SANDRA MILBURN Reno County Communications Specialist

RENO COUNTY, Kan. — Gary M. Foster, 80-year-old white&nbsp;male, was last seen at 5:00 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, wearing blue jeans and a plaid button up long sleeve shirt. 

Gary is believed to have left his residence on foot in an unknown direction from 9811 S. Peace Rd. in western Reno County. 

Gary has Alzheimer's and is diabetic. Gary is 5'6, 178lbs, hazel eyes&nbsp;with a gray beard and grayish brown hair. If located, please call 911.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Silver Alert issued for Reno County man

NEWTON, Kan. — The City of Newton this week received a first place award from the Kansas Asphalt Pavement Association for the Main Street paving project completed earlier this year.

The $1.5 million project included milling and overlay, ADA ramp replacement, and some full-depth patching on Main Street between the BNSF Railway crossing and 11th Street. 

It was funded in part by the Kansas Department of Transportation’s City Connecting Links Improvement Program (CCLIP). APAC Shears of Hutchinson was the contractor.

Newton project wins paving award

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

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="mailto:hutchpost@eagleradio.net">hutchpost@eagleradio.net</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

Recent obituaries and service times

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

12/21/2024 3:24 AM-Courtney	Elizabeth Baranowski-DUI; Misdemeanor&nbsp;

12/21/2024 2:39 AM-Brian	Lee Harts Dunsworth-DUI; Alcohol Concentration .08 or more shown by competent evidence; 1st Offense

12/21/2024 2:35 AM-Quinton	James Bower-Pedestrian; Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs upon Roadway&nbsp;

12/21/2024 2:03 AM-Cody	Lewis Laughlin-DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv; Insurance; Knowingly drive uninsured vehicle; MVA; Failure to Report an Accident&nbsp;

12/20/2024 11:15 PM-Keith	Michael Dannebohm-Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000; Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct

12/20/2024 7:11 PM-Jaime	Lynn Bell-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;

12/20/2024 6:54 PM-Amanda	Kay McCue-Probation Violation&nbsp;

12/20/2024 6:44 PM-Bryce	Hunter Culley-Endangerment; Recklessly expose another to a danger of great bodily harm or death&nbsp;

12/20/2024 6:13 PM-Johnathan	Patrick Kelley-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction; Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Forgery; Making, altering, endorsing

12/20/2024 4:44 PM-Ricardo	Kevin Alvarez-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;

12/20/2024 4:03 PM-Blaine	Tristan Dowell-Failure to Appear

12/20/2024 12:02 PM-Adam	Scott McConnell-Probation Violation

Daily Bookings

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — According to a Friday message from the Kansas WIC department, Kansas WIC will continue to serve and enroll families during a federal government shutdown or a continuing resolution, as long as it has funding. 

At this time, Kansas WIC has enough federal funds to stay open approximately through the end of January. WIC families should continue to use their WIC benefits and attend their appointments.

WIC not yet impacted by potential shutdown

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The unemployment rate in Reno County was lower for the month of November 2024.

According to the Kansas Department of Labor, the jobless rate for the county went down one tenth of a percent to 3.6%. The jobless rate for the same period in 2023 was 2.1%.

There were 1,053 county residents out of work.&nbsp;

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.5% in November. This is an increase from 3.4% in October and an increase from 2.6% in&nbsp;November 2023.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 7,900 from October.

Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 7,100 over the month, while government increased by 800.

“Total nonfarm job estimates for Kansas rebounded in November following a temporary drop last month. The fluctuations were partially due to the impacts of strike activity in October,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen.

“Over the last three months, Kansas has averaged 2,100 jobs added per month.”&nbsp;

Since November 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 19,100. This change is due to an increase of 14,100 private sector jobs and an increase of 5,000 government jobs.

Unemployment down in November

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Brian Brillhart is the Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month for December. He teaches English at Hutchinson Middle School-7.

"A strong 7th grade writer, I think, is somebody who has all the tools that they want to express themselves well," Brillhart said. "I mean, if that means a good vocabulary, so they're not limited by, you know, just pulling from a certain catalog of words, if they have grammar that allows them to express themselves clearly. I guess the goal would be just that they can say what they're thinking, what they're feeling, in exactly the way that they want to, in a way that can be understood by people so that they don't feel like they're ever misunderstood."

