The Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday evening advanced several major development and infrastructure items — including approval of the city’s first upper-story Reinvestment Housing Incentive District (RHID) for the redevelopment of the historic Landmark Building at Fifth and Main. 

Landmark Apartments RHID Approved

Dave Sotelo, the city’s Director of Strategic Growth, presented the plan for the Landmark Reinvestment Housing Incentive District, a Kansas program designed to help developers convert unused upper floors of downtown buildings into housing. 

“This is our first upper-story RHID,” Sotelo said. “When someone invests in turning upper floors into apartments or lofts, the property value increases. The added property tax — the ‘tax increment’ — is then set aside for 25 years to reimburse the developer for eligible housing construction costs.” 

Sotelo noted that the City Council declared a housing shortage in January 2025, a necessary step to qualify for the RHID program. The Kansas Secretary of Commerce later approved the district in March and reaffirmed its eligibility in July. 

Developer Justin Parjan of Pomeroy Development said construction is progressing rapidly. “We’re over halfway through drywall,” he said. “NBC and the local subcontractors have done fantastic work. This will be my third upper-story RHID project in Kansas, and I’ve been blown away by the progress here in Hutchinson.” 

He added that the project’s “capital stack” — its mix of funding sources — includes multiple layers: developer equity, long-term debt, and incentives such as Kansas Housing Investor Tax Credits, a local ARPA housing grant, and a State Heritage Trust Fund grant. 

Following a public hearing with no opposition, the council unanimously approved the ordinance establishing the district and development agreement. A 30-day protest period will now open for the county and school district, the only taxing entities eligible to formally object. 

Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades: $18 Million Plan

City Engineer Evan Patterson presented a public hearing on Project No. 1 — Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements, part of the city’s State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan application to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). 

Patterson said the improvements target aging and high-risk components at the wastewater treatment plant, many of which are original to the facility. The $18 million project includes: •&nbsp; Replacement of influent pumps •&nbsp; Electrical and safety upgrades to the digester complex •&nbsp; Roof and mold repairs at the administration building •&nbsp; Replacement of centrifuge equipment •&nbsp; Headworks upgrades for grit and rag screening •&nbsp; Clarifier and sludge system rehabilitation

“These are the items rated either ‘poor’ or ‘emergency,’” Patterson said. “They’re essential whether we decide to rehabilitate this plant or eventually build a new one.” 

Patterson said the city plans to apply for a 20-year SRF loan at 60% of market interest rates. The loan would be repaid through future sewer rate adjustments estimated at $3.40 to $6.80 per month for an average household. 

The council approved the resolution authorizing the loan application. Patterson noted that final design and construction would take several years to complete. 

Sewer Lining Project to Extend Infrastructure Life

A second SRF application, Project No. 2 — Sanitary Sewer Collection System Rehabilitation, was also approved. The $2 million project will line approximately one mile of existing sewer mains along F Street and Van Buren Street, plus rehabilitate 17 manholes. 

Patterson explained that the process involves inserting a flexible liner into the existing pipe, inflating it, and curing it in place. “You’re not replacing the pipe — you’re giving it a new interior that extends its life by about 30 years,” he said. “It also avoids major street excavation.” 

Replacing the same pipe would have cost about $5.5 million, he said, making the lining option a cost-effective alternative. The project will also be funded through sewer utility rates, with an average monthly impact of 30 to 60 cents per customer. 

Unsafe Structures and Parks Updates

Building Official Jason Lady provided updates on six properties previously declared unsafe or dangerous. Several property owners have made progress toward repairs or demolition, while others will move toward city-led action if no improvements are made by December. 

Later in the meeting, Parks and Facilities Director Justin Combs presented plans to replace the aging playground at Fairgrounds Park with a new two-to-five-year-old play structure, shaded area, and poured-in-place safety surface. The project cost of $161,000 was made possible through a vendor grant and budget savings. 

The council also heard extensive discussion on future pickleball court improvements at Rice Park. Players advocated for resurfacing and better lighting to make the courts usable after dark. City staff agreed to review lighting options and potential upgrades before the next budget cycle. 

Landmark Apartments RHID approved, wastewater and sewer upgrades also approved

The Young Professionals of Reno County, in partnership with the Hutchinson National Education Association (NEA) and Hutchinson Area Retired School Personnel Association (HARSPA), will host a community forum with candidates for the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education on Wednesday, October 8, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Hutchinson Community College Shears Technology Center.

Former YP leader Jackson Swearer will moderate the event, which offers residents a chance to hear directly from candidates about their vision for local schools.

Those participating include Laura Corey, Jeff Roberson, Cheryl L. Thompson, Shontina R. Tipton, Gregory Scott Johnson, and Lindsey Hatfield.

Organizers say the evening will provide an opportunity for voters to learn, ask questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of public education in Hutchinson. The event is free and open to the public.

