Fresh Start is starting off 2026 with a new Night Shelter Program that will house the homeless overnight. Individuals and families can make a reservation for the Night Shelter Program by calling the Shelter at 785-390-0102 between the hours of 8:00AM and 5:00PM. Access will be granted based upon a client’s homeless status as per HUD’s definition of homelessness, passing background checks, and bed availability. The Night Shelter Program runs seven nights, with clients able to make additional reservations each week, but is first-come, first-served. Those seeking shelter are required to call before 5:00pm to check on availability for that night’s shelter. Once a reservation is made, clients must come in for intake between 6:00pm to 7:00pm. Dinner will be available.

Clients are required to check out the following morning by 8:00am and can return between 6:00pm-7:00pm. A waitlist will be available, and any Client that does not return by 7:00pm will forfeit their room which will be available for the next person on the wait list. For more details or questions, contact Fresh Start at 785-390-0102 or email the Director atdirector@freshstartes.org.

Fresh Start Emergency Services Announces new Night Shelter Program beginning in 2026

On Friday, December 12, the Junction City Retired School Personnel met at the Zion United Church of Christ to celebrate&nbsp;the season.&nbsp; &nbsp;A potluck meal of soups, salads and desserts were provided by designated members.&nbsp; &nbsp;The JC Singers from Junction City High School performed seasonal music and sang Christmas carols with the JCARSP members.&nbsp; 

Caps and gloves were donated to the USD 475 Early Childhood program.&nbsp;

Junction City Retired School Personnel Celebrate and Give To Early Childhood

The Junction City area had slightly above normal rainfall for the month and well above normal temperatures. In fact, if it hadn’t cooled off the last week of the month, November would have been the second warmest on record. As it was, the month did get into the top ten warmest Novembers, but couldn’t break into the top five!     

 The average daily high during November was 58.9, 4.6 degrees above normal. The average overnight low was 37.6, 5.1 degrees above normal. This resulted in a monthly mean temperature of 48.3, 4.9 degrees above normal. The highest temperature for the month was 77 degrees on the 13th. The coldest temperature for the month was the low on the 30th of 14 degrees. There were no temperature records set during the month, but the overnight low of 47 on the 25th tied the record high low temperature for that date which was set in 2011. The warmest November on record was in 1999 with a monthly mean temperature of 51.8. The coldest November was in 1985 when we had a chilly monthly mean temperature of 35.2.      

The overnight low of 25 on November 9th was the first official freezing temperature for the fall season and officially ended the 2025 growing season. That is nearly three weeks later than the average first frost date of October 20th. The growing season (number of days from last frost of spring to first frost of fall) for 2025 was 216 days. The long-term average is 189 days, however the 30-year moving average is 195 days. Over the last 40 years the first frost date has moved almost a week later, and the average growing season has increased by over ten days. This is also due in part to average last frost dates in the spring occurring earlier. The first fall frost date of November 9th tied 2025 with 1986 for the fourth latest first frost. The latest first frost was in 2021 when we didn’t reach the freezing mark until November 13th.&nbsp;      

After a very dry first 20 days of November, precipitation finally arrived with enough rain to move us above average for the month. Long term average November rainfall is 1.42 inches, and Milford Lake received 1.68 inches for the month. Year to date we have received 33.27 inches of precipitation. Long term average is 32.40 inches. Cold weather did bring us our first official snowfall of the season with two tenths of an inch recorded on the 30th. Long term November average is one inch.      

December brings us the start of meteorological winter (December 1) and astronomical winter (December 21) and on average is our second coldest month of the year, and winter, with only January being colder. Average daily highs during December range from 46 on the 1st to 39 on New Year’s Eve. Overnight lows start the month at 26 and by the time we close out the old year, they have dropped to 20. December is our third driest month of the year with only 1.17 inches of liquid precipitation being recorded on average. 

While average December snowfall is 3.7 inches, it is unlikely that we will have a white Christmas. On average we have less than a 25% probability of having one inch of snow on the ground on December 25th which is the definition of a White Christmas.

November 2025 Junction City Area Weather Summary

&nbsp; Chapman, KS — Downtown Dance, Tumbling &amp; Aerial Arts along with the City of Chapman is proud to announced that they been awarded a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to support the creation of an expanded upper-level aerial arts and tumbling facility. This project will not only provide much-needed space for the studio’s rapidly growing programs, but will restore the second floor of the building—originally the historic Buhrer Opera House—to its intended purpose as a multifunctional community space.

The studio partnered with the Flint Hills Regional Council to prepare and submit the grant application. Their guidance and expertise were instrumental in securing this funding for Chapman’s downtown district.The renovated upper level will serve as a training facility for aerial arts and tumbling students, offering expanded class capacity, upgraded equipment, and enhanced safety features. 

