 The Reno County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new scam targeting families of inmates who have recently been taken into custody.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, scammers are calling family members shortly after an individual is booked into the Reno County Jail. The caller falsely claims to be an employee of the Sheriff’s Office or jail staff and tells the family that bond payment is required immediately.

Officials say the scammers are asking victims to send money using Apple Pay, gift cards, Bitcoin, or other forms of cryptocurrency.

The Reno County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that deputies and jail staff will never call individuals to request bond payments or any other fees over the phone, and they will never ask for payment via gift cards, mobile payment apps, or cryptocurrency.

Anyone who receives a suspicious call related to an inmate is urged not to send money and to report the incident to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office. Residents are also encouraged to warn family members and friends about the scam to help prevent further victimization.

Sheriff's Office warns of new scam

Hutchinson, Kan.—Authorities are investigating a fatal fire at a home in Hutchinson.

Just after 3:30a.m. Monday, crews responded small house fire at 56th Street and Old Kansas 61, according to a media release..  When crews arrived on scene, they found a small 700 square foot home that that was fully involved with roof collapse.  Crews performed a defensive attack calling the fire controlled at 4:15 am.

Investigation of the fire showed that the fire may have started at approximately 1a.m.&nbsp; A neighbors camera system showed a glow in the area at that time.  The fire went unnoticed for approx. 2 and one half hours before Hutchinson Fire was notified.  Due to the prolonged burn time and the destruction of the home and contents, the cause of the fire is ruled as undetermined.

1 dead after fire at home in Hutchinson

Sterling High School Theatre has entered an exciting new chapter with the official chartering of Thespian Troupe #12627, bringing the school into the International Thespian Society and opening new opportunities for students in the performing arts.

The new troupe is led by Greg McGlynn, a Sterling High School alumnus who returned home after more than 30 years of teaching theatre across Kansas and Texas. McGlynn said his decision to come back was rooted in both family and a desire to give back.

“I am excited to come back home and share my 30-plus years of theatre experiences with my alma mater,” McGlynn said. “I thought I was ready to slow down and return to driving a tractor in the fields of Rice County. But when my own kids started high school and there was a transition in the theatre department, I realized I wanted them to experience the same kind of exciting, fun memories on stage that I’ve given countless other students.”

One of McGlynn’s first goals was to establish a Thespian troupe at Sterling—something the school had never done before, despite its long history in theatre. “My old theatre teacher, Betsy Dutton, was here for over 40 years, but she also coached debate and forensics and taught senior English,” he said. “I’m the part-time theatre teacher, so I thought, ‘I should do this.’ Starting a Thespian troupe would enrich the students’ experience—not just performing, but serving the community and sharing meaningful stories.”

That vision became reality on December 10, when 13 students were inducted during Sterling High School’s inaugural Thespian ceremony.

The International Thespian Society is an honor organization that recognizes student achievement in theatre arts through a point system based on performance, technical work, leadership, and service. Membership opens the door to events such as the Kansas Thespian Festival, held annually at Century II in Wichita.

This year’s festival will take place January 8–10, 2026, and eight of Sterling’s 13 Thespians plan to attend. The three-day event brings together more than 1,800 high school theatre students for performances, workshops, college auditions, and professional development.

“I am most pumped to go to the Kansas Thespian Festival,” said Trace DeShon, the troupe’s secretary. “From what I’ve heard, the energy and enthusiasm of that many theatre students is incredible. I can’t wait.”

Sophomore James McGlynn is also looking forward to the experience. “I’m excited to go as a real Thespian,” he said. “I’ve gone for years to support my dad as a director, helping build sets and watching workshops. Now I get to experience all of that as a student.”

While the opportunity is exciting, it also comes with financial challenges. Each student must pay a $150 registration fee, and the total cost for registration, hotel, and food for the eight attending students exceeds $3,000. To help offset expenses, the troupe has been actively fundraising through events such as a Haunted Theatre on Halloween and a Children’s Theatre Workshop for elementary students earlier this fall. Those efforts have covered much of the cost, but additional support is still needed.

Community members who wish to help support Sterling High School’s new Thespian troupe and its trip to the state festival may write a check to Sterling High School, noting “Thespians” on the memo line.

McGlynn brings extensive festival experience to the program, having had seven productions selected for performance at the Kansas Thespian Festival and two advance to the International Thespian Festival. He has already set a goal for the Sterling program. “I want to see a Sterling High School production perform at the Kansas Thespian Festival within the next few years,” he said.

