Hutch Post, in partnership with Steve Harmon and the Conard-Harmon Collection, is proud to present Throwback Thursday. Enjoy a weekly release from Steve Harmon as he presents the "Hutch - Then &amp; Now Collection."

STEVE HARMON Hutch Post Contributor

Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the southeast corner of Avenue C and South Main.

In 1885, a group of Hutchinson businessmen went to New York City to convince Jay Gould, president of the Union Pacific Railroad, to construct a connecting line from Hutchinson to Hoisington, where the Union Pacific main line ran.

This railroad was the second to arrive in Hutch and named the Wichita and Colorado Railroad. The first depot was on the southwest corner of Avenue G and Main. The first photo shows that first depot in 1888.

In 1900, the Avenue C and Main site was chosen for the new, now-named Missouri-Pacific Railway Depot. The second photo shows that impressive building in 1918.

The third photo shows the Cole Brothers Circus unloading at the depot in 1941.

The fourth photo shows one of the "Big Boy" steam locomotives at the depot in 1948.

About 1950, passenger service was discontinued and, in 1951, the top two floors were removed as usage declined.

About 1960, the Mo-Pac was absorbed into the Union Pacific system. The fifth photo shows what the building looked like afterward in 1960.

The sixth photo shows the building in 1976 being used just for freight.

In 1986, this building was razed. The seventh photo shows the land today at the crossing.

To purchase a photo print, contact:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:sharmon5@cox.net">sharmon5@cox.net</a>.

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

<a href="https://www.hutchchamber.com/">Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce</a> <a href="https://underkansas.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_KHt9Zeq_QIVwRPUAR3CTwTSEAAYASAAEgJDJPD_BwE">STRATACA Kansas Underground Salt Museum</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anchorinnhutch">Anchor Inn</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Anchorawayhutch/">Anchor Away</a>

📷 Throwback Thursday: Missouri-Pacific Depot - Vol. 154

RICE COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Thursday in Rice County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2022 Ram 1500 driven by&nbsp;Layne A.&nbsp;Vaughan-Meier, 18, Lorraine, was southbound on 10th Road at Kansas 4 Highway four and one half miles east of Bushton. The driver missed the stop sign. The pickup struck struck the side of an eastbound 2025 Ford F250 driven by Gregory S. Akers, 68, Akers. After impact the Ford came toa rest in the south ditch, facing northeast.

EMS transported&nbsp;Vaughan-Meier and a passenger in the Ram Russell W. Lane, 18, Lorraine to&nbsp;Ellsworth County Medical Center. Akers and a passenger in the Ford were not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

2 hospitalized after Kan. teen driver missed stop sign

NEWTON, Kan. — USD 373 Newton Public Schools will ask voters on March 3, 2026, to approve a $50 million facilities improvement bond aimed at addressing aging infrastructure, safety upgrades and storm shelter needs across the district.

District officials said the proposed bond targets end-of-life roofing and HVAC systems, along with security improvements such as code-compliant storm shelters. Plans call for hardening existing shelters at elementary schools and constructing multiuse spaces at Cooper Early Education Center, Chisholm Middle School and Newton High School that would also serve as storm shelters while meeting other campus needs.

The proposal follows a facilities assessment and nearly yearlong planning process conducted with outside firm RSP and a committee of school and community representatives.

Newton High School would receive the largest share of improvements, including remodeling about 40 percent of interior classroom space. Projects would address removable walls, upgrade science labs and renovate culinary arts kitchens, all original to the 1970s, and include upgrades to the school pool. District officials said adding new culinary and science lab space would allow construction to proceed without disrupting classes and would enable classroom rotation during the school year.

At Chisholm Middle School, plans include upgrades to pod bathrooms and former locker room spaces, which date to the 1950s, in addition to new storm shelter additions.

Cooper Early Education Center would see a new classroom and conference space that doubles as a storm shelter, along with work on the slate roof, which dates to the 1930s.

Nearly all schools would receive HVAC and roof work. All elementary schools would get playground upgrades and, if funding allows, shade structures. Districtwide security upgrades would add interior intruder locks to classroom doors at all district-owned schools.

