HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce held its 2025 Annual Chamber Meeting inside the Meadowlark Building at the Kansas State Fairgrounds on Tuesday evening.

Hundreds of attendees enjoyed dinner, plus a powerful message from Kansas City Royals television broadcaster, Rex Hudler.

Hudler talked about persistence, not giving up, being a "fountain" not a "drain", plus perseverance, believing in yourself and how good leaders are resilient. He tied all of those talking points into his life and journey through baseball and his family.

Hudler talks persistence and resiliency at Chamber Meeting 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson YMCA’s expanding gymnastics program continues to gain momentum just as construction on the new YMCA facility moves into a key phase.

Branch Manager David Foster and Gymnastics Director EJ Bennett joined the KWBW Radio Morning Show on Tuesday to give an update on the program’s rapid growth and the progress of the new building. Bennett, who joined the YMCA staff in July, said participation has surged in recent months.

“It’s going really good,” Bennett said. “We’re just working on building a lot more connections with different athletes and really pushing their limits. So far, we have almost 100 rec kids in our program now. Our academy program is almost at about 50 kids, and we’re building our team right now. We had our first meet in McPherson last weekend and took a lot of first places.”

Bennett, a Wichita native and former cheer and gymnastics performer who has worked halftime shows for the Denver Nuggets and Denver Broncos, said the early-age programs are especially valuable. “Younger the better,” he said, noting that even recreational classes help kids develop mobility, confidence and coordination. He added that his own two-year-old daughter is already getting started.

Foster said Bennett’s background was evident from the start. “He’s just a great personality, and all of his experience has transitioned well,” Foster said. “He’s been a great leader for our program and has fit right in with the Y and our values, especially when it comes to pouring into those kids.”

The upcoming move into a purpose-built facility will further support the program’s growth. The new YMCA on North Lorraine is nearing full enclosure, which Foster said will allow inside work to accelerate as winter approaches. “We’re hoping to have that done by the middle of December,” he said. “It’s like a beehive over there. They told me at least 130 people were just doing the roof. They’re really knocking it out.”

The project includes a standalone 5,300-square-foot gymnastics center that will remain permanently set up for classes, training and team practices. Foster said the dedicated space will elevate opportunities for local youth. 

“Gymnastics is an awesome sport even if you’re not going to be a competitive gymnast,” he said. “The skills transfer to every other sport. It builds balance, confidence and so much more.”

He added that renderings and floor plans of the new YMCA are available in the current facility lobby for anyone interested in learning more.

The YMCA continues to see strong membership numbers as well, especially among families and active older adults. Foster noted that many retirees qualify for free memberships through Silver Sneakers or Silver and Fit.

 “A lot of people don’t realize their insurance may already cover it,” he said. “If they do, we get reimbursed every time they check in. It’s a great benefit.”

The winter season has also brought schedule changes as the Hutchinson High School boys’ swim team begins its practices at the Y, along with ongoing Silver Sneakers classes and youth activities.

Anyone interested in enrolling in the gymnastics program or learning more about YMCA offerings can call 620-662-1203. 

“EJ is doing a fantastic job,” Foster said. “We’re excited to see where the program goes, and the new facility is only going to help it grow even more.”

YMCA gymnastics program growing quickly as new facility takes shape

🎧 BW Morning Show Interview: David Foster and EJ Bennett, Hutchinson YMCA

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/3bd957a4-b258-4644-b06c-7bd8dc1e27e3">Click here to read the Project Concern kickoff story from earlier this month</a>

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Several Hutchinson-area businesses are stepping up to help push Project Concern toward a strong finish, offering a combined $2,000 in matching funds for all donations made today.

Stainless Systems, Sutton Electric and Red Rock Contracting committed the first round of matching dollars, and K&amp;H Hauling &amp; Contracting joined later to raise the total match to $2,000. With the community’s participation, KWBW's Rob Dreher says Project Concern has a chance to turn today’s donations into $4,000.

The annual Project Concern campaign, now in its 32nd year, is hosted by KWBW Radio and helps fund Thanksgiving meals for local families in need. The drive runs through the Monday, Nov. 24, with donations accepted at the EAGLE Media studios at 825 N. Main St. between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Cash or check donations are required.