Voters will choose three at-large members for the USD 308 Board of Education in the general election on November 4.

Community invited to USD 308 school board candidate forum

By <a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — StartUp Hutch is expanding its reach across Reno County thanks to a $9,000 grant from the Hutchinson Community Foundation. The funding will support a series of workshops in smaller communities aimed at fostering entrepreneurship and economic development.

Executive Director Graham Klemme said the grant will fund five three-hour workshops over the next year in towns including Arlington, Pretty Prairie, Buhler, Haven, Nickerson and South Hutchinson.

“We’ll focus on small business fundamentals,” Klemme said. “All are welcome. You don’t have to be a small business owner to attend, although we do hope to train some entrepreneurs. The idea is to spur discussion and help people understand how we can support our local economy.”

Klemme said the effort will strengthen StartUp Hutch’s countywide presence and build relationships that can lead to ongoing development initiatives.

“We actually serve the entire county, which some people don’t realize,” Klemme said. “This gives us a chance to get out there, meet people face-to-face and start conversations about how we can work together.”

The workshops will be free to attend, with no registration or supply fees required. In addition to the new sessions, participants will have access to follow-up coaching and mentorship opportunities through StartUp Hutch’s existing programs.

Klemme said the organization’s mentorship network connects local entrepreneurs with experienced community members who can provide guidance in areas such as business planning, financial management and marketing.

“Sometimes it’s just listening to people talk through their ideas,” Klemme said. “Other times, it’s connecting them to the right resources or helping refine a business plan.”

StartUp Hutch also administers low-interest loan programs through a partnership with Network Kansas. The “E-Community” loans provide gap financing for startups, matching up to 150% of a bank’s contribution with a cap of $50,000. Interest rates range from 4% for loans under five years to 6% for longer terms.

“These loans are designed for startups, so we don’t require two years of operating history,” Klemme said. “Our goal is to help businesses get off the ground in partnership with local banks.”

The organization also collaborates with Brandy Willett, director of the Small Business Development Center at Wichita State University, to connect entrepreneurs with federal SBA-backed resources and specialized coaching.

Klemme said StartUp Hutch’s next major event will be an AI for Small Business Workshop on Friday, Oct. 24 at 8 a.m. at The Wool Market &amp; DIY School, 5th and Main in Hutchinson.
The event will feature Troy Tabor, Wichita State’s Director of Innovation and Intelligence, discussing practical ways small businesses can integrate artificial intelligence tools.

“It’s open to anyone interested, not just business owners,” Klemme said. “We’re excited to host it and appreciate our partners at NXTUS in Wichita for helping make it possible.”

More information about StartUp Hutch’s programs, workshops and loan opportunities can be found on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/startuphutch/">Facebook page</a> or at <a href="http://startuphutch.com">startuphutch.com</a>.

StartUp Hutch to host free business workshops across Reno County

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday approved the temporary use of local health department funds to keep the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program operating as federal funding remains delayed due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Reno County WIC Coordinator Heather Peterson, RDN, LD told commissioners that while the federal fiscal year began Oct. 1, the federal government has yet to release its planned allocations for the program.

“Each state is allowed to continue offering food benefits for families until their federal food dollars are depleted,” Peterson said. “For Kansas, the state agency anticipates having funds to last until Oct. 31, but they’re hopeful that will extend into part of November.”

Peterson said the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) provided Reno County with enough money to cover about eight days of staff costs, which would expire this week. Without local support, the county’s WIC office could be forced to halt services before federal dollars resume.

Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the Reno County Health Department to use its Public Health Fund 003 to cover staffing expenses until the federal government restores funding or the state’s WIC food allocation runs out.

County Commissioner Randy Parks made the motion to approve the measure, sharing a personal reflection on the program’s importance.

“We started a family pretty young,” Parks said. “WIC was a help to us at one time as well.”

Peterson emphasized the program’s long-standing impact on community health and the local economy. Reno County WIC serves more than 1,400 participants each month, providing nutritional support, education and health screenings for women, infants and children up to age 5. She said the program has helped identify and treat cases of severe anemia in children and connects families with local resources.

“WIC provides healthy foods for growing families and helps ensure children are developing properly,” Peterson said. “Each year, about $1 million in WIC benefits are used at six local vendors here in Reno County.”

Health Department Director Karla Nichols confirmed the department’s fund has adequate resources and said using it would not place an additional burden on taxpayers.

The motion passed 5–0, with Commissioners Parks, Vincent, Winger, Hirst and Chairman Bogner all voting in favor.

