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

STEVE HARMON Hutch Post Contributor

Today's "Throwback Thursday Collection" takes us to the southeast corner of West 4th and Hendricks.

The Luminous Neon Sign Co. started in 1928 in Kansas City.

In 1939, Bob and Walt McBride moved the company to Hutchinson. The first photo shows the first company store at 21 W. 2nd Ave. in 1945.

In 1961, the partnership was dissolved, and Walt McBride and Merl Sellers became company owners. The second photo shows the company install truck in front of A.D. Rayl Ford that year.

The third photo shows the 21 W. 2nd shop in 1966.

In the fall of 1966, the company moved to its current facility at 1429 W. 4th Ave., the old International Harvester Sales and Service location. The fourth photo shows that after the move.

In 1970, Walt retired and Merl became president. The fifth photo shows the entire Luminous staff in front of the building in 1980.

Since then, other Sellers family members, Ron and Tom, have become company officers. They have now expanded to seven locations throughout Kansas.

In October 2023, the Sellers family sold the business to Mike King and the company now goes by Lumineo Signs. The sixth photo shows the company facility still going strong today at 1429 W. 4th in its 97th year of business.

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

Throwback Thursday is brought to you by:

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

📷 Throwback Thursday: Luminous Neon - Vol. 149

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Dillons shared its 2025 Freshgiving meal bundle, offering customers a complete holiday dinner for ten at an industry-leading price of less than $4.75 per person, delivering an exceptional combination of quality, convenience and value.&nbsp;Packed with classic Thanksgiving staples and fresh ingredients, the zero-compromise guide reflects Dillons’ commitment to provide fresh, affordable food while supporting families during the holiday season.&nbsp;

"At Dillons, we believe families deserve a Thanksgiving meal that is affordable and delicious," said Sheila Regehr, Dillons spokesperson. “Especially this year, we are giving our customers the quality they expect and the value they love, ensuring everyone has a memorable holiday."&nbsp;

Freshgiving Meal Bundle&nbsp;&nbsp;

This season, Dillons is once again offering customers an affordable meal with zero-compromise on value, convenience or quality. Shop these long-held holiday favorites that will feed ten people all under $4.75 per person:&nbsp;

At Dillons, customers do not have to choose between a good meal and a good deal. That means customers can get the products they need, want and love for their families with clear savings right at the shelf. With Kroger’s Fresh &amp; Quality Guarantees, customers never have to compromise high-quality for low prices. In addition to its Freshgiving meal bundle, the retailer is offering unmatched savings on key seasonal items including:&nbsp;

The Kroger Family of Companies invites customers to join in their mission to fight food insecurity. From now until Jan. 1, customers in participating divisions will have the opportunity to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar with donations going directly to local hunger relief organizations. Donations can be made at checkout with Dillons associates, self-checkout or online.&nbsp;

Dillons continues to provide year-round support through charitable giving and donating surplus fresh food. Since launching Kroger's Zero Hunger | Zero Waste impact plan, it has directed more than 3.9 billion meals to nourish communities. To learn more about Zero Hunger | Zero Waste, visit <a target="_blank" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4302636-1&amp;h=1991384504&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kroger.com%2Ff%2Fzero-hunger-zero-waste&amp;a=here">here</a>.&nbsp;

Dillons’ freshgiving meal returns

Governor Laura Kelly announced a statewide proclamation declaring&nbsp;Dec. 13, 2025, as Wreaths Across America Day in Kansas, joining communities across the nation in honoring America’s fallen heroes and recognizing the sacrifices made by veterans and their families.

Each wreath placed is a small gesture of our immeasurable gratitude. On Wreaths Across America Day, Kansans come together to remember our fallen veterans, honor those who serve, and teach future generations about the true cost of freedom. We encourage all Kansans to participate in this day of reflection and appreciation.

As part of this statewide observance, Laurel Cemetery in Haven, Kansas will participate for the second year in a row. The local ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13, followed by volunteers placing live balsam wreaths on the graves of every veteran laid to rest at the cemetery.