Last year, Project Concern raised $11,643 and assisted 752 families—more than 2,600 people—with holiday meals. A portion of this year’s contributions will again support Friendship Meals and the Christian Soup Ministry.

Local businesses boost Project Concern with $2,000 in matching donations today

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Central Christian School students cheered Monday as they finished counting 76 shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child, continuing a long-standing tradition of supporting the international project.

Elementary principal Judy Parsons told students during the schoolwide gathering that their shoebox may be the only gift a child receives. She encouraged them to view the effort as a form of missionary work. Many students hugged their boxes before Parsons led a prayer for the children who will ultimately receive them.

Classes brought their boxes forward in order, starting with kindergarten, stacking them at the front of the room and counting aloud together. The 76 gifts will contribute to a regional goal of more than 35,000 shoeboxes being collected across south-central Kansas this week. Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, aims to collect 12.6 million gifts worldwide this year.

Central Christian has participated in the project for many years. Students fill their boxes with school supplies, personal care items and small toys, often adding a photo and personal note. Many also track their boxes online to learn which of more than 160 countries their gift is delivered to.

Area volunteer Dawnita Miller said she appreciates how the project includes people of all ages. “We’re so grateful for every one of these shoebox gifts because they open the door for the Gospel to be shared,” she said.

National Collection Week runs Nov. 17–24. Two Hutchinson drop-off sites are open at First Baptist Church, 800 N. Main St., and First Southern Baptist Church, 1201 E. 23rd Ave. Information on hours, packing instructions and online box-building options is available at <a href="http://SamaritansPurse.org/occ">SamaritansPurse.org/occ</a>.

Central Christian students pack 76 shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday approved bond and temporary note sales, accepted a bid for a neighborhood waterline project and annexed land for PrairieLand Partners’ planned expansion at U.S. 50 and K-61.

The meeting opened with Mayor Stacy Goss issuing a proclamation recognizing Nov. 12–18 as Community Foundation Week. Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Kari Mailloux thanked the city for its partnership and highlighted the foundation’s annual grantmaking and long-term goal of growing the Fund for Reno County to $20 million by 2030.

Council members approved the consent agenda before turning to the city’s financial actions. Finance Director Angela Richard said the city received three competitive bids for its General Obligation Bonds, Series 2025-C, allowing the city to reduce the issuance to $1.82 million because the low bidder offered a premium. The council unanimously approved the bond ordinance and a related resolution.

The council also approved issuing $10.96 million in temporary notes tied to the city’s water-rights purchase, again reducing the amount from earlier estimates due to lower-than-expected interest rates.

In other action, the council accepted the low bid of $330,503.50 from APAC-Kansas for the Spyglass Hills waterline project. Construction Manager Justin Cameron said the work, installing new eight-inch waterlines, valves and hydrants, is expected to begin in early 2026.

The council then approved annexing nearly seven acres for PrairieLand Partners to support a 60,000-square-foot expansion, including 20 new service bays and dedicated Hutchinson Community College training space.&nbsp;

Council approves bonds, waterline work and annexation

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

Three-day weather outlook

<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

HUTCHINSON — As Community Foundation Week is observed nationwide, the Hutchinson Community Foundation is using the celebration to highlight its work, encourage community engagement, and remind residents that its impact reaches far beyond the city limits.

Wendy Skellenger, Director of Communications and Development, joined the KWBW Morning Show to talk about the week — held annually Nov. 12–18 — and what it means for Reno County.

“Community Foundation Week began in 1989 under the first Bush administration and overlaps with National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 15,” Skellenger said. “It’s a time to acknowledge the generosity of people who give their time, talent, and treasure to change lives.”

The Hutchinson Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that awards grants to nonprofit organizations across Reno County. Its primary unrestricted pool, the Fund for Reno County, supports two annual “impact cycles,” offering local nonprofits an opportunity to apply for funding.

“Any 501(c)(3) or project with a fiscal sponsor can apply,” Skellenger said. “We receive applications, our grants committee reviews them, and awards are made twice a year.”