Sterling High Theatre currently produces a three-show season in the Betsy Dutton Auditorium, along with student-led projects and community outreach. With the formation of Thespian Troupe #12627, the program is building a strong foundation for student leadership, artistic excellence, and service—ensuring that the curtain is just rising on a new era for theatre at Sterling High School.

“The goal of Sterling High Theatre is to create high-quality, professional-level theatre that’s accessible to the entire community,” McGlynn said. “Our mission is to share the enriching experience of live theatre—to expose, educate, entertain, and excite.”

Sterling High School launches Thespian Chapter

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Recent obituaries and service times

Trace Adkins to Open 2026 Kansas State Fair on Sept. 11

Country music star Trace Adkins will open the 2026 Kansas State Fair with a special Grandstand concert on Friday, Sept. 11, marking both the opening day of the fair and the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Kansas State Fair Executive Director Bryan Schulz announced the concert on Monday morning, noting the significance of the date and Adkins’ long-standing support for veterans and first responders.

“Opening day of the Kansas State Fair is September 11, and with this being the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we wanted an artist who truly represents patriotism and respect for our military and first responders,” Schulz said. “Trace Adkins was the perfect fit.”

The concert is part of Adkins’ 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating three decades since the release of his debut album Dreamin’ Out Loud. His career includes more than 40 charted singles, 14 studio albums, and multiple No. 1 hits, including “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” and “Every Light in the House.”

Adkins will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. at the Kansas Star Casino Grandstand, reflecting a new naming sponsorship for the Grandstand in 2026.

Ticket pricing ranges from reserved Grandstand seating at $45 to $55, Party Pit tickets at $85, VIP Deck standing tickets at $110—which include two drinks and appetizers—and reserved VIP tables priced at $835 for six people, which include food, drinks, and early Grandstand entry.

Ticket sales will roll out in phases:

Schulz encouraged fans to purchase tickets directly through the official Kansas State Fair website to avoid third-party resale issues.

In addition to the Adkins concert, Schulz said 2026 will be a milestone year for the Kansas State Fair, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 35th anniversary of the Little Red Schoolhouse, and the 140th anniversary of 4-H. Fair officials are also hopeful that the Bison Arena will be available for part of the 2026 fair run.

More information and ticket details are available at <a href="http://kansasstatefair.gov">kansasstatefair.gov</a>.

Trace Adkins to open 2026 Kansas State Fair on Sept. 11

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/weather">Click here for the KSStorm.Info forecast.&nbsp;</a>

Three-day outlook

Hutchinson firefighters battled a structure fire early on Monday morning.

 Division Chief of Operations Jeremy Unruh said that at approximately 3:30 a.m., crews responded to a report of a possible structure fire near 56th Street and Old K-61. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered heavy fire coming from a structure that appeared to have been burning for an extended period of time.

Fire crews initiated a defensive fire attack and established rural water operations to support suppression efforts. The fire was considered under control around 4:15 a.m., though crews remained on scene for several hours addressing hot spots.

56th Street is expected to remain closed until approximately noon today as crews continue working throughout the morning hours.

Fire investigators are scheduled to begin investigating the cause of the fire at daybreak. No firefighter injuries were reported.

Hutch firefighters battle early morning structure fire

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. ——————————————

Shane	Roy	Kinast	12/14/2025 5:51&nbsp;AM	DUI; 2nd conv; blood or breath .08 or higher,				Insurance; Fail to Show Proof of Liability Insurance

Daily Bookings

The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education will meet Monday, Dec. 15, at 6 p.m. at the district administration center, 1520 N. Plum St.

Board members are scheduled to take action on the district’s 2024–2025 financial audit, with a recommendation to approve the audit as presented.

The agenda also includes superintendent updates, assigned board committee reports, and a period for public participation, during which parents and taxpayers may address the board for up to five minutes per speaker.

Consent items include approval of the Nov. 24 board meeting minutes, November 2025 accounts payable, the November treasurer’s report, appointment of David Cunningham of KASB as lead negotiator for the board, and acceptance of gifts to schools.

The board is also expected to enter an executive session to discuss personnel matters followed by action on the personnel report.&nbsp;

The next Board of Education is scheduled for Jan. 12.&nbsp;

USD 308 Board of Education to meet, approve annual audit

MCPHERSON COUNTY —Law enforcement in McPherson are investigating alleged child abuse and have made two arrests including a school teacher.