Local organizers in Haven invite community members, families, veterans, and civic groups to attend the ceremony and assist with wreath placement. Volunteers of all ages are welcome.

Wreaths Across America, a national nonprofit organization, coordinates annual wreath-laying ceremonies at veterans’ cemeteries across the United States and abroad. The organization’s mission — Remember, Honor, Teach — is carried out each December through millions of volunteers who help ensure that no veteran is forgotten during the holiday season.

Governor Kelly’s proclamation encourages all Kansans to join local ceremonies, sponsor wreaths, and support veteran communities throughout the state.


Gov. Kelly proclaims Dec.13 as 'Wreaths Across America Day'

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries">Click&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners</a>.

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="http://hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

Recent obituaries and service times

HUTCHINSON — Central Christian School is celebrating a milestone moment of generosity after raising more than $125,000 during its Annual Stewardship Dinner, held last weekend to support the school’s Christ-centered mission.

School leaders say they are “overflowing with gratitude” for the outpouring of support that came from families, alumni, donors, and friends of CCS. The fundraising total will directly support the school’s work to “educate, equip, and edify every student to exalt the name of Jesus Christ.”

The evening brought together guests who attended, prayed, and volunteered, contributing to what organizers described as a deeply encouraging night for the CCS community.

“Your partnership helps us continue investing in Christ-centered education and the next generation of world changers,” the school said in a statement following the event.

Central Christian School, which serves students from preschool through high school, relies on annual fundraising efforts to help sustain programs, scholarships, and resources that strengthen its mission.

School officials say the funds raised will help further academic opportunities, enhance student experiences, and support families across the CCS community.

More information about CCS and its programs is available through the school’s administrative office or online channels.

Central Christian School raises more than $125K during annual Stewardship Dinner

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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThirdThursdayHutch">November Third Thursday</a> - Holiday Lights • 6 to 8 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Downtown Hutchinson

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/tsahutchinson">Red Kettle Kick-off</a> • 6 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Grasshopper Park, 100 South Main&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1993925911444297/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22discovery_top_tab%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D">Pictures with Santa</a> • 6-8p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Avenue A Park

<a href="https://tockify.com/hutchcc/detail/702/1763773200000">Second Skin - Theatre Production</a> • 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Stringer Fine Arts Center

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/0e849dc9-49a5-4f9d-9906-938d10c6be54">Christmas Castle Open House</a> • 7 to 9 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;201 W. 12th Ave.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/events/squirrel-nut-zippers">Fox Theatre Live Series:&nbsp;Prairie Nut Zipper</a>s • 7:30 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Historic Fox Theater, 18 East First&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/citfh/">29th Annual Christmas in the Foothills</a> • 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kansas State Fairgrounds - Meadowlark Building

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonartcenter.net/calendar/2025/1/4/saturday-morning-artists-3m5we-mlf6n-pjcng-ghr98-mdhzl-lk6k3-4gmmy-5nm32-6maxn-zws7f-tnt8r-w2722-zhelw-m87ax-thx4l-npwb8-pmg64-2n32r-fnfkm-6csdh-w96f3-smy54-2zrcd-db9aj-b8bdn-lwkx4-yb8ps">Saturday Morning Artists </a>• 9 - 10:30 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Art Center, 405 North Washington

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonartcenter.net/calendar/2025/11/22/2025-holiday-open-house">2025 Art Center Holiday Open House</a> • 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Art Center, 405 North Washington

<a href="https://tockify.com/hutchcc/detail/702/1763773200000">Second Skin - Theatre Production</a> • 7 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Stringer Fine Arts Center&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RenoCountyToyRun/">2025 Reno County Toy Run</a> • 9 a.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Salty Cycles, 129 East Sherman to the Moose Lodge

Happenings around Hutch • Nov. 20 - 23

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has unveiled a new interactive online dashboard that uses wastewater data to monitor the spread of respiratory viruses across the state.

