Foundation of Life Ministries has announced that the launch of The Refuge Project, originally set for December 1, will be postponed due to circumstances beyond the organization’s control.

In a statement released Friday, the ministry acknowledged the significance of the project for the community and expressed regret for the disappointment the delay may cause.

The Refuge Project is intended to provide compassionate, supportive services for Hutchinson’s unhoused residents. Foundation of Life Ministries said its team is working diligently to resolve the challenges that have temporarily stalled the launch and remains committed to moving forward as soon as possible.

In the meantime, individuals in need of shelter or housing support are encouraged to access services at Noel Lodge, located at 400 W. 2nd Avenue, Suite C.

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/1c344779-0c88-4d00-9df0-3b9acf094432">LINK:&nbsp;Foundation of Life Ministries to launch Project Refuge</a>

Foundation of Life Ministries emphasized its ongoing dedication to serving the community “with integrity, compassion, and faith-driven action,” and promised to share updates as more information becomes available.

For questions or additional details, community members may contact the ministry at 620-203-3893 or email <a>FOLMHutch@gmail.com</a>.

Opening of The Refuge Project delayed

Here’s this week’s edition of proven, no nonsense, personal finance advice, with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/dave-ramsey?snid=personalities.ramsey-personalities.dave-ramsey">Dave&nbsp;Ramsey</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;Dave&nbsp;Says&nbsp;column.&nbsp; In this one,&nbsp;Dave&nbsp;talks to a man who loves his wife’s giving heart, but feels she may be taking the whole generosity thing a bit too far.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dear Dave, My wife and I have been married for less than a year, and we’re already having disagreements over money. I love her, and one of the reasons I do is because she has such a giving heart. The problem is I feel like she’s taking this too far.

Often, she will give money to family and friends. Most of the time I wouldn’t mind this, as long as the person really needed help. But often she will do this, and we end up short when it comes to taking care of our bills, paying off debt and saving. How can I approach her about this without causing more stress in our relationship?

Dear Jacob, Your wife’s heart is in the right place. And generosity&nbsp;is&nbsp;a very attractive quality in a person. Still, that doesn’t make what she’s doing a good idea right now. &nbsp;

I’m going to be blunt with you, okay? This kind of behavior is financially irresponsible. Her intentions are admirable, but she’s going overboard. If it’s causing stress in your marriage, and you two are having trouble taking care of your own financial obligations, you have every right to be frustrated.

I want you to really hear this: Broke people can’t help broke people. By this, I mean only the strong can help the weak. Right now, you two should be working together—as a team—to get your own financial house in order. And by that, I mean working hard to become debt-free, then saving up a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund">fully loaded emergency fund</a>.&nbsp;Once that’s done, you should start setting something aside for retirement. Then, and only then, once all that has been taken care of, and you have a friend or family member who’s truly in financial need, you can give whatever you both agree is a proper, affordable amount.

Look, I’m a big giver at my business and in my personal life. But you two need to take care of yourselves right now. Sit down with your wife, and gently explain this to her. She’s a good lady, Jacob. Praise her for her giving heart. But at the same time, show her what’s happening with your own finances and how you’ll be better able to help the people around you once you pay off your debt, and start saving money.

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

Dave Says: Broke people can't help broke people

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. ——————————————

Jerlene	Lenay	Oliver	11/29/2025 7:25&nbsp;AM	Viol protection order; Condition of release,				Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Jose	Cerso	Rosado	11/29/2025 6:00&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Cody	Michael	Smith	11/29/2025 10:34&nbsp;PM	Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant,				Theft; Motor Fuel; Less than $1,500; from 3 Businesses within 72 Hours,				Viol protection order; Pre-trial order

Daily Bookings

Central Christian School is inviting anyone interested in early childhood education to a public information session on Tuesday, Dec. 2, offering a chance to learn more about career opportunities within the school’s growing Early Education program.

The session begins at 6:15 p.m. at the Jay &amp; Connie Schrock Family Early Education School, located at 1910 E. 30th Ave. in Hutchinson.

Attendees will be able to tour the school’s new early education facility, meet the superintendent, and hear directly from the program’s director about open positions and what it’s like to work in a nurturing, Christ-centered environment.

School leaders say the event is designed both for those who are simply curious about early education and for those actively exploring employment. Guests will have the opportunity to ask questions, learn about job expectations, and see firsthand how staff members support young learners.

Central Christian encourages current staff, families, and community members to share the invitation and tag friends who may be interested in early education careers.

Central Christian to host Early Education Career Fair

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

Three-Day Outlook

MCPHERSON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Saturday in McPherson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Chevy Equinox driven by Raul S&nbsp; Juarez, 33, Milford, Nebraska,&nbsp;was southbound on Interstate 135 south of Pawnee Road. The driver lost control while passing a semi due to weather conditions. 

The Chevy made contact with the trailer of the semi, traveled through the median, across the northbound lanes and through a KDOT fence where it came to rest. The semi driver initially pulled over, but left the scene Juarez&nbsp; gave him a thumbs up, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

EMS transported Juarez to&nbsp;McPherson Center for Health. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized after SUV crash through KDOT fence

Quality testing results are in for this year’s U.S. hard red winter (HRW) crop. Global customers will once again be able to purchase good quality&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;that provides high value, according to a recently released report by U.S.&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Associates (USW).