On Thursday morning, police in McPherson arrested 36-year-old Abby Bradstreet, an elementary school teacher in USD 418 McPherson, on requested charges of attempted aggravated endangering a chid; reckless situation involving a child under age 18 and abuse of a child; knowingly torture/cruelly beat; strike; kick a child between the age of 6 and 18, according to online jail records. Just after 12:30p.m. Thursday, Bradstreet, met the requirement of a $12,500 bond and was released, according to online jail records.

On Thursday afternoon, police also arrested 26-year-old Brady Burr, an employee of the McPherson Fire Department, on requested charges of aggravated endangering a child; reckless situation to a child under the age of 18 and for abuse of a child; knowingly torture/cruelly beat; strike; kick a child between the age of 6 and 18, according to online jail records. Burr was&nbsp;released 90 minutes after his arrest after he met the requirement of a $12,500 bond, according to online jail records.

Police released no additional details. The McPherson County Attorney will determine formal charges against them.

McPherson teacher, firefighter accused of child abuse

KIM&nbsp; BALDWIN McPherson County farmer and rancher

There have been clear signs we have transitioned into another season on the farm. The temperatures have dropped, the geese are flying and the kids are counting down the days until their winter break begins.

Fall harvest kept us busy for an extra month this year. We were extra thankful to wrap up that work during a season that presented many challenges.

There are still some farms in the area that didn’t finish before the last round of rain and still have some sorghum left to harvest. But more often than not, the grain is out of the fields and the cattle have begun to arrive to graze those stalks for the next few months.

On our farm, work in the office and shop have commenced. Visits from seed dealers have begun. And the winter meetings covering policy and education within agriculture are kicking off.

It also means that many of our nights or Saturdays are spent driving to and sitting in the rural school gyms scattered throughout our area to watch basketball games.

Following a season of AM radio in the tractor cab, meals eaten in the field and solo trips back and forth to the nearest elevator to deliver grain, the winter season of both meetings and games on the hardwood are a welcome change for both the introverts and extroverts in our family.

In both instances we are reconnecting with others in our communities.

There’s harvest debriefs, pest management discussions, market talks, seed evaluations and machinery comparisons all taking place over either donuts and coffee, barbecue lunches or concession stand meal deals.

All the while, there’s also talk of new offensive plays, discussion of early morning practices, reviews of bleacher seats and chats reminiscing the glory days of standing room-only games between rival towns.

Yes, this season provides a much-needed opportunity to reconnect with others.

There’s a lot to talk about. There’s a lot to learn about. There’s a lot of recommendations or decisions to make during this season.

Whether it’s in a meeting room full of cushioned chairs, discussion and gavel taps or a historic small-town gym full of banners and sneaker squeaks and cheering fans, I’m thankful for the opportunity to reconnect with others during this season.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. 

Insight: Winter connections

Board of Regents selects Matthew Baker, a Kansas native and K-State graduate

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">Tim Carpenter</a>

TOPEKA — A 30-year higher education administrator at Northwest Missouri State University will return to Kansas for the opportunity to serve as president of Emporia State University.

Matthew Baker, who grew up in Kansas and earned a psychology degree at Kansas State University, has been vice president of student affairs at NMSU in Maryville, Missouri, for the past 14 years. Baker is expected to begin leadership duties at ESU in March. He holds a master’s degree from University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and a doctorate in educational leadership from University of Missouri in Columbia.

“It is the honor of my career to return to Kansas to serve as the university’s next president,” Baker said. “I will forever be grateful to Northwest for all it has done for me and my family. It is because of the experiences Northwest provided me that I am able to step into this role.”

Blake Benson, chairman of the Kansas Board of Regents, said Baker was a “proven leader with extensive experience developing and implementing initiatives designed to help students succeed in college and after graduation.” The Board of Regents unanimously voted to hire Baker.

Baker replaced Ken Hush, who became ESU president in 2021 and was an unusual appointee due to his lack of a graduate degree. Hush received an undergraduate degree from ESU and had a lengthy career in the private sector, including work with Koch Industries.

Benson, on behalf of the Board of Regents, said Hush “consistently exhibited an unwavering commitment to serving ESU’s students and has worked hard to improve affordability and student success.”