The bond would require a 4.3 mill increase, which district officials estimate would cost about $4.12 per month for a $100,000 home and $8.24 per month for a $200,000 home.

Facilities assessment documents, architectural renderings and building-by-building cost lists are available at <a href="http://www.usd373.org/bond2026">www.usd373.org/bond2026</a>.

The district has scheduled public tours and informational sessions ahead of the vote:

USD 373 to put $50 million bond before voters March 3, 2026

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

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

EMS transported Mercer&nbsp;Stormont Vail Health Flint Hills in Junction City. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kan. man hospitalized after SUV accident

HARVEY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Wednesday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Kawasaki motorcycle driven by Curtis Moss, 48, Lindsborg, was northbound in the left lane of Interstate 135 at E First Street in Newton.&nbsp; A southbound 2024 Ford Maverick driven by Brian Voth, 65, Newton, moved from the right lane to the left lane to pass another vehicle. The motorcycle rear-ended the pickup.

&nbsp;EMS transported Moss to Wesley Med Center. Voth was properly restrained and not injured. Moss was wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

Kan. man hospitalized after motorcycle rear-ends a pickup

 Fire crews responded to a commercial structure fire Wednesday afternoon in McPherson, with no injuries reported and all personnel safely evacuated.

At approximately 3:52 p.m. on Wednesday, the McPherson Fire Department was dispatched to the 1400 block of 17th Avenue for a reported structure fire. The department responded with three engine companies and a command vehicle. The Galva Fire Department also assisted, responding with an engine company and a command vehicle.

Upon arrival, crews observed smoke coming from the commercial structure. Facility personnel had already evacuated the building. Firefighters initiated an interior attack and determined that a fiberglass production oven had overheated. The fire was contained primarily within the oven but had extended into the oven’s exhaust stack.

Crews were able to cool the oven, extinguish the fire within the exhaust stack, and prevent further spread. The oven was subsequently shut down by facility personnel.

The fire was determined to be accidental. No injuries were reported during the incident.

Commercial structure fire contained in McPherson; no injuries reported

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two Hutchinson pastors say Christmas is ultimately about hope, reflection and the belief that God chose to enter a broken world rather than remain distant from it.

During a Christmas Eve conversation on the BW Morning Show, Andy Addis, pastor of CrossPoint Church, and Matt Stafford, pastor of First Congregational Church, reflected on the meaning of Christmas amid political division, global conflict and personal hardship.

Addis said Christmas serves as a reminder of the foundation of the Christian faith.

“For the church, it is a reminder of where we begin,” Addis said. “If Christ never came, so many things we hold central would not exist. It would be a completely different world.”

Stafford said the celebration of Christ’s birth cannot be separated from what Christians believe followed.

“We cannot separate his birth from his work on the cross and his resurrection,” Stafford said. “It represents God intervening in a fallen world.”

Both pastors acknowledged that many people view the current moment as uniquely difficult, but Stafford said history shows humanity has endured far worse.

“This is not the worst it has ever been,” Stafford said, pointing to periods such as the Civil War, World War II and the Great Depression. “We are living in remarkable times, even with our disagreements.”

The pastors said Christmas offers a counterpoint to fear and division by focusing on hope, which Addis said is often misunderstood.

“Biblically, hope is not a wish,” Addis said. “It is certainty. It is knowing the God in whom you believe.”

Stafford added that Christian hope is personal.

“Hope has a name,” he said. “His name is Jesus.”

The discussion also emphasized reflection during the Christmas season. Addis said familiarity with Scripture alone is not enough.

“They knew the prophecies, but they missed Jesus,” Addis said, referring to a passage from the Gospel of John. “It is not about how much you know, but how well you know him.”

Both pastors said the message of “God with us,” often expressed through the word Emmanuel, remains central to Christmas.

“God has never been absent from the world,” Stafford said. “But he has not always been welcomed. Christmas reminds us that we are not alone.”

Addis shared personal stories of marriage struggles and family health crises, saying those experiences shaped his understanding of hope during dark moments.

“Every dark moment feels like the end,” Addis said. “But when you look back, you see how many times God carried you through.”

The pastors invited the community to Christmas Eve services, noting that many churches also offer online options.

