A documentary chronicling the controversial 2023 law-enforcement raid on the Marion County Record, and the death of its 98-year-old co-owner, will premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, bringing renewed national and international attention to issues of press freedom, government overreach, and the First Amendment.

Titled "Seized", the film is directed and produced by Sharon Liese, whose prior work includes "Parker", which screened at Sundance in 2023. The documentary examines the August 2023 raid on the Marion County Record newsroom and the home of co-owner Joan Meyer, an event that sparked global condemnation from journalism organizations, civil-liberties advocates, and elected officials.

The raid, carried out by local law enforcement, resulted in the seizure of computers, phones, and reporting materials from the newspaper. Days later, Meyer, who had co-owned and operated the paper for decades, died. Her death, combined with the unprecedented nature of the raid, intensified scrutiny of the actions taken by authorities and their implications for constitutional protections of a free press.

According to Sundance programmers, Seized was selected as one of 151 projects to screen at the 2026 festival. The film situates the Marion case within a broader national context, exploring how tensions between local power structures and independent journalism can escalate, particularly during periods of political volatility. Through interviews, archival footage, and multiple perspectives, the documentary allows viewers to draw their own conclusions about ethics, accountability, and democratic norms.

Since the raid, the police chief who authorized the action has resigned and been charged with interference with the judicial process. Marion County has also agreed to a $3 million settlement resolving portions of the resulting litigation.

With its Sundance premiere, Seized is expected to further fuel discussion about the role of local journalism, the limits of law-enforcement authority, and the enduring importance of constitutional safeguards—using a small Kansas newsroom as a powerful lens on issues resonating far beyond state lines.

Marion County Record raid documentary to premiere at Sundance

Dear Dave, I know a big part of your teaching centers around the importance of learning to delay gratification. You seem to believe reaching a level of maturity where you can do this is essential to attain the things in life that are really important. But this can be hard sometimes, no matter how old you are or how mature you happen to be. Do you have any suggestions for someone struggling to reach this point?

Dear Brent, You’re right, it is hard. Sometimes it’s very difficult to leave the dinner table when someone’s asking if you want another piece of pie. And harder still to go from there to taking a nice, long walk instead. But learning to delay pleasure is part of the process when it comes to growing up emotionally.

When you’ve practiced it long enough, I think your mind starts to make the connection. You begin to realize that what’s waiting down the road—if you’ll just apply some forethought and discipline—is way better than whatever happens to be sitting in front of you at the moment.

Here’s a quick personal example. The last thing I wanted to do today was get up really early, and go for a long walk. But the thing is, I know in my mind that I feel so much better the entire day when I get in a little roadwork first thing in the morning. That’s why I made myself get out of bed before sunrise, and just do it.

I think the whole process starts in the brain, then works its way to the heart, where it promotes understanding—and mature actions. So, if you think about it, it’s really an intellectual behavior that influences will. You have to logically and intellectually grasp the concept, then think about where you’re going, and where you’ll end up, as a result of your actions.

It works for me, Brent. I hope it helps you, too!

You can hear Dave Ramsey, Monday through Friday evenings from 7 to 10 p.m. on KWBW, unless it is preempted by sports coverage.&nbsp;

Dave Says: Learning to delay gratification is part of maturing emotionally

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. ——————————————

Neal	Burdette	Baxter	12/26/2025 10:01&nbsp;AM Probation Violation

Aaron	Granderson	Evans	12/26/2025 11:24&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Sean	Michael	Hopkins	12/26/2025 12:54&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation,&nbsp;				Failure to Appear

Trey	Jordan	Brown	12/26/2025 4:09&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Darren	Lee	Flynn	12/26/2025 6:26&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Georgiana		Hauk	12/26/2025 7:51&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Sonray		Raymond	12/26/2025 8:25&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Wesley	Jay	Borntrager	12/26/2025 11:55&nbsp;PM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000,				Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises,				Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction)

Juaquina	Christina	Bowers	12/27/2025 12:02&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Thaddeus	Xavier Nathanie	Krill	12/27/2025 12:29&nbsp;AM	Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,				Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,				Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misdemeanor case, Execution of Misdemeanor Warrant

Derohn	Kent	Wilburn	12/27/2025 1:35&nbsp;AM	Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misdemeanor case, Execution of Misdemeanor Warrant

Blake	Ryan	Turner	12/27/2025 3:51&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; blood or breath .08 or higher

Daily Bookings

On Friday, December 26, 2025, a Deputy located several Deer carcasses discarded in the road ditch on Mohawk Rd.