Hush invited controversy by deciding in 2022 to fire about 30 tenured or tenure-track faculty and to eliminate a cluster of academic programs, which exacerbated&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/10/02/emporia-state-university-continues-enrollment-slide-while-other-kansas-universities-post-gains/">the university’s enrollment decline</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/03/12/emporia-state-university-president-defends-cuts-firings-in-bid-to-recast-higher-education-culture/">Hush’s unilateral dismissal of</a>&nbsp;personnel prompted a wave of lawsuits, which have yet to be fully resolved.

During Hush’s time at ESU, the Kansas Legislature earmarked tens of millions of dollars in special funding to stabilize the university. In addition, an attorney employed by ESU led an effort to persuade the Legislature to retroactively undermine faculty tenure statewide.

Hush, who plans to retire this month from ESU, said he would donate $1.4 million, or the equivalent of his four years of salary at ESU, to the university. The money would be used over three years for student recruitment, scholarships and campus operations, officials said.

“This gift is in appreciation for the meaningful impact ESU has had on our community and on me, both as a student and in my role as president,” Hush said.

Baker has worked at the public, four-year Northwest Missouri State for more than 30 years. He began in 1993 as the university’s residence hall director. He was off campus from 1996 to 1998 while completing a master’s degree in higher education administration in Arkansas. He returned to Northwest Missouri State and moved through several administrative jobs before being named dean of students in 2008.

Baker said he would conduct a listening tour to better understand the needs of Emporia State. He said ESU would be marked, under his tenure, by “shared governance, enhance(d) communication.”

He said he would rely on data to chart ESU future, because benchmarks on student retention or recruitment would reveal “where our opportunities are, where our successes are, what we celebrate.”

Emporia State turns to Mo. higher education administrator to lead university

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A driver charged in a crash that killed two Kansas women is due back in court on Monday, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Clowie Ann McLaughlin, 80, Augusta, is to appear in Judge Roger Woods courtroom for a preliminary hearing. She&nbsp;is charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence, severity level 4 person felonies, in the deaths of 42-year-old LaShea Bell and her daughter, 25-year-old A’Niah Bell.

The crash happened around 9:35 p.m.&nbsp; August 30, at the intersection of Central and Webb Road in Wichita

According to Wichita police, McLaughlin’s black Chevrolet truck collided with a white BMW carrying the Bells and a gray Jeep driven by a 41-year-old man. LaShea Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, while A’Niah Bell later died at a local hospital. The Jeep driver was treated at the scene and released.

Police said speed and alcohol are believed to have been factors in the collision. McLaughlin was taken to a hospital for treatment of her own injuries and was booked into the Sedgwick County Jail after being medically cleared. She bonded out of jail the following day after posting a $100,000 bond.

Preliminary hearing for driver in crash that killed 2 Kan. women

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Rob Reiner’s son, Nick Reiner, was in police custody Monday after deaths of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-reiner">director-actor</a>&nbsp;and his wife Michele, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

Online jail records show Nick Reiner, 32, was booked by Los Angeles police and remained in jail on Monday. It was not immediately clear what charges he would face. The online records showed a $4 million bail had been set.

The law enforcement official, who was briefed on the investigation, confirmed that he was being held, but could not publicly discuss the details and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.

Representatives for Reiner’s family did not immediately respond to a request for comment and it wasn’t immediately clear if Nick Reiner had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Rob and Michele Weiner were found dead Sunday at their home in Los Angeles, and investigators believe they suffered stab wounds, the law enforcement official said.

The Los Angeles Fire Department said it responded to a medical aid request shortly after 3:30 p.m. and found a 78-year-old man and 68-year-old woman dead inside. Reiner turned 78 in March.

Detectives with the Robbery Homicide Division were investigating an “apparent homicide” at Reiner’s home, said Capt. Mike Bland with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Los Angeles authorities have not confirmed the identities of the people found dead at the residence in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood on the city’s west side that’s home to many celebrities.

Reiner was long one of the most prolific directors in Hollywood, and his work included some of the most memorable movies of the 1980s and ’90s, including “This is Spinal Tap,” “A Few Good Men,” “When Harry Met Sally” and “The Princess Bride.”

His role as Meathead in Norman Lear's 1970s TV classic “All in the Family,” alongside Carol O’Connor’s Archie Bunker, catapulted him to fame and won him two Emmy Awards.

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and had three children together: Nick, Jake and Romy.

Relatives of Lear, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/norman-lear-died-87300f0e49b54c05803ab315dfdf9933">legendary producer who died in 2023</a>, said they were bereft by the news.

“Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world,” said a Lear family statement. “Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place, and they pursued that through their art, their activism, their philanthropy, and their love for family and friends.”

Messages to Reiner's representatives were not immediately returned Sunday night.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called Reiner's death a devastating loss for the city.

“Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice,” Bass said in a statement. “An acclaimed actor, director, producer, writer, and engaged political activist, he always used his gifts in service of others.”

Reiner was previously married to actor-director Penny Marshall from 1971 to 1981. He adopted her daughter, Tracy Reiner.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ab0308881d262c03587e24c656afc81e">Carl Reiner died in 2020</a>&nbsp;at age 98 and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/arts-and-entertainment-general-news-television-programs-9b816e06aab5410ab0578ee33fc39dc8">Marshall died in 2018</a>.

Killings are rare in the Brentwood neighborhood. The scene is about a mile from the home where O.J. Simpson’s wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman were killed in 1994.

LOS ANGELES (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/rob-reiner">Director-actor Rob Reiner</a>&nbsp;and his wife Michele were the two people found dead Sunday at a Los Angeles home owned by Reiner, according to a law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.

The official could not publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Investigators believe they suffered stab wounds and a family member is being questioned by investigators, the official said.

The son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, Rob Reiner was married to photographer Michele Singer Reiner since 1989. The two met while he was directing “When Harry Met Sally” and have three children together.

Balsamo reported from Washington. Associated Press Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton in Los Angeles contributed.

🎥Police: New details in the murder of Rob Reiner and wife in LA

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A Kansas sheriff's deputy charged with battery for striking a handcuffed man at a Wichita hospital will be in court on Monday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sedgwick County Sheriff's Deputy Brett Anderson is scheduled to make a first appearance in the case in Judge Chrystal Krier's courtroom, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In November, police completed a criminal investigation into a use of force incident involving Deputy Anderson, according to a media release from Wichita Police.

At the request of Sheriff Jeff Easter, the WPD Alert Team conducted the investigation following a supervisory review of body-worn camera footage by the Sheriff’s Office. The incident occurred on September 11, at a local hospital, where a handcuffed man was struck several times by Deputy Anderson during an encounter.

WPD investigators presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office, which has charged Deputy Anderson with one count of misdemeanor battery.

The Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office formally filed one count of Misdemeanor Battery against Anderson in connection with the incident.

Deputy Anderson, a six-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case.

Kan. deputy charged with hitting handcuffed man goes to court

KANSAS CITY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City.

Just after midnight early Monday, crews responded to a reported apartment fire in the 3300 block of East Linwood Boulevard in Kansas City, Missouri, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

 On arrival, crews reported smoke and fire showing from the 2nd floor of a 3-story story apartment building, appearing to be vacant. Interior operations were initiated on an offensive fire attack with multiple hose lines advanced inside.&nbsp;

Searches of the structure were conducted and came back all clear. The fire was brought under control at 12:44 a.m.

One firefighter did step through a hole in the floor but was able to get out and was uninjured. No injuries or patients were reported at this incident.&nbsp;&nbsp;Dangerous Buildings and City Planning were ordered.

KC firefighter stepped though hole in floor at apartment building fire

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A person of interest detained after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-active-shooter-c7c9d1c7da19a76c2a27685c7e63d6da">Brown University shooting</a>&nbsp;that killed two students and injured nine will be released after law enforcement authorities determined there was no basis to keep the individual in custody, officials said Sunday night.

The disclosure, made at a hastily convened late night news conference, represents a dramatic setback in an investigation into killings that set off hours of chaos on the Ivy League campus and unravels progress that authorities thought they had made earlier in the day when they detained a man at a Rhode Island hotel in connection with the attack.

The release of the lone person of interest leaves law enforcement without any known suspect, with officials pledging to redouble efforts in the investigation by canvassing for video surveillance that could help pinpoint the killer's identity.

“We have a murderer out there,” said Attorney General Peter Neronha, while Providence Mayor Brett Smiley acknowledged that ”the news is likely to cause fresh anxiety for our community."

Despite an enhanced police presence at Brown, officials are not recommending another shelter-in-place order like the one that followed the Saturday afternoon shooting, when hundreds of officers searched for the shooter and urged students and staff to shelter in place. The lockdown, which stretched into the night, was lifted early Sunday, but authorities had not yet released information about a potential motive.

