 Fire crews quickly contained a cooking fire late Sunday afternoon that caused heat and smoke damage to an apartment in the 600 block of West 14th Avenue.

According to Battalion Chief Chad Allen with the Hutchinson Fire Department, firefighters were dispatched around 4:30 p.m. after Hutchinson Police officers reported smoke visible from a commercial structure. Crews arrived to find an apartment door covered in soot and confirmed a working fire.

The apartment was unoccupied at the time of the call. Firefighters evacuated nearby residents as they worked to extinguish the blaze, which scorched walls and produced minor smoke damage in adjacent units.

Investigators determined the cause was accidental. No injuries were reported among residents or emergency responders.

Apartment fire contained to single unit on west 14th Ave.

Vehicle-deer crashes can happen any day of the year on Kansas roadways. Across the state, 39% of all single-vehicle crashes in 2024 involved a collision with a deer. The Kansas Department of Transportation reports five people were killed and 674 people were injured in collisions with deer in 2024.

These crashes greatly increase from now until the end of the year because of deer breeding season, with November typically the peak time.

This is why KDOT, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, AAA Kansas and the Kansas Turnpike Authority are joining to raise awareness and help decrease deer-vehicle crashes.

“Serious crashes are more likely to occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer, as this can lead to loss of vehicle control, departure from the roadway or collisions with oncoming traffic,” said KHP Lieutenant Chad Crittenden. “It is often safer to brake firmly and stay in your lane.”

Shawn Steward, Public Affairs Manager for AAA Kansas, said that in addition to the inconvenience of your vehicle damage, the cost of repairs may put a serious dent in your wallet, especially if you don’t have comprehensive auto insurance coverage.

“AAA insurance statistics show the average claim in Kansas for an animal strike in 2024 was $8,430 – up 103% in just five years,” Steward said. “This is largely due to advanced vehicle technology such as cameras and sensors, driving up the cost of repairs.”

Anyone involved in a collision with a deer or other animal resulting in personal injury or property damage totaling $1,000 or more is required to immediately report the incident to the nearest law enforcement agency.

KDWP prioritizes reducing deer-vehicle collisions in managing the Kansas deer population. However, motorists should be prepared for a higher risk of collisions in the fall, said Levi Jaster, KDWP Big Game Program Coordinator.

“Even in areas with fewer deer, seasonal habitat changes and mating can bring deer onto roads at any time of day or night,” Jaster said. “Drivers should be especially cautious at dawn and dusk and stay attentive in areas with good deer habitat. Slowing down and remaining alert are the best ways to avoid a collision.”

Roadway safety officials suggest drivers: •&nbsp;&nbsp;Be watchful at dawn and dusk - deer are more active and they seldom travel alone. •&nbsp;&nbsp;Be alert and reduce speeds near wooded areas and near water sources. •&nbsp;&nbsp;Vehicle-deer collisions can happen on any rural or urban roadway – the signs show areas where high numbers have occurred in the past. •&nbsp;&nbsp;Do not swerve, this can cause motorists to veer into oncoming traffic, run off the road, hit objects or overturn. •&nbsp;&nbsp;Use bright headlights when there is no oncoming traffic – the deer’s eyes often reflect. •&nbsp;&nbsp;If possible, move the vehicle to the roadway’s shoulder after a collision and call law enforcement – KHP dispatch at *47, turnpike users at *KTA or local law enforcement at 911. •&nbsp;&nbsp;Put the vehicle’s hazard lights on and keep your seat belt fastened. •&nbsp;&nbsp;Contact your insurance company to report damage.

Increase roadway safety this fall and throughout the year by staying alert, obeying posted laws and eliminating distractions while driving. Always wear a seat belt and use appropriate child safety seats, every trip, every time.

Motorists encouraged to be on the lookout for deer

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Only a few tickets remain for one of Reno County’s most anticipated fall fundraisers, Raise a Glass: Men’s Bourbon Tasting, set for Friday, Oct. 24 at 6 p.m.

The event takes place at Hummingbird Aircraft — where guests will sample premium bourbons surrounded by aircraft, good company, and what organizers promise will be “an unforgettable atmosphere.”

Tickets are $150 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Cancer Council of Reno County. To reserve one of the final spots, email katie@cancercouncilrenocounty.org.

The Cancer Council expressed appreciation to Leading Edge Technology Partners, this year’s Presenting Sponsor, for making the evening possible.

Organizers encourage anyone interested to act quickly before the event sells out.

Final tickets remain for “Raise a Glass: Men’s Bourbon Tasting”

The Hutchinson Zoo is gearing up for one of its most thrilling Halloween traditions — the Haunted Train — returning October 24th, 25th, and 26th from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 per person, with proceeds benefiting the Hutchinson Friends of the Zoo and the Hutchinson High School Thespian Club.