Beyond supporting the studio’s continued growth, the restored opera hall will also function as a dual-use event space, opening the door for: Dance, tumbling, and aerial arts conventions,Community gatherings,Workshops and special events, Performances and visiting entertainment groups.

&nbsp; The lower level of the building already serves as a vibrant community hub. One side houses an active dance studio, while the other includes the welcoming lobby for Downtown Place Spa Suites &amp; Event Space, home to Massage by Sway, Downtown Nail Nook, and Downtown Tanning. The addition of the restored upper level will further enhance the building’s role as a cornerstone of local activity and small-business collaboration.

“We are incredibly grateful for this grant and excited to bring new life to such a historic part of Chapman,” said Victoria Woods, owner of Downtown Dance, Tumbling &amp; Aerial Arts. “This project will allow us to meet the needs of our growing student base while creating a space that our entire community can enjoy. It honors the building’s past while investing in Chapman’s future.”

Community Development Block Grant supports a Chapman project

The City of Junction City has announce with temperatures expected to drop into the single digits, Fresh Start Emergency Shelter will open as a Warming Center on Saturday, December 13 at 6:00 p.m. through Sunday, December 14 at 12:00 p.m. (Noon).

 Location: 136 W 3rd St, Junction City, KS

 Questions? Contact Fresh Start at 785-390-0102 Intake Details:• Guests may check in from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.• After 9:00 p.m. or before 8:00 a.m., individuals must arrive with law enforcement or Fire/EMS escort.• ID is requested but not required if known by local agencies.• Individuals under the influence cannot be admitted for safety reasons.Please help share this information so those who need shelter know



Shelter from the cold Saturday night

MANHATTAN — The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/">American Legion Boys State of Kansas</a>&nbsp;is accepting applications for its 2026 session. The event is set to be held Sunday, May 31, through Saturday, June 6, at Kansas State University in Manhattan. This will be the program’s 34th consecutive session at KSU and 88th overall.

Traditionally, Kansas&nbsp;Boys State&nbsp;has been for individuals who will complete their junior year of high school in the spring just prior to the start of each session. However, the ALBSK program will again expand the pool of applicants for this year’s session to also include those who will complete their sophomore year of high school this spring.

The American Legion&nbsp;Boys State&nbsp;of Kansas program provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to community,&nbsp;state&nbsp;and nation.&nbsp;Boys State&nbsp;is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the&nbsp;state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government, and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.

The cost to attend the&nbsp;Boys State&nbsp;of Kansas&nbsp;program is $375; however, in many instances, sponsors pay the majority of the fees, with the delegate or his family paying $50. Those wishing to attend the 2026 session should visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/">ksbstate.org</a>&nbsp;to apply. The deadline to apply for the 2026 program is Thursday, April 30; applications are accepted after that date, but on a space-available basis. In addition, those who register by Saturday, Jan. 31, will receive a KBS sweatshirt or polo. Furthermore, delegates who are returning for a second year have the opportunity to attend the 2026 session for just $50 total, provided they get at least three people from their school (or another school) to attend.

Kansas Boys State attendees are eligible to receive a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/collegecredit/">three-hour course credit</a>&nbsp;(Introduction to Political Science [POLSC 110-C]) through Kansas State University at a 72% discount, as well as&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/scouts/">earn merit badges</a>&nbsp;to attain the Eagle Scout rank through Boy Scouts of America. Additionally, attendees can&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/our-program/samsung-scholarship/">apply to win a Samsung American Legion Scholarship</a>. The American Legion Department of Kansas finalist is guaranteed a $1,250 scholarship, with the opportunity to receive up to $10,000 as a national scholar.

Potential sponsors, such as American Legion posts, civic organizations, businesses, clubs and interested individuals should visit&nbsp;<a href="mailto:ksbstate.org/sponsor">ksbstate.org/sponsor</a>. Questions? Contact the ALBSK at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@ksbstate.org">info@ksbstate.org</a>&nbsp;or (785) 550-6492.&nbsp; For complete information about the American Legion Boys State of Kansas program, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ksbstate.org/">ksbstate.org</a>.

For information about the 2026 American Legion Auxiliary Sunflower Girls State, which will be held Sunday, May 31, through Friday, June 5, at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksgirlsstate.org/">ksgirlsstate.org</a>.

Applications open for 2026 Kansas Boys State in Manhattan

Girls recap — Hays 63, Junction City 17

The Hays High Lady Indians jumped out to an early lead over the Junction City Lady Jays and won big on Friday night inside the Blue Jay Event Center. Hays led 20-2 at the end of the first quarter and 41-7 at halftime. Junction City had just one first-half basket, coming from sophomore Aniyah Henry-Rivers with two minutes to go in the half.

Third-quarter action was similar, with Henry-Rivers scoring another basket, but the Lady Indians led 57-9. In the fourth quarter, the JC girls managed to get a couple of shots to go in, including baskets on the final two possessions of the game by sophomore Isabel Pruitt.