Kansas delivered a strong hard red winter&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;crop in 2025, producing more than 340 million bushels as timely late-spring rains helped fields rebound from earlier drought stress. Harvest ran later than normal due to frequent storms, but test weight and falling number concerns proved minimal, and most disease pressures like stripe rust, leaf rust and&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;streak mosaic stayed localized. While protein levels came in slightly lower than recent drought years, overall yield and grain quality across Kansas reflected a resilient crop supported by improved moisture.

After the collection and analysis of more than 2,250 samples of&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;collected from coast to coast, U.S.&nbsp;Wheat&nbsp;Associates (USW) has officially published&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001b2JzuS5UAYoREkTIW6y07ToLkLojbrbcduYWyT2O1_0RWgJao9CzommSQGcCZy29YIvPdCLcPMEc8aSLFutIwuLPLOsA9q0eRoxZkLOtBeS-_4BEmLuBmd7a__yCisJZ7CTDaDz92Rpkxc5d1YBZxzO3kSW7zCQHU8zY9u0MM8-k68XUnvoHGcdIJLKOqaNHv5_OVMAT1CQSuXnG9aZq-lR1fq69kj10vPSoSraHEgRmkWUqxEBjLg==&amp;c=Y3J3anDIEYYznVQYfAvNarjZbLF5QAd-J9-gzAnbUjRuJJ_KFUaJFA==&amp;ch=VJjEvwMtcU1ovAtj7wqpX32S0lUslMRUB9lMTQXd-thREtAN9TVWPw==">the 2025 U.S. Crop Quality Report</a>. The report, which is the 46th issued since 1979, provides essential, objective information to help global&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;buyers purchase the&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;they need at the best value possible.

“We are happy to share the 2025 U.S. Crop Quality Report, a detailed look at the high-quality&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;grown by U.S.&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;farmers and used by millers and bakers around the world,” said USW President and CEO Mike Spier. “This USW report reflects not only the quality of the 2025 crop, but also the hard work and commitment of U.S.&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;farmers. We’re proud to share the results of their efforts with our global partners.”

The 2025 report is supported by funding from the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) export market development programs and USW’s state&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;commission members. The report includes class-specific information, starting with samples collected during harvest. Those samples are then sent to six partner laboratories across the United States, who conduct rigorous testing and analysis. This year’s report includes expanded extensograph testing and additional RVA (Rapid Visco Analyser) flour data for both soft and hard winter&nbsp;wheat.

The results are then compiled into the Crop Quality Report, which provides grade, non-grade, flour and specific end-product data. For example, this year’s report included additional data on sponge cake performance for soft red winter&nbsp;wheat. Overall, across all classes, global buyers will find U.S.&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;to be a consistent and reliable foundational ingredient for&nbsp;wheat-based food products.

USW also shares more detailed, regional reports for all six U.S.&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;classes and Desert Durum® on its website. There is also a new standalone document on collection and analysis methods. Find all crop quality reports and related information at<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001b2JzuS5UAYoREkTIW6y07ToLkLojbrbcduYWyT2O1_0RWgJao9CzommSQGcCZy29hL198Z7s1SlOKuPE0tMxFTRT9Ze_VYoi4a8qvJBApQG6v95alrHxji4gp8IJrJzrw_Qyitjp__nW0wvNtxWARil2R3ORkfSHiW2u1mo_wOrYXVDA7_qfQg==&amp;c=Y3J3anDIEYYznVQYfAvNarjZbLF5QAd-J9-gzAnbUjRuJJ_KFUaJFA==&amp;ch=VJjEvwMtcU1ovAtj7wqpX32S0lUslMRUB9lMTQXd-thREtAN9TVWPw==">&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001b2JzuS5UAYoREkTIW6y07ToLkLojbrbcduYWyT2O1_0RWgJao9CzommSQGcCZy29hL198Z7s1SlOKuPE0tMxFTRT9Ze_VYoi4a8qvJBApQG6v95alrHxji4gp8IJrJzrw_Qyitjp__nW0wvNtxWARil2R3ORkfSH07IgK2WP3XkughnZ9obQNg==&amp;c=Y3J3anDIEYYznVQYfAvNarjZbLF5QAd-J9-gzAnbUjRuJJ_KFUaJFA==&amp;ch=VJjEvwMtcU1ovAtj7wqpX32S0lUslMRUB9lMTQXd-thREtAN9TVWPw==">uswheat.org/cropquality</a>.

USW staff will now take this data to international customers during the organization’s annual crop quality seminars. This global showcase is expected to include 35 seminars in 30 countries across all regions of the world.&nbsp;

Shawn Thiele, associate director of the IGP Institute, will join Casey Chumrau, CEO of the Washington Grain Commission, and Senay Simsek, food science department head at Purdue University, for the crop quality seminar series in South America.&nbsp;

From November 3 to 10, the trio presented to key customers and stakeholders in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile. These markets have purchased substantially more U.S.&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;in the current marketing year than in years prior, thanks to the competitiveness of U.S.&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;in the world marketplace and USW's technical assistance and trade servicing activities, like the crop quality seminars.

