By <a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Wiley Elementary School third grade teacher Kyle Welliver has been named the Allen Samuels Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Teacher of the Month for November, recognized for her commitment to students, her classroom leadership in USD 308.

The person who nominated Welliver praised her as, “the absolute best at the 3 most important things…instruction, relationships, classroom management. Her students and families love her. She is highly respected by her peers! Kyle is humble and takes great pride in her call to service! If you’re looking for a teacher worthy of this award who embodies all the good things about teaching and leaving… Kyle is the person! It’s an honor to work alongside her each day!”

Welliver is in her 20th year of teaching, spanning time in Iowa and Kansas.

 “I’ve been teaching for, gosh, this is I have to count them up, my 20th year, and that’s between I lived in Iowa for nine years, and then I taught at Morgan as a PE teacher for nine years before we moved to Iowa,” she said. “Then I taught the whole time I was there, and then I’ve been back here for, this is my second year back in Hutch.”

She said she always knew teaching was her calling. 

“I can’t imagine myself doing anything else,” Welliver said. “My grandma was a teacher. My aunt is a teacher. And like I grew up playing school with my sister and my friends. That’s like the first thing we would play. And I just, I can’t imagine what else I would have done as a career. It just that’s what I’ve always loved.”

“I’m comfortable with 308 and I really enjoy it there,” she said. She recalled that her Kansas teaching license arrived the same day she learned of job openings at Wiley. “It was literally the day my Kansas license came in the mail… and my friend texted me, and she’s like, ‘You’re going to come work at Wiley next year.’… So that was perfect, because that’s really, I can’t imagine teaching anywhere else.”

Welliver said this school year has been one of her best. “It’s been really great. I have such a sweet class,” she said. “This class just fell in a routine so quickly this year that we have just been able to, you know, do a lot of things this year because they fell into such a great routine so quickly.”

She said Wiley’s culture is what makes the school special. 

“The students, the staff, are amazing… the people there are so genuine and so kind and like you just feel comfortable instantly.”

Her Teacher of the Month celebration, which included pizza donated by Pizza Hut and ice cream sundaes donated by Braum’s, came as a complete shock. 

“Oh, my goodness, that was the biggest surprise,” she said. “I never, in my wildest dreams, would ever expect something like that… I still don’t have the right words to say, like, what a surprise it was.”

“They thought it was the coolest thing ever,” Welliver said. 

One student repeated in awe that the award honored a teacher “in all of Reno County.” “They loved every moment of that, too,” she said. “They’re my biggest fans. They’re my biggest cheerleaders. That’s for sure.”

For Welliver, the reward is the relationship she builds with each child. “Just building those relationships with them,” she said. “I feel like I know them so well… watching them grow and learn throughout the year is amazing as well.”

Wiley Elementary’s Welliver named Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month

<a href="https://www.kansasbeefexpo.com/" target="_blank">Kansas Beef Expo</a>&nbsp;• 8 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kansas State Fairgrounds&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/event/holiday-activity-night/" target="_blank">Holiday Activity Night</a>&nbsp;• 5 to 8 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Public Library, 901 North Main&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/event/bad-art-night-ugly-sweater-party/#rsvp-now" target="_blank">Bad Art Night – Ugly Sweater Party</a>&nbsp;• 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Public Library, 901 North Main&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/d6a0fe1c-8224-4de1-9f46-3c6f643a6f10" target="_blank">Central Christian School Christmas Concert ‘The King of Love and Light’</a>&nbsp;• 7 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Central Christian School, 1910 East 30th&nbsp;Avenue&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/826457803049862/826457806383195/?active_tab=about" target="_blank">Murder in the Mine – Holiday Edition</a>&nbsp;• 5 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Strataca, 3650 East G Avenue&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.hutchinsonzoo.org/163/Nights-Before-Christmas" target="_blank">Nights Before Christmas</a>&nbsp;• 6 to 9 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Hutchinson Zoo, 6 Emerson Loop, Carey Park&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/events/prairie-nutcracker" target="_blank">Prairie&nbsp;Nutcracker</a>&nbsp;•&nbsp;7:30&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Historic Fox Theater, 18 East First&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.hutchpl.org/event/childrens-chess-club-10/2025-12-13/" target="_blank">Children’s Chess Club</a>&nbsp;• 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Public Library, 901 North Main&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1730359674296713" target="_blank">Salty Cycles Biker Bazaar</a>&nbsp;• 10&nbsp;a.m.&nbsp;to 2 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Salty Cycles, 129 East Sherman&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/826457803049862/826457806383195/?active_tab=about" target="_blank">Murder in the Mine – Holiday Edition</a>&nbsp;• 5 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Strataca, 3650 East G Avenue&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.hutchinsonzoo.org/163/Nights-Before-Christmas" target="_blank">Nights Before Christmas</a>&nbsp;• 6 to 9 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Hutchinson Zoo, 6 Emerson Loop, Carey Park&nbsp;

<a href="http://hutchpost.com/posts/453a24fd-6519-4a16-8a5b-fd8c3ae923e3">Christmas Castle Open House</a> • 7 to 9 p.m. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;201 W. 12th Ave.