Hays won the game 63-17 and improved to 5-0 on the season.

With the loss, the JC Lady Jays fall to 1-2 and will host Dodge City on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.

On the KJCK Radio broadcast, Morgan Nabus was named the Blu Restaurant Player of the Game. (For being named Player of the Game, Morgan receives a free meal voucher of up to $20 from Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)

Boys recap — Hays 58, Junction City 49

The game started out well for the Junction City Blue Jays, as they went on a 7-0 run in the first minute and 20 seconds of game action. Hays quickly called a timeout and regrouped. Hays big man Dawson Ruder went on his own 8-0 run to give the Indians a one-point lead. The teams traded baskets throughout the remainder of the quarter, and Hays led 14-9 after one.

The Indians began the second quarter on a 10-5 run and stretched their lead to 10. Similar to what Hays did to start the game, JC called a timeout, regrouped, and then went on its own 7-0 run. A couple of made three-pointers cut the deficit to three, but Hays extended the lead right before halftime and led 28-22 at the break.

Third-quarter action saw the Blue Jay offense finally come alive, but Izaac Fox also got going for the Indians, as Hays extended its lead to eight, 42-34, after three quarters. In fourth-quarter action, the Indians grew their lead and held on for a 58-49 win.

Junction City was led in scoring by senior point guard Lovell Autry, who finished with 21 points. Senior Jet Thompson added 10, and they were the only two JCHS players in double figures.

On the KJCK Radio broadcast, Lovell Autry was named the Blu Restaurant Player of the Game. (For being named Player of the Game, Lovell receives a free meal voucher of up to $20 from Blu Restaurant in Junction City.)

With the loss, the Blue Jays fall to 1-2 on the season and will host Dodge City on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the Blue Jay Event Center.

🏀Hays Indians sweep Junction City on the hardwood Friday night

Junction City boys and girls basketball back in action tonight in Junction City. Both teams are hosting the Hays Indians. Girls tip off at 6:00, boys follow at 7:30.&nbsp;

Listen live on 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio. You can also <a href="https://streamdb9web.securenetsystems.net/cirrusencore/KJCKAM">listen live by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>

You can watch and listen live to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/eYvgQZdAUUo">girls game by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>

You can watch and listen live to the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/kAe4x19NUmc">boys game by clicking here.&nbsp;</a>

🏀 WATCH/LISTEN LIVE: Junction City basketball teams hosts Hays

Fort Riley has announced that facial recognition lanes are coming to Fort Riley’s Ogden and Henry gates. Drivers of single occupant vehicles with registered biometrics in the Automated Installation Entry (AIE) system may use the facial recognition lanes. 

Those who have a CAC, Dependent ID, Retiree ID, AIE card or paper pass, Veteran Health ID Card, or registered REAL ID driver’s license may travel through the gate without stopping to show ID. 

 The expected date of initial operation is Friday, December 19, 2025. For more information visit the Fort Riley website.



Facial recognition lanes are coming to a pair of Fort Riley gates

&nbsp; Sunset Zoo staff found an early Christmas present the morning of Sunday, December 7 when they discovered Kivuli, the black-and-white colobus monkey, had given birth overnight. When Kivuli started showing signs of impending birth, zookeepers installed cameras and started “baby watch.” Footage revealed that Kivuli gave birth around 1:30 a.m.

Mother and baby are both doing well. Kivuli is proving to be a very attentive first-time mom, providing the level of care keepers expect to see at this stage. Bobby, the father, is also protective, demonstrating territorial behavior of his troop and their space. The other female in the troop, Azizi, is also helping with baby care and will hold the baby for Kivuli for short periods.Sunset Zoo Director Scott Shoemaker remarked, “We are very excited about the birth of this baby colobus monkey. Every birth is a significant achievement, and we are very proud to be able to add to the population of this charismatic primate.”

Interim Zoo Curator, Madison Brandon, added, "Kivuli is our shiest Colobus. With a lot of patience, her care team was able to build up her trust throughout her pregnancy. Kivuli now approaches keepers to accept food items, now toting baby along as well. Her favorite food items are mulberry leaves, avocado, potato, and primate biscuits."&nbsp;The Ballard Indoor Primate Viewing Gallery has been closed for the past week to give them time to bond in a quiet environment. The Gallery will reopen on Saturday, December&nbsp; 13, with limited hours of 2 – 5 pm to reduce potential noise and stress for the family as they adjust to public viewing with their new addition. 

The Zoo asks guests to be conscientious when visiting the colobus habitat by using quiet voices and calm behavior. Kivuli will continue to have access to her behind-the-scenes den throughout the day and may choose to remain out of public view. The family will not have access to their outside habitat until the baby is larger.