Wheat Scoop: 2025 U.S. crop quality report

Martin	Ramon	Duran		11/27/2025 8:21&nbsp;AM	Probation Violation

Kristofor	Glenn	Totten		11/27/2025 8:41&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Migel	Angel	Marquez		11/28/2025 1:44&nbsp;AM	Disorderly Conduct; Brawling or fighting,					Domestic Battery; Knowing or Reckless Bodily Harm (1st conviction),					Interfere w/ LEO; unknown circumstance

Vincente		Aguilar		11/28/2025 1:58&nbsp;AM	Disorderly Conduct; Brawling or fighting

Eric	David	Ross		11/28/2025 7:39&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; combination of drugs and alcohol,					Poss of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Edward	Lee	Fowler		11/28/2025 8:12&nbsp;AM	DWS; 2nd or subs conviction,					Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Randy	Joel	Wesley		11/28/2025 8:12&nbsp;AM	Possession of a Firearm Under the Influence

Desie	Martez	Chatfield		11/28/2025 9:41&nbsp;AM	Viol protection order; Abuse order

Alexia	Bianca	Jobe		11/28/2025 4:21&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conviction

Christopher	Ray	Debozy		11/28/2025 4:26&nbsp;PM	Violation of a Protective Order; Stalking Order

Brayden	Wayne	Chesterman		11/28/2025 7:40&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,					Viol protection order; Condition of release

Joshuawa	Ethan	Bankston		11/28/2025 11:46&nbsp;PM	Poss of marijuana,					Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Justin	Alan	Roberts		11/29/2025 2:17&nbsp;AM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999,					Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 to $24,999

Brian	Heath	Triplett		11/29/2025 2:33&nbsp;AM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999,					Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 to $24,999

Reno County commissioners worked through a full agenda Wednesday, covering year-end financial housekeeping, annual departmental reports, and a key annexation agreement tied to one of the region’s largest upcoming developments.&nbsp;

The commission also announced that December meetings will shift from the normal schedule and will instead be held Wednesday, Dec. 3, and Wednesday, Dec. 17.

Commissioners approved a lengthy year-end consent agenda that included a series of fund-transfer resolutions commonly used to close out the fiscal year. County Counselor Patrick Hoffman said these transfers—completed annually in late November—create the documentation auditors require.

The consent agenda also included appointments to both the Planning Commission and the Public Building Commission.

Commissioners unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Reno County, the City of Hutchinson, and the City of South Hutchinson.

The agreement prevents any annexation of the Evergy project site until construction is complete—removing jurisdictional uncertainty and keeping the large-scale development on track. Commission members emphasized strong collaboration between all parties.

County Administrator Randy Partington reported on the latest financials:

Partington also noted that the county’s sales-tax survey will open to the public next week via QR code.

Economic Development Project Manager Katy Fallon reminded residents that Small Business Saturday is this weekend, adding that 65–67 cents of every dollar spent locally remains in the community.

County commission approves annexation moratorium 

With home fires rising sharply during the holiday season, the American Red Cross of South Central and Southeast Kansas is urging families to take simple, proactive steps to stay safe. Increased cooking, candles, and holiday decorations all contribute to a spike in home fires this time of year.

“One in five people the Red Cross assists after home fires are helped in just the holiday months,” said Shannon Wedge, Executive Director of the regional Red Cross chapter. “Home fires can strike quickly, leaving you with as little as two minutes to escape. Help protect your loved ones by practicing your home fire escape drill until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.”

The Red Cross encourages the public to choose flame-resistant or flame-retardant decorations and to inspect all holiday lights before use. Residents should:

Candles remain a leading cause of holiday home fires. The Red Cross recommends using flameless candles whenever possible, and reminds residents to:

The Red Cross urges households to install smoke alarms near the kitchen, on every floor, and inside and outside sleeping areas. Alarms should be tested monthly, and batteries replaced at least once a year. For individuals unable to afford or install smoke alarms, assistance may be available through the Red Cross.

Since launching nationwide in October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign has helped save at least 2,519 lives by installing free smoke alarms, creating escape plans, and teaching fire safety in high-risk communities.

To learn more or get involved, visit <a href="http://redcross.org/homefires">redcross.org/homefires</a>.

Red Cross urges Kansans to practice fire safety this holiday season 

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

Three-day weather outlook

NEW YORK (AP) —A judge on Wednesday dismissed the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-indictment-fani-willis-b9000b28e65fc8ebe57f6f9cca5cc3ef">Georgia election interference case</a>&nbsp;against President Donald Trump and others, bringing an end to the last of four criminal cases filed against him that threatened to upend his finances and take away his freedom as he sought a return to the White House.

The Georgia dismissal came after a new prosecutor in the case&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/georgia-trump-election-indictment-fani-willis-b9000b28e65fc8ebe57f6f9cca5cc3ef">declined to pursue the charges</a>.

Since Trump’s reelection last year, four separate criminal cases — including his hush money conviction and federal allegations of election interference and illegally hoarding classified documents — have either been dropped, resolved or put aside. On the civil side, several high-profile lawsuits against Trump have been quietly working their way through the appeals process.