Stafford’s church will host a candlelight service at 6 p.m. at 3410 N. Plum St. CrossPoint Church will offer services at 3, 5 and 7 p.m. at 1410 E. 30th Ave.

“This season is about hope, peace, love and joy,” Stafford said. “That message matters now as much as ever.”

Hutchinson pastors say Christmas message centers on hope

The Eagle Media Center, home of HutchPost.com, Country 102.9, My 93-1 and KWBW, will close at noon on Wednesday, December 24, for the Christmas holiday. The office will remain closed through the holiday and will reopen on Monday, December 29. 

All employee owners at Eagle Media Center wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

Christmas holiday schedule for Eagle Media Center

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — More than 1,000 students from Hutchinson, Buhler and Haven school districts helped spread holiday cheer this season through Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System’s annual Holiday Card Project.

The initiative brought together students, community organizations and healthcare workers as children created handwritten holiday cards for local healthcare employees and senior care staff throughout the community.

Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System said the project is designed to strengthen community connections while giving students a chance to express gratitude and empathy toward those who serve others.

“This project allows children to show appreciation for those who care for others, reminding us all of the power of these simple acts,” said Benjamin Anderson, president and CEO of HRHS. “Each card reflects these core values, beautifully expressed by the children, offering a valuable lesson for us all.”

This year’s project included a continued partnership with The Clayworks at Disability Supports, whose clients designed custom artwork for the cards. HRHS said the collaboration added a personal touch while highlighting creativity and inclusion within the community.

For students, the project also served as a learning opportunity.

Krystal Young, deputy superintendent of Hutchinson Public Schools, said the partnership gives students a meaningful way to engage locally while reinforcing district values.

“Partnering with Hutchinson Regional for the Holiday Card Project provides our students with a meaningful opportunity to actively engage with our community,” Young said. “It also allows them to demonstrate compassion and express gratitude to our healthcare workers.”

Completed cards were delivered ahead of the holiday season to healthcare and senior living organizations, including Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, The Wesley, Sunshine Meadows, PrairieStar Health Center and Mennonite Friendship Communities.

Mark Mains, president and CEO of The Wesley, said the cards were well received by staff members during a busy and often stressful time of year.

“The employees of The Wesley were delighted to receive Christmas cards with handwritten messages from area school children,” Mains said. “Receiving extra support and uplifting sentiment from kids helps bring the spirit of the season front and center.”

HRHS officials said the Holiday Card Project continues to highlight the importance of small gestures and community involvement in supporting those who care for others throughout the year.

Hutchinson-area students create holiday cards for healthcare workers

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson YMCA has launched a brick and paver campaign that allows community members to leave a permanent mark at the organization’s new facility, which remains on track to open in 2026.

The campaign offers personalized bricks for a $500 donation and engraved pavers for a $1,000 donation. The bricks and pavers will be incorporated into outdoor areas surrounding the new YMCA building at 20th and Lorraine streets.

“This is a great way to make your mark and leave a mark at our new facility,” said David Foster, executive director of the Hutchinson YMCA. “A paver is a $1,000 donation, and a brick is a $500 donation. If you’re interested, let us know. We have donor forms for bricks and pavers that you can fill out and be part of our new YMCA facility.”

Pledge cards are available at the current YMCA (716 E 13th Ave.) and can be completed at any time.

Construction on the new YMCA continues to progress, with the exterior of the building nearing completion and interior spaces beginning to take shape. Foster said crews are close to fully enclosing the structure, a milestone that will allow interior work to accelerate.

“Once the building is fully enclosed, you’ll really start to see things move quickly on the inside,” Foster said. “Interior walls, program areas and equipment layouts are becoming more defined.”

After 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. The design is expected to be especially striking at night because of exterior lighting and the glass frontage.

The new YMCA will feature an indoor family pool, lap pool and splash-pad-style water features, along with fitness areas, gymnasiums and flexible program space.

As construction continues, the YMCA is also offering new 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.

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

Hutchinson YMCA launches brick and paver campaign for new facility

YODER, Kan. — Nitrate levels remain above allowable limits in Rural Water District 101, which serves the Yoder area, according to Reno County officials.