. Naming the newborn will wait until after the sex is determined and caretakers get a sense of its personality.Black-and-white colobus monkeys are native to the forests and woodlands of equatorial Africa. They are sometimes called “skunk monkeys” because of their distinctive coloration. Newborn colobus monkeys are born totally white and gradually develop the black and white coloration of their parents.&nbsp;

Colobus Monkeys at Sunset Zoo Welcome Baby! 

The&nbsp;5th Engineer Battalion patching ceremony will be held at King Field House, Fort Riley at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 16. This event will celebrate the reflagging of the 5th Engineer Battalion under the 1st Infantry Division

The Army announced the restructuring to meet force requirements in the Army 2030 Design which necessitated the realignment of 5th Engineer Battalion from 36th Engineer Brigade to 1st Infantry Division. In keeping with Fort Riley and Big Red One tradition, the commanding general is hosting the 5th Engineer Battalion patching ceremony to fully welcome the battalion and its family members to the 1st Infantry Division.

As part of the Army 2030 initiative, the 5th Engineer Battalion Headquarters and its associated companies will relocate from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri to Fort Riley by October 2026. This will bring nearly 250 Soldiers and their families to the Flint Hills region and more combat power to the Big Red One.

The 5th Engineer Battalion traces its history back to 1861, with the establishment of "Battalion of Engineer Troops" supporting the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War. Their lineage is inlaid in the history of the U.S. Army, serving in World War I, World War II, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Inherent Resolve.&nbsp;

The First Division is honored to add the legacy of the Fighting Fifth to the 108 years of service the Big Red One patch signifies.

5th Engineer Battalion joins the Big Red One

WICHITA, Kan.&nbsp;— Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett is urging area residents to remain vigilant against financial scams targeting seniors, following the release of a startling new report by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The “2025 Annual Report to Congress on Department of Justice Activities to Combat Elder Fraud and Abuse” reveals the staggering scope of financial exploitation targeting older adults in the United States. According to the report, thieves attempted to steal or succeeded in stealing more than $2 billion from over 1 million older Americans during the reporting period.

“The figures released in this report are a reminder of the pervasiveness of elder financial abuse,” Bennett said. “While this is a national report, the threat is local. These sophisticated criminal networks do not discriminate by location, and we want to ensure the citizens of Sedgwick County are aware of the scale of this problem so they can better protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The DOJ report details that federal litigators pursued more than 280 enforcement actions against over 600 defendants. These perpetrators included both domestic offenders and transnational criminals operating from overseas, many of whom were extradited to face charges in U.S. courts.

The District Attorney’s Office encourages residents to look out for common “red flags” of fraud, which often include:

“We are putting this information out as a warning,” Bennett added. “If you suspect you or an elderly family member has been targeted, please do not stay silent. Reporting these crimes is the first step in stopping them.”

DOJ report: $2 billion in losses from elder abuse fraud

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/alex-veiga">ALEX VEIGA</a> Associated Press

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage edged higher this week, though it remains relatively near its low point so far this year.

The uptick brings the average long-term mortgage rate to 6.22% from 6.19% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.6%.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose this week. The rate averaged 5.54%, up from 5.44% last week. A year ago, it averaged 5.84%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">interest rate policy decisions</a>&nbsp;to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The 10-year yield was at 4.12% at midday Thursday, slightly higher than it was a week ago.

The rise in mortgage rates comes a day after the Federal Reserve&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-economy-inflation-jobs-442de589de9b99bb811f76e402b00948">cut its main interest rate</a>&nbsp;for the third time this year and indicated another cut may be ahead in 2026.

The Fed doesn’t set mortgage rates, so even when it cuts its short-term rates that doesn’t necessarily mean rates on home loans will necessarily decline.

That’s what happened last fall after the central bank cut its main rate for the first time in more than four years. Instead of falling, mortgage rates marched higher, eventually cresting above 7% in January this year. At that time, the 10-year Treasury yield was climbing toward 5%.

Mortgage rates began declining this summer ahead of the central bank’s September rate cut, its first in a year. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage got as low as 6.17%, the lowest level in more than a year, on Oct. 30.

That pullback in rates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/housing-home-sales-real-estate-home-prices-ee7705f4c272edfd5588fa78c2d6b501">helped lift sales of previously occupied U.S. homes in October</a>&nbsp;on an annual basis for the fourth straight month.

Still, affordability remains a challenge for many aspiring homeowners, especially first-time buyers who don’t have equity from an existing home to put toward a new home purchase. Uncertainty over the economy and job market are also keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines.

The overall decline in mortgage rates this fall has been a boon for homeowners eager to refinance their home loan to a lower rate.

Applications for mortgage refinancing loans jumped 14% last week from the previous week, and accounted for about 58% of all home loan applications, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Applications for loans to buy a home climbed nearly 5%.

Economists generally forecast that the average rate on a 30-year mortgage will remain slightly above 6% next year.