<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/events/prairie-nutcracker" target="_blank">Prairie&nbsp;Nutcracker</a>&nbsp;•&nbsp;7:30 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Historic Fox Theater, 18 East First&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.kansasbeefexpo.com/" target="_blank">Kansas Beef Expo</a>&nbsp;• 9 a.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Kansas State Fairgrounds&nbsp;

&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hutchinsonfox.com/events/prairie-nutcracker" target="_blank">Prairie&nbsp;Nutcracker</a>&nbsp;•&nbsp;3&nbsp;p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Historic Fox Theater, 18 East First&nbsp;

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/d2b478da-3e3c-46ff-a78f-7c88b24a9cf4" target="_blank">50th&nbsp;Annual Stan Kenton Christmas Brass Concert</a>&nbsp;• 3 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Trinity United Methodist Church, 1602 North Main&nbsp;

Happenings Around Hutch • Dec. 11-14

Trinity United Methodist Church in Hutchinson will host the 50th anniversary Stan Kenton Brass Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 14 at 3 p.m. at 1602 North Main Street.

Trinity UMC to host 50th annual Stan Kenton Brass Christmas Concert

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. ——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Zane Cosme Mountain&nbsp;12/9/2025 12:03 PM Probation Violation

David Michael Keever 12/9/2025 3:065 PM&nbsp;Theft; Possess Stolen Property; $1,500 to $24,999,&nbsp;Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999, Failure to Appear,&nbsp;Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises,&nbsp;Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999,&nbsp;Burglary; Non-dwelling for felony, theft, dv, sex

Joseph William Richards 12/9/2025 4:00 PM&nbsp;In Transit From-To Other Agency

Jalen Ryan Jones 12/9/2025 6:30 PM Failure to Appear

Kayla Ora Nicole Titus 12/9/2025 6:44 PM Failure to Appear

Amanda Jean Mayfield 12/9/2025 9:17 PM Failure to Appear&nbsp;

Shane Allen&nbsp;Knoffloch 12/10/2025 12:22 AM&nbsp;Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner

Jeremy Lee Roberts 12/10/2025 12:25 AM&nbsp;Viol protection order; Pre-trial order



Daily Bookings 

Central Christian School invites the public to their Christmas program on Dec. 11.&nbsp; The program entitled "The King of Love and Light" will be performed by students of all grade levels, kindergarten through 12th grade.

Families, friends, and community members are invited to enjoy what promises to be a meaningful night of music and seasonal spirit.

Doors will open at 6:30 a.m. with the program beginning at 7 p.m.

“We can’t wait to share this joyful celebration of the season,” school officials said.&nbsp;

Central Christian to hold Christmas Concert on Dec. 11

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

Three Day Outlook

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

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Recent obituaries and service times

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Three Trinity Catholic Junior Senior High School seniors are encouraging fellow Reno County students to consider Kansas Boys State, calling the weeklong leadership and government immersion program one of the most impactful experiences of their high-school careers.

John and Jacob Lindstrom and Sam Vogel visited the studio this week to discuss their experience at the 2025 session of Kansas Boys State, a program of the American Legion that brings together hundreds of incoming juniors and seniors from across Kansas for a hands-on simulation of state and local government.

The students described the program as both intense and energizing. Over the course of a week, attendees are assigned to fictional cities and counties, campaign for leadership roles, debate policy, pass budgets, run departments, and operate a full mock government—complete with legislatures, courts, and administrative agencies.

“It’s a government simulation, but it’s also so much more,” said John Lindstrom. “You’re split into towns and counties, you elect leaders, and then you start running a government. You’re creating ordinances, debating ideas, fixing problems, and watching how your decisions impact the simulation. It was incredibly detailed.”

For many, the scale of the experience was the biggest surprise. The students said they arrived expecting a small camp, only to find more than 200 participants representing communities from across Kansas.

“There was a huge, diverse group of kids,” said Vogel. “You’re working with people you’ve never met, from every corner of the state. That alone pushed me out of my comfort zone in a big way.”

Days at Boys State were highly structured, beginning with morning assemblies and flag-raising before launching into a full schedule of meetings, legislative sessions, simulation activities, and collaborative work. Participants also competed in county athletic challenges and took part in evening events.

