HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jeremiah Harmon, welding instructor at Hutchinson Career &amp; Technical Education Academy, has been named the Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Teacher of the Month for April.

Harmon was surprised with the award Monday afternoon and honored with a gift basket, as well as a pizza and ice cream party. The award was presented by Don Glaspie and Cris Schul from Allen Samuels and Ashley Weve with EAGLE Media.

He was nominated by substitute teacher Michele Hansen, who praised the environment Harmon has created in his classroom.

“As a sub, I appreciate a class that has high expectations and love from the teacher,” Hansen said. “The students treat me with so much respect, kindness and appreciation I just have to sub in his class. I do not have to monitor, discipline or deal with any negative behaviors because Mr. Harmon has modeled to the students how one should behave, perform and follow through.”

Harmon credited his students for the honor.

“This isn’t a me, this is a we,” Harmon said. “All I did was create an opportunity for them to impress somebody, and they did. It was a substitute who noticed their behavior and put in for the award. That says a lot about them.”

Harmon’s welding class operates with a strong emphasis on career readiness. Students work at their own pace with individual assignment sheets and receive immediate, hands-on feedback in the lab.

“I treat it like we’re at work,” Harmon said. “Class starts at 8, so I’m ready at 8. The students are expected to be, too. It’s about preparing them for the real world.”

Originally from West Virginia, Harmon said he learned welding out of necessity. After serving in the Army as a machinist, he moved to California and worked in the welding trade. A shortage of skilled labor on a major bridge project in the Bay Area made a lasting impression.

“When I saw a major bridge project needing Canadian welders because we didn’t have enough here, it hit me: if we’re short on skilled workers, we need teachers,” Harmon said. “That’s when I knew I wanted to teach.”

Now in his 15th year of teaching, Harmon said he continues to be inspired by his students’ potential.

“One of you could be welding in outer space,” Harmon told his class. “And who says it can’t be you?”

Jeremiah Harmon is Allen Samuels Teacher of the Month for April

Underpaid for years, Kansas legislators finally received a substantial pay increase this year. Instead of a paltry per diem (per day) allowance, they now receive $43,000 per year and remain eligible for KPERS benefits.

Normally, I would argue in favor of this. It takes courage for legislators to raise their own pay and then sit for re-election before collecting it. As per the state constitution, there is no other way to do this—not even to keep up with inflation—and constituents hate it, often believing their representatives (or more accurately, the representatives from other districts) to be undeserving. Yet political science research has shown for decades that professional legislatures produce better legislation, less likely to cause problems or be overturned in court. During session, legislators work far in excess of 40 hours per week, and it takes years to learn the ins and outs of complicated policies such as the state budget.

That said, with the hefty pay increase, one might think that the legislators would also lengthen the session. The Late KU Professor Burdett Loomis documented the cost of the Kansas Legislature’s short, rushed sessions all the way back in 1994. Loomis wrote at length about the frantic, sleep-deprived, late-night sessions in which the Legislature would cobble together budgets at the last minute. Each succeeding year, they would vow to pass a budget earlier—and then do the same thing again. In 2012, Representative Bob Bethell fell asleep driving home after the end of the session, crashed his car, and died.

Now the legislators finally make decent pay. So, why the super-short session this year? They rushed the budget through so quickly that they did not even allow time for the next round of budget estimates, which may make their numbers particularly inaccurate and require fixing later. The legislators were in such a rush, they held bulk line-item veto overrides, not taking the time to review Governor Kelly’s proposed spending cuts one at a time.

Unfortunately, the only plausible reason for this crazy hurry is the leadership’s desire to ram through policies without allowing time for discussion, deliberation, or debate. As shown during recent town hall meetings for Senator Roger Marshall and other members of Congress, public feedback can get raucous, particularly when programs, policies, or benefits that make a real difference in people’s lives are threatened. Constituents deserve to have a voice, and if what they say is hard to hear, well, that’s why we pay you the big bucks.

Granted--and in stark contrast with the current circus in Washington, DC--the Kansas budget this year was largely an incrementalist one, making only small, mostly upward changes to state appropriations. But some major “hot button” legislation passed, including a ban on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, a ban on gender-affirming medical care for Transgender youth, and some additional tax cuts on top of the huge one passed last year. This threatens to put the state into a $461 million shortfall by 2028. Constituents may want to talk about this, but whoops, the session’s already over! It should also be noted that the legislators shortened their session primarily by cutting the so-called “breaks.” These are—or were—the days

they would go home and listen to constituents, before heading back to Topeka to finish their work.