The <a href="http://datainsights.kdhe.ks.gov/WastewaterPathogenMonitor/?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery">Kansas Wastewater Monitor for Respiratory Viruses dashboard</a> gives residents, policymakers, researchers, and health partners access to real-time information on virus detections in participating communities. Along with tracking data, the dashboard includes guidance on how Kansans can protect themselves during periods of increased illness.

“The dashboard shares both our data and our interpretations clearly and transparently so people can make informed decisions about their health,” said Dr. John Anderson, KDHE Informatics and Molecular Epidemiology program director. “Essentially, this dashboard will be another resource that Kansans can use to understand what germs are making our communities sick.”

KDHE’s Informatics and Molecular Epidemiology program oversees the state’s wastewater pathogen monitoring system, which identifies viruses at wastewater treatment facilities. This type of surveillance can detect Influenza A and B, RSV, and the virus that causes COVID-19—often revealing increases in viral activity before hospitals begin to see a rise in patients. KDHE emphasizes that the testing process is fully anonymous and protects individual privacy.

The new dashboard includes data from nine wastewater treatment plants across three counties: Reno County, Shawnee County, and Johnson County. Residents outside these areas can still view statewide summaries and overall trends. Participation in the program is voluntary, requiring wastewater facility operators and local officials to opt in.

KDHE says the dashboard is the result of a collaborative effort involving treatment facility staff, local health departments, city and county commissioners, and support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Officials hope the data will help communities stay ahead of seasonal illness waves and make more informed public-health decisions.

KDHE launches wastewater dashboard to track respiratory viruses

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. ——————————————

Joshua	Alexander	Duque	11/19/2025 8:31&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Hector	Manuel	Martinez Perez	11/19/2025 11:05&nbsp;AM	Agg assault; w/ deadly weapon,				Agg battery; Knowingly use deadly weapon

Chad	Robert	Ringwald	11/19/2025 1:20&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear,				Viol protection order; Pre-trial order

Stephanie	Anne	Counce	11/19/2025 2:17&nbsp;PM	Poss of THC,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,				Failure to Appear

James	Joseph Michael	Wharton	11/19/2025 3:32&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Dirk	Jacob	Kukula	11/19/2025 4:06&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Stephanie	Megan	Cox	11/19/2025 6:05&nbsp;PM	Probation Violation

Nicholas	Jay	Bond	11/19/2025 8:51&nbsp;PM	DUI; 1st conv; incapable of safely driving

Daily Bookings

The City of Hutchinson, the City of South Hutchinson, and Reno County leaders will gather for a joint work session Thursday night to discuss regional economic development opportunities.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the Sandhills Event Center at 4601 North Plum. The public is invited to attend.&nbsp;

City of Hutch, South Hutch and Reno County to hold work session

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

Three-day outlook

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/meg-kinnard">MEG KINNARD</a> Associated Press

President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;on Thursday accused half a dozen Democratic lawmakers of sedition “punishable by DEATH” after the lawmakers — all veterans of the armed services and intelligence community — called on U.S. military members to uphold the Constitution and defy “illegal orders.”

The 90-second video was first posted early Tuesday from Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/slotkin-democratic-response-text-trump-congress-6ba1012264201e715c290da1b8f45bc4">Elissa Slotkin’s</a>&nbsp;X account. In it, the six lawmakers — Slotkin, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, and Reps. Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander and Chrissy Houlahan — speak directly to U.S. service members, whom Slotkin acknowledges are “under enormous stress and pressure right now.”

“The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution,” Slotkin wrote in the X post.

Trump on Thursday reposted messages from others about the video, amplifying it with his own words. It marked another flashpoint in the political rhetoric that at times has been thematic in his administrations, as well as among some in his MAGA base. Some Democrats accused him of acting like a king and trying to distract from the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-jeffrey-epstein-justice-department-4872c23a3ed03bf3d4c526581d3aed59">soon-to-be-released files</a>&nbsp;about disgraced financier and sexual abuser Jeffrey Epstein.

