Reno County Commissioners Weigh Pay Structure, Sales Tax Options Amid Broader Budget Pressures

Reno County officials are revisiting county commissioner compensation and exploring the possibility of a future countywide sales tax as part of broader discussions about governance, budgeting, and public service sustainability.

During a recent appearance on the BW Morning Show, Reno County Commissioner Randy Parks and County Administrator Randy Partington discussed how the issue of commissioner pay resurfaced and why it is now part of the county commission’s ongoing agenda.

According to Parks, the conversation began several years ago when former commissioners faced challenges balancing outside employment with the demands of county service. In some cases, commissioners exhausted vacation time or lost employer-provided benefits in order to fulfill their public duties.

“It’s hard for someone to serve in this office if they’re not independently employed or retired,” Parks said. “We’ve seen that for years, and it limits the pool of people who are able to serve.”

When Reno County voters approved expanding the commission from three members to five, commissioner salaries were divided among more people, effectively reducing individual pay. Currently, Reno County commissioners earn about $11,000 annually, placing them at the low end compared to similar Kansas counties.

Partington said a survey of counties with a county administrator form of government found most commissioners earn between $25,000 and $26,000 per year, excluding Sedgwick County, where commissioners serve full time and earn significantly more.

The commission will consider several options at an upcoming meeting, including maintaining the current pay level, restoring compensation to what commissioners earned under the three-member board—approximately $17,000 to $18,000—or adjusting pay to reflect cost-of-living increases since that time. Another option under discussion would move compensation closer to the regional average, around $25,000 annually.

Parks emphasized that the discussion is not about making the role lucrative, but about ensuring the position is accessible.

“This is about not limiting who can serve,” he said. “It’s a civic duty, but it still requires a significant time commitment.”

County officials estimate commissioners spend an average of 20 to 25 hours per week on county business, including meetings, document review, and constituent engagement. From a human resources perspective, the current pay level has also raised concerns with state reporting requirements related to compensation classifications.

In addition to commissioner pay, the conversation touched on longer-term county funding challenges, including the potential for a future countywide sales tax. Reno County currently has a one-cent sales tax that generates about $6 million annually for the general fund and helps offset property taxes.

Partington said the commission is conducting a public survey to gauge voter interest in an additional sales tax that could support infrastructure, public safety, economic development, quality-of-life projects, or property tax relief.

“With rising costs and state mandates, there are limited places to cut without reducing staff,” Partington said. “A sales tax is paid by everyone who purchases goods in Reno County, not just property owners.”

Officials noted that while visitors to events like the Kansas State Fair contribute to local sales tax when shopping or dining elsewhere in the county, purchases made on the fairgrounds itself generate only state sales tax revenue.

No final decisions have been made on commissioner pay or a potential sales tax proposal. County leaders say both topics will continue to be discussed publicly as part of the county’s budget and governance process.

The Reno County Commission meets this morning at 9 a.m. in the Veteran's Room of the Reno County Commission.&nbsp;

Reno County Commission weighs pay structure, sales tax options

Trump: Military members will receive a special Warrior Dividend before Christmas

Hutchinson Community Foundation is now accepting proposals for the first Impact Cycle of 2026 Fund for Reno County Grants.

Established in 1990, the Fund for Reno County serves as a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County. Grants represent an innovative approach or collaboration, a new efficiency, a critical need that requires funding or an opportunity that needs a bit of local support to leverage resources for the community.

Proposals should align with the following Impact Cycle categories and purposes, their deadlines, and their maximum requests.

Impact Cycle 1 due Feb. 13 (application period now open)

Community &amp; Economic Development – Projects and plans that strengthen the community and local economy by building a diverse and resilient workforce, activating central business districts or downtowns, supporting existing businesses, attracting new ones, and encouraging entrepreneurs; also, projects that strengthen the quality of place in Reno County through placemaking in public spaces and improving housing quality and accessibility. Maximum request of $50,000.

Strong Organizations – Projects that strengthen the capacity, sustainability and resilience of Reno County community-based organizations. Maximum request of $7,500.

Community Catalyst – Projects that improve community engagement, communication, confidence and pride. Maximum request of $2,500.

Proposals must come from 501(c)(3) organizations that serve Reno County. Individuals or groups that do not have a 501(c)(3) designation must obtain a nonprofit fiscal sponsor.