The most recent water sample, collected Dec. 10, 2025, showed a nitrate concentration of 12 milligrams per liter. That exceeds the state and federal maximum contaminant level of 10 milligrams per liter for public water supply systems.

Officials say nitrate levels in water sources can fluctuate and may come from natural, industrial or agricultural sources, including septic systems and runoff.

Reno County continues to issue routine public notices for acute nitrate violations as required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The notices provide residents with information about nitrates in drinking water and notify customers that bottled water is available upon request for households with individuals considered at higher risk. Those groups include infants younger than 6 months, nursing mothers, pregnant women and others identified by a health care provider.

Rural Water District 101 will continue quarterly water sampling and public notifications as required by KDHE until the issue is resolved. Officials thanked residents for their patience.

Nitrate levels remain above limits in Rural Water District 101 serving Yoder area

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A suspect arrested&nbsp; in connection with an ongoing child abuse investigation made his first appearance in court last week.

A judge charged 30-year-old Kevin D. Mitchell with abuse of child. He is also charged with two counts of failure to appear, according to online jail records.

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 Mitchell's arrest.&nbsp; He is being held on a bond of $75,000.

Kan. man arrested after 2 kids hospitalized faced a judge

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday night that he’d launched a “powerful and deadly strike” against Islamic State forces in Nigeria, after he spent weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.

The president’s post did not include information about how the strike was carried out and what effects it had and the White House did not immediately provide further details.

“Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!” the president posted on his social media site.

Last month, Trump said he’d ordered the Pentagon to begin planning for potential military action in Nigeria following the claims of Christian persecution. The State Department then announced in recent weeks that it would restrict visas for Nigerians and their family members involved in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-christian-muslim-killings-kidnapping-trump-af57834a1ce47488397bf07931b5cf51">mass killings and violence against Christians</a>&nbsp;in the West African country.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-states-nigeria-sanctions-trump-religious-freedom-83c1df230dbcdc30178baab083fffd94">U.S. recently designated Nigera</a>&nbsp;a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act.

“I have previously warned these Terrorists that if they did not stop the slaughtering of Christians, there would be hell to pay, and tonight, there was,” Trump wrote in his Christmas night post. He said that U.S. defense officials had “executed numerous perfect strikes, as only the United States is capable of doing.”

The president added: “our Country will not allow Radical Islamic Terrorism to prosper.”

US launches strike against Islamic State militants in Nigeria

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the woman who died as 52-year-old Sherrie Baier.

&nbsp;Just after 10a.m. Monday, patrol officers were dispatched to 27th&nbsp;and Quincy on a reported cutting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

 When officers arrived, they located an adult female victim suffering from laceration wounds.&nbsp; She was transported to a local hospital for treatment of serious, but non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; While officers were on scene investigating, they received information about the location of a possible suspect.&nbsp;

Just before 10:30a.m., officers responded to the 6600 block of E 16th&nbsp;street to investigate the information they received.&nbsp; When they arrived, possible crime scene evidence was located, and they were directed to a residence on 16th Street.&nbsp; Inside, they discovered Baier suffering from unknown bodily trauma.&nbsp; KCFD EMS responded and pronounced her deceased on scene.&nbsp;

This is being investigated as a homicide.&nbsp; A subject of interest was taken into custody on 16th Street, pending further investigation.&nbsp; Detectives are working to determine what led up to the incidents and if the scenes are related.&nbsp;

Police: 52-year-old woman died of 'bodily trauma' in KC home

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/jonathan-j-cooper">JONATHAN J. COOPER</a>

The Mint abandoned designs developed during Joe Biden’s presidency that highlighted women’s suffrage and civil rights advancements, favoring classical depictions of America over progress toward a more inclusive society.

A series of celebrations are planned next year under the banner America 250, marking the anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. All U.S. coins show the year they were minted, but those made next year will also display 1776.

Trump, at least for now, isn’t getting a coin

No design was released for a $1 coin, though U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, whose duties include oversight of the U.S. Mint, serving as a liaison with the Federal Reserve and overseeing Treasury’s Office of Consumer Policy, confirmed in October that&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/TreasurerBeach/status/1974156375891804229" target="_blank">one showcasing Trump was in the works</a>. A draft design showed Trump’s profile on the “heads” side, known as the obverse, and on the reverse, a depiction of Trump raising his fist after his attempted assassination, The words “FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT” appear along the top.

