What began as a season of uncertainty has ended in a wave of holiday generosity. Country 102.9's Randy McKay announced that every child in its long-running Adopt-A-Child program has now been adopted, marking a joyful milestone for the 35-year community tradition.

The program, which partners with the Kansas Department for Children and Families, provides Christmas gifts for children in need across Reno, Harvey, and McPherson counties. Earlier this season, organizers worried they might fall short after losing one of their largest annual supporters. But in the final days, listeners and community members stepped forward, adopting the remaining children and even taking on large sibling groups.

“This community always finds a way to come through,” organizers said. “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity shown this year.”

Eagle Media reports that interest in helping has remained strong, even after all children on the list were spoken for. To meet that demand — and to prepare for any late-season changes or emergency placements — the station has created an Emergency Backup List. Those who still want to give can call Eagle Media and be added to the list in case additional needs arise before gift distribution is complete.

The program’s annual Turn-In Party is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 12, when adopters bring their wrapped gifts to Eagle Media for sorting and distribution. Reno County families will receive their gifts the following Monday, with deliveries to Harvey and McPherson counties made through the DCF office in Newton.

Eagle Media expressed heartfelt appreciation to every adopter, donor, volunteer, and listener who helped make this year’s effort a success.

“Because of this community, every child on our list will have something special waiting for them on Christmas morning, "McKay said.

For those still interested in helping, the phone number is 620-662-4486.

UPDATE: All children in Adopt-A-Child have been matched

Still looking to make an impact in 2025 but thinking about tax season too? As you plan your year-end giving, we’ll work with you—and your advisors—to find the most tax-smart way to help you support the causes you care about most. 

Donate appreciated stock — Give stock you’ve held for over a year to eliminate capital gains tax and maximize the impact of your contribution.

Bundle your donations in a donor advised fund at Hutchinson Community Foundation — If you typically give $10,000 annually, then contributing double to a Donor Advised Fund before the end of 2025 could help you exceed the standard tax deduction, and the flexibility of the DAF will allow you to give to your favorite charities over the next two to three years.

If you're 70½ or older, consider donating tax free from your IRA — Direct up to $108,000 annually from your IRA tax-free through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) to Hutchinson Community Foundation. Contact your IRA administrator to initiate the donation. (Donor Advised Funds are not eligible to receive QCDs.)

Start your DAF now! ➡ If you’re among the first three people to open a new donor advised fund with a minimum contribution of $5,000 by Dec. 31, we will add $250 to your fund!

Contact Aubrey Abbott Patterson to discuss the giving option that's right for you: aubrey@hutchcf.org or 620-5293.

Year-End Giving: Hutch Community Foundation highlights strategies to maximize 2025 Impact

Get ready, pizza lovers! Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom is set to fire up its ovens in Hutchinson, celebrating the grand opening of its newest Kansas location on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 1715 N. Waldron St. inside the brand-new Hilton Garden Inn and Convention Center.

The festivities begin at 10:45 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted in partnership with the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce. And for those eager to be among the first through the doors, there’s a big incentive: the first 10 guests in line will receive free Old Chicago for an entire year.

Beyond the ribbon cutting, families can expect fun activities and surprise giveaways throughout the celebration.

“We’ve already seen how strong and connected the Hutchinson community is, and it’s been inspiring to feel that energy as we prepared to open,” said Windi Cooper, Senior Director of Marketing for Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom. “Partnering with Sumit Patel and the CORE Hospitality team played a key role in bringing this restaurant to life, and we’re looking forward to creating a place where visitors of all ages can gather, enjoy great food, and make Old Chicago part of their routine.”

The new Hutchinson taproom will offer a full bar, an expansive kids menu, and a variety of seating options tailored for families, large groups, hotel guests, and community gatherings. Catering will also be available for special events.

Guests can look forward to Old Chicago favorites, including tavern-thin and classic thick-crust pizzas, calzones, and the crowd-pleasing Sicilian Pepperoni Rolls. The restaurant also features a rotating lineup of local craft beers and its well-known scratch-made dishes.

Old Chicago Pizza + Taproom will be open Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Hutchinson opening marks the brand’s ninth Kansas location and its 52nd restaurant nationwide.