With pieces of dialogue spliced together from different members, the lawmakers introduce themselves and their background. They go on to say the Trump administration “is pitting our uniformed military against American citizens. They call for service members to “refuse illegal orders” and “stand up for our laws.”

The lawmakers conclude the video by encouraging service members, “Don’t give up the ship,” a War of 1812-era phrase attributed to a U.S. Navy captain’s dying command to his crew.

Although the lawmakers didn’t mention specific circumstances in the video, its release comes as the Trump administration continues attempts at deployment of National Guard troops into U.S. cities for various roles, although some have been pulled back, and others held up in court.

Are U.S. troops allowed to disobey orders?

Troops, especially uniformed commanders, have a specific obligation to reject an order that’s unlawful, if they make that determination.

However, while commanders have military lawyers on their staffs to consult with in helping make such a determination, rank-and-file troops who are tasked with carrying out those orders are rarely in a similar position.

Broad legal precedence holds that just following orders, colloquially known as the “Nuremberg defense” as it was used unsuccessfully by senior Nazi officials to justify their actions under Adolf Hitler, doesn’t absolve troops.

However, the U.S. military legal code, known as the Uniform Code of Military Justice or UCMJ, will punish troops for failing to follow an order should it turn out to be lawful. Troops can be criminally charged with Article 90 of the UCMJ, willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer, and Article 92, failure to obey an order.

On Thursday, Trump reposted to social media an article about the video, adding his own commentary that it was “really bad, and Dangerous to our Country.”

“SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR FROM TRAITORS!!!” Trump went on. “LOCK THEM UP???” He called for the lawmakers’ arrest and trial, adding in a separate post that it was “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH.”

Trump also reposted more than a dozen comments from other accounts criticizing Democrats, including one that stated “HANG THEM GEORGE WASHINGTON WOULD !!”

Asked during a White House briefing on Thursday about the intent of Trump’s messages, press secretary Karoline Leavitt instead honed in on the Democrats’ message, which she posited “perhaps is punishable by law.” Leavitt went on to say that any incitement to “defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders” is “a very dangerous thing for sitting members of Congress to do, and they should be held accountable, and that’s what the president wants to see.”

Democrats were swift to react to Trump’s words, with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer warning in a floor speech that the president was “lighting a match in a country soaked with political gasoline.”

Speaker Mike Johnson said he did not believe Trump was calling for violence in the social media posts, saying Trump was merely “defining a crime,” and calling the Democrats’ video “wildly inappropriate.”

“Think of the threat that is to our national security and what it means for our institution,” Johnson added.

Trump’s allies balked at the video. On Wednesday on Fox News, White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller called the messaging “insurrection — plainly, directly, without question” and said it represented “a general call for rebellion from the CIA and the armed services of the United States, by Democrat lawmakers.”

On X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commented on the video Tuesday as “Stage 4 TDS,” referring to “Trump Derangement Syndrome” — a term used by Trump to describe voters so angry and opposed to him that they are incapable of seeing any good in what he does.

The Steady State, which describes itself as “a network of 300+ national and homeland security experts standing for strong and principled policy, rule of law, and democracy,” wrote in a Substack post on Thursday that the lawmakers’ call was “only a restatement of what every officer and enlisted servicemember already knows: illegal orders can and should be refused. This is not a political opinion. It is doctrine.”

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell challenged the theory that illegal orders were being issued.

“Our military follows orders, and our civilians give legal orders,” Parnell told The Associated Press on Thursday. “We love the Constitution. These politicians are out of their minds.”

Associated Press writers Kevin Freking, Stephen Groves and Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

🎥 See the video that made Trump accuse Dems of ‘sedition, punishable by death'

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement in Kansas City, Missouri are investigating a deadly Tuesday night shooting have identified the victim as 18-year-old&nbsp;Ke’Ron D. Brown, according to&nbsp;KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

Just before 11p.m. Tuesday, police were dispatched to a shooting the 8200 block of President Court, according to Becchina.