Here’s a look at some of Trump’s criminal and civil cases and where they stand now:

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-deliberations-jury-testimony-verdict-85558c6d08efb434d05b694364470aa0">became the first former U.S. president</a>&nbsp;convicted of felonies when a New York jury found him guilty in May 2024 of falsifying business records to cover up&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-trial-hush-money-opening-stormy-daniels-6beee9b99114898ee0dd60185d43bac5">a hush money payment to a porn actor</a>&nbsp;who said the two had sex.

Though Trump could have faced jail time, Manhattan Judge Juan M. Merchan in January&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-stormy-daniels-33e070bd3c1acb609bba13f23d784a3a">sentenced</a>&nbsp;him instead to what’s known as an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction on the books but sparing him any punishment.

Trump was set to take office just days later, and Merchan said he had to respect Trump’s upcoming legal protections as president, even wishing him “Godspeed as you assume your second term in office.”

Trump is trying to get the conviction erased, a push that was given new life in November when a federal appeals court ordered a lower court&nbsp;<a href="https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/166b3213-136f-462d-b518-a40538e74103/1/doc/24-2299_opn.pdf#xml=https://ww3.ca2.uscourts.gov/decisions/isysquery/166b3213-136f-462d-b518-a40538e74103/1/hilite/" target="_blank">to reconsider its decision</a>&nbsp;to keep the case in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-sentencing-new-york-immunity-a905207c7db9fc48d022d68ac6cc12e1">state court</a>&nbsp;instead of moving it to federal court.

In August 2023, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">charged Trump and 18 others</a>&nbsp;with participating in a scheme to illegally try to overturn his narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

Willis cited Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mug-shot-donald-trump-indictment-839920116a244df3e55bdedf33820a80">January 2021 phone call</a>&nbsp;to Georgia’s secretary of state, an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-joe-biden-presidential-elections-election-2020-electoral-college-311f88768b65f7196f52a4757dc162e4">effort to replace</a>&nbsp;Georgia’s Democratic presidential electors with ones who would vote for Trump, harassment of a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-2022-midterm-elections-georgia-election-recounts-5cffe294a372eb32dc68588784202314">Fulton County election worker</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-technology-lawsuits-donald-trump-voting-6a1324cc6cf45c95ca086a5c81617b15">unauthorized copying</a>&nbsp;of data and software from elections equipment.

But the case stalled over revelations Willis had been in a relationship with the man she appointed to prosecute it. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fani-willis-georgia-election-indictment-removed-0aa6db3b7abed22eb08ed9323f687972">state appeals court in December</a>&nbsp;removed Willis from the case and the state Supreme Court later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fani-willis-appeal-georgia-supreme-court-trump-7be50feee272612484490b53592e7e08">declined to hear her appeal</a>.

Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, took over the case in November after he said several prosecutors declined to take it. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee issued a brief order dismissing the case in its entirety Wednesday after Skandalakis said he has decided not to pursue it further.

Special counsel Jack Smith charged Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">in August</a>&nbsp;2023 with conspiring to overturn the results of his election loss to President Joe Biden in the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors allege Trump and his allies knowingly promoted&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-2020-election-lies-debunked-4fc26546b07962fdbf9d66e739fbb50d">election fraud lies</a>&nbsp;in a bid to push state officials to overturn Biden’s win and pressure Vice President Mike Pence to disrupt the ceremonial counting of electoral votes.

But Smith moved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-justice-department-jack-smith-d6172cf98d8e03e099571c908267456c">to drop the case</a>&nbsp;after Trump won reelection in November. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/projects/trump-investigations-civil-criminal-tracker/">criminal prosecution</a>.

In a separate prosecution,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">Smith charged Trump in June 2023</a>&nbsp;with illegally retaining classified documents he took from the White House to Mar-a-Lago after he left office in January 2021, and then obstructing government demands to give them back. Prosecutors filed additional charges the following month, accusing Trump of showing a Pentagon “plan of attack” to visitors at his golf club in New Jersey.

Smith also moved to drop that case after Trump’s election victory.

In May 2023, a federal jury found that Trump sexually abused writer E. Jean Carroll in the mid-1990s and later defamed her. The jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-rape-carroll-trial-fe68259a4b98bb3947d42af9ec83d7db">awarded Carroll $5 million</a>.

In January 2024, a second jury&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-defamation-trial-e4ea8b93cdeb29857864ffd8d14be888">awarded Carroll an additional $83.3 million</a>&nbsp;in damages for comments Trump had made about her while he was president, finding that they were defamatory. A federal appeals court panel&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-appeal-award-d587004df6f7c46ec4a17b563a38bfa9">upheld the jury’s finding</a>&nbsp;in September. Trump has since asked the full appellate court to hear arguments and reconsider the ruling.

Trump also appealed the first jury decision, but a federal appeals court in December&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-lawsuit-defamation-trial-78e4196024539653a6de492312770ff2">upheld</a>&nbsp;it and then&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-e-jean-carroll-sexual-abuse-appeal-8e2db7bdb881ff0b9353b6fb17750f48">declined in June to reconsider</a>. In November, Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-abuse-defamation-supreme-court-be62982deb6821b62e0471f5bea3e64d">asked the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;to hear his appeal.

New York Attorney General Letitia James&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-deposition-new-york-lawsuit-letitia-james-8071b5cff84c1eaad7a4dc02f71191f1">sued Trump</a>&nbsp;in 2022, alleging he habitually exaggerated his wealth and the value of marquee assets like Trump Tower and Mar-a-Lago.