As a political scientist, I strongly support building up the institutional capacity of state legislatures, including pay. But is it too much to ask for better service in exchange for the higher pay? With their frantic session this year, the Kansas Legislature failed to hold up their end of the deal.

<i>Michael A. Smith is a Professor of Political Science at Emporia State University.&nbsp;</i>

Insight: What's your hurry legislators 

SEDGWICK COUNTY– On Wednesday, the Sedgwick County Board of County Commissioners approved the settlement of two federal lawsuits related to alleged misconduct by a former Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy. The lawsuits stem from incidents that occurred in July 2022.

At that time, while investigating a security breach at Sedgwick County Jail, investigators learned 22-year-old Dustin Burnett, the on-duty deputy in that area of the jail, observed inmates break a window, bring contraband into the facility and didn't stop it or inform anyone it occurred. He also did not give investigators the full story about the incident when confronted about it, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.&nbsp;

Later, two female inmates reported inappropriate sexual contact with Burnett, according to Sheriff's Lt. Benjamin Blick. The alleged sexual contact occurred on July 17, 2022.

Burnett started work at the jail in January of 2022 and was terminated upon his arrest.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In&nbsp; April of 2023, Sedgwick County District Judge Tyler Roush sentenced Burnett to 68 months in prison. On February 10 Burnett made an Alford plea to three charges of unlawful sexual relations with two female inmates and official misconduct in the jail.

Under the terms of the federal lawsuit agreements, Sedgwick County will pay $200,000 to resolve one case and $175,000 to resolve the second case involving Burnett. As part of the agreed settlements, Sedgwick County asserts that all claims are without merit but has resolved to settle to avoid significant defense costs, expenses, and risk of litigation.

Sedgwick County settles rape lawsuit involving jail deputy

These guys are four of the MOST WANTED piggies you'll ever meet.  DANIEL is a Master of Disguise. 

 Daniel and David are a bonded pair of young males, so they need to be adopted together where Lazurus and Lot are loners

Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://kingmancountyhumanesociety.org/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3Hin9j5CXp9U60THv4dk8BWzIVj2oV6C7JznRqKMfQhcccufqHipzr248_aem_k3-q9QOth_HP4F8EWH4akw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kingmancountyhumanesociety.org</a>&nbsp;to fill out an adoption application Or call 316-542-1812 for more info!&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Adopt a Furry Friend:  Four little (Guinea) pigs 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After a successful debut season in 2024, Salt City Racing is returning to the Hutchinson Fairgrounds with an expanded 2025 schedule, new series, and renewed community enthusiasm.

Track promoter Phil Nightingale said lessons learned during the inaugural season have paved the way for a smoother and more exciting year two.

“We learned a lot about running a racetrack,” Nightingale said in a BW Morning Show Interview. “The crowd, the drivers—everyone had great enthusiasm. And now that we’ve got a three-year contract with the Fair Board, we’re in it for the long haul.”

Last year’s highlight was the Silver Crown race in July. Despite skepticism, Nightingale and his team successfully hosted the track’s first 100-lap race in more than a century, proving the updated track surface could go the distance—and then some.

“We could’ve gone 150 laps,” he said. “That’s how good the track was.”

Credit for the improved surface goes to Mike, a track specialist out of Iowa with experience prepping NASCAR’s dirt event at Bristol Motor Speedway. He spent three days reshaping the Hutchinson track last season—no new dirt, just new angles and better preparation.

This year, more improvements are coming. Nine new wall panels will be installed before the April opener and the pit entrance is moving from the east side to the west for better flow.

Joining Nightingale again this year is Nick Baalman, who co-manages the operation and brings decades of racing experience to the table.

“I’ve raced my whole life, but I had no idea what goes into putting on just one race night,” Baalman said. “It’s a massive behind-the-scenes effort. But the support from the community here has been incredible.”

Baalman, who helped launch Mel Hambelton Racing seven years ago, praised the collaboration between the dealership, racing division, and Salt City Racing. He said the enthusiasm from sponsors this year is stronger now that a long-term agreement is in place.