Several 911 callers heard the sound of gunfire and believed someone had been shot at the apartment complex.

First responders located Brown unresponsive in the parking lot there. Officers called for EMS, who responded and transported him to the hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. 

Preliminary investigation indicates Brown had an interaction with one or more suspects in the parking lot at the apartment complex there that led to gunfire that struck him. The unknown suspects then left the scene. 

In the early hours of Wednesday, detectives were notified that Brown died at the hospital from his injuries. The KCPD Homicide Unit has taken over the investigation.

Teen identified as KC apartment parking lot homicide victim

SALINE COUNTY —Police are investigating after that a body was found and recovered in a wooded area near the YMCA building in Salina.

Just after 10:30a.m. on Thursday, police dispatch&nbsp;was contacted about a deceased individual located in the wooded area between The YMCA, 570 YMCA Drive and Kenwood Park Drive, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Ziegler.

Police officers and members of the Salina Fire Department responded and located the individual in the dry creek bed. The individual was evidently deceased and appeared to have been there for several days.

No indication of foul play has been found at this time, and an autopsy will be conducted.

Currently the decedent's name is not being released pending identification and notification of next of kin, according to Ziegler.

Police: Body found in wooded area near Salina YMCA

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington National Cathedral on Thursday hosted a bipartisan show of respect and remembrance for Dick Cheney, the consequential and polarizing vice president who in later years became an acidic scold of fellow Republican President Donald Trump.

Trump, who has been publicly silent about&nbsp;<a href="https://079591b529f048489650e7569bc675d2/">Cheney’s death Nov. 3</a>, was not invited to the memorial service. <a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/funeral-of-vice-president-dick-cheney/669349">Click here to watch a replay of the service.</a>

Two ex-presidents came: Republican George W. Bush, who eulogized the man who served him as vice president, and Democrat Joe Biden, who once called Cheney “the most dangerous vice president we’ve had probably in American history” but now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/dick-cheney-funeral-biden-trump-tradition-58afafb7fbf2a3d1f7380cdf1b9fd70d">honors his commitment</a>&nbsp;to his family and to his values.

“Solid and rare and reliable,” Bush said of his vice president, praising a man whose “talent and his restraint” exceeded his ego. “Smart and polished, without airs.”

Among the eulogists, Liz Cheney, his eldest daughter, only obliquely addressed what amounted to a father-daughter feud with the president — a man her dad had called a “coward” for trying to overturn his loss in the 2020 election.

She spoke of her father’s conviction that when confronted with a choice between defending the country and a political party, the country must come first. “Bonds of party must always yield to the single bond we share as Americans,” she said.

A former high-ranking House member whose Republican political career was shredded by Trump’s MAGA movement, Liz Cheney chose not to speak directly of Trump. She spoke of seeing clouds in the shape of angels just before her father died.

A Who’s Who of Washington without President Trump

Moments before the service began, figures of recent but now receded power mingled: Bush and Biden and their wives sitting in a row together, former Vice Presidents Kamala Harris and Mike Pence chatting side by side in their pew with Al Gore and Dan Quayle together behind them.

Biden greeted Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former longtime Senate leader, and his wife, former labor and transportation secretary Elaine Chao. Behind them sat Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker. All gathered in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-church-religion-funeral-cheney-d11870c1ed3bef6a272cd394ca3d9308">grand cathedral</a>&nbsp;known as “a spiritual home for the nation.”

Others delivering tributes at Thursday’s funeral were Cheney’s longtime cardiologist, Jonathan Reiner; former NBC News correspondent Pete Williams, who was Cheney’s spokesman at the Pentagon; and the former vice president’s grandchildren. Six grandchildren were there — a seventh is about to give birth.