In February 2024, a New York judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-civil-fraud-verdict-engoron-244024861f0df886543c157c9fc5b3e4">ordered Trump to pay $355 million in penalties</a>, but an appeals court in August&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-lawsuit-appeal-db39d93feff322eeeeedbc1ff75ccaf3">threw out</a>&nbsp;that massive financial penalty while narrowly endorsing a lower court’s finding that he engaged in fraud by padding his wealth on financial statements provided to lenders and insurers.

The appeals court judges ruled that the penalty — which had soared to $515 million with interest tacked on each day — violated the U.S. Constitution’s ban on excessive fines. At the same time, they left in place other punishments, including bans on Trump and his two eldest sons from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-fraud-letitia-james-new-york-engoron-38bc3a7f2ccb22555c026e9bf70fd5bb">serving in corporate leadership</a>&nbsp;for a few years.

James&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-new-york-fraud-penalty-billions-appeal-b613dacb27d64644bde94fe96da1cc9d">filed a notice of appeal</a>&nbsp;with the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, in September.

 Here's where all the legal cases against Trump stand since his return to the White House

ISTANBUL, Turkey (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pope-leo-xiv">Pope Leo XIV</a>&nbsp;visited Istanbul’s iconic Blue Mosque on Saturday but didn't stop to pray, as he focused more on bolstering ties with Orthodox patriarchs and promoting courageous steps for Eastern and Western churches to be united.

Leo took his shoes off and, in his white socks, toured the 17th-century mosque, looking up at its soaring tiled domes and the Arabic inscriptions on its columns as an imam pointed them out to him.

The Vatican had said Leo would observe a “brief moment of silent prayer” in the mosque, but he didn't. An imam of the mosque, Asgin Tunca, said he had invited Leo to pray, since the mosque was “Allah's house,” but the pope declined.

Later, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: “The pope experienced his visit to the mosque in silence, in a spirit of contemplation and listening, with deep respect for the place and the faith of those who gather there in prayer.”

Leo, history's first American pope, was following in the footsteps of his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/2444bfb0a63143d19605055b29ceba6d">recent predecessors,</a>&nbsp;who all made high-profile visits to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, as it is officially known, in a gesture of respect to Turkey’s Muslim majority.

Papal visits to Blue Mosque often raise questions

But the visits have always raised questions about whether the pope would pray in the Muslim house of worship, or at the very least pause to gather thoughts in a meditative silence.

When Pope Benedict XVI visited Turkey in 2006, tensions were high because Benedict had offended many in the Muslim world a few months earlier with a speech in Regensburg, Germany that was widely interpreted as linking Islam and violence.

The Vatican added a visit to the Blue Mosque at the last minute in a bid to reach out to Muslims. He observed a moment of silent prayer, head bowed, as the imam prayed next to him, facing east.

Benedict later thanked him “for this moment of prayer" for what was only the second time a pope had visited a mosque, after St. John Paul II visited one briefly in Syria in 2001.

There were no doubts in 2014 when Pope Francis visited the Blue Mosque: He stood for two minutes of silent prayer facing east, his head bowed, eyes closed and hands clasped in front of him. The Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Rahmi Yaran, told the pope afterwards, “May God accept it.”

With Leo, though, even the Vatican seemed caught off guard by his decision not to pray. The Holy See had to correct the official record of the visit after it originally kept the planned reference to him pausing for prayer.

Speaking to reporters after the visit, the imam Tunca said he had told the pope: “It’s not my house, not your house, (it’s the) house of Allah.” He said he invited Leo to worship "But he said, ‘That’s OK.’”

“He wanted to see the mosque, wanted to feel (the) atmosphere of the mosque, I think. And was very pleased,” he said.

In the afternoon, Leo prayed with the spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox Christians, Patriarch Bartholomew, at the patriarchal church of Saint George.

There, they prayed the doxology, a hymn of praise and glory to God, and signed a joint declaration vowing to take courageous steps on the path to unity including to find a common date for Easter.

Eastern and Western churches split in the Great Schism of 1054, a divide precipitated largely by disagreements over the primacy of the pope. While ties have warmed, they remain divided and other schisms have formed.

“It is our shared desire to continue the process of exploring a possible solution for celebrating together the Feast of Feasts every year,” the joint statement said, referring to Easter.

The Vatican said in his remarks to the patriarchs gathered, Leo pointed to the next Holy Year to be celebrated by Christians, in 2033 on the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion, and invited them to go to Jerusalem on “a journey that leads to full unity.”

Leo's final event was a Catholic Mass in Istanbul's Volkswagen Arena for the country's Catholic community, who number 33,000 in a country of more than 85 million people, most of whom are Sunni Muslim.

Renato Marai was among a group of 26 visitors from Florence, Italy, who traveled to Istanbul to see the pope. “It’s wonderful to see him on his first foreign trip, a really important moment for our group,” he said.

Tarcin Unlu, meanwhile, was among many Turkish attendees, a recent convert to Christianity from Islam. "I became Christian because I thought it was the best religion for me but my family is definitely not happy,” Unlu said.