Salt City’s season kicks off April 25 with the Heartland Modified Touring Series, one of the fastest-growing modified divisions in the region. That race will also feature the United Rebel Sprint Series, setting the tone for a thrilling season.

“We’re expecting 40 cars, maybe more,” Nightingale said. “It’s going to be a great show.”

Drivers are anticipated from across Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Nebraska and Colorado, emphasizing the event’s regional draw.

Fans can also look forward to additional major events, including:

Salt City Racing will continue streaming races in 2025, primarily through RacingDirt, while ASCS and Silver Crown events will be broadcast on DirtVision and FloRacing, respectively.

For Nightingale, the secret to success is teamwork.

“Nick and I share everything—responsibilities, ideas, frustrations. You can’t run this kind of thing alone,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without him.”

Tickets for the upcoming season are available at <a href="https://saltcityracingllc.com">saltcityracingllc.com</a> or through the My Race Pass app. All purchases are cashless to streamline operations and support long-term sustainability.

“We’re just getting started,” Baalman added. “This facility is one of the best in Kansas, and we’re proud to keep it alive for this community.”

The green flag drops April 25. Racing fans, buckle up—Salt City is back.

Salt City Racing gears up for 2025 season 

Ahead of this Friday's opening race at the Kansas State Fairgrounds, we had the opportunity to visit with Phil Nightengale and Nick Baalman of Salt City racing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎧BW Morning Show Interview: Phil Nightingale and Nick Baalman - Salt City Racing 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Board of County Commissioners will meet Wednesday morning to consider a range of items, including budget requests, a conditional use permit, and solar regulations.

On the consent agenda, commissioners will vote on a conditional use permit for the construction of a township supply building at the northwest corner of Wilshire Drive and West Fourth Avenue. The Reno County Planning Commission approved the request by a 4-1 vote at its most recent meeting.

Also included is a request to spend $52,239.77 on new desktop and laptop computers. The replacements are needed due to an upgrade to Windows 11, following Microsoft’s announcement that support for Windows 10 will end in October.

Several budget proposals are also on the agenda. Reno County Research and Extension is requesting a 5.3% increase in its 2026 budget, while the Reno County Drug Court is seeking $10,000 in funding. Horizon Mental Health and TECH are asking to maintain their current funding levels of $400,000 each.

In other business, commissioners will vote on new solid waste fees for the Reno County landfill and consider a funding request from Strawn Homes for its Plum Creek subdivision.

The board will also discuss solar energy regulations in the county’s unzoned areas.

The meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in the Veterans Room of the Reno County Courthouse.

County Commission to meet Wednesday morning 

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. ——————————————

Bradley	Lee Kuker&nbsp;4/22/2025 12:41 PM&nbsp; Failure to Appear&nbsp;

Desiree Jensen&nbsp;4/22/2025 1:21 PM&nbsp; Probation Violation&nbsp;

Cody	Bill Hull&nbsp;4/22/2025 1:53 PM&nbsp; Probation Violation&nbsp;

Robbie	Eugene Calvin&nbsp;4/22/2025 6:45 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500, Failure to Appear,&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,&nbsp;Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Matthew	Guy Currie&nbsp;4/22/2025 9:03 PM&nbsp;&nbsp;Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Jose	Luis Zavala&nbsp;Faudoa&nbsp;4/22/2025 11:40 PM&nbsp; Failure to Appear,&nbsp;Criminal Use of Weapons; Criminal Carrying; Knowingly carry Pistol, Revolver or other Firearm,&nbsp;Traffic Contraband in Correctional Institution; Introduce any Item,&nbsp;Interference with Law Enforcement; Conceal /alter/destroy evidence Felony case,&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,&nbsp;Possession of marijuana,&nbsp;Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,&nbsp;Distribute opiate/narc/stim; 10 - &lt;100 1000' school,&nbsp;&nbsp;Distribute marijuana w/in 1000' sch; 25-&lt;450 gm,&nbsp;Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 3.5g to &lt; 100g

Jacob Wade Manning 4/23/2025 12:00 AM&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,&nbsp;Possession of marijuana, Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Daily Bookings 

TOPEKA, Kan. – Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, today, announced that new legislation establishing a system for the instant verification of auto insurance has been signed into law. SB 42 contains provisions that give the Kansas Department of Insurance the authority to establish an insurance verification system that can be utilized by the Kansas Department of Revenue, law enforcement, the court system and county treasurers - all who are required to verify insurance.