Kansas Department of Wildlife &amp; Parks responded and assisted in evaluating the carcasses. With little info at this time, it appears the deer may have been taken lawfully, however, their disposal at this location is both illegal and tacky.

Kansas Statute 47-1219 prohibits dumping of wild game carcasses in/on rivers, streams, ditches, roads etc.

We ask that everyone taking part in hunting, properly dispose of their kills. Improperly disposing of these animals and your left-over baked beans, looks bad for our communities appearance and the reputation of hunters everywhere.

Deputy finds deer carcasses dumped in ditch; officials remind hunters of proper disposal

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

Three-day Outlook

One person was injured in an accident just before 10p.m. Wednesday in Geary County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Chevy Equinox driven by Joshua Mercer, 26, Newton, was southbound on U.S. 77 just north of Lyon Creek Road.&nbsp; The SUV left the roadway to the west, continued southbound in the ditch where it came to rest.

EMS transported Mercer&nbsp;to a Junction City hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Newton man injured following accident near Junction City

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

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Recent obituaries and service times

The smell of oven-fresh bread and the conversations around it have defined Cindy Falk’s career for 40 years. As she retires from Kansas Wheat, Falk leaves behind a legacy built on education, outreach and a strong connection between Kansas wheat farmers and the consumers who use their product.

Falk began working with the Kansas Wheat Commission in 1985 when she received a phone call, asking her to become a volunteer Speak for Wheat spokesperson. That role grew into a full-time career focused on promoting wheat foods, home baking and science-based nutrition through classrooms, fairs, test kitchens and national organizations.

A central part of Falk’s work was the Kansas Wheat Commission recipe booklet. Beginning in 1988, she contributed to 37 editions, continuing a tradition that dates back to 1966. The booklets became a widely recognized Kansas Wheat resource, distributed across Kansas and nationally to represent wheat farmers and Kansas agriculture.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this job, or I wouldn’t have continued for 40 years,” Falk said. “That one phone call truly changed my life.”

In addition to her work in Kansas, Falk played a major role in domestic wheat promotion through her leadership with the Wheat Foods Council. As public perceptions of grain foods shifted and fad diets gained attention, her priority continued to be science-based education and accurate nutrition information.

Raised on her grandparents’ wheat farm near Laclede, Kan., Falk brought a personal understanding of agriculture to every outreach effort. Whether working the Kansas State Fair booth or welcoming international visitors into the test kitchen, her goal was to help consumers better understand where wheat comes from.

“Consumers want to hear from the wheat farmer,” Falk said. “People like to ask questions and learn directly from the people involved.”

One of Falk’s most visible accomplishments was helping grow the Kansas Festival of Breads into the National Festival of Breads. What began as a state baking contest evolved into the nation’s only amateur yeast bread competition, drawing hundreds of entries from nearly every state and thousands of attendees during its in-person years in Manhattan. 

The event paired baking with education, giving finalists the opportunity to tour wheat farms, ride in combines during harvest and visit mills and elevators. Those experiences helped turn bakers into ambassadors for wheat and Kansas agriculture. The contest has continued as a fully remote baking competition. Participants submit recipes via email, and recipe testing and judging are conducted at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan, Kan. 

As Falk enters retirement, she plans to spend more time with family, travel and continue teaching baking and food skills in her community. While her role with Kansas Wheat is ending, her connection to the wheat industry remains strong.