Reno County approves funding to keep WIC program running during shutdown

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Recent obituaries and service times

Graham Klemme stopped by the BW Morning Show and visited about a new grant they received from the Hutchinson Community Foundation to support entrepreneurship opportunities to towns in Reno County.&nbsp;

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: Graham Klemme, Executive Director StartUp Hutch

Despite widespread support from voters, corporations, and policymakers for conservation farming, a new survey shows many farmers are abandoning practices such as cover crops and no-till after trying them for a short time.&nbsp;

The study found that a majority of producers who planted cover crops or used no-till methods — both designed to reduce erosion, improve soil health, and limit nutrient runoff — discontinued those practices within a year. 

In particular, most farmers who used cover crops one season had stopped using them by the next.

Ag Minute: Conservation farming

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson and Reno County CROP Hunger Walk returns this Sunday, October 12, at Rice Park, uniting local residents in a mission to fight hunger both at home and around the world.

Participants will gather at 1:30 p.m. at the Rice Park shelter to register, pack hygiene kits for disaster relief, and then set off on a walk of up to three miles beginning at 2 p.m. The event is one of more than 1,300 CROP Hunger Walks held nationwide each year through Church World Service (CWS), a faith-based humanitarian organization supporting hunger relief and agricultural development globally.

“We walk because they must walk — for food, for water, for safety,” said longtime local volunteer and event organizer Eileen Porter, who has been involved in the CROP Hunger Walk for nearly 50 years. “This is our way of standing in solidarity with people around the world who struggle every day to meet their basic needs.”

A quarter of all funds raised will remain in Reno County to support two local hunger-fighting agencies — the Christian Soup Ministry and the Reno County Food Bank.

The Christian Soup Ministry, led by Stanley Murdoch, serves about 120 meals four days a week and provides home-delivered meals to roughly 65 individuals referred through medical programs. Rising food costs and cuts in federal commodity programs have increased the organization’s expenses. “They spend six to seven hundred dollars a month just on meat, milk, eggs, and produce,” Porter noted.

The Reno County Food Bank, directed by Penny Taapkin, serves between 1,700 and 1,900 people monthly — an increase of up to 10 percent over last year. About 15 percent of the families served are new each month. In addition to the Hutchinson location, the Food Bank also supports smaller sites in Arlington, Turon, Sylvia, and Pretty Prairie.

“These local agencies are lifelines,” Porter said. “We’re seeing more families moving in together, larger households, and greater need than ever before.”

Seventy-five percent of proceeds from the walk will support Church World Service’s international programs. Funds help small farmers gain access to better seed, clean water, livestock, and agricultural training.

“Church World Service helps communities dig wells, start small livestock farms, and improve food security,” Porter said. “For example, just $22 can provide chickens to a family in Kenya, helping them produce eggs and income for their community.”

The walk begins at 2 p.m. Sunday at Rice Park Shelter, 44 Swarens Street in Hutchinson. Families, youth groups, and community members are encouraged to join, bring water, and walk as far as they wish. Donations of cash or checks made out to CWS/CROP will be accepted at the event.

Those unable to attend can contribute online or mail donations to Grace Episcopal Church, 2 Hyde Park Drive, Hutchinson, KS 67502.

“This is a great family activity,” Porter said. “We’re walking together for a cause that truly matters — helping our neighbors near and far.”

Reno County CROP walk to be held Sunday 

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. ——————————————

Heather	Chalaie	Johnson	10/7/2025 3:17&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Michele	Lynn	Zubia	10/7/2025 3:26&nbsp;PM	Insurance; Fail to Show Proof of Liability Insurance,				Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conviction

Richard	Allen	Young	10/7/2025 4:05&nbsp;PM	In Transit From-To Other Agency

Peter	Evan	Glenn	10/7/2025 8:55&nbsp;PM	DUI; 3rd conv in 10 yrs; incapable of safe driving

Jason	Rex	Thiel	10/7/2025 11:57&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,				Possession of marijuana,				Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misdemeanor case, Execution of Misdemeanor Warrant

Daily Bookings 

&nbsp;The City of Hutchinson will begin work today on the first project in its long-term flood mitigation plan addressing FEMA flood mapping throughout the community.

City crews will construct a detention cell on City-owned land near 14th Avenue and Cochran Street. The new feature is designed to serve as a small “overflow pocket” that temporarily collects excess stormwater when the nearby ditch reaches capacity — typically once or twice a year. Once water levels recede, the detention cell will slowly drain back into the ditch system.

According to city officials, this work will be completed using existing staff and equipment, with no additional project cost.

The 14th and Cochran project is the first of several low-impact flood control improvements planned for Hutchinson. City staff are currently evaluating more than a dozen other City-owned sites for potential use in similar efforts.

Each project, officials say, will help reduce the risk and impact of flooding over time and may eventually shrink the footprint of FEMA-designated flood areas across the city.

“This is an important first step toward making Hutchinson more resilient during heavy rain events,” the city said in its announcement.