“Driving without insurance is against the law. Period,” said Schmidt. “No longer should law-abiding Kansans have to foot the bill for this illegal activity.”

The new law creates the framework that allows the Kansas Department of Insurance to issue a bid for contract with a vendor to create and implement the verification system. The new system will be entirely funded by the Kansas Department of Insurance and is required to be in place by July 1, 2026.

The Insurance Information Institute estimates that approximately 8.0% of the vehicles registered in Kansas are uninsured. During calendar years 2021 and 2022, insurance companies writing auto insurance in Kansas paid $51.9 million in claims involving uninsured motorists. These claims are directly related to prospective premium rates.

“If you have ever been in an accident with an uninsured motorist, you know your policy takes the hit and your rates go up,” said Schmidt. “I think that’s wrong, and that’s why I proposed this legislation to give the state better tools to stop uninsured motorists.”

A copy of the enrolled bill can be found here: <a href="https://buff.ly/rswkAAc.">https://buff.ly/rswkAAc.</a>

Auto insurance verification legislation signed into law

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department, in partnership with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, will host the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dillon’s Marketplace, 3200 Plaza East Drive.

The event offers residents a safe, free and anonymous way to dispose of unneeded prescription medications. Tablets, capsules, patches and other solid forms of prescription drugs will be accepted. Liquids, such as cough syrup, must be sealed in their original containers with caps tightly secured to prevent leaks. Syringes, sharps and illicit drugs will not be accepted.

National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has helped Americans safely discard more than 19.2 million pounds of medications since the program began over a decade ago, preventing old or unused prescriptions from becoming a source of misuse or addiction.

The Hutchinson event is one of nearly 5,000 collection sites participating nationwide. For more information or to locate additional drop-off sites, visit <a href="http://www.DEATakeBack.com.">www.DEATakeBack.com.</a>

Hutchinson Police, other agencies host drug take back event April 26

Hutch Rec will host area adaptive youth at the annual Youth Adaptive Track Meet on April 23, sponsored by Kiwanis of Downtown Hutchinson.

This year’s meet features 66 students in 7th-12th&nbsp;grades from Hutchinson, Buhler, and Nickerson school districts. It also includes more than 30 volunteer students from Trinity High School, as well as members of the Kiwanis Club and community volunteers with Hutch Rec. Kiwanis is also serving lunch to participants, teachers, and volunteers.

Hutch Rec to host Youth Adaptive Track Meet on April 23

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The game between the Colorado Rockies and Kansas City Royals scheduled for Wednesday was postponed due to rain.

After a delay of more than two hours prior to first pitch, the game was moved to Thursday, to be played as part of a traditional doubleheader, beginning at 1:10 p.m. local time.

The probable starters for the Rockies are RHP Germán Márquez (0-3, 8.27 ERA) and RHP Chase Dollander (1-2, 7.36), and RHP Michael Lorenzen (1-3, 4.57) and LHP Cole Ragans (1-1, 3.58) are the probable starters for the Royals.

⚾ Game between Rockies and Royals postponed due to rain; teams will play doubleheader Thursday

 HUTCHINSON, Kan.— The Campus Colts held off a dramatic late rally to edge the Hutchinson Salthawks 7-6 in the opener of Wednesday’s doubleheader before completing the sweep with a 4-0 shutout in Game 2 at Hobart-Detter Field.

The Salthawks (8-7) nearly stole the opener in the bottom of the seventh, putting the tying run on third and the winning run on second. But Campus reliever Ryan McWilliams caught Brodie McCuan looking at strike three to seal the win and leave the Hutchinson dugout in disbelief.

Hutchinson struck first with a pair of runs in the opening frame, but Campus responded with one in the second and broke the game open with a six-run outburst in the third. The Salthawks chipped away, but the early damage proved too much.

Game two was a different story, as Campus starter Harken Warkins delivered a dominant performance on the mound. Warkins carried a no-hitter into the fifth before Salthawk third baseman Ju Ju Lyons broke it up with a single up the middle. Caden Beavers added another hit later in the game, but Hutchinson couldn’t string anything together offensively.

The Colts backed Warkins with timely hitting to cruise to a 4-0 victory and a sweep of the twin bill.