Wheat Scoop: Cindy Falk - A lifetime of service defined by wheat

Zachary	Lynn	Stinson	12/24/2025 1:02&nbsp;PM	Poss of stimulant; 1 prior conviction,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,				Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500

Wallace	Dyrnell	Mitchell	12/25/2025 2:41&nbsp;PM	Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Quintin	Lee	Nichols	12/24/2025 7:55&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Martin	Ramon	Duran	12/25/2025 8:28&nbsp;AM	Probation Violation

Micheal	Anthony	O'Bryan	12/25/2025 8:06&nbsp;PM	Operate a MV w/o a valid license,				Leave the scene of an accident; Injury or Property Damage &gt; $1000

Dustin	Ryan	Friesen	12/26/2025 12:06&nbsp;AM	Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500

For Jake Dunne, mornings at KWCH Channel 12 usually begin with forecasting Kansas weather. But behind the familiar face on Wichita television is a journey that spans several states, a life-altering medical emergency, and a mission to combat human trafficking.

A Wichita native, Dunne’s career has come full circle. He attended Kinsler Elementary, Wilbur Middle School, and Northwest High School before interning at KWCH in the 1990s under veteran meteorologists Merrill Teller and Mark Larson. That early experience launched a television career that would take him across the country—from South Carolina and the Rocky Mountains to Michigan and the Gulf Coast—before an unexpected opportunity brought him home.

In 2019, as Teller prepared to retire, Dunne said, "I just got this email that, you know, Merrill Teller was getting ready to retire, and they were curious if I wanted to come home. And, you know, this was the summer of 2019, and you know, the rest they say is history.

Dunne’s interest in meteorology began early, shaped by growing up in Kansas and a fascination with tracking temperatures and storms. 

"I mean, growing up in Kansas, I remember back in the day, would ride my bike during the afternoon, especially in the summer, to the local bank at the hottest part of the day and record the high temperature and log it." said Dunne.

Over the years, he refined his skills across dramatically different climates, from hurricanes along the Atlantic coast to complex mountain weather systems.

Today, Dunne explains that forecasting is a balance of science, mathematics, and communication. While modern computer models provide increasingly accurate data—often exceeding 95 percent accuracy within a 36-hour window—it is still the meteorologist’s job to interpret those models and tell a clear, engaging story for viewers, particularly during severe weather events.

A Medical Emergency That Changed Everything

On July 3, 2024, that routine was abruptly interrupted. Shortly after delivering a weather segment, Dunne experienced sudden dizziness, vision loss, and severe nausea while still in the studio. He was rushed to Wesley Medical Center and admitted to the neuro-trauma unit with stroke-like symptoms.

For more than a day, Dunne was unable to walk or see out of his right eye. Unsure if he would fully recover—or return to television—he faced what he describes as one of the most frightening moments of his life.

Within weeks, his symptoms resolved, and he returned to the air. But the experience sparked a new determination.

Seven Marathons, Seven Continents, Seven Days

While recovering, Dunne made a decision that would redefine his outlook: if he could run again, he would compete in the World Marathon Challenge—seven marathons on seven continents in seven consecutive days.

The challenge is as extreme as it sounds. Dunne logged nearly 200 miles in a single week, racing in conditions that ranged from subzero wind chills in Antarctica to 95-degree heat in Australia.&nbsp;

"We did Cape Town first and then flew to Antarctica and we did two marathons. I finished two marathons in less than 16 hours apart. So you talk about no recovery time. And Antarctica was miserable. The start time, temperature. We started at 1230 at night. It was nine degrees Fahrenheit, with the wind chill somewhere between minus 20 and minus 30-degrees." said Dunne.&nbsp;

Despite injuries and exhaustion, Dunne finished all seven races. He is now the only known runner from Kansas to complete the feat and one of fewer than 500 men worldwide to have done so.

Dunne’s challenge was about more than endurance. He partnered with ICT SOS, a Wichita-based nonprofit dedicated to combating human trafficking and supporting survivors.

