re excited to announce a new daily newsletter format for Hutchinson Citizen Journal, delivering local, state, and national news to your inbox each morning. Each news bullet links directly to the full story on our website, where you’ll also continue to find jail logs and obituaries. We’re also building an event calendar for the Hutchinson community — stay tuned for that launch soon. Thank you for reading and supporting local journalism.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

• Greg Loving, CEO, and Rica Simpson, Hutchinson City Editor (rica@citizenjournal.us)

Hutchinson

• Jeremy Unruh, a 27-year veteran and second-generation firefighter, has been appointed as the new Fire Chief of the Hutchinson Fire Department. He steps into the lead role with a commitment to maintaining the department’s elite accreditation while prioritizing community transparency and public safety. →
• The 11th Avenue railroad crossing will be closed for maintenance on Tuesday, March 31, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a detour routing traffic south to 4th Avenue. →
• The Kansas State Fair received a $99,000 state grant to restore the historic 1915 'Ye Old Mill' attraction, one of only three such rides still operating in the country. →
• Reliever Jaxon Wondra fueled the Great Bend Panthers’ doubleheader sweep of Hutchinson, anchoring an 8-4 victory in the opening game. The Panthers dominated the second contest 9-1 behind a strong performance from pitcher Rafael Chavez. →
• No. 13 seed Hutchinson Community College upset defending national champion Northwest Florida State 64-53 to advance to the NJCAA quarterfinals. The victory was highlighted by a historic second quarter where the Blue Dragons held the Raiders scoreless while all five Hutchinson starters finished in double figures. →
• New Mexico Junior College defeated Barton Community College 103-90 in the opening round of the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Hutchinson Sports Arena, ending the Cougars' season. →
• The College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles defeated Gulf Coast State College 82-70 in the NJCAA semifinals at the Hutchinson Sports Arena to advance to the national championship game. →
• Howard College claimed the 2026 NJCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball Championship with an 82-67 victory over the College of Southern Idaho. Led by tournament MVP Terry Copeland, the Big Spring team secured its first national title since 2010. →
• The NJCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Championship generates over $2 million in annual economic impact for Hutchinson, rivaling the Kansas State Fair in local sales tax revenue. This decades-long tradition provides significant national exposure and fills hundreds of hotel rooms, cementing the city’s identity as the premier home of junior college basketball. →
• Expect a beautiful sunny day with a high of 87, but keep a firm grip on your hat as south winds could gust up to 36 mph.

🌾 Kansas

• Kansas lawmakers passed a property tax reform bill Friday allowing voters to force local government spending cuts through protest petitions signed by at least 10% of registered voters, though a broader constitutional amendment capping property valuation increases failed to advance. →

• The Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature overrode two Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes Friday, enacting laws providing income tax deductions for health care sharing ministry members and extending protections to crisis pregnancy centers. →

• President Trump announced expanded small-business loan guarantees for farmers Friday amid strain from tariffs and rising costs from the war in Iran, urging major tractor manufacturers to produce cheaper equipment. →

• The Kansas City Royals host the Minnesota Twins in their 2026 home opener Monday afternoon at 3:10 p.m., with left-hander Kris Bubic scheduled to start against right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson. →

• Central Kansas will see temperatures drop roughly 10 degrees from Monday's highs near 90 to the upper 70s Tuesday, with isolated to scattered showers and thunderstorms possible Tuesday evening and overnight. →

🇺🇸 US

• President Trump is considering a military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, a complex mission that would likely require American forces to operate inside the country for days or longer. →

• Oil prices climbed to $108 a barrel as Yemen's Houthi militants entered the Iran conflict and threatened the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, raising concerns about disruption to global trade through two critical waterways. →

• Defense startups are racing to develop interceptor missiles costing as little as $10,000 to counter cheap Iranian drones that currently require million-dollar missiles to shoot down. →

• Eli Lilly's daily obesity pill could receive approval as early as April, with at least six more weight-loss treatments from major drugmakers in development through 2029. →

• UConn freshman Braylon Mullins hit a 35-foot buzzer-beater to send the Huskies to the Final Four after Duke had led by 19 points in the first half. →

Weather

March 30 1855: Violence disrupts first Kansas election

In territorial Kansas’ first election, some 5,000 so-called “Border Ruffians” invade the territory from western Missouri and force the election of a pro-slavery legislature. Although the number of votes cast exceeded the number of eligible voters in the territory, Kansas Governor Andrew Reeder reluctantly approved the election to prevent further bloodshed.

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