John Lindstrom served as a city commissioner, managing a fictional city with his peers. “We were up early, and every morning immediately impacted the simulation—writing ordinances, debating issues, and making real decisions,” he said. “You learn very quickly how important teamwork and communication are.”

All three students said the leadership lessons have stuck with them well into their senior year. They’ve applied the communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills gained at Boys State in classes, group projects, and even college applications.

“It taught me how to effectively express ideas, persuade people, and stand out,” Jacob said. “Seeing other students who were really good at it helped me learn from them.”

Boys State’s realistic election process—including party caucuses, speeches, and debates—was especially eye-opening.

“It does model that election process.” Jacob Lindstrom said. “If you’re interested in politics, this is the place to go. Even if you’re not, it teaches leadership in a way that’s hard to get anywhere else.”

While none of the students declared a firm path toward public office, each said the experience broadened their perspective on both government and leadership.

“It made me realize leadership isn’t just one person out front,” John Lindstrom said. “It’s a collaborative effort. You have roles, responsibilities, and people relying on you. That changed how I see leadership going forward.”

Jacob Lindstrom added that the program gave him a deeper appreciation for how complex Kansas government truly is. “There are so many departments and moving parts. Every decision affects someone.”

Despite the political setting, all three stressed that Boys State is not only for those pursuing government careers.

“You don’t have to want to be a politician to benefit,” Vogel said. “It’s one of the best leadership camps you can attend.”

Applications for the 2025 Kansas Boys State program are now open. High-school juniors across Reno County are encouraged to contact their school counselors or visit the Kansas Boys State website for details.

Trinity Catholic seniors share leadership lessons, insights from Kansas Boys State

Christopher	Miguel	Hutchins-Hernandez	12/8/2025 5:26&nbsp;AM	Poss of marijuana,				Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body,				Possession of a Firearm Under the Influence,				Theft; Possession of Stolen Firearm; less than $25,000,				Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises,				Possession of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

Troy	Powell	Ottinger	12/8/2025 12:42&nbsp;PM	Failure to Appear

Justin	Roy	Holmquist	12/8/2025 4:09&nbsp;PM	Sodomy; AGGRAVATED; Non-Consensual, overcome by Force or Fear

Dale	Ray	Robinson	12/8/2025 11:11&nbsp;PM	Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant,				Criminal Restraint,				Probation Violation

Timothy	William	Bohannan	12/9/2025 12:00&nbsp;AM	Viol protection order; Tribal order

Heather	T	Scheer	12/9/2025 3:18&nbsp;AM	Criminal Trespass; Defiance of Order

Tahjinae	L	Caldcleught	12/9/2025 3:40&nbsp;AM	Failure to Appear

Daily Bookings

Startup Hutch will host its Small Town, Big Ideas entrepreneurship workshop in Buhler on Tuesday, Dec. 16, offering a free, hands-on training opportunity for anyone looking to start or grow a small business. The workshop runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the 1888 Room on North Main.

With support from the Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Fund for Reno County, Startup Hutch is expanding its outreach by bringing training and business resources directly into surrounding communities, including Haven, Pretty Prairie, Buhler, and Nickerson.

Attendees will learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, explore legal and financial steps for launching a business, gain practical marketing and operational strategies, and connect with local business resources. The session will also feature insights from a guest entrepreneur and provide time for networking.

The workshop is free, but registration is encouraged. More information is available at StartupHutch.com or by calling 620-665-3319.

StartUp Hutch to host 'Small Town, Big Ideas' workshop in Buhler

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted to pass a sweeping defense policy bill Wednesday that authorizes $900 billion in military programs, including a pay raise for troops and an overhaul of how the Department of Defense buys weapons.

The bill's passage on a 312-112 vote comes at a time of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-hegseth-boat-strikes-e68621ec48c7886215359c0110d6d9ca">increasing friction</a>&nbsp;between the Republican-controlled Congress and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">President Donald Trump’s</a>&nbsp;administration over the management of the military. All four members of the Kansas Congressional Delegation voted in favor of the bill.

The annual National Defense Authorization Act typically gains bipartisan backing, and the White House has signaled “strong support” for the must-pass legislation, saying it is in line with Trump's national security agenda. Yet tucked into the over-3,000-page bill are several measures that push back against the Department of Defense, including a demand for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-strikes-boats-drugs-caribbean-hegseth-congress-93c513e28f38688f5582150c7675c072">more information on boat strikes</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean and support for allies in Europe, such as Ukraine.

Overall, the sweeping bill calls for a 3.8% pay raise for many military members as well as housing and facility improvements on military bases. It also strikes a compromise between the political parties — cutting climate and diversity efforts in line with Trump's agenda, while also boosting congressional oversight of the Pentagon and repealing several old war authorizations. Still, hard-line conservatives said they were frustrated that the bill does not do more to cut U.S. commitments overseas.