As the sun sets and the moon casts its eerie glow, the zoo transforms into a realm of fright and fun. Guests will board the Haunted Train for a spine-chilling ride through dark corners and spooky surprises — a perfect mix of Halloween spirit and community support.

Groups depart every 30 minutes, and attendees are asked to arrive at least five minutes before their scheduled ticket time. All tickets must be presented at the gate for entry, and late arrivals may not be accommodated. Tickets are non-refundable, and the event may be postponed or canceled due to rain, with weather decisions made by 3 p.m. on the day of the event.

Organizers caution that the Haunted Train is not recommended for children under age 5, and parental guidance is suggested for ages 5 to 9. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

The Haunted Train has become a beloved community tradition — combining eerie adventure with meaningful impact. Funds raised help support animal care, educational programming at the zoo, and local performing arts through the high school’s Thespian Club.

Event Details: Dates: October 24–26 Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Location: Hutchinson Zoo Admission: $6 per person

Beneficiaries: Hutchinson Friends of the Zoo &amp; Hutchinson High School Thespian Club

Note: Tickets required for entry; non-refundable; may be postponed or canceled due to weather

For updates on rain delays or cancellations, follow the Hutchinson Zoo on social media.

Hutchinson Zoo, HHS Thespian Club to present 'Little Train of Horrors'

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

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

Recent obituaries and service times

The Hutchinson Art Center will once again fill the community’s hearts—and bowls—during the 2025 Empty Bowls event on Thursday, Oct. 16th, from 5 to 7 p.m.

The event is part of a long-running international project where artists and volunteers create and sell handmade bowls to raise funds for local hunger relief. In Hutchinson, Empty Bowls is a collaborative effort between Hutchinson High School art students and faculty, the Hutchinson Community College Art Department, and the Hutchinson Art Center.

For a $15 donation (or $5 for children under 12), guests will receive a handcrafted ceramic bowl made by local students, along with a bowl of chili prepared by the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy’s culinary class. Tickets will be available at the door, and all proceeds will go directly to the Reno County Food Bank.

Organizers say the event not only supports a vital community need but also highlights the power of art and education in service to others.

Empty Bowls is about bringing people together.&nbsp; It’s a way to show how creativity can make a real difference right here at home.

The Hutchinson event continues a global tradition that began more than three decades ago, emphasizing grassroots efforts to address hunger at the local level. Each handcrafted bowl serves as a reminder of those who struggle with food insecurity and the collective community effort to help.

Attendees are encouraged to come early for the best selection of bowls and to enjoy an evening of food, fellowship, and art—all for a cause that fills more than just empty bowls.

Empty Bowls event combines art, food, and community to fight hunger

The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) will begin a bridge replacement project on U.S. 56 in Rice County this week. This project was originally planned to start in September.

The project involves replacing a box culvert-style bridge located just south of the city of Chase, between 7th and 8th roads. The existing bridge has reached the end of its useful life and requires replacement.

The lead contractor for the $1.8 million project is Reece Construction of Salina. The project is anticipated to be completed by spring of 2026.

U.S. 56 bridge replacement project to begin this week. 

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. ——————————————

Mary Elizabeth Fisher 10/12/2025 9:23 AM Direct Contempt&nbsp;

Ryan Eugene Rutherford 10/13/2025 12:12 AM Failure to Appear&nbsp;

Daily Bookings

The National Agricultural Hall of Fame will induct three individuals this fall whose work has significantly shaped American agriculture—antique tractor preservationist Michael Hinton of Hutchinson, former U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and pork industry innovator Wendell Murphy. The ceremony will take place Oct. 23 at the National Agricultural Center in Bonner Springs.

Chartered by Congress in 1960, the Agricultural Hall of Fame honors those who have made outstanding national or international contributions to the advancement of agriculture. Previous inductees include such figures as Sen. Pat Roberts, Eli Whitney, George Washington Carver, and John Deere.

Hinton, known nationally for his dedication to preserving vintage tractors and the stories they carry, founded Antique Tractor Preservation Day and created TalkingTractors.com in 2024, a platform celebrating the heritage of rural life and agricultural innovation.

His efforts have earned multiple Kansas Governor Proclamations—in 2025, 2024, 2012, 2011, and 2010—along with two U.S. Congressional Record Statements and four USPS Pictorial Postmarks recognizing Antique Tractor Preservation Day.

Through his preservation and storytelling work, Hinton has brought global attention to the enduring spirit of American farmers. “It’s about storytelling, stewardship, and strengthening the bond between generations,” the Hall of Fame release noted. “He works to honor those who labored in the fields, advanced American farming, and embodied the values of hard work, innovation, and community.”

