Agricultural education at Buhler High School has grown into one of the school’s largest and most diverse career and technical programs, serving students from a wide range of backgrounds and interests.

John Clark, one of four agriculture teachers and an FFA advisor at Buhler High School, recently discussed the scope and impact of the program during an appearance on the BW Morning Show. Clark is in his 34th year of teaching agriculture in the district, having joined the program in the fall of 1992.

Clark said the appeal of the job has never faded.

“I get to work with kids, and I get to work with agriculture,” Clark said. “Those are two of the best things I could imagine turning into a career.”

The agriculture program has expanded significantly since Clark began teaching. What was once a department with a single instructor has grown to four teachers offering multiple career pathways. Those pathways include animal systems, plant systems, and power, structural, and technical systems, commonly known as agricultural mechanics.

Clark currently teaches advanced animal science, advanced plant science with an emphasis on agronomy and crop production, food science, agricultural business management, and advanced agricultural mechanics. Other offerings include introductory agriculture science, horticulture, floral design, greenhouse management, and agricultural fabrication, where students design and build metal projects.

Agriculture education at Buhler has evolved far beyond traditional production farming. Clark noted that while some students pursue agricultural careers, many enroll to develop leadership, communication, and career-readiness skills.

“Agriculture today includes animals, plants, mechanics, food science, business, communications, and technology,” Clark said. “If it deals with food or fiber, it fits somewhere under the agriculture umbrella.”

FFA plays a central role in that development. Through the organization, students participate in competitions, community service, fundraising, and leadership events at the local, district, state, and national levels. Clark estimates the program offers nearly 150 different activities, allowing students to choose opportunities that align with their interests.

Enrollment numbers reflect the program’s reach. Buhler High School has approximately 650 to 700 students, with about 200 enrolled in agriculture classes this year. Clark said that over half of graduating seniors typically take at least one agriculture class during their high school career.

The program’s growth traces back to the late 1980s, when non-traditional courses such as veterinary science and horticulture were added. Enrollment quickly increased, reversing what had been a decline in participation.

Career pathways supported by the program extend well beyond farming. Students pursue careers in welding, mechanics, veterinary services, wildlife conservation, golf course management, landscaping, irrigation, food science, agribusiness, and emerging technologies such as drone applications in agriculture. Some graduates enter the workforce directly, while others continue on to community colleges, technical programs, or four-year universities.

Clark emphasized that his goal goes beyond graduation.

“If my job is just to get a kid to the graduation stage, I’m failing them and their families,” he said. “My job is to help them become productive citizens, lifelong learners, and contributors to their community.”

Clark said the continued success of the program reflects both student interest and community support, making agricultural education a cornerstone of career and technical learning at Buhler High School.

Buhler Ag and FFA program prepares students for diverse careers

The Hutchinson Fire Department responded early Saturday morning to a structure fire in the 800 block of North Plum.

Fire crews were dispatched at approximately 7:10 a.m. and arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the attic of the residence. According to the department, firefighters made an aggressive fire attack in the attic and from the roof to bring the blaze under control.

One person was displaced as a result of the fire. No injuries were reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Hutch Fire Department fights early morning house fire

 Hutchinson Career &amp; Technical Education Academy (HCTEA) hosted the SkillsUSA District Tournament on Thursday, November 20, welcoming students from Pratt and Ellinwood high schools. The event featured Leadership competitions including Job Interview, Job Demonstration A, and Job Demonstration Open.

SkillsUSA is a national organization that provides students in technical and career training programs, from middle school through postsecondary education, opportunities to develop leadership skills, compete in industry-related events, and connect with local employers.

HCTEA students dominated the district, qualifying nine out of ten positions for the State SkillsUSA Conference, which will be held March 2–3, 2026. Contestants represented HCTEA’s Welding, Auto Body and Collision, Auto Mechanics, and Machining programs. Judges represented the professional community from around Reno County.