“We need a ready, capable and lethal fighting force because the threats to our nation, especially those from China, are more complex and challenging than at any point in the last 40 years,” said Rep. Mike Rogers, the GOP chair of the House Armed Services Committee.

Lawmakers overseeing the military said the bill would change how the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pentagon-hegseth-weapons-purchases-6f9326c2bad4355541d1a02b54d899db">Pentagon buys weapons</a>, with an emphasis on speed after years of delay by the defense industry. It's also a key priority for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Rep. Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the armed services panel, called the bill “the most ambitious swing at acquisition reform that we’ve taken.”

Still, Smith lamented that the bill does not do as much as Democrats would like to rein in the Trump administration but called it “a step in the right direction towards reasserting the authority of Congress.”

“The biggest concern I have is that the Pentagon, being run by Secretary Hegseth and by President Trump, is simply not accountable to Congress or accountable to the law,” he said.

The legislation next heads to the Senate, where leaders are working to pass the bill before lawmakers depart Washington for a holiday break.

Several senators on both sides of the aisle have criticized the bill for not doing enough to restrict military flights over Washington. They had pushed for reforms after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ronald-reagan-national-airport-aircraft-crash-9d79051a9e535bd855df5a4e5553b2e9">midair collision</a>&nbsp;this year between an Army helicopter and a jetliner killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft near Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board and families of the victims have also voiced opposition to that section of the bill, raising concerns that it would make the airspace more dangerous.

Here's what the defense bill does as it makes its way through Congress.

Boat strike videos and congressional oversight

Lawmakers included a provision that would cut Hegseth's travel budget by a quarter until the Pentagon provides Congress with unedited video of the strikes against alleged drug boats near Venezuela. Lawmakers are asserting their oversight role after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maduro-venezuela-drug-cartels-military-timeline-91e242e5c56eec39b6b7d72bf55dbd2d">Sept. 2 strike</a>&nbsp;where the U.S. military fired on two survivors who were holding on to a boat that had partially been destroyed.

The bill also demands that Hegseth allow Congress to review the orders for the strikes.

Trump's ongoing support for Ukraine and other allies in Eastern Europe has been under doubt over the last year, but lawmakers included several positions meant to keep up U.S. support for countering Russian aggression in the region.

The defense bill requires the Pentagon to keep at least 76,000 troops and major equipment stationed in Europe unless NATO allies are consulted and there is a determination that such a withdrawal is in U.S. interests. Around 80,000 to 100,000 U.S. troops&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nato-eastern-flank-us-troops-drawdown-russia-40a1c731a866ce84d5c7721fe12c380e">are usually present</a>&nbsp;on European soil. It also authorizes $400 million for each of the next two years to manufacture weapons to be sent to Ukraine.

Additionally, there is a provision to keep U.S. troops stationed in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/south-korea">South Korea</a>, setting the minimum requirement at 28,500.

Cuts to climate and diversity initiatives

The bill makes $1.6 billion in cuts to climate change-related spending, the House Armed Services Committee said. U.S. military assessments have long found that climate change is a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-joe-biden-business-lloyd-austin-a5c79e8a005c7c4db8a61cf0e6a4267a">threat to national security</a>, with bases being pummeled by hurricanes or routinely flooded.

The bill also would save $40 million by repealing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/military-culture-pentagon-hegseth-dei-tansgender-4c5f94c1235d29240b22677e3d66f0ed">diversity, equity and inclusion</a>&nbsp;offices, programs and trainings, the committee said. The position of chief diversity officer would be cut, for example.

Congress is putting an official end to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iraq-invasion-war-timeline-saddam-hussein-50828061c98e410063753045179bdcfb">war in Iraq</a>&nbsp;by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-war-powers-iraq-trump-a6bc311c0b0890022cb818550758c94e">repealing the authorization</a>&nbsp;for the 2003 invasion. Supporters in both the House and Senate say the repeal is crucial to prevent future abuses and to reinforce that Iraq is now a strategic partner of the U.S.

The 2002 resolution has been rarely used in recent years. But the first Trump administration cited it as part of its legal justification for a 2020 U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian Gen. Qassim Suleimani.

Congress would permanently remove U.S. sanctions put on Syria after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-sanctions-trump-treasury-state-2ed65c895905e2e7bc385098a6ab1301">Trump administration temporarily lifted many penalties</a>.

Lawmakers imposed economically crippling sanctions on the country in 2019 to punish former leader Bashar Assad for human rights abuses during the nearly 14-year civil war. After Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa led a successful insurgency to depose Assad, he is seeking to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-anniversary-assad-fall-a22746c8b8351b02d77cb62a6260c87e">rebuild his nation’s economy</a>.