Also being honored is Sonny Perdue, who served as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture from 2017 to 2021. During his tenure, he established the first Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs to open global markets for American farmers, expanded food programs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and advanced rural broadband initiatives. Perdue now serves as chancellor of the University System of Georgia, overseeing agricultural research, education, and the creation of the 250-acre UGA Grand Farm research facility.

Wendell Murphy, of Rose Hill, North Carolina, transformed modern pork production. Through Murphy Farms, founded in 1962, he pioneered contract feeding systems, confinement technology, and genetics programs that revolutionized pork production nationwide. His innovations in nutrition, biosecurity, and efficiency remain industry standards.

For more information about the inductees or the October 23 ceremony, visit <a href="https://www.aghalloffame.com">www.AgHallofFame.com</a>

Hinton to be inducted Into National Agricultural Hall of Fame

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

Three-day weather outlook 

BARTON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a fatal 2-vehicle crash and have made an arrest.

Just before 5:30p.m. Oct. 10, police were dispatched to an injury accident at the intersection of 9th&nbsp;and Kansas in Great Bend, according to a media release.

Investigators determined a&nbsp;2018 Suzuki GSX-R750 driven by 25-year-old Nathaniel Larkin was southbound in the 900 Block of Kansas Avenue and struck a westbound 2015 Ford F150 driven by&nbsp;&nbsp;51-year-old Oscar Munoz. 

Great Bend EMS transported&nbsp; Larkin to the hospital in Great Bend where he was pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

Munoz was arrested on requested charges of involuntary manslaughter, DUI and No Driver’s License.&nbsp; Munoz is being held on a $100,000.00 bond.&nbsp;

Kansas man jailed for alledged DUI in fatal 2-vehicle crash

By MARCIA DUNN &nbsp;AP Aerospace Writer

SpaceX launched another of its mammoth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-starbase-488416a6085cc64d8288d0a025602f28">Starship rockets</a>&nbsp;on a test flight Monday, successfully making it halfway around the world while releasing mock satellites like last time.

Starship — the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-moon-mars-5f02ab8e4b794e518fe99905adaa7471">biggest and most powerful rocket</a>&nbsp;ever built — thundered into the evening sky from the southern tip of Texas. The booster peeled away and made a controlled entry into the Gulf of Mexico as planned, with the spacecraft skimming space before descending into the Indian Ocean. Nothing was recovered.

“Hey, welcome back to Earth, Starship,” SpaceX's Dan Huot announced as employees cheered. “What a day.”

It was the 11th test flight for a full-scale Starship, which SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk intends to use to send people to Mars. NASA’s need is more immediate. The space agency cannot land astronauts on the moon by decade's end without the 403-foot (123-meter) Starship, the reusable vehicle meant to get them from lunar orbit down to the surface and back up.

Instead of remaining inside Launch Control as usual, Musk said that for the first time he was going outside to watch — “much more visceral.”

The previous test flight in August — a success after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spacex-starship-elon-musk-moon-mars-5f02ab8e4b794e518fe99905adaa7471">a string of explosive failures</a>&nbsp;— followed a similar path with similar goals. More maneuvering was built in this time, especially for the spacecraft. SpaceX conducted a series of tests during the spacecraft's entry over the Indian Ocean as practice for future landings back at the launch site.

Like before, Starship carried up eight mock satellites mimicking SpaceX’s Starlinks. The entire flight lasted just over an hour, originating from Starbase near the Mexican border.

NASA’s acting administrator Sean Duffy praised Starship’s progress. “Another major step toward landing Americans on the moon’s south pole,” he said via X.

SpaceX is modifying its Cape Canaveral launch sites to accommodate Starships, in addition to the much smaller Falcon rockets used to transport astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station for NASA.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

🎥SpaceX launches 11th test flight of its mega Starship rocket with another win

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations and have him in custody for the second time in just over a month.

Just before 8:30p.m. Saturday an officer on patrol observed 54-year-old Dwight Downing in the 600 block South 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; The officer took&nbsp;him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. During the arrest Downing was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.

In August,&nbsp; police conducted a traffic stop in the 500 block U.S.59 in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. A passenger in the vehicle, identified as Downing, was arrested on outstanding warrants for failure to appear in court. During his arrest he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, according to Wilson.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. man accused again of skipping court, drug possession

SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;called for a new era of harmony in the Middle East on Monday during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-israel-hamas-egypt-gaza-war-bb2d95ea815ef6a4a2771c46b73f1e11">a global summit on Gaza's future</a>, trying to advance broader peace in the region after visiting Israel to celebrate a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas.