Job Interview – Postsecondary 1st Place: Chyanne Myers, HCTEA (Hutchinson Community College)

Job Interview – High School 1st Place: Weldon Stanley, HCTEA (Haven HS) 2nd Place: Blake Beamont, HCTEA (Hutchinson HS) 3rd Place: Brody Root, HCTEA (Hutchinson HS)

Job Demonstration A 1st Place: Jake Wolfe, HCTEA (Hutchinson HS) 2nd Place: Johanna Forssberg, (Pratt HS) 3rd Place: Harlie Terrell, HCTEA (Buhler HS)

Job Demonstration Open 1st Place: Hayden Von Ahnen, HCTEA (Hutchinson HS) 2nd Place: Jared Miller, HCTEA (Buhler HS) 3rd Place: Tanner Loughrie, HCTEA (Haven HS)

Glenna Burden, SkillsUSA Sponsor and HHS Government Teacher, said, “I couldn’t be prouder of our students for their outstanding performances at the SkillsUSA district competition. Their dedication and professionalism truly shined, and they represented our school with exceptional skill and character. Watching them grow into confident, capable leaders is the greatest reward of all.”  

HCTEA is proud of the students’ accomplishments and looks forward to cheering them on at the State SkillsUSA Conference in March 2026. Their success reflects the dedication of both the students and instructors in preparing for these competitive leadership and technical events.

 HCTEA shines at SkillsUSA District Tournament, qualifies nine students for state competition

&nbsp;Food, Toys, Clothing, Blankets, and Stocking Stuffers have all been given, however The Salvation Army still needs our help. Their Annual Christmas campaign goes until January 31, but a big part of their $300,000 goal comes from their red kettles in front of retail stores.

“There have been so many generous donors”, said Major James. However, The Salvation Army is running about $15,000 behind on its red kettle goal. After Thursday’s windstorm and the chaos of the grass fire, The Salvation Army has slipped further behind this season’s red kettle goal of $85,000. As of Friday morning, they were still needing $30,449.

A few ways you can help is to go to RegisterToRing.com and volunteer to ring bells. It's for this reason that Westphal Jewelers is also encouraging people to volunteer to help The Salvation Army. Monday, Westphal Jewelers is giving out a diamond ring to a lucky volunteer who will ring the bell for The Salvation army. There will be a drawing the week of Christmas on Monday Dec. 22 on KWBW at 7:15am. However, you must get registered by this Sunday to qualify.

The other ways to help are to give. Give into the red kettle, donate online at GiveWithJoyHutch.com, through the mail, or drop off a donation at their office at 700 N Walnut. Today is also the last $20 Bill Match Day! Let’s help The Salvation Army cross the finish line as they help so many in need throughout the year.

Salvation Army: A Christmas SOS

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. ——————————————

Keeon	Patrick	Roberts	12/19/2025 1:33&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Austin	Tyler	Webb	12/19/2025 3:20&nbsp;PM	Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misdemeanor case, Execution of Misdemeanor Warrant,				Ignition Interlock Device; Tamper with,				Alcohol; Illegal Transportation of Alcoholic Beverage,				DUI; 3rd conv in 10 yrs; incapable of safe driving

Andrew	Ray	Gutierez	12/19/2025 4:23&nbsp;PM	Criminal Restraint,&nbsp;Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or post-release supervision

Troy	Lee	Harlin	12/19/2025 4:33&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Christopher	Lee	Craig	12/19/2025 5:27&nbsp;PM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction), Criminal Deprivation of Property; Other than Motor Vehicle or Firearm

Candido	Jose	Hernandez	12/19/2025 5:37&nbsp;PM	DUI; 3rd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Logan	William	Ayers	12/20/2025 12:41&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+

Daily Bookings

<a target="_blank" href="https://go.kansascourts.gov/l/nBuk37uY0h0eQM88ZJV6EIUlvXLO-nDqaJVpbF9yXoc">Chief Justice Marla&nbsp;Luckert</a>&nbsp;will resign from the office of chief justice on January 2, but she will remain as a justice on the Supreme Court until she retires on a date to be announced.&nbsp;

The Kansas Constitution includes a provision that allows&nbsp;Luckert&nbsp;to step back from her duties as chief justice while she continues to serve as justice. She said it is her intent to finish work on cases she heard before mid-October, when she took medical leave following a stroke.

Luckert&nbsp;said her decision to step back as chief justice and ultimately retire from the Supreme Court was made through careful deliberation, both individually and with her family, and it was not without hesitation. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NGjIp0AL_U">LINK: Video message from Chief Justice Marla Lukert</a>

“When I left Goodland to attend college and law school, I never imagined I would serve on the Supreme Court or as chief justice,” she said. “I achieved far more than I imagined I would as a young woman from rural Kansas, and it has been my great honor to serve Kansans as a judge, justice, and chief justice.”