Proposals for Impact Cycle 1 should be submitted by Feb. 13 online through the Foundant Grant Lifecycle Management (GLM) system at https://hutchcf.org/nonprofitsandgrants/available-grants.

In support of Impact Cycle 1, Partnering for Impact: A Nonprofit Strength Workshop will be available on two dates in January and are open to staff, board members, and volunteers of community-based organizations serving Reno County.

This two-hour workshop is designed for nonprofits that want to strengthen their grant proposals, their organizational capacity and their partnerships. The workshop will offer a clear look at the community foundation’s funding priorities, grant programs, and Nonprofit Strength Initiative programs, alongside practical guidance for the online grant platform, grant-writing best practices, and structured time to learn from and collaborate with other organizations tackling shared challenges. Foundation staff will also spend some time reviewing the Love Where You Live Resident Perception Survey data, on which some of the foundation’s funding priorities are based.

The workshops will be held at 1 p.m. Jan. 12 and 9 a.m. Jan. 22 at Hutchinson Community Foundation, First National Center, 1 N. Main St., Ste. 501. Registration for either session is required by Jan. 10 by completing the form at <a href="https://hutchcf.org/event/partnering-for-impact-a-nonprofit-strength-workshop/">https://hutchcf.org/event/partnering-for-impact-a-nonprofit-strength-workshop/</a>.

For questions, contact Senior Program Officer Jan Steen, jan@hutchcf.org or 620-663-5293.

Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, leadership, and collaboration to strengthen Reno County. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $115 million to organizations.

Hutchinson Community Foundation grant cycle open to Reno Co. organizations, groups

JACKIE MUUNDT&nbsp; Pratt County farmer and rancher

An interesting fact about me is that I lived with a Jewish family in college. The woman I rented a bedroom from was a single mom in need of a little extra income. I had all the amenities of living with a family and the added bonus of learning about another culture. 

The family was a bit like people who only attend church on Christmas and Easter or Chr-easters as I often call them. They didn’t practice their faith regularly but celebrated holidays and kindly included me in their holidays, which really broadened my worldview.

I never had an opportunity to celebrate Hanukkah with them as I typically returned home for Christmas break before it began. By chance this year, I was visiting a museum that hosts educational activities for kids on the first day of Hanukkah. Museum staff knew our group was unfamiliar with traditions and practices of the holiday. They invited us to join in some of the fun children’s activities and we gladly accepted the chance to learn more about the culture. 

There were several craft stations for the kids where you could decorate a dreidel, miniature menorah or lantern. They also had orange slices as a sweet snack for participants. 

Our adult group decorated thin round disks with markers and stickers, then a helpful little boy showed us how to slobber glue on a dowel to attach the disc so you can create the spinner. The lanterns were glass jars or plastic bottles decorated to be carried by the kids in a parade through the community later that night.

When it was time to light the menorah, all of the families joined in songs similar to Christmas carols. The songs were in Hebrew. I didn’t understand the words but they were sung with great excitement by the children. Plus, they were accompanied by an accordion which makes everything seem more festive.

The event felt just like a Christmas party at a small-town library or community center. Kids creating fun crafts to liven up the celebration, joyful songs sung with more enthusiasm than skill and sweet treats to wrap everything together. 

The origins and significance of Hanukkah is very different from Christmas but at this event it felt so familiar. The children were having fun with each other, parents were visiting and grandmothers were watching lovingly to make sure everyone had what they needed. Kids were sharing, kindness was flowing and the air was filled with an infectious kind of happiness that only holidays can bring. 

This brief window into the traditions of Hanukkah wasn’t in-depth or life-changing, but it was the type of memorable experience l cherish. In a world full of hard days and complex problems, it is nice to be reminded of all the good that comes from celebrating holidays together. I love seeing families spending time together, people sharing faith and communities celebrating the traditions that make them unique.

As you celebrate this holiday season, I wish you and your family peace, love and joy. May your family traditions bring you together for many years to come.

"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: Celebrating holidays and family

Construction on the new Hutchinson YMCA continues to advance on North Lorraine Street, with the exterior of the facility nearing completion and interior spaces now taking shape as the project moves toward its anticipated opening in 2026.