Brillhart notes that it isn't easy for some students to express themselves.

"We've made the basics of writing a starting point for each of the last few years, because we've seen the need for a focus on that, because students are so limited in their expression, especially in writing," Brillhart said. "That's kind of a first things first, and I think, you know, that that's probably not unique, even at the elementary level, but yeah, I would say that whether they're conscious of it or not, we see limitations, certainly, in the way that they're able to express themselves and would like for them to feel more freedom."

It's also important to know that meaning is shared and it changes over time.&nbsp;

"I've been around just long enough to know which way the wind blows, but I've told students several times this year, I wish I'd kept a dictionary of sorts, cataloging some of these, these terms in their vocabulary that seem to be so fleeting," Brillhart said. "They come and go, and words that they have, you know, they have their own nuanced, personalized meaning for, but then you ask somebody seated next to them, they might say something completely different. They have a well for communication with their peers or for other purposes on social media, whatever, but in terms of academics and being able to express themselves in a wide, a wide variety of settings, there's room for that."

Brillhart's class received Pizza Hut pizza and ice cream from Braum's to commemorate his award.

Brillhart is Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Salvation Army will be giving out Christmas food boxes and toys for Christmas on Friday, December 20 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Each year The Salvation Army gives the gift of toys, food and blankets to residents of Reno County. This year over 1100 children from Reno County will receive toys and more than 900 families will receive a Christmas food box and new blankets. Of course, The Salvation Army cannot do this on their own and has been blessed by the generosity of so many individuals, businesses, organizations, and angels in our midst.

"Dillons is a huge part of making it possible to provide food for the 1100 boxes that will be shared," said Major Paul James. "They also help with food drives in front of their stores making it possible for special people in the community to take part in helping their neighbors. Without the help of everyone in our community, it isn’t possible to help those in need this season. It literally takes everyone pitching in that’s able to give of their time and resources."

When looking at all the toys needed, there are so many groups and businesses who take part and need our thanks. The Angel Tree at Walmart is one of the largest pieces to help get toys for every child from 0-12 year olds. This allows parents the opportunity to share a wish list for businesses and people in the community to adopt a child, several children, or even an entire family. There’s also the Reno County Toy Run that makes up a large portion of the toys we need along with Toys 4 Tots who&nbsp;collects toys for different groups. "It’s so humbling and encouraging to see people’s generosity when it comes to making sure children receive a gift," Major James said. "We as The Salvation Army pride ourselves in giving hope, but this time of year can be discouraging without the work of so many groups."

The Salvation Army still needs help to reach their operating budget goal this season. With 5 days to go as of Thursday, they still need $21,390 for their Red Kettle goal, and $200,000 for their overall goal which ends on January 31. 

"This time is The Salvation Army’s most important fundraising season," James said. "This time of year sets us up cashflow wise to get through most of the year."

You may mail your donation, drop it off at their local office at 700 North Walnut in Hutchinson or drop it in one of their iconic Red Kettles. It’s not too late to think about giving your year-end gifts as well.

Salvation Army giving hope this Christmas

JENNIFER WEATHERS Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce

For over five decades, Kauffman Seeds has been deeply rooted in Reno County’s farming community.

What began as K &amp; W Fish Farm under Edward and Frida Kauffman in the early 20th century has blossomed into a cornerstone of agricultural innovation and service. When the fish farming days ended, the Kauffman’s pivoted to certified wheat production in the 1980s and later expanded into soybeans and corn. Today, under the leadership of Dustin and Megan Miller, this legacy continues to thrive.

The growth story of Kauffman Seeds is truly remarkable. From two grain bins to now operating with&nbsp;80 bins across two locations, they’ve built a business that not only serves but enriches our&nbsp;community. The transformation of Edward and Frida’s home into an office and the acquisition of a 3.5-acre warehouse in 2014 showcase their resilience, hard work, and vision for the future.

Their accomplishments are equally impressive. Kauffman Seeds has been recognized as the&nbsp;Agriculture Award of the Year recipient in 2021 and consistently ranks as a top wheat seller for genetic companies. Their field days and research plots demonstrate their commitment to educating farmers and improving agricultural sustainability.