Luckert&nbsp;was the second woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court and the second to serve as chief justice. She said the privilege to engage in work she loves made her decision to step back and ultimately retire more difficult. She added that knowing she leaves the court in good hands made her decision easier.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://go.kansascourts.gov/l/nBuk37uY0h0eQM88ZJV6EMU36wiUgY-051o53UGjt1Y">Justice Eric Rosen</a>, who has served recently as acting chief justice, &nbsp;will formally step into the chief justice role on January 2. The role is reserved for the justice who has the most continuous years of service on the court. &nbsp; &nbsp;

“Justice Rosen and I have served side by side for more than 20 years, and I appreciate his leadership serving as acting chief justice these last few months,”&nbsp;Luckert&nbsp;said. “It reassures me to know I will transfer responsibility to his very capable hands.”&nbsp;

Luckert&nbsp;and Rosen both served as district judges in the 3rd Judicial District, a one-county district composed of Shawnee County, before they were appointed to the Supreme Court in 2002 and 2005.&nbsp;

Rosen said he’s grateful for his years working with&nbsp;Luckert&nbsp;and for her guiding influence as chief justice. He noted her efforts to build and strengthen relationships within state government and for ushering the court system through adversity.&nbsp;

“Her tenure as chief justice was fraught with challenge, but she managed it all with unflappable grace,” he said. “Not only did she help us overcome major obstacles, but she also made our court system stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the future. I will greatly miss her as a colleague and confidant, but she will always remain both a professional and close personal friend.”

Luckert&nbsp;said she will also resign from her roles on national committees. She currently is chair of the Civil Justice Committee and a member of the Access and Fairness Committees, both of which are joint ventures involving the Conference of Chief Justices and the Conference of State Court Administrators.&nbsp;

She will also resign her position on the Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction, which is part of the Judicial Conference of the United States, and her service is on the invitation of Chief Justice John Roberts.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://go.kansascourts.gov/l/nBuk37uY0h0eQM88ZJV6EBVULmhm_1s9J4xrbUYrgK0">Luckert&nbsp;is a fourth-generation native of Sherman County.</a>&nbsp;She has been a Shawnee County resident since enrolling at Washburn University for her undergraduate studies. She earned a bachelor's degree in history and a law degree from Washburn University School of Law.

After working 12 years in private practice, she was appointed a district judge for the 3rd Judicial District in 1992. She later served as the district’s chief judge, a role she held for three years. She was the first woman in Kansas appointed to a chief judge role.&nbsp;

Chief Justice Marla Luckert to step back from role

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

Three-day Outlook

SALINE COUNTY—A school bus driver and passengers avoided injury in a rear-end crash just after 3:30p.m. Friday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Chevy Silverado driven by Cody Allan Denio, 31, McPherson, was westbound on Interstate 70 just east of the Interstate 135 Junction. The pickup rear-ended a 2016 Bluebird school bus driven by Howard Doug&nbsp;Schanks, 68, Randolph, who had slowed to take the exit.

Denio, Schanks and 24 passengers on the bus were not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

McPherson driver rear-ends school bus on I-70

WASHINGTON, DC (December 18, 2025) – This holiday season is delivering cheaper gas prices as travelers hit the road in record numbers. 

The national average dropped more than 4 cents since last week to $2.89. This is the cheapest December at the pump since the end of 2020. Crude oil prices remain low, and despite an increase in gasoline demand over the holidays, supply is strong. 

Overall, 2025 has been a stable year for the national average with few fluctuations and no sharp spikes.&nbsp;

&nbsp; Here are the average prices around the area:

Holiday season delivers lower gas prices to end 2025

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks to author Ted Harbin about his book, "The World's Toughest Rodeo."

🎙 Forward Ever: Ted Harbin, author of 'World's Toughest Rodeo'

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SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a homicide in Topeka. Just after 11:45p.m. Friday, police responded to a report of a possible shooting in the 900 block of SW Lincoln Avenue in Topeka, according to Police Lt. John Trimble.

First responders located 2 victims who were deceased. Police believe all people involved in this incident are accounted for. Police did not report the names of the victims or possible suspect details.

Homicide: 2 found dead in Kansas shooting

RUSSELL COUNTY —Multiple fire departments and first responder agencies responded to two large grass fires in southeast Russell County on Thursday, according to Russell County Emergency Management.

At noon, the first fire was located eight miles southwest of Bunker Hill in the area of 189th Street and Lincoln Road. Russell County Rural Fire District Five responded, but almost immediately requested more Russell County rural fire departments respond due to high winds with gusts in the 60 to 70 mph range. The cause of the first fire was electrical power lines.