YMCA Executive Director David Foster said crews are close to fully enclosing the building, a milestone that will allow work to accelerate inside the structure. Interior walls, program areas and equipment layouts are becoming more defined, giving a clearer picture of how the new facility will function.

Once exterior fencing is removed, Foster said the size and design of the building will be more apparent, particularly the extensive use of glass along the exterior.

As interest grows, the YMCA is offering membership promotions tied to the new year. From Dec. 26 through Jan. 12, new members can join with no $75 joining fee and no prorated monthly dues. A second promotion, running Jan. 13 through Jan. 31, also waives the joining fee. Income-based financial assistance remains available to ensure access regardless of ability to pay.

The YMCA has also launched a brick and paver campaign to allow community members to be part of the project. Personalized bricks are available for $500, while engraved pavers are available for $1,000. The bricks and pavers will be incorporated into outdoor areas surrounding the new facility.

Foster said YMCA membership has continued to trend upward, with November recording the second-highest membership total of the year, trailing only midsummer levels. He credited the growth to expanded programming and strong participation in youth sports, gymnastics, swim lessons and fitness classes.

The new YMCA will include an indoor family pool, lap pool and splash-pad-style water features, along with fitness areas, gymnasiums and program space. The building’s design is expected to be especially prominent at night due to its exterior lighting and glass frontage.

The opening of the new facility will coincide with a milestone year for the organization. In 2026, the YMCA will mark 150 years of service in Hutchinson.

New Hutchinson YMCA nears exterior completion, membership promotions announced

The Kansas Department of Labor has released its September 2025 labor report, showing stable unemployment levels but modest shifts in employment across sectors.

Preliminary estimates from the Kansas Department of Labor’s Labor Market Information Division and the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that Kansas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained at 3.8% in September. That rate was unchanged from August and also matched the rate reported in September 2024.

The report shows continued improvement in workforce engagement, with the labor force participation rate increasing to 67.1% in September.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate that total nonfarm payroll employment in Kansas declined by 300 jobs from August. Total nonfarm payroll includes both private sector and government employment. Private sector employment fell by 2,000 jobs over the month, while government employment increased by 1,700 jobs.

Within the private sector, the largest job gains were reported in financial activities, which added 600 positions. The largest job losses occurred in professional and business services.

On a year-over-year basis, Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment declined by 1,700 jobs since September 2024. That change reflects a loss of 2,500 private sector jobs, partially offset by an increase of 800 government jobs.

All Bureau of Labor Statistics operations were suspended from October 1 through November 12, 2025, as a result of the shutdown.

Because of the suspension, there will not be a separate Kansas labor report for October. The November 2025 Kansas labor report is scheduled for release on January 7. The release schedule for the December report has not yet been finalized.

September unemployment rate remains same as August

The Waters of the U.S. Rule, also sometimes called WOTUS, has been a controversial topic for several years.&nbsp; Each administration in the White House has swayed the EPA to broaden the rule to control private property.&nbsp; 

Now under the Trump administration again, there is a proposed change to the rule that would respect private property rights, and ag exemptions.&nbsp; 

However, there may be legal challenges ahead from environmental activists.

🎧 Ag Minute: Waters of the U.S. rule

The Hutchinson City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to place a three-quarters of a percent sales tax proposal before voters in a March 3 special election.

Currently, most of Hutchinson has an 8.25% sales tax on non-food items and a 1.75% sales tax on food. Passage of the sales tax would raise the non-food sales tax to 9%

Finance Director Angela Richard told council members that failure of the sales tax could result in significant reductions to city services. She cited a projected $3-million gap between city revenues and expenditures, noting that potential cuts could affect street maintenance, police and fire staffing, or other core municipal operations. Richard added that without the sales tax, the city may need to consider increasing property taxes by approximately 10 mills to offset the shortfall.

City officials said passage of the sales tax would allow Hutchinson to eliminate its stormwater utility fee. The special election itself is expected to cost the city about $43,000.

In other business Tuesday night, the council approved the purchase of more than 5,000 acre-feet of water rights from Sunoco for $10 million over a three-year period, increasing the city’s annual water supply to more than 17,000 acre-feet.

The council also approved a design contract for improvements at the Hutchinson Zoo, authorized increases in trash service fees under the city’s refuse contract, and approved nearly $3 million in industrial revenue bonds for Gunbros new facility.