Advocates of a permanent repeal have said international companies are unlikely to invest in projects needed for the country’s reconstruction as long as there is a threat of sanctions returning.

Democrats criticized Johnson for stripping a provision from the bill to expand coverage of in vitro fertilization for active duty personnel. An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2296/text">earlier version</a>&nbsp;covered&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ivf-vitro-fertilization-trump-executive-order-65972cc1b10151bf1a0d9390fe5754d9">the medical procedure, known as IVF</a>, which helps people facing infertility have children.

Kan. lawmakers help House pass $900 billion defense policy bill

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday&nbsp;an officer on patrol observed a vehicle stopped in the southbound driving lane in the 400 block River Road in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 Stephen Oswalt, 62, was in the driver’s seat and appeared to be sleeping or passed out. During the investigation at the scene he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the County Jail and is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;&nbsp;possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;

Suspect was passed out in vehicle in driving lane of Kan. highway

RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a hit-and-run incident involving a police vehicle in Manhattan.

Just before 3 a.m. on Dec. 10 in the 1600 block of Fair Lane, victims including&nbsp;a 37-year-old man, a 42-year-old man, a 41-year-old man and D &amp; I Rentals reported two suspects attempted to strike two officers with their 2014 Chevy Silverado before reversing and driving into an occupied patrol unit during a traffic stop, according to the Riley County Police Department Activity Report.

The suspects are wanted for allegedly fleeing or attempting to elude, aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, interference with a law enforcement officer, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, reckless driving, criminal damage to property, possession of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute, possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, according to the RCPD.

The suspects, identified as two 41-year-old men and a 42-year-old woman&nbsp; fled the scene. Anyone with information, contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward up to $1,000

3 wanted for hit-and-run crash into Kan. police vehicle

NEW YORK (AP) — Secret grand jury transcripts from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jeffrey-epstein">Jeffrey Epstein’s 2019 sex trafficking case</a>&nbsp;can be made public, a judge ruled Wednesday, joining two other judges in granting the Justice Department’s requests to unseal material from investigations into the late financier’s sexual abuse.

U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman reversed his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/justice-department-epstein-c148333f2618c92c0b9a87784c45a416">earlier decision to keep the material under wraps</a>, citing a new law that requires the government to open its files on Epstein and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/who-is-ghislaine-maxwell-fa2c504a6dfe30ce1686b857a4123b7b">longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell</a>. The judge previously cautioned that the 70 or so pages of grand jury materials slated for release are hardly revelatory.

On Tuesday, a different Manhattan federal judge ordered the release of records from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/epstein-maxwell-sex-trafficking-case-records-8e3985dd977cb94ef41b9581115ef61b">Maxwell’s 2021 sex trafficking case</a>. Last week, a judge in Florida approved the unsealing of transcripts from an abandoned&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-florida-bd036cbe2fa4e98d27aa473fd6daa3bd">Epstein federal grand jury investigation in the 2000s</a>.

The Justice Department asked the judges to lift secrecy orders after the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-release-justice-department-32cbc21a6ae8189dccd00455dc83d2be">Epstein Files Transparency Act</a>, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump last month, created a narrow exception to rules that normally keep grand jury proceedings confidential.

The law requires that the Justice Department disclose Epstein-related records to the public by Dec. 19.

Questions about the government’s Epstein files have dominated the first year of Trump’s second term, with pressure on the Republican intensifying after he reneged on a campaign&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-epstein-conspiracies-97200cfab77572a36bc9ab25841a8833">promise to release the files</a>. His administration released some material, most of it already public, disappointing critics and some allies.

Epstein, a millionaire money manager known for socializing with celebrities, politicians, billionaires and the academic elite,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-suicide-department-of-justice-investigation-50c229b7953096f0301bfa1e7f0b7703">killed himself in jail</a>&nbsp;a month after his 2019 arrest. Maxwell was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-convicted-jeffrey-epstein-trial-verdict-63a71a2825eab41184a79e37bb967e90">convicted in 2021</a>&nbsp;by a federal jury of sex trafficking for helping recruit some of Epstein’s underage victims and participating in some of the abuse. She is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ghislaine-maxwell-jeffrey-epstein-sentencing-aeac127f9cc3811d975ce8e10d171260">serving a 20-year prison sentence</a>.

In court filings, the Justice Department informed Berman that the only witness to testify before the Epstein grand jury was an FBI agent who, the judge noted, “had no direct knowledge of the facts of the case and whose testimony was mostly hearsay.”