Flood mitigation project begins today in Hutchinson

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

Three-day weather outlook 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/james-comey">James Comey</a>&nbsp;pleaded not guilty on Wednesday in a criminal case that has highlighted the Justice Department's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-weaponizing-government-second-term-54ab244ccb2328d116a498bbaeb680ef">efforts to target adversaries</a>&nbsp;of President Donald Trump, with lawyers for the former FBI director saying that they plan to argue the prosecution is politically motivated and should be dismissed.

The arraignment lasted less than half an hour. But it was nonetheless loaded with historical significance given that the case has amplified concerns&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pam-bondi-justice-department-congress-8674e9110d0d99b884ae9df530aa18bc">the Justice Department is being weaponized</a>&nbsp;in pursuit of Trump's political enemies and is operating at the behest of a White House determined to seek retribution for perceived wrongs against the Republican president.

Comey's not guilty plea to allegations that he lied to Congress five years ago kick-starts a process of legal wrangling at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington. Defense lawyers said they intend to ask that the case be thrown out before trial on the grounds that it amounts to a vindictive prosecution and to challenge the appointment of the prosecutor who brought it after being hastily named to the post days earlier by Trump.

“It’s the honor of my life to represent Mr. Comey in this matter,” one of Comey's lawyers, Patrick Fitzgerald, a longtime friend who served with him in President George W. Bush's Justice Department, said in court on Wednesday.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/james-comey-charged-lying-congress-a2c72e1a5bb73d588f3af7fdb56caa82">The indictment</a>&nbsp;two weeks ago followed an extraordinary chain of events that saw Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-retribution-bondi-investigations-97207519e02dea460d6c68cc8b585c33">publicly implore</a>&nbsp;Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey and other perceived adversaries. The president also replaced the veteran attorney who had been overseeing the investigation with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/letitia-james-eastern-district-of-virginia-trump-8c84bd8603a4b932f9cb2e451ef057a3">Lindsey Halligan</a>, a White House aide who had never previously served as a federal prosecutor but had been one of Trump's personal lawyers. Halligan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-james-comey-indictment-bondi-doj-cf18d2b6d411cd323d9a501c49f5b8a4">rushed to file charges</a>&nbsp;before a legal deadline lapsed despite warnings from other lawyers in the office that the evidence was insufficient for an indictment.

Halligan sat at the prosecution table but did not address&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/judge-michael-nachmanoff-james-comey-trump-b59d47e4fe18252c6afaf27af81b85bb">the judge</a>. The two prosecutors who have signed on to handle the case are both based in North Carolina.

The two-count indictment alleges that Comey made a false statement to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-donald-trump-confirmation-hearings-elections-judiciary-5fe42a7cbcc135c7e8f01bff3809e472">the Senate Judiciary Committee</a>&nbsp;on Sept. 30, 2020, by denying he had authorized an associate to serve as an anonymous source to the news media and that he obstructed a congressional proceeding. Comey has denied any wrongdoing and has said he's looking forward to a trial, which the judge set for Jan. 5, though that date will be subject to change. The indictment does not identify the associate or say what information may have been discussed with the media, making it challenging to assess the strength of the evidence or to even fully parse the allegations.

Though an indictment is typically just the start of a protracted court process, the Justice Department has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-comey-justice-department-james-schiff-309c573c2d9d16839afabb3af56ef2f8">trumpeted the development</a>&nbsp;itself as something of a win, regardless of the outcome. Trump administration officials are likely to point to any conviction as proof the case was well-justified, but an acquittal or even dismissal may also be held up as further support for their long-running contention the criminal justice system is stacked against them.

The judge randomly assigned to the case,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/judge-michael-nachmanoff-james-comey-trump-b59d47e4fe18252c6afaf27af81b85bb">Michael Nachmanoff</a>, was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden's Democratic administration and is a former chief federal defender. Known for methodical preparation and a cool temperament, the judge and his background have already drawn Trump's attention, with the president deriding him as a “Crooked Joe Biden appointed Judge."

Besides Comey, the Justice Department is also investigating other foes of the president, including New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff of California. Lawyers for James and Schiff, both Democrats, call the investigations meritless.

Several Comey family members arrived in court Wednesday morning ahead of his arraignment, including his daughter Maurene, who was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-maurene-comey-trump-23fb32ac0e4402873862d3ca6d31d18e">fired by the Justice Department</a>&nbsp;earlier this year from her position as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan, as well as Troy Edwards Jr., a son-in-law of Comey's who minutes after Comey was indicted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-son-law-resign-doj-4051b95b5f532c914cfff14aacdc49e8">resigned his job</a>&nbsp;as a prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia — the office that filed the charges.

The indictment was the latest chapter in a long-broken relationship between Trump and Comey.