By law, presidents typically can’t appear on coins until two years after their death, but some advocates for a Trump coin think there may be a loophole in the law authorizing the treasury to mint special coins for the nation’s 250th birthday.

Neither the Mint nor the Treasury Department responded when asked whether a Trump coin is still planned.

The new designs depict classical Americana

New designs will appear only on coins minted in 2026, with the current images returning the following year.

The nickel, dime and five versions of the quarter will circulate, while a penny and half dollar will be sold as collectibles.

Five versions of the quarter are planned depicting the Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and Gettysburg Address.

The dime will show a depiction of Liberty, a symbolic woman facing down the tyranny of the British monarchy, and an eagle carrying arrows in its talons representing America’s fight for independence.

The commemorative nickel is essentially the same as the most recent nickel redesign, in 2006, but it includes two dates on the head’s side instead of one, 1776 and 2026.

A half dollar coin shows the face of the Statue of Liberty on one side. The other shows her passing her torch to what appears to be the hand of a child, symbolizing a handoff to the next generation.

The penny is essentially the same as the one in circulation, which was discontinued earlier this year and will be produced only as a collectible with two dates.

Prices for collectible coins were not released. The Mint sells a variety of noncirculating coins on its website, with a vast range of prices reflecting their rarity.

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps founding, for example, a commemorative half dollar coin is available for $61, while a commemorative $5 gold coin goes for $1,262. Up to 750,000 copies of the former will be minted, but no more than 50,000 of the latter.

Congress authorized commemorative coins in 2021. During the Biden administration, the Mint worked with a citizens advisory committee to propose designs depicting the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, abolitionism, suffrage and civil rights.

Those designs included depictions of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and Ruby Bridges, who was escorted to school by the National Guard at age 6 years amid opposition to racial integration at public schools.

Those designs represented “continued progress toward ‘a more perfect union,’” said Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nevada, quoting a phrase from the preamble to the Constitution.

“The American story didn’t stop at the pilgrims and founding fathers, and ignoring anything that has happened in this country in the last 162 years is just another attempt by President Trump to rewrite our history,” Cortez Masto said in a statement.

See the coins that will commemorate 250th anniversary of American independence

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department said Wednesday that it may need a “few more weeks” to release all of its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after suddenly discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents, further delaying compliance with last Friday’s congressionally mandated deadline.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/epstein">Click here to see</a>&nbsp;the files and do a search

The Christmas Eve announcement came hours after a dozen U.S. senators called on the Justice Department’s watchdog to examine its failure to meet the deadline. The group, 11 Democrats and a Republican, told Acting Inspector General Don Berthiaume in a letter that victims “deserve full disclosure” and the “peace of mind” of an independent audit.

The Justice Department said in a social media post that federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the FBI “have uncovered over a million more documents” that could be related to the Epstein case — a stunning 11th hour development after department officials suggested months ago that they had undertaken a comprehensive review that accounted for the vast universe of Epstein-related materials.

In March, Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that a “truckload of evidence” had been delivered to her after she ordered the Justice Department to “deliver the full and complete Epstein files to my office” — a directive she said she made after learning from an unidentified source that the FBI in New York was “in possession of thousands of pages of documents.”

In July, the FBI and Justice Department indicated in an unsigned memo that they had undertaken an “exhaustive review” and had determined that no additional evidence should be released — an extraordinary about face from the Trump administration, which for months had pledged maximum transparency. The memo did not raise the possibility that additional evidence existed that officials were unaware of or had not reviewed.

Wednesday’s post did not say when the Justice Department was informed of the newly uncovered files.

In a letter last week, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said Manhattan federal prosecutors already had more than 3.6 million records from sex trafficking investigations into Epstein and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell, though many were copies of material already turned over by the FBI.

The Justice Department said its lawyers are “working around the clock” to review the documents and remove victims names and other identifying information as required by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, the law enacted last month that requires the government to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">open its files</a>&nbsp;on Epstein and Maxwell.