The organization provides safe housing, counseling, education, and prevention outreach, particularly in communities along major interstate corridors such as I-35, I-70, and I-135—routes Dunne notes are frequently exploited by traffickers.

<a href="https://ictsos.org/">LINK: ICTSOS - Fighting Human Trafficking in Wichita</a>

<a href="https://www.brighthouseks.org/contact-us">Editor's note: Brighthouse here in Hutchinson helps victims of domestic abuse and human trafficking.&nbsp; Here's a link to their website.&nbsp;</a>

Funds raised through his global run continue to support ICT SOS’s work, and Dunne says he plans to advocate for the organization for as long as he is able.

In addition to his television career, Dunne is also a running coach, helping others train for everything from their first 5K to full marathons. He emphasizes the importance of community, accountability, and gradual progression—advice shaped by decades of experience and reinforced by his own recovery.

For Dunne, running has become more than a sport. It is a vehicle for purpose, connection, and resilience.

From forecasting Kansas storms to racing across frozen ice and desert heat, Jake Dunne’s story is one of perseverance—and proof that sometimes the most powerful journeys begin after life forces you to stop, reflect, and start again.

KWCH Meteorologist Jake Dunne turns health scare into global running mission

The McPherson Unified School District (USD 418) has finalized a two-part bond proposal that will appear on the March 3, 2026 election ballot, advancing a major facilities initiative designed to modernize schools, improve safety, and address aging infrastructure without—or with a targeted—tax increase.

The plan stems from the district’s Long-Range Facility Plan, adopted by the Board of Education following months of community engagement, data analysis and survey feedback. The proposal is separated into two questions to clearly communicate priorities and financial structure to voters.

Question 1, which is structured to be mill-rate neutral, asks voters to approve $62.5 million in funding for high-priority projects that will not increase the current school tax rate. Key components include:

District officials emphasize that this first phase focuses on the most urgent infrastructure needs while maintaining current tax rates by leveraging existing debt structures.

Question 2, contingent on the success of the first, would authorize $27 million and require a 4.75 mill increase—approximately $9.10 per month for the owner of a $200,000 home—toward broader districtwide improvements. These include:

According to the district’s materials, the two-question structure provides voters a direct choice on essential upgrades while showing how future improvements build upon the foundational work funded by Question 1.

USD 418 places two-question bond proposal on March ballot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson announced murder and assault charges against a Blue Springs man in connection with three shootings&nbsp; that left two people dead and one injured.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2784/Kur-Bak---Charging-Packet-">Kur B. Bak</a>, 28, faces two counts of 1st Degree Murder, three counts of Armed Criminal Action, one count of 1st Degree Assault, and two counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.

According to court records, Kansas City police responded to a shooting on Dec. 3 near Hardesty Avenue and East 26th Street, where they found the victim lying on the sidewalk suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was confirmed deceased on the scene.

Surveillance footage showed the victim walking when an individual, later identified as&nbsp; Bak, approached him. After a brief exchange, the victim continued walking, but the defendant followed and shot him. Bak then fired at the victim seven more times as he lay on the ground. Bak dropped a fully loaded handgun magazine at the crime scene as he fled.&nbsp;

Twenty-five minutes later, police responded to another shooting near Park Avenue and 8th Street. The victim was suffering from gunshot wounds and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.&nbsp;

Surveillance video showed Bak exiting a vehicle and running toward the victim. The shooting occurred off camera. A short time later, Bak is captured returning to the vehicle.

Detectives found shell casings from the same firearm at both scenes. The same vehicle appeared in surveillance footage from both locations, and the Bak’s DNA was found on the magazine dropped at the first scene.&nbsp;

On Dec. 21, police responded to a shooting near Admiral Boulevard and Paseo Boulevard, where they found a victim dead in the street from gunshot trauma to the face.