The company invites the community to come out, celebrate, and enjoy the newest dining addition to Hutchinson’s rapidly growing north-end corridor.

Old Chicago to open Dec. 11

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. ——————————————

Brandon	Michael	Frazier	12/5/2025 11:43&nbsp;AM	Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision,				Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 to $24,999,				Poss of stimulant; 1 prior conviction,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Amari	Savee O'Shea	Bentley	12/5/2025 2:00&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Jacob	Taylor	Mattox	12/5/2025 7:13&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conviction

Jonathan	Wayne	Beer	12/5/2025 8:24&nbsp;PM	Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant,				Possession of marijuana,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

Zachary	Ryan	Denoya	12/6/2025 3:44&nbsp;AM	Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction),				Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misdemeanor case, Execution of Misdemeanor Warrant

Daily Bookings

Get ready for some holiday cheer with your four-legged family members! Cause for Paws and the Hutchinson Animal Shelter are teaming up to host “Photos with Santa Paws” on Saturday, Dec. 13, offering pet owners a fun and festive way to capture holiday memories.

The event runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hutchinson Animal Shelter, located at 1501 S. Severance. Families are encouraged to bring their pets, phones, or cameras to snap their own photos with Santa Paws.

For everyone’s safety and comfort, organizers remind attendees that cats must arrive in carriers and dogs should remain on a leash throughout the event.

Cause for Paws and the shelter say the holiday photo opportunity is open to all and designed to spread joy while celebrating the bond pets bring to local families.

“Bring your furry friend and enjoy a fun afternoon with Santa Paws — we can’t wait to see everyone,” organizers said.

Cause for Paws, Hutchinson Animal Shelter hosting “Photos with Santa Paws” event Dec. 13

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

Three-Day Outlook

SALINE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Friday in Saline County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Nissan Rogue driven by&nbsp; Barbara Jo&nbsp;Lundquist, 76, LIndsborg, was&nbsp;westbound at 1063 West State Street and left the roadway.&nbsp; The SUV&nbsp; entered the south ditch, struck a culvert, became airborne and came to rest in the ditch.

EMS transported Lundquist to Salina Regional Health Center. She was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. woman hospitalized after violent SUV crash

Credit Union of America (CUA) is pleased to announce the appointment of Alexis Rhodenbaugh as the new branch manager of its Hutchinson location.

In her new role, Rhodenbaugh will oversee all branch operations, underwrite consumer loans, and ensure the Hutchinson branch meets its organizational, financial, operational, service, and growth goals. She will also lead and develop her team to deliver exceptional member experiences and support CUA’s lending and financial education initiatives throughout the community.

Rhodenbaugh brings over eight years of experience in financial services, along with more than a decade of business ownership and insurance expertise. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Friends University.

“My background has taught me how to lead with clarity and serve members with excellence and help build and grow teams that genuinely enjoy working together,” Rhodenbaugh said. “I love a good challenge and hope to focus on strong growth with a people-first approach.”

Outside of work, Rhodenbaugh enjoys traveling, exploring the outdoors, and staying actively involved in her community. She participates in local organizations including the Cancer Council of Reno County and Buhler USD 313.

Rhodenbaugh’s leadership style and community-minded approach perfectly align with CUA’s mission to provide reliable, relationship-based financial solutions to our members.

Alexis Rhodenbaugh named Hutchinson Branch Manager at Credit Union of America

Martin	Ramon	Duran	12/4/2025 8:09&nbsp;AM	Probation Violation

Jeremia	Dean	Palmer	12/4/2025 10:09&nbsp;AM	Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misdemeanor case, Execution of Misdemeanor Warrant,				Violation of Offender Registration Act; 1st Conv; Person,				Failure to Appear,				Direct Contempt

Adam	Scott	McConnell	12/4/2025 10:45&nbsp;AM	Probation Violation

Jason	Leon	Gorgas	12/4/2025 12:57&nbsp;PM	Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or post release supervision

Misty	Dawn	Milbrandt	12/4/2025 2:35&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Stephanie	Anne	Counce	12/4/2025 2:55&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Dustin	Adam	Nading	12/4/2025 6:36&nbsp;PM	Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misdemeanor; unknown conv