On Sunday morning, officials took into custody a person of interest at a Hampton Inn hotel in Coventry, Rhode Island, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Providence. Two people familiar with the matter identified that individual as a 24-year-old man from Wisconsin, though authorities never released the individual's name.

"I’ve been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction and then you have to regroup and go in another and that’s exactly what has happened over the last 24 hours or so,” Neronha said.

He said that “certainly there was some degree of evidence that pointed to the individual” who'd been taken into custody but “that evidence needed to be corroborated and confirmed. And over the last 24 hours leading into just very, very recently, that evidence now points in a different direction.”

Shooting occurred during busy period on campus

The shooting occurred during one of the busiest moments of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/deadly-campus-shootings-aea218f6d4d2b1fea4a0fc38160b1c17">the academic calendar</a>, as final exams were underway. Brown canceled all remaining classes, exams, papers and projects for the semester and told students they could leave campus, underscoring the scale of the disruption and the gravity of the attack.

As police scoured the area for the shooter, many students remained barricaded in rooms while others hid behind furniture and bookshelves. One video showed students in a library shaking and wincing as they heard loud bangs just before police entered the room to clear the building.

University President Christina Paxson teared up while describing her conversations with students both on campus and in the hospital.

“They are amazing and they’re supporting each other,” she said at a news conference. “There’s just a lot of gratitude.”

The gunman opened fire inside a classroom in the engineering building, firing more than 40 rounds from a 9 mm handgun, a law enforcement official told AP. Two handguns were recovered when the person of interest was taken into custody and authorities also found two loaded 30-round magazines, the official said. One of the firearms was equipped with a laser sight that projects a dot to aid in targeting, said the official, who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity.

One student of the nine wounded students had been released from the hospital, said Paxson. Seven others were in critical but stable condition, and one was in critical condition.

Durham Academy, a private K-12 school in Durham, North Carolina, confirmed that a recent graduate, Kendall Turner, was critically wounded. The school said her parents were with her.

“Our school community is rallying around Kendall, her classmates, and her loved ones, and we will continue to offer our full support in the days ahead,” the school said.

Community comes together to remember victims

On Sunday evening, city leaders, residents and others gathered at a park to honor the victims. The event originally was scheduled as a Christmas tree and Hanukkah menorah lighting.

“For those who know at least bit of the Hanukkah story, it is quite clear that if we can come together as a community to shine a little bit of light tonight, there’s nothing better that we can be doing,” Mayor Brett Smiley said at a news conference earlier in the day.

Smiley said he visited some wounded students and was inspired by their courage, hope and gratitude. One told him that active shooting drills done in high school proved helpful.

“The resilience that these survivors showed and shared with me, is frankly pretty overwhelming,” he said.

Exams were underway when the shooting began

Investigators were not immediately sure how the shooter got inside the first-floor classroom at the Barus &amp; Holley building, a seven-story complex that houses the School of Engineering and physics department. The building includes more than 100 laboratories, dozens of classrooms and offices, according to the university’s website.

Engineering design exams were underway. Outer doors of the building were unlocked but rooms being used for final exams required badge access, Smiley said.

Emma Ferraro, a chemical engineering student, was in the lobby working on a final project when she heard loud pops. Once she realized they were gunshots, she darted for the door and into a nearby building where she waited for hours.

Surveillance video released by police showed a suspect, dressed in black, walking from the scene.

Former ‘Survivor’ contestant left the building just before shooting

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/neurodiversity-alliance-x-games-alex-hackel-survivor-eva-erickson-c86492878ab0a3c774808ce98ec9d290">Eva Erickson</a>, a doctoral candidate who was the runner-up earlier this year on the CBS reality competition show “Survivor,” said she left her lab in the engineering building 15 minutes before shots rang out.

The engineering and thermal science student shared candid moments on “Survivor” as the show’s first openly autistic contestant. She was locked down in the campus gym following the shooting and shared on social media that the only other member of her lab who was present was safely evacuated.

Brown senior biochemistry student Alex Bruce was working on a final research project in his dorm across the street from the building when he heard sirens outside.

“I’m just in here shaking,” he said, watching through the window as officers surrounded his dorm.

Brown, the seventh-oldest higher education institution in the U.S., is one of the nation’s most prestigious colleges, with roughly 7,300 undergraduates and more than 3,000 graduate students.

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Contributing were Associated Press journalists Jennifer McDermott in Providence; Christopher Weber in Los Angeles; and Alanna Durkin Richer, Mike Balsamo and Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C.