“While this is unlikely to deliver the sharp relief some buyers are hoping for, rates are expected to be low enough to help counterbalance continued, but modest, home price growth,” said Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com.

Average US long-term mortgage rate ticks up but remains close to its low for the year

A shooting Saturday at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, left&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/brown-university-active-shooter-c7c9d1c7da19a76c2a27685c7e63d6da">two people dead and at least eight other critically injured.</a>&nbsp;Authorities were still searching for a suspect in the hours afterward.

The shooting occurred on a Saturday afternoon in a campus building with final exams underway. The suspect was dressed in black and left the building on foot, officials said.

The violence prompted a shelter-in-place order for the larger university area. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said “we have all available resources” to find the suspect.

“Sadly, today is a day that the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island prayed would never come,” the mayor said. “We've heard about horrific acts of gun violence and active shooter situations in other places, but not here.”

Brown is a private institution with roughly 7,300 undergraduate students and more than 3,000 graduate students.

Here is a look at other deadly shootings on U.S. college campuses in recent decades:

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kentucky-state-university-shooting-976289946dde326a7e9f97a62bb2f82d">KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: December 2025, 1 dead

A shooting at a residence hall at the public historically Black university left one student dead and another critically injured. The suspect, who is a parent of a student, faces murder and assault charges.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/charlie-kirk-shooting-utah-university-republicans-8357c3d102de09e3320fde761258131a">UTAH VALLEY UNIVERSITY</a>: September 2025, 1 dead

Conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking on campus during one of his political events, sending hundreds of people running. A 22-year-old suspect faces aggravated murder in connection with Kirk's death. Prosecutors plan to seek the death penalty.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-state-university-shooting-phoenix-ikner-trial-2e37092ae8cf76e20069c603b7868548">FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: April 2025, 2 dead

Two died and six were wounded in a shooting at Florida State University in Tallahassee. A 21-year-old man has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the shooting.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/campus-shooting-las-vegas-unlv-55ca455e2d00f1126cc1dbf4cc29139e">UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, LAS VEGAS</a>: December 2023, 3 dead

A 67-year-old former business professor, whose applications to teach at UNLV had been rejected, opened fire in the building housing the university's business school, killing three professors and badly wounding a fourth. The gunman was killed in a shootout with police outside the building.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/colleges-and-universities-michigan-education-shootings-153ab68bc4f108c2019bb138de2dc8fb">MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY</a>: February 2023, 3 dead

A 43-year-old gunman fired inside an academic building and the student union, killing three students and injuring five others. He later killed himself miles away from the campus in East Lansing while being confronted by police.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/university-of-virginia-shooting-live-updates-4cd9f0a64201d2460de887674fdfa02b">UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA</a>: November 2022, 3 dead

A student and former member of the school’s football team fatally shot three current players aboard a charter bus as they returned from a field trip, setting off panic and a 12-hour lockdown of the campus until the suspect was captured. Two other students were also wounded on the campus. The shooter has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges and is awaiting sentencing.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d274847cf7bf503cea150765f907d7c6">NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY</a>: October 2015, 1 dead

Just weeks into his freshman year, a student walked onto the campus in Flagstaff and opened fire. One student was killed and three others were wounded in the first deadly shooting since the university was founded in 1899. The shooter later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and aggravated assault and was sentenced to six years in prison.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-9236adb78dda4ad198b5b6719024d8b2">UMPQUA COMMUNITY COLLEGE</a>: October 2015, 9 dead

A 26-year-old man opened fire on his writing class, killing his instructor and eight other people at the school in rural Roseburg, Oregon. Nine more people were also wounded. The shooter then killed himself.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-d46b47b1cd534a21ba6b162584a62505">UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA BARBARA</a>: May 2014, 6 dead

A 22-year-old college student frustrated over sexual rejections fatally stabbed or shot six students near the school in Isla Vista, California, and injured several others before he killed himself.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fires-shootings-santa-monica-1a2540a27047485fa8ca0e4733c6a2a4">SANTA MONICA COLLEGE</a>: June 2013, 6 dead

A deadly act of domestic violence at home turned public when a 23-year-old man left after killing his father and older brother, carjacked a woman and shot at other vehicles. He then entered the campus where he had previously been enrolled as a student and opened fire, killing four more people before he was fatally shot by police in the school's library.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-232fa21ef43b4e7ea13c94d14e96b5e8">OIKOS UNIVERSITY</a>: April 2012, 7 dead

A former nursing student fatally shot seven people at the small private college in East Oakland, California. He was given seven consecutive life sentences and died in prison in 2019.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-8e6fc851fe9d42aa824d7841314f3f3b">NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY</a>: February 2008, 5 dead

A 27-year-old former student shot and killed five people and wounded more than 20 others at the school in DeKalb, Illinois, before killing himself.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/aa4caffe30834994b57a789500773b7b">VIRGINIA TECH</a>: April 2007, 32 dead

In the deadliest shooting at a U.S. college, a 23-year-old student killed 32 people on the campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. More than two dozen others were wounded. The gunman then killed himself.