Lucas	Sloan	Brown	12/4/2025 6:58&nbsp;PM	Tampering with a pipeline

Chanel	Marie	Oller	12/4/2025 7:07&nbsp;PM	Theft; Property or Services; $1,500 or less; from 3 Businesses within 72 Hours

Micah	William J	Maxwell	12/4/2025 8:02&nbsp;PM	Indecent Liberties with a Child &lt; 14YOA; AGGRAVATED; Lewd Fondling or Touching, Offender is &gt;17YOA,				Indecent Solicitation of a Child; AGGRAVATED; To commit an unlawful sexual act

Anthony	Russell	Zink	12/5/2025 12:12&nbsp;AM	DUI; 1st conv; blood or breath .08 or higher

The City of Hutchinson Public Works Department will begin repairs on Monday, Dec. 8, to address a failure in the stormwater line crossing N. Plum Street between East 3rd Avenue and East 4th Avenue.

Due to the severity of the failure, crews will need to open-cut the street to remove the damaged pipe and install new stormwater infrastructure. This work requires a full closure of N. Plum Street in both directions within the project limits.

The closure is expected to last approximately two weeks, weather permitting.

A two-week detour will be in place for both northbound and southbound traffic. See the attached detour map for details.

The City of Hutchinson appreciates the public’s patience as crews work to safely and efficiently complete these critical stormwater repairs.

*While this detour route is primarily designed for large truck traffic, we understand that residents may choose alternative routes to navigate the area.

Plum Street to be closed for sewer repair

Eagle Media’s Long-Running “Adopt-A-Child” Program Nears Deadline as Community Steps Up to Help Local Families

With Christmas just around the corner, Eagle Media’s long-standing Adopt-A-Child program is once again rallying the community to ensure local children in need wake up to gifts under the tree. General Manager Matt Althouse and afternoon host Randy McKay joined the KWBW Morning Show this week to talk about this year’s effort, now in its 35th year, and the renewed push to match remaining children with local adopters.

What began in the early 1990s with just 16 children has grown into one of the area’s most impactful holiday traditions. At its peak, the program has supported as many as 260 kids across Reno, Harvey, and McPherson counties, working in partnership with the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) and its predecessor agency.

“We were nervous that first year,” McKay recalled. “Sixteen kids felt like a lot. But within three hours, every single one had been adopted. And it just grew from there.”

A Year of Need — and Community Response This year brought new challenges. Eagle Media lost one of its longtime major supporters, creating early concern over whether all children could be matched. But as the week progressed, phones began ringing, and community members stepped forward—many adopting multiple children or entire sibling groups.

“We’ve had some really big help these last few days,” McKay said. “People may think, ‘Oh, they’ll get it covered.’ But we genuinely rely on folks stepping up each year.”

Some families come back to adopt because they were helped by the program themselves in years past—a full-circle moment that organizers say perfectly captures the spirit of the season.

“One year, a family who had been helped the previous Christmas came in and adopted a family of their own,” McKay shared. “That stays with you. That’s what makes all of this worth it.”

The emotional impact For Althouse, now in his third year in Hutchinson, the experience is both joyful and humbling.

“You wish programs like this weren’t necessary,” he said. “But when you see parents come to pick up gifts and they’re in tears—just overwhelmed with gratitude—you realize how important this is.”

Eagle Media’s basement will soon be stacked floor-to-ceiling with wrapped presents. On Friday, Dec. 12, adopters will bring gifts to the annual Turn-In Party, complete with pizza, cookies, and holiday cheer. Volunteers will sort and tag each child’s gifts before distribution.

Reno County families pick up gifts the following Monday. Gifts for McPherson and Harvey county children are delivered to the DCF office in Newton the next day.

“When I drop off that very last bag, it’s such a relief,” McKay said. “Every year I wonder if we’re going to pull it off—and every year, this community comes through.”

How to Adopt a Child The process is simple:
Call Eagle Media at (620) 662-4486.

Listeners can adopt one child or an entire sibling group. Wish lists are provided, though participants aren’t expected to purchase every item listed.

“It doesn’t have to be everything,” McKay said. “The difference between having something versus nothing on Christmas morning—that’s huge.”

Althouse added that the experience became a teaching moment for his own kids.&nbsp;&nbsp;“My kids had a budget and shopped for another family. It helped them understand that Christmas doesn’t ‘just happen.’ It was eye-opening for them.”