What truly sets Kauffman Seeds apart is their unwavering dedication to community and relationships.

They build strong connections with their customers, offering locally grown products and tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of farms in our area. Their family-first culture extends to their employees, many of whom have been with them for over ten years. Kauffman Seeds values every team member’s voice, encouraging input and collaboration to ensure the business’s continued success.

Beyond their business achievements, Kauffman Seeds exemplifies the spirit of giving back. From supporting local schools and FFA programs to participating in Yoder Days and community events, their contributions enrich Reno County in countless ways. Their generosity and willingness to step up—whether it's lending equipment to neighbors or hosting tours for visitors—showcase the values that make them a pillar of our community.

Kauffman Seeds is not just a business—it’s a legacy of hard work, innovation, and service. They represent the heart of what makes Reno County’s business community so special. Congratulations to&nbsp;Dustin, Megan, and the entire Kauffman Seeds team on this well-deserved recognition. Thank you for your dedication, vision, and commitment to making our community stronger every day.

Kauffman Seeds is December Small Business of the Month

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As the chill of winter sets in, Kansas Gas Service is dedicated to helping customers stay warm and save money. With a few no-cost or low-cost energy-saving tips, families can reduce their energy use without sacrificing comfort.

“Making small adjustments to save on energy consumption is easier than customers think. With simple tips and tools, Kansans can use less energy, which lowers bills and keeps more money in their pockets,” said Sean Postlethwait, vice president of Operations at Kansas Gas Service.

5 Easy Steps to Save Money and Energy This Winter

Customers can take these easy steps to reduce energy use and help manage their winter bills:

• Seal Air Leaks Around Doors and Windows: Apply weather-stripping or caulk to seal gaps and cracks around windows and doors to keep warm air in and cold air out.

• Reduce the Temperature on Your Water Heater: Set your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or the “warm” setting.

• Change or Clean Filters: A clean filter on your furnace can lower your energy consumption by 5% to 15%.

• Install Foam Gaskets on Switches and Outlets: Electrical switches and outlets can account for up to 10% of your home’s energy loss.

• Change the Rotation of Ceiling Fans: Hot air rises, so reverse your ceiling fans to a clockwise rotation to push warm air downward.

Applying these tips can help reduce energy consumption and lower your utility bills while keeping your home comfortable during the winter months. For more information, visit <a href="http://kansasgasservice.com/energytips">kansasgasservice.com/energytips</a>.

Kansas Gas Service gives energy saving tips for winter

TOPEKA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly, on behalf of the Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (KCJCC), announced on Thursday the 2025 grant awards for the Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program.

The JAG funds are provided to criminal justice system partners to address crime and improve public safety across Kansas. Specifically, the JAG awards made to local and state agencies fund programs designed to reduce and prevent crime, assist with equipment and technology needs and provide crime victim services.

The JAG program represents a collaborative partnership among federal, state and local governments to create safer communities and improve criminal justice systems. It provides critical funding to support a range of program areas such as law enforcement, corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, technology improvement, prevention activities, crime victim services, and mental health programs.

The KCJCC oversees the criminal justice federal funding made available to Kansas through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance.&nbsp; The KCJCC membership is representative of the Governor, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Corrections, the Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

A total of $1,924,842 was awarded to 26 agencies. 

Hutch Post area agencies awarded include the Kingman County Sheriff's Office that was awarded&nbsp;$167,766 and&nbsp;Pratt Police Department. That department was awarded $10,495.

JAG grant awardees announced

12-team college football playoff arrives after 100 years, a few billion dollars and many detours

It took more than 100 years, a few billion dollars and the cold, hard realization that you can't fight progress forever. And now, finally, college football has what the rest of sports have: a legitimate postseason tournament. The first-of-its-kind 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off Friday and Saturday with four first-round games on campuses steeped in gridiron tradition: Texas, Penn State, Notre Dame and Ohio State. Winners advance to play over the New Year's holiday, and the tournament concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game.

It took more than 100 years, a few billion dollars and the cold, hard realization that you can't fight progress forever. And now, finally, college football has what the rest of sports have — a legitimate postseason tournament.

