A UPS driver was killed Tuesday afternoon after a collision with a train on Woodberry Road south of U.S. 50 in Reno County.

According to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, dispatchers received the call shortly after 3 p.m. reporting a serious accident at the railroad crossing. Deputies arrived to find a UPS delivery truck that had been struck by a train and pushed on the driver’s side.

Authorities said there are no railroad crossing lights at the scene. The driver of the UPS truck was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.

No injuries were reported on the train. Officials have not released details regarding the train’s speed or direction of travel.

Woodberry Road was closed for several hours Tuesday afternoon as investigators worked the scene. The Reno County Sheriff’s Office says the crash remains under investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.

UPS driver killed in accident west of Burrton

Less than two months after pleading guilty in the deaths of 32-year-old Kalsey Payton and a 4-year-old girl, 37-year-old Wendell Payton was sentenced Monday afternoon to consecutive life terms in Reno County District Court.

27th Judicial District Judge Daniel Gilligan ordered two 50-year sentences for first-degree murder to run consecutively, resulting in a controlling sentence of 100 years without the possibility of parole. Payton will not be eligible for parole consideration until after serving 50 years. Additional sentences related to aggravated arson, child endangerment, and interference with law enforcement were ordered to run concurrently with the homicide sentences.

Payton pleaded guilty on Oct. 17 to two counts of intentional, premeditated first-degree murder, aggravated arson, aggravated endangering of a child, two counts of interference with law enforcement officers, and domestic battery against Kalsey Payton. As part of the plea agreement, Payton waived his right to appeal the sentence.

The charges stem from a Feb. 1 fire at a residence in the 1000 block of East Third Avenue in Hutchinson. Kalsey Payton and the 4-year-old girl were found inside the home after firefighters responded to the reported blaze.

Payton sentenced to life 

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. ——————————————

Robert	Taylor	Hutchins	12/15/2025 10:50&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Justin	Roy	Holmquist	12/15/2025 4:17&nbsp;PM	Viol protection order; Pre-trial order,				Intimidation of witness/victim; Prevent testimony

Jeremy	Ted	Lindahl	12/15/2025 6:11&nbsp;PM	Buying Sexual Relations; Hiring person to engage,				Use comm facility to commit or ACS to commit felony or misdemeanor in KSA 21-6421

Collin	Shane	Mullins	12/15/2025 6:20&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Martiel	Susann	Tucker	12/15/2025 9:44&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

Joshua	Matthew	Stubby	12/15/2025 10:53&nbsp;PM	Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

Donathan	Allen	Gregory	12/15/2025 10:58&nbsp;PM	Buying Sexual Relations; Hiring person to engage.				Use comm facility to commit or ACS to commit felony or misdemeanor in KSA 21-6421

Cristian		Flores	12/16/2025 1:22&nbsp;AM	Possession of marijuana,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,				Operate a MV w/o a valid license

Daily Bookings

Eight people were displaced early Tuesday morning after a structure fire damaged a multi-family residence in Hutchinson.

According to the Hutchinson Fire Department, crews were dispatched at 3:14 a.m. to the 700 block of East 3rd Avenue for a reported structure fire. First-arriving units found fire and smoke showing from the exterior of a 2½-story, balloon-frame apartment building.

Firefighters initiated a rapid interior attack while simultaneously evacuating all occupants from the building. The fire was brought under control quickly, and a primary search confirmed that all residents had safely exited the structure.

The fire caused moderate damage to two apartments, with smoke damage extending to additional units. The building is currently without gas and electricity, rendering it uninhabitable.

The American Red Cross responded to the scene and is assisting the eight displaced residents. Five dogs from the residence were also placed in the care of the Red Cross.

Fire officials determined the cause of the fire to be accidental and electrical in nature. Investigators noted that nails and screws had penetrated exterior aluminum siding and damaged electrical lines inside the home.

The incident remains under review by the Hutchinson Fire Department.

Early morning fire displaces eight

Hutchinson City Council to Consider Sales Tax Election, Major Development Projects, Rate Changes, and Strategic Plan

The Hutchinson City Council is scheduled to consider a wide-ranging agenda that includes a proposed citywide sales tax election, economic development incentives, utility rate adjustments, long-term planning initiatives, and major capital projects when it meets in the coming weeks.

One of the most significant items before the council is a proposed ordinance that would place a three-fourths percent (.75%) general retailers sales tax before voters. If approved by the council, the question would appear on the March 3, 2026 ballot. The proposed tax would be in effect from October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2036, pending voter approval.