After nearly four decades, Adopt-A-Child remains one of Hutchinson’s most beloved holiday traditions—uniting families, volunteers, radio listeners, and donors in a shared mission.

“Our goal has always been simple,” McKay said. “Make sure every child on that list has a Christmas. And thanks to this community, year after year, we get it done.”

For those wanting to help, organizers emphasize there is still time.

“Just call 662-4486,” McKay said. “We’re here all day. If you want to adopt a child, we’ll make it happen.”

For 35-plus years, Adopt-A-Child has filled Christmas wishes

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A driver accused in a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred in February finally made her first court appearance on Thursday.

Madelyn Walter, 24, Derby,&nbsp; was charged with with involuntary manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and leaving the scene of an accident, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office.

Just after 5 p.m. February 6, deputies, Sedgwick County EMS and Sedgwick County Fire District #1 responded to a hit-and-run crash at 47th Street South and Clifton, according to Sheriff's Department spokesman Branden Stitt.

Witnesses reported that a red Dodge Nitro was traveling south on Clifton when it failed to yield to an eastbound Ford Fiesta and struck the vehicle in the intersection.&nbsp;

The impact caused the driver of the Fiesta, identified as&nbsp; Manolopoulos &nbsp;Panagiotis of Wichita, to be ejected and then struck by his own car.

Sedgwick County EMS transported Panagiotis to a Wichita hospital in extremely critical condition. He later succumbed to his injuries at 10:46 p.m.&nbsp;&nbsp;The driver of the Nitro, later identified as Walter, fled the scene following the collision.

Thanks to witness reports and information provided to 911 dispatchers, deputies utilized the Flock license plate reader system to locate the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of the Walmart in Derby. With assistance from the Derby Police Department Walter was found at a nearby Derby residence.

She was arrested and booked into the Sedgwick County Jail. As part of the investigation, it was determined that Walter’s 5-year-old child was in the vehicle at the time of the crash. Neither Walter nor the child was injured.

Walter met the requirement for bond and was released from custody Feb. 7, according to online jail records.&nbsp; &nbsp;She is scheduled to return to court Dec. 15, according to the district attorney's office.

5-year-old was in SUV during hit-and-run that killed Kan. man

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new drug allegations.

Just after 3a.m. Nov. 29,&nbsp; a sheriff's deputy with conducted a traffic stop on a blue 2008 Ford Taurus near SW Huntoon Street and SW Lincoln Street, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, illegal narcotics, including methamphetamine, were located. Roger K. Kelley, 63, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Dept. of Corrections on requested charges, Criminal possession of a weapon by felon and Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body.

Kansas felon is back in jail on drug allegations

Company owner says the seized products were a small portion of the total inventory, and employees were allowed to continue production while feds were there

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Federal agents this week seized 73,000 products containing 7-hydroxymitragine, commonly known as 7-OH, from three Kansas City-area warehouses.

The seized products included things like power bars, pills and liquids shots that are made with a concentrate of 7-OH, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/16/fda-warns-kansas-city-manufacturer-of-illegal-marketing-pain-relieving-pills/">the main opioid-inducing element in kratom</a>.&nbsp;

The action came out of a partnership between the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Justice Department, according to the DOJ’s<a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/justice-department-seizes-unlawful-7-oh-products-three-warehouses" target="_blank">&nbsp;press release issued Tuesday</a>.

“While 7-OH occurs naturally in trace amounts in the plant kratom, products containing 7-OH as an added ingredient can be dangerous,” states a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26338216-shaman-complaint/" target="_blank">civil forfeiture complaint filed on Nov. 21</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. “In the human body, 7-OH is able to bind to opioid receptors, raising concerns about its potential for abuse.”

7-OH products are advertised as improving chronic pain and “mental clarity,” and they are sold in Missouri smoke shops, gas stations, convenience stores and online shops.&nbsp;

The FDA sent&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/16/fda-warns-kansas-city-manufacturer-of-illegal-marketing-pain-relieving-pills/">warning letters</a>&nbsp;in June to the facility owners, Shaman Botanicals LLC and Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC, stating the 7-OH products were considered “adulterated” and their labels were illegal under federal food laws.