Surveillance footage captured the victim walking when a vehicle pulled into a nearby parking lot. Bak, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with yellow writing, exited and followed the victim’s same route. Minutes later, Bak was captured on video running back to his vehicle, where he removed the red sweatshirt and placed it in the passenger seat.&nbsp;

During a search of the defendant’s bedroom, detectives recovered the firearm used in all three shootings and the red hooded sweatshirt seen in surveillance footage from the third shooting.

Bak attended a SAVE KC call-in earlier this year but did not follow up for services.&nbsp;

A Jackson County judge set the defendant’s bond at $500,000 cash-only. &nbsp;

Surveillance video show suspect in deadly crime spree

MITCHELL COUNTY—Law enforcement have a kidnapping suspect in custody after a high-speed chase in north central Kansas.

On Friday, the Mitchell County Sheriff's office asked the public to be on the lookout for a black 2014 Mustang with a silver grille. "Proceed with caution, do not approach and contact law enforcement immediately."

The car and driver were involved in a kidnapping incident on US Highway 24 west of Beloit in Mitchell County, according to the sheriff's office. The victim escaped with injuries and was hospitalized with suspected serious injuries. 

The suspect and stolen Mustang left the scene and were later pursued in Osborne County.&nbsp;The suspect is believed to have been possibly involved in an incident in Jewell County prior to the Mitchell County incident.&nbsp;

The Kansas Highway Patrol and Osborne county authorities took the suspect into custody.&nbsp; The name of the suspect and possible charges have not been released.

Sheriff: Suspect in alleged Kan. kidnapping is in custody

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man allegedly living illegally in Kansas is now going to prison for a deadly fight that left a man dead.

Earlier this month, Judge Chrystal Krier sentenced 23-year-old Armando Y. Martinez-Rodriguez to 34 months in prison and 24-months of post release supervision in the death of&nbsp; left 30-year-old Marco Gonzales-Arias, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Just after midnight October 12, 2024, police responded to the Emery Gardens apartment complex in the the 4200 block of S. Hydraulic in Wichita, according to a media release.

First responders found&nbsp; Gonzales-Arias suffering from a gunshot wound. EMS transported him to a local hospital and he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Martinez suffered stab wound and fled the scene. Police located him, took him to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuried and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail where he was listed as a hold for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Martinez is also required to register as a violent offender for 15 years.

Kan. man stabbed in deadly gunfight is going to prison

SEDGWICK COUNTY—Two people died in an accident just after 11p.m. Friday in Sedgwick County.

According to Sedgwick County Deputy Branden Stitt, a Chevy SS driven by Joseph Perry Davidson, 48, Wichita, was. northbound in the 5100 Block of South West Street near 47th Street South.&nbsp;The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The car left the road and rolled multiple times.&nbsp;Davidson&nbsp; was ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene, according to Stitt.

A passenger, 48-year-old Joshua Blick of Wichita, was also ejected. He was taken to a local hospital in critical condition and later died.

Another passenger, a 44-year-old Wichita man, was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Investigators believe speed and alcohol were contributing factors, according to Stitt. The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office Major Crash Team continues to investigate.

Sheriff: Alcohol, speed factors in crash that killed 2 Kansas men

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —Authorities are investigating the cause of a fire at a home in Kansas City.

Just before 10:30a.m. Friday, Kansas City Missouri Fire Dept. companies were dispatched to a reported fire in the 2800 block of East 6th Street, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

 On arrival, the first company on scene reported smoke showing from a 2-story carriage house. Crews initiated an offensive interior attack, using 2 hose lines to extinguish the fire. The fire was brought under control at 10:36 a.m. Searches throughout the structure were performed and came back all clear.&nbsp;The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire damages 2-story carriage house in Kansas City

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security said Tuesday it was replacing its longstanding lottery system for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-explainer-7d5dae2c65b2fa27a7730be3c6833d32">H-1B work visas</a>&nbsp;with a new approach that prioritizes skilled, higher-paid foreign workers.

The change follows a series of actions by the Trump administration aimed at reshaping a visa program that critics say has become a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay, but supporters say drives innovation.