City officials say existing revenues are not sufficient to meet current needs, which include unfunded federal stormwater mandates from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, street maintenance and repairs, park improvements, capital improvement projects, and ongoing city operations. Approval by voters would authorize the city to levy the additional tax to help address those funding gaps.

The council will also consider authorizing the issuance of approximately $2.9 million in taxable Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) for the Gunbros project, led by Selwyn Investments, LLC. The bonds would support acquisition, construction, and equipping of a commercial business. Under the proposal, the city would hold title to the property during the bond term and transfer ownership back to the developer once the bonds are paid in full. City officials emphasized that no city funds or taxes would be used to repay the bonds, and all associated costs would be borne by the developer. The proposal includes a request for a 10-year property tax abatement and aligns with the city’s strategic goal of strengthening tourism as an economic driver.

Another item involves a 2 percent rate increase for refuse services under the city’s existing contract with Stutzman Refuse Services. The proposed increase, effective January 1, 2026, would adjust residential monthly trash service from $11.00 to $11.22, with similar increases for commercial and walk-in services. City staff say council approval is required under the contract terms, and the changes support the city’s livability goals.

Council members are also expected to approve a resolution calling a public hearing on January 20, 2026, to consider adoption of the Hutchinson STAR Bond Project Plan. The Kansas Department of Commerce approved the plan earlier this month, designating the area as an eligible museum and rural redevelopment project and authorizing up to $13.2 million in STAR bond financing. Adoption of the plan would allow the city to move forward with bond issuance, though the hearing itself does not obligate city funds.

Building and development issues are also on the agenda. The council will review an updated Building Permit Fee Schedule, the first comprehensive update since 2018. City staff say the proposed changes are designed to make Hutchinson more competitive with similar Kansas communities, lower residential permit costs to encourage new housing, and better align fees with actual service costs. The changes would take effect January 1, 2026, and are not expected to significantly impact overall city revenues.

In addition, the council will consider adopting the City of Hutchinson Strategic Plan for 2026–2028, developed with assistance from Wichita State University’s Public Policy and Management Center. The plan outlines five strategic objectives addressing operational efficiency, long-term funding models, economic development alignment, neighborhood investment, and housing supply. While the plan does not authorize new spending, it is intended to guide future budgets and departmental priorities.

Finally, council members will consider approving an $84,000 agreement with WDM Architects for design and construction administration services for Phase 1 of the Hutchinson Zoo Master Plan. Phase 1 includes upgrades to the zoo’s train system, new animal habitats—including a mixed-species tortoise and kangaroo habitat—and conservation-focused exhibits along the train loop. The project will be funded through the city’s 2026 Capital Improvement Projects budget.

Hutchinson City Council to consider sales tax election

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Three-day Outlook

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Sterling High School Theatre has entered an exciting new chapter with the official chartering of Thespian Troupe #12627, bringing the school into the International Thespian Society and opening new opportunities for students in the performing arts.

The new troupe is led by Greg McGlynn, a Sterling High School alumnus who returned home after more than 30 years of teaching theatre across Kansas and Texas. McGlynn said his decision to come back was rooted in both family and a desire to give back.

“I am excited to come back home and share my 30-plus years of theatre experiences with my alma mater,” McGlynn said. “I thought I was ready to slow down and return to driving a tractor in the fields of Rice County. But when my own kids started high school and there was a transition in the theatre department, I realized I wanted them to experience the same kind of exciting, fun memories on stage that I’ve given countless other students.”

One of McGlynn’s first goals was to establish a Thespian troupe at Sterling—something the school had never done before, despite its long history in theatre. “My old theatre teacher, Betsy Dutton, was here for over 40 years, but she also coached debate and forensics and taught senior English,” he said. “I’m the part-time theatre teacher, so I thought, ‘I should do this.’ Starting a Thespian troupe would enrich the students’ experience—not just performing, but serving the community and sharing meaningful stories.”

That vision became reality on December 10, when 13 students were inducted during Sterling High School’s inaugural Thespian ceremony.

The International Thespian Society is an honor organization that recognizes student achievement in theatre arts through a point system based on performance, technical work, leadership, and service. Membership opens the door to events such as the Kansas Thespian Festival, held annually at Century II in Wichita.