“I’m happy to report that I haven’t given many eulogies," Reiner said in his remarks. “Nobody wants a doctor who is great at funerals."

Reiner recalled doctors telling Cheney decades ago, after the first of multiple heart attacks, that he should abandon his political ambitions then. Yet he kept winning elections as a Wyoming congressman for years after that.

Cheney, he said, was always the “calmest person in the room."

Cheney had lived with heart disease for decades and, after the Bush administration, with a heart transplant. He died at age 84 from complications of pneumonia and cardiac and vascular disease, his family said.

Trump's vice president, JD Vance, on stage at another event in the morning, was asked about Cheney and said: “Obviously there’s some political disagreements there but he was a guy who served his country. We certainly wish his family all the best in this moment of grieving."

Vance was also not invited to the funeral, according to a person familiar with the details who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The White House lowered its flags to half-staff after Cheney's death, as it said the law calls for, but Trump did not issue the presidential proclamation that often accompanies the death of notable figures, nor has he commented publicly on his passing.

The deeply conservative Cheney's influence in the Bush administration was legendary and, to his critics, tragic.

He advocated for the U.S. invasion of Iraq on the basis of what proved to be faulty intelligence and consistently defended the extraordinary tools of surveillance, detention and inquisition employed in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Bush credited him with helping to keep the country safe and stable in a perilous time.

After the 2020 election won by Biden, Liz Cheney served as vice chair of the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-capitol-riot-hearings-live-updates-eefb79f2cffb705f04bf43ea164db20f">Democratic-led special House committee</a>&nbsp;that investigated the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-confirm-joe-biden-78104aea082995bbd7412a6e6cd13818">Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol</a>. She accused Trump of summoning the violent mob and plunging the nation into “a moment of maximum danger.”

For that, she was stripped of her Republican leadership position and ultimately defeated in a 2022 Republican primary in Wyoming. In a campaign TV ad made for his daughter, Dick Cheney branded Trump a “coward” who “tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him.”

Last year, it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cheney-criticism-insurrection-capitol-election-cc4b74dcb34f1df516aa89169a8650d5">did not sit well</a>&nbsp;with Trump when Cheney said he would vote for the Democrat, Harris, in the presidential election.

Trump told Arab and Muslim voters that Dick Cheney’s support for Harris should give them pause, because he “killed more Arabs than any human being on Earth. He pushed Bush, and they went into the Middle East.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.

🎥Bipartisan tributes at former Vice President Dick Cheney's funeral 

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A Kansas man accused in the child abuse death of his toddler stepson is due back in court Thursday.

Shawn D. Lewis, 33, is scheduled for an arraignment hearing in Judge Rodger Wood's courtroom, according to the Segwick County District Attorney's office.

Lewis was charged with first degree murder and child abuse in the death of 2-year-old John Landon Delano, according to the District Attorneys office.

On July 3, police responded to Wesley Medical Center after being notified of a two-year-old boy who was brought to the hospital with severe injuries after a reported fall, according to Wichita Police Captain Aaron Moses.

During the investigation, it was determined that the injuries sustained by the child were inconsistent with the facts provided by Lewis who was caring for the child at the time the boy was injured.&nbsp;

Patrol officers and investigators from the Exploited Missing Children’s Unit and the WPD Homicide Unit began investigating this case due to the severity of the injuries.&nbsp;

On July 3, police arrested Lewis, on requested charges of Aggravated Battery, head trauma/permanent and Child Abuse. Two days later, the boy died of his injuries.&nbsp;

Arraignment hearing: Kan. man charged in 2-year-old stepson's death

BARTON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9p.m. Wednesday in Barton County.

A 2016 Ford Fusion driven by Mark DeWald, 72, of Great Bend was eastbound on K-96 highway three miles northwest of Great Bend, according to the Barton County Sheriff's office.

The car crossed left of center and struck a 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup driven by Luke Krehbiel, 17, of Timken, head-on. After impact, the Dodge truck initially caught fire but was quickly extinguished by the Great Bend Fire Department.