“We will release the documents as soon as possible,” the department said. “Due to the mass volume of material, this process may take a few more weeks.”

The announcement came amid&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-epstein-files-trump-nassar-justice-department-101ba03107c32ba88869bc37e1d01849">increasing scrutiny on the Justice Department’s staggered release</a>&nbsp;of Epstein-related records, including from Epstein victims and members of Congress.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie, of Kentucky, one of the chief authors of the law mandating the document release, posted Wednesday on X: “DOJ did break the law by making illegal redactions and by missing the deadline.” Another architect of the law, Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said he and Massie will “continue to keep the pressure on” and noted that the Justice Department was releasing more documents after lawmakers threatened contempt.

“A Christmas Eve news dump of ‘a million more files’ only proves what we already know: Trump is engaged in a massive coverup,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said after DOJ’s announcement. “The question Americans deserve answered is simple: WHAT are they hiding -- and WHY?”

The White House on Wednesday defended the Justice Department’s handling of the Epstein records.

“President Trump has assembled the greatest cabinet in American history, which includes Attorney General Bondi and her team — like Deputy Attorney General Blanche — who are doing a great job implementing the President’s agenda,” spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

After releasing an initial wave of records on Friday, the Justice Department posted more batches to its website over the weekend and on Tuesday. The Justice Department has not given any notice when more records might arrive.

Records that have been released, including photographs, interview transcripts, call logs, court records and other documents, were either already public or heavily blacked out, and many lacked necessary context. Records that hadn’t been seen before include transcripts of grand jury testimony from FBI agents who described interviews they had with several girls and young women who described being paid to perform sex acts for Epstein.

Other records made public in recent days include a note from a federal prosecutor from January 2020 that said Trump had flown on the financier’s private plane more often than had been previously known and emails between Maxwell and someone who signs off with the initial “A.” They contain other references that suggest the writer was Britain’s former Prince Andrew. In one, “A” writes: “How’s LA? Have you found me some new inappropriate friends?”

The senators’ call Wednesday for an inspector general audit comes days after Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the disclosure and deadline requirements. In a statement, he called the staggered, heavily redacted release “a blatant cover-up.”

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joined Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., in leading the call for an inspector general audit. Others signing the letter were Democratic Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota., Adam Schiff of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Cory Booker and Andy Kim, both of New Jersey, Gary Peters of Michigan, Chris Van Hollen, of Maryland, Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.

“Given the (Trump) Administration’s historic hostility to releasing the files, politicization of the Epstein case more broadly, and failure to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a neutral assessment of its compliance with the statutory disclosure requirements is essential,” the senators wrote. Full transparency, they said, “is essential in identifying members of our society who enabled and participated in Epstein’s crimes.”

Sisak reported from Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Why the DOJ says it needs a 'few more weeks' to finish release of Epstein files 

Missouri was already unlikely to ever collect a dime, legal experts agree, and the countersuit could expose U.S. assets to retaliation

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has cast news that she is being sued by the Chinese government as a badge of honor, pointing to the lawsuit as proof that her&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-wants-to-seize-chinese-assets-to-recover-24-billion-judgment-in-covid-case/">aggressive push to collect on a roughly $25 billion</a>&nbsp;court judgment tied to the COVID-19 pandemic is having an impact.

But experts in international law say the lawsuit, filed in China earlier this year and announced last week by Hanaway, is more likely to do the opposite — making an already remote chance that Missouri will ever collect that money even slimmer, while potentially exposing U.S. assets abroad to retaliation.

Hanaway said last week in a news release that China is demanding a public apology from the state in a complaint filed in the Intermediate People’s Court of Wuhan, along with damages equivalent to $50.5 billion, legal fees and the right to seek additional compensation.

“This lawsuit is a stalling tactic and tells me that we have been on the right side of this issue all along,” Hanaway said.

The suit was filed after Missouri secured a default judgment earlier this year in a federal case alleging that China hoarded personal protective equipment during the early months of the pandemic. A judge ruled for Missouri after China declined to participate in the trial, awarding the state roughly $25 billion in damages.

Hanaway has since asked the U.S. State Department to notify China that Missouri intends to pursue assets with full or partial Chinese government ownership to satisfy the judgment. Her office is also assembling a list of Chinese properties that could be targeted, focusing on assets owned outright by the Chinese government or by companies in which it has a stake.