Her friend, Rodrick Nuel, originally from Nigeria’s Biafra region but now living in northern Cyprus, said the papal visit sent a “a powerful message for the global Christian community.”

“Also, as Turkey is 99.9% Muslim and just 0.1% Christian, it shows the pope is reaching out to other religions as well,” he added.

The Airbus software update doesn't spare pope

While Leo was focusing on bolstering relations with Catholics, Orthodox Christians and Muslims, trip organizers were dealing with more mundane issues.

Leo's ITA Airways Airbus A320neo charter was among those caught up in the worldwide Airbus software update, ordered by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. The order came after an analysis found the computer code may have contributed to a sudden drop in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jetblue-flight-emergency-landing-florida-4b5d0809c2a11a197634a4b0cdf343f1">altitude of a JetBlue plane</a>&nbsp;last month.

The Vatican spokesman, Bruni, said the necessary monitor to update the aircraft was on its way to Istanbul from Rome along with the technician who would install it.

Leo is scheduled to fly from Istanbul to Beirut, Lebanon, on Sunday afternoon for the second leg of his inaugural trip as pope.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/ap-twir">collaboration</a>&nbsp;with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Surprise move by the Pope in visit to Istanbul's Blue Mosque 

&nbsp;KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a missing persons case say it is now a homicide investigation.

The victim, according to Independence police, Elayjah Murray, was reported missing on Nov. 28. Police learned Murray had possibly been shot. He was found dead in South Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday.

Police want to speak with 28-year-old Eric Phillips II in connection with the homicide investigation.

Police: Missing person case now a KC homicide investigation

NEW YORK (AP) — Despite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-friday-shopping-sales-prices-deals-bbefeb75238596fa23ee59c3f647c361">wider economic uncertainty</a>&nbsp;hovering above this year's holiday season, shoppers turned out in big numbers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/black-friday-deals-holiday-shopping-2d85fcbab82d71ecd930b6fe1060f3c1">for Black Friday</a>&nbsp;— spending billions of dollars both in stores and online.

Adobe Analytics, which tracks e-commerce, said U.S. consumers spent a record $11.8 billion online Friday, marking a 9.1% jump from last year. Traffic particularly piled up between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. local time nationwide, when $12.5 million passed through online shopping carts every minute.

Consumers also spent a record $6.4 billion online on Thanksgiving Day, per Adobe. Top categories that saw an uptick in sales across both days included video game consoles, electronics and home appliances. Shopping services powered by artificial intelligence and social media advertising have also particularly influenced what consumers choose to buy, the firm said.

Meanwhile, software company Salesforce — which tracks digital spending from a range of retailers, including grocers — estimated that Black Friday online sales totaled $18 billion in the U.S. and $79 billion globally. And e-commerce platform Shopify said its merchants raked in a record $6.2 billion in sales worldwide on Black Friday. At its peak, sales reached $5.1 million per minute — with top categories including cosmetics and clothing, according to the Canadian company.

Mastercard SpendingPulse, which tracks in-person and online spending, reported that overall Black Friday sales excluding automotive rose 4.1% from a year ago. The retail sales indicator, which is not adjusted for inflation, showed online sales jumped by double digits (10.4%), while in-store purchases inched up 1.7%.

Michelle Meyer, chief economist at the Mastercard Economics Institute, said consumers are “navigating an uncertain environment” this holiday season “by shopping early, leveraging promotions, and investing in wish-list items.”

Black Friday is far from the sales event that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/when-is-black-friday-2024-holiday-shopping-7a1d3de4b7eeebe9a93d0aef29b12ac1">created midnight mall crowds or doorbuster mayhem</a>&nbsp;just decades ago. More and more consumers have instead turned to online deals to make post-Thanksgiving purchases from the comfort of their own homes — or opt to stretch out spending across longer promotions now offered by retailers.

In-store traffic has dwindled over the years. Initial data from RetailNext, which measures real-time foot traffic in physical stores, found that U.S. Black Friday traffic fell 3.6% compared to 2024. Still, the firm noted that was “notably better” than a sharper 6.2% decline it saw in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

Sensormatic Solutions, which also tracks store traffic, found that in-store retail visits dipped 2.1% — but said that was in line with expectations and trends already seen this year. Traffic over the week of Black Friday was up nearly 57% compared to the week prior, per Sensormatic.

“Black Friday has really turned into like a full week event, or even further,” said Grant Gustafson, head of retail consulting and analytics at Sensormatic Solutions. And “Black Friday is really the start of just a really and critical stretch for retailers,” he added — noting that the weekend following Thanksgiving, as well as the days leading up to Christmas next month, will also be some of the busiest in terms of in-store traffic.

Meanwhile, in terms of e-commerce, Adobe expects U.S. shoppers to spend another $5.5 billion Saturday and $5.9 billion on Sunday — before reaching an estimated $14.2 billion peak on Cyber Monday, which would mark yet another record.

Still, rising prices could be contributing to some of those numbers. U.S. President Donald Trump’s barrage of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tariffs">tariffs</a>&nbsp;on foreign imports&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/de-minimis-tariffs-small-business-d4df6f00651eb33ea5d97fad5d7273d6">have strained businesses</a>&nbsp;and households alike over the last year. And despite spending more overall, Salesforce found U.S. shoppers purchased fewer items at checkout on Black Friday (down 2% from last year). Order volumes also slipped 1%, the firm noted, as average selling prices climbed 7%.