Hutchinson (8-7) will look to rebound Friday, April 25, when they travel to Salina to face the Salina South Cougars at Dean Evans Stadium.

⚾ Campus sweeps Hutchinson in doubleheader thriller and shutout

🥎 KU run rules Kansas City

⚾ Wind Surge claims first walk-off win of 2025

⛳ K-State earns at-large bid to NCAA Regionals

⛳ Jayhawks receive at-large bid to NCAA Regionals for 3rd straight year

Royals win in extras, Surge downs Cardinals in series opener and HutchCC wins Region 6 golf and more.&nbsp;

🎧⚾ Royals win in 11, Surge pounds Cardinals, K-State drops WSU ⛳Hutch CC wins Region 6 

🏈 2025 NFL Draft Order

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The Hutchinson High School varsity baseball team returns home this week to host the Campus High&nbsp;Colts in an AVCTL Division I doubleheader this afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. for Game 1, with Game 2 to follow.

The Salthawks enter the doubleheader with a 8-5 record and are fresh off a win over Andover Central last Thursday in Andover. The Colts are 8-3 coming off a road win over Towanda Circle earlier in the week.

Click below to listen or view by fan.hudl.com to the broadcast and stream of both games.

🎧🎥⚾ Hutch High to host Campus in AVCTL doubleheader

The judge overseeing the rewriting of the college sports rulebook threw a potentially deal-wrecking roadblock into the mix Wednesday, insisting parties in the $2.8 billion antitrust lawsuit redo the part of the proposed settlement involving roster limits that many schools are already putting in motion.

“Any disruption that may occur is a problem of Defendants’ and NCAA members schools’ own making,” U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken wrote in a pointed five-page order in which she gave no weight to the argument that a reworking of the proposal could throw college sports into chaos.

She gave the sides 14 days to contact their mediator and return to the bargaining table.

The settlement in the landmark class-action lawsuit called for schools to no longer be bound by scholarship limits for their teams, but rather by roster limits in which everyone would be eligible for aid.

It figured to ultimately weed out walk-ons, athletes on partial scholarships and,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/utep-womens-tennis-disbanded-83d9412d8acb62942990f47def0587c6">in extreme cases</a>, entire teams. In preparing for the settlement to be approved, schools across the country have been busy cutting players who, in turn, were finding spots on new teams.

Attorneys argued that undoing all those moves would add even more turbulence to an already tumultuous landscape.

Not her problem, Wilken said, in insisting both sides jumped the gun in making the moves.

“The fact that the Court granted preliminary approval of the settlement agreement should not have been interpreted as an indication that it was certain that the Court would grant final approval,” Wilken said of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-college-sports-nil-pay-players-b7b87c81f44ac6e32955ef89e61ca893">preliminary nod she gave back in October</a>&nbsp;that set these transactions in motion.

While the attorneys look for a Plan B, the clock is ticking. Terms of the settlement were supposed to go into effect July 1. Football practice starts soon after. Whether rosters will come in at around the old average (128) or the newly prescribed limit (105) is an open question.

One of the plaintiff attorneys, working virtually in lockstep with the NCAA and conferences since this settlement was (all but) locked in, released a daunting statement.

“We will work hard to convince the NCAA and the conferences to address the court’s concerns,” Steve Berman said. “If we are unable to do so, then we are off to trial and we will return to fighting the NCAA in court with next steps.”

The NCAA and five defendant conferences released a joint statement saying they were closely reviewing the order.

“Our focus continues to be on securing approval of this significant agreement, which aims to create more opportunities than ever before for student-athletes while fostering much-needed stability and fairness in college sports,” it said.

Steven Molo, an attorney who represented more than 190 athletes at Wilken’s hearing earlier this month, viewed the order as a victory of sorts.

“We’re grateful the court understood the pain the proposed settlement has been inflicting on many student-athletes who’ve dedicated themselves to their sports,” Molo said. “The tremendous unfairness of the arbitrary roster limits must be addressed.”

As for the rest of the settlement — including the $2.8 billion in back damages and the $20.5 million many schools can dole out to their athletes — Wilken said she’s ready to go.

But this has been portrayed all along as an all-or-nothing deal, and though it was a mere matter of routine, Wilken’s release of a pretrial schedule — with some hearings scheduled out through September —underscored the idea that, indeed, there’s at least a chance this lawsuit could be resolved with a trial.