The second fire to the north started approximately a mile south of US Highway 40 on 193rd Street south of Bunker Hill. It was caused by a responding fire truck losing a tire and crashing into the ditch.

All told, approximately 2,000 acres of grassland were burned in both fires. There were no injuries due to the fires and a handful of structures and residences were threatened, but none were damaged.

Russell County EMS responded to a crash involving a Russell County Sheriff’s Deputy vehicle and a Dorrance Fire Department fire truck. No one was transported to the hospital and the Kansas Highway Patrol investigated both vehicle crashes, the other being the fire truck that lost a tire.

Early in the process, a verbal disaster declaration for Russell County was requested and approved by the Russell County Commission, thereby allowing the request of mutual aid resources from the state.

All fire departments from Russell County were involved in the response, as well as fire departments and additional agencies from multiple surrounding counties.

Both fires were declared under control at around 5 PM Thursday evening with some firefighters remaining on scene to put out hot spots and monitor the area.

Russell County Emergency Management, the Russell County Sheriff’s Office and Russell County Rural Fire District Five thank all local and state agencies that responded to assist, as well as private citizens and businesses.

2,000 acres of Kansas grassland burned in windy wildfire

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — President Donald Trump took the first step Thursday to reclassify marijuana, but the move won’t affect Kansans unless the state changes its laws, a law enforcement professional said.&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/increasing-medical-marijuana-and-cannabidiol-research/" target="_blank">signed an executive order</a>&nbsp;to drop marijuana from a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act to a Schedule III drug.&nbsp;

In 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended the change, indicating marijuana has medical use.

“Schedule I drugs are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug under medical supervision,” the order said. “Schedule III drugs are classified as having a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II, a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and a potential for moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence in the event of drug abuse.”

The change doesn’t take immediate effect on the federal level, but it will not affect Kansans unless laws are changed, said Ed Klumpp, a retired Topeka police chief and a lobbyist for the Kansas Peace Officers Association.

“Under state law, it’s still under Schedule I,” he said. “If this happens and it sticks, then there would need to be some kind of bill run to move it from Schedule I to Schedule III on the state schedule, and then it’s still a controlled substance.”

If marijuana moves to become a Schedule III drug, it could be prescribed through pharmacies for medicinal use, Klumpp said.&nbsp;

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation urged Kansans to remember that marijuana is still illegal and that rescheduling it is “not the same as legalization.”&nbsp;

“Marijuana products sold today are highly potent and pose a direct threat to public health,” the news release said. “Rescheduling will allow qualified scientists to conduct reliable research on the long-term impact on the human brain of the use of high-concentration THC products. We believe this will conclusively prove the connection between marijuana use and mental health disorders, especially in children and teens.”

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, was one of 24 Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26382687-12172025-budd-letter-on-marijuana-rescheduling/" target="_blank">who signed a letter</a>&nbsp;asking Trump not to change marijuana’s classification.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Rescheduling marijuana to a Schedule III drug will undermine your strong efforts to Make America Great Again and to usher in America’s next economic Golden Age,” the letter said. “The only winners from rescheduling will be bad actors such as Communist China, while Americans will be left paying the bill.”

Kansas marijuana laws remain unchanged, despite Trump promoting looser regulations

RILEY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 6p.m. Friday in Riley&nbsp; County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Chevy Lumina driven by Stephen Lynn&nbsp;Williams, 63, Green, Kansas, was southbound&nbsp;on U.S. 77 at U.S. 24 and struck pedestrian identified as Thomas William&nbsp;McHugh, 77, Riley, in the southbound lane. McHugh landed in the northbound lane. A northbound 2017 Chevy Silverado driven by Jude Lewis Benson, 20, Clay Center, also struck McHugh.

EMS transported McHugh, Williams and a passenger in the car Brenda Lynn Williams, 71, Green, Kansas, to Via Christi in Manhattan. McHugh was pronounced deceased. Benson was not injured. The occupants of both vehicles were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after struck by a car and a pickup

By DAVE SKRETTA &nbsp;AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas City Chiefs appear to be mere days away from taking a big step toward a move across the state line, and eventually leaving their longtime home at Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri for a new and likely covered stadium in Kansas.

With a year-end deadline approaching, the Legislative Coordinating Council is scheduled to meet Monday in Topeka, Kansas, where it will consider approving STAR bonds that would fund up to 70% of a stadium project to help lure the NFL franchise to the state.

The Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals have played for more than 50 years in side-by-side stadiums in Jackson County, Missouri. But those leases are due to expire in January 2031, and the two franchises have been working for years on their future plans.

Voters in Jackson County soundly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/chiefs-royals-kansas-city-stadiums-e9605296b85e91699441e4ba10e83212">defeated a local sales tax extension</a>&nbsp;last year that would have helped to finance an $800 million renovation of Arrowhead and a $2 billion ballpark district for the Royals in downtown Kansas City. Since then, the Chiefs and Royals have pursued separate plans, though momentum appears to be growing behind both of them moving to Kansas.

The likely destination for the Chiefs is The Legends, a regional shopping mall and commercial area in Kansas City, Kansas. There is plenty of land available for a stadium and mixed-use commercial district, but it also has anchors in place, such as Kansas Speedway, the Hollywood Casino and Children's Mercy Park, the home of Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

The location is also ideal because it stands at the crossroads of Interstates 70 and 435, allowing for relatively easy traffic flow.

“The state of Kansas is in active discussions with the Kansas City Chiefs about the prospects of building a new stadium and other facilities in Kansas,” the Kansas Department of Commerce said in a statement. “No final agreement has been reached, but this would be a massive economic win for Kansas and benefit Kansans for generations to come. We are aggressively pursuing this opportunity.”

It would also be a massive loss for Missouri, which lost the St. Louis Rams to Los Angeles a decade ago, and Gov. Mike Kehoe. He had backed a special legislative session in June to authorize bonds covering up to 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums, plus up to $50 million of tax credits for each stadium and unspecified aid from local governments.

Missouri's move came after Kansas lawmakers had approved their own bond package in an attempt to land the two franchises.

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt has long said that his preference would be to renovated Arrowhead Stadium, which was beloved by his father and team founder, the late Lamar Hunt. But by building an enclosed facility, the Chiefs would have access to revenue streams not available at Arrowhead Stadium, such as new luxury seating and the ability to host year-round sporting events.

That could mean fulfilling another dream of Lamar Hunt: hosting a Super Bowl.

While the Royals will not be discussed during the LCC meeting Monday, that doesn't mean they couldn't be moving across the state line as well. There is a groundswell of support for the team to move to the suburb of Overland Park, Kansas, and a tract of land known as the Aspiria Campus that once served as the headquarters for Sprint and now houses the offices of several companies.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who has been working to keep both of the professional sports franchises on the Missouri side of the state line, issued a statement Thursday night saying that the city doesn’t negotiate in public.

“As the city and our Missouri partners continue discussions with our long-term partners at the Chiefs and the Royals," the statement read, “we remain steadfast in working toward an arrangement in the best interest of our community and the greatest success of our teams on and off the field.”

Chiefs close to leaving Arrowhead Stadium for new home in Kansas

JACKSON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating two suspect on multiple allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 4:30a.m. December 15, a Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop on a Ford F-150 that was northbound on U.S. Highway 75 near 318th&nbsp;Road for an alleged traffic infraction, according to Sheriff Tim Morse.

The driver of the vehicle, David John Remmers, 40, of Salina was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on requested charges of possession of a hallucinogenic drug, driving while suspended, tampering with an interlock device, possession of drug paraphernalia, no insurance and for an outstanding warrant for failure to appear out of Washington County.

The passenger of the vehicle, Jennifer Rose Martin, 40, of Marysville, was arrested and booked into the Jackson County Jail on a requested charges possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff: Kansas man jailed for skipping court, drug possession

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department released thousands of files Friday from its investigation into convicted sex offender&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein</a>&nbsp;even as it acknowledged that its documents disclosure about the wealthy financier, known for his connections to President Donald Trump and other influential people, was incomplete.

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

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">The records</a>&nbsp;arrived with public anticipation that they could offer the most detailed look yet at nearly two decades worth of government&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-investigation-records-timeline-545c371ee3dd3142355a26d27829c188">investigations into Epstein’s sexual abuse</a>&nbsp;of young women and underage girls. But it remained unclear how much substantive new information was included in the photos, call logs, grand jury testimony and interview transcripts, or how much if any additional insight might be gleaned about Epstein’s relationships with rich and powerful contacts.

The files were being released in accordance with a congressionally set deadline of Friday, but the Justice Department signaled that it would not fully meet that mark, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche telling Fox News Channel that he expected the department to release “several hundred thousand” records Friday and then several hundred thousand more in the coming weeks.