The agent testified over two days, on June 18, 2019, and July 2, 2019. The rest of the grand jury presentation consisted of a PowerPoint slideshow and a call log. The July 2 session, which ended with grand jurors voting to indict Epstein. Both of those will also remain sealed, Berman ruled.

Judge: DOJ can make public secret Epstein grand jury transcripts

WASHINGTON (AP) — President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that the United States has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-boat-strikes-caribbean-military-venezuela-timeline-2dd9d16f4f74d9dfa4aca76d3123678d">tensions mount</a>&nbsp;with the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Using U.S. forces to seize an oil tanker is incredibly unusual and marks the Trump administration’s latest push to increase pressure on Maduro, who has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-indictments-armed-forces-united-states-miami-d82797206561db03851e47df125c243f">charged with narcoterrorism</a>&nbsp;in the United States. The U.S. has built up the largest military presence in the region in decades and launched a series of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hegseth-pentagon-drug-boats-pacific-35a60ce3bc018e5f66c18b2d18b49c35">deadly strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats</a>&nbsp;in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. The campaign is facing growing scrutiny from Congress.

“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, a large tanker, very large, largest one ever seized, actually,” Trump told reporters at the White House, later adding that "it was seized for a very good reason.”

Trump said “other things are happening,” but did not offer additional details, saying he would speak more about it later. When asked what would happen to the oil aboard the tanker, Trump said, “Well, we keep it, I guess.”

The seizure was led by the U.S. Coast Guard and supported by the Navy, according to a U.S. official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The official added that the seizure was conducted under U.S. law enforcement authority.

Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves and produces about 1 million barrels a day. Locked out of global oil markets by U.S. sanctions, the state-owned oil company sells most of its output at a steep discount to refiners in China.

The transactions usually involve a complex network of shadowy intermediaries, as sanctions have scared away more established traders. Many are shell companies, registered in jurisdictions known for secrecy. The buyers deploy so-called ghost tankers that hide their location and hand off their valuable cargoes in the middle of the ocean before they reach their final destination.

Maduro did not address the seizure during a speech before a ruling-party organized demonstration in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital. But he told supporters that the country is “prepared to break the teeth of the North American empire if necessary.”

Maduro, flanked by senior officials, said only the ruling party can “guarantee peace, stability, and the harmonious development of Venezuela, South America and the Caribbean.”

Maduro previously has insisted the real purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from office.

During past negotiations, among the concessions the U.S. has made to Maduro was approval for oil giant Chevron Corp. to resume pumping and exporting Venezuelan oil. The corporation’s activities in the South American country resulted in a financial lifeline for Maduro’s government.

The seizure comes a day after the U.S. military&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-us-military-trump-fa18-fighter-jets-06fd7cdc5ac26e7a46165431b95508b0">flew a pair of fighter jets</a>&nbsp;over the Gulf of Venezuela in what appeared to be the closest that warplanes had come to the South American country’s airspace. Trump has said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-cartels-maduro-colombia-petro-boats-559a73dbfcbdc9245494f441be1aad39">land attacks are coming soon</a>&nbsp;but has not offered more details.

The Trump administration is facing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-pete-hegseth-venezuela-9f46a5f074b5b3c979ee41082949b196">increasing scrutiny from lawmakers</a>&nbsp;over the boat strike campaign, which has killed at least 87 people in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-petro-colombia-drugs-us-aid-c3955b2ce351737119920741178e0567">22 known strikes</a>&nbsp;since early September, including&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-strike-video-footage-boat-caribbean-3cf2ca9cbe4523978e935b99c2979caa">a follow-up strike that killed two survivors</a>&nbsp;clinging to the wreckage of a boat after the first hit.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/boat-strikes-survivors-hegseth-72b0a498ca08615b2589c772a1d9e642">Some legal experts and Democrats say</a>&nbsp;that action may have violated the laws governing the use of deadly military force.

Lawmakers are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/defense-bill-ndaa-boat-strikes-video-152bef4ad429ae2c62937daeea2235a4">demanding to get unedited video</a>&nbsp;from the strikes, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told congressional leaders Tuesday he was still weighing whether to release it. Hegseth provided a classified briefing for congressional leaders alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.

It was not immediately clear Wednesday who owned the tanker or what national flag it was sailing under. The Coast Guard referred a request for comment to the White House.

Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano in Caracas, Venezuela, contributed to this report.

🎥Trump: US has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve reduced its key interest rate by a quarter-point for the third time in a row Wednesday but signaled that it may leave rates unchanged in the coming months.

Chair Jerome Powell signaled at a news conference that the Fed would likely hold off on further rate cuts in the coming months while it evaluated the health of the economy. And in a set of quarterly economic projections, Fed officials signaled they expect to lower rates just once next year.