This year’s holiday spending rush arrives amid heightened economic uncertainty for consumers. Beyond tariffs, workers across public and private sectors are also struggling with anxieties over job security — amid both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/layoffs-us-economy-job-numbers-cd9d657cb7d7b4429f2c8346e18f8840">corporate layoffs</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-snap-thanksgiving-holiday-7a812cfb02cadf5f61ebab0b4784d8e2">after-effects of the 43-day government shutdown</a>.

An uptick in budget-conscious behavior can also be seen in store traffic. While Sensormatic doesn’t track spending, “we do track consumer footsteps,” Gustafson notes — and “consumers are thinking a little bit harder about their purchases” this year, he explains, “to make sure that they’re getting their very best deals.”

For the November-December holiday season overall, the National Retail Federation estimates U.S. shoppers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/national-retail-federation-holiday-forecast-tariffs-inflation-de5b851a009fed78b446676c1d944853">will spend more than $1 trillion</a>&nbsp;for the first time this year. But the rate of growth is slowing — with an anticipated increase of 3.7% to 4.2% year over year, compared to 4.3% in 2024’s holiday season.

At the same time, credit card debt and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buy-now-pay-later-missed-payments-regulation-f7fd30f2a0e900460919fad76a1e0dbf">delinquencies on other short-term loans</a>&nbsp;have been rising. And more and more shoppers are turning to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/buy-now-pay-later-loans-installments-02852578a991fb0d31879acd0b687e0d">“buy now, pay later” plans</a>, which allows them to delay payments on holiday decor, gifts and other items.

Shoppers spend billions on Black Friday to snag holiday deals, despite wider economic uncertainty

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A man who admitted to charges in a fatal hit-and-run that killed a motorcyclist is going to prison.

Last Friday, Judge William Woolley sentenced 31-year-old Nathan Luck&nbsp;to 69 months in prison, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;&nbsp;On September 26, Luck pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter while driving under the influence and failure to stop at the scene of a crash, according to the district attorney's office.

Just before 10p.m. July 28, 2024, police responded to a 2-vehicle collision the area of East Central and Bristol in Wichita.

Police determined a motorcycle driven by 64-year-old Steven Golik was westbound on Central Avenue in Wichita when an eastbound Honda CR-V driven by Luck failed to yield the right of way, struck the motorcycle and fled the accident scene. EMS transported Golik to to a local hospital. He died days later.

Officers later located the Honda&nbsp; CR-V in the 500 block of Bristol Court and took Luck into custody.

Prison for SUV driver in deadly hit-and-run crash

KANSAS CITY– A Kansas City, Missouri, woman was sentenced this week to federal prison and ordered to pay restitution for a fraud scheme in which she embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from her employer, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jennifer L. Cabral, 52, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Bough, to 60 months in federal prison on for one count of bank fraud and one count of money laundering to run concurrently and ordered her to pay restitution in the amount of $306,034.28 to her former employer and to forfeit $1,393.50.

As part of her plea, Cabral admitted that she stole money from the checking account of her employer and used those funds for her personal benefit, including purchasing a 2019 Mazda CX-9 automobile, in which she has since agreed to forfeit all interests.

According to information presented in court, Cabral made unauthorized Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments to herself&nbsp;using her employer’s online account at a local financial institution.&nbsp; Cabral accessed her employer’s accounting software and directed payments to&nbsp;her personal bank accounts at two other financial institutions. Once those funds were deposited in her personal accounts, she used them for various personal benefits including vehicle payments toward the purchase of her car.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rudolph R. Rhodes IV. This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grandview, Mo. Police Department.

KC woman admits stealing money from employer to buy a car

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Saturday said that the airspace “above and surrounding”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/venezuela">Venezuela</a>&nbsp;should be considered as “closed in its entirety,” an assertion that raised more questions about the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-cartel-soles-us-drugs-terrorist-f778922c04b4f514092bd29b91e77358">U.S. pressure</a>&nbsp;on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. His government accused Trump of making a ”colonial threat" and seeking to undermine the South American country's sovereignty.

The White House did not respond to questions about what Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, and it was unclear whether he was announcing a new policy or simply reinforcing the messaging around his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-maduro-us-trump-drugs-strikes-negotiations-70e6017cdde101d06ebbc15cbb5a44fd">campaign against Maduro</a>, which has involved&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-drugs-25000-lives-c6e4c750b0dc6f15d397d598c9bd169f">multiple strikes</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean on small boats accused of ferrying drugs as well as a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aircraft-carrier-venezuela-trump-ford-strikes-drugs-241ea9e039d717b9f80f793922cb7cc9">buildup of naval forces</a>&nbsp;in the region. More than 80 people have been killed in such strikes since early September.

The Republican president addressed his call for an aerial blockade to “Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers,” rather than to Maduro.

Venezuela’s government said it “forcefully rejects” Trump’s claim about closing the airspace and that it was a “colonial threat” intended to undermine the country's "territorial integrity, aeronautical security and full sovereignty.”

The Foreign Ministry said “such declarations constitute a hostile, unilateral and arbitrary act.”