Not that any of this should have surprised the attorneys.

Wilken made clear toward the end of the daylong&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nil-ncaa-house-settlement-5937493302218963fc678562dcc8d222">settlement hearing April 7</a>&nbsp;that she would like the parties to find a way to gradually implement the roster-limit rules. She suggested “grandfathering in” athletes who already had roster spots. In her order Wednesday, she insisted that wasn’t as impossible as the attorneys made it sound.

“One way of achieving that could be to modify the settlement agreement to ensure that no (athletes) who have or had a roster spot will lose it as a result of the immediate implementation of the settlement agreement,” she wrote. “Limits could be accomplished gradually by attrition.”

Wilken also rejected attorneys’ arguments that, essentially, the good being done for thousands of athletes who can now get paid (and who might have a previously unavailable shot at a scholarship) offsets whatever damage takes place to the players who find themselves at new schools — or no school at all.

“The Court can approve the settlement agreement only if it is fair, reasonable, and adequate after considering, in relevant part, whether it ‘treats class members equitably relative to each other,’” Wilken wrote, in quoting a previous ruling.

It is not clear how many roster spots across hundreds of schools will vanish under the settlement, though some estimates have pegged the number in the thousands.

What is sure is that this ruling shoves the schools’ attempts at getting ready for 2025-26 a step deeper into a black hole of uncertainty. Also clear: the judge is every bit as concerned about the hundreds of athletes losing roster spots as she is with the multibillion-dollar industry they inhabit.

Judge delays $2.8 billion NCAA settlement to address roster limit concerns

KANSAS CITY— A Kansas City area man faces charges after his toddler son shot and killed himself with the father's loaded firearm.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2595/Ronald-Lewis-COMPLAINTREDACTED">Ronald L. Lewis, Grandview, Mo., faces</a>&nbsp;1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter, a class C felony, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

If convicted, Lewis could face three to ten years in prison.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2594/Ronald-Lewis-PCREDACTED">According to court records</a>, On November 2, Kansas City police were dispatched to a residence on a reported shooting and were told that the two-year-old victim suffered a gunshot wound to the head. The victim was later declared deceased at the local hospital.&nbsp;

Lewis told detectives he was sitting on the couch in the residence with the victim when he heard a single gunshot next to him and noticed the boy was shot in the head. Lewis told detectives he previously placed his loaded handgun under a pillow on the couch he and the boy were seated on.&nbsp;

The defendant is in custody on a $30,000 bond.&nbsp;

KC toddler found his father's loaded handgun under a pillow

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating three suspect on multiple allegations after&nbsp;

Just after 2a.m.&nbsp; April 19, 2025, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center received notification regarding multiple individuals in a gray for F-150 pickup truck breaking into a clothing donation bin in the 6800 block of SW 29th Street, according to Sheriff Brian Hill.

A deputy located the vehicle in the 5200 block of SW 37th Street and conducted a traffic stop.

During the investigation, it was determined that the driver was wanted by the Topeka Police Department and illegal narcotics were located.

Ronald A. Weiland, 62, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant; Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body; Possession of marijuana; Aggravated domestic battery;&nbsp;Aggravated assault, Domestic battery and Criminal restraint

Carl E. Smith, 61, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human bod and Possession of marijuana

Paulette K. Weiland, 57, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into jail on a Topeka bench

3 jailed after report of break-in to Kan. clothing donation bin

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at Ukraine's president, saying Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prolonging the “killing field” after pushing back on ceding Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace plan.

Zelenskyy on Tuesday ruled out ceding territory to Russia in any deal before talks set for Wednesday in London among U.S., European and Ukrainian officials. “There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,” Zelenskyy said.

During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-rubio-witkoff-coalition-paris-74e93e2943687a7d8c7b23608919459a">similar talks last week in Paris</a>, U.S. officials presented a proposal that included allowing Russia to keep control of occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a deal, according to a European official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Trump called Zelenkyy's pushback “very harmful” to talks.

“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?” he wrote on social media.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-putin-ukraine-crimea-seizure-8245aec572fb71236febfa8735c42879">Russia annexed Crimea in 2014</a>&nbsp;after sending troops to overrun it. Weeks later, Moscow-backed separatists launched an uprising in eastern Ukraine, battling Kyiv’s forces.