Trump arrived in office in January 2017 as Comey, appointed to the FBI director job by President Barack Obama four years earlier, was overseeing an investigation into ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

The dynamic was fraught from the start, with Comey&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-united-states-congress-general-news-3517e85629dd4a05891badc536713aa3">briefing Trump weeks before he took office</a>&nbsp;on the existence of uncorroborated and sexually salacious gossip in a dossier of opposition research compiled by a former British spy.

In their first several private interactions, Comey would later reveal, Trump asked his FBI director to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-united-states-congress-6ad1d266ad894766af68f6ff9e883d2c">pledge his loyalty</a>&nbsp;to him and to drop an FBI investigation into his administration’s first national security adviser,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-pardon-michael-flynn-russia-aeef585b08ba6f2c763c8c37bfd678ed">Michael Flynn</a>. Comey said Trump also asked him to announce that Trump himself was not under investigation as part of the broader inquiry into Russian election interference, something Comey did not do.

Comey was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-4ff1ecb621884a728b25e62661257ef0">abruptly fired</a>&nbsp;in May 2017 while at an event in Los Angeles, with Trump later saying he was thinking about “this Russia thing” when he decided to terminate him. The firing was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/north-america-donald-trump-ap-top-news-politics-russia-48f9d5132d7a4e2d823edad8fc407979">investigated by Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller</a>&nbsp;as an act of potential obstruction of justice.

Comey in 2018 published a memoir, “A Higher Loyalty,” that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/3e123c8153d6497c9e07ec77bdd24171">painted Trump in deeply unflattering ways</a>, likening him to a mafia don and characterizing him as unethical and “untethered to truth.”

Trump, for his part, continued to angrily vent at Comey as the Russia investigation led by Mueller dominated headlines for the next two years and shadowed his first administration. On social media, he repeatedly claimed Comey should face charges for “treason” — an accusation Comey dismissed as “dumb lies” — and called him an “untruthful slime ball.”

Former FBI director faces a judge on federal charges of lying to Congress

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A 29-year-old man charged with sparking one of the most destructive blazes in California history likely used a lighter to start a fire on New Year’s Day that smoldered underground and reignited almost a week later, killing 12 people in wealthy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-los-angeles-wildfires-eaton-palisides-urban-area-a162c86589b9102a85c510246539ab72">Los Angeles-area neighborhoods</a>, authorities said Wednesday.

Federal law enforcement officials charged Jonathan Rinderknecht with lighting the Jan. 1 fire that was extinguished by fire crews only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-evacuation-alerts-69f10d320df14c6394fc2c646d1ff0ce">flare up days later</a>&nbsp;during high winds, acting U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said during a news conference.

Rinderknecht was arrested Tuesday in Florida and made his first court appearance Wednesday in Orlando on charges including malicious destruction by means of a fire, which carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. Wearing shorts and a T-shirt while shackled at the ankles, he told a federal magistrate in a soft-spoken voice that he was not under the influence and did not have mental issues.

The judge set a hearing for Thursday to consider bond and extradition proceedings. Aisha Nash, the federal public defender assigned to represent Rinderknecht, did not respond to Associated Press requests for comment.

The Palisades Fire — one of two that broke out on Jan. 7, killing more than 30 people and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/world-news/california-los-angeles-area-wildfires-wildfires-general-news-domestic-news-0dfd72012e85c8c682a7a5dfa678274c">destroying more than 17,000 homes and buildings</a>&nbsp;while burning for days in Los Angeles County — ripped through hillside neighborhoods in Pacific Palisades and Malibu, destroying mansions with spectacular views of the ocean and downtown LA.

Suspect talked to authorities three weeks after the fire

Investigators said Wednesday that Rinderknecht had been working as an Uber driver, and after dropping off a passenger in Pacific Palisades, he parked and walked up a trail. He then used his iPhone to take videos at a nearby hilltop area and listened to a rap song with a music video that shows objects being lit on fire, prosecutors said.

He fled the scene after starting the fire, but returned to the same trail to watch it burn, Essayli said.

“He left as soon as he saw the fire trucks were headed to the location. He turned around and went back up there. And he took some video and, and watched them fight the fire,” Essayli said.

Uber said in a statement that it worked with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine the driver’s whereabouts around the time of the fire.

Rinderknecht also made several 911 calls to report the fire, according to a criminal complaint.

During an interview Jan. 24, Rinderknecht told investigators where the fire began, information not yet public and that he would not have known if he hadn’t witnessed it, the complaint said.

He lied about his location, claiming he was near the bottom of the hiking trail, Essayli said.

The suspect was visibly anxious during that interview, according to the complaint. His efforts to call 911 and his question to ChatGPT about a cigarette lighting a fire indicated he “wanted to preserve evidence of himself trying to assist in the suppression of the fire and he wanted to create evidence regarding a more innocent explanation for the cause of the fire,” the complaint said.