This year’s festival will take place January 8–10, 2026, and eight of Sterling’s 13 Thespians plan to attend. The three-day event brings together more than 1,800 high school theatre students for performances, workshops, college auditions, and professional development.

“I am most pumped to go to the Kansas Thespian Festival,” said Trace DeShon, the troupe’s secretary. “From what I’ve heard, the energy and enthusiasm of that many theatre students is incredible. I can’t wait.”

Sophomore James McGlynn is also looking forward to the experience. “I’m excited to go as a real Thespian,” he said. “I’ve gone for years to support my dad as a director, helping build sets and watching workshops. Now I get to experience all of that as a student.”

While the opportunity is exciting, it also comes with financial challenges. Each student must pay a $150 registration fee, and the total cost for registration, hotel, and food for the eight attending students exceeds $3,000. To help offset expenses, the troupe has been actively fundraising through events such as a Haunted Theatre on Halloween and a Children’s Theatre Workshop for elementary students earlier this fall. Those efforts have covered much of the cost, but additional support is still needed.

Community members who wish to help support Sterling High School’s new Thespian troupe and its trip to the state festival may write a check to Sterling High School, noting “Thespians” on the memo line.

McGlynn brings extensive festival experience to the program, having had seven productions selected for performance at the Kansas Thespian Festival and two advance to the International Thespian Festival. He has already set a goal for the Sterling program. “I want to see a Sterling High School production perform at the Kansas Thespian Festival within the next few years,” he said.

Sterling High Theatre currently produces a three-show season in the Betsy Dutton Auditorium, along with student-led projects and community outreach. With the formation of Thespian Troupe #12627, the program is building a strong foundation for student leadership, artistic excellence, and service—ensuring that the curtain is just rising on a new era for theatre at Sterling High School.

“The goal of Sterling High Theatre is to create high-quality, professional-level theatre that’s accessible to the entire community,” McGlynn said. “Our mission is to share the enriching experience of live theatre—to expose, educate, entertain, and excite.”

Sterling High School launches Thespian Chapter

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Trace Adkins to Open 2026 Kansas State Fair on Sept. 11

Country music star Trace Adkins will open the 2026 Kansas State Fair with a special Grandstand concert on Friday, Sept. 11, marking both the opening day of the fair and the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

Kansas State Fair Executive Director Bryan Schulz announced the concert on Monday morning, noting the significance of the date and Adkins’ long-standing support for veterans and first responders.

“Opening day of the Kansas State Fair is September 11, and with this being the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we wanted an artist who truly represents patriotism and respect for our military and first responders,” Schulz said. “Trace Adkins was the perfect fit.”

The concert is part of Adkins’ 30th Anniversary Tour, celebrating three decades since the release of his debut album Dreamin’ Out Loud. His career includes more than 40 charted singles, 14 studio albums, and multiple No. 1 hits, including “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing” and “Every Light in the House.”

Adkins will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. at the Kansas Star Casino Grandstand, reflecting a new naming sponsorship for the Grandstand in 2026.

Ticket pricing ranges from reserved Grandstand seating at $45 to $55, Party Pit tickets at $85, VIP Deck standing tickets at $110—which include two drinks and appetizers—and reserved VIP tables priced at $835 for six people, which include food, drinks, and early Grandstand entry.

Ticket sales will roll out in phases:

Schulz encouraged fans to purchase tickets directly through the official Kansas State Fair website to avoid third-party resale issues.

In addition to the Adkins concert, Schulz said 2026 will be a milestone year for the Kansas State Fair, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the United States, the 35th anniversary of the Little Red Schoolhouse, and the 140th anniversary of 4-H. Fair officials are also hopeful that the Bison Arena will be available for part of the 2026 fair run.

More information and ticket details are available at <a href="http://kansasstatefair.gov">kansasstatefair.gov</a>.

Trace Adkins to open 2026 Kansas State Fair on Sept. 11

Three-day outlook

KANSAS CITY – A former elementary school teacher and employee of two Kansas City area school districts has been indicted by a federal grand jury for additional child pornography offenses, according to the United State's Attorney.

Dennis Adlai Hernandez, 28, was charged in a thirteen-count federal superseding indictment filed in the U.S. District Court in Kansas City last week. Hernandez was previously charged in a seven-count indictment with five counts of production and attempted production of child pornography, transportation of child pornography, and possession of child pornography. The superseding indictment includes those charges and six additional counts of production and attempted production of child pornography. The offenses charged in the indictment are alleged to involve twelve minor victims and are alleged to have occurred between August 2022 and August 2025.