But grant cycles are only one part of the Foundation’s work. Skellenger highlighted the Foundation’s recent three-year housing initiative, created to address the community’s ongoing housing needs. After years of research and partnership with local leaders, the Foundation launched the fund as a way to make a targeted impact in one of Reno County’s most urgent areas.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/e383871f-0e37-44a5-9555-cd1687c5f775">LINK: Hutchinson Community Foundation launches $1.5M housing initiative</a>

Skellenger also emphasized the importance of resident feedback through the Foundation’s “Love Where You Live” community empowerment initiative. A countywide survey — now in its second year — guides the board’s priorities.

“Our board has said they want more community engagement. They want us listening,” she said. “So we’re using survey responses to help align our grantmaking with what residents say they need.”

Results from the latest survey will be posted soon at <a href="http://RenoSurvey.com">RenoSurvey.com</a>.

Despite its name, the Hutchinson Community Foundation supports the entire county.

“We serve all of Reno County. We make grants in rural communities just like we do in Hutchinson,” Skellenger said, noting that about 75 nonprofits across the county benefit from Foundation support, from housing and human services to arts, culture, and community development.

One of the most unique programs is the Youth Philanthropy Council, a group of high school students who evaluate grant requests for youth-serving projects. They will award about $5,000 in spring 2026.

“It’s a way to teach young people about philanthropy, evaluation, and working together for the common good,” she said.

With Giving Tuesday approaching December 2, Skellenger encouraged local residents to support the Foundation’s work — or any of the many funds it manages.

Donors can give through HutchCF.org, send checks, or discuss options with staff. Donor-advised funds allow contributors to target specific causes, and Foundation staff frequently connect donors with proposals that match their interests.

Buhler residents can also participate in the Buhler Community Foundation Match Day on December 2.

The Foundation is already planning its 2026 initiatives, including upcoming grant cycles and expanding community-led funding strategies.

“We’re a learning organization,” Skellenger said. “Our goal is always to listen, respond, and invest in what matters most to the people who call Reno County home.”

For more information or to donate, visit <a href="http://HutchCF.org">HutchCF.org</a>.

Hutchinson Community Foundation highlights local impact

Both the Hutch Rec Foundation and Dillon Nature Center Foundation are currently accepting applications for board appointments.&nbsp;The&nbsp;Dillon Nature Center Foundation’s&nbsp;mission is to support the nature center by advocating for program improvements and recreational opportunities through charitable giving. The board currently meets on a quarterly basis, with additional committee meetings held throughout the year in different areas of focus.&nbsp;

Applications to serve on the DNC Foundation Board are due Tuesday, November 26 by 5 p.m. More information and applications are available on the Dillon Nature Center Foundation web page at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hutchrec.com/dncfoundation/">https://www.hutchrec.com/dncfoundation/</a>.

The&nbsp;Hutch Rec Foundation Board of Trustees&nbsp;supports Hutch Rec by advocating for program improvements and recreational opportunities as they inspire charitable giving to enhance the park and recreation experience for all members of our community. The board currently meets on a monthly basis.

Applications to serve on the Hutch Rec Foundation Board are due Friday, December 5 by 5 p.m. More information and applications are available on the Hutch Rec Foundation web page at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.hutchrec.com/foundation/">https://www.hutchrec.com/foundation/</a>.

Questions about either board or the application process may be directed to Tony Finlay, Executive Director of Hutch Rec, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:tfinlay@hutchre.com">tfinlay@hutchre.com</a>&nbsp;or (620) 663-6179.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hutch Rec and Dillon Nature Center Foundations accepting applications for appointment

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With winter approaching and shelter space already stretched thin, Foundation of Life Ministries is preparing to launch an overflow shelter designed to keep Hutchinson’s unhoused families safe during the coldest months.

The initiative, known as The Refuge Project, will operate from Dec. 1 through March 31 at the church’s facility at 114 E. Eighth Ave. It is intended to supplement services already provided by New Beginnings’ NOEL Lodge, the city’s primary overnight shelter.

NOEL Lodge typically houses 25 people but can expand to 50 by opening additional space. Even then, demand continues to outpace capacity.