The first 12-team College Football Playoff kicks off Friday and Saturday with four first-round games on campuses steeped in gridiron tradition: Texas (hosting Clemson), Penn State (SMU), Notre Dame (Indiana) and Ohio State (Tennessee).

The winners advance to play over the New Year's holiday — Arizona State, Boise State, Georgia and Oregon are waiting — and the tournament concludes Jan. 20 with the national title game in Atlanta.

The concept of a postseason tournament is old hat for virtually every other major sport in the United States (including the lower levels of college football), but this postseason is a novel one for the top level of the game. Not surprisingly for an endeavor that took a century to create, it is teeming with prickly details that will ultimately shape the future of the playoff itself.

Can the college game compete with the NFL?

A deal struck decades ago as part of the NFL's anti-trust exemption deems Saturdays as college territory, prohibiting the league from televising games on college football's biggest day. But that ban is only in effect through mid-December, which is when the NFL jumps in.

On Saturday, it has a pair of standout games: Texans-Chiefs on NBC and Steelers-Ravens on Fox. The CFP has chosen to counterprogram those games with SMU-Penn State and Clemson-Texas, both of which were sublicensed to TNT as part of ESPN's original deal to broadcast the playoff.

How will this go? College football's most-watched game this season grabbed 16.6 million viewers, while last year's title game, when the playoff only consisted of four teams, drew 25 million.

A regular-season NFL game between the Bills and Rams earlier this month drew 24 million viewers and the NFL averaged around 38.5 million viewers for its first round of playoff games last season.

Does it matter? ESPN is signed to the deal (topping out at $1.3 billion a year) through 2031, though if the ratings tank, it might be compelled to look for friendlier TV windows and avoid the ratings behemoth that is the NFL.

"I think it's important for them to get a reasonable rating," said Dan Durbin, the director of the Institute of Sports, Media and Society at USC. "I don't think beating the NFL really even counts."

We can trace it back to the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. Organizers of the annual parade wanted a way to pay for all those flower-covered floats cruising down Colorado Boulevard.

In 1902, they invited Michigan and Stanford to play (the Wolverines won 49-0). In 1916, it was Washington State and Brown, and from there, the game became an annual affair.

Other cities followed suit, mostly in warm-weather areas. By 1937, the Rose, Orange (Miami), Sugar (New Orleans) and Cotton (Dallas) were annual bowls, By the 1940s and '50s, the games had contractual tie-ins with conferences, which pledged to send their teams there.

The games entrenched themselves in the local tourism economy and, so, also became dug into the fabric of college football itself. While virtually all sports had moved toward some sort of playoff tournament by the 1960s, college football stood pat and the bowl games served as its postseason.

AP and other polls declared national champions for decades

The Associated Press started its poll of sports writers in 1936 and began awarding its national championship to whoever was ranked first at the end of each season. In 1968, the AP moved its final poll to after the bowls were over.

Other polls followed — more than 20 different systems or rankings have come and gone since the late 1800s — and for decades, those organizations crowned national champions. They often differed, including 11 seasons where AP and the coaches/UPI polls declared different champions.

Because the bowl games were locked into inviting teams from certain conferences, the top two teams in the sport often never played each other.

"In college football, you had so many teams, so many conferences that it's just been unwieldy to try to create a real postseason," Durbin said.

The alphabet soup of determining a champion

That remains true to this day, even with the expanded playoffs.

The seeds of change were planted after back-to-back seasons with split titles in 1990 and 1991 made it clear something needed to be done. Over the ensuing 35 years, a cocktail of conference realignment, ever-growing TV contracts and, most recently, the financial realities of a sport that will soon share millions with its players spawned new ways for the sport to tackle its playoff problem.

In the 1990s, a two-decade period of systems — the Bowl Alliance, Bowl Coalition and Bowl Championship Series — tried to pair the two best teams in the country to play for the title. Rankings were based on a combination of polls, computer rankings and strength of schedule — a formula that has been tweaked many times but remains a sore spot to this day.

The BCS turned into the College Football Playoff in 2014 with a four-team postseason that felt like progress.