<a href="https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/dennishernandezvictims/">Click here to view the FBI information page</a>&nbsp;on Hernendez

The charges contained in this superseding indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Alison Dunning. It was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

More charges: Teacher accused of filming child porn in KC area school

SEDGWICK COUNTY – In a Sedgwick County courtroom on Friday Judge Tyler Roush sentenced 22-year-old John A. Griffin III to 673 months—more than 56 years—in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections for killing two people at a motel in Wichita in February of 2024, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In October,&nbsp; Griffin  pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of 35-year-old Christopher Harrell and 35-year-old Natisha Phillips in a motel room  in 7300 block of E. Kellogg in Wichita,  according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

Just before 9:30a.m. February 24, 2024,&nbsp; police were dispatched to a shooting call at a motel&nbsp; in the 7300 block of E. Kellogg, according to Officer Kris Gupilan.

First responders located the two shooting victims in a motel room identified as Harrell and Phillips both of Wichita.

EMS transported Harrell to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Phillips was pronounced deceased on the scene.

Officers also located a young child at the scene, who was unharmed, and police used resources to address any psychological or medical needs for the child.&nbsp;Subsequent investigation led the arrest of Griffin

Griffin&nbsp; had been in prison for portion of 2022 and 2023 after a conviction for Battery Juvenile Corrections Facility officer, Employer person confined, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. During his time his approximately 18 months in prison, Griffin had been disciplined nearly three dozen times for battery, theft, fighting and other crimes, according to the KDOC.

As a part of the sentencing on Friday, Griffin will also be subject to a period of 36 months of post-release supervision. Additionally, as part of the judgment, Judge Tyler Roush ordered him to pay approximately $8,500 in restitution.

Kan. felon with a violent history going back to prison for double murder

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-hegseth">Pete Hegseth</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday the Pentagon will not publicly release unedited video of a U.S. military strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack on a boat allegedly carrying cocaine in the Caribbean, as questions mounted in Congress about the incident and the overall buildup of U.S. military forces near Venezuela.

Hegseth said members of the Armed Services Committee in the House and Senate would have an opportunity this week to review the video, but did not say whether all members of Congress would be allowed to see it as well, even though a defense policy bill demands that the footage be released to lawmakers.

“Of course we're not going to release a top secret, full, unedited video of that to the general public,” Hegseth told reporters as he exited a closed-door briefing with senators.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;Cabinet members overseeing national security were on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to defend a campaign that has killed at least 95 people in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-petro-colombia-drugs-us-aid-c3955b2ce351737119920741178e0567">25 known strikes</a>&nbsp;on vessels in international waters in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. Overall, they defended the campaign as a success, saying it has prevented drugs from reaching American shores, and they pushed back on concerns that it is stretching the bounds of lawful warfare.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters the campaign is a “counter-drug mission” that is “focused on dismantling the infrastructure of these terrorist organizations that are are operating in our hemisphere, undermining the security of Americans, killing Americans, poisoning Americans.”

Lawmakers have been focused on the Sept. 2 attack on two survivors as they sift through the rationale for a broader U.S. military buildup in the region. On the eve of the briefings, the U.S. military said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-us-military-drugs-pacific-108d10bbd3d19c34b8959602222e22e6">attacked three more boats</a>&nbsp;believed to have been smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing eight people.

Lawmakers left in the dark about Trump's goal with Venezuela

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Hegseth had come “empty handed” to the briefing, without the video of the Sept. 2 strike.

“If they can’t be transparent on this, how can you trust their transparency on all the other issues swirling about in the Caribbean?” the New York Democrat said.

Senators on both sides of the aisle said the officials left them in the dark about Trump's goals when it comes to Venezuelan President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Nicolás Maduro</a>&nbsp;or sending U.S. forces directly to the South American nation.

“I want to address the question, is it the goal to take him out? If it’s not the goal to take him out, you’re making a mistake,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who defended the legality of the campaign and said he wanted to see Maduro removed from power.

The U.S. has deployed warships, flown fighter jets near Venezuelan airspace and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-tanker-seized-venezuela-maduro-0a148ba01684fc6ce1a228dd276732c0">seized an oil tanker</a>&nbsp;as part of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d">its campaign</a>&nbsp;against&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nicolas-maduro">Maduro</a>, who has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from office. Maduro said on a weekly state television show Monday that his government still does not know the whereabouts of the tanker’s crew. He criticized the United Nations for not speaking out against what he described as an “act of piracy” against “a private ship carrying Venezuelan oil.”