Council approves sending sales tax issue to special election

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. ——————————————

Troy	Adam Miller 12/16/2025 10:18 AM Possession of hallucinogenic drug

Derek Ignacio Trevino 12/16/2025 12:24 PM Probation Violation&nbsp;

Daily Bookings

A UPS driver was killed Tuesday afternoon after a collision with a train on Woodberry Road south of U.S. 50 in Reno County.

According to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received the call shortly after 3 p.m. reporting a serious accident at the railroad crossing. Deputies arrived to find a UPS delivery truck that had been struck by a train and pushed on the driver’s side.

Authorities said there are no railroad crossing lights at the scene. The driver of the UPS truck was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

No injuries were reported on the train. Officials have not released details regarding the train’s speed or direction of travel.

Woodberry Road was closed for several hours Tuesday afternoon as investigators worked the scene. The Reno County Sheriff’s Office says the crash remains under investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

UPS driver killed in accident west of Burrton

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

Three-day Outlook

KANSAS CITY—A suspect in a deadly Kansas City gas station killing is facing multiple charges.

<a href="https://www.jacksoncountyprosecutor.com/DocumentCenter/View/2777/Stallings-RED-COMPLAINT-AS">Adrian Stallings</a>, 27, is charged with 2nd Degree Murder, Armed Criminal Action, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson.

On November 18, Kansas City police responded to a gas station and located a victim inside the store, shot multiple times. He was confirmed deceased on the scene.&nbsp;

Detectives reviewed surveillance footage and observed a man, later identified as the Stallings, enter the gas station store, speak with the victim and other individuals present briefly, and then approached the clerk at the register to purchase an item.&nbsp;

Stallings then looked back at the group of individuals and asked what they were laughing at and an argument and altercation ensued. Stallings pulled out a firearm and shot at the victim, who fell to the ground. Stallings then shot at the victim again as he was on the ground. He stepped back and then stepped forward and fired a third time toward the victim’s head and then fled.&nbsp;

Detectives used department resources to help identify Stallings including booking pictures and social media. Stallings&nbsp;is being held without bond.&nbsp;

Court records: KC man killed victim after group laughed at him

WASHINGTON — President&nbsp;Donald Trump delivered a speech from the White House Wednesday night.

🎥Highlights of President Trump's address to the nation

SALINE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for theft of lottery tickets from where he worked.

Just after 9a.m., the Casey's in the 500 Block of N. Ohio in Salina reported that an employee stole over 100 lottery tickets from the store between November 30 and December 14, according to&nbsp;Police Captain Jim Feldman. The lottery tickets were valued at $2,700.

Lottery tickets in Kansas are tracked using barcodes and a centralized computer system that logs each ticket sale and activation.

Officers arrested the suspect identified as 37-year old Robert Davis.

Davis was booked into the Saline County Jail on a requested charge of Felony Theft. He also had a warrant out of Russell County.

Kan. convenience store employee accused of stealing lottery tickets

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday paid his respects to two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter who were killed in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-us-military-attack-palmyra-is-22f67e54c1a15fcc643de2672b83aacb">an attack in the Syrian desert</a>, joining their grieving families as their remains were brought back to the country they served.

Trump met privately with the families at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before the dignified transfer, a solemn ritual conducted in honor of U.S. service members killed in action. The civilian was also included in the transfer.

Trump, who traveled to Dover several times in his first term, once described it as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-ae37de2f1c6b450ab60ce236c8f04450">“the toughest thing I have to do”</a>&nbsp;as president.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-attack-iowa-national-guard-islamic-state-38dd71dca411213f3789ccdb94e37f4e">The two guardsmen</a>&nbsp;killed in Syria on Saturday were Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, according to the U.S. Army. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, and have been hailed as heroes by the Iowa National Guard.

Torres-Tovar’s and Howard’s families were at Dover for the return of their remains, alongside Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, members of Iowa’s congressional delegation and leaders of the Iowa National Guard. Their remains will be taken to Iowa after the transfer.

A U.S. civilian working as an interpreter, identified Tuesday as Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Macomb, Michigan, was also killed. Three other members of the Iowa National Guard were injured in the attack. The Pentagon has not identified them.