“The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by U.S. employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers,” said U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesman Matthew Tragesser.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-trump-immigration-8d39699d0b2de3d90936f8076357254e">signed a proclamation</a>&nbsp;imposing a $100,000 annual H-1B visa fee on highly skilled workers, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-h1b-visa-trump-8afc10165ce911d43a4cd47ade4268e1">being challenged</a>&nbsp;in court. The president also rolled out a $1 million “gold card” visa as a pathway to U.S. citizenship for wealthy individuals.

A press release announcing the new rule says it is “in line with other key changes the administration has made, such as the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/09/restriction-on-entry-of-certain-nonimmigrant-workers/" target="_blank">Presidential Proclamation</a>&nbsp;that requires employers to pay an additional $100,000 per visa as a condition of eligibility.”

Historically, H-1B visas have been awarded through a lottery system. This year, Amazon was by far the top recipient, with more than 10,000 visas approved, followed by Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, Apple and Google. California has the highest concentration of H-1B workers.

The new system will “implement a weighted selection process that will increase the probability that H-1B visas are allocated to higher-skilled and higher-paid” foreign workers, according to Tuesday’s press release. It will go into effect Feb. 27, 2026, and will apply to the upcoming H-1B cap registration season.

Supporters of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-visa-h1b-rural-doctors-teachers-3a63095d603e405d08c496eb264d6100">H-1B program</a>&nbsp;say it is an important pathway to hiring healthcare workers and educators. They say it drives innovation and economic growth in the U.S. and allows employers to fill jobs in specialized fields.

Critics argue that the visas often go to entry-level positions rather than senior roles requiring specialized skills. While the program is intended to prevent wage suppression or the displacement of U.S. workers, critics say companies can pay lower wages by classifying jobs at the lowest skill levels, even when the workers hired have more experience.

The number of new visas issued annually is capped at 65,000, plus an additional 20,000 for people with a master’s degree or higher.

DHS: H-1B visa lottery system being replaced

Luke Karg is the only Missouri student to qualify for the high school national bass fishing championship five times, including as an incoming freshman

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/"></a>The water on Truman Lake was colder and muddier than normal this April, making for some tough fishing conditions.&nbsp;

Luke Karg, of House Springs, had one last shot before graduating to win the Missouri TBF High School Trail Super Tournament for bass fishing – which he and his then 16-year-old fishing partner, A.J. Massa, had won the year before.

It’s the last tournament of the season for the Missouri student program of The Bass Federation, and it’s also the final opportunity to earn enough points to be named Team of the Year — the top-scoring duo in the state.

“The tournament itself meant a lot to us, with it being our last state tournament together,” Karg said. “It was very tough. There was, at most, two inches of visibility in the water, but a lot of fishing is just adapting to the changes.”

Karg and Massa headed out on the water for two days for eight hours each. At the end of each day, they weighed their top five fish.&nbsp;

“The first day, they caught almost enough bass to win the tournament,” said Gary Foree, Karg’s mentor and family friend, who is a former professional fisherman. “They had almost 19 pounds, which is insane. There hasn’t been a tournament in three years over 17 pounds on Truman Lake.”

They brought in 16 pounds on the second day, which would have brought their total up to nearly 35 pounds. But unfortunately it didn’t count. Their boat malfunctioned, making them miss the weigh in.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“It was pretty heart-wrenching,” Karg said. “It was one of our best bags as a team on one of the most difficult days.”

Karg and Massa ended up taking second place at Truman Lake with one day’s worth of fish, and they still had enough points to be named Team of the Year, just as they were last year.

Karg has been part of the Team of the Year five years in a row, including as an incoming high-school freshman.&nbsp;

That title also sent the team to the TBF Student Angler Federation High School National Championship, which was held at Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in June.&nbsp;

Only the top two high-school teams from each state can compete, and Karg is the only person in Missouri to have qualified for that opportunity five years in a row, according to officials for the national championship.