Trump's Republican administration has not sought any authorization from Congress for action against Venezuela. The go-it-alone approach, experts say, has led to problematic military actions, none more so than the strike that killed two people who had climbed on top of part of a boat that had been partially destroyed in an initial attack.

“If it’s not a war against Venezuela, then we’re using armed force against civilians who are just committing crimes,” said John Yoo, a Berkeley Law professor who helped craft the George W. Bush administration's legal arguments and justification for aggressive interrogation after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. “Then this question, this worry, becomes really pronounced. You know, you’re shooting civilians. There’s no military purpose for it."

Yet for the first several months, Congress received little more than a trickle of information about why or how the U.S. military was conducting the operations. At times, lawmakers have learned of strikes from social media after the Pentagon posted videos of boats bursting into flames.

Hegseth now faces language included in an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-bill-ndaa-boat-strikes-video-152bef4ad429ae2c62937daeea2235a4">annual military policy bill</a>&nbsp;that threatens to withhold a quarter of his travel budget if the Pentagon does not provide the video to lawmakers.

For some, the controversy over the footage demonstrates the flawed rationale behind the entire campaign.

“The American public ought to see it. I think shooting unarmed people floundering in the water, clinging to wreckage, is not who we are as a people," said Sen. Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican who has been an outspoken critic of the campaign.

But senators were told the Trump administration won’t release all of the Sept. 2 attack footage because it would reveal U.S. military practices on intelligence gathering, said Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. She said the reasoning ignores that the military has already released footage of the initial attack.

“They just don’t want to reveal the part that suggests war crimes,” she said.

Some GOP lawmakers are determined to dig into the details of the Sept. 2 attack. Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, who ordered the second strike, was expected back on Capitol Hill on Wednesday for classified briefings with the Senate and House Armed Services committees.

Still, many Republicans emerged from the briefings backing the campaign, defending their legality and praising the “exquisite intelligence” that is used to identify targets. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the strike “certainly appropriate” and “necessary to protect the United States and our interests.”

Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed reporting.

🎥Hegseth on public release of video of boat strike that killed survivors

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;– The Wichita Police Department has arrested a 27-year-old Tyne Blunt in connection with the death of her 4-year-old son, according to a media release from police.

&nbsp;The arrest follows a Dec. 8 incident in the 2600 block of South Topeka, where officers responded to a report of an unresponsive child at approximately 3:21 p.m. EMS transported the child to a local hospital in critical condition. The child was pronounced dead at 4:07 p.m.

&nbsp;A 34-year-old Daniel Martin was initially arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail where he was charged with Felony Murder and Child Abuse and remains in custody.

&nbsp;Following further investigation, detectives presented the case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. An arrest warrant was issued for the 27-year-old mother, who was taken into custody and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Mother arrested for death of 4-year-old son in Kansas

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit Monday seeking $10 billion in damages from the BBC, accusing the British broadcaster of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices.

The 33-page lawsuit accuses the BBC of broadcasting a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President Trump,” calling it “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.703382/gov.uscourts.flsd.703382.1.0_5.pdf">Click here to read the complaint filed in Florida</a>

It accused the BBC of “splicing together two entirely separate parts of President Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021” in order to “intentionally misrepresent the meaning of what President Trump said.”

The lawsuit, filed in a Florida court, seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and $5 billion for unfair trade practices.

“We are not going to make further comment on ongoing legal proceedings,” it said in a statement.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-bbc-misleading-edit-trump-lawsuit-73a613283de952f5af08fa8ec4d0ca67">broadcaster apologized last month</a>&nbsp;to Trump over the edit of the Jan. 6 speech. But the publicly funded BBC rejected claims it had defamed him, after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/britain-bbc-crisis-trump-panorama-a392fb275af25216ea23537c6f4347e4">Trump threatened legal action</a>.

BBC chairman Samir Shah had called it an “error of judgment,” which triggered the resignations of the BBC’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bbc-director-resigns-trump-speech-editing-3aab83138d58c92db1bb00e77e568876">top executive and its head of news.</a>

The speech took place before some of Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was poised to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election that Trump falsely alleged was stolen from him.