One problem was that the gap grew even wider between what mattered and what didn't — three playoff games vs. dozens of bowl games that looked more and more like exhibitions, especially if players with NFL prospects opted out.

Another was the selection process. The March Madness selection committee in college basketball isn't truly in jeopardy of sidelining the eventual national champion if it makes a bad choice for, say, the last two teams in a 68-team field.

Not so in football, where the field is smaller, every game means more and the financial stakes are higher. The SEC and Big Ten, for instance, receive around $22 million in playoff TV money before a single game is played. There is a pool of about $115 million available to the conferences based on the results of the playoff.

Last year, when the football committee chose one-loss Alabama over undefeated Florida State for the fourth and final spot, it triggered investigations and threats.

The road to 12 teams was already paved by then, but it has been equally as fraught. Some reveled in the fact that the first team out of the bracket this time was the very Alabama program that was chosen a year earlier.

Will this work, and what might change soon?

There is also the issue of automatic bids that go to conference winners, which have not only put Boise State and Arizona State (teams ranked eighth and 10th in the latest AP Top 25) into the tournament but given them two of the four first-round byes.

There is the issue of travel — how many fans can afford to go to three neutral-site games to watch their team chase a championship? With scant time to prepare, can the schools and the CFP pull off campus games without a hitch? Oh, what about the lack of students on campus this week?

The eventual champion will also end up playing 16, maybe 17, games, carving into classroom time that's supposed to still mean something at the college level.

Within a year or two, this tournament will likely expand to 14 teams. The issue of "access" — which conferences get in and how many teams they are allowed — will top that debate. There is also growing separation between the SEC and Big Ten and the rest of college football that makes many in the sport uneasy.

Before all that, it's time to buckle up. College football's first wild ride through the playoffs will last a full month.

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

🏈 12-team CFP arrives after 100 years, a few billion dollars and many detours

Wichita Bishop Carroll 59, Wichita Northwest 36

Junction City 53, Saint Mary's Academy &amp; College 17

Wichita Northwest 58, Wichita Bishop Carroll 47

🏀 EAGLE Media Scoreboard from Thursday games

AP Sports Summary for December 20th., 2024:

Taking advantage of an obscure rule, Chargers' Dicker makes NFL's first fair-catch kick in 48 years

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Cameron Dicker of the Los Angeles Chargers made the first successful fair-catch kick in the NFL since 1976 on Thursday night. He connected from 57 yards right before halftime against the Denver Broncos. Dicker and the Chargers took advantage of a seldom-used football play called the fair-catch kick, which allows a team that has just made a fair catch to try a free kick for three points. Only five NFL teams had previously tried the kick in the 21st century, and nobody had successfully executed it since Ray Wersching did it for the San Diego Chargers 48 years ago.

Justin Herbert passes for 2 touchdowns, Chargers score on free kick and rally past Broncos 34-27

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Justin Herbert passed for 284 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 19-yarder to Derius Davis early in the fourth quarter, and the Los Angeles Chargers got closer to wrapping up a playoff spot by rallying past the Denver Broncos 34-27 on Thursday night. The Chargers' comeback also included Cameron Dicker making the first successful fair-catch kick in the NFL in 48 years. He was good from 57 yards on the final play of the first half to pull the Chargers within 21-13. Los Angeles needs losses by Indianapolis and Miami on Sunday to make the playoffs. Denver failed to clinch a playoff berth and had its four-game winning streak snapped.

Sammy Sosa appears to acknowledge PED use, apologizes; Cubs welcome him back into fold

CHICAGO (AP) — Sammy Sosa appeared to acknowledge using performance enhancing drugs during a career in which he hit more than 600 home runs, and the Chicago Cubs said they were ready to welcome him back. Sosa says in a statement "there were times I did whatever I could to recover from injuries in an effort to keep my strength up to perform over 162 games." He adds: "I never broke any laws. But in hindsight, I made mistakes and I apologize." Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts said the team plans to invite Sosa to the annual fan convention Jan. 17-19 in Chicago.