Trump also asserted they were close to a deal and that Ukraine's leader can have peace or "he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country," adding that Zelenskyy's statement “will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that!"

Wednesday's meeting was pared back at the last minute, while Vice President JD Vance said negotiations are reaching a moment of truth.

“We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say ‘yes’ or for the United States to walk away from this process," Vance told reporters during a visit to India.

He said it was “a very fair proposal” that would “freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today,” with both sides having to give up some territory they currently hold. He did not provide details.

A senior European official familiar with the ongoing talks involving the American team said a proposal the United States calls “final” was initially presented last week in Paris, where it was described as “just ideas” — and that they could be changed.

When those “ideas” surfaced in media reports, Ukrainian officials were surprised to find that Washington portrayed them as final, according to the official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations that might bring a ceasefire and open the door to full peace negotiations, as he mourned nine civilians killed when a Russian drone struck a bus earlier in the day.

“We insist on an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media, in accordance with a proposal he said the U.S. tabled six weeks ago.

Ukraine and some Western European governments have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet on that proposal as his army tries to capture more Ukrainian land. Western analysts say Moscow is in no rush to conclude peace talks because it has battlefield momentum.

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the talks in London to find an end to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">more than three-year war</a>&nbsp;would involve only lower-ranking officials, after the U.S. State Department said Tuesday that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-department-rubio-reorganization-trump-usaid-3fc186fefddaaa72c3040db9fb380af4">Secretary of State Marco Rubio</a>&nbsp;was unable to attend because of a scheduling issue.

Rubio's abrupt cancellation raised doubts about the direction of negotiations. He had indicated that Wednesday’s meeting could be decisive in determining whether the Trump administration remains engaged.

Commenting on those attending the talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “as far as we understand, they so far have failed to bring their positions closer on some issues.” He said the Kremlin was still in consultations with American officials but wouldn’t publicly discuss details.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow again later this week, according to Russian officials.

Even achieving a limited,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-riyadh-talks-saudi-arabia-330342dae25c139fc047275964d97757">30-day ceasefire has been beyond the reach of negotiators</a>, as both sides continue to attack each other along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and launch long-range strikes.

A Russian drone struck a bus carrying workers in Marganets, in eastern Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region on Wednesday morning, killing eight women and one man, regional head Serhii Lysak wrote on social media. More than 40 people were injured, he said.

Lysak published photos of a bus with windows blown out and shards of glass mixed with blood spattered on its floor.

Trump has pushed for an end to the war and said last week that negotiations were “coming to a head.” That comment came after Rubio suggested the U.S. might soon back away from negotiations if they don’t progress.

Those still attending Wednesday's meeting include retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said on social media that a delegation including him, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had arrived in London for the talks despite the alterations.

“The path to peace is not easy, but Ukraine has been and remains committed to peaceful efforts,” Yermak said. Officials would “discuss ways to achieve a full and unconditional ceasefire as the first step toward a comprehensive settlement and the achievement of a just and lasting peace."

Several hours later, Yermak said that he, Sybiha and Umerov met with national security and foreign policy advisors from the countries “participating in the coalition of the willing” and “emphasized our commitment” to the U.S. president's peace efforts.

He asserted on social media that “Russia continues to reject an unconditional ceasefire, dragging out the process and trying to manipulate negotiations.”

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-russia-ukraine-war-633a216d0506c82353fc7745b69c0fe0">said repeatedly</a>&nbsp;during his election campaign last year that he would be able to end the war “in 24 hours” upon taking office. But he has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-drones-kharkiv-offensive-1d2f793cc99798b0e491b9dde8e0cee0">expressed frustration</a>&nbsp;with Zelenskyy and Putin. Russia has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting by imposing far-reaching conditions.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters later on Thursday that Trump’s “frustration is growing and he needs to see this thing come to an end.”

“What he is asking is for people to come to the negotiating table, recognizing that this has been a brutal war for far too long,” Leavitt said. “And in order to make a good deal, both sides have to walk away a little bit unhappy, and unfortunately, President Zelenskyy has been trying to litigate this peace negotiation in the press, and that’s unacceptable to the president.”