“We have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to put the old feuds and bitter hatreds behind us," Trump said, and he urged leaders “to declare that our future will not be ruled by the fights of generations past.”

The whirlwind trip, which included the summit in Egypt and a speech at the Knesset in Jerusalem earlier in the day, comes at a fragile moment of hope for ending two years of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">war between Israel and Hamas</a>.

“Everybody said it's not possible to do. And it's going to happen. And it is happening before your very eyes," Trump said alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.

Nearly three dozen countries, including some from Europe and the Middle East, were represented at the summit. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was invited but declined, with his office saying it was too close to a Jewish holiday.

Trump, el-Sissi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani signed a document that Trump said would lay the groundwork for Gaza's future. However, a copy was not made public.

Despite unanswered questions about next steps in the Palestinian enclave, which has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-israel-palestinians-drone-footage-destruction-ceasefire-4a03097279002889573791ecd0112df8">devastated during the conflict</a>, Trump is determined to seize an opportunity to chase an elusive regional harmony.

He expressed a similar sense of finality about the Israel-Hamas war in his speech at the Knesset, which welcomed him as a hero.

“You’ve won,” he told Israeli lawmakers. “Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”

Trump promised to help rebuild Gaza, and he urged Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.”

“After tremendous pain and death and hardship," he said, "now is the time to concentrate on building their people up instead of trying to tear Israel down.”

Trump even made a gesture to Iran, where&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-fordo-us-strike-trump-israel-nuclear-sites-320a85327f94ed7496f09564261f3148">he bombed three nuclear sites</a>&nbsp;during the country's brief war with Israel earlier this year, by saying “the hand of friendship and cooperation is always open.”

Trump arrived in Egypt hours late because speeches at the Knesset continued longer than expected.

"They might not be there by the time I get there, but we’ll give it a shot," Trump joked after needling Israeli leaders for talking so much.

Twenty hostages were released Monday as part of an agreement intended to end the war that began on Oct. 7, 2023, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-hostages-2-years-10-07-2025-6f19cb2eee5e05091c74f0e6f1bc356a">an attack by Hamas-led militants</a>. Trump talked with some of their families at the Knesset.

"Your name will be remembered to generations," a woman told him.

Israeli lawmakers chanted Trump's name and gave him standing ovation after standing ovation. Some people in the audience wore red hats that resembled his “Make America Great Again” caps, although these versions said “Trump, The Peace President.”

Netanyahu hailed Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House," and he promised to work with him going forward.

“Mr. President, you are committed to this peace. I am committed to this peace," he said. “And together, Mr. President, we will achieve this peace.”

Trump, in an unexpected detour during his speech, called on the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu, whom he described as “one of the greatest” wartime leaders. Netanyahu faces&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-netanyahu-corruption-trial-gaza-478c957c7749986d5b8b2d039f670d54">corruption charges</a>, although several hearings have been postponed during the conflict with Hamas.

The Republican president also used the opportunity to settle political scores and thank his supporters, criticizing Democratic predecessors and praising a top donor,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/miriam-adelson-mark-cuban-dallas-mavericks-las-vegas-6cc268d924dc4083161322753efe5ceb">Miriam Adelson</a>, in the audience.

The moment remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/egypt-gaza-talks-kushner-witkoff-israel-hamas-news-10-08-2025-ac80d3ed50ff2a9b4106ab5e13156651">the first phase</a>&nbsp;of Trump's plan.

The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final hostages held by Hamas; the release of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/israel-hamas-updates-10-9-2025#00000199-c89b-d8db-af9f-e8bfdea40000">hundreds of Palestinian prisoners</a>&nbsp;held by Israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial pullback by Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities.

Trump has said there's a window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

“The war is over, OK?” Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One.

“I think people are tired of it,” he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.

He said the chance of peace was enabled by his Republican administration’s support of Israel’s decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The White House said momentum is also building because&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-gaza-war-ceasefire-israel-hamas-819c9999cc4f3157c729fdc5a02f4df5">Arab and Muslim states</a>&nbsp;are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States.

In February, Trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he called&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-netanyahu-washington-ceasefire-1c8deec4dd46177e08e07d669d595ed3">“the Riviera of the Middle East.”</a>&nbsp;But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he was more circumspect.

“I don’t know about the Riviera for a while,” Trump said. “It’s blasted. This is like a demolition site.” But he said he hoped to one day visit the territory. “I’d like to put my feet on it, at least,” he said.

The sides&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">have not agreed</a>&nbsp;on Gaza’s postwar governance, the territory’s reconstruction and Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/gaza-war-ceasefire-next-steps-israel-palestinians-9c2044da8a891e87aaa3b127d9fb9724">Negotiations over those issues</a>&nbsp;could break down, and Israel has hinted it may resume military operations if its demands are not met.