They were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

The process of returning service member remains

There is no formal role for a president at a dignified transfer other than to watch in silence, with all thoughts about what happened in the past and what is happening at Dover kept to himself for the moment. There is no speaking by any of the dignitaries who attend, with the only words coming from the military officials who direct the highly choreographed transfers.

Trump arrived without first lady Melania Trump, who had been scheduled to accompany him, according to the president’s public schedule. Her office declined to elaborate, with spokesperson Nick Clemens saying the first lady “was not able to attend today.”

During the process at Dover, transfer cases draped with the American flag that hold the soldiers’ remains are carried from the belly of a hulking C-17 military aircraft to a waiting vehicle under the watchful eyes of grieving family members. The vehicle then transports the remains to the mortuary facility at the base, where the fallen are prepared for burial at their final resting places.

Iowa National Guard members hailed as heroes

Howard’s stepfather, Jeffrey Bunn, has said Howard “loved what he was doing and would be the first in and last out.” He said Howard had wanted to be a soldier since he was a boy.

In a social media post, Bunn, who is chief of the Tama, Iowa, police department, said Howard was a loving husband and an “amazing man of faith.” He said Howard’s brother, a staff sergeant in the Iowa National Guard, would escort “Nate” back to Iowa.

Torres-Tovar was remembered as a “very positive” family-oriented person who always put others first, according to fellow Guard members who were deployed with him and issued a statement to the local TV broadcast station WOI.

Dina Qiryaqoz, the daughter of the civilian interpreter who was killed, said Wednesday in a statement that her father worked for the U.S. Army during the invasion of Iraq from 2003 to 2007. Sakat is survived by his wife and four adult children.

The interpreter was from Bakhdida, Iraq, a small Catholic village southeast of Mosul, and the family immigrated to the U.S. in 2007 on a special visa, Qiryaqoz said. At the time of his death, Sakat was employed as an independent contractor for Virginia-based Valiant Integrated Services.

Sakat’s family was still struggling to believe that he is gone. “He was a devoted father and husband, a courageous interpreter and a man who believed deeply in the mission he served,” Qiryaqoz said.

Trump’s reaction to the attack in Syria

Trump told reporters over the weekend that he was mourning the deaths. He vowed retaliation. The most recent instance of U.S. service members killed in action was in January 2024, when three American troops died in a drone attack in Jordan.

Saturday’s deadly attack followed a rapprochement between the U.S. and Syria, bringing the former pariah state into a U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

Trump has forged a relationship with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-sanctions-trump-treasury-state-2ed65c895905e2e7bc385098a6ab1301">interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa</a>, the onetime leader of an Islamic insurgent group who led the ouster of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-assad-sweida-daraa-homs-hts-qatar-816e538565d1ae47e016b5765b044d31">former President Bashar Assad</a>.

Trump, who met with al-Sharaa last month at the White House, said Monday that the attack had nothing to do with the Syrian leader, who Trump said was “devastated by what happened.”

During his first term, Trump visited Dover in 2017 to honor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-d4bccd7dc3a64e56aa51ad75379d1ef6">a U.S. Navy SEAL killed during a raid</a>&nbsp;in Yemen, in 2019 for two Army officers whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-ae37de2f1c6b450ab60ce236c8f04450">helicopter crashed in Afghanistan</a>, and in 2020 for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/trump-pays-tribute-to-2-soldiers-killed-in-afghanistan-e85a952dbdc71d23f592064073518da3">two Army soldiers killed in Afghanistan</a>&nbsp;when a person dressed in an Afghan army uniform opened fire.

Trump pays respects to National Guardsmen, interpreter killed in Syria 

SEDGWICK COUNTY — Police have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with an ongoing child abuse investigation.

Just after 5:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to an EMS assist call at a residence in the 5500 block of South Handley in Wichita, according to a media release.

 Upon arrival, officers found a 1-year-old child unresponsive. The child was transported to a medical facility in critical condition and is currently listed as critical but stable.

Five children were in the home at the time of the incident, ranging from 6 months old to 9 years old. In addition to the 1-year-old, the 6-month-old was also taken to the hospital for medical treatment. All five children have been placed in police protective custody.

Wichita police began investigating at the scene, which led to the arrest of the 30-year-old Kevin D. Mitchell, identified according to county booking records.&nbsp;

Police will present their case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for charging consideration.