“To be one of the top two teams in Missouri for five consecutive years is pretty freaking amazing,” said Karl Buck, who previously led the federation’s high school program in Missouri and was also Karg’s team leader. “I’m just so proud it’s unbelievable. I mean, I can’t believe that I was involved in his upcoming as a fisherman.”

Karg began competitive fishing when he was 12 and participated in dozens of individual and team tournaments as a teen. Through it all, he struggled with an autoimmune illness that made him miss numerous days from school, he said, but he’s proud he still managed to graduate on time in May and continue fishing.

While it was grueling standing on a boat for hours under the hot sun, Karg said the national championship was exhilarating because some of the world’s top fishermen were watching.&nbsp;

“It’s the biggest tourn of the year, and a lot of people only get to go to it once, if even,” Karg said. “It really could be the biggest tournament of your life.”

Karg has loved to fish ever since he could hold a rod, said his father Rick Karg. Even as early as 5, he said Karg could catch fish when the adults around him were coming up empty.&nbsp;

“There’s a magic,” Rick said. “My scientific brain says, ‘Is there like a vibration from his heartbeat that travels down the line because he’s got his finger touching it, that the fish like?’”&nbsp;

Foree met Karg because of a life-changing promise he made to Karg’s mother, Becky Rumley.

Rumley was the nurse administering Foree’s chemotherapy treatment at St. Claire Hospital, and one day, she told him how much her nine-year-old son loved to fish. At the time, Foree thought he only had a few months to live.

“I ended up telling her that if I survive this, I’ll take him to Lake of the Ozarks and get him a five pounder because I used to be a [fishing] guide on the lake,” he said.

Foree did pull through, and when they went out fishing, Karg didn’t just catch one five-pound bass.&nbsp;

“I caught three five-pound bass and two six pounders, and like a bunch of big fish,” Karg said. “It is probably the best day of fishing in my life. And ever since then, he’s just dedicated a huge part of his life to help teach me and my partner.”

Foree was equally amazed after Karg pulled out nearly 40 pounds of fish that day.&nbsp;

“He just had the best day of fishing anybody could have,” Foree said. “That’s how I got him hooked on fishing.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Over the years, Foree taught him about tracking fish through the different seasons and how to read the water and the banks. He also helped him get his first boat.

Now, Foree said, Karg’s instincts are his fishing superpower.&nbsp;

“So many times they won a tournament when the fishing was really tough, and Luke said, ‘Let’s try over here. That bank looks good,’” Foree said. “And they’ll go over, and they’ll catch enough fish on that bank to win the tournament.”

Karg believes his instincts have developed with the dozens of tournaments and countless hours of fishing.&nbsp;

“Over time, it’s become more of an instinct, than having to think about, ‘Oh, I should make a change,’” he said. “It just naturally comes.”

For instance, at both the Truman Lake and national championship, Karg said he was painting his own custom lures while he was on the boat.

At Truman, he made the decision to color a half-inch chartreuse line on his spinner bait, he said, and he ended up catching much bigger fish, but less fish. If his lure had a straight tail, the catch was better as well, he said.

“It’s all about how the bait works in the water,” he said. “The smallest little detail that can just trigger the fish to eat. That’s where a lot of the fun comes into it for me, is all the difficulties and fun little changes you can make. You can go from catching no fish for hours on end to catching your limit in a minute.”

Karl Buck remembers meeting Karg when he was about 12 on a dock at the Peaceful Valley Lake in Owensville, where Karg’s grandparents have a lake house. Buck used to run a student program called the Owensville Anglers, and they were finishing up a tournament that day.

“When we were doing our weigh-in down at the dam, they came down to the boat ramp to inquire,” Buck said. “He’ll probably hate this, but he was the most bashful young man, super quiet and reserved.”&nbsp;

The Owensville Anglers is how Karg got his start with tournament fishing, which Buck says is much different than regular fishing.&nbsp;

In a tournament, Buck said the first rule is “find five.”&nbsp;

“You’re fishing for five fish,” Buck said. “Doesn’t matter what they weigh, they just got to be keepers,” meaning they are big enough to keep.