“Every year when winter comes, NOEL Lodge maxes out,” said Pastor J.K. Vann, who leads Foundation of Life Ministries. “There are always more people seeking shelter than available beds. We realized we only used our fellowship hall once a week in winter, so we asked what it would look like to create a secondary shelter.”

The Refuge Project will provide overnight space for up to 40 people, including parents with children — a significant distinction from the Lodge, which primarily houses individuals. The shelter will open nightly at 5 p.m., offer a 7 p.m. meal, and lock doors at 8 p.m. Lights out will be around 9 p.m.

Beyond providing a warm place to sleep, organizers plan to create a home-like environment with evening activities, life-skills classes, therapy sessions, and discipleship opportunities. Several community groups will rotate through to offer arts, crafts, and other support.

“We’re trying to create an environment that doesn’t feel like you’re in a shelter, but like you’re hanging out with family,” Vann said. “Everything we do as a ministry centers around family.”

A “store” inside the building will supply clothing, shoes, toiletries, books, backpacks, and other essentials at no cost to guests.

The Refuge Project is being supported by New Beginnings and the Salvation Army, which will receive guests each morning after the shelter closes at 8 a.m. The Hutchinson Community Foundation is acting as the project’s fiscal sponsor.

While donations have already poured in, Vann said the greatest remaining need is volunteers.

“Whatever your capacity is, we’ll work with that,” he said. “We have people who can come for a few hours and some who will stay overnight. We just need helping hands.”

Volunteers will receive training before the shelter opens. No prior experience is required.

Vann said the project also hopes to contribute to broader housing discussions in Reno County by gathering data on what kinds of shelter and housing options are most needed.

“Not every unit needs to be a single-family house,” he said. “We need a diversity of housing types to serve different situations. Housing insecurity is not the same as criminal behavior — it’s a social and economic condition. We need to rethink how we look at homelessness.”

The project will serve only during winter, but Vann emphasized that homelessness is a year-round challenge requiring long-term solutions beyond seasonal sheltering.

For Vann, the work aligns closely with the church’s mission.

“We believe we’re called to love our neighbors, and love is an action word,” he said. “We want people to leave knowing someone is in their corner, cheering for them.”

For more information, volunteer opportunities, or donations, Foundation of Life Ministries can be reached at folmhutch@gmail.com

 or on social media. The church also accepts drop-off donations at its campus at 114 E. 8th Ave., across from the Salvation Army.

“We’re just asking people to do what we were taught in kindergarten,” Vann said. “Be kind.”

Foundation of Life Ministries to launch Project Refuge

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;signed legislation Wednesday that compels his administration to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to political pressure from his own party after initially resisting those efforts.

Trump could have chosen to release many of the files on his own months ago.

“Democrats have used the ‘Epstein’ issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories,” Trump said in a social media post as he announced he had signed the bill.

Now, the bill requires the Justice Department to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in a federal prison in 2019, within 30 days. It allows for redactions about Epstein’s victims for ongoing federal investigations, but DOJ cannot withhold information due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”

It was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-congress-trump-house-297a66ce48bd2a67c571bc643e32ef71">remarkable turn of events</a>&nbsp;for what was once a farfetched effort to force the disclosure of case files from an odd congressional coalition of Democrats, one GOP antagonist of the president, and a handful of erstwhile Trump loyalists. As recently as last week, the Trump administration even summoned one Republican proponent of releasing the files, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, to the Situation Room to discuss the matter, although she did not change her mind.

But over the weekend,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-trump-congress-c858fcd7d587bb61d1b73753487b0ee1">Trump did a sharp U-turn</a>&nbsp;on the files once it became clear that congressional action was inevitable. He insisted the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the GOP agenda and indicated he wanted to move on.

“I just don’t want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the Victories that we’ve had,” Trump said in a social media post Tuesday afternoon, explaining the rationale for his abrupt about-face.

The House passed the legislation on a 427-1 vote, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/clay-higgins-epstein-files-124f8e8104f7d39b0b57d0e8b8305386">Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., being the sole dissenter</a>. He argued that the bill’s language could lead to the release of information on innocent people mentioned in the federal investigation. The Senate later approved it unanimously, skipping a formal vote.