2 children hospitalized, Kansas man arrested for alleged abuse

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/daniel-bongino">FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that he will resign from the bureau next month, ending a brief and tumultuous tenure in which he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-dan-bongino-bondi-trump-fbi-0f02f67b6c97fc50e4d93bc4dbf4c4d0">clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files</a>&nbsp;and was forced to reconcile the realities of his law enforcement job with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracy-theories-bondi-bongino-fbi-a143076353acbc1193cb9697e7fc4a90">provocative claims he made in his prior role</a>&nbsp;as a popular podcast host.

The departure would be among the highest-profile resignations of the Trump administration,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fbi-george-floyd-kash-patel-72ac540b4d5afd90d6be3199ac808630">coming as the firing of career agents</a>&nbsp;has contributed to upheaval at the FBI and as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/kash-patel">Director Kash Patel</a>&nbsp;faces continued criticism over his use of a government plane for personal purposes and social media posts about active investigations.

Bongino announced his departure, which had been expected, in a post on X in which he said he was grateful for the “opportunity to serve with purpose.” He did not say precisely when in January he would leave or reveal his future plans, but President Donald Trump, in response to a question earlier in the day about Bongino's fate, said: “Dan did a great job. I think he wants to go back to his show.”

Bongino was always an unconventional pick for the No. 2 job at the FBI, a position that historically has entailed oversight of the bureau’s day-to-day operations and has been typically held by a career agent. Though he had previously worked as a New York City police officer and Secret Service agent, neither he nor Patel had any experience at the FBI before being picked for their jobs. But both came in pledging overhauls to an FBI they insisted had been weaponized against Trump.

Bongino was installed in the role in March by Trump after years as a conservative podcast host, where he used his platform to repeatedly rail against FBI leadership and to encourage conspiracy theories related to the Epstein sex-trafficking case and pipe bombs discovered in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.

Once in the job, he used social media to communicate directly to Trump supporters restless over a perceived lack of action by the new FBI leadership to address their concerns. He reassured them the FBI under his watch was giving renewed attention to issues like the pipe bomb case,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roe-wade-supreme-court-leaked-draft-opinion-c6a923f6e370672f4a5ccfd3be325786">the leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion in 2022</a>&nbsp;and the discovery of cocaine in the White House during the Biden administration.

Yet he struggled to placate elements of Trump’s base who expected him to quickly deliver the reform he had long said was needed at the FBI and to uncover the truths he claimed had been hidden by the federal government.

On the Epstein case, for instance, he had previously challenged the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">official ruling that the wealthy financier had taken his own life</a>&nbsp;in a New York jail soon after his 2019 arrest. But after his arrival in the bureau, he said in a Fox News interview: “I’ve seen the whole file. He killed himself.”

Bongino had separately speculated as recently as last year that the pipe bombs placed on the eve of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot were an “inside job,” the truth shielded by a “massive cover-up.” He was presented with those same comments when the FBI earlier this month arrested a 30-year-old Virginia man with no evident connection to the federal government, promoting skepticism from some that investigators had actually arrested the right person.

“I was paid in the past, Sean, for my opinions, that's clear,” Bongino said in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity. “And one day, I'll be back in that space but that’s not what I’m paid for now. I’m paid to be your deputy director and we base investigations on facts.”

Questions about Bongino's future had lingered for months, particular after a tense exchange at the White House last July with Attorney General Pam Bondi&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-pam-bondi-03fbcd024f631440f7ed62b3c6927db3">following the abrupt announcement by the FBI and Justice Department</a>&nbsp;that they would not be releasing any additional records from the Epstein investigation.

After that encounter, Bongino, normally active on social media, went silent from his FBI account for several days. Far-right activist&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-waltz-laura-loomer-national-security-council-959b718b04b240c5c8ba3736b4d8aa62">Laura Loomer</a>, who is close to Trump, posted on X at the time that she was told that Bongino was “seriously thinking about resigning” and had taken the day off to contemplate his future.

In August, the Trump administration took the unusual step of adding a co-deputy director, former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey.

FBI Deputy Director Bongino says he plans to resign next month 

KANSAS CITY (AP) —The Powerball jackpot has grown to an estimated $1.25 billion for Wednesday night’s drawing after lottery officials said no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Monday night.