The BBC had broadcast the hourlong documentary — titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” — days before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. It spliced together three quotes from two sections of the 2021 speech, delivered almost an hour apart, into what appeared to be one quote in which Trump urged supporters to march with him and “fight like hell.” Among the parts cut out was a section where Trump said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.

Trump said earlier Monday that he was suing the BBC “for putting words in my mouth.”

“They actually put terrible words in my mouth having to do with Jan. 6 that I didn’t say, and they’re beautiful words, that I said, right?” the president said unprompted during an appearance in the Oval Office. “They’re beautiful words, talking about patriotism and all of the good things that I said. They didn’t say that, but they put terrible words.”

The president’s lawsuit was filed in Florida. Deadlines to bring the case in British courts expired more than a year ago.

Legal experts have brought up potential challenges to a case in the U.S. given that the documentary was not shown in the country.

The lawsuit alleges that people in the U.S. can watch the BBC’s original content, including the “Panorama” series, which included the documentary, by using the subscription streaming platform BritBox or a virtual private network service.

The 103-year-old BBC is a national institution funded through an annual license fee of 174.50 pounds ($230) paid by every household that watches live TV or BBC content. Bound by the terms of its charter to be impartial, it typically faces especially intense scrutiny and criticism from both conservatives and liberals.

Read the complaint: President Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC 

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating the cause of a fire at an apartment in Kansas City.

Just before 1p.m. Monday, crews&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire in the 2800 block of Bellview on the west side of Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 On arrival crews reported smoke from a two-story apartment. Crews quickly made an interior attack of the first floor apartment and discovered a kitchen fire in the rear of the structure. 

The fire was quickly put out limiting the damage. A search of the entire structure was conducted and came back all clear.&nbsp; One dog was found and removed and safely placed in the care of a neighbor. 

No injuries were reported at this incident. The occupants were not home at the time.&nbsp;

Family pet rescued from Kansas City apartment fire

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">Jennifer Shutt</a>

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday he will not allow a floor vote this week on a bipartisan amendment supported by moderate Republicans that would extend the Affordable Care Act enhanced tax credits.&nbsp;

Johnson was confident that blocking the amendment would not lead centrist GOP lawmakers to oppose the Republican health care bill scheduled to get a vote Wednesday.&nbsp;

“There’s about a dozen members in the conference that are in these swing districts who are fighting hard to make sure they reduce costs for all of their constituents. And many of them did want to vote on this Obamacare, COVID-era subsidy the Democrats created,” Johnson said. “We looked for a way to try to allow for that pressure release valve and it just was not to be.”

The enhanced ACA tax credits are set to expire at the end of the year, sharply increasing the cost of health insurance for the roughly 22 million Americans who purchase plans through the exchange and benefit from the subsidies.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-gop-preps-health-care-bill-vote-new-year" target="_blank">House Republican health care bill</a>&nbsp;wouldn’t extend those tax credits, frustrating GOP lawmakers in that chamber who are most at risk of losing their reelection bids during the November midterm elections.&nbsp;

Johnson said he expects that GOP bill will pass, though he didn’t address its prospects in the Senate, where bipartisanship is needed for nearly all bills to advance under that chamber’s 60-vote legislative filibuster.&nbsp;

New York Republican Rep. Mike Lawler said in a speech on the House floor that GOP leaders’ decision to let the enhanced ACA tax credits expire was “idiotic and shameful,” especially after changes were added to address fraud and reduce costs.&nbsp;

“So we have been forced to sign onto two discharge petitions,” he said. “And yet my Democratic colleagues will not join us, but for those that were at the negotiation table.”

Lawler then criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, of New York, for not encouraging Democrats to sign onto the bipartisan discharge petitions, noting that would likely get the 218 signatures needed to force a floor vote. He argued that’s because Jeffries “doesn’t actually want to solve the problem, he wants the issue.”

“This place is disgraceful,” Lawler said. “Everybody wants the upper hand.&nbsp; Everybody wants the political advantage. They don’t actually want to do the damn work. This problem could be solved today if everybody who says they care about extending this signs the discharge.”