It’s long been established that Trump had been friends with Epstein, the disgraced financier who was close to the world’s elite. But the president has consistently said he did not know of Epstein’s crimes and had cut ties with him long ago.

Before Trump returned to the White House for a second term, some of his closest political allies&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracy-theories-bondi-bongino-fbi-a143076353acbc1193cb9697e7fc4a90">helped fuel conspiracy theories</a>&nbsp;about the government’s handling of the Epstein case, asserting a cover-up of potentially incriminating information in those files.

Trump rips Dems as he signs bill to release Jeffrey Epstein case files

JOHNSON COUNTY —A former school paraprofessional who admitted having a sexual relationship with a student was sentenced last week.

Judge Jacquelyn Rokusek sentenced 28-year-old Kassidy Alexander of De Soto to 34 months in prison for unlawful sexual relations. Alexander was later placed on probation for 36 months, according to court documents filed Thursday.&nbsp; She must also register as a sex offender, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office.

In August, Alexander was charged with unlawful sexual relations, according to online jail records in Johnson County.&nbsp; She is a former USD 232 Desoto school district employee at&nbsp;Lexington Trails Middle School.

On September 11,&nbsp; Alexander pleaded guilty to a single count of unlawful sexual relations with a student, according to the Johnson County District Attorney's office. Two other counts of unlawful sexual relations were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

The crime involved events occurring from July 25, 2022, to March 2024, involving someone 16 years or older, a student in the school, according to court documents.

Plea deal kept Kan. school district para out of prison for sex crimes

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — The prosecution of former&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/james-comey">FBI Director James Comey</a>&nbsp;hit another hurdle Wednesday as the Justice Department encountered mounting questions about how the case was presented to a grand jury for indictment.

The development risked further imperiling a politically charged prosecution already subject to multiple challenges and demands for its dismissal. It came during a hearing in which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-justice-department-trump-russia-fbi-e28deb290bd8f65f411fa11b64b93bad">Comey's lawyers asked</a>&nbsp;U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff to throw out the case on grounds that the government was being vindictive and as a separate challenge to Lindsey Halligan,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-letitia-james-justice-department-ff6435d7bdbcc9e9495844899c7e2c4e">the hastily appointed and inexperienced prosecutor</a>&nbsp;who secured the indictment, is pending.

The Justice Department's acknowledgment under questioning from a judge that the full grand jury did not review a copy of the final indictment is the latest indication of its seemingly disjointed pursuit of a criminal case against one of President Donald Trump's political enemies. Comey was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/united-states-government-4ff1ecb621884a728b25e62661257ef0">fired by Trump in May 2017</a>&nbsp;while overseeing an FBI investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign. The two have been publicly at odds ever since, with Trump deriding Comey as “a weak and untruthful slime ball” and calling for his prosecution.

Concerns about the legal process came into focus earlier in the week when a different judge in the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/comey-halligan-justice-department-d663148e16d042087210d4d266ea10ae">raised questions about what he said were “profound investigative missteps,”</a>&nbsp;including misstatements of law to the grand jury. The Justice Department denies that the process was tainted by irregularities.

Halligan initially asked the grand jury to return a three-count indictment against Comey. But after the grand jurors rejected one of the proposed counts, the Justice Department subsequently secured a second two-count indictment that accused Comey of making a false statement and obstructing Congress. Comey has pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing.

In a blistering ruling Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick, also handling parts of the case, said that after reviewing a transcript of the grand jury proceedings, he had questions about whether the full grand jury had reviewed the final two-count indictment that was returned.

Nachmanoff, the trial judge, pressed the Justice Department about Fitzpatrick's concerns during a court session Wednesday that chiefly focused on Comey's vindictiveness arguments. After conferring privately with Halligan, Tyler Lemons, one of the prosecutors, acknowledged that the revised indictment was not shown to all of the grand jurors.

“I was not there, but that is my understanding, your honor,” Lemons said.

Nachmanoff called Halligan to the lectern and asked her who was present when the final indictment was presented to a magistrate. She said only two grand jurors, including the foreperson, were there.