Investigators determined the Jan. 1 fire was intentionally lit, likely by a lighter taken to vegetation or paper, according to the criminal complaint. They excluded other possibilities, including fireworks, lightning and power lines. Authorities also looked into whether a cigarette may have caused the fire, but concluded that was not the cause, the complaint says.

Investigators found a “barbecue-style” lighter inside the glove compartment of Rinderknecht's car on Jan. 24. It appeared to be the same lighter as one that was in his apartment on Dec. 31, based on a photo on his phone. He admitted to bringing a lighter with him when he walked up the hill.

Second LA fire remains under investigation

Investigators still haven’t determined the cause of a second blaze called the Eaton Fire, which broke out the same day in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/drone-footage-reveals-devastated-altadena-neighborhood-following-eaton-wildfire-f823a1f0beee4315b98c811c5f21eda5">community of Altadena</a>&nbsp;and killed 19 people.

Both fires reduced block after block of entire neighborhoods to gray and black debris, destroying homes, schools, businesses and churches. While&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-los-angeles-rebuild-home-construction-00b7bb360581616c2e6415f32db13e45">rebuilding is underway</a>&nbsp;in some neighborhoods, it will take years. Many homeowners will not be able to afford it, even those with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/california-wildfires-insurance-fair-plan-lawsuit-950c41726b47f58403a907d32ec5e742">insurance</a>.

An outside review released in September found that a lack of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/eaton-fire-california-report-f053786a9670af06a0a90cd2ea7150f0">resources and outdated policies</a>&nbsp;for sending emergency alerts led to delayed evacuation warnings.

The report commissioned by Los Angeles County supervisors said a series of weaknesses, including “outdated policies, inconsistent practices and communications vulnerabilities,” hampered the county’s response.

Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press reporters Mike Schneider in Orlando, Florida; and Eric Tucker in Washington, D.C., contributed.

Man arrested, accused of starting wildfire that leveled LA neighborhood

SUMNER COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just after 10a.m. Tuesday in Sumner County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Ford F150 driven by John Karlin&nbsp;Stoddard, 56, Belle Plaine, was eastbound in the 1100 Block of U.S. 160. The pickup traveled left of center and struck a westbound 2016 Peterbilt box-truck driven by Michael Anthony&nbsp;Windahl, 29, Harper.&nbsp;

After impact, both&nbsp;vehicles came to rest in the south ditch and caught on fire.

Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene and were transported to Cornejo Funeral Home. The KHP did not have seat belt usage details.

SUMNER COUNTY—The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash and fire that occurred just before 10a.m. Tuesday in Sumner County.

The Patrol reported an eastbound vehicle in the 1100 Block U.S. 160 traveled left of center and struck a westbound vehicle.&nbsp; After impact the vehicles traveled into a ditch and caught on fire.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

KHP IDs victims in fatal 2-vehicle crash and fire

Federal health officials this week&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls-alerts/fsis-issues-public-health-alert-ready-eat-meals-containing-spinach-may-be">warned</a>&nbsp;people not to eat certain Hello Fresh subscription meal kits containing spinach that may be contaminated with listeria.

The U.S. Agriculture Department issued a public health alert for the meals, which were produced by FreshRealm, the San Clemente, California-based company linked to an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/walmart-meatball-chicken-alfredo-listeria-70ffb419f0ac7dfc13d2a1b655c1578f">expanding listeria outbreak</a>&nbsp;tied to heat-and-eat pasta meals.

The products include 10.1-ounce containers of Hello Fresh Ready Made Meals Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta and 10-ounce containers of Hello Fresh Ready Made Meals Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey. Both were shipped directly to consumers.

The pork pepper pasta is identified with establishment number Est. 47718 and lot code 49107 or Est. 2937 and lot code 48840. The unstuffed peppers with ground turkey is identified with Est. P-47718 and lot codes 50069, 50073 or 50698.

The problem was discovered when FreshRealm notified the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service that the quick-frozen spinach used in the products tested positive for listeria. The spinach was provided by Sno Pac Foods of Caledonia, Minnesota, through their supplier, Del Mar Foods of Watsonville, California. The strain of listeria detected did not match any known outbreak and no illnesses have been reported, FreshRealm officials said in a statement.

Last month, FreshRealm said that tests confirmed that pasta used in linguine dishes sold at Walmart contained the same strain of listeria linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/listeria-chicken-fettucine-alfredo-kroger-walmart-1c3544d1802d7594ca47a7219ffbb111">an outbreak in June.</a>&nbsp;That outbreak, originally tied to chicken fettucine Alfredo, has killed at least four people and sickened 20, with the most recent illness reported Sept. 11.

FreshRealm officials said genetic testing found the outbreak strain of listeria in samples of pasta made and supplied by Nate's Fine Foods of Roseville, California.