Their release has long been demanded by a public hungry to learn whether any of Epstein’s rich and powerful associates knew about — or participated in — the abuse.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-survivors-react-a7cceac935feda8d94b8fa59e13b01fa">Epstein’s accusers</a>&nbsp;have also long sought answers about why federal authorities shut down their initial investigation into the allegations in 2008.

Bowing to political pressure from fellow Republicans, Trump on Nov. 19 signed a bill giving the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-4872c23a3ed03bf3d4c526581d3aed59">30 days to release most of its files</a>&nbsp;and communications related to Epstein, including information about the investigation into&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">his death in a federal jail</a>. The law’s passage was a remarkable display of bipartisanship that overcame months of opposition from Trump and Republican leadership.

That law allows for redactions about the victims or ongoing investigations but makes clear no records shall be withheld or redacted due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Nov. 14 that she had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-trump-clinton-investigation-justice-department-d0ce8385cb7f42705ac068310e3231be">ordered a top federal prosecutor</a>&nbsp;to investigate Epstein’s ties to Trump’s political foes, including former President Bill Clinton. Bondi acted after Trump pressed for such an inquiry, though he did not explain what supposed crimes he wanted the Justice Department to investigate. None of the men Trump mentioned in a social media post demanding the investigation has been accused of sexual misconduct by any of Epstein’s victims.

In July, Trump dismissed some of his own supporters as “weaklings” for falling for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-supporters-epstein-sex-trafficking-investigation-bondi-47370e63060d79af64b0b8ac70b970a4">“the Jeffrey Epstein hoax.”</a>&nbsp;But both Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., failed to prevent the legislation from coming to a vote.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-files-trump-congress-c858fcd7d587bb61d1b73753487b0ee1">Trump did a U-turn</a>&nbsp;on the files once it became clear that congressional action was inevitable. He insisted that the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the Republican agenda and that releasing the records was the best way to move on.

Police in Palm Beach, Florida, began investigating Epstein in 2005 after the family of a 14-year-old girl reported she had been molested at his mansion. The FBI joined the investigation, and authorities gathered testimony from multiple underage girls who said they had been hired to give Epstein sexual massages.

Ultimately, though, prosecutors&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-florida-e2a4431f7319afd037023d9a586aa291">gave Epstein a deal</a>&nbsp;that allowed him to avoid federal prosecution. He pleaded guilty to state prostitution charges involving someone under age 18 and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

Epstein’s accusers then spent years in civil litigation trying to get that plea deal set aside. One of those women, Virginia Giuffre, accused Epstein of arranging for her to have sexual encounters, starting at age 17, with numerous other men, including billionaires, famous academics, U.S. politicians and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, then known as Britain’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-entertainment-lifestyle-virginia-prince-andrew-60348f70fd605c26c26615ffc5ed5f14">Prince Andrew</a>.

All of those men denied the allegations. Prosecutors never brought charges in connection with Giuffre’s claims, but her account fueled conspiracy theories about supposed government plots to protect the powerful.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-roberts-giuffre-obit-778c4fdd6fac2522133ca3d79244bccd">Giuffre died</a>&nbsp;by suicide at her farm in Western Australia in April at age 41.

Federal prosecutors in New York brought new sex trafficking charges against Epstein in 2019, but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-jail-suicide-prison-death-8d194a756f2b429067f009a0c70f96c0">he killed himself in jail</a>&nbsp;a month after his arrest. Prosecutors then charged Epstein’s longtime confidant, British socialite&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ghislaine-maxwell">Ghislaine Maxwell</a>, with recruiting underage girls for Epstein to abuse.

Maxwell was convicted in late 2021 and is serving a 20-year prison sentence, though she was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-prison-27d53cd22f8c53d9f2b5012cea32eb5e">moved from a low-security federal prison in Florida</a>&nbsp;to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas after she&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-justice-department-interview-transcripts-1d38a010e72b5b58cca944cb3bbb0e6a">was interviewed</a>&nbsp;over the summer by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. Her lawyers argued that she never should have been tried or convicted.

The Justice Department in July said it had not found any information that could support prosecuting anyone else.

Lots of Epstein records were already public

After nearly two decades of court action and prying by reporters, a voluminous number of records related to Epstein is already public, including flight logs, address books, email correspondence, police reports, grand jury records, courtroom testimony and transcripts of depositions of his accusers, his staffers and others.