<a href="https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/10/28/nov-1-1991-day-university-shooting-rampage-shocked-iowa/92053548/">UNIVERSITY OF IOWA</a>: November 1991, 5 dead

A former graduate student upset that his doctoral dissertation wasn't nominated for an academic award fatally shot himself after killing five people and injuring one other person in a shooting spree on the campus in Iowa City.

<a href="https://apnews.com/domestic-news-domestic-news-general-news-91cd1ab6a70e47ef850de78413acb8d5">UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS</a>: August 1966, 13 dead

A Marine-trained sniper opened fire from atop the 27-story clock tower in the heart of the university's flagship Austin campus in one of the nation's first mass shootings. He killed 13 people and wounded more than 30 others before authorities shot and killed him.

A list of deadly shootings on college campuses in the US

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The death of a 32-year-old man&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-epic-universe-roller-coaster-death-851345f89f44e640f93cbf7d929923fc">after riding a high-speed roller coaster</a>&nbsp;at the Universal Epic Universe theme park was accidental, and an investigation has been closed, according to a Florida sheriff’s office report released this week.

Meanwhile, a medical examiner’s report released Friday showed that the left side of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala’s forehead had a deep gash, and the bony ridge above his eye was fractured. He had bleeding above his skull, bruises on his abdomen and arms, and his nose and right thigh bone were fractured, the medical examiner’s report said.

The medical examiner in Orlando previously had ruled the death an accident, saying Zavala died of blunt-impact injuries. The investigative report by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando said that workers at Epic Universe followed procedures and weren’t careless or neglectful.

Epic Universe is the newest theme park at Universal Orlando Resort.

Security video showed Zavala “engaged and well” at the start of the ride but unresponsive and slouched over in his seat at the end, according to the sheriff’s office report.

When the ride came to a stop, Zavala was bleeding from the face, and his body was slumped over, according to witnesses.

Anna Marshall, a medical doctor who was standing in line to board the ride, said Zavala was slouched over and surrounded by blood when the coaster returned to the boarding platform. His arm was hanging over the ride, and his thigh bone was broken in half and resting on the back of the ride chair, she told investigators.

Zavala used a wheelchair. As Marshall rendered aid, Zavala’s girlfriend, Javiliz Cruz-Robles, who was beside him on the ride, told the doctor that he had metal rods in his back from a previous spinal surgery.

“Dr. Marshall explained that she did not believe that just because Kevin Rodriguez-Zavala didn’t have use of his legs that that was the sole reason why this occurred,” the report said.

Zavala’s family said the condition leading to his disability, which they described as spinal cord atrophy, didn’t cause his death on Sept. 17. The media office for attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Zavala’s family, didn’t return an emailed inquiry about the sheriff’s office report on Friday.

Zavala had severe facial trauma when the ride stopped. He was still secured in his ride seat by a lap bar, which ride operators had difficulty releasing for 10 minutes, Universal paramedic Sebastian Torres told sheriff’s office investigators.

“‘The guest was stuck on the ride vehicle face down, falling out of his seat, with legs inverted,’” Torres wrote in a statement included in the report.

Cruz-Robles told investigators that a ride operator had to push Zavala’s lap restraint down several times before it was safely in place when they first got on the ride, and she thought the restraint bar was positioned too low on their laps. When the coaster began the first downward movement, she said Zavala flew forward and hit his head on the metal bar in front of them. During the ride Zavala hit his head several times more, and Cruz-Robles said she tried but was unable to hold him back.

“Javiliz was crying for help, but due to being in the middle of the ride, no one heard her screaming for help until the train cart was getting close to the station,” the report said.

The sheriff’s office report noted there were warning signs posted at the ride’s entrance telling patrons about sudden drops and accelerations. The signs said guests shouldn’t go on the ride with certain conditions, including “back, neck or similar physical conditions,” or if they’ve had recent surgeries or conditions that could be aggravated by the ride.

Zavala’s parents told investigators that their son had previously fractured a thigh bone that required surgery in 2020 and had a hip dislocation that required surgery in 2010.

The dual-launch coaster reaches speeds up to 62 mph (100 kph) and debuted officially in May when Universal Orlando Resort’s newest theme park opened to the public.

This story has been corrected to reflect that the incident took place at Universal Epic Universe theme park, not Universal Studios Florida theme park. Both parks are at the Universal Orlando Resort.

Sheriff rules on cause of man's death on roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort 

By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, JOSHUA GOODMAN and JOHN HANNA

MAYETTA, Kan. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/potawatomi-illinois-treaty-reservation-805f5030d9abbac93ce3da3cec18a636">Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation</a>, whose ancestors were uprooted by the U.S. from the Great Lakes region in the 1830s, are facing outrage from fellow Native Americans over plans to profit from another forced removal: President Donald Trump’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-trump-family-separation-law-enforcement-detention-deportation-76e1c6239c1522aae010590195f97db3">mass deportation campaign</a>.