<a href="https://apnews.com/video/before-and-after-videos-show-much-of-gaza-reduced-to-ruins-by-israeli-bombardment-and-offensive-097ebc3b1683486fbea2c4586194b8b3">Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble</a>, and the territory’s roughly 2 million residents continue to struggle in desperate conditions. Under the deal, Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of food and other supplies into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.

Roughly 200 U.S. troops will help support and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mideast-gaza-israel-hamas-us-military-c19caf7b193dbb3bfaf056366f9e2369">monitor the ceasefire deal</a>&nbsp;as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector players.

Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Will Weissert and Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.

🎥Trump calls for a new era of harmony in the Middle East

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/squinn/">Steph Quinn</a>

Gov. Mike Kehoe denied clemency Monday to Lance Shockley, a man&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/10/advocates-for-a-man-sentenced-to-death-by-a-missouri-judge-ask-governor-for-clemency/">sentenced</a>&nbsp;to be executed at 6 p.m. Tuesday, citing Shockley’s unanimous conviction by jury for the 2005 murder of Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl DeWayne Graham Jr.

But according to Shockley’s attorneys, the execution may be delayed by a motion filed last week in the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.ca8.112938/gov.uscourts.ca8.112938.00805368071.0.pdf" target="_blank">challenging</a>&nbsp;the Missouri Department of Corrections’ refusal to allow his daughter, who is an ordained minister, to accompany him as his spiritual advisor in the execution chamber.

While Kehoe in a&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.mo.gov/press-releases/archive/governor-kehoe-denies-clemency-request-mr-lance-shockley" target="_blank">press release</a>&nbsp;Monday described his denial of clemency as evidence of Missouri’s “commitment to the pursuit of justice,” Shockley’s advocates have argued he should not be executed because he was sentenced to death by a judge after the jury could not reach agreement on the death penalty.&nbsp;

Missouri is one of only two states, along with Indiana, that allow judges to unilaterally choose the death penalty when a jury is split on how to sentence a defendant for a capital offense. In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanbar.org/groups/committees/death_penalty_representation/publications/project_blog/missouri-judge-imposes-life-sentence/" target="_blank">most other states</a>, a deadlocked jury results in a life sentence.&nbsp;

“[Kehoe] didn’t talk at all about the fact that the same jury that convicted him didn’t say he should die,” said Jeremy Weis, Shockley’s lead attorney and an assistant federal public defender. “I find that troubling and disappointing.”

Graham was found shot dead in the driveway of his home in Carter County in March 2005. He had been investigating Shockley’s role in a fatal 2004 drunk driving accident, which the prosecution said gave Shockley a motive for murder.

Kehoe noted in the press release that the Missouri Supreme Court, a federal district court, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court all reviewed Shockley’s case and let the trial court’s decision stand.

“Mr. Shockley has received every legal protection afforded to him under the Missouri and United States Constitutions,” Kehoe said, “and his sentence will remain for his brutal and deliberate crime.”&nbsp;

Weis said Thursday that Shockley’s legal team had found after the trial that at least two of the 12 jurors who convicted Shockley voted for him to serve life in prison.

The motion to delay Shockley’s execution centers on a policy of the Department of Corrections allowing defendants the presence of a chosen spiritual advisor as they are put to death. The department denied Shockley’s request that his daughter fill this role, citing a policy prohibiting contact visits with family members once an execution has been scheduled.

“They just don’t want to follow their policy,” Weis said.

Weis said he expects a ruling Monday on the motion to delay Shockley’s execution.

Gov. denies clemency to a man sentenced to death for killing State Trooper 

TOPEKA&nbsp;– The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) today announced the successful closure of a wildlife poaching case involving the illegal harvest of a trophy deer in Kansas, according to the KDWP. The investigation, led by KDWP Game Wardens, concluded with a guilty plea from a Tennessee man who admitted to unlawfully taking the deer.

While investigating&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-2.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.justice.gov%2Fusao-ks%2Fpr%2Fhunting-show-host-receives-lifetime-hunting-ban-kansas/1/01010199dec03fdf-e9455897-83a5-461b-a66d-17bf4c81807a-000000/Bwdvb9fZzYEQA2sH8GGlrlQ2Zvi-G3H1mBWKQS_cqog=426">an unrelated poaching case</a>&nbsp;in early 2024, Kansas Game Wardens learned&nbsp;that a trophy deer had been killed in Miami County, Kansas before being later tagged in Missouri.