The statement also said that U.S. immigration authorities had unilaterally suspended biweekly deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants. Following negotiations between the two governments, more than 13,000 Venezuelans have been deported to Venezuela this year on dozens of chartered flights, the latest of which arrived late Friday in Caracas, the capital, according to flight-tracking data.

International airlines last week began to cancel flights to Venezuela after the Federal Aviation Administration told pilots to be cautious flying around the country because of heightened military activity.

The FAA’s jurisdiction is generally limited to the United States and its territories. The agency does routinely warn pilots about the dangers of flying over areas with ongoing conflicts or military activity around the globe, as it did earlier this month with Venezuela. The FAA works with other countries and the International Civil Aviation Organization on international issues. The FAA and ICAO did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.

Trump's administration has sought to ratchet up pressure on Maduro. The U.S. government does not view Maduro as the legitimate leader of the oil-rich but increasingly impoverished South American nation and he faces charges of narcoterrorism in the U.S.

U.S. forces have conducted bomber flights near Venezuela and the USS Gerald R. Ford, America's most advanced aircraft carrier, was sent to the area. The Ford rounds off the largest&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-military-buildup-caribbean-venezuela-ships-troops-810f6181371f53536c723ea562c5277c">buildup of U.S. firepower</a>&nbsp;in the region in generations. With its arrival, the “Operation Southern Spear” mission includes nearly a dozen Navy ships and about 12,000 sailors and Marines.

There are bipartisan calls for greater oversight of the U.S. military strikes against vessels in the region after The Washington Post reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order for all crew members to be killed as part of the Sept. 2 attack on suspected drug smugglers.

Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and its top Democrat, Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed, said in a joint statement late Friday that the committee "will be conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to these circumstances.”

Trump’s team has weighed both military and nonmilitary options with Venezuela, including covert action by the CIA.

Trump has publicly floated the idea of talking to Maduro. The New York Times reported Friday that Trump and Maduro had spoken. The White House declined to answer questions about the conversation.

President Trump declares Venezuela airspace closed

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 7a.m. Saturday in Kansas City, Kansas.

According to Kansas City, Kansas police, an SUV driven by a man in 60s was northbound in the 1300 Block of N 38th Street. The vehicle veered off the road into a parking lot and struck two posts.

First responders pronounced the man deceased at the scene.&nbsp; Police did n ot release his name of additional details.

Driver dies after SUV crash in Kansas City parking lot

WASHINGTON — Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s upcoming resignation from Congress set off a series of questions and misinformation about what health care and pension benefits lawmakers receive once they leave public service.&nbsp;

The system is a bit complex and determined by when a lawmaker entered Congress as well as how long they stayed. Members must serve at least five years, putting Greene just over the eligibility line&nbsp;<a href="https://georgiarecorder.com/2025/11/21/georgia-congresswoman-marjorie-taylor-greene-says-she-will-resign-in-january/" target="_blank">when she officially steps aside</a>&nbsp;in January.&nbsp;

Members of Congress elected after 1984 are covered under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System. The four House lawmakers and one senator elected before then may be under the Civil Service Retirement System, so their benefit may be calculated differently than that of their colleagues.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The nonpartisan Congressional Research Service explains in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/RL/PDF/RL30631/RL30631.39.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;about lawmakers’ retirement benefits that “pensions, like those of other federal employees, are financed through a combination of employee and employer contributions.”&nbsp;

“Under both CSRS and FERS, Members of Congress are eligible for a pension at the age of 62 if they have completed at least 5 years of service,” the report states. “Members are eligible for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after completing 25 years of service. The amount of the pension depends on length of service (as measured in months) and the average of the highest three years of salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.”

All members also must pay into Social Security, and how much in taxes they pay and benefits they receive are the same as for all beneficiaries.

Members of Congress, except for leadership, are paid $174,000 a year.

Greene, who began her congressional career on Jan. 3, 2021, will be just over the five-year requirement when she formally resigns on Jan. 5.&nbsp;

Greene will receive about $8,700 in pension benefits per year for the rest of her life, after she turns 62. She is now 51.

Former U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who was first sworn in on June 2, 1987, after winning a special election, will receive considerably more in pension benefits given that she was a member for decades longer than Greene and had a higher salary during her time in leadership.&nbsp;

The National Taxpayers Union Foundation&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntu.org/foundation/detail/pelosi-to-exit-congress-with-one-of-the-largest-pensions-on-record" target="_blank">expects</a>&nbsp;Pelosi will receive an annual pension of $107,860 after she retires in January 2027.&nbsp;

Members of Congress who retire or resign are eligible to purchase health insurance from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program as long as they had health insurance from the District of Columbia’s Affordable Care Act marketplace “for the five years of service immediately prior to retirement,” according to a different CRS&nbsp;<a href="https://sgp.fas.org/crs/misc/R43194.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>.&nbsp;

While in Congress, lawmakers are eligible to have some of their health coverage offset by their employer — the federal government — as long as they purchase it through the D.C. marketplace, known as DC Health Link. Like others in the states, it was created by the Affordable Care Act.

As with group health insurance plans, the amount subsidized by the federal government depends on whether a lawmaker selects a health plan that covers themselves or themselves plus eligible family members.&nbsp;

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