'Raygun: The Musical' won't use the name of the notorious Australian breaker

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Australian breaker Rachael "Raygun" Gunn has tried to be a good sport about the jokes and criticism that poured in from around the globe after her controversial performance at the Paris Olympics. But maybe "Raygun: the Musical" was a bridge too far. Comedian Stephanie Broadbridge called off the show just hours before it was set to premiere in Sydney, after Gunn's lawyers contacted its comedy club venue and threatened legal action. On Thursday, Broadbridge said the musical had been rebranded as "Breaking: The Musical," "A completely legal parody musical." Gunn said in a video posted to social media that decision to demand her name be removed from the musical was not about not "being able to take a joke."

Towns relishes an enjoyable return to Minnesota, from the roar of the crowd to a blowout win

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns needed some extra time to prepare for playing against the team he always figured he'd be with his whole career. The surreal experience of returning to Minnesota was enjoyable from start to finish for Towns. He had 32 points and 20 rebounds for the New York Knicks in a 133-107 victory over the Timberwolves. There was no sense in trying to downplay the significance of this reunion. Minnesota still means a lot to Towns. He also made a major impact on the organization and the community despite some difficult years.

An 'embarrassing' night for Stephen Curry and the Warriors, who fall by 51 at Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Stephen Curry had a game like none other in his career. It was part of an awful night for the Golden State Warriors. Curry didn't make a shot from the field in his 24 minutes — the first time he's played that many minutes without a basket in his 16-year career — and the Warriors fell behind by 57 points in what became a 144-93 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Thursday night. The 51-point final margin and 57-point deficit were both the largest in the NBA this season.

US women's team star Trinity Rodman says her relationship with father Dennis Rodman is strained

U.S. women's soccer team forward Trinity Rodman has opened up about her strained relationship with father Dennis Rodman, saying he is largely absent from her life. She told the Call Her Daddy podcast that the former NBA star is only a father by blood. Dennis Rodman responded to his daughter with a post on Instagram saying he tried to be a father and will keep trying.

Looking at campaign documents for 7 IOC members running to be president of the Olympic body

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Seven International Olympic Committee members are running as candidates to be the next president in its first election since 2013. Their newly published manifestos show broad consensus on some issues and challenges for the IOC and global sports. Climate change and sustainability, engaging with youth via social and digital media in the fast-changing broadcasting landscape, harnessing AI, protecting women's sport. There are clear differences on paying prize money to Olympic athletes and how to engage more than 100 members to shape the IOC's future and pick host cities. Those members vote at a March 18-21 election meeting in Greece.

Celtics' Jaylen Brown calls out ref for technical calls on himself, Joe Mazzulla in loss to Bulls

BOSTON (AP) — Celtics forward Jaylen Brown took issue with back-to-back technical fouls called on coach Joe Mazzulla and himself late in the fourth quarter of Boston's 117-108 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Trailing 99-90, Celtics scored six straight points before consecutive techs were called on Mazzulla and Brown with 5:12 left to play after both protested a non-foul call as Brown scrambled for a loose ball. A jump ball was called instead. Brown said he approached referee Justin Van Duyne to get an explanation on Mazzulla's tech, which Brown felt was unwarranted. Brown was eventually whistled for a technical as well.

Here are the scores from yesterday's sports events:

		Houston Christian	at	(12)Texas A&amp;M	2 p.m.	

		(22)Dayton	at	(19)Cincinnati	8:30 p.m.	

📢📰🎧 Sports Headlines for Friday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutch High Salthawk Basketball teams return the the Salthawk Activity Center tonight to close out the 2024 December portion of their schedule with a doubleheader vs the Arkansas City Bulldogs.

Catch all the action on <a href="https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/KWBW">KWBW Radio 1450am/98.5fm</a> with the award winning EAGLE Media sportscast crew, consisting of Glen Grunwald with the play-by-play call and Dan "Coach Nac" Naccarato with in-depth analysis. Pregame starts at 5:45 p.m. followed by the opening tip at 6 p.m. The Hutch High boys game will follow at around 7:30 p.m.&nbsp;

You have a choice. The video broadcast of both games will also available on the <a href="https://fan.hudl.com/usa/ks/hutchinson/organization/8/hutchinson-high-school/team/26735/girls-varsity-basketball/schedule?date=2024-12-01T06%3A00%3A00.000Z&amp;range=Month&amp;s=U2NoZWR1bGVFbnRyeVB1YmxpY1N1bW1hcnk2NmRmNTg0ZDM5NThmZmZhY2ViMzYxZmI%3D&amp;ss=2024">Hutch High hudl.tv fan page</a>&nbsp;and on the <a href="https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/hutchinson-high-school-hutchinson-ks">NFHS&nbsp; Network Hutchinson Channel.</a>&nbsp;You can subscribe to either network.