Yet, the public’s appetite for more records has been insatiable, particularly for anything related to Epstein’s associations with famous people including Trump, Mountbatten-Windsor and Clinton.

Trump was friends with Epstein for years before the two had a falling out. Neither he nor Clinton has ever been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, and the mere inclusion of someone’s name in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise.

Mountbatten-Windsor denied ever having sex with Giuffre, but King Charles III&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uk-royals-andrew-prince-title-removed-c1538b68893cb1395073e1ca6b9468f4">stripped him of his royal titles</a>&nbsp;this year after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virginia-guiffre-jeffrey-epstein-memoir-983e88151ce72ac5428fd7940ad19d1e">Giuffre’s memoir</a>&nbsp;was published after she died.

See the files: Some long-awaited Epstein files finally released

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday announced the start of a military operation in Syria to “eliminate ISIS fighters, infrastructure, and weapons sites” following the deaths of three U.S. citizens in an ambush attack almost a week ago.

A U.S. official described it as “a large-scale” strike that targeted multiple locations and concentrated areas across central Syria that had Islamic State group infrastructure and weapons. Another U.S. official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations, said more strikes should be expected.

The attack was conducted using F-15 Eagle jets, A-10 Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft and AH-64 Apache helicopters, the officials said. F-16 fighter jets from Jordan and HIMARS rocket artillery also were used, one official said.

“This is not the beginning of a war — it is a declaration of vengeance. The United States of America, under President Trump’s leadership, will never hesitate and never relent to defend our people,” Hegseth said on social media.

President Donald Trump had pledged “very serious retaliation” after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-us-military-attack-palmyra-is-22f67e54c1a15fcc643de2672b83aacb">the shooting in the Syrian desert</a>&nbsp;last Saturday that killed two Iowa National Guard members and a U.S. civilian interpreter. He blamed IS for their deaths. The troops were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting IS.

The attack was a major test for the warming ties between the United States and Syria since the ouster of autocratic leader Bashar Assad a year ago. Trump has stressed that Syria was fighting alongside U.S. troops and said Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa was “extremely angry and disturbed by this attack,” which came as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-syria-troops-islamic-state-kurds-3354f71e88d278427994d209b2d16d9c">U.S. military is expanding its cooperation</a>&nbsp;with Syrian security forces.

Syrian state television reported that strikes hit targets in rural areas of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa provinces and in the Jabal al-Amour area near Palmyra. It said they targeted “weapons storage sites and headquarters used by ISIS as launching points for its operations in the region.”

White House officials noted that Trump had made clear that retaliation was coming.

“President Trump told the world that the United States would retaliate for the killing of our heroes by ISIS in Syria, and he is delivering on that promise,” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly said in a statement.

Trump this week met privately with the families of the slain Americans at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware before he joined top military officials and other dignitaries on the tarmac for the dignified transfer, a solemn and largely silent ritual honoring U.S. service members killed in action.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-attack-iowa-national-guard-islamic-state-38dd71dca411213f3789ccdb94e37f4e">The guardsmen</a>&nbsp;killed in Syria on Saturday were Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, 25, of Des Moines, and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, 29, of Marshalltown, according to the U.S. Army. Ayad Mansoor Sakat, of Macomb, Michigan, a U.S. civilian working as an interpreter, was also killed.

The shooting nearly a week ago near the historic city of Palmyra also wounded three other U.S. troops as well as members of Syria’s security forces, and the gunman was killed. The assailant had joined Syria’s internal security forces as a base security guard two months ago and recently was reassigned because of suspicions that he might be affiliated with IS, Interior Ministry spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba has said.

The man stormed a meeting between U.S. and Syrian security officials who were having lunch together and opened fire after clashing with Syrian guards.

When asked for further information, the Pentagon referred AP to Hegseth’s social media post.

Associated Press writer Abby Sewell in Beirut, Lebanon, contributed.

US launches retaliatory strikes in Syria targeting ISIS

CASS COUNTY —The  Missouri State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal officer shooting involving a member of the Belton Police Department.

Just after 10a.m. Friday, police in the Kansas City suburb of Belton responded to a the 16,000 Block of Rebecca Lane to check the welfare of a subject possibly experiencing&nbsp; mental health issues, according to a media release from the&nbsp; MSHP. Officers made contact with the subject at the residence. The subject refused any assistance from officers.