Comey lawyer Michael Dreeben called the government’s failure to present the final indictment to the entire grand jury grounds for dismissing the case. He also argued that the statute of limitations for the charged crimes has elapsed without a valid indictment.

“That would be tantamount to a bar of further prosecution in this case,” Dreeben said.

Nachmanoff did not issue an immediate decision, saying “the issues are too weighty and too complex” for a bench ruling.

The Justice Department dismissed the import of the revelation in a pair of Wednesday evening filings, saying that the two charges in the final indictment were identical to the two counts the grand jury approved when presented with the proposed indictment.

“Given that the grand jury was presented with the two counts on which it voted to return an indictment and in fact voted upon those counts,” prosecutors said, the case need not be dismissed.

Dreeben separately argued that the prosecution was improperly vindictive and rooted in Trump’s quest for retribution, circumstances requiring a dismissal.

“The president’s use of the Department of Justice to bring a criminal prosecution against a vocal and prominent critic in order to punish and deter those who would speak out against him violates the Constitution,” Dreeben said.

Though vindictive prosecution motions are not often successful, Comey’s lawyers have laid out a laundry list of verbal attacks from Trump in hopes of establishing the case as an outgrowth of the president's personal animus.

Trump amplified his long-running demands for a Comey prosecution with a September social media post&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/letitia-james-eastern-district-of-virginia-trump-8c84bd8603a4b932f9cb2e451ef057a3">in which he complained to Attorney General Pam Bondi</a>&nbsp;about the lack of action against his political opponents. “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation,” Trump wrote, adding that “JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!!”

“If this is not a direction to prosecute,” Dreeben said in court, “I’d really be at a loss to say what is.”

The night of that post, Trump said he would appoint Halligan, a White House aide without prior prosecutorial experience, as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, on an interim basis. She replaced a veteran prosecutor&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-letitia-james-siebert-trump-9ec1a96c05fa77d8acc558bd803622a2">who was effectively forced from the job</a>&nbsp;after not charging Comey or another Trump foe,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/letitia-james">New York Attorney General Letitia James.</a>

Halligan secured an indictment of Comey days later as the statute of limitations on the case was about to expire. The charges are related to sworn testimony about whether Comey had authorized an FBI colleague to serve as an anonymous source to the news media.

Asked by Nachmanoff whether he considered Halligan to be a “stalking horse” or “puppet” for the administration, Dreeben demurred and opted against that characterization. But, he said, “She did what she was told to do."

Presidents, Dreeben said, have other tools at their disposal to punish critics, but bringing the full weight of the Justice Department to bear is impermissible.

“The government cannot use power of criminal prosecutions to attempt to silence a critic in violation of the First Amendment,” he said.

Lemons, the Justice Department prosecutor, insisted that Comey was indicted by a “properly constituted” grand jury because he broke the law — not because Trump ordered it.

“The defendant is not being put on trial for anything he said about the president,” Lemons said.

Lemons said nobody directed Halligan to prosecute Comey or seek his indictment.

“It was her decision and her decision only,” he added.

But Nachmanoff noted that Trump appointed Halligan just days before she presented the Comey case to the grand jury.

“What independent evaluation could she have done in that time period?” he asked Lemons.

Nachmanoff asked Lemons whether he has seen a “declination memo” in which prosecutors had outlined reasons for not seeking an indictment against Comey. Lemons said the department had instructed him not to disclose that “privileged” information.

Stunning admission in prosecution of former FBI Director

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement in Kansas City, Missouri are investigating another homicide.

Just before 11p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting the 8200 block of President Court, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Several 911 callers heard the sound of gunfire and believed someone had been shot at the apartment complex.

First responders located a male shooting victim unresponsive in the parking lot there. Officers called for EMS, who responded and transported the victim to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. 

Preliminary investigation indicates the victim had an interaction with one or more suspects in the parking lot at the apartment complex there that led to gunfire that struck the victim. The unknown suspects then left the scene. 

In the early hours of Wednesday, detectives were notified that the victim died at the hospital from his injuries. This is now a homicide investigation and the Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation.