Brown University shooter still at large; person of interest released

JOHNSON COUNTY —The Johnson County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a stabbing which ultimately ended in an officer-involved shooting on Friday, according to a statement from the sheriff's office. One person died. He has been identified as 55-year-old Jonathan Lunceford of Blue Spring, Missouri, according to the sheriff's office.

Just before 11 a.m. on Friday, law enforcement received a call reporting a stabbing at the Panasonic facility at 103rd and Astra Parkway in De Soto.

Deputies arrived on scene shortly after and located one victim with multiple stab wounds. The deputies located the suspect and an officer-involved shooting occurred. Deputies performed life-saving efforts on the suspect, later identified as Lunceford. He was pronounced deceased by MED-ACT at 11:25 a.m.

MED-ACT transported the victim with stab wounds in critical condition to the hospital.

Johnson County Park Police also responded to the incident. No deputies or officers were injured.

The case remains under investigation by the Johnson County Officer Involved Critical Incident Investigations Team.&nbsp;

Sheriff IDs suspect who died in Kan. officer-shooting at battery plant

ELLIS COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Sunday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported three&nbsp;pedestrians were loading a disabled vehicle onto a trailer pulled by a 1996 Ford F250 on the north shoulder of Interstate 70 near the 183 Bypass.&nbsp;&nbsp; The pickup was legally parked and towing a 2014 Eagle trailer which was hauling a 2009 Chevy Tahoe. One pedestrian was attempting to strap down the vehicle on the side of the trailer closest to the roadway. 

A westbound 2026 Freightliner semi driven by Alejandro&nbsp;Fuentes-Castro, 53, Wilmington, Deleware, failed to maintain his lane, and struck the pedestrian who was located on the roadway side of the vehicle.

Julio&nbsp;Caesar Villarreal, 37, WaKeeney, was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Klines Mortuary. Two other pedestrians identified as Randall L&nbsp;Hilgers, 42, WaKeeney and&nbsp; Juan A.&nbsp; Mejia, 53, San Diego, California, were not injured. An 11-year-old in the 1996 Ford pulling the trailer was not injured.&nbsp; Both the Ford pickup and Chevy Tahoe sustained damage.

Fuentes-Castro was not injured and properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Semi struck and killed Kan. man helping load a trailer on I-70

WASHINGTON (AP) — A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path.

“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. “They passed directly in our flight path. ... They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”

The incident involved JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao, which is just off the coast of Venezuela, en route to New York City's JFK airport. It comes as the U.S. military has stepped up its drug interdiction activities in the Caribbean and is also seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-military-trump-fa18-fighter-jets-06fd7cdc5ac26e7a46165431b95508b0">increase pressure</a>&nbsp;on Venezuela's government.

“We just had traffic pass directly in front of us within 5 miles of us — maybe 2 or 3 miles — but it was an air-to air-refueler from the United States Air Force and he was at our altitude,” the pilot said. “We had to stop our climb.” The pilot said the Air Force plane then headed into Venezuelan air space.

Derek Dombrowski, a spokesman for JetBlue, said Sunday: “We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation." He added, “Our crewmembers are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team.”

The Pentagon referred The Associated Press to the Air Force for comment. The Air Force didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Federal Aviation Administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/us_restrictions/venezuela/KICZ-Advisory-NOTAM-A0012-25.pdf">last month issued a warning</a>&nbsp;to U.S. aircraft urging them to “exercise caution” when in Venezuelan airspace, “due to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.”

JetBlue flight near Venezuela avoids 'midair collision' with US Air Force tanker

KANSAS CITY—Three suspects are facing charges in connection with a shooting in Kansas City earlier this month, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2772/T-Huntington-Redacted-Complaint">Tyler J. Huntington</a>,30,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces Unlawful Use of a Weapon, two counts of Armed Criminal Action, and 1st Degree Assault.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2775/Viverette-Complaint-Red">Victor Viverette</a>, 30, faces 1st Degree Domestic Assault and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2774/J-Huntington-Redacted-Probable-Cause">Jerome D. Huntington</a>, 54,&nbsp;&nbsp;faces one count of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2771/T-Huntington-Redacted-Probable-Cause">According to court records</a>, Raytown police responded to a shooting on Dec. 9 and located Viverette bleeding from his right forearm.&nbsp;

Based on witness reports and surveillance footage, detectives determined that both Tyler and Jerome Huntington encountered Viverette while driving.&nbsp;

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