On Nov. 12 and 13, FDA officials did an unannounced inspection of the three facilities, where they tagged and detained 76,000 units. Vince Sanders, who owns Shaman Botanicals LLC, said the company had the opportunity to appeal the FDA’s action, which they did. Shaman was the first company to make 7-OH products, Sanders said.

The DOJ filed a complaint to seize the detained products on Nov. 21, and officials from the FDA and U.S. Marshal Service seized the tagged boxes on Tuesday.

“The 7-OH products seized are illegal under federal law and pose risks to consumers, including children,” said R. Matthew Price, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. “We are committed to helping American consumers protect themselves from dangerous chemicals posing as health products.”

Price said the department will continue to work with the FDA “to ensure illegal products never enter the stream of commerce and pursue all possible civil and criminal remedies against those who violate federal laws.”

However, Sanders told The Independent Thursday the seized units were only a small portion of the 7-OH products that were at the warehouse during the FDA’s November inspection. And his employees were allowed to continue making products while the federal agents were tagging and later seizing products in the warehouse.&nbsp;

“This is the craziest part,” Sanders said. “We literally sat there continuing to make the same products that they were taking.”

Sanders said the agents explained that they were targeting the finished packages, but there were many more finished products in the warehouse than the ones that were detained and ultimately seized.&nbsp;

In the FDA’s June warning letter, the agency deemed that 7-OH is a “new dietary ingredient.” The letter states that a dietary supplement is adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act if it contains a new dietary ingredient that doesn’t have enough evidence to show it isn’t dangerous.

“Because there is inadequate information available to provide a reasonable assurance that 7-OH does not present a significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury, it is illegal to sell dietary supplement products containing it as an ingredient,” the release states.&nbsp;

Sanders told The Independent in July that his company conducted three research studies on the products, including using rodents and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25999061-dfr-mgn-25-001-27jun25-crrdoc/" target="_blank">beagles</a>, which he believes shows the products are safe.

“This is just destroying something that has the potential to save hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of lives long term,” Sanders said.

He said there will likely be a hearing on the recent action in the next few weeks.

On the same day the DOJ’s complaint was filed on Nov. 21,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/21/missouri-ag-launches-investigation-into-manufacturers-of-kratom-7-oh/">Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway</a>&nbsp;sent “civil investigative demand” letters to Sanders’ company and six other producers and distributors of 7-OH products.

The letters mandate the company hand over multiple types of documents, including lab test results, research on health risks and safety label information.

Consumers, Hanaway said in a press release, “may be exposed to unapproved, unsafe and deceptively marketed opioid-like drugs.”

According to the letters sent to each company, the attorney general’s investigation targets the distribution of products containing 7-OH or “any part of the plant Mitragyna speciosa,” which is the kratom plant.

“We are deeply concerned,” Hanaway said, “that Missourians are being sold drug-like substances under the guise of harmless supplements, with no FDA approval, no safety testing, and in some cases no meaningful disclosure of what these products actually contain.”

Feds seize thousands of 7-OH products from Kansas City warehouses

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Annett, a former racecar driver who made 436 combined starts in NASCAR’s three national touring series, has died. He was 39.

JR Motorsports, one of Annett's former teams, posted the news on social media on Friday. No cause of death was announced.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” the team wrote. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”

According to NASCAR, Annett made 321 starts in the Xfinity Series, 158 of which came with JRM.

In 2019, Annett won the season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 1 JRM Chevrolet for his only win at the national level.

Annett, a native of Des Moines, Iowa, was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series. He won at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 and then took the series opener at Daytona in 2008.

“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett," the racing body said in a statement. "Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”

Former NASCAR star Michael Annett dead at 39

WASHINGTON (AP) — When the children of wealthy households leave the nest, they often benefit from their parents’ largesse in the form of a trust fund. Less affluent peers may receive nothing at all — or even be expected to support their families when they become adults.

But what if all children, regardless of their family’s circumstances, could get a financial boost when they turn 18?