Wednesday's cut reduced the rate to about 3.6%, the lowest it has been in nearly three years. Lower rates from the Fed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-rate-cut-finances-credit-cards-auto-loans-mortgages-jobs-28c665ed26bcd1652abb299cf87145f8">can bring down borrowing costs</a>&nbsp;for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards over time, though market forces can also affect those rates.

Fed officials “will carefully evaluate the incoming data," Powell said, adding that the Fed is “well positioned to wait to see how the economy evolves.” The chair also said that the Fed’s key rate was close to a level that neither restricts nor stimulates the economy.

Three Fed officials dissented from the move, the most dissents in six years and a sign of deep divisions on a committee that traditionally works by consensus. Two officials voted to keep the Fed's rate unchanged, while Stephen Miran, whom Trump appointed in September, voted for a half point cut.

December’s meeting could usher in a more contentious period for the Fed. Officials are&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-jobs-inflation-8a0060c2f52f884ed3489450a66619b8">split</a>&nbsp;between those who support reducing rates to bolster hiring and those who’d prefer to keep rates unchanged because inflation remains above the central bank’s 2% target. Unless inflation shows clear signs of coming fully under control, or unemployment worsens, those divisions will likely remain.

“What you see is some people feel we should stop here and we’re in the right place and should wait, and some people think we should cut more next year,” Powell said. He did rule out a rate hike next year.

Trump on Wednesday criticized the cut as too small, and said he would have preferred “at least double.” The president could name a new Fed chair as soon as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-federal-reserve-bessent-26f23d4bbccd2476e913c0e675fbffdc">later this month</a>&nbsp;to replace Powell when his term ends in May. Trump’s new chair is likely to push for sharper rate cuts than many officials may support.

Stocks jumped in response to the Fed's move, in part because some Wall Street investors expected Powell to be more forceful in shutting down the possibility of future cuts. The broad S&amp;P 500 stock index&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/financial-markets-fed-interest-rates-inflation-27ae743a2289c9870b0be4d2ddd6589a">rose 0.7%</a>&nbsp;and closed near an all-time high reached in October.

Powell was also optimistic about the economy's growth next year, and said that consumer spending remains resilient while companies are still investing in artificial intelligence infrastructure. He also suggested growing worker efficiency could boost growth as well.

A stark sign of the Fed’s divisions was the wide range of cuts that the 19 members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee penciled in for 2026. Seven projected no cuts next year, while eight forecast that the central bank would implement two or more reductions. Four supported just one. Only 12 out of 19 members vote on rate decisions.

The Fed met against the backdrop of elevated inflation that has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-12-9-2025">frustrated</a>&nbsp;many Americans, with prices higher for groceries, rents, and utilities. Consumer prices have jumped 25% in the five years since COVID.

“We hear loud and clear how people are experiencing really high costs," Powell said Wednesday. "A lot of that isn’t the current rate of inflation, a lot of that is imbedded high costs due to higher inflations in 2022-2023.”

In a delayed report last week, the government said the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge remained high in September, with both&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-spending-eaa913f6df77db354019d0d22a4b01fe">overall and core prices rising 2.8%</a>&nbsp;from a year earlier. That is far below the spikes in inflation three years ago but still painful for many households after the big run-up since 2020.

The Fed typically keeps its key rate elevated to combat inflation, while it often reduces borrowing costs when unemployment worsens to spur more spending and hiring.

Adding to the Fed's challenges, job gains have slowed sharply this year and the unemployment rate has risen for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-unemployment-economy-trump-tariff-bf603d63e13d6dc1083e9a6616c7ffee">three straight months</a>&nbsp;to 4.4%. While that is still a low rate historically, it is the highest in four years. Layoffs are also muted, so far, as part of what many economists call a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-economy-c48fd84dfaa71eee962feb3a88fd8575">“low hire, low fire”</a>&nbsp;job market.

Still, Powell said the committee reduced borrowing costs out of concern that the job market is even weaker than it appears. While government data shows that the economy has added just 40,000 jobs a month since April, Powell said that figure could be revised lower by as much as 60,000, which would mean employers have actually been shedding an average of 20,000 jobs a month since the spring.

“It’s a labor market that seems to have significant downside risks," Powell told reporters. "People care about that. That’s their jobs.”

At the same time, Powell noted that there are signs inflation is continuing to cool. Tariffs have made many goods more expensive, but that could peak early next year, he said, while the cost of services — hotel rooms, entertainment, and restaurant meals — has been flat.

“If you get away from tariffs, inflation is in the low 2s," Powell said, near the Fed's target.