KCPD: Shooting victim found in apartment parking lot died from injuries

SALINE COUNTY—U.S. District Court Judge Toby Crouse ruled Wednesday that the City of Salina violated the First Amendment by ordering The Cozy Inn to stop painting its UFO-themed mural, marking a major legal victory for the century-old burger restaurant and free speech advocates, according to a media release from the Kansas Justice Institute.

Steve Howard, owner of the iconic burger joint filed the lawsuit, challenging the city's sign code in early 2024 after Salina officials told him to stop painting the mural. The Cozy has been a Salina institution for over a century, serving hamburgers from its small storefront since 1922.

On Wednesday, the Court issued its 35-page order on the parties’ motions for summary judgment, according to a statement from the city of Salina.

The Court agreed with the City and held that the challenged provisions of the City’s Sign Code are not unconstitutionally vague. 

On the other hand, it also agreed with the Plaintiffs and held that the City’s definition of the term ‘sign’ violates the First Amendment, and consequently that ‘Salina cannot make any determination as to whether a display is a mural or a sign without violating the First Amendment.’ 

The City is working with its attorneys to evaluate the broader implications of the Court’s Order and potential next steps towards resolution of the matter

Court issues ruling on battle over mural at Salina burger restaurant

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 200,000 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles because an instrument panel can fail, increasing the risk of a crash.

Federal auto safety regulators said that the instrument panel may not display at startup, leaving the driver without critical safety information.

The recall includes 128,607 Ford Bronco Sports, model years 2025-2026 and 101,002 Ford Broncos, also model years 2025-2026, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

Ford is not aware of any injuries caused by the instrument panel failure.

Owners will be notified by mail beginning Dec. 8 and instructed to take their vehicles to a Ford or Lincoln dealership to have the software updated.

Ford recalls Bronco and Bronco Sports for instrument panel failure

SEDGWICK COUNTY—&nbsp;The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a fatal single-vehicle crash near K-15 Highway and 55th Street South oh Tuesday have identified the victim as&nbsp;39-year-old Luis M. Cardenas of Wichita, according to sheriff's department spokesman Branden Stitt.

Just after 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, a Kansas Department of Transportation worker found a Ford F-250 pickup that had crashed into a bridge just north of the intersection of K-15 Highway and 55th Street South.

The KDOT worker reported an apparent ejection. Deputies, Sedgwick County EMS, and Sedgwick County Fire District 1 responded. Cardenas, the driver and pickup’s sole occupant, was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the preliminary investigation by the Major Crash Team, the pickup was traveling south in the 5400 block of South K-15 when, for an unknown reason, it left the roadway and struck the bridge railing. The impact caused Cardenas to be ejected from the vehicle.

An autopsy and toxicology testing will help determine whether impairment was a factor in the crash.

Sheriff IDs fatal crash victim found by KDOT worker 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-shutdown-trump-05385ab8931fd0911a44ae8343ffba74">Education Department</a>&nbsp;is breaking off several of its main offices and giving their responsibilities to other federal agencies, an early look at how President Donald Trump could fulfill his campaign pledge to close the department entirely.

Offices that serve the nation’s schools and colleges would go to departments ranging from Labor to Interior. Education officials say the moves won’t affect the money Congress gives states, schools and colleges. They didn’t say whether current department staff would keep their jobs.

Since he took office, Trump has called for the dismantling of the Education Department, saying it has been overrun by liberal thinking. Agency leaders have been making plans to parcel out its operations to other departments, and in July the Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-scotus-layoffs-student-loans-f24637f2a1d57432f6dc24d082e95b9b">upheld mass layoffs</a>&nbsp;that halved the department’s staff.

In recent days, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has started a public campaign for the end of her department, making the case on social media that Education’s grantmaking and question-answering functions could be better handled by states and other federal agencies.

While the necessity of the department is up for debate, it’s also unclear how well-equipped other state and federal departments are to take over the Education Department’s responsibilities. The department sends billions of dollars to schools and colleges and helps decipher complex federal laws. It will be a test for the administration: Can the department be shut down smoothly, or will rural and low-income kids and students with disabilities — the populations that most rely on federal education support — be impacted?