Several additional companies including Kroger, Giant Eagle and Albertson's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts">have recalled</a>&nbsp;pasta salads and other dishes made with products from Nate's Fine Foods for potential listeria contamination.

Listeria infections can cause serious illness, particularly in older adults, people with weakened immune systems and those who are pregnant or their newborns. Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

About 1,600 people get sick each year from listeria infections and about 260 die, the CDC says. Federal officials in December said they were revamping protocols to prevent listeria infections after several high-profile outbreaks, including one linked to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/listeria-boars-head-deli-meat-65c4016aea0fc9e8505350ebc7b41e39">Boar’s Head deli meats</a>&nbsp;that led to 10 deaths and more than 60 illnesses last year.

USDA warning: Hello Fresh meals may contain listeria-tainted spinach

BOSTON (AP) — Joan B. Kennedy, the former wife of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy who endured a troubled marriage marked by family tragedies, her husband’s infidelities and her own decades-long struggles with alcoholism and mental health, died on Wednesday. She was 89.

The former Joan Bennett, one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-7a9e69a087baf9e69eff0ad345bf47e7">last remaining members of a family generation</a>&nbsp;that included President John F. Kennedy, was a model and classically-trained pianist when she married Ted Kennedy in 1958.

Their lives would change unimaginably&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/e418fe3d9b9044feb395cb3cbbced7a6">over the next decade</a>&nbsp;and a half. Brother-in-law John F. Kennedy was elected president in 1960 and assassinated three years later. Brother-in-law Robert F. Kennedy served as attorney general under JFK, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1964 and assassinated while seeking the presidency.

Her husband was elected to the U.S. Senate and became among the country’s most respected legislators despite initial misgivings that he was capitalizing on his family connections. But Ted Kennedy also lived through scandals of his own making. In 1969, the car he was driving plunged off a bridge on Chappaquiddick Island, killing his young female passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne.

Kennedy, who swam to safety and waited hours before alerting police, later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident. Chappaquiddick shadowed him for the rest of his life, weighing against his own chances for the presidency.

Joan Kennedy had three children with her husband, but also had miscarriages, including one shortly after the Chappaquiddick accident. She stood by her husband through the scandal, but their estrangement was nearly impossible to hide by the time of his unsuccessful effort to defeat President Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Democratic primaries. They had been separated by then, and would later divorce. One bumper sticker from the campaign read “Vote for Jimmy Carter, Free Joan Kennedy.”

Her death comes about a year after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ethel-kennedy-dies-00eb88951db24e0cada9bd48b66ad8ea">Ethel Kennedy,</a>&nbsp;the wife of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, died at the age of 96, having raised their 11 children after he was assassinated, and remaining dedicated to social causes and the family’s legacy for decades thereafter.

Virginia Joan Bennett was born into a prominent Bronxville, N.Y., family and as a teen she worked as a model in TV ads. She was a classmate of Jean Kennedy, the future senator’s sister, at Manhattanville College, where her exceptional beauty caught Ted Kennedy’s eye when he visited the campus for a building dedication in 1957.

They married a year later, but Joan Kennedy struggled from the start to fit in to the high-powered family.

“Joan was shy and a really reserved person, and the Kennedys aren’t,” Adam Clymer, author of “Edward M. Kennedy: A Biography” said in an 2005 interview with the AP.

Her love of piano would be a trademark for much of her life. She was known for opening her husband's campaign rallies with a piano serenade and, after they divorced, touring with orchestras around the world. Her family said she would combine her masterful playing with a message about the transformational potential of the arts and the need for equitable arts education.

In a 1992 Associated Press interview, she recalled playing piano for brother-in-law Bobby when he ran for president in 1968. “He took me with him and encouraged me,” she said. “He had a theme, ‘This Land Is Your Land,’ the Woody Guthrie song. I’d play that on the piano and everybody would come in, feeling really great about everything.”

“It seems like a long time ago, but it’s part of my memories,” she said, while promoting a book she wrote, which was a guide to appreciating classical music.

She also talked in the interview about how music helped her get through some difficult times, including the deaths of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-ddcdb608829b468685eaa722a4a24361">her son Ted Jr.</a>&nbsp;lost his leg to cancer and her separation and divorce from Ted Kennedy.

“I do advise listening to music when you're in grief,” she said. “Music has give me a lot of courage to carry on.”

In a statement, former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-mental-health-spokane-patrick-kennedy-c3192a14ea12469c9e106f20c53b5be4">Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island</a>&nbsp;praised his mother for her courage and talent.

“Besides being a loving mother, talented musician, and instrumental partner to my father as he launched his successful political career, Mom was a power of example to millions of people with mental health conditions,” his statement said. “She will be missed not just by the entire Kennedy Family, but by the arts community in the City of Boston and the many people whose lives that she touched.”