When the House returns from its two-week holiday break next year, Johnson said, leaders may try to use the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/youre-hearing-lot-about-budget-reconciliation-congress-what-does-mean" target="_blank">complex reconciliation process</a>&nbsp;they used to enact the “one big, beautiful bill” to address health care.&nbsp;

“What we anticipate going into the first quarter of next year is, possibly in a reconciliation package or in regular order a stand-alone, ideas just like this,” Johnson said after being asked a question about Health Savings Accounts. “We have a long list of things that we know will reduce premiums, increase access and quality of care.”&nbsp;

President Donald Trump said Monday he wants Republicans to use the reconciliation process or to eliminate the Senate’s legislative filibuster to address health care and other policy priorities.&nbsp;

“Republicans should knock out the filibuster and we should approve a lot of things,” Trump said.&nbsp;

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has said repeatedly he doesn’t intend to change or scrap the filibuster.

Trump also reiterated during the Oval Office event he would like to see Congress send direct payments to Americans to help them buy health insurance or afford health care.&nbsp;

“I want all money going to the people and let the people buy their own health care. It’ll be unbelievable,” Trump said. “They’ll do a great job. They’ll get much better health care at a much lower cost.”

The Senate voted last week on two health care bills, one from Republicans and one from Democrats, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-hits-stalemate-solution-spiraling-health-insurance-costs" target="_blank">neither received the support needed</a>&nbsp;to move toward a final passage vote.&nbsp;

Republicans’ bill would have provided direct payments to some people enrolled in either bronze or catastrophic ACA marketplace plans with up to $1,500 in payments annually for 2026 and 2027.&nbsp;

Democrats’ legislation would have extended the enhanced ACA marketplace tax credits for three years.&nbsp;

A bipartisan group of senators is trying to find solutions that bridge the political divide, though they are unlikely to achieve consensus on the details before the end of this week.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/699770/cost-leads-americans-top-mind-healthcare-concerns.aspx?utm_source=twitterbutton&amp;utm_medium=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=sharing" target="_blank">poll</a>&nbsp;released Monday by the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America shows that cost is the “most urgent” health issue facing the country, followed by access and then obesity.&nbsp;

Just 57% of those polled said they were satisfied with how much they pay for their own health care and only 16% were satisfied with the total cost of healthcare.

Nearly two-thirds of those in the survey said they believe it’s the federal government’s responsibility “to make sure all Americans have healthcare coverage,” while 33% said it’s not.&nbsp;

No US House vote to extend health care subsidies, Speaker Johnson says

KANSAS CITY —One person died in an accident just before 1a.m. Tuesday in Kansas City, Missouri.

According to KCPD Officer&nbsp;Alayna Gonzalez, a BMW 230I was traveling on the exit ramp from eastbound Interstate 670 to southbound 71 Highway at a high rate of speed. 

The BMW failed to negotiate the curve of the ramp and traveled off the roadway to the left, down the grassy embankment and struck a concrete bridge support pillar. The driver and sole occupant of the BMW was pronounced deceased at the scene. 

This is Fatality #63 compared to #89 at this time last year, according to the Gonzalez.

KCPD: Driver dies after losing control on exit ramp

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Additional police were sent to Providence schools on Tuesday to reassure worried parents that their kids will be safe with the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-investigation-b08f1fdf5e71542f6e93bbba05fa043c">Brown University shooter</a>&nbsp;on the loose and no indication yet that investigators have zeroed in on a suspect.

Authorities on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-investigation-b08f1fdf5e71542f6e93bbba05fa043c">released several new videos</a>&nbsp;of the man suspected in Saturday's mass shooting inside of a Brown classroom, which killed two students and wounded nine others. On Tuesday, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha told MS Now that an “enhanced photograph” would soon be released.

“We have a good picture of the gunman's route, but it's not complete yet,” he said.

After releasing a person of interest in the case because the evidence pointed elsewhere, they once again pleaded with the public for any tips that might help them catch the attacker.

Tensions remain high in Providence. Ten state troopers were assigned to support the local police sent to beef up security at schools, district Superintendent Javier Montañez said.

“We recognize that the tragic incident at Brown University, occurring so close to where many of our students and families live and learn, is deeply unsettling and frightening,” he wrote in an email to parents.

With the investigation in its third day Monday, officers were still knocking on doors and poring through dumpsters and backyards near the Ivy League campus in search of additional video evidence or other clues.

“Of course it feels scary. But at the same time, I think that if the person really wanted to scare us, we shouldn’t allow him or her to win," said Tatjana Stojanovic, a Providence parent who lives next door to the Brown campus. "Despite all of that, we should just go about our lives. I mean, obviously, you cannot forget this. But I think we shouldn’t cower and just sort of stop living despite what has happened.