That’s the idea behind&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/baby-bonds-trump-child-poverty-8503180dc5c57a2f20dd59d7ece01d6a">“Trump Accounts,”</a>&nbsp;a lesser-known provision of President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-beautiful-gop-taxes-ced365c347de9320eef2ccb8df16dda2">tax legislation</a>. The bill, signed into law earlier this year, gives $1,000 to every newborn, so long as their parents open an account. That money is invested in the stock market by private firms, and the child can access the funds when they turn 18. The parents of older children can also open accounts, but they won’t get the $1,000 bonus.

Backers say it’s a way to bolster capitalism and help children from low-income households build wealth at a time when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/socialism-socialist-capitalism-big-business-free-enterprise-poll-c052ca687269a2cc075423877b7904e6">openly socialist candidates</a>&nbsp;are growing more popular.

The new program gives the $1,000 bonus only to babies born during the calendar years of the Trump administration. Thanks to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/michael-dell-susan-trump-accounts-stock-market-poverty-inequality-7e2615d50a3fc0563109ed0eeb4c41e1">a historic donation</a>&nbsp;announced Tuesday by billionaires Michael and Susan Dell, some children 10 and under could receive $250 in seed money if their parents open an account. That money is reserved for kids who live in ZIP codes with a median family income of $150,000 or less and who won’t get the $1,000 seed money from the Treasury.

Here’s what you need to know about Trump Accounts and how to claim them.

It’s new savings tool where money is invested in the stock market on behalf of a child. The child can’t access the money until they turn 18 and can only use it for specific purposes, such as paying tuition, starting a business or making a down payment on a home.

After a parent opens an account, the U.S. Treasury will contribute $1,000 for newborns. Private banks and brokerages will manage the money, which must be invested in U.S. equity index funds that track the stock market and charge the accounts no more than 0.10% in annual fees.

Parents can contribute up to $2,500 annually in pretax income, much like they do for retirement accounts. Parents’ employers, relatives, friends, local governments and philanthropic groups can also pitch in. Yearly contributions are capped at $5,000, but contributions from governments and charities don’t count toward that total.

To qualify for the $1,000 seed money, a baby must be a U.S. citizen, have a Social Security number and be born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Any parent can open an account for a qualifying child, regardless of the parent’s immigration status.

It’s important to note that the child won’t be able to access the money until they turn 18, except in rare circumstances, so it can’t help with immediate expenses. And disbursements from the accounts will be subject to taxes.

Children born before 2025 won’t qualify for the $1,000 incentive, but parents can still open accounts for them as long as they’re under 18. Parents can still invest up to $2,500 pretax for those kids, and they may benefit from the Dells’ donation, giving $250 to children 10 and under in certain ZIP codes.

How do I open a Trump Account for my kids?

The accounts won’t be open for contributions until July 2026. But parents of eligible kids can sign up now by filling out Form 4547 from the Internal Revenue Service. As of Tuesday afternoon, that form was not yet available on&nbsp;<a href="https://trumpaccounts.gov/" target="_blank">the Trump Accounts website</a>.

In May, parents who sign up will get information about how to finish opening the accounts. Beginning in July, the White House says it will have a website where parents can register for the accounts.

Backers of the accounts say they want to introduce more people to the stock market and give even children born into poverty a chance to benefit from it. They believe that giving every newborn $1,000 will help combat the rising popularity of socialism and offer more people the opportunity to build wealth. About&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/data-research/statistics-data-visualizations/us-households-participation-capital-markets" target="_blank">58% of U.S. households</a>&nbsp;held stocks or bonds in 2022, according to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, though the&nbsp;<a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/WFRBST01122" target="_blank">wealthiest 1%</a>&nbsp;owned almost half the value of stocks in that same year.

Before Trump created the accounts, California, Connecticut and the District of Columbia were piloting “baby bonds” programs that are similar to Trump Accounts in some ways. Several other states, including Maryland, are weighing programs.

But those programs are targeted for youth growing up in poverty or foster care, plus children who lost a parent to COVID-19. Wealthier children don’t benefit.

They’re also managed by the state, not private investment firms.

Critics point out the accounts do little to help children in their early years, when they’re most vulnerable and most likely to be in poverty. They also say the accounts do little to offset the cuts the Trump administration and congressional Republicans have made to other programs that benefit young people and their families, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-snap-wic-head-start-ddc8a5f6bb6b49150ff478eae9d454d5">food assistance</a>&nbsp;and Medicaid. Republicans created the accounts in the same Trump tax bill that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-big-bill-medicaid-snap-baby-bond-25c03837e9b2a0a4d6f60384ec5d0677">reduced spending</a>&nbsp;for some of those programs.