🎧🎥🏀 Hutch High closes out 2024 part of schedule vs Ark City

CANYON, Texas — Listen back to the complete audio broadcast of the 2024 NJCAA DI Football National Championship Game between Hutchinson Community College and Iowa Western Community College on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024 at Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium in Canyon, Texas. The game was broadcasted on KHUT-FM and KWBW-AM/FM with Sean Boston (play-by-play) and Daren Dunn (color analyst)

HutchCC defeated Iowa Western, 28-23, to claim its second national title in program history.

🎧 LISTEN: NJCAA Championship Game rewind: HutchCC 28, IWCC 23

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Head coach Brandon Schneider and the Kansas women's basketball staff signed four prospects during the early signing period, including three who are currently ranked in the top 100 of the ESPNW HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings.

KU's four-player class of Tatyonna Brown, Jaliya Davis, Libby Fandel and Keeley Parks is ranked as the No. 6 recruiting class in the ESPNW's post-signing window class rankings. Davis becomes the highest-ranked player that Kansas has signed during Schneider's tenure, coming in at No. 17 in the rankings, while Parks is also a five-star prospect ranked No. 29. Fandel is rated a four-star prospect at No. 44, while Brown is also a four-star and ranked just outside the top 100.

Davis, a 6-2 forward from Blue Valley North HS in Overland Park, Kansas, and Parks, a 5-11 guard from Norman HS in Norman, Oklahoma, were both named to the Naismith Trophy Girl's High School Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.

The Jayhawks recruiting class ranks as the highest-rated in Schneider's tenure. KU's class of 2023, which featured S'Mya Nichols, the No. 34 recruit in the class, and Laia Conesa was ranked No. 24 in the country.

Coach Brandon Schneider on the 2025 Recruiting Class:

"This recruiting class is the result of years of work that fortunately went our way. I think we've been involved in a lot of fierce recruiting battles through the years, some that we were really close on, and didn't succeed. It's nice when it all comes together like it did with this class. Success in recruiting is a team effort. We have a terrific staff, and our players are heavily involved and want to be involved in recruiting. I think we've really made a greater effort to recruit within driving distance of Lawrence, Kansas, and all four of these kids can jump in the car and get here. I think that they are drawn to our culture and the trajectory of our program, but I also think they see an opportunity to take it to new heights and to places that this program has never been."

Tatyonna Brown | F | 6-2 | Colorado Springs, Colo (Air Academy HS)

• Two-sport standout, competing in basketball and volleyball for Air Academy HS

• Averaging 13.2 points and 9.4 rebounds for her career

• Recorded 11 double-doubles as a junior, helping Air Academy to a 25-2 overall record and a state semifinal appearance

ESPNW Scouting Report: "Brown is a 6-2 lefty forward who is active in the paint and on the glass. She brings a physical presence to the floor and has upside potential with flashes of the perimeter shot."

Jaliya Davis | F | 6-2 | Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley North HS)

• Rated a five-star prospect and the No. 17 recruit in the country by ESPNW

• Top high school prospect in the state of Kansas and one of 50 prep seniors named to the Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year Watch List

• Has led Blue Valley North HS to a 40-9 record over the past two seasons, including the 2023 Class 6A State Championship and a third-place finish in 2024

ESPNW Scouting Report: Davis is one of the best forwards in the 2025 class. She is an elite operator in the paint and extremely hard to keep off of the glass, with an advanced face up game and soft touch around the rim.

Libby Fandel | G | 6-1 | Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Xavier HS)

• Rated a four-star prospect and the No. 44 prospect in the class by ESPNW

• Has earned all-state honors in both volleyball (four times) and basketball (three), helping Xavier HS win state titles in each sport

• Averaged 24.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 4.0 steals per game as a junior and was named the conference player of the year

• Reigning Cedar Rapids Metro Area Girls Basketball Athlete of the Year

ESPNW Scouting Report: "Fandel is a multisport athlete with an all-around game. She can catch fire from the perimeter and moves well without the ball. She has that glue-like quality about her that impacts winning."