Some European allies are wary of the American proposal for Ukraine to exchange land for peace. But an official said there’s also acknowledgment by some allies that Russia is firmly entrenched wholly or partially in five regions of Ukraine: Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

If the goal is to obtain a ceasefire immediately, “it should be based on the line of contact as it is,” said the senior French official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with French presidential policy.

Novikov reported from Kyiv and Madhani from Washington. Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.

Trump: Zelenskyy prolonging war resisting calls to cede Crimea to Russia

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Wednesday as a worldwide rally came back around to Wall Street after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;appeared to back off&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-trump-jerome-powel-4710172f1fd4d6493769ac0b81703c01">his criticism of the Federal Reserve</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-trade-taxes-trump-china-bessent-treasury-66668fa26957ece530a250fa8ea19faa">his tough talk in his trade war</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 climbed 1.7% and added to its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-markets-trump-tariffs-investments-7ee60dbf71e262843eac15ae1564f4cb">big gain</a>&nbsp;from Tuesday that more than made up for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-inflation-trump-68a6a7f7765d78d46329abbecfbe0797">steep loss</a>&nbsp;on Monday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 419 points, or 1.1%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 2.5%.

Wall Street’s gains followed strong moves higher for stocks across much of Europe and Asia. They also continued a dizzying, up-and-down run for financial markets as investors struggle with how to react to so much uncertainty about what Trump will do with his economic policies.

The market’s latest move was up in part because Trump said late Tuesday that he has “no intention” to fire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-trump-powell-federal-reserve-6eb45ff17915b321366dbe1c5bb15e43">the head</a>&nbsp;of the Federal Reserve. Trump had been angry with Jerome Powell, whom Trump had called “a major loser,” because of the Fed’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-tariffs-federal-reserve-3dd54eb572f1d37e202a8a30223fc14d">hesitance to cut interest rates</a>.

Trump’s tough talk had frightened investors because the Fed is supposed to act independently, without pressure from politicians, so that it can make decisions that may be painful in the short term but are best for the long term.

While a cut to interest rates by the Fed could give the economy a boost, it could also put upward pressure on inflation. Economists say Trump’s tariffs are likely both to slow the economy and to raise inflation, at least briefly.

Trump may have recognized the market’s fear about a move against Powell. He may also be looking to keep someone around whom Trump could blame later if the economy does fall into a recession, according to Thierry Wizman, a strategist at Macquarie.

“Indeed, if the Fed cuts its policy interest rates aggressively, Trump would have little excuse for a recession apart from the pugnacity of his tariff policies,” Wizman said.

Markets also rose after Trump said late Tuesday that U.S. tariffs on imports coming from China could come down “substantially” from the current 145%. “It won’t be that high, not going to be that high,” Trump said.

The hope along Wall Street has been that Trump would lower his tariffs after negotiating trade deals with other countries, and Trump said Tuesday he would be “very nice” to the world’s second-largest economy and not play hardball with Chinese President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-sanctions-hong-kong-89a7c78f16cadbc8ab43717a6f316b76">Xi Jinping</a>.

“There is an opportunity for a big deal here,” U.S. Treasury Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/treasury-bessent-imf-world-bank-trump-economy-e1dcdd00d79f7ce16682a080edd341d1">Scott Bessent said Wednesday</a>.

If Trump brings his tariffs down enough, investors believe a recession could be averted.

U.S. businesses say they’re already feeling the effects of the trade war. A preliminary reading of U.S. business activity fell to a 16-month low, as the threat of tariffs helped push up prices charged for goods and services, according to S&amp;P Global’s latest survey released Wednesday.

All the uncertainty means one of the few predictions many along Wall Street are willing to make is that sharp swings for financial markets will continue for a while. The market will “more likely than not continue to be dictated by Trump’s latest whims regarding tariffs and trade,” said Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade.

The S&amp;P 500 remains 12.5% below its record set earlier this year after briefly dropping roughly 20% below the mark. Its swings have been coming not just day to day but also hour to hour as Trump and his administration’s officials continue to surprise markets. On Wednesday alone, the S&amp;P 500 charged to a 3.4% gain in the morning, only to more than halve that rise as the day progressed.

Trump’s latest comments had a relaxing effect on the bond market, where Treasury yields eased. It’s a turnaround from earlier this month, when spiking Treasury yields raised fears that Trump’s actions were scaring investors away from the United States and weakening the U.S. bond market’s reputation as one of the safest places to keep cash.

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