A newly established tribal business entity quietly signed a nearly $30 million federal contract in October to come up with an early design for immigrant detention centers across the U.S. Amid the backlash, the tribe says it's trying to get out of it.

Tribal leaders and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security haven’t responded to detailed questions about why the firm was selected for such a big contract without having to compete for the work as federal contracting normally requires. A former naval officer — who markets himself as the “go-to" adviser for tribes and affiliated companies seeking to land federal contracts — established the affiliate, KPB Services LLC, in April.

The criticism has been so intense that the 4,500-member tribe said it fired the economic development leaders who brokered the deal.

“We are known across the nation now as traitors and treasonous to another race of people,” said Ray Rice, a 74-year-old who said he and other tribal members were blindsided. “We are brown and they’re brown.”

Tribal Chairman Joseph “Zeke” Rupnick promised “full transparency” about what he described as an “evolving situation." In a video message to tribal members Friday, he said the tribe is talking with legal counsel about ways to end the contract.

He alluded to the time when federal agents forcibly removed hundreds of Prairie Band Potawatomi families from their homes and ultimately corralled them on a reservation just north of Topeka.

“We know our Indian reservations were the government’s first attempts at detention centers,” Rupnick said in the video message. “We were placed here because we were prisoners of war. So we must ask ourselves why we would ever participate in something that mirrors the harm and the trauma once done to our people.”

The U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-immigration-stops-los-angeles-trump-57cc1f85ceafda0f11052b326c8b7173">cleared the way in September for federal agents</a>&nbsp;to conduct sweeping immigration raids and use apparent ethnicity as a relevant factor for a stop. With some Native Americans being swept up and detained in recent raids, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s overtures to tribes and even longstanding deals are generating extra scrutiny.

An LLC owned by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Alabama also has a multimillion dollar contract with ICE to provide financial and administrative services. Meanwhile, some shareholders of an Alaska Native corporation say their values don't align with the corporation's federal contracting division, Akima, to provide security at several ICE detention facilities.

“I’m shocked that there is any tribal nation that’s willing to assist the U.S. government in that,” said Brittany McKane, a 29-year-old Muscogee Nation citizen who attends the tribe’s college in Oklahoma.

Some&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/alligator-alcatraz-lawsuit-miccosukee-tribe-florida-immigration-164069ac7e4cddc1f7278b218b9cf8f7">tribal nations</a>&nbsp;have advised their citizens to carry tribal IDs.

Last month, actor Elaine Miles said she was stopped by ICE agents who alleged her ID from the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon was fake.

Economic pressure increases as federal funding decreases

The economic arms of tribes, which can be run by non-Natives, are under increasing pressure to generate revenue because of decreased&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-donald-trump-es-joe-biden-education-funding-jeff-merkley-7ab2ffa8bcd98a0ddff8c513b684a2ee">federal funding</a>, high inflation and competition from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-online-sports-gambling-c96b4565db5d99dee96be0530f8af473">online gambling</a>, said Gabe Galanda, an Indigenous rights attorney based in Seattle.

But the economic opportunities presented to tribes don't always align with their values, said Galanda, a member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes in northern California.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi has a range of businesses that provide health care management staffing, general contracting and even interior design.

The tribal offshoot hired by ICE — KPB Services LLC — was established in Holton, Kansas, and is not listed on the tribe's website. It previously qualified along with dozens of other companies to provide logistical support to the U.S. Navy although, to date, it hasn't performed any work for the federal government.

The ICE contract initially was awarded in October for $19 million for unspecified “due diligence and concept designs” for processing centers and detention centers throughout the U.S., according to a one-sentence description of the work on the federal government's real time contracting database. It was modified a month later to increase the payout ceiling to $29.9 million. Sole-source contracts above $30 million require additional justification under federal contracting rules.

The contract raises a number of questions and seems to go against the Trump administration's stated of goal of cleaning up waste, fraud and abuse, said Attorney Joshua Schnell, who specializes in federal contracting law.

“The public’s trust in the federal procurement system depends on transparency and competition,” said Schnell. “Although there is a role within this system for multimillion dollar sole-source contracts, these contracts are an exception to statutory competition requirements, and taxpayers are entitled to know how the government is spending their money.”

Backlash swift as news about the ICE contract spread

It's unclear what the Tribal Council knew about the contract. A spokesperson for the Tribal Council did not respond to repeated requests from the AP for details, including who was terminated.

What is known is that KPB was registered by Ernest C. Woodward Jr., a retired U.S. naval officer with degrees in engineering and business who is a member of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, according to a website for his one-time consulting firm, Burton Woodward Partners LLC.