Just before 12:30p.m. Officers were called to the same address a second time on a re port the original subject&nbsp; threatening a member of the residence with a&nbsp; knife. Officer arrived and contacted the reporting party in the front of the home. During the conversation, the subject exited the residence and was armed with a knife. The subject ran toward the officers and they retreated.&nbsp; The subject continued to chase an officer. At 12:35p.m., the officer fired shots striking the subject. EMS transported the subject to a local hospital where they were pronounced deceased.&nbsp;

No officers were injured during the incident. Investigators recovered a knife at the scene.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol is in charge of the investigation. Their final report on the incident will forwarded to the Cass County Attorney for review.

Patrol: Suspect shot, killed after chasing officers with a knife

BUTLER COUNTY—A Kansas man died in an accident just after 2p.m. Thursday in Butler County.

According to Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff, a 1998 Harley Davidson driven by 53-year-old Salvador J. Tovar Jr., of Augusta was&nbsp;northbound in the 4000 Block of SW Haverhill Road in El Dorado. The driver lost control of the motorcycle as it entered the curve just north of SW 50th Street and was ejected. 

Tovar was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; He was not wearing a helmet, according to Cundiff.&nbsp; High winds are believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

Sheriff: High winds contributed to fatal Kan. motorcycle crash

HUTCHINSON, Kan. - The Hutchinson Salthawk Wrestling teams split their Senior Night duals with the Dodge City Red Demons, honoring seniors and closing out the home slate before the holiday break.

The Salthawk boys team delivered a dominant performance, earning a 51–18 victory over Dodge City. Senior Night was highlighted by wins from seniors Jackson Anderson, Jair Maciel, and Sam Smalley, each picking up fall victories to help secure the team's win. Hutchinson controlled the dual with multiple pins and technical falls throughout the lineup. Falls by Dion Brown (106), Sam Smalley (132), Jair Maciel (138), Kameron Wilson (144), Karson Etienne (165), and Jackson Anderson (190) set the tone, while Cruz Cannon (126), Max Harris (175), and James Hill (215) added bonus-point victories via technical fall.

On the girls' side, the Salthawks battled but came up short, falling 48–30 to Dodge City. Hutchinson picked up key wins from Aaida Brown (110), Ruby Foster (120), Lynnae Williams (125), Baleigh Cousins (140), and Emma Mathias (155), all by fall, showing toughness and depth across the lineup.

The Salthawk varsity boys team will travel to the Emporia Winter Classic on Saturday, while the JV boys and girls teams head to Rose Hill before the holiday break. 

Boy's Box Score106: Dion Brown (HUHS) over Emmanuel Lozano-Quinonez (DCH) (Fall 1:04) 

113: Pedro Lopez Hernandez (DCH) over Keagan Speaks (HUHS) (Fall 3:48)

120: Declan keller (DCH) over Zach Allen (HUHS) (Fall 2:52) 

126: Cruz Cannon (HUHS) over Roberto Casasola (DCH) (TF 20-4 3:59) 

132: Sam Smalley (HUHS) over Carson Akers (DCH) (Fall 3:13) 

138: Jair Maciel (HUHS) over Esai Castro Gomez (DCH) (Fall 3:14) 

144: Kameron Wilson (HUHS) over Maxton Miller (DCH) (Fall 2:46) 

157: Oakley Rich (DCH) over Cooper Harris (HUHS) (Dec 8-6) 

165: Karson Etienne (HUHS) over Isacc James (DCH) (Fall 0:37) 

175: Max Harris (HUHS) over Addison Velador (DCH) (TF 17-2 1:39) 

190: Jackson Anderson (HUHS) over Cayden McElgunn (DCH) (Fall 0:43) 

215: James Hill (HUHS) over Jose Arellano Varela (DCH) (TF 21-5 2:00) 

285: Luis Garcia (DCH) over Jayden Tuchardt (HUHS) (Dec 5-2)

100: Briana Garcia (DCH) over Xoe White (HUHS) (Fall 0:17) 

105: Natalia Martinez (DCH) over Karly Belote (HUHS) (Fall 3:36) 

110: Aaida Brown (HUHS) over Amaiya Lombrana (DCH) (Fall 1:22) 

115: Yessenia Castro (DCH) over Khloee Smith (HUHS) (Fall 1:05)

120: Ruby Foster (HUHS) over Karime Rueda (DCH) (Fall 1:10) 

125: Lynnae Williams (HUHS) over Mayra Moreno (DCH) (Fall 0:30) 

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