Following this discovery, Game Wardens obtained a warrant for the suspect’s phone records, which confirmed his presence in Kansas during the timeframe of the photo. In late summer 2024, Kansas Game Wardens traveled to the Nashville area, where they seized the deer and later received a phone confession from the individual, who admitted to killing the deer in Kansas with a rifle and without a valid permit.

The suspect was prosecuted in Miami County, Kansas, and recently pled guilty to charges related to the illegal take. He was fined $5,000 and must also pay $3,960.50 in restitution and $108 in court costs.

KDWP’s Special Investigations Unit led the case, with support from the Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. The successful resolution underscores the department’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting wildlife crimes, including complex cases that may span multiple jurisdictions and take years to conclude.

“Kansas Game Wardens are dedicated to protecting our state’s wildlife resources,” said Colonel Greg Kyser. “Most hunters respect the law and play a vital role in conservation. Unfortunately, bad actors undermine that trust and make it harder for everyone. This case demonstrates the persistence and professionalism of our officers, who work tirelessly to hold violators accountable and uphold the integrity of our hunting laws.”

KDWP enforces state and federal fish and wildlife regulations, boating laws, and public land rules across both private and public lands. Game Wardens also support emergency response efforts and collaborate with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. Through education and outreach, KDWP promotes safe, ethical outdoor recreation and works to preserve Kansas’s natural heritage for future generations.

Kan. game wardens close investigation into trophy deer poaching case

NEW YORK (AP) — And back up goes Wall Street. U.S. stocks rallied Monday after President Donald Trump said ”&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115362196088273474">it will all be fine</a>,” just days after he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-rates-ai-f2c8bcc1f46043ab504cf4b0281e3401">sent the market reeling</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-xi-china-cc47e258cfc6336dfddcc20fa67a3642">threatening much higher tariffs on China</a>.

The S&amp;P 500 jumped 1.6% in its best day since May and recovered just over half its drop from Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587 points, or 1.3%, and the Nasdaq composite leaped 2.2%.

“Don’t worry about China,” Trump said on his social media platform Sunday. He also said that China’s leader, Xi Jinping, “doesn’t want Depression for his country, and neither do I. The U.S.A. wants to help China, not hurt it!!!”

It was a sharp turnaround from the anger Trump displayed on Friday, when the S&amp;P 500 tumbled to its worst drop since April after he accused China of “&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115351840469973590">a moral disgrace</a>&nbsp;in dealing with other Nations.”

Trump pointed to “an extremely hostile letter” from China describing curbs to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-earths-exports-trump-dad99d532f858f04d750d0b8c50e5ed6">exports of rare earths</a>, which are materials used in the manufacturing of everything from personal electronics to jet engines. Trump said at the time that he may place an additional 100% tax on imports from China starting on Nov. 1.

For its part,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-trump-tariff-threat-trade-talks-cc4bd30c3b1bcf2eb2676bc0e66efba0">China urged the United States</a>&nbsp;to resolve differences through negotiations instead of threats. “We do not want a tariff war but we are not afraid of one,” the Commerce Ministry said in a statement posted online.

Hours later, Trump posted his less confrontational talk about China on Truth Social. The backtrack in anger, which also came before trading began on Wall Street, raised hopes that the world’s two largest economies could find a way to allow global trade to continue smoothly.

The down-and-up moves for the market echoed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bear-market-stocks-market-tariffs-trump-sp-500-c5d106a80666c0ff4f0e71624d525158">its manic swings</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-tariffs-trump-721a3a5971f1b254981d32f4acb9eb17">April</a>. That’s when Trump shocked investors with his “Liberation Day” announcement of worldwide tariffs, only to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-stock-market-china-recession-deals-e8e54a68397e6829e1d27552a1d7bfb9">eventually relent on many</a>&nbsp;to give time to negotiate trade deals with other countries.

If this time ends up similarly, potentially even after a sharp drop for stock prices, subsiding trade tensions and uncertainty could allow for a rolling recovery to continue into 2026, according to Morgan Stanley strategists led by Michael Wilson.

To be sure, the U.S. stock market may have been primed for a drop. It was already facing criticism that prices had shot too high following a torrid 35% run for the S&amp;P 500 from a low in April. The index, which dictates the movements for many 401(k) accounts, is still near its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stocks-markets-gold-ai-yen-3b5d8a978d326c59cbf484a14868ce66">all-time high</a>&nbsp;set last week.

Not only did Trump’s backdown from tariffs help stocks soar since April, so did expectations for several cuts to interest rates by the Federal Reserve to help the economy.

Critics say&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/stock-market-rates-records-shutdown-earnings-ai-251fefd075ac658ce498c9d1953efc70">the market looks too expensive</a>&nbsp;now after prices rose much faster than corporate profits. Worries are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ai-bubble-warnings-bank-of-england-imf-b15e54f6d06992371ee39b27f4e6da3a">particularly high about companies in the artificial-intelligence industry</a>, where pessimists hear echoes of the 2000 dot-com bubble that imploded.