The lack of economic data since the government shutdown ended Nov. 13 has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-trump-federal-reserve-fabecefa501709184895bf73b3dc698a">contributed</a>&nbsp;to the divisions at the Fed. But when Fed officials next meet in late January, they’ll have up to three months of backlogged reports to consider. If those figures show that the job market has worsened, the Fed could reduce rates again in January.

By contrast, if hiring has stabilized while inflation remains elevated, they may hold off on additional cuts for several months.

Powell will preside over only three more Fed meetings before he steps down. He was asked about his legacy.

“I really want to turn this job over to whoever replaces me with the economy in really good shape,” he said. "I want inflation to be under control, coming back down to 2%, and I want the labor market to be strong.”

🎥Merry Christmas: Fed explains decision to cut interest rates

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Republicans announced Tuesday they will hold a vote on their own health care proposal later this week to counter a Democratic bill that would extend enhanced tax credits for Affordable Care Act marketplace plans for three more years.

<a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/health_care_freedom_for_patients_act.pdf">Click here to read</a> the bill

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/health_care_freedom_for_patients_act.pdf" target="_blank">32-page GOP bill</a>&nbsp;would not address the expiring ACA marketplace tax credits but would send payments to certain Americans through Health Savings Accounts to cover some of the cost of health care.&nbsp;

Neither measure has the 60 votes needed to advance under that chamber’s rules. That would leave the ACA marketplace subsidies to expire at the end of the year and dramatically spike the cost of health insurance for the millions of people enrolled in those plans.&nbsp;

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said Democrats’ bill to simply extend the enhanced ACA marketplace tax credits to offset the costs Americans pay for that insurance was unacceptable.&nbsp;

“The way that the program is structured, the money goes straight to the insurance companies,” Thune said. “And the way that we think this ought to work is you ought to come up with a way in which you can deliver the benefit to the patients and not to the insurance companies.”

Thune said the Democratic bill lacks an income cap for ACA marketplace tax credits and allows $0 premiums for health insurance plans — guaranteeing the measure will fail.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, of New York, called the GOP proposal a “nonstarter” that would lead to “junk insurance.” He said the only way to avoid a dramatic increase in health insurance costs next year is to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits.&nbsp;

“Their phony proposal is dead on arrival,” Schumer said. “The bill not only fails to extend the tax credits, it increases costs, adds tons of new abortion restrictions for women, expands junk fees and permanently funds cost-sharing reductions.”

Senate Republicans have debated for weeks whether to hold a vote on a GOP plan to show the party has something to offer toward reducing health care costs. Thune promised Democrats a vote on a health care bill of their choosing in exchange for votes to end the government shutdown.&nbsp;

Schumer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/health-subsidies-would-continue-3-years-under-dem-bill-be-voted-us-senate" target="_blank">announced last week</a>&nbsp;that Democrats would hold the vote on a three-year extension of the enhanced ACA tax credits as they exist now.&nbsp;

Several GOP senators, including Maine’s Susan Collins and Ohio’s Bernie Moreno, have released plans that would include an extension of the expiring tax credits while beginning to transition away from those subsidies.&nbsp;

But Republican leaders ultimately decided to hold a vote on a proposal released earlier this week by Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.&nbsp;

The Cassidy-Crapo legislation would have the Department of Health and Human Services deposit money into Health Savings Accounts for people enrolled in bronze or catastrophic health insurance plans purchased on the ACA marketplace in 2026 or 2027, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/health_care_freedom_for_patients_act_one-pager.pdf" target="_blank">a summary</a>&nbsp;of the bill.&nbsp;

Health Savings Accounts are tax-advantaged savings accounts that consumers can use to pay for medical expenses that are not otherwise reimbursed. They are not health insurance products.

ACA marketplace enrollees who select a bronze or catastrophic plan and make up to 700% of the federal poverty level would receive $1,000 annually if they are between the ages of 18 and 49 and $1,500 per year if they are between the ages of 50 and 64.&nbsp;

That would set a threshold of $109,550 in annual income for one person, or $225,050 for a family of four, according to the 2025&nbsp;<a href="https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/dd73d4f00d8a819d10b2fdb70d254f7b/detailed-guidelines-2025.pdf" target="_blank">federal poverty guidelines</a>. The numbers are somewhat higher for residents of Alaska and Hawaii.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The funding could not go toward abortion access or gender transitions, according to the Republican bill summary.&nbsp;

Cassidy and Crapo outlined how their proposal would work during afternoon floor speeches, where they also aired their grievances with how the Affordable Care Act has affected Americans’ health care costs.&nbsp;

Crapo rebuked Democrats for establishing the enhanced ACA marketplace tax credits during the coronavirus pandemic and scheduling them to sunset at the end of this year.&nbsp;

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