Legal scholars say those efforts face steep, and likely insurmountable, obstacles.

Chimène Keitner, director of the U.C. Davis Center for International Law &amp; Policy, said government-owned property is generally protected by sovereign immunity — meaning Chinese government assets in the United States are shielded from seizure, just as U.S. government property is protected abroad.

China’s countersuit, she said, also appears unlikely to result in any recovery. But it carries legal and diplomatic implications that could further complicate Missouri’s case.

International law recognizes a doctrine known as “countermeasures,” Keitner said, which allows a country to take actions it otherwise could not as a way of pressuring another country to comply with international law.

If the U.S. government were to authorize Missouri’s efforts to seize Chinese assets, she said, it could expose American property in China to reciprocal action.

“So if Missouri violates China’s sovereign immunity,” Keitner said, “China could have a good argument for doing the same thing — not just against Missouri, but against the United States as a whole.”

William Dodge, a law professor at George Washington University who specializes in international law a, said neither lawsuit “has a prayer of being enforced.”

Even if Missouri were allowed to pursue assets, Dodge said, the scope would be narrow. Only property owned by the defendants named in the lawsuit — including the Chinese government, the Communist Party of China, several national agencies, provincial and local governments around Wuhan and the Wuhan Institute of Virology — could potentially be targeted.

And the state would still have to show that those specific entities were involved in hoarding personal protective equipment, he said.

Dodge, who has&nbsp;<a href="https://tlblog.org/author/william-dodge/" target="_blank">written extensively about Missouri’s lawsuit and a similar effort in Mississippi</a>, agreed that China’s complaint further reduces the already slim likelihood that Missouri will be able to collect because it raises the risk of retaliation.

“China’s law has a reciprocity provision,” he said. “It basically says that if a foreign country gives China less immunity than Chinese law provides, China can respond by giving that foreign country less immunity. In other words: whatever the U.S. does to us, we can do to them.”

U.S. District Judge Stephen Limbaugh initially dismissed Missouri’s lawsuit in 2022, ruling that the state could not sue China. An appeals court later allowed one claim to proceed — the allegation that China hoarded items such as respirator masks, medical gowns and gloves.

After Chinese officials failed to respond, Limbaugh accepted Missouri’s estimate of past and future damages of more than $8 billion, tripled it as federal law allows, and added 3.91% interest until the judgment is paid.

In an emailed statement last month, Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said China’s pandemic response involved “acts of national sovereignty” that are not subject to the jurisdiction of U.S. courts.

China will not pay, Liu said, and “will retaliate if necessary.”

The lawsuit filed in China accuses Missouri of “fabricating enormous disinformation” and spreading “stigmatizing and discriminating slanders” that it says have damaged China’s reputation.

“We stand undeterred in our mission to collect on our $24 billion judgment that was lawfully handed down in federal court,” she said.

Neither side’s claims are likely to result in any tangible recovery, Keitner said, leaving the dispute largely symbolic.

“Unfortunately, this all seems to be a lot of unhelpful political theater,” she said, “with no clear off-ramp for either side to save face.”

China’s lawsuit makes Missouri’s $25 billion COVID judgment even harder to collect

JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. —A Jackson County sheriff's deputy struck by a car while investigating an accident was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'. 

Just after 6p.m. December 17, a 2012 Mercedes driven by a 69-year-old Lee's Summit woman was southbound at South Buckner Tarsney at E. Ryan Road. The vehicle traveled into the crash scene and struck the the 53-year-old deputy, according to the MSHP.

Central Jackson County EMS transported the deputy to Centerpoint Medical Center where he underwnt several medical procedures.

"He’s in good spirits, has a positive mindset, and is expected to fully recover.&nbsp; He’s blessed to be surrounded by a caring family," according to Forte'

Merry Christmas: Deputy struck by a car released from hospital

The Powerball® jackpot has been won in Arkansas, according to the Multi-State Lottery Association. A single ticket sold in Arkansas matched all six numbers drawn last night to win a $1.817 billion jackpot. The jackpot has a cash option of $834.9 million.

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