Broadcom jumped 9.9% for one of Monday’s biggest gains in the S&amp;P 500 after announcing a collaboration with OpenAI. Broadcom will help develop and deploy custom AI accelerators that the maker of ChatGPT will design.

For stocks broadly to look less expensive, either prices need to fall, or companies’ profits need to rise.

That’s raising the stakes for the upcoming earnings reporting season, with big U.S. companies lined up to say how much profit they made during the summer. JPMorgan Chase, Johnson &amp; Johnson and United Airlines are some of the big names on the calendar this coming week.

Fastenal tumbled 7.5% for the largest loss in the S&amp;P 500 after the maker of fasteners and safety supplies reported a profit for the latest quarter that was slightly weaker than analysts expected.

All told, the S&amp;P 500 rose 102.21 points to 6,654.72. The Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 587.98 to 46,067.68, and the Nasdaq composite rallied 490.18 to 22,694.61.

At Bank of America, strategist Savita Subramanian is optimistic that S&amp;P 500 companies can deliver a bigger overall profit than analysts expected. Besides reports showing a resilient U.S. economy, she also pointed in a BofA Global Research report to how the U.S. dollar’s weakening against other currencies boosts the value of big U.S. companies’ sales made overseas.

In stock markets abroad, indexes edged higher in Europe following losses in Asia, which had their first opportunity to react to Trump’s threat from Friday of additional tariffs on China.

Stocks fell 1.5% in Hong Kong and 0.2% in Shanghai.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-trade-trump-tariffs-exports-4d65b77167ed9193244942923f0eef8d">China reported</a>&nbsp;its global exports rose 8.3% in September from a year earlier, the strongest growth in six months and further evidence that its manufacturers are shifting sales from the United States to other markets.

Wall Street back up big after Trump softens his criticism of China

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/maria-sherman">MARIA SHERMAN</a>

NEW YORK (AP) — That’s show business for you!&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/taylor-swift">Taylor Swift’s</a>&nbsp;12th studio album,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-showgirl-music-review-d2681b9f07592d96f336ef7e8438ef74">“The Life of a Showgirl,”</a>&nbsp;has officially sold 4.002 million equivalent album units — which includes album sales and streaming activity — in its first week in the U.S. That is the biggest first week in modern music history; at least, according to Luminate, the industry data and analytics company that began tracking sales in 1991.

Swift broke the record set by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/faeee2b6622b4205b5acd6f8fc67b393">Adele’s “25,”</a>&nbsp;which sold 3.378 million copies in its first week in 2015 in the U.S.

“The Life of a Showgirl” was released Oct. 3. In its first week, pure album sales totaled 3,479,500 copies.

She’s also become the solo artist with the most No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200, with 15. She was previously tied with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/drake">Drake</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jay-z">Jay-Z,</a>&nbsp;who each have 14.

Swift is now just behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/the-beatles">The Beatles,</a>&nbsp;who boast of 19 No. 1 albums.

She is no stranger to breaking records, and when it comes to “The Life of a Showgirl,” the history-making started immediately. In its first day of release, the album sold 2.7 million copies in traditional album sales, breaking her record for most first week sales...&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-of-a-showgirl-sales-ccbff586e3ac2e59ef1ce6708fb53917">in one day.</a>

Her last album, 2024’s “The Tortured Poets Department,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-chart-59cf23c8056e05768b41a0594be984cc">amassed 2.61 million</a>&nbsp;equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week.

Also, according to Luminate, “The Life of a Showgirl” broke the record for the most copies of a vinyl album sold in a single week in the U.S., with 1.2 million copies in its first day.

The previous record holder was “The Tortured Poets Department,” which sold 859,000 copies on vinyl in its first week.

One of the reasons Swift has seen so much success is that she released her record in several different variants. Those include multiple editions specific to Target — three CDs titled “It’s Frightening,” “It’s Rapturous” and “It’s Beautiful,” as well as an exclusive vinyl release, “The Crowd Is Your King.”

There are a number of other vinyl variants as well: “The Tiny Bubble in Champagne Collection,” “The Baby That’s Show Business Collection,” “The Shiny Bug Collection,” and the standard LP and cassette, in “sweat and vanilla perfume&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-life-showgirl-orange-color-0a7e40dd51b4aae99ca1a67fbb5e7f89">Portofino orange vinyl.”</a>

New Disney+ projects will keep Swift at the top

The news of Swift’s record-breaking sales arrived just after “Good Morning America” revealed Monday that she’ll have two new projects at Disney+. That’s a six-episode, behind-the-scenes docuseries about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-numbers-2-billion-118a7f5ea4609c5d3072a29152e387bb">her landmark “Eras Tour”</a>&nbsp;titled “Taylor Swift ' The Eras Tour ' The End of an Era.”