The fish go in the box where they’re kept alive and healthy, which is a standard conservation practice in the high-school tournaments.&nbsp;

“After you have five, then you’re going to change your game,” he said. “It’s now no longer about just catching fish. You’re looking to upgrade the fish that you already have. Big fish get big for a reason. They’re hard to catch.”

Big fish know how to hide, and that’s where casting skills come into play, Foree said. He called Karg’s casting skills “insane.”&nbsp;

“He can skip jigs and lures and put them in places nobody else can,” Foree said. “That’s why he’s so good.”

But he wasn’t always that good, Buck remembers, which is why Karg earned the nickname “Oops” after fishing with Buck and his son one day.

“Luke throws this cast — I believe it was a spinner bait — and it winds up on the roof of this dock, stuck,” Buck said. “So we go up and we get it. A little while later, he makes another cast and it gets stuck on somebody’s dock.”

After each time, Karg would just say, “Oops” and the nickname was born. Buck said when they fished together this past summer, he was blown away at his talent.&nbsp;

Karg and Massa ended up placing 56th out of more than 200 teams in the national championship in Oklahoma.&nbsp;

“We lost three three-pounders that came off the boat,” Karg said after the tournament finished. “That would have gotten us up to nine or 10 pounds. We would have been around 12th place probably.”

Karg said he’s proud of his accomplishment over this high school career, and he couldn’t have done it without his fishing partners Massa and previously Kyle Kannawurf, along with their boat captains.

“No one gives credit enough to our boat captains, which were both of our dads,” he said, “just giving the time to drive all the way out there and standing with us out the boat for eight hours straight a day.”

As boat captain, Rick said he was in “constant amazement” at his son’s skill.

“I’d just sit there and watch and think, ‘How in the world are you doing this?’” Rick said. “You’re like a super sharp shooter.”

Rick said he’s watched Karg fish for seven hours without catching anything, but he’d still have the focus and creativity change his strategy and get a big catch at the last minute. Karg’s humility and attitude are among the most impressive things about him, said Foree and Buck, particularly his ability to bounce back from setbacks.

“He never got rattled,” Foree said. “Oh, he’d get upset if he lost a big fish, but he’d just say, ‘Okay, I learned something from that,’ and go on to the next one. His ability to focus and stay focused in times of turmoil when he loses fish or the weather changes is very, very important in professional bass fishing.”

Karg&nbsp;has his own&nbsp;<a href="https://lukesboatservices.com/about-us" target="_blank">boat detail business</a>, and there are several career paths he’s interested in taking, including a professional fisherman.&nbsp;

“But for that, I would have to be away from home around 200 days of the year,” he said. “So the one I’m probably gonna go with is a natural environmentalist studying fresh water fish.”

Missouri teen makes history for tournament bass fishing

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/anne-dinnocenzio">ANNE D’INNOCENZIO</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — The shopping rush leading up to Christmas is over and in its place, like every year, another has begun as millions of people hunt for post-holiday deals and get in line to return gifts that didn’t fit, or didn’t hit quite right.

Holiday spending using cash or cards through Sunday has topped last year’s haul, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/holiday-sales-visa-inflation-tariffs-e227c2ab26445616931a71cf610bd15b">data released this week</a>&nbsp;by Visa’s Consulting &amp; Analytics division and Mastercard SpendingPulse.

But growing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/consumer-confidence-conference-board-economy-spending-55a603a497c5885745b87de8fc5f7821">unease over the U.S. economy</a>&nbsp;and higher prices in part due to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-economy-liberation-day-d3458da225c1fdfade97ed494b23e868">President Donald Trump’s tariffs</a>&nbsp;have altered the behavior of some Americans. More are hitting thrift stores or other discounters in place of malls, according to data from Placer.ai. The firm tracks people’s movements based on cellphone usage.

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