The U.S. has seen more than a dozen lottery jackpot prizes exceed $1 billion since 2016. Here is a look at the largest U.S. jackpots won and the places where the winning tickets were sold:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sacramento-california-los-angeles-business-0a72f926487b51b7a6d60451679f8c76">Los Angeles-area gas station</a>.

2. $1.787 billion, Powerball, Sept. 6, 2025. The winning tickets were sold&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-drawing-winner-4261a3909c9e01dacc0869c50030e198">in Missouri and Texas.</a>

3. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a liquor store in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-california-6ad701f4a9ebb4df7a3afe8ecee2eb30">tiny California mountain town</a>.

4. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mega-millions-jackpot-claimed-florida-8c86594edcd16cdcda7521059ef7c7ed">supermarket in Neptune Beach, Florida</a>.

5. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016. The winning tickets were sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-e22dde0b7ace4c87b230b84be827a0fe">Los Angeles-area convenience store</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/article60951392.html" target="_blank">Florida supermarket</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-4c8a00811ae84fa49fe25a4035a51fc4">Tennessee grocery store</a>.

6. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6ef692a129b049a8bbf9eb4e77a8b91e">South Carolina convenience store</a>.

7. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023. The winning ticket was sold at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/maine-lottery-identity-lawsuit-8cc884a8b0b3e3cbc14629b4d8e2b180">Maine gas station</a>.

What are the 10 largest US lottery jackpots ever won?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four centrist Republicans broke with Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday and signed onto a Democratic-led petition that will force a House vote on extending for three years an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowers health insurance costs for millions of Americans.

The stunning move comes after House Republican leaders pushed ahead with a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-house-health-care-plan-obamacare-subsidies-208b30670d0486c8d27ceb59c59003e0">health care bill</a>&nbsp;that does not address the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-health-tax-credits-affordable-care-act-2b5ae3651ff16783a00e00dc1ce264bf">soaring monthly premiums</a>&nbsp;that millions of people will soon endure when the tax credits for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act expire at year’s end.

Democrats led by Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York needed 218 signatures to force a floor vote on their bill, which would extend the subsides for three years.

Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Mike Lawler of New York signed on Wednesday morning, pushing it to the magic number of 218. A vote on the subsidy bill could come as soon as January under House rules.

“Unfortunately, it is House leadership themselves that have forced this outcome.” Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

Johnson told reporters Wednesday that “I have not lost control of the House” and he noted that Republicans have a razor-thin majority that allows a small number of members to employ procedures that would not usually be successful in getting around leadership.

“These are not normal times,” said Johnson, R-La.

The revolt against GOP leadership came after days of talks centered on the health care subsidies.

Johnson had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on bills that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes such as income caps for beneficiaries. But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party's conference, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up a failed marketplace through the ACA, which is widely known as “Obamacare.”

House Republicans pushed ahead Wednesday a 100-plus-page health care package without the subsidies, instead focusing on long-sought GOP proposals designed to expand insurance coverage options for small businesses and the self-employed.

Fitzpatrick and Lawler tried to add a temporary extension of the subsidies to the bill, but were denied.

“Our only request was a floor vote on this compromise, so that the American People’s voice could be heard on this issue. That request was rejected. Then, at the request of House leadership I, along with my colleagues, filed multiple amendments, and testified at length to those amendments,” Fitzpatrick said. “House leadership then decided to reject every single one of these amendments.

“As I’ve stated many times before, the only policy that is worse than a clean three-year extension without any reforms, is a policy of complete expiration without any bridge," Fitzpatrick said.

Lawler, in a social media post, similarly said that “the failure of leadership” to permit a vote had left him with “no choice” but to sign the petition. He urged Johnson to bring the plan up for an immediate floor vote.

Jeffries, for several weeks, had called on Republicans to sign his discharge petition. He particularly challenged Republicans in competitive congressional districts to join the effort if they really wanted to prevent premium increases for their constituents.

“Mike Johnson needs to bring the bill to the floor today,” Jeffries said. “Our position from the very beginning was that we are standing on the right side of the American people who want to see the Affordable Care Act tax credits extended, and we’re appreciative that we now have the bipartisan coalition to get that done.”

Even if the subsidy bill were to pass the House, which is far from assured, it would face an arduous climb in the Republican-led Senate.