The Barton County Coroner's Office pronounced DeWald dead at the scene&nbsp; Krehbiel was transported to the hospital in Great Bend for treatment of minor injuries.

The Sheriff's Office suspects Dewald may have had a medical incident prior to the collision causing him to cross the center line. The accident is still under investigation.

Kansas man killed in head-on car, pickup crash and fire

Starbucks' union is expanding its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-strike-stores-union-6d9a5c8761fb7a251cb9bf7c13908877">week-old strike</a>&nbsp;against the company.

Starbucks Workers United said baristas from 30 more stores in 25 U.S. cities planned to join the strike Thursday, including stores in Cleveland; Memphis, Tennessee; Springfield, Missouri, and Albany, New York. That brings the total number of stores with striking workers to 95 in 65 cities, the union said.

The strike began last Thursday on Starbucks'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-strike-red-cup-day-7c07617260ea1c4760410e29b4509b6b">Red Cup Day</a>, which is typically one of its busiest days of the year. Since 2018, Starbucks has given out free, reusable cups on that day to customers who buy a holiday drink.

Starbucks said the strike has caused minimal disruption to its operations, and noted that this year's Red Cup Day was the strongest in the company's history in terms of sales and store traffic. Placer.ai, a location data company, said Starbucks' foot traffic jumped 44.5% last Thursday compared to this year's daily average.

Starbucks said only 49 of the 65 stores that the union vowed to strike last week experienced any disruption, and 29 of those have reopened.

Around 550 of Starbucks’ 10,000 company-owned U.S. stores are unionized. Starbucks also has 7,000 licensed locations in places like airports.

“As we’ve said, 99% of our 17,000 U.S. locations remain open and welcoming customers, including many the union publicly stated would strike but never closed or have since reopened,” Starbucks spokeswoman Jaci Anderson said.

Striking workers are protesting a lack of progress in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/starbucks-workers-united-union-coffee-05d3d30c2c7e100a07f5d74fefb2d556">labor negotiations</a>&nbsp;with the company. They say they are seeking better pay, improved staffing in stores and a resolution of hundreds of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-starbucks-union-fired-workers-tennessee-18547e128a14fae93a148383f48cb305">unfair labor practice</a>&nbsp;charges filed against the company.

There is no date set for the strike to end, and more stores are prepared to join if Starbucks doesn’t reach a contract agreement with the union, organizers said.

Starbucks said it is prepared to talk when the union is ready to return to the bargaining table. Negotiations between the two sides ended in April.

Starbucks union: More US stores are joining week-old strike

SEDGWICK COUNTY —A suspect who admitted setting a fire near the historic Orpheum Theatre,&nbsp;200 N Broadway Street, in Wichita&nbsp; will learn his fate Thursday.

&nbsp;Jeremy Wycoff, 34, is scheduled for sentencing hearing before&nbsp;Judge Rodger Woods.&nbsp; In September, Wycoff pleaded guilty to aggravated arson according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.&nbsp;

On the evening of April 10, crews responded to report of a fire near the 102-year-old theatre that is undergoing renovations.&nbsp;

"Thanks to the quick response of Wichita Fire Department, the situation was contained before it caused any major damage to our building or our neighbors along First Street," the theatre announced on their social media page.

Three days after the crime, police arrested Wycoff and booked him into the Sedgwick County Jail.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sentencing Day for suspect in arson fire near historic Kan. theatre 

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Idea is to initially forbid guidance from venturing into realm of legal advice

TOPEKA — The secretary of the Kansas Department of Revenue offered to create within the state agency the job of ombudsman to provide information and guidance — not legal counsel — to Kansans interested in representing themselves in property tax appeal cases.

Secretary Mark Burghart said Tuesday during an interim tax committee meeting of the Kansas Legislature that the objective of the extra employee would be to better prepare individuals interested in contesting county property tax valuations that were heard by the Kansas Board of Tax Appeals.