Keeley Parks | G | 5-11 | Norman, Okla. (Norman HS)

• Rated a five-star prospect and ranked as No. 29 in the country by ESPNW

• 2024 Gatorade Oklahoma Girls Basketball Player of the Year and one of 50 prep seniors named to the Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year Watch List

• Named The Oklahoman's Super 5 Player of the Year and Big All-City First Team in 2024 ater averaging 26.3 points, 8.5 rebounds, 3.0 steals and 5.6 steals per game

ESPNW Scouting Report: "Parks is an accomplished big guard with a strong frame. She has long range on her shot and finishes well around the rim with contact."

🏀 KU signing class is top 10

WICHITA, Kan. — Wichita State baseball was picked second in the 2025 American Athletic Conference preseason coaches poll, the highest preseason projection for the Shockers since joining the conference in 2017.

East Carolina topped the poll with 80 points, including eight first-place votes, while the Shockers garnered 72 points and the other two first-place nods. Defending American Athletic Conference tournament champion Tulane checked in at #3, followed by UTSA and Charlotte in the top half of the poll. Florida Atlantic, South Florida, UAB, Memphis and Rice round out the projections.

The Shockers have never been picked higher than fourth in the American preseason poll, a status they reached just once in the 2022 edition. Last season, Wichita State was picked seventh before finishing 32-29 (15-12) and tying for third in Brian Green's first season as head coach.

WSU and Tulane lead the way with four preseason All-Conference selections apiece. Wichita State catcher Mauricio Millan, first baseman Josh Livingston, second baseman Jordan Rogers and shortstop Camden Johnson were all recognized by the conference, with Millan as the unanimous selection behind the plate.

Millan put together another consistent season as Wichita State's primary starting catcher in 2024, making 56 total starts that included 40 at catcher. The El Paso, Texas native finished third on the team with a .301 batting average, smacking 10 doubles and two home runs while setting a new program and American Athletic Conference record with 24 hit by pitches. Millan recorded 15 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI contests, solidifying his reputation as one of the conference's most clutch hitters with a .371 batting average with runners in scoring position.

Livingston delivered one of the most impressive months in recent program history to buoy Wichita State's late-season surge. The rising senior went 11-for-33 in the month of May with three doubles, six home runs and 23 RBI in just nine games, highlighted by four homers in the conference tournament. For the season, Livingston hit .253 with five doubles, 11 home runs and 39 RBI, establishing a new program record with three pinch-hit home runs that included the program's first pinch-hit grand slam since 2016.

Rogers posted the best season of his career as Wichita State's regular second baseman in 2024. The versatile defender played in 60 games with 57 starts (52 at second base, four in right field, one in center field), hitting .296 with 12 doubles, four triples, 11 home runs and 41 RBI. Rogers tied for third in the American Athletic Conference in both triples and hit by pitches while leading the Shockers with 56 runs scored. He also put together an 18-game hitting streak from April 20-May 21, the longest by any Wichita State player in 2024.

Johnson burst onto the scene in 2024 as one of the region's most dynamic young players. The left-handed hitting infielder was named Second Team All-AAC and AAC All-Freshman Team as the only Shocker to start 60 games, 55 at third base and five at shortstop. Johnson led the team with a .326 batting average, adding 13 doubles, one triple, two home runs and 32 RBI while tying for the team lead with seven stolen bases in eight attempts.

2024 American Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll (First-place votes in parentheses)

C – Mauricio Millan, Sr., Wichita State*

1B – Josh Livingston, Sr., Wichita State

2B – Jordan Rogers, R-Sr., Wichita State

SS – Camden Johnson, So., Wichita State

DH – Rafael Betancourt, Jr., South Florida

⚾ Shockers picked 2nd in AAC

CANYON, Texas — Down 14 just halfway through the first quarter, No. 3 Hutchinson (11-1) found a way to capture its second national championship in program history Wednesday night.

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