Republicans last week&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-care-vote-affordable-care-act-obamacare-6ffc1ea9f878c6b3da995589ef8a012c">voted down</a>&nbsp;a three-year extension of the subsidies and proposed an alternative that also failed. But in an encouraging sign for Democrats, four Republican senators crossed party lines to support their proposal.

Republicans defy Speaker to force House vote on extending ACA subsidies

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department says it has upgraded its investigation into Arizona Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over a video where he and other members of Congress told members of the military they didn’t need to follow illegal orders.&nbsp;

“The Office of the Secretary of War, in conjunction with the Department of War’s Office of the General Counsel, is escalating the preliminary review of Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.), to an official Command Investigation,” a spokesperson for the department wrote in an email Monday night.&nbsp;

“Retired Captain Kelly is currently under investigation for serious allegations of misconduct,” the spokesperson continued. “Further official comments will be limited to preserve the integrity of the proceedings.”

Paul J. Fishman, an attorney at the Arnold &amp; Porter law firm who is representing Kelly, wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26379142-ltr-to-secretary-phelan-dec-15-2025/#document/p1" target="_blank">a Monday letter</a>&nbsp;to the secretary of the Navy that “there is no legitimate basis for any type of proceeding against Senator Kelly, and any such effort would be unconstitutional and an extraordinary abuse of power.”

“If the Executive Branch were to move forward in any forum—criminal, disciplinary, or administrative—we will take all appropriate legal action on Senator Kelly’s behalf to halt the Administration’s unprecedented and dangerous overreach,” Fishman wrote.&nbsp;

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had set Dec. 10 as the deadline for the secretary of the Navy to recommend what to do about Kelly’s appearance in the video, but that came and went without any public announcements.

Hegseth also remained silent on the matter after rebuking Kelly weeks ago for posting the video where he and five other Democrats warned against illegal orders.

Kelly said on Dec. 9, one day before the deadline, he hadn’t received any information from the Navy or other administration officials.&nbsp;

“Forget about an update. I haven’t heard anything from the guy,” Kelly told reporters. “That’s a good question for you guys to ask the Navy.”

The secretary of the Navy’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment from States Newsroom.&nbsp;

The Department of Defense posted in late November that officials were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pentagon-investigates-arizona-sen-mark-kelly-after-he-appears-video-blasted-trump" target="_blank">looking into</a>&nbsp;“serious allegations of misconduct” against Kelly for appearing in the video.&nbsp;

It didn’t detail how Kelly might have violated the Uniform Code of Military Justice but stated that “a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”&nbsp;

Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/DeptofWar/status/1993436056008507865/photo/1" target="_blank">referred</a>&nbsp;the issue to Navy Secretary John Phelan for any “review, consideration, and disposition” he deemed appropriate. Hegseth then asked for a briefing on the outcome of the review “by no later than December 10.”

Kelly said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/arizonas-kelly-vows-stay-outspoken-despite-threats-over-illegal-order-video" target="_blank">during a press conference</a>&nbsp;in early December the military’s investigation and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/democrats-threatened-trump-over-video-say-theyre-now-being-probed-fbi" target="_blank">a separate one</a>&nbsp;by the FBI were designed to intimidate the six lawmakers in the video from speaking out against President Donald Trump.&nbsp;

The lawmakers in the&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenatorSlotkin/status/1990774492356902948" target="_blank">video</a>, who have backgrounds in the military or intelligence agencies, told members of those communities they “can” and “must refuse illegal orders.”

“No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution. We know this is hard and that it’s a difficult time to be a public servant,” they said. “But whether you’re serving in the CIA, in the Army, or Navy, or the Air Force, your vigilance is critical.”

The other Democrats in the video — Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin, Colorado Rep. Jason Crow, Pennsylvania Reps. Chris Deluzio and Chrissy Houlahan, and New Hampshire Rep. Maggie Goodlander — are not subject to the military justice system.&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-accuses-6-democratic-lawmakers-seditious-behavior-punishable-death" target="_blank">railed against the video</a>&nbsp;a couple days after it posted, saying the statements represented “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!”

Pentagon ‘escalating’ investigation into Sen. Kelly for illegal-orders video

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A driver charged in a crash that killed two Kansas women decided she did not want to return to Judge Rodger Woods courtroom on Monday for a preliminary hearing. Clowie&nbsp; Ann McLaughlin, 80, Augusta, waived her right to the hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

McLaughlin 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

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