The idea of an ombudsman was raised in September by Kristen Wheeler, chair of the state tax appeal board, in response to dramatic growth in the board’s caseload.

The concept received a positive response from several legislators, including Sen. Caryn Tyson, a Parker Republican who chairs the interim House and Senate tax committee. She urged Burghart to begin preliminary planning for the hiring of an ombudsman. She suggested the task might be done without the 2026 Legislature adopting a bill specifically granting the revenue department permission.

“It sounds to me like you could actually implement this without statute,” Tyson said. “I think that would be the ideal solution.”

Kansas has more than 2 million individual taxpayers, Burghart said. The Board of Tax Appeals, or BOTA, during the 2024 fiscal year reported an increase of 700 cases on its general appeal docket. There were 300 additional property tax appeals and 300 more appeals related to tax exemptions.

“This position is important. It think it’s needed. It does make sense to me that it live in the Department of Revenue,” said Sen. Craig Bowser, R-Holton. “Why do we have a large number of tax appeals right now? It’s because our taxpayers are surprised with very large, unexpected tax bills. So, they appeal.”

Burghart said the Department of Revenue currently had an individual responsible for general taxpayer advocacy. A person dedicated to property tax affairs should initially be limited to an educational role that involved assisting taxpayers with their understanding property valuation procedures and BOTA’s appellate process. The ombudsman could explain deadlines, required forms, evidentiary expectations and appeal options.

“The creation of this position, initially framed as an educational and navigational resource rather than a legal representative, would be one way to help expedite appeals before BOTA by improving the quality and completeness of taxpayer filings,” Burghart said. “That, in turn, supports the Legislature’s objective of addressing BOTA workforce and caseload concerns.”

“We would make it abundantly clear that we are not giving legal advice,” the revenue secretary said. “The ombudsman would not serve as the legal representative of any taxpayer … and would not advocate for specific valuation outcomes in individual cases.”

Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, questioned whether the Department of Revenue could unilaterally initiate an ombudsman program. Burghart said adding a new staff position to the agency could be worked into the budget, which already included personnel assigned duties associated with assisting taxpayers.

“It’s helpful for that to be part of the discussion so that people understand, when we’re talking about new employees, how that happens,” she said.

Burghart said the Legislature had options in terms of shaping the work of an ombudsman or advocate dedicated to property taxation. The person could be informally added to payroll in the Department of Revenue or the individual could be located in a newly created state office founded, which would require passage of a state law.

The ombudsman also could be established as a law school clinic led by students or as a nonprofit affiliated with the Kansas Bar Association, he said.

He said an ombudsman should be appointed by the state revenue secretary after consultation with the chair of the Board of Tax Appeals and the revenue department’s director of property evaluation. It’s not necessary to include the post among jobs requiring Kansas Senate confirmation, he said.

If the program proved beneficial in terms of BOTA’s case docket or processing times, Burghart said, the Legislature could consider broadening the ombudsman’s role into direct representation or formal advocacy of taxpayers in BOTA proceedings in which counties were involved in the cases.

If the Legislature chose to deepen the ombudsman’s role regarding property tax cases the personnel should no longer be based within the revenue department, he said.

Wheeler, the BOTA chair, said the taxpayer assistance position must be filled by a person with specialized expertise in taxation appeals.

She said BOTA was neutral on whether the position needed to be located at BOTA, but “parameters of the position and its location deserve further consideration and debate.”

She said it was unlikely the state could quickly implement a student-staffed taxation legal clinic at law schools at University of Kansas in Lawrence or Washburn University in Topeka.

“Even if there was interest in this type of clinic, it’s likely that creation of a clinic would take substantially more time than creating a staff position,” Wheeler said.

Kansas Legislature tinkers with hiring taxpayer ombudsman to smooth property tax appeals

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement investigating a homicide at a Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as&nbsp;41-year-old Craig Washington, according to KCPD Captain Jake Becchina.

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