The website described Woodward as a serial entrepreneur and tribal adviser on mergers and acquisitions, accessing capital and landing federal contracts. The consulting firm was registered to an office park in Sarasota, Florida, in 2017 but was delisted two years later after it failed to file an annual report.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in a 2017 news release said Woodward’s firm advised it on its acquisition of another government contractor, Mill Creek LLC, which specializes in outfitting federal buildings and the military with office furniture and medical equipment.

Woodward also is listed as the chief operating officer of the Florida branch of Prairie Band Construction Inc., which was registered in September.

Attempts to locate Woodward were unsuccessful. The phone number listed on Burton Woodward Partners was disconnected, and he did not respond to an email sent to another consulting firm he’s affiliated with, Virginia-based Chinkapin Partners LLC.

Carole Cadue-Blackwood, who has Prairie Band Potawatomi ancestry and is an enrolled member of the Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, hopes the contract dies. She has been part of the fight against an ICE detention center opening in Leavenworth, Kansas, and works for a social service agency for Native Americans.

“I’m in just utter disbelief that this has happened," she said.

Native Americans in Kan. draw shocked response over contract to design immigration detention centers

FORD COUNTY —Law enforcement in southwest Kansas are investigating a deadly shooting in Ford County.

Just before 6p.m. Saturday, sheriff's deputies responded to a home north of Dodge City, according to a media release. First responders including Dodge City Police and Ford County EMS found a man dead from a gunshot wound.

Investigators are questioning those who were inside the home. The sheriff's office has not reported an arrest or additional details including the name of the victim.

Sheriff investigating deadly shooting in southwest Kansas

The billion-dollar Powerball® jackpot is on the rise. The jackpot has reached an estimated $1.1 billion for Monday night’s drawing, with an estimated cash value of $503.4 million, according to a statement from the Multi-State Lottery Association.

Monday’s jackpot ranks as the sixth largest in Powerball history.

“This jackpot streak is bringing people together to dream big during this festive time of year,” said Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO. “Please play responsibly. Just one $2 Powerball® ticket gives you a chance to win this jackpot while also supporting good causes in your community.”

The Powerball jackpot rolled last night after no ticket matched all six numbers drawn – white balls 1, 28, 31, 57, 58 and red Powerball 16. The Power Play® multiplier was 2X.

Although there was no jackpot winner, U.S. lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets carefully, as many may still have won cash prizes.

Nationwide, seven tickets won cash prizes worth $1 million or more in last night’s Powerball® drawing. Five tickets, sold in California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey, and Virginia, matched all five white balls to win $1 million prizes.

Two tickets, sold in North Carolina and Pennsylvania, matched all five white balls and, because the players added the Power Play® option for $1 more, the $1 million prize increased to $2 million for each ticket.

The drawing also produced 49 tickets that won $50,000 prizes and 12 tickets that won $100,000 prizes.

Note: In California, prize payout amounts are pari-mutuel and determined by sales and the number of winners.

In the Double Play® drawing, two tickets, sold in Colorado and North Carolina, each won a $500,000 prize after matching all five black balls. Double Play is a $1 add-on feature that allows players to player their Powerball numbers, again, in a separate drawing for a chance to win up to $10 million. Double Play drawings are live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>&nbsp;following the main Powerball drawing.

Monday’s Powerball drawing will be the 43rd in the current jackpot run, setting a game record for most consecutive drawings in a single jackpot cycle. The Powerball jackpot was last won on Sept. 6 by two tickets in Missouri and Texas that split a $1.787 billion prize.

If a player wins Monday’s jackpot, they will have the choice between an annuitized prize estimated at $1.1 billion or a lump sum payment estimated at $503.4 million. Both prize options are before taxes. If the winner selects the annuity option, they will receive one immediate payment followed by 29 annual payments that increase by 5-percent each year.

Powerball® tickets are $2 per play. Tickets are sold in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than half of all proceeds from the sale of a Powerball ticket remain in the jurisdiction where the ticket was sold. Since its first drawing in 1992, the Powerball game has helped generate more than $37 billion for good causes supported by U.S. lotteries.

Powerball drawings are broadcast live every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET from the Florida Lottery draw studio in Tallahassee, Fla. Powerball drawings are also live streamed on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.powerball.com/watch-drawing">Powerball.com</a>.

The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 24.9. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million.

Powerball jackpot grows to 6th largest in history after Saturday drawing

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — A southwestern Kansas county plans to sue the state for more than $2 million after nearly a decade of mistaken payments, mounting concern for democratic processes.

Voters in Morton County, which borders the Oklahoma panhandle and Colorado, approved a countywide sales tax in 2015 that directed funds to their local hospital. But an early administrative error that the county tried to fix resulted in the Kansas Department of Revenue sending checks to the county’s cities, which spent the money.

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