Here’s what the Education Department currently handles, where its responsibilities will go to other federal agencies and what will stay the same.

While American schools are funded primarily by state and local money, the Education Department serves as a conduit for billions of dollars of federal aid going to state and local education agencies.

Education officials say that money will continue to be awarded as allocated by Congress, but much of it will flow from another federal agency. Most notably, the Department of Labor will oversee some of the largest federal funding streams for schools and colleges, including Title I money for schools serving low-income communities. Adult education programs already were moved to Labor in June.

Another deal will put Health and Human Services in charge of a grant program for parents who are attending college. The State Department will take on money to fund foreign language programs. Interior will oversee programs supporting Native American education.

One of the department’s major roles is management of the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Student aid so far will be largely unaffected, although McMahon and Trump have suggested it could be better handled by a different federal department.

Pell Grants and federal loans will continue to be disbursed, and student loan borrowers must continue making payments on their debts.

The website for the Free Application for Student Aid, or&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fafsa-students-college-15246e6ba2d99b333983053dabb2961b">FAFSA</a>, remains open — a key piece of how colleges and universities provide aid packages to incoming students. The Education Department will continue to handle support for people navigating the complicated form.

The Education Department also will continue to oversee another major part of higher education: accreditation, which allows colleges to accept students’ federal financial aid.

For now, the department will continue to distribute money to schools to provide educational support for students with disabilities, though McMahon has suggested this function could move to the Department of Health and Human Services.

The Education Department also oversees investigations into schools and universities alleged to have violated disability rights law, along with other civil rights violations such as discrimination involving sex, race and shared ancestry.

Those responsibilities will remain with the department for now, although&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/linda-mcmahon-education-confirmation-hearing-417b1d36f9347b8279798fd311d211dc">McMahon has suggested</a>&nbsp;sending them to the Department of Justice.

In any case, since the mass layoffs in March, the Office for Civil Rights has operated under a significantly reduced footprint. The department’s civil rights branch lost about half of its staff. The cuts raised questions about whether the office would be able to shrink a backlog of complaints from students who allege they have experienced discrimination on the basis of race, sex or disability status.

The department’s own data has shown a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-civil-rights-disability-54c4b4a228b4b30e6a6751ec745b3915">decline</a>&nbsp;in resolving civil rights cases, while new complaints from families have increased.

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/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Education Department is being dismantled. Here’s what that means

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations after a traffic stop.&nbsp;

Just before 7p.m. Tuesday, a police officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle in the 500 block South 5th Street in Atchison for a traffic violation, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 A sheriff’s deputy was on the scene with a K-9 and alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. A smoking device containing methamphetamine was subsequently located in the vehicle and the driver, Martin Winfield, was taken into custody. He is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Kan. sheriff's K9 alerted to smoking device containing meth

JOHNSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that sent a man to the hospital in Johnson County.

Just after 11p.m. Monday, the Shawnee Police Department, Shawnee Fire Department, and Johnson County MED-ACT responded to a report of a shooting in a parking lot in the 10300 block of Shawnee Mission Parkway.

One adult man, who had been shot once, was taken to the hospital in stable condition. 

The suspect left the scene in a dark-colored truck. It is unclear whether the victim and the suspect knew each other prior to the altercation in the parking lot. 

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.Anyone with information is asked to call 913-631-2150.

Police: Suspect in Kan. shooting  was driving a dark-colored truck

<a href="https://bluedragonsports.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/boxscores/20251119_jlky.xml?view=boxscore">BOX SCORE</a>

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson could not withstand a late Garden City surge on Thursday night, falling 84-76 in Jayhawk Conference play at the Sports Arena.

The Blue Dragons led 54-46 with just over 11 minutes to play after a stretch that included a Kyrell Shaw layup, two free throws from Daleron Thomas and a Kordell Williams dunk in transition. Garden City answered with a decisive run, using second-chance points, free throws and timely perimeter shooting to flip the game. Zaire Lott sparked the Broncbusters with a layup and later a three from the left wing, while Jordon Nevill buried multiple perimeter shots as Garden City outscored Hutchinson 38-22 over the final 11 minutes.

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