In the five videos authorities have released of the suspect, he was wearing a mask or his face was turned.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/brown-university-shooting/@@download.pdf">The FBI described him</a>&nbsp;as about 5 feet, 8 inches (173 centimeters) tall, with a stocky build.

The attack and the shooter's escape have raised&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-security-64e1e19e7a4ce2039912107071035247">questions about campus security</a>, including a lack of security cameras, and led to calls for better locks on campus doors. Others pushed back, though, saying such efforts do little to address the real issue.

“The issue isn’t the doors, it’s the guns,” said Zoe Kass, a senior who fled the engineering building as police stormed in Saturday. “And all of this, like, ‘Oh, the doors need to be locked.’ I get it, parents are scared. But any of us could have opened the door for the guy if the doors had been locked.”

After spending of her life in schools where every door was locked and school shootings continued to persist, Kass said such security measures only created “the illusion of safety.”

Meanwhile, details have emerged about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-victims-e5b40e867f1a349c5c9b7c4f0e866af8">the victims</a>, who were in the first-floor classroom in the school's engineering building studying for a final.

Only one of the wounded students had been released as of Sunday, Brown President Christina Paxson said. One was in critical condition and the other seven were in critical but stable condition.

One of the wounded students, 18-year-old freshman Spencer Yang of New York City, told&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/us/brown-shooting-witness-spencer-yang.html">the New York Times</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.browndailyherald.com/article/2025/12/live-updates-active-shooter-at-brown-university">Brown Daily Herald</a>&nbsp;that there was a mad scramble after the gunman entered the room. Many students ran toward the front, but Yang said he wound up on the ground between some seats and was shot in the leg. He expected to be discharged within days.

Jacob Spears, 18, a freshman from Evans, Georgia, was shot in the stomach, “but through sheer adrenaline and courage, he managed to run outside, where he was aided by others," according to a GoFundMe site organized for him.

Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore who was one of the two students killed, was vice president of the Brown College Republicans and was beloved in her church in Birmingham, Alabama. In announcing her death Sunday, the Rev. R. Craig Smalley described her as “an incredible grounded, faithful, bright light” who encouraged and “lifted up those around her.”

The other student killed was, MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman from Brandermill, Virginia, who was majoring in biochemistry and neuroscience. His family immigrated to the U.S. from Uzbekistan when he was a kid.

As a child, Umurzokov suffered a neurological condition that required surgery, and he later wore a back brace because of scoliosis, his sister Samira Umurzokova told The Associated Press by phone. He knew from an early age that he wanted to be a neurosurgeon to help others like him.

“He had so many hardships in his life, and he got into this amazing school and tried so hard to follow through with the promise he made when was 7 years old,” she said.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Authorities knocked on doors in search of video and sifted through snow and dumpsters for other evidence that might lead them to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-mass-shooting-cc3e5d5505cf0e3d9e49fdc56c2a1459">Brown University</a>&nbsp;gunman, whose face was covered or not visible in footage captured before and after the weekend attack that killed two students and wounded nine others.

Officials on Monday&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-investigation-b08f1fdf5e71542f6e93bbba05fa043c">released three new videos</a>&nbsp;of the man they believe carried out Saturday's attack that show him wearing a mask and a dark two-tone jacket. Although his face wasn't visible, the footage from about two hours before&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-active-shooter-c7c9d1c7da19a76c2a27685c7e63d6da">the shooting</a>&nbsp;provided the clearest images yet of the suspect.

<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/seeking-info/brown-university-shooting/@@download.pdf">The FBI said the man</a>&nbsp;is about 5 feet, 8 inches (173 centimeters) tall, with a stocky build. The agency offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person responsible.

“We’re asking for the public’s assistance,” Providence's police chief, Col. Oscar Perez, said at a news conference, urging people who might recognize the suspect to call a tip line.

Police renewed their search after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-suspect-search-1da03b12b2eac2b530172667d3df30c4">releasing a person of interest</a>&nbsp;Sunday once they determined the evidence pointed elsewhere. Meanwhile, details began to emerge about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-shooting-victims-e5b40e867f1a349c5c9b7c4f0e866af8">the students who were shot</a>.

The lockdown order for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/Qz3Ac/?v=5">the Ivy League school</a>&nbsp;was lifted Sunday after authorities said they had detained the person of interest. But hopes for a quick resolution were dashed when they announced hours later that they had released him.

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