The first two episodes of her docuseries will premiere Dec. 12.

And that is not to be confused with the second, titled “Taylor Swift ' The Eras Tour ' The Final Show,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-movie-review-2f409c638d2a9ea827f72c61b6b0d60a">a concert film</a>&nbsp;now with the inclusion of “The Tortured Poets Department” section. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-tortured-poets-department-eras-tour-293d90acd670d6d19c294a0e6085829a">2024 album was incorporated</a>&nbsp;into her three-and-a-half-hour performance following its release. It was filmed in Vancouver.

That differs from 2023’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-concert-films-a284a04596c6b71b3de7a9bcf9c83b7b">“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” film</a>, which was compiled from several&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-eras-tour-611d9cc54aed258fc7d9e071e97868aa">Swift shows at SoFi Stadium</a>&nbsp;in Inglewood, a suburb of Los Angeles and arrived ahead of “The Tortured Poets Department.”

Taylor Swift's ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ makes more history

By COLLIN BINKLEY AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new round of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-worker-firings-0439e8d0979d9a32e021c5c851fea1cf">layoffs</a>&nbsp;at the Education Department is depleting an agency that was hit hard in the Trump administration’s previous&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-layoffs-job-cuts-linda-mcmahon-ce9f6a8a63972aede0d8fbdf057ab788">mass firings</a>, threatening new disruption to the nation’s students and schools in areas from special education to civil rights enforcement and after-school programs.

The Trump administration started laying off 466 Education Department staffers on Friday amid mass firings across the government meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/government-shutdown">federal shutdown</a>. The layoffs would cut the agency’s workforce by nearly a fifth and leave it reduced by more than half its size when President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20.

The cuts play into Trump’s broader plan to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-shutdown-b1d25a2e1bdcd24cfde8ad8b655b9843">shut down the Education Department</a>&nbsp;and parcel its operations to other agencies. Over the summer, the department started handing off its adult education and workforce programs to the Department of Labor, and it previously said it was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-scotus-layoffs-student-loans-f24637f2a1d57432f6dc24d082e95b9b">negotiating an agreement</a>&nbsp;to pass its $1.6 trillion student loan portfolio to the Treasury Department.

Department officials have not released details on the layoffs and did not immediately respond to a request for comment. AFGE Local 252, a union that represents more than 2,700 department workers, said information from employees indicates cuts will decimate several offices within the agency.

All workers except a small number of top officials are being fired at the office that implements the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, a federal law that ensures millions of students with disabilities get support from their schools, the union said. Unknown numbers are being fired at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-civil-rights-disability-54c4b4a228b4b30e6a6751ec745b3915">Office for Civil Rights</a>, which investigates complaints of discrimination at the nation's schools and universities.

The layoffs would eliminate or heavily deplete teams that oversee the flow of grant funding to schools across the nation, the union said. It hits the office that oversees Title I funding for the country’s low-income schools along with the team that manages&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-grants-after-school-summer-211451212c377321fad4c751da3eb9df">21st Century Community Learning Centers</a>, the primary federal funding source for after-school and summer learning programs.

It will also hit an office that oversees TRIO, a set of programs that help low-income students pursue college, and another that oversees federal funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

In a statement, union president Rachel Gittleman said the new reductions, on top of previous layoffs, will “double down on the harm to K-12 students, students with disabilities, first generation college students, low-income students, teachers and local education boards.”

The Education Department had about 4,100 employees when Trump took office. After the new layoffs, it would be down to fewer than 2,000. Earlier layoffs in March had roughly halved the department, but some employees were hired back after officials decided they had cut too deep.

The new layoffs drew condemnation from a range of education organizations.

Although states design their own competitions to distribute federal funding for 21st Century Community Learning Centers, the small team of federal officials provided guidance and support “that is absolutely essential,” said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance.

“Firing that team is shocking, devastating, utterly without any basis, and it threatens to cause lasting harm,” Grant said in a statement.

The government’s latest layoffs are being challenged in court by the American Federation of Government Employees and other national labor unions. Their suit, filed in San Francisco, said the government’s budgeting and personnel offices overstepped their authority by ordering agencies to carry out layoffs in response to the shutdown.

In a court filing, the Trump administration said the executive branch has wide discretion to reduce the federal workforce. It said the unions could not prove they were harmed by the layoffs because employees would not actually be separated for another 30 to 60 days after receiving notice.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

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