She also became one of the first women to publicly acknowledge her struggles with alcoholism and depression.

“I will always admire my mother for the way that she faced up to her challenges with grace, courage, humility, and honesty,” Ted Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. “She taught me how to be more truthful with myself and how careful listening is a more powerful communication skill than public speaking.”

After Chappaquiddick, her drinking worsened. A series of drunken driving arrests led to stays in alcohol treatment programs. Then in 2005, a passerby found her passed out on a Boston sidewalk in the rain, and she was hospitalized with a concussion and broken shoulder. Her children intervened, with Ted Jr. obtaining a court-ordered guardianship for his mother’s care.

Maria Shriver praised her cousins for doing “a great job caring for her, respecting her privacy, and loving her.”

“She courageously shared what it was like to lose a child, get divorced from a famous man, and carry on. Her life was challenging, but she persevered,” the daughter of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver posted in a eulogy for her aunt. “As a young girl, I marveled at her grace, her beauty, her elegance. As a woman, I respected her grit, her resilience, her perseverance.”

Joan Kennedy is survived by her two sons, nine grandchildren, a great-grandchild and nearly 30 nieces and nephews. Her daughter, Kara, died in 2011.

Joan Kennedy, first wife of Sen. Edward Kennedy, has died

Rep. Sharice Davids seeks extension of health tax credit used by 160K Kansans

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall diagnosed the ongoing shutdown of the federal government as a malignancy infecting Democratic lawmakers.

The Kansas Republican, who was a physician in an obstetrics practice before elected to Congress, said Democrats at the Capitol were infected with “Trump derangement syndrome.”

“They have a hatred for President Trump that I’ve never seen,” Marshall said on a speech on the floor of the U.S. Senate.

Marshall, who was among lawmakers skeptical of President Joe Biden’s victory over Trump in 2020, said an underlying issue was Democrats had yet to accept outcome of 2024 elections that placed Republicans in control of the House, Senate and White House.

“If you want to continue your liberal socialist policies, Democrats, win an election,” Marshall said.

He accused Democrats of using the shutdown that began Oct. 1 to play hypocritical games with U.S. health care policy. The most “failed system” and “biggest waste of money” is the Medicaid system that has enrolled about 400,000 Kansans, he said. The senator said Democrats were complicit in creating financial challenges that threaten rural hospitals in Kansas and other states.

The six-person Kansas congressional delegation — five Republicans, one Democrat — have shared views on the weeklong shutdown tied to failure to pass a short-term funding bill to finance government operations. Democrats conditioned support for a bill on extension of health subsidies that lowered the consumer cost of Affordable Care Act plans. Republicans say the shutdown must end before working on the tax credits for health insurance.

The House adopted a temporary funding bill, but the Senate hasn’t voted for a comparable bill allowing the government to function until Nov. 21.

“This is not a shutdown that makes any sense at all,” said U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas. “The American people — Kansans — deserve something different from the U.S. Senate. Every city council or commission, every school board, every local government office in my state passes a budget and then lives within that budget every year. Every local unit of government can figure this out, and the U.S. Senate is failing one more time.”

Moran, who has voted with Marshall to break the Senate’s deadlock, said the federal government shutdown “means uncertainty. A shutdown means dysfunction.”

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, the lone Democrat in the delegation, said Democrats in Congress were fighting to extend availability of ACA tax credits to keep health care affordable. More than 160,000 Kansans relied last year on tax credits the 3rd District representative said should be made permanent.

“Because congressional Republicans have refused to extend them, premiums could rise by $700 next year, putting thousands of Kansans at risk of paying more or losing coverage,” Davids said.

She said the shutdown would harm hardworking Kansans and the moment called for Republicans and Democrats to work together on a solution.

U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, a Republican serving the 2nd District in eastern Kansas, said the Senate ought to get behind the House-passed bipartisan bill. The approach would get the wheels of government moving and create time for the House and Senate to work on full-year appropriations bills, he said.

“Regrettably,” Schmidt said, “Senate Democrats are insisting on the inclusion of a $1.5 trillion wish list of additional reckless spending instead of passing the House’s continuing resolution. This shutdown is entirely the result of those unreasonable demands.”

U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann, a Republican in the mostly rural 1st District, said the shutdown was triggered by Democrats who wanted taxpayers to “pay for health care for illegal immigrants and authorize trillions of new dollars in federal spending.”

He complained Democrats would rather see Trump fail than work in a bipartisan manner to operate government.

“I understand that some in Washington prefer to grandstand and try to score political points rather than do what’s best for the country, but it is time to stop the political theater and work together to get our fiscal house in order,” Mann said.

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, the 4th District congressman serving the Wichita area, said he had his congressional pay withheld due to the shutdown. He blamed U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, and his allies for the impasse.

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