And even with the contribution from the government, critics say the Trump Accounts will widen the wealth gap. Affluent families that can afford to make the maximum pretax contribution to the accounts will realize the greatest benefits. Poor families who can’t afford to set aside money for the accounts will benefit the least. Assuming a 7% return, the $1,000 in seed money would grow to roughly $3,570 over 18 years.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/news-values-and-principles/" target="_blank">standards</a>&nbsp;for working with philanthropies, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ap.org/about/supporting-ap/" target="_blank">list</a>&nbsp;of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

With new 'Trump Accounts,' your baby could qualify for $1,000. Here's what to know

SHAWNEE COUNTY—A wanted fugitive is in custody after an arrest in Shawnee County.

On December 2, sheriff deputies were investigating the occupants of a vehicle at the KWIK Shop near Morse and Topeka, according to Deputy Abigal Christian. Deputies identified a possible wanted subject. The driver was immediately detained, and the passenger ran.

With assistance from patrol deputies, a K-9 Unit, a drone and the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), deputies conducted a search of the neighborhood west of the KWIK Shop and successfully apprehended the fleeing suspect.

Danny J. Belisle Jr., 50, of Topeka, was arrested and booked him into the Shawnee County Department&nbsp; of Corrections on requested charges of Felony interference with law enforcement. Belisle also had two felony warrants for his arrest

Drone and sheriff's K9 helped catch wanted Kansas suspect

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-messaging-app-attack-plans-f8581bcb447b91d2e7f9cb7809ae0f06">The Pentagon’s watchdog</a>&nbsp;found that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put U.S. personnel and their mission at risk when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">used the Signal messaging app</a>&nbsp;to convey sensitive information about a military strike against Yemen's Houthi militants, two people familiar with the findings said Wednesday.

<a href="https://media.defense.gov/2025/Dec/04/2003834916/-1/-1/1/DODIG_2026_021.PDF">Click here to read the full 84-page report</a>

Hegseth, however, has the ability to declassify material and the report did not find he did so improperly, according to one of the people familiar with the findings who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the information. That person also said the report concluded that Hegseth violated Pentagon policy by using his personal device for official business and it recommended better training for all Pentagon officials.

Hegseth declined to sit for an interview with the Pentagon's inspector general but provided a written statement, that person said. The defense secretary asserted that he was permitted to declassify information as he saw fit and only communicated details he thought would not endanger the mission.

The initial findings, which were first reported by CNN,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-hegseth-boat-strikes-e68621ec48c7886215359c0110d6d9ca">ramp up the pressure</a>&nbsp;on the former Fox News Channel host after lawmakers called for the independent inquiry into his use of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/signal-app-atlantic-war-plans-32699da142c5209b845e57f690df4925">commercially available app</a>.

Lawmakers also just opened investigations into a news report that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-hegseth-maduro-512c66b99b2a13e9d1a3ed2699e78228">a follow-up strike</a>&nbsp;on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean Sea in September killed survivors after Hegseth issued a verbal order to “kill everybody."

Hegseth&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-trump-venezuela-540ae279827e02105e089f1bd5af37a6">defended the strike as emerging in the “fog of war</a>,” saying he didn’t see any survivors but also “didn’t stick around” for the rest of the mission and that the admiral in charge “made the right call” in ordering the second strike. He also did not admit fault following the Signal revelations, asserting that the information was unclassified.

“The Inspector General review is a TOTAL exoneration of Secretary Hegseth and proves what we knew all along — no classified information was shared,” Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman said in a statement. “This matter is resolved, and the case is closed.”

President Donald Trump “stands by” Hegseth, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, adding that the probe affirms that “no classified information was leaked, and operational security was not compromised.”

Journalist was added to a chat where sensitive plans were shared

In at least two separate Signal chats, Hegseth provided the exact timings of warplane launches and when bombs would drop — before the men and women carrying out those attacks on behalf of the United States were airborne.

Hegseth’s use of the app came to light when a journalist,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic</a>, was inadvertently added to a Signal text chain by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-waltz-rubio-national-security-hegseth-d787db43d45922668ad0c1c62e608f85">then-national security adviser Mike Waltz</a>. It included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and others, brought together to discuss March 15 military operations against the Iran-backed Houthis.

Hegseth had created&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-houthis-attack-8dbf9dd6c711796438a5c1c84831c40b">another Signal chat</a>&nbsp;with 13 people that included his wife and brother where he shared similar details of the same strike, The Associated Press reported.

Signal is encrypted but is not authorized for carrying classified information and is not part of the Pentagon’s secure communications network.

Hegseth previously has said none of the information shared in the chats was classified. Multiple current and former military officials have told the AP there was no way details with that specificity, especially before a strike took place, would have been OK to share on an unsecured device.

The review was delivered to lawmakers, who were able to review the report in a classified facility at the Capitol. A partially redacted version of the report was expected to be released publicly later this week.

Hegseth said he viewed the investigation as a partisan exercise and did not trust the inspector general, according to one of the people familiar with the report’s findings. The review had to rely on screenshots of the Signal chat published by the Atlantic because Hegseth could not provide more than a small handful of his Signal messages, the person said.

When asked about the investigation in August, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson told reporters that "we believe that this is a witch hunt and a total sham and being conducted in bad faith.”

Lawmakers had called for inspector general to investigate

The revelations sparked intense scrutiny, with Democratic lawmakers and a small number of Republicans saying Hegseth posting the information to the Signal chats before the military jets had reached their targets&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-chat-pentagon-trump-30dc4c3d0e75a89f3fd883f38b26afff">potentially put those pilots’ lives at risk</a>. They said lower-ranking members of the military would have been fired for such a lapse.

Some Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees suggested Wednesday that Hegseth’s actions would be a fireable offense for anyone else.

“This was not an isolated lapse. It reflects a broader pattern of recklessness and poor judgment from a secretary who has repeatedly shown he is in over his head,” Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said in a statement.

The inspector general had&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-signal-messaging-app-attack-plans-f8581bcb447b91d2e7f9cb7809ae0f06">opened its investigation</a>&nbsp;into Hegseth at the request of the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, and the committee’s top Democrat, Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island.

It all ties back to the campaign against Yemen’s Houthis

The Houthi rebels had started launching&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-israel-hamas-red-sea-shipping-ab6fee82e73170b7e2edbab90ed6c14c">missile and drone attacks</a>&nbsp;against commercial and military ships in late 2023 in what their leadership had described as an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/video/israel-hamas-war-yemen-red-sea-rebellions-and-uprisings-yemen-government-35148e6fbef64ec8b6fa074d4da2551c">effort to end</a>&nbsp;Israel’s offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Their campaign greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it annually.

The U.S.-led campaign against the Houthis in 2024 turned into the most intense running sea battle the Navy had faced since World War II.

A ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war had begun in January before falling apart in March. The U.S. then launched a broad assault against the Houthis that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-houthis-end-of-bombing-yemen-israel-e2f08ac04024ef3d6409b4ce97092489">ended weeks later</a>&nbsp;when Trump said they pledged to stop attacking ships. The latest Gaza ceasefire began in October.

Following the disclosure of Hegseth’s Signal chat that included the Atlantic’s editor, the magazine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hegseth-atlantic-war-plans-signal-yemen-houthis-c0addd08c627ab01a37ea63621cb695e">released the entire thread</a>&nbsp;in late March. Hegseth had posted multiple details about an impending strike, using military language and laying out when a “strike window” starts, where a “target terrorist” was located, the time elements around the attack and when various weapons and aircraft would be used in the strike. He mentioned that the U.S. was “currently clean” on operational security.

Hegseth told Fox News Channel in April that what he shared over Signal was “informal, unclassified coordinations, for media coordinations and other things.”

Associated Press writer Stephen Groves, Konstantin Toropin, Michelle L. Price and David Klepper contributed to this report.

Read Pentagon watchdog report on Hegseth’s use of messaging app

Patients of NKC Health in North Kansas City finally learned in late November that their data was compromised in ‘one of the most massive breaches in the health care industry’

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">Suzanne King</a>

In January, hackers gained access to a cache of Cerner